Ravyn's Flight

The Universe always gives you signs. However, you have to become more alert, you have to develop the present moment awareness. Generally, when you feel like something is a sign, it IS your sign. Your intuition is always right. So let’s talk about the common ways to receive a sign.

Repeating numbers. If you see a number sequence over and over again, you should definitely check its meaning. Since numbers are the language of the Universe and the entire Universe is based on the divine mathematics, there’s always a deeper meaning behind the recurring sequence.

Dreams. Pay close attention to your dreams, especially those vivid ones, or even better – lucid ones. When we dream, we enter the realm of our subconscious mind, and we can discover our hidden beliefs. Those beliefs are often the roadblocks, they prevent us from achieving what we want. Also, very often, your higher self reveals an important message in your dreams. You can create a dream journal if you want. Thanks to this, you will notice repeating patterns and symbols.

Other people. Have you ever experienced this – someone’s talking to you, and you feel like they’re talking about a specific situation, a situation happening in your life right now? Well, it’s just the Universe using them as a delivery guy. If you feel like someone’s words have a deeper meaning, you are definitely right.

Your feelings. Have you ever had a nagging feeling that you should do something, or go somewhere, or start something new? No matter how badly you try to ignore it, it’s still there. The Universe is urging you to do this thing and to take action. And sometimes you can feel uncomfortable because of it. For instance, for many months, the Universe had been trying to convince me that I should be a writer. Finally, (and thankfully) I realized that I actually enjoy writing books, that it is my life purpose. So don’t be afraid if you face resistance, just gradually try new things and experiences.

Things you hear or see. Have you ever eavesdropped on someone’s conversation? And perhaps they were talking about something connected to your own life. Well, that means you were meant to hear those words. Same with things you see on TV, or billboards, etc. If something catches your attention, it is a sign from the Universe. The fact that you notice these things means that you are vibrating at the same frequency, you’re aligned with them. There are no accidents or coincidences.

Sparkles of light. Okay, this one is weird, but have you ever seen little sparkles of light in the corner of your eye? This is the sign from your spirit guides, the sign of their love and protection. They want to show you that they are nearby; they are ready to help you.

BEKKATHYST WINTER 2019/2020 GIVEAWAY

~This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Tumblr.~

Please read thoroughly before entering!

Hello lovely Tumblr folk! It’s that time again- I have a giveaway for you all. But this time our giveaway is far grander and more magical than any we've had before! We've fallen on some tough times lately, and we could use all the support we can get right now. I'm hoping that throwing this big bundle of love out into the universe will bring back some good things to us 💜😘

We have both an online store and a physical location that could use your support!

My business is just a small, family run establishment that I started here on tumblr in 2013. I've been lucky enough to grow to the point where my husband and I opened a brick and mortar store and I've been able to employ my mother and sister as well! I've been supporting my mom and younger siblings since 2016 💜 I've always put compassion and ethics above all else in my business!

What the winner receives:

This absolutely massive top quality amethyst cluster display piece from Uruguay. It weighs OVER 20 LBS and sits on a custom made metal stand. It measures about 15" tall (over 1 foot!)

This piece has a retail value of about $1,300 - this is by far the most valuable giveaway we've ever done!

Rules:

You must be 16 or older. (If under 18 you MUST have parent’s permission)

You don’t have to live in the US to join!

Shipping is entirely free, I will cover it. But if you live outside the US and for whatever reasons your country wants to charge you import tax, you are responsible for it. If it gets sent back to me, you will need to pay shipping to have it sent again.

You must be following me, so you can get updates if anything about the giveaway changes.

Please check out our online shop!

DO NOT tag this post as giveaway. That will risk the notes getting messed up, and this will be ruined for everyone.

Reblog this post to enter. Likes count, too. No giveaway or spam blogs. If you reblog on a side blog, let me know in the tags what the name of your blog is that you’re following me with.

Please don’t spam people with reblogs- limit 2 reblogs per blog per day.  

At the end, each entry will be assigned a number and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator.

The giveaway ends Friday, January 31st, 2020 at 6 pm Pacific time.

The winner will be messaged and must respond with their full name and address within 24 hours, or a new winner will be chosen.

