book of shadows

Join me in The February Tarot to start a journey on building a relationship with yourself and the difficult process of Self Love. This process will be one that will be addressing our wounds, opening our hearts, focusing on healing, and working through forgiveness. Each day has a prompt to pull one card and journal on it. In homage to the feminism of Audre Lorde, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self preservation, and that is an act of political warfare”. This self care to building self love exercise is one that is for community healing and radical action for yourself and your being. It’s not going to be pretty all the time, it’s not going to be easy, but my loves, it will be worth it.

This exercise is going to begin on the difficult end and gradually build to a more gentle analysis of the self. The hard work needs to be done first to find the beauty.

Day 1: Open up to yourself, how are you starting this journey?

Day 2: Today we are looking at your inner child. Is it being cared for?

Day 3: Let’s open up on some pain. Is there some that you are holding?

Day 4: What is something that you need to release? In any relation to yourself what is something you are holding that is hurting.

Day 5: Be honest with yourself, where are some of your faults, how can you improve?

Day 6: Are you holding anger? Where is it placed? Is it time to release it?

Day 7: Are you holding on to fear? Is it holding you back in your journey?

Day 8: What in your life is draining your energy? Is it serving you?

Day 9: What mistakes have you made? Are you learning from them or ignoring the lessons?

Day 10: How are you limiting yourself in your relationship with yourself?

Day 11: Where do you feel you are letting yourself down in life?

Day 12: What are some thoughts on yourself that you need to release?

Day 13: How are you feeding your spirit?

Day 14: Healing happens in community, where do you need to ask for support from others?

Day 15: How are you prioritizing your needs? Where can you add more care to yourself?

Day 16: We looked at our wounds, now let’s look at our healing, how can we add some healing energy?

Day 17: What are some of your hopes in life? How can you move towards them?

Day 18: Where are some boundaries you need to add in your life? Boundaries are a reflection on self worth. You are worth being comfortable.

Day 19: Where in life can you be kinder?

Day 20: Where in life can you give yourself patience?

Day 21: Look into yourself for your strengths. Embrace them.

Day 22: What in life is bringing you joy? How can you add more to yourself?

Day 23: Where do you need to forgive yourself?

Day 24: What if you only had yourself? Is your relationship with yourself improving?

Day 25: Where in yourself can you show graditute?

Day 26: How are you working in your journey to your future self? Is it moving positively? Can you change something?

Day 27: Opening your heart, how is your relationship with self love? It doesn’t need to be perfect, it’s now an easy task, but is it improving?

Day 28: Reflect on this cycle, Are there any places you need to go deeper in your self relationship?

As always, this is an exercise not a challenge. These prompts are meant to challenge yourself in addressing the difficult process of working towards self love. This work is worth it, it’s going to be difficult, but it is going to be worth it. Be kind to yourself during this process but also be honest.

To growth, to healing, to self love,

Radiance Spread 🌻

What I love about me

What people love about me

What I should appreciate more about me

What I should work on

From simple love spells to glamours and hexes, wax seal charms are a powerful and versatile tool for any witch’s arsenal. Small, inconspicuous, and easy to hide, these simple charms are useful for nearly any type of magick.

First, you will need a smooth work surface (I used the bottom of a ceramic bowl). Fold a small envelope from a square of paper. You want the envelope to be the same size as or smaller than the wax seal to ensure complete wax coverage.

Next, write your intent (or draw a sigil) on the inside of the envelope. Keep it simple or write very small.

You can add a small pinch of herbs (or a taglock) if you like, but try not to use too much or the charm won’t flatten and may not seal correctly.

Once you’ve added your herbs, fold the envelope shut. You may need to squish it a little to keep it closed.

Pour your wax over the envelope, making sure to cover any open edges, and place your stamp in the molten wax. Apply light pressure for a few moments and then allow to cool.

Once completely cool, remove your stamp and peel the charm off your work surface.

There’s a reason this salt dough recipe is the first thing in my grimoire. Very few tools have been quite as versatile as this. I have made offering bowls, a measuring spoon, a deity statue, runes… and I could go on.

Salt dough is wonderful for witchery because you make it yourself, it’s cheap af, you can make it with things you steal from the kitchen while you’re stealing McCormack herbs (don’t lie, you know you’ve done it), and it’s salt based which is like the witchiest of witch things.

The small discs on the page are my latest idea, which is outlined in the second note on the page. I mixed dried herbs into the salt dough, formed discs, let it dry, and now I’ve got these portable little magic herb discs. The ones on the page are basil and powdered sugar for drawing wealth at work. But the possibilities are endless. If you can make an herb sachet or powder, you can probably also make it a salt dough disc.

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

Looking after yourself is not selfish or self-indulgent ~ it is a necessity!

In our busy day-to-day lives we might not always take the time to check in with our Self. So please, I would like you to make yourself a comforting hot drink in your favourite mug, get comfortable, and spend an hour or so just focussed on YOU 💖

This Spread incorporates Mindfulness with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, from our basic physiological requirements up to our spiritual well-being ~ for each level I have included Mindful Activities, to help you fulfil those fundamental human desires. Feel free to replace these with an activity of your choice, but please: make time for yourself, take care of yourself, love yourself!

