Spud

As you can see above, theyre all patterned like marine life, but theyre also reversible! One side has the pattern, the other is solid color, and they're all fun colors like blues and reds and greens, but some like the whale and tiger shark ones are more subtle grays and blacks. I have the whale shark one and the spongebob one (which was a limited run), and theyre both very well designed and printed. My spongebob one has served me for roughly four years and it hasn't worn at all.

What really matters? The binding power, and these things are great. I'm a triple D cup and with a medium I look like I have subtle pecs. They're also much less compressive than other binders due to their materials (which are mostly recycled!), so you can wear them for longer without getting sore. When I did more intensive theater and band performances, I could still act, dance, and play bari sax without getting winded or hurting myself. They're also swim tops, and I've scuba dived in these as well comfortably.

If that wasn't all, proceeds from each purchase are donated towards marine conservation and education initiatives! Purchasing shark printed ones specifically donate to shark studies and conservation orgs, parrotfish and coral prints support coral restoration initiatives, and so on. The high price tag is for a good reason.

You don’t build a fire by yelling “burn.” (or maybe you do?)

So let’s talk about why some spells flop. It's not because your desire was weak. Not because the moon was in the wrong position. But because you built a magical toaster and forgot to plug it in.

You can have a brilliant, spicy spark of intent, but if it has nowhere to go? No structure to hold it, no current to carry it, no ritual act to release it? That energy just... sits there. Fog in your chest. Static in your bones. Sometimes it loops. Sometimes it leaks. Sometimes it just becomes ✧vibe soup.✧

This isn’t about perfection. Or control. Or doing it “right.” It’s about structure and the subtle architecture that lets magic move.

Let’s break it down.

Creating a "Witchy" Garden

Choose Your Space

Size & Placement: You can create a garden in a small container, a windowsill, or an outdoor patch of land. Ensure the space gets the appropriate amount of sunlight (herbs generally need 6-8 hours per day) and is easy to tend to.

Environment: Design your space to align with the energies you wish to attract, such as placing plants associated with protection near the entrance or flowers that attract pollinators around the garden.

Best Plants to Start With

Beginner-friendly plants that can thrive almost anywhere, regardless of climate. These plants are resilient, adaptable, and useful.

1. Mint (Mentha spp.)

Thrives in most climates, grows quickly, and is great for teas and remedies.

Grows well in pots (to prevent spreading) or directly in the garden.

2. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Drought-resistant, hardy in cold and hot climates.

Used for cleansing, memory, and protection.

3. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Survives in dry, poor soil and is great for cooking and medicinal use.

Symbolizes courage and purification.

4. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Grows indoors or outdoors.

Needs regular harvesting to thrive.

5. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Cold-hardy, great for pest control, and requires little maintenance.

6. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Quick-growing and does well in most conditions.

Can be grown in containers, raised beds, or directly in soil.

7. Radishes (Raphanus sativus)

Fast-growing (ready in 3-4 weeks), thrives in most soils.

8. Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

Hardy root vegetable that tolerates cold and heat.

9. Garlic (Allium sativum)

Grows almost anywhere and is used in protective spells and folk medicine.

Great for warding off negative energy.

10. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Thrives in various temperatures, fast-growing, and nutrient-rich.

11. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

Grow well in most climates and repel pests.

Used for protection and honoring ancestors.

12. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Cold and heat-tolerant, used for skincare and healing.

Represents warmth, positivity, and joy.

13. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)

Grows in most climates and is used for relaxation, dreams, and purification.

14. Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)

Grow in containers, raised beds, or hanging baskets.

Symbolize love and abundance.

15. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Easy to grow in pots or gardens, adaptable to different climates.

Associated with protection and prosperity.

How to Plant & Care for Plants

Soil: Use loose, well-draining, and nutrient-rich soil for most plants. You can create your own mix using compost, peat moss, and perlite for good air circulation. Herbs prefer slightly alkaline or neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.0).

Spacing: Ensure you space your plants to allow for healthy growth. Crowding can hinder their ability to grow.

Planting Depth: Follow seed packet instructions for the correct planting depth. Most herbs and flowers need to be sown at a depth of about twice their size.

Companion Planting: Some plants work well together. For instance, basil and tomatoes are great companions, as basil repels certain pests that could harm tomatoes.

Best Time to Water: Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening. This allows plants to absorb water before the heat of the day or overnight without suffering from water evaporation.

Watering Amount: Water thoroughly when the soil feels dry about 1 inch deep. Be careful not to overwater, especially herbs, as it can lead to root rot.

Timing & Moon Phases

New Moon: Time for planting new seeds. A good time to start a garden.

Waxing Moon: The best phase for planting leafy greens, herbs, and flowers that grow above the ground. Time of growth.

Full Moon: Harvesting of herbs and fruits. It’s a time to gather your plants. Energy is at its peak.