First of all, what is a liminal space? A liminal space refers to a place or time that is in a period of transition between two phases. These are usually places where reality feels altered because you are neither moving forward or backward, like a rest stop. The word liminal originates from the Latin word limens, meaning threshold. These places often give off a sense that time stands still and that you are experiencing some sort of reality shift. 

        In magic and witchcraft these spaces are considered to be the boundary between our world and the other, it is known as “the in-between”. These places are considered areas of great magic because it is believed this is where the veil is thin. These places are great for divination, spirit work, meditation and astral travel; they are ideal for hedge witchcraft.

Times & Spaces of Liminality:

crossroads manmade or natural

river, creek or lake shores/ beaches

hallway/corridor/stairwells/landings/doorways

graveyards

dawn, dusk, afternoon, midnight

valleys

forest glades

many more!

      Samhain/Halloween is considered the best time to communicate with spirits and faeries because of its liminality, it is a time of transition between autumn and winter. Irish folklore tells that this is the day faeries and ghosts come out to play because of the veil thinning. The equinoxes and sabbats like Beltane and Imbolc are also days of liminality because the time of day and night are equal (equinoxes) or it is a transition between seasons.  

       Mental states of liminality are also times of spirit communication. While being in a meditative state we are in a state of transition between our concious and sub-concious minds, this is where we sometimes experience astral projection or messages from spirits. People often experience spirit while falling asleep because this is another state of liminality. 

     In my craft I often practice in liminality in order to connect with the faerie realms.

MISTLETOE: love, protection, luck, reconciliation, banishing.

SNOWDROP: hope, cleansing, beauty.

LEMONGRASS: banishing negativity, attraction, purification.

CINNAMON: love, happiness, money.

SAGE: longevity, wisdom, protection, wishes. aiding in grief. 

ROSEMARY: purification, dreams, healing.

GINGER: power, manifestation.

ORANGE: divination, fortune, health, love, good luck, money.

BAY LEAVES: cleansing, psychic abilities, wishes, dreams. banishing, protection.

ASH: prophetic dreams, luck, attraction, energy channelling. 

THISTLE: vitality, cleansing, purification, uncrossing.

CEDAR: protection, attraction, healing, invocation. 

PINE: positivity, protection, fertility, warding. 

FRANKINCENSE: cleansing, consecration, banishing. 

CHESTNUT: longevity, intuition, grounding, focus, success. 

IVY: fertility, protection, healing. 

HOllY: prosperity, protection, luck, dreams, rebirth, banishing. 

JUNIPER: protection, warding, divination, secrecy, love. 

OAK: money, success, strength, fertility, stability, health, healing, luck.

SANDALWOOD: healing, purification, consecration. 

YEW: necromancy, astral travel, death.

CYPRESS: purification, stability, focus.

The first advice of absolute importance is to avoid starting anything during the Moon’s Void of Course. Things like interviews, important business meetings, initiating projects, and especially Spells likely won’t turn out well or will remain unfinished.

When planning a date for your Spell, it’s important to take into consideration the following things:

Moon Phase

Moon Sign

Day of the Week

Retrograde Planets

Make sure the above bullets points align with the goals of your Spell.  We have a Moon Phase Planner for 2020 that has all the above information to help pick a date for your Spells!

For example, if we wanted to do a spell for Material Wealth: 

December 24, 2020 is an excellent day because:

the Moon is Waxing and is close to a Full Moon

the Moon is in Taurus, the sign of luxury and material possessions

it’s a Thursday which is ruled by Jupiter - the planet of wealth and expansion

Venus is NOT Retrograde

Now keep in mind that these are guidelines for timing your spells with the best natural energy available. You can do a money spell any time you like (avoid the Void of Course Moon) but it may not have as much supportive energy compared to the above example. This is because of the reasons given in the example. Taurus, the ruler of wealth, is a much better sign for getting money compared to Cancer for example.

The following information will help guide you in planning a date for your Spells.

Moon in the Signs

Aries: —————

-Aries deals with energy, independence, competition, taking risks, the Self, and leadership.

-Do Spells that help with healing the physical body, advancing by overcoming competition, increasing vitality, first impressions, and with how you view yourself.

-Aries is a quick starter sign so it is a good to start things where much energy is needed; however it is also an impulsive sign so be sure to follow through with anything initiated during this time.

