(◍•ᴗ•◍) つー☆*

You don't have to memorize the tarot cards. I've been reading tarot near 14 years and I still look up the meanings, all the time.

You don't have to memorize lists of stones and herbs.

You don't have to memorize color meanings.

You don't have to memorize the Wheel of the Year.

You don't have to memorize constellations, planets, houses, and signs.

You don't have to memorize spell rituals.

You don't have to memorize charms or incantations.

You don't have to memorize prayers or hymns.

Let’s start with a little disclaimer. This is all my personal ramblings and views. In my paradigm, time is something happening all at once, past, present, future, all influencing each other. This means that no idea, myth, folklore, etc, is too “new” to be something powerful. I also believe that belief shapes magic (or Creation), which helps shape the world(s).

the Realms

It’s not really easy, or 100% possible, to divide the Faerie Realms into clear and coherent parts. There is overlap, and energy bleeding over, and boundaries that are thinner, or keep moving. Still, my human brain finds it easier to divide them into five “Main Realms”; four seasons, and all those wild things that defy containment.

I feel there is more to it. More themed (if that is the right word) Realms that are smaller. Perhaps the best way to see it is that Main four are all their own big bubble, with smaller realms attached as tiny bubbles on the side. For example the Main Realm is Spring, but Dawn has it’s own small Realm that is close to, but not completely part of, Spring.

On Monarchs

I do not believe there to be One Queen of Spring, or One King of Winter. To put it in human terms: each Realm is it’s own continent, that can hold different Kingdoms, with vastly different customs, biomes, ecosystems, and, for lack of a better word, vibes. So the Realms can have several Kings, Queens, or Monarchs, who in no way have to have a relationship with each other. They all have their own part to play, and their own lands to rule.

Spring

So let’s start with Spring. A Realm of beauty, of softness, and flowers. Very green, with lots of colours. A great place for healing, for new beginnings, for frolicking! To me, Spring has a soft and joyous vibe, that can both embolden you, and bring you some much needed rest and healing. Spring Monarchs: Venaris (Lady of Flowers)

Stop bitching about other people's practices and focus on your own. If you spent a lot of time worrying or raging about how other people practice, how will you ever grow your own? Focus on yourself and your own power and let other people do their thing.

Other people's practices are inspiration, not goals. On the flip side, if there is someone who you look up to, or someone's practice you love seeing, take it as inspiration for your own, but don't look it at as a goal to achieve. Firstly, what people share online is not the whole of their practice, and secondly you're not them and their path is not yours.

Be curious. Why are people harping on "black and white magic"? Why are Starseeds bad, but Alienkin and Starkin are fine? Why is cultural appropriation such a bad thing? (If you answered "because racism" on all three of these, have a cookie!) And not just curiosity about these concepts, but also about correspondences (Why are red roses a symbol for love?) or ingredients you have in your home (will this basil work as well as rosemary for this spell?) or other paths and techniques, or spirits, or -- you get the point. Once you know the "why" you can use your own discernment. Does this work for me? Do I agree with the why? Etc. etc.

Be respectful -. To other people, to other practices and cultures, to spirits and deities. Find out their customs and cultures if you can, and act accordingly. Did you know that not saying "thank you" to the Fair Folk is only a custom in Irish and Scottish folk tales? Yeah, exactly.

-But don't be terrified. You're a witch/wizard/warlock/unicorn/whatever dammit! Act like one! Witchcraft is about empowerment, so be fucking empowered! An anarchy saying is "no gods, no kings, no masters". As a polytheist witch who works with the Fair Folk for me it's more "lots of Gods, some Kings, no masters!" I meet them with respect, but on equal footing. I experiment because if I screw up, well, I'll have learned something, and I've learned a lot about getting myself out of weird stuff.

Fun fact: Bonding with your Deities or spirit companions doesn't have to be elaborate, nor does it have to be expensive or difficult to access.

Here are some ways to bond with your Gods that I, personally, find very nice!

» ․ 💌 !! ˎˊ˗ Write them a letter

Now, 'letter' has a very loose definition here. This can be a literal letter on paper, something digital, a little note, writing in the dirt or any form of writing/printing on something.

Once you're done, do whatever you want with it! Burn it to send it to your God, keep it to give it to Them, place it on Their altar, put it somewhere safe, do whatever makes you feel best.