Waning Moon: This phase is ideal for root crops, tubers, and perennials. It’s also a time for trimming and pruning to encourage a healthy harvest.

Zero Waste

1. Composting:

Create a compost bin or pile to recycle organic waste. This not only reduces waste but also enriches your soil with nutrients for your plants. Include plant scraps, peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds.

2. Reusing Containers:

Repurpose old containers like jars, cups, or wooden crates for planting.

3. Mulching:

Mulch with natural materials like straw, leaves, or grass clippings to prevent weeds, conserve moisture, and improve soil quality.

Natural Fertilizing

1. Compost Tea:

Steep compost in water to create a "compost tea" that can be used as a liquid fertilizer. This is rich in beneficial microorganisms that promote healthy soil.

2. Manure:

Use organic manure (chicken, cow, or horse) to provide essential nutrients to your plants. Make sure it’s well-composted to avoid burning plants.

3. Fish Emulsion:

A natural liquid fertilizer made from fish byproducts, providing a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It's perfect for boosting growth in a witchy garden.

4. Banana Peel Fertilizer:

Chop up banana peels and add them directly to the soil. They are rich in potassium and phosphorus, which supports flowering and fruiting plants.

Seeds

1. Seed Saving:

Collect seeds from plants once they’ve gone to seed, dry them thoroughly, and store them in labeled envelopes. This reduces costs and creates a self-sustaining garden.

2. Natural Seed Starting:

Start your seeds in small biodegradable pots made from newspaper or cardboard to minimize plastic waste.

Consider using kitchen scraps for planting, such as potato eyes for growing new potatoes or citrus peels for herb starts.

Garden Symbolism

Garlic, Rue, and Yarrow: These are associated with protection and banishing. Plant these near doorways or along fences for warding off negative energy.

Rose, Jasmine, and Lavender: Plant these near seating areas for love and harmonious energy.

Aloe Vera, Basil, and Mint: Grow these in abundance for healing rituals and attracting wealth.

Mugwort, Sage, and Lavender: Great for enhancing intuition, psychic visions, and connection with the spiritual realm.

These are just some examples.

Each plant carries its own symbolism, and purpose, but the meanings they hold can vary from person to person. What resonates with one gardener may have a completely different significance for another. Select the plants that speak to you, whether for their beauty, healing properties, or the sense of connection they bring to your space.

What to avoid in your garden

Invasive Species:

Bindweed, Bermuda Grass, Nutsedge: These aggressive plants can overrun your garden, choking out desired herbs and flowers. Their pervasive nature makes them difficult to control, potentially disrupting the harmonious balance of your space.

Plants Harmful to Pets and Wildlife:

Lilies: While beautiful, lilies are toxic to cats and can pose serious health risks.

Other Toxic Plants: Research any plant's compatibility with local fauna before inclusion, ensuring your garden remains a safe haven.

Plants that cannot thrive where you live:

Plants that originate from different regions often struggle in unfamiliar environments. They may require excessive watering, specific soil conditions, or special care that disrupts your garden's natural harmony.

Native plants are better adapted to the local climate and soil.

Using Synthetic Chemicals:

Employing artificial fertilizers and pesticides can introduce harmful substances into your garden. Opt for organic and natural alternatives to maintain the garden's purity.

Other things you can put in your garden (not plants).

Herbal Drying Rack or Witch’s Ladder.

Stone arrangements, wind chimes, candles, a birdbath, water bowl or water basins.

Altars and sigils.

A small fairy house or spirit house.

Crystals & Stones

Moss Agate: "Gardener’s Stone". A great stone for plant growth.

Green Aventurine – "Stone of Prosperity". Ideal for vegetable and herb gardens.

Tree Agate – "Stone of Inner Peace". Enhances the connection between plants and their caretakers.

Obsidian – "Stone of Grounding & Protection". Place near entry points or around a meditation space.

Citrine – "Stone of Sunlight & Abundance". Attracts bees, butterflies, and other helpful pollinators.

full name of the record: 'the Star Heart Codex: a Guide for All Timeseers Future-Past’

recovering timeseer: Athan Levy (the Leviathan; Alien Blood-Heart)

subject: codex from the future-past in the process of recovery.

pre-recovery status: completed successfully, data stabilisation procedure complete (2768-2778 AUC) recovery status: unknown; ongoing since 2778 AUC.

details: recovered fragments are presented below. the structure is provisonal as recovery progresses. recovered excerpts are not final; errors in transcription are possible, and fragments may be altered as new data surfaces. the author denies all responsibility from the knowledge contained in the recovered codex, nor in any of its future versions.

codex format (as reconstructed): *************

I. the Book of Rules:

the Rules of Sunlight

the Rules of the Tower

the Rules of Stardust

II. the Book of the Earthborn

the Three Voices in the Pyre

the Three Sides of the Coin

the Three Aerial Eyes

the Three Songs of Moonlight

III. the Book of the Sphinx

$72&G!(?(/ (unrecovered)

%#>?J2G€€ (unrecovered)

IV. UNRECOVERED BOOK(S)?

fragments indicate the existence of one or multiple unrecovered books. the scope is unknown.