Taurus: —————

-Taurus deals with sensuality, material wealth, self-worth, and permanence. 

-Do Spells for money, wealth, acquiring material things, improving your self-worth or self-esteem, and sensual love. 

-Taurus is a steadfast and sometimes stubborn sign so it is good for initiating anything that you want to last.

Gemini: —————

-Gemini deals with communication (all forms), details, correspondence, short distance travel, people close to you such as siblings relatives and neighbors.

-Do Spells for helping communication go smoothly in case of a difficult conversation, improved relations with those close to you, help in all forms of writing activities such as emails, letters, calls, or professional writing.

- Gemini is a communicative sign so it is a good sign to support any form of communication.

Cancer: ————— -Cancer deals with the family, home, nurturing, personal roots, emotional foundations, land, and property.

-Do Spells to help with improving family life, finding a good home to buy, cleansing/banishing/protecting the home, real estate transactions, and healing from childhood trauma.

-Cancer is a nurturing sign with motherly energy so it is a good sign for Self-love activities.

Leo: ————— -Leo deals with romance, creativity, leadership, confidence, and children. 

-Do Spells to help with romance, love affairs, improving creativity, leadership ability, confidence, success in the limelight, and career advancement in creative fields such as art, music, or acting.

-Leo is a proud sign that enjoys attention so it is a good sign for being “center-stage”.

Virgo: ————— -Virgo deals with health, service, routines, details, and diet.

-Do Spells to help with improving health, starting daily routines, or in performing your work duties.

-Virgo is a meticulous sign so it is a good sign for tasks requiring attention to detail.

Libra: ————— -Libra deals with relationships, partnerships, balance, legally binding contracts, and the law.

-Do Spells to help with improving interpersonal interactions, attracting a marriage partner or business partner, making cooperative relationships go smoothly, or getting a divorce.

-Libra is a diplomatic sign so it is a good sign for making or breaking contracts.

Scorpio: ————— -Scorpio deals with the occult, secrets, the subconscious, research, sex, power, and transformations.

-Do Spells to help with concealing or revealing secrets, increasing psychic powers, any form of divination, personal transformations, attaining power, starting research projects, and attracting sexual partners.

-Scorpio is a transformative sign so it is a good sign for doing shadow work.

Sagittarius: ————— -Sagittarius deals with the law, religion, philosophy, higher education, learning, foreign places, and long distance travel.

-Do Spells to help with getting into college, studies, acquiring books and educational material, and traveling long distance safely.

-Sagittarius is a scholarly sign so it is a good sign to aid any kind of learning.

Capricorn: ————— -Capricorn deals with the career, profession, honor, authority, business, the public image, and structure.

-Do Spells for success in career, professional advancement, gaining authority, starting a business, getting organized, and building something through hard work.

-Capricorn is a results oriented sign so it is a good sign to promote perseverance and self-discipline in achieving some desired outcome.

Aquarius: ————— -Aquarius deals with friends, communities, organizations, social activities, goals, group goals, freedom, and technology.

-Do Spells for help with attracting friendships, success in group activities and community events, creating and achieving goals, and attaining freedom.

-Aquarius is a unique sign so it is a good sign to help in becoming more creative and unique.

Pisces: ————— -Pisces deals with art, intuition, the spiritual, psychic ability, secrets, and the unconscious.

-Do Spells for help with revealing and dealing with psychological problems, increasing psychic abilities and intuition, divination, dream work, and improving artistic talents.

-Pisces is a psychic sign so it is a good sign to help develop psychic abilities.

Moon Phases

Full Moon - the highest point in the moon’s cycle where its energies are at its peak. This is an excellent time for divination.

Note: when a Full Moon occurs twice in a month (October 31 2020) it is considered a Blue Moon. This is similar to a Full Moon but has more power

Waning Moon - the moon here is decreasing to a New Moon so its energies are that of degeneration. Use this time for banishing, cleansing, destruction or bringing anything to an end such as a relationship or bad habits.

New Moon - on the waning side of the New Moon, it has an ending type of energy as the moon is “disappearing”. On the waxing side it has the energy of potential, ready for new beginnings.

Waxing Moon - a time of growth as the light of the moon increases to its peak at the Full Moon. Use this time to do Spells for building something up in your life such as health, new friendships.