» ․ 🎵 !! ˎˊ˗ Play Them music

It doesn't have to be a devotional playlist and it doesn't have to be songs that remind you of Them. Just put on your liked songs or your favorite playlist and do something relaxing.

Tell Them about your day, draw with Them, sing along to the music, have a cup of tea, literally anything with the music playing in the background. Ask Them what They think about the music. Tell Them what you think about the music. Just anything.

» ․ 🌲 !! ˎˊ˗ Go outside

Take a walk in the park or sit by an open window and let the air run through your face. "Go for a walk outdoors. Reconnect with the feeling of the wind blowing through your hair. Listen to the birds that live in a tree in your yard. Watch the sunset. Take time to smell the flowers that bloom in the park during the summer." [- 'The modern guide to witchcraft' by Skye Alexander]

» ․ 🕯️ !! ˎˊ˗ Light a candle

Light a candle on your altar (or just any candle, for that matter) as a devotional act, or just for whatever you would like. Make sure you stay safe around fire, though, and keep an eye on that flame.

After lighting your candle, you can let it continue burning (while keeping an eye on it), you can make an offering or a prayer, you can talk to Them, you can just rest in Their presence, you can do anything you want really.

» ․ 🥰 !! ˎˊ˗ Make an emoji sequence for Them

Now, by 'emoji sequence', I do mean probably exactly what you're thinking. A collection of emojis that remind you of your Deity or spirit. Now, I'm not using the term 'emoji spell' because it isn't necessarily a spell (though categorically it can fall under 'spells' depending on how you intend to use it.)

Here's some examples! ~🎵🌻☀️🌻🎵~ Lord Apollon ~ ~🔵⚔️🦉⚔️🔵~ Lady Athena ~ ~💍👪👑👪💍~ Queen Hera ~ ~☁️⚡👑⚡☁️~ King Zeus ~

It can help you better connect with your Deity or spirit, and, honestly, it can be a great way to really understand just what you associate with your Deity or spirit.

» ․ 👗 !! ˎˊ˗ Wear clothes with things related to Them

Whether it's yellow for Apollon, owls for Athena or a dress for Aphrodite, wearing something that is or represents something you associate with Them can help you feel closer to Them.

It's basically the same concept as a prayer bead or devotional jewelry, but it's literally your clothes.

» ․ 📖 !! ˎˊ˗ Research

Research your Deity, things related to your Deity, things that remind you of your Deity or pretty much anything. Ways to worship, spells, how to offer.

This has helped me feel closer to my Goddess many times (which makes sense, considering She's literally the Goddess of wisdom, but it works even if They aren't an intelligence-related Deity).

by Keziah Zibelmann | Subscribe for free on Substack | Support on Ko-fi

One common misconception about witchcraft is that it must require tools, plants, and magical allies that are difficult to come by. This certainly is the case in some works, but it needn’t be. Witchcraft should be both accessible and adaptable to meet the needs of the practitioner, and the witch’s toolset should be the same. There are countless everyday tools and allies that one can put to good use in magical craft, with such items lying around the house or readily available at your local grocery store, hardware store, or even dollar store, and not enough witchcraft resources take the time to show these types of tools the love and appreciation they deserve. 

[NOTE: This is a cross-post on Substack of an article originally posted to @sheydmade ’s tumblr on the 25th of October, 2025. Read the original post on tumblr here.]

Historically, before the days of automated laundry, Monday was considered a wash day. Hell, I still have kinfolk in the boondocks back home who still swear by the old laundry basin and washboard, and, growing up, my household still utilized the the clothesline. For generations, laundry wasn't just another chore squeezed into the week. It was an all-day affair, a rhythm of soaking, scrubbing, rinsing, and hanging cloth beneath the open sky.

Times might have changed, but I don't think the magic behind laundry day has. Maybe it no longer takes all day, but it's no less important. When you throw your clothes into the washing machine, you aren't just rinsing away dirt, sweat, and grass stains. You are engaging in a cleansing water ritual. The clothes we wear move through our lives with us. They absorb and hold the emotional static we encounter. While any day is good for laundry, I feel like there's something almost holy in Mondays. What better day to cleanse the negative and invoke emotional protection than the Moon's day?