*************

Alfalfa sprouts: prosperity

Asparagus: lust, grounding

Artichoke: lust, protection, personal growth

Beans: grounding, love, lust, prosperity, protection

Beet: beauty, love, passion

Broccoli: strength, leadership, protection

Brussels Sprouts: protection, luck, rebirth, stability, courage

Cabbage: fertility, health, longevity, love, money, protection

Carrot: banish, clarity, fertility, illusions, health

Cauliflower: protection

Celery: grounding, lust, mental powers, peace, psychic powers

Corn: spirituality, protection, abundance

Cucumber: purity, fertility, healing

Eggplant: wealth, prosperity

Endive: love, lust, physical strength

Horseradish: Exorcism, purification, banishing, empowering, warding

Lettuce: stamina, sleep, rest

Leek: love, physical strength, protection

Mushroom: psychic awareness, physical strength, hidden truths, courage, healing, health

Onion: warding, protection, health, banishing, virility, fertility, energy, psychic power

Pea: love, prosperity

Pepper green: growth, prosperity

Pepper red: energy, strength, vitality

Pepper yellow: empowered creativity

Potatoes: Protection, compassion, potency, wishing

Pumpkin: healing, money, prosperity, abundance, divination

Radish: lust, protection

Rhubarb: fertility, love, protection

Spinach: fortitude, physical strength, general physical health, prosperity, money

Sweet Potato: love, lust

Squash: spirituality

Tomatoes: protection, warding, health, money, luck, love

Turnip: warding, banishing

Zucchini: spirituality, protection, prosperity, lust, abundance

*source: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen*

This #WomensHistoryMonth, let's not forget how many of our rights were only won in recent decades, and weren’t acquired by asking nicely and waiting. We need to fight for our rights. Here's are a few examples:

📍 Before 1974's Fair Credit Opportunity Act made it illegal for financial institutions to discriminate against applicants' gender, banks could refuse women a credit card. Women won the right to open a bank account in the 1960s, but many banks still refused without a husband’s signature. This allowed men to continue to have control over women’s bank accounts. Unmarried women were often refused service by financial institutions entirely.

📍 Before 1977, sexual harassment was not considered a legal offense. That changed when a woman brought her boss to court after she refused his sexual advances and was fired. The court stated that her termination violated the 1974 Civil Rights Act, which made employment discrimination illegal.⚖️

📍 In 1969, California became the first state to pass legislation to allow no-fault divorce. Before then, divorce could only be obtained if a woman could prove that her husband had committed serious faults such as adultery. 💍By 1977, nine states had adopted no-fault divorce laws, and by late 1983, every state had but two. The last, New York, adopted a law in 2010.

📍In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, entered the Boston Marathon under the name "K.V. Switzer." At the time, the Amateur Athletics Union didn't allow women. Once discovered, staff tried to remove Switzer from the race, but she finished. AAU did not formally accept women until fall 1971.

📍 In 1972, Lillian Garland, a receptionist at a California bank, went on unpaid leave to have a baby and when she returned, her position was filled. Her lawsuit led to 1978's Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which found that discriminating against pregnant people is unlawful

📍 It wasn’t until 2016 that gay marriage was legal in all 50 states. Previously, laws varied by state, and while many states allowed for civil unions for same-sex couples, it created a separate but equal standard. In 2008, California was the first state to achieve marriage equality, only to reverse that right following a ballot initiative later that year. 

📍In 2018, Utah and Idaho were the last two states that lacked clear legislation protecting chest or breast feeding parents from obscenity laws. At the time, an Idaho congressman complained women would, "whip it out and do it anywhere,"

📍 In 1973, the Supreme Court affirmed the right to safe legal abortion in Roe v. Wade. At the time of the decision, nearly all states outlawed abortion with few exceptions. In 1965, illegal abortions made up one-sixth of all pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths. Unfortunately after years of abortion restrictions and bans, the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022. Since then, 14 states have fully banned care, and another 7 severely restrict it – leaving most of the south and midwest without access. 

📍 Before 1973, women were not able to serve on a jury in all 50 states. However, this varied by state: Utah was the first state to allow women to serve jury duty in 1898. Though, by 1927, only 19 states allowed women to serve jury duty. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 gave women the right to serve on federal juries, though it wasn't until 1973 that all 50 states passed similar legislation

📍 Before 1988, women were unable to get a business loan on their own. The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 allowed women to get loans without a male co-signer and removed other barriers to women in business. The number of women-owned businesses increased by 31 times in the last four decades.