Note: it is better to do the Spell closer to the Full/New Moon depending on the goal. Unless you want to do the Spells for multiple days, such as cleansing/banishing, you can start right after the Full Moon and end on the New Moon. This supports the goal of removing bad energy.

Days of the Week

Monday: —————

Monday is the day of the Moon. The moon carries feminine psychic energy and is a great day to start developing psychic abilities, perform divination, cleanse the home, or banishing rituals.

Tuesday: ————— Tuesday is the day of Mars. Mars carries the masculine warrior energy and is a great day for doing Spells where much energy is needed. It is also a good day for black magick where the result is quick and active. Think of the moment when two swords clash.

Wednesday: ————— Wednesday is the day of Mercury. Mercury rules all forms of communication, documents, short-distance travel, and health. This is a great day for doing Spells related to health, improving communication ability, difficult conversations, and safe travels.

Thursday ————— Thursday is the day of Jupiter. Jupiter is the greater benefic and rules luck, opportunities, expansion, higher education, philosophy, foreign places, religion, and the law. Use this day for Spells that deal with expansion and opportunities, safe long-distance travels, and educational study.

Friday ————— Friday is the day of Venus. Venus rules love, beauty, cosmetics, money, luxury, jewelry, and material possessions. Use this day for Spells to bring you money, acquire material possessions, and for successful cosmetic procedures.

Saturday ————— Saturday is the day of Saturn. Saturn authority, structure, work ethic, endurance, delays, restrictions, boundaries, limitations, and decay. This is a great day for black magick that acts slowly or for binding or restricting another. Also great for Spells requiring discipline such as breaking habits.

Sunday ————— Sunday is the day of the Sun. The Sun rules vitality, charisma, money, fame creativity, leadership, the identity, and the Self. This is a great day for doing Spells that deal with us personally, such as our character or personality for example.

Our Moon Phase Planner for 2020 has all of this information along with the times for the Void of Course Moon, the Lunar Ingresses, and Retrograde Planets. So get your copy to let the Moon support your Spells!

A list of single-word incantations, spells that can be cast merely by saying/thinking them with intent, or over a white candle.

🍁 apsterus to cleanse with wind, blowing all away eurus meaning eastern wind,  apstergo meaning cleanse 

🍁 hibernge a call to transformation through dormancy.  from english, hibernate, and change. 

🍁 hivilé to banish and protect using the cold.  from french, hiver meaning winter, and exilé, meaning exile. 

🍁 aperiora to open the liminality of an area from latin, ora meaning threshold, and aperio, to open/unveil

Energy cords are things that tie us to other people, spirits, and things in our life. They form for many reason and in different ways, but this post is about removing them so you can remove unwanted people from your life. Cords can be removed in a bunch of different ways. Just removing someone from your life weakens or removes some cords, but this post is about speeding up the removal process through energy work. (this is all from my experience with energy work and cord cutting, you might see or experience the process differently.) -Mod J

First thing you need to do is identify the person you are cutting ties with, and all the ties you might have to them. For example, I had a EX who left my life years ago and i did a cord cutting for our relationship, but i didn’t notice at the time that there were more cords connect me to them because they were more then just a person i dated. They meant a lot to me in different ways like how they were the only person i could talk to about certain things and we had built different aspects to our relationship outside of romantic ties that i ignored because on an unconscious level i didn’t want to give up that significance they had to me. This can take time to really figure out all the different roles a single person could have played in your life so don’t rush the process.

Once you know the different aspects to your relationship to this individual it’s time to go to work and start finding and removing them. I begin by doing the basic like grounding and centering myself and then start meditating until i reach a trance-like state.

Once in a deep meditative state you need to go out of body or visualize this person standing across from you. If you go out of body “find” the person you’re looking for and get a real feel for there energy at this moment. If you are visualizing them standing across from you pick an environment around you that makes you feel comfortable and in control and visualize that place. You need to really be able to create the feel of that person in your mind. This can be done by bringing up memories and/or by using things that belonged to them that you still have. It need’s to be an honest portrayal of that person, including the good and the bad.