Treating the wash as a cathartic ritual is to return intention to the mundane. The washing machine becomes a churning vortex of purification. As the water fills, you can add essential oils for your intention (I like lavender to welcome peace) or a splash of vinegar to cut through the emotional stagnation that has built. Take a moment to whisper a blessing or a prayer, then as the clothes tumble and rinse, visualize the emotional debris being carried away with the water and sent down the drain. Once it's all said and done, and you remove the clothes from the dryer, they are freshly warded, no longer clinging to old energies.

It's such a mundane thing, one that many of us do without a thought. But for some of us, this chore becomes a sacred act. It becomes a way to cleanse the garments that shield us so that we may go out into the world, wrapped in wards of comfort and peace.

There are many ways to determine how and when one should perform workings that draw on the energy and attributes of a celestial body. We can consider planetary days and hours, or astrological positioning.

Something I have yet to see anyone else talk about is considering the physical position of a planet in relation to one's position on earth. Specifically, is a planet "visible" in the sky above you?

The planets, like the sun and moon, rise, traverse our sky, and set. Now, they don't always make it above the horizon, or to a truly visible height above it, just something to keep in mind.

There are four major events for the planets each day:

Rise: The time the planet crosses above the horizon.

Upper Culmination[1]: The time the planet reaches its highest point in the sky for the day.

Set: The time the planet crosses beneath the horizon.

Lower Culmination[1]: The time the planet reaches its lowest position in the sky for the day.

For planets that will not truly rise or truly set in a day (akin to the midnight sun and endless nights experienced by the poles), you will still have culminations, but no rise and set.

These four events can be used in much the same way that we use moon phases, with rise being like waxing, upper culmination like full, set like waning, and lower culmination like new. For a planet that will not experience a rise or a set, we can consider it to be "waxing" as it travels from its lower culmination to the higher, and "waning" as it travels back from its upper culmination to the lower.

More generally, we can also consider a planet's influence to be stronger when it is above the horizon, and weaker when it is below the horizon.

This can of course be used in conjunction with other planetary considerations, like astrology, but definitely doesn't need to be. Sometimes a planet just isn't in a notable sign for the work you want to do, and won't be for months, years, or even within your own lifetime.

For example, at the time of writing this post (June 2026), Saturn is in Aries, the sign of its fall[2], and will be for almost another year. So, when I looked for ways to invoke Saturn in the making of an Arnica salve (a flower strongly associated with Saturn[3]), I looked for when it would be above the horizon in my location. The entire creation of this salve will take place within this time frame.

Alternatively, you could try to weaken or block a planet's influence by working while the planet is below the horizon and therefore blocked from you by the earth itself!

Where to find rise and set times:

theskylive.com

This is what I personally have been using. It provides, rise, upper culmination, and set times for the planets based on your location. This site is good to see what's going on at present and over the next day.

in-the-sky.org

This website shows you a summary of all the planets at a given location and time, and lets you set any time you want! Great for planning into the future. It also notes visibility based on light and if the planet rises high enough over the horizon.

Sources

the summer solstice occurs when one of the earth's poles is at its maximum tilt towards the sun, which makes for the longest day of the year with the shortest night.

in the northern hemisphere, it takes place on june 20th this year, whereas it usually occurs on the 21st.

in many cultures, the summer solstice is seen as a time to rejoice and celebrate the beginning of summer, taking advantage of the longest day of the year by dancing, singing, drinking, indulging, and playing.

aside from that, it's also a day of reverence to the sun and its associated deities.

☼ about our sun ☼

the sun is a yellow dwarf star that happens to live at the center of our solar system. the sun was formed as the result of the collapse of a molecular cloud nebula, which is said to have been set off by a nearby exploding supernova. as it collapsed under its own gravity, it flattened into a rapidly spinning disk with most of its matter concentrated at the center to form the sun (the sun accounts for roughly 99.8% of our solar system's mass). as for the other 0.2% of mass within this disk? it formed other celestial bodies within our solar system, like asteroids, planets, moons, etc. the formation and existence of the sun is the only reason that the earth and everything on it exists.

the sun is estimated to be roughly 4.6 billion years old, and 330,000 times larger in mass than the earth - that said, the light from the sun takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to get to us. its mass consists of roughly 74% hydrogen and 24% helium with traces of heavier elements such as carbon, iron, neon, and oxygen. it is powered by hydrogen fusion within its core which produces helium. neat. the density and gravity of the sun's core is in equilibrium with the expansive heat that the star emits. but...