Pass this Spread on to a friend or loved one who could also benefit from some well-deserved ME-time!

It is possible to complete this spread without doing any of the activities, but I urge you to make some changes to improve your well-being and quality of life!

1) Physiological Needs: BODY CHECK ~ How can I improve my physical well-being?

Activity: Organise a Medical Check-Up; Do breathing exercises; Cook a healthy meal with fresh ingredients; Drink more water; Have your 5 a day of fruit & veg; Go to the gym; Go on a nature walk; Take a nap; Make love; Switch off your phone for an evening and do something relaxing (take a bath, read a book, listen to music,…).

2) Safety Needs: HOME CHECK ~ What can I do to improve the energy in my Home?

Activity: Burn your favourite incense or scented candle; Open your windows to let in fresh air; Make repairs you have been putting off; Check locks on windows and doors; Learn about Feng-Shui; Charge your crystals and place them in strategic places throughout your home; Check your fire alarm; Teach your kids how to stay safe online; Open a savings account and deposit some money each month; Sign a petition about Human Rights, anti-gun policies, against animal abuse or another issue that touches your heart (help make the world a safer place for all living Souls!).

3) Social Needs (Love & Belonging): HEART CHECK ~ How can I improve the quality of my social interactions and relationships?

Activity: Clean up your Friends list on your Social Media accounts (no negative people allowed, don’t feel guilty about un-friending those people you never interact with, focus on people who genuinely care about you instead); Arrange to meet a friend for lunch or coffee or ask your partner out on a date (somewhere you can talk and listen, no club with loud music and alcohol numbing your senses!); Join a social group to make new friends (sports club, book club or even a Facebook-group about your hobbies or interests!); Hug someone; Cuddle and groom your pet; Play with your child(ren); Tell your Loved Ones how much they mean to you; Write a love letter to your partner/child/love interest/best friend.

4) Esteem Needs: SOUL CHECK ~ Which quality or ability do I have that I can feel really good about?

Activity: Write a list of at least 5 things you are good at/did well/are proud of and put it somewhere you can look at it often (in your wallet, on the fridge, front page of your diary or journal, on your phone,…); Learn a new skill (sports, crafts, Tarot, astrology, cooking, …); Go for a hair-cut or manicure or dress up to make yourself feel good about your appearance; Ask your co-workers/friends/partner for positive feedback; Use daily Affirmations to boost your confidence and self-belief.

5) Self-Actualisation: SPIRIT CHECK ~ How can I take a step towards Spiritual Satisfaction?

Activity: Write a list of at least 5 things in your life that make you happy, put it somewhere you can look at it often; Read a self-development book; devote time to Tarot-practise; Start a journal; Learn to meditate; Go to Yoga classes; Learn about the Universal Consciousness, The Law of Attraction, Kundalini Awakening, and other Spiritual Concepts; Visit a museum; Declutter your bedroom, kitchen, bookshelves…; Practise Manifestation; Take up a new hobby.

Love & Hugs,

Tarotmum13

Xxx

#inktober2018: First 10 Compilation  @facesanddolls ’ #greekgoddessfeast list:

Athena

Danaë

The Moirae

Circe

Gaea

Helen of Troy

Medusa

Demeter

Iris

Amphitrite

TOOLS: Pin Fine Line 0.1 | Canson XL Mix Media | Gansai Tambi Starry Colors (yellow gold) 

I don’t care how silly it sounds, Bob Ross is absolutely part of my pop culture pantheon, so I made this tarot spread in honor of his wisdom.

HAPPY LITTLE TREES: The Joy of Painting Spread

1. This is Your World - Your power in the situation

2. Happy Accidents - A possible positive outcome from the situation

3. Bravery Test - A risk you may need to take to succeed

4. Beat the Devil Out of It - What needs to be cleansed or removed from the situation

5. A Whisper Floating Across a Mountain - Advice from the cards

I made these super easy Tea Light Candles today and added herbs, dried flowers and essential oils to use in future rituals. (Or basically whenever i want to)

Step One: Add your Tea Lights to a pot and put it on the stove by low to medium heat.

Step Two: After the wax melted down, add your chosen herbs, flowers or oils. You can literally do anything here, get creative!

Some of my creations contained dried lavender buds and lavender essential oil (for inner peace, balance and good sleep), dried sunflower (to brighten up your mood or day, to bring happiness), sage (to purify and cleanse) and a mixture of black pepper, sea salt and cayenne pepper (to banish and absorb negative energies)

Step Three: After you added your ingredients, take the pot off the stove and let the Tea Lights harden again.

And that’s it! It’s super easy and the outcome is just as effectful as gorgeous.

quick tarot spread for the winter solstice based on the concept of the longest night of the year and the return of the sun!

1. dark night- the hardest lesson you learned in the previous year

2. bright candle- what helped you through the dark, what guides you on your way to better times

I made a thing! Because of all the changes my partner and I have been going through in the past month, we’ve been stressed out, causing us to bicker at each other quite a lot. So, I crafted my jar to keep our dispositions sweet towards each other!

Sweet Disposition Jar:

Small Jar

Layer of Pink Himalayan Salt

Layer of Lavender

Pieces of hair from myself and my partner

Sugar Cubes

Snail Shell (found by my partner)