Once you can feel and see that person in front of you start locating and/or visualizing these cords. You might notice there are more then one cord for each connection to this person you are cutting, this just means the bond between you and them was built up over time.

now the removal process begins. depending on the cord you are removing it might be better to cut them, or relocate them to other people in your life so you don’t leave an energy hole to be filled. When removing a cord you need to cut BOTH ENDS. This is very important. If you only cut your end or their end it will leave the cord just hanging there for someone or something else to latch onto to or it can just reattach to the person you just removed it from. You can remove these cord by pulling them out of your body and their body with your bare hands. This can be good when you have some pent up aggression for this person to really feel it being removed your you and their chest with your own (energy) hands. You can imagine/use anyway you want to remove or cut them, just make sure you do it from both sides of the cord and then obliterate it. I like to make them dissolve.

If you are relocating a cord from one person to another start the process again from the beginning with this new person, but you wont need to figure out all the aspect of your relationship to this person. take some time to really consider things before you implant one cord into another person. Just because you feel a certain way about someone doesn’t mean that want that same type of bond. It’s always a good thing to ask the other person before doing this. If you have a thought cord like this strong sense of love or trust that cutting will only cause a lot more pain reattach the cord to someone who you ALREADY have a similar connection to. Take the end out from the person you are removing this connection too and implant it into this other person. Watch it take root inside them and feel it change inside you to fit this new person.

The most important thing you need to do now to end this processes is to do some healing on yourself, and hopefully the other person too. Even tho you might not like them, leaving someone energy holes that didn’t occur on their own before you messed with things isn’t cool. So fill these tiny hole with healing energy of some kind. use any method you want. It might also be good to have someone you trust do some healing for you and them too, to really fill in some of the energy damages that might have occurred.

Sigils were the first magic I ever learned. As an artist, symbolism and aesthetic are things that are incredibly important to me. I have used multiple ways of crafting sigils, but I have created my own personal way of creating sigils using a method writers have used in poetry- the stream of consciousness technique.

I put my pen to paper, call upon what I wish to make a sigil about, and let the pen create what I need.

These are the sigils that I use the most frequently (you may use them if you wish).

You may notice that my sigils in the form of arrows. Arrows are a symbolic representation of aiming and shooting for something, and I love the vertically long look because I like to draw these sigils on my forearms.

I created all of these with stream of consciousness drawing.

It is almost like a form of meditation for me. Allowing myself to simply create what I think “focus” or “protection” looks like visually makes the end results beautiful and meaningful for me.

I do have a few running themes. Here are a few symbols I love to throw in.

These are used a ton in my art.

So here is a step by step of what to do-

1. Clear your mind for meditation. (Tip- if you have crystals that symbolize your intent, surround yourself with them. And example would be having a rose quartz for love on you or near you.)

2. Put your writing utensil to your paper. (I recommend using paper before digital.) Have your energy flow from your body to the focus of the tip of the pen/pencil, repeating the intent you wish the sigil to have.

3. Make a first draft of your sigil by allowing your hand to simply move as you think of your intent.

4. Make as many reiterations you wish until you have something you feel satisfied with. (Editing is a big part of writing as well.)

5. After a few tries making different sigils, make a list of your own common symbols you see popping up in your sigils.

And there you have it. If you are not comfortable, try mixing this technique with others to find what works best for you, or simply only use other techniques and make sigil arrows. I think using the look of an abstract arrow helps with directing intentions.

You can also request a sigil from me if you so choose in my inbox, for I shall be making them for anyone who asks for free.

In a purse, bag, or backpack:

In eighth grade, I met a girl who took covered and sewed a bag of salt into the bottom of her purse. I thought that was so clever. It never caused a mess either!

Keep salt packets in your bag; it's discrete and easy to carry.

Sachets full of lavender, rosemary, or any other herb you use for protection and cleansing. You can make them for aromatherapy reasons, anyway, so it shouldn't raise suspicion. I make cloth sachets to fill with lavender and rice most of the time. I dab other essential oils onto them if I feel I need a kick.

Draw a sigil for protection on the bottom or side(s) of your bag and charge before using.

Take a very small figurine (perhaps one of those green army guys, a polly pocket, a dragon eraser, etc.) and enchant it to hold protection energy, particular defensive protection. If you make thought form spirits, you can use the figure as a spirit vessel.

