Acorns, gifts from the oak tree, are nuts with many magical uses. From luck, abundance, and fertility work, to being used for protection or as offerings, one shouldn't overlook these nuts.

Luck & Abundance:

Acorns are associated with luck and bounty in many folk beliefs and can be used in various ways to attract good fortune and abundance, as well as to foretell about such matters.

Acorns can be carried on one's person as luck charms, or can be worn from necklaces to bring luck as well. You'll also find metal acorn charms for just that purpose, as even the symbol or likeness of an acorn is believed to bring luck.

Planting an acorn (from which oak trees grow) during a new moon is believed to be a blessing for one's wealth and money, and can ensure that more money will always come to you than will leave you.

My grandmother always told me that if you find an acorn on your property when you have no oak trees (likely brought by a squirrel, chipmunk, or the like, though she also told me that sometimes they were gifts from land spirits), this was a good omen and a sign that good fortune was on its way for the household.

If one is currently seeking a new job, a promotion, a pay raise, to start one's own business, or any other endeavor that involves money, they can use acorns to foretell if the outcome of such an endeavor or hope will be in their favor or not. This can be done when one comes across fallen acorns by counting the whole, healthy acorns and then counting the broken, eaten, rotten, or otherwise damaged acorns. -If there were several more healthy acorns than bad ones, what you seek will easily be yours. -If there were several more bad acorns, there is no hope at all of gaining what you seek. -If there are more healthy acorns by a small margin, it's likely you'll succeed, but you should put in extra work to ensure as much. -Likewise, if there are more bad acorns by a small margin, it's more likely you'll fail, but this isn't yet a sure thing and you can still try to turn it around in your favor.

Keeping an acorn as a charm to attract abundance comes from the acorn being a symbol of growth and fertility. Due to this, acorns can be potent allies to incorporate in your abundance work. They can be included in money bowls or bags, or in bag or sachet spells centered around financial matters or growing one's business.

Protection:

It's said keeping acorns in one's home can grant protection from many things, including malevolent forces and spirits, bad luck, and bad weather. This is said to be done by keeping acorns near the front door (some say to tie the acorn from a string and hang it from the doorframe or on the door itself, and others say to keep an acorn or acorns on any credenza or table one may have in their entryway.

Acorns can be included in bag or sachet spells for protection, especially if one is seeking protection from illness or misfortune.

Health & Fertility:

As acorns, like the oak trees they come from, have long been used as symbols of fertility, growth, and longevity, it's no surprise that they can be put to good use in any spells or magical workings centered around health and fertility.

An acorn kept beneath one's pillow or bed, particularly if one feels as if they may be coming down with something, is said to ward off illness from taking root.

For those seeking a boost of fertility, wearing an acorn charm or keeping an acorn under "the marital bed" (old language from old charms, but an acorn can be placed under any bed on which "the deed is to be done") is believed to help with fertility over all.

Some spells call for carrying an acorn in one's pocket to help boost fertility.

According to my grandfather, gifting a groom with an acorn on the day of his wedding or placing an acorn in the bridal bouquet can be a blessing for fertility or a blessing for a good sex life.

APPLES

These fall favorites are a wonderfully versatile and powerful ally to keep in one's magical arsenal. Apples can be used for divination and in spells and amulets for protection, luck, inspiration, love, and more! In fact, apples offer so many possibilities that I've written entire pieces exclusively about the use of apples in magic — Apple Magic: Using Apples in Spells & Divination and the Apple in Myth: Deities, Figures, & Lore — and they've made numerous appearances in some of my other articles. Apples really are that useful! Here are just a few examples of some of the ways in which you can utilize apples in your craft —

Love:

Apples have long been used in love spells and love divining. This can be done in a number of very simple ways.

To encourage someone to love you or to secure a long-lasting, harmonious relationship with someone, cut an apple in half and split the apple between the two of you, each of you eating one half.

There are many methods of divining about love that involve apples, particularly in folk traditions. -One of the best known involves peeling the apple and tossing the peel over one's shoulder (usually the left shoulder). One then goes to look at the peel on the floor. Whatever letter the peel most resembles is said to be the first initial of one's soulmate. -Another method of love divination used to foretell one's soulmate calls for standing in a dark room (usually at midnight) with a candle in front of the mirror. Eat an apple whilst standing in front of the mirror. As you eat the apple, a vision of one's soulmate is said to appear at one's shoulder in the reflection of the mirror. -Another simple and common way of divining the identity of one's soulmate with an apple is to twist the stem of the apple. With each twist, go through a letter of the alphabet (i.e. the first twist is 'A', the second twist is 'B,' and so on). When the stem breaks from the apple, whatever letter you were on is said to be the first letter of your soulmate's first name.