in like, 5 billion years, the hydrogen fusion within the core of the sun will eventually burn out and a bunch of stuff will happen - in the simplest of terms, stellar evolution demonstrates that our sun will likely turn into a red giant star ⇢ planetary nebula ⇢ white dwarf star. white dwarf stars are formed when a star has exhausted its nuclear fuel, sheds its outer layers, and leaves only the super hot core behind. unfortunately, white dwarfs are so small that they appear very dim, with luminosity continuing to decrease over time, leading up to the formation of a black dwarf star.

theoretically, a black dwarf star is a white dwarf that has cooled so much that it emits only a negligible amount of energy, acting as the final remnant of what was once the sun. a gravestone, if you will. none are expected to exist within the entire universe at this time since the time it would take for them to form is longer than the lifespan of our universe itself. whoa.

☼ magically, the sun can be associated with:☼

attributes: self-confidence, self-awareness, success, leadership, health, employment, pride, self-centeredness, ambition, money, optimism, potency, courage, generosity, nobility, expansion, creation

element: fire

zodiac sign: leo

cardinal direction: south

metal: gold, bronze

elements: hydrogen, helium

colors: gold, yellow, red, orange, purple

number: 1

plants: acacia, angelica, ash, balsam, bergamot, birch, buttercup, calamus, calendula, cedar, celandine, centaury, chamomile, cinnamon, citronella, eyebright, frankincense, galangal, gentian, ginger, heliotrope, hibiscus, hops, hyacinth, juniper, laurel, lovage, mandarin, marigold, mistletoe, oak, orange, orris root, palm, peony, pine, poinciana, poppy, rosemary, rue, saffron, st. john’s wort, sunflower, walnut

crystals: amber, ametrine, calcite, carnelian, citrine, diamond, goldstone, ruby, sunstone, tangerine aura, tiger's eye, topaz, yellow (lemon) aura

☼ random ideas for celebrating the summer solstice: ☼

watch the sun rise and set

enjoy nature (and wear sunscreen!)

take a walk

touch grass

smell the flowers

make a flower crown! or a wreath!

talk to the trees

feed petitions to a river

show some extra appreciation to the living beings around you, even the bugs!

do a lil dance

open the curtains and the windows and just bask in the sunlight

make some sun water or oil

craft spell jars for happiness and joy

light a solar colored candle - bonus points if it smells like citrus or sunflowers!

set out some offerings

say a prayer to the sun; recite the orphic hymn of the sun if that's your thing

eat citrus fruits; have some orange juice or a mimosa or lemonade!

make sun tea; or chamomile tea!

wear gold jewelry or solar crystals

make solar colored art, sigils, stitchwork, knot magic, crotchet, knitting, witches ladder, etc.

have fun

be merry

try to enjoy yourself, even though the world is on fire

The Olympic Spirits (or Princes) come from the 16th-century grimoire The Arbatel of Magick. They rule regions of the cosmos, correspond to specific planets, and are generally considered benevolent, focusing on cosmic wisdom and natural magic:

· Aratron (Saturn) – Alchemy, hidden treasures, reconciling spirits, commanding elemental forces. He has 49 lesser spirits.

· Bethor (Jupiter) – Wealth, dignities, precious stones, true judgments, and familiars. He rules 42 legions.

· Phaleg (Mars) – Military honor, victory, courage, waging war, and healing. He has 35 lesser spirits.

· Och (Sun) – Wisdom, health, transmutation of metals (to gold), and the Philosopher's Stone. He commands 28 legions.

· Hagith (Venus) – Art, beauty, pleasure, turning copper to gold, and invisibility. He has 21 lesser spirits.

· Ophiel (Mercury) – Eloquence, knowledge, cunning, turning mercury to the Philosopher's Stone, and spirit summoning. He rules 14 legions.

· Phul (Moon) – Long life, travel, water transformation, alchemy (base metals to silver), and spirit visions. He has 7 lesser spirits.

Aratron (or Arathron), "the alchemist who commanded seventeen million six hundred and forty thousand spirits". He rules 49 provinces. His planet is Saturn.

Seal of Saturn

ARATRON governs those things which are ascribed astrologically to Saturn. He can convert any living organism, plant or animal into stone, and that in a moment of time; he can also change coals into treasure and treasure into coals; he gives familiars and reconciles subterranean spirits to men; he teaches Alchemy, Magic and Medicine, imparts the secret of invisibility, makes the barren fruitful and, lastly, confers long life.