Keep a sphere of dried grass, nettles, weeds, and twigs inside a tiny ranch dressing container or something similar. Compost/break it apart once a week to neutralize energies caught within it, and replenish when done.

Keep two paperclips together in the shape of an "X". This is a small shield charm that you can enchant however you'd like.

In a wallet:

A photo of yourself wearing a mask or cosplay outfit to trick malevolent spirits and psychic energies from anyone looking to curse you.

A coin, which you probably already have! As a circle, something that shines, and the fact that it bears a figure of authority or protection, I find coins to hold a ton of protection properties. Make sure to cleanse it first!

A laminated or otherwise life proof sigil. It can slip right down into a pocket, just like a card!

In (and on) your shoes:

If you wear gel inserts, you can place pretty much anything thin and light in your shoes. Coins, herbs, pieces of paper, etc! Just test them out before leaving. Make sure you won't fall and the shoes are still comfortable!

Sigils can be charged as you walk; draw them on your shoes in a like colour or use something such as water so it will fade and become unnoticeable fairly quickly.

You can replace laces with ones you find to correspond more with protection. You can also use knot magic each day you wear them.

On your keychain:

You can create wards that can be carried on key rings. String dolls immediately come to mind, but you can make it out of whatever you have. Simply enchant it and you're golden.

I know many pop culture/fandom inspired witches use symbols from their favourite shows, books, etc.. Use the protection emblems and symbols from these fandoms to discretely add a ward to your keychain. You might have some already. Enchant as you wish.

On your body:

Create a bracelet using knot magic, patterns with a meaning to you, or with morse code in seedbeads.

Draw a sigil on the underside of your watch, or take the functioning pieces out, place a thin slip of paper with your sigil behind it, and replace everything. I know this doesn't work all the time, but it's worth a shot. You can also open the back and draw on the metal plate that keeps it all together.

You can enchant any piece of jewelry you like, but my personal favourites are bold rings and necklaces that open and close, such as lockets and diffusers.

1. Book Of Shadows- A witch’s book of spells, rituals, personal feelings, etc. It is a general book for any metaphysical or religious information that you wish to put into it, among other things.

2.Bestiary- A sometimes hand-written encyclopedia or manual of mythological and magical creatures and beings, used for reference when you want to work with a non-human energy, or for general research. 

3.Grimoire- Usually filled with tables and charts, lists relating to astrological, numerical, and color correspondences; properties of crystals, herbs, trees, etc. Contains moon phase meanings and medicinal properties of plants- This one has an old-timey textbook feel to it, usually.

4.Book Of Mirrors- a special journal, where you ‘reflect’ on things going on in your day to day life, providing deep insights which are invaluable when you’re doing work regarding personal growth. Very helpful with developing personal spiritual philosophies.

5.Book Of Moons- A book entirely relating to the moon and it’s cycles, names of the moons of each month, their attributes and energies, dates of lunar eclipses as well as full moon dates of upcoming moons. Filled with vast knowledge of lunar attributes and special dates of red moons, blue moons, etc.

6.Dream Journal- Here you record the dreams you have in as much detail as you can remember, and some people draw images from their dream adventures in this book as well, since dreams use the language of symbolism and imagery. You interpret the meanings of your dreams in here too, if you wish. Dreams can help us get a glimpse into our subconscious and the more dreams you write the easier it becomes for you to remember them.

7. Book of Visions- A vision book is used with the law of attraction, it is a ‘vision board’ in book form. Put different images of things you want in life, be they experiences, physical items, money, health, etc, in the pages of the book. Open the book up to pictures of what you want to visualize having. Think of this as an on-the-go vision board, except with much more space as there are so many pages!

8.Book Of Positive Aspects- At the top of each page you write the name of a topic that you are unhappy with, like ‘the workplace’  for example. Below the topic title you begin listing all the positive aspects of the subject, and by the end of your list your emotions will be in a much better place regarding the topic. You can do a list a day or many in one sitting, it is a valuable tool for cultivating positive energy or for switching viewpoints on things that normally would upset you.

9.Gratitude Journal- A book where you write about EVERYTHING you are thankful and appreciative for in your life right now. You feel overwhelmed with love and positivity when writing in this book, which aids you in raising your vibration and frequency.