Apple seeds and apple trees can also be used as charms to preserve, encourage, and protect love. -My grandmother learned from her grandfather that a newlywed couple should plant an apple tree together in the yard of their first marital home (and, preferably, at every home to follow). As the trees grow and thrive, so shall the love, and the roots of the trees are, he claimed, able to trap any negativity that could come for the couple and prevent it from reaching the home, snaring the trouble in their roots beforehand. -Apple seeds can be included in sachet spells for attracting or preserving love. -Apple seeds can also be used in spells and charms for bringing harmony in a relationship.

Money & Luck:

Apple seeds can be potent little features in money spells, such as money bowls and money jars.

A dried apple seed can be carried in one's wallet or purse as a charm to attract money or luck with money.

Those seeking good news about a money matter (such as about a pay raise, promotion, inheritance, or settlement) can use apple seeds both as charms to bring the money in and to divine if they'll be successful in the matters. -To bring the money in, apple seeds can be place in one's sock or shoe whilst they're putting in work in regards to the matter (such as whilst one is interviewing or applying for a promotion, whilst one is filing paperwork or replying to messages, phone calls, or emails pertaining to the matter, or whilst one is speaking to their lawyer or accountant). -To divine if you'll be successful in attaining the money (or to tell if the money will be a large or measly sum), cut an apple down the middle and inspect the seeds. If there are 5 or more seeds, this is seen as a good and positive omen, but if the seeds are small or look unhealthy (i.e. feature mold or are ill formed somehow), this is a bad sign and can mean that the money incoming will be delayed, will not ever reach you, or will be an insignificant amount. If there are a lot of seeds, this is seen as a very good sign that the money will come in and will serve you even more than you anticipated it would.

To foretell if one will have good luck in a new endeavor, cut an apple down the middle and count the seeds within. An even number is a good sign, while an odd number is a bad sign.

To have an apple tree growing on one's property is said to be a sign that the household will know wealth and abundance.

Protection:

Apple seeds can be used to protect from unwanted spirits or ghosts. Keep apple seeds in a jar or bowl in your home and, when an unwelcome spirit makes an appearance, grab a handful of seeds and throw them in the direction of the spirit. This is believed to quickly banish them.

Apple seeds can be included in sachets and bag spells used to ward off nightmares.

Similarly, apple seeds are often used in spells (especially in container spells or to form rings around candles in candle spells) for protection.

Cutting Ties:

Apples are used in this very simple spell for cutting ties between two people (from Apple Magic: Using Apples in Spells & Divination).

What you’ll need:

an apple

a knife

(optional) a marker

So, you want to cut ties with someone in your life? This spell will aid in severing the bonds between you and that person, as well as cast distance between you.

What to do:

-Take your apple and either carve your name into one side of the apple or, if you’d prefer, write your name on one side of the apple using a marker. Then turn the apple to the other side and carve or write the name of the person you wish to separate from.

-With your name on one side and theirs on the opposite side, take a knife and cut the apple down the middle. This symbolically severs the bonds between you.

-To cast further distance and create space between you, bury the apple halves on opposite sides of a street or body of water.

CARROT

Carrots have long been associated with fertility and virility, most likely due to their rather phallic appearance.

["Garden carrot" from the Juliana Anicia Codex (6th century AD).]

Fertility:

Carrots should be grown on one's property to increase one's sexual virility.

One can roast whole carrots and serve them to their bedmate to encourage a "rise in passions."

Carrot seeds can be included in sachet or bag spells to promote fertility.

Place carrot seeds in a small bag or fold them up in a piece of cloth and keep them beneath your pillow to boost one's fertility and chances of becoming pregnant.

FEVERFEW

Protection & Health:

Dried or fresh feverfew can be used in spells for protection, particularly protection from illnesses, injuries, and accidents. They can be included in protection pouches or sachets, or can be carried as a charm in one's purse, wallet, or pocket.

Feverfew flowers can be cut and kept at the bedside of someone who wishes to ward off illness if they feel at risk of coming down with something.

My grandfather tells me that putting feverfew flowers in one's shirt pocket works as a charm to repel illness, especially if that illness is magic-sent (such as via baneful working).

LEMON BALM

Love:

Lemon balm can be carried on one's person or pinned to one's clothes to attract love.

If there is someone in the home wishing to attract a partner or marriage, planting lemon balm on the property can aid in doing so.

If one has a particular person in mind for themselves, one should write the name of their love on a lemon balm leaf. That leaf can be used in love workings (sachets or bag spells, especially) to encourage that person to notice the worker. -Alternatively, the leaf can be placed beneath the pillow and slept on to bring about a dream in which the person whose name you've written will appear. Should they appear facing you, they have interests in you as well; but if they appear with their back to you, your feelings are unrequited.