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[2]

Bethor, "who commanded twenty-nine thousand legions of spirits". He rules 42 provinces. His planet is Jupiter.

Seal of Jupiter

Raises a person to great dignities and should appropriately be called upon for promotions and improving your life.

Reveals treasure and transports precious stones from place to place. Gives true answers and heightens psychic abilities. Prolongs life and gives familiars of the firmament.

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[3]

Phaleg (or Phalec, Pharos), "the War-Lord". His planet is Mars. He rules 35 provinces.

Seal of Mars

PHALEG governs the things that are attributed to Mars. The person who possesses his character is raised by him to great honour in military affairs.

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[4]

Och, "the alchemist, physician, and magician". He rules 28 provinces. His "planet" is the Sun.

Seal of the Sun

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[4]

Increases personal beauty and attractiveness. Giver of familial spirits. Can transform copper to gold.

Hagith, "transmuter of metals, and commander of four thousand legions of spirits". He rules 21 provinces. His planet is Venus.

Seal of Venus

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[4]

Ophiel, "who commanded one hundred thousand legions of spirits". He rules 14 provinces. His planet is Mercury.

Seal of Mercury

OPHIEL is the ruler of those things which are attributed to Mercury; he gives familiar spirits, teaches all arts, and enables the possessor of his character to change quicksilver immediately into the Philosopher's Stone.

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[4]

Phul, "lord of the powers of the moon and supreme lord of the waters". He rules 7 provinces. His "planet" is the Moon.

Seal of the Moon

Lunary concerns are under the government of PHUL, who truly transmutes all metals into silver, heals dropsy and provides Spirits of the Water, who serve men in a corporal [sic] and visible form; he also prolongs life to three hundred years.

— Arthur Edward Waite, Book of Ceremonial Magic[5]

larger scale garden beds:

this design is largely inspired by isaac hill's zodiac garden

if you have a large enough space, a centerpiece garden can be designed to represent your personal natal chart, or to represent the seven classical luminaries (or the modern planets, if you have enough space). a smaller pot garden may be created as a centerpiece.

smaller scale container garden

each zodiac sign could be represented by a single potted plant, or even a vase for flowers.

as the centerpiece, you could represent your natal chart with crystals representing each planetary placement; in a similar fashion you could create a constantly moving orrery out of crystals. or utilize this space as an astrolatry altar, for spellwork and offerings to the luminaries.

stats. Aese (of Spades). 30. LibCapLeo. diviner. fateworker. spirit worker. writer. cook. baker. garden tiller. ttrpg GM. loremaster. horror fanatic. admirer of ghosts. maker of bracelets. collector of novelty mugs and antique tea sets.

motifs. moths. butterflies. eyes. hands. stickers. lilacs. sunflowers. basil. oregano. vases of dried flowers. candles. stars. sunny days. fluffy clouds. shallow streams. graveyards/cemeteries. skipping stones. acrylic paint. apple wine. white rum. savory desserts. sparkly dice. tarot cards. sketched maps. stained denim. wind in the trees. "i could figure that out."

tagged by @cultusquercus.

It's got:

Resources for learning, sharing, and activism

Prompts for journaling, grimoires/book of shadows, and divination

A dedicated guestbook to leave nice notes for the community

A spell designed to collect energy via click and share it with others as blessings for good fortune, comfort, and self love

Ideas for getting involved in the community and also random acts of kindness

Dark mode/light mode theme toggles

It will eventually have:

Spells for gender affirmation, happiness, confidence

Sigils for protection and to be gendered correctly

More themes based on pride flags

Font toggles

Fixed mobile layout (I thought it was working and now it isn't!)

I'm pretty happy with it so far! I'm hoping to make several more large updates in the next week or two, but it'll be a constant WIP as I add and update things.

We are a new and small, bilingual (Dutch/English) server, that focusses on Dutch (folkloric) magic, deities, and paganism. Our goal is to create a warm community where we can share resources, and talk about our practices.

We are an inclusive, queer-friendly, and staunchly anti-fascist and anti-racist server. No firth with fascists.

Send your name to fly on Roman and download a boarding pass like this one with your name on it!

What’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled from home? Want to beat your record by about a million miles? Submit to have your name added to a memory card that will be attached to a plaque on our Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope traveling a million miles away!