As all witches know, herbs are a vital part of the craft. I am so lucky to be blessed with a large garden, and me and my husband grow an abundance of herbs for both magickal and culinary purposes. I have been drying my own herbs for years, and keep my cupboard well stocked! For me, drying my own herbs has yielded so much benefits, such as:

• It works out so much cheaper then buying from the grocery store.

• Its so much better for the environment. Think about the packaging that herbs come in when you buy from the grocery store that gets thrown away! We store our herbs in labelled glass jars, and the process is absolutely zero-waste.

• Its a lot of fun! I absolutely adore the entire process, it feels very earthy, witchy and it is so rewarding to produce commonly bought things yourself!

Currently, my inventory of dried herbs that I have prepared myself is as follows: Basil, thyme, parsley, coriander/cilantro, rosemary, oregano, sage, dill, lavender, tarragon, chamomile, peppermint, lemonbalm and many more. I use these dried herbs for teas and infusions, cooking and witchcraft. I also keep a fair amount of these herbs for using fresh!

Does this sound like something that appeals to you? If you have the space for a herb garden, it is definitely achievable, even if it is just on a balcony or windowsill!

How To:

Harvesting: the best time to harvest herbs is when they have plenty of healthy foliage to allow further growth. Regularly snipping actually allows herbs to thrive and encourages new growth! To keep my herbs healthy, I regularly snip off dead leaves and harvest healthy, abundant foliage while leaving enough to spare for the plant. The absolute BEST time to harvest is early in the morning after the dew evaporates, but before the suns rays start to evaporate the essential oils within the leaves, which happens when exposed to heat throughout the day. Use scissors to cleanly snip the foliage off the plant.

• Drying: After harvesting, it is important to dry herbs quickly to preserve flavor. After washing herbs, make sure to pat dry gently, you don’t want any moisture in preparation for air drying. To air dry it is very simple! Tie an elastic or piece of string around the base of the herbs to create a bundle. Then you want to hang them upside down in a warm, dry and dust free area out of direct sunlight. I use a drying rack and peg the herbs upside down and then hang the drying rack up, however you can use a clothes hanger or hang them on a line! Some people like to wrap a brown paper bag around the herb bundles when drying. This a) stops leaves falling onto the ground when dry and crumbly, and b) keeps them from gathering dust, etc.

You will know your herbs are dry when they feel dry and crumbly in texture.

Storing: After my herbs are dry and brittle to the touch, I separate the leaves from the stems and store in clean, airtight glass jars that are labelled so I know which herb goes where. I keep the leaves while and crumble just before cooking, as I believe this helps to retain flavor, but I know some people will crumble dried herbs with a mortar and pestle before storing. Keep your dried herbs in a cool, dark place away from humidity, and enjoy! 🌿

so i made a spell to attract love (self, platonic, romantic, any kind!) to yourself, so here goes!

ingredients:

a lil’ jar or container (i’m using a small glass container)

some small slips of paper for sigils (prosperity, love, and luck) or incantations

some wax from a candle (any color you associate with love) for sealing

glitter/confetti (i’m using little star shaped glitters) for wishes

tiny pink flowers or rose petals for love

one (1) drop of any essential oil you see fit to use

something that’s vanilla or cinnamon scented for cleansing (i’m using vanilla incense)

a rose quartz for charging

anything else you wanna use that’s associated with luck, love, peace, etc.

a kiss and some intent!

directions:

cleanse your space with the vanilla/cinnamon whatever. now’s a good time to call forward any deities or guides if you’re using any

light your candle and let the wax melt some bit

draw your sigils and/or write out your incantations. then, place them in the jar. writing/drawing them out will charge them

using a cotton swab, paint brush, etc., place some of the wax on top of the pieces of paper in order to cast them

let the wax dry, and then place some of the glitter in the jar. while doing so, think of what kind of love® you’re hoping to attract. this will work as your “wish”

drop in your little flowers and whatever else you wish to add into your little jar

drop in your one (1) drop of essential oil and close the jar.

finally, kiss the lid of the jar to seal the spell. now’s also a good time to pray to whatever deity or guide that you called upon

let the jar charge in the moon, sun, etc. with a rose quartz

whenever you feel the need for love, just gently shake the jar

A warding spell to protect an area against severe storm and weather

by Rainy-Day-Witchcraft

Materials

Storm water

Sea salt 

Heather

Black Pepper

Thistle

Ground wood charcoal

Oven mits / Heat handling tools

Disclaimer: Some may develop hives or experience itch when physically dealing with thistle - if you have never worked with it before, find out if it’s safe for you to handle, as you would any herb or plant.