[by Otto Wilhelm Thomé, in Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz (1885).]

Healing:

Dried lemon balm or lemon balm incense can be burned to promote healing and cleansing or to guard against illness entering a space.

Burning dried lemon balm in either herbal bundles or loose is recommended after one has been ill in the home to cleanse the home of any lingering negativity brought about by the sickness.

Protection:

Feverfew is also carried as a charm of protection while traveling. This can be done by wearing feverfew flowers or leaves on one's person (preferably pinned to the inside of one's clothes or kept in one's pocket, sock, or shoe).

ONION

Onions offer a variety of uses in witchcraft, with many folk magical uses in particular.

Protection:

Growing onion on one's property is believed to ward away negativity or ill intentions sent one's way by someone.

Growing onion on one's property is also said to provide protection from evil forces.

Placing an onion on one's windowsill (some call for piercing the onion with pins, needles, or tacks beforehand) is believed to ward away evil; the onion, my grandmother says, acts as a magnet for the evil and malevolence, soaking it up into the onion instead of letting it impact the household.

For protection against illness or evil eye you suspect may have been sent to your home, my grandmother's grandfather recommends cutting an onion into quarters and placing one quarter in each corner of the home. This is believed to draw the evil or illness into the onions, forming a protective barrier to the household. *CAUTION: Do not leave onions down where animals may ingest them.

My grandmother also recommends to protect from depression or to stop a depressive spell from worsening, to cut an onion in half and place the halves across the room from one another, facing each other, in whatever room the person suffering with depression is in. She says the onion draws out the worst of the negativity. The onion should then be discarded, as it has soaked the depressive energy into itself.

Onions, like garlic, can be strung at windows, doorframes, on doors, or on porches to serve as a protective charm, warding away evil, baneful workings, harmful spirits, and even disease and illness.

Onions can be used to cast out evil entities from an area. This can be done by either cutting an onion in quarters and, as in the above scenario, placing those quarters in the four corners of the area, or by hanging onions up either in a bag, from a string, or by their own stalks at the four corners of the area or at the main entrances to the area.

Onions still attached to their stalks can be used to cast out evil spirits or entities as well. This is done by walking, starting from a door or corner, the perimeter of the area, swinging the onion in front of your body in 'X' motions. My grandmother says some swing the onion by the stalk, while some swing the stalk through the air by the onion. Once you've made a complete circuit around the perimeter of the area (this can be done while chanting or reciting incantations or prayers of protection), the onion should be posted by its stalk from the doorframe or corner at which you started walking.

One can braid onion stalks together and keep the braid on their bedpost or under their bed to protect from evil and illness whilst they sleep.

[Woodcut print of a onion, from Hortus Sanitatis (1547).]

Money & Fortune:

My grandfather assures me that finding a sprouting onion in your stash is a favorable omen, a sign that money or a turn of good fortune is soon to find its way to you.

Dreams:

Onions are said to be able to bring about prophetic dreams. -One method calls for eating an onion-heavy meal before bed. -Another method calls for biting directly into a raw onion and eating that bite before bed. -And still another method recommends sleeping with an onion beneath one's pillow or bed.

Please see the soon upcoming Autumn Allies, Part 2 for more!

FURTHER READING:

Culpeper's Complete Herbal: Consisting of a Comprehensive Description of Nearly All Herbs (1880) - Culpeper, Nicholas

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (2008) - Cunningham, Scott

Doctoring the Devil: Notebooks of an Appalachian Conjure Man (2021) - Richards, Jake

The Fortune Telling Book: Reading Crystal Balls, Tea Leaves, and Everyday Omens of Love and Luck (2000) - Kemp, Gillian

Defining Key Terms

These terms are not exclusively used to describe spirits / deities / etc, but please look at them through the lens of them describing a spirit / deity / etc rather than a living person for the purposes of this post. This post is establishing a patron / matron relationship between a mortal and a spirit / deity / etc.

Patron:

a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter (merriam-webster)

one that uses wealth or influence to help an individual, an institution, or a cause (merriam-webster)

a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like (Dictionary)

[In Roman history] the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him (Dictionary)

[In writing] a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work (Dictionary)

[Patron Saint] a saint regarded as the special guardian of a person, group, trade, country, etc (Dictionary)

[Patron Saint] a saint who is believed to give a place, activity or group of people special help and protection (Collins Dictionary)

The word patron is rooted in the word pater (Latin) meaning father. It is also related to the word patronus (Latin) which means defender or protector, among other things. (Online Etymology Dictionary)

It is sometimes related to submission or serving another, but is also related to being a "boss" of somebody or being submitted to, in modern contexts. (Bueno Spanish + the links listed above) Usually, in spiritual contexts, it does not relate to submission or being the boss of somebody. Some people take it one step further and making it the name of a "sexual godspouse partner," but that is a discussion for another time...