Step 1. In a fire-safe pot or cauldron sitting over a stove or fire, pour in about two cups of storm or rain water and a few tablespoons of salt. One by one, add in the ingredients as the water warms, speaking aloud or thinking of the properties of each ~ Heather (linked to mists and rain), Black pepper (earthly protection), Thistle (protection and banishment), and wood charcoal ground to a chalky powder (protection and banishment). 

Allow your herbal water mixture to seep on a low temperature for a few minutes (if you’re using a non-stovetop fire, bring the water to an almost-boil and remove from heat source for a few minutes). 

After the mixture has seeped, turn the heat up to high or return to heat source and allow it to come to a rolling boil; our goal here is to produce steam, so be sure it’s at the boiling point where a good amount is evaporating! 

Step 2. Using heat handling tools or mits, carry the pot/cauldron to an area that is exposed to the outside air; you can choose to do this outside, or if the weather does not allow it, in front of an open window. If you are already working over an outdoor fire, staying where you are is fine! 

Place the pot in front of you and allow the steam from the boiled mixture to waft up into the sky or out the window. As you watch, envision that the essence and energy from the herbs traveling up into the sky with the steam; it eases the clouds, quiets the winds, and banishes the danger. Continue to watch the steam until it cools and no longer produces as much, visualizing the clouds relieving their tension and the wind blowing them away. During this time you can recite a chant, blow on the steam, etc! 

Step 3. When the above step is finished and the steam has diminished, it’s time to do away with the remaining watery plant pulp that did not evaporate. If the weather condones it, dig a small hole in the earth and pour the mixture into it; Mix it counter-clockwise three times with your finger, a wand, an athame, or a branch, and then proceed to cover the hole up with soil (feel free to once again chant or visualize). If the weather is still looking too severe to step outside, store the mixture in an air-tight jar and in a dark space (to prevent mold growth) until the storm subsides ~ It is then that you should bury the mixture. This protects the earth, and in turn the area you perform the spell around, from the damage of severe weather!

Meditating during long car journeys helps clear your mind, pass the time and totally counts as practicing.

If you like plants, collect plants. If you like crystals, collect crystals. Collect things that makes your soul sing!

Charity shops are brilliant. You can always find something you need in there.

Salt, salt, salt. I love it and you should at least consider having it in your witchy cabinet as it is brilliant for protection.

You don’t need all the tools the books say you need unless you feel they’ll help.

Stock up on as many black candles as you can during the Halloween season or wait until they’re on the discount aisle.

Love is a powerful tool, don’t abuse it. The love you have for someone or something can help make any spell stronger.

Wicca is the religion, Witchcraft is the practice. You don’t have to be Wiccan to practice Witchcraft, You don’t have to practice Witchcraft if you’re Wiccan.

If you’re having difficulty with magic and witchcraft, Labradorite can help significantly.

Be careful around incense and smoke if your an asthmatic witch! Goodness knows how many time my lungs have almost quit on me during cleansing. You don’t have to use it.

Stir a bit of cinnamon into your morning tea to help bring good fortune throughout the day.

Respect all living things, including plants and insects.

If you’re having trouble visualising your magic and will, try taking inspiration from fantasy media, such as Skyrim or Harry Potter, and visualise the magic from those.

If you relate a song to a spell or ritual, put it on and sing along to it!

A small rose quartz under your pillow will help ease nightmares.

Sometimes a digital grimoire is better and easier to write than a physical one.

If your life is getting difficult to manage, take a break from witchcraft if it helps.

Craft stores are a great place for mini bottles and jars.

You don’t need to be part of a coven to be a valid witch.

Anyone of any gender can be a witch.

Don’t rely solely on a healing spell or potion to help with an illness, visit your doctor too.

Share your knowledge to people who are willing to learn.

Some witches use curses, some don’t. Not everybody believes in the threefold law.