Patron can sometimes be used to describe feminine or female spirits / deities who have this role or position in your life, regardless of masculine connotations / derivation.

Please note that a patron saint in Abrahamic contexts is different than a patron spirit in pagan contexts, but I included the definitions anyways to showcase some correlations that may help you comprehend the definition of a patron.

Matron:

a woman who supervises women or children (merriam-webster)

a married woman, especially one who is mature and staid or dignified and has an established social position (Dictionary)

[Institutional] a woman serving as a guard, warden, or attendant for women or girls, as in a prison; a woman who has charge of the domestic affairs of a hospital, prison, or other institution (Dictionary)

a dignified, serious-minded married woman (Vocabulary)

Matron is basically the female or feminine version of the term patron. It is rooted in the word māter (Latin) meaning mother, and later from the word mātrona (Latin) meaning married woman or wife. (Online Etymology Dictionary) It is used similarly as patron, sometimes establishing a position of power or authority over another, but also a direct correlation to a woman's relationship with the other part or her marital status / status within her family or domestic household.

Patroness:

a woman who protects, supports, or sponsors someone or something (Dictionary and Collins Dictionary)

a female patron (Collins Dictionary)

a woman who is a patron of something (Collins Dictionary)

a woman who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor (Collins Dictionary)

a woman who is a patron or the wife of a patron (Vocabulary)

Patroness is also the female or feminine version of the term patron, and is more traditionally used than matron (whereas matron is more popular in modern times).

The ending of the word patroness, being -ess, translations to female, indicating the role is now applied to a female / feminine individual. It is a a suffix forming distinctively feminine nouns. (Collins Dictionary)

Translations: guide, parent-like guide, parent spirit, parent-like protector, spirit supporter, spirit parent-like guardian, spirit sponsor, parent-like sponsor, parent-like defender, parent-like spirit, etc

The translations above are the most common intended uses of the name patron, patroness and matron labels in spiritual and / or religious contexts. In many ways, patron / patroness / matron spirits are seen as a spirits or deities (or sometimes saints, but that's usually for a larger group) that act as personal protectors, guides, or intercessors for an individual (or group or place). A spiritual figure who is living could also be considered a patron or matron, but they are obviously not a spirit.

Sometimes, the relationship is transactional, where patronship is awarded in return for the mortal / living person's devotion (which may look diverse). It can also be a form of guardianship where the patron provides spiritual or other support to the mortal / living person simply based on relationship. No matter which way you lean (or if you lean another way), patron / matron spirits are typically formed because the practitioner feels close resonance to the spirit / deity and the deity has become a "major" spirit / deity or guide in the practitioner's life.

Two Common Variations

These are two of the most common variations for pagans / similar people based on personal bonds with the deities / spirits.

Family

A spirit / deity who is your literal spirit parent

This is less common but still applicable! Usually though, spirit parents are referred to as spirit mother or spirit father or quite literally spirit parent, but each of those terms are also used to described patrons / matrons who are either family or found family

Found Family

A spirit / deity who follows is a guardian, mentor, protector, or guide (usually in a big masculine / feminine way that aligns with a "chosen parent" kind of bond)

This can be developed through devotion and worship, practice and working with them, or other means.

For purposes of this post, I will go on to mainly focus on the "found family" version of a patron / matron spirit or deity.

Self-Determination

If you have found a deity that you resonate with and would like them to be your patron or matron, please make sure you are:

Respecting the Deity / Spirit's Right to Consent

Communicating Thoroughly

Only Using the Term If Approved and Appropriate

A lot of people are walking around calling any given deity or spirit that they like their "patron" or their "matron." This is often highly inappropriate. If you want someone to be your matron or patron, you should get their consent. You don't just call Joe who works at the grocery store your "father you never had," nor do you refer to your mom-friend unironically as "dearest Mother." Sometimes, these relationships flow naturally, but you should make sure you're on the same page with the deity / spirit, because that can easily be misconstrued through personal lens without actual confirmation from the deity / spirit. Bonds with a patron or matron spirit / deity can be incredibly intimate, so misunderstanding that relationship can be both embarrassing and harmful / offensive for either party.

Deities / spirits should get the chance to consent to being called matron or patron because it's weird to call them - or anyone - anything personal if you haven't asked them.

The deity / spirit can decline as it's not a decision you should be making on your own. They can also say yes, but either way, it needs to be a mutual relationship, otherwise you're likely just lying or being disrespectful to the deity / spirit (even if that isn't your intent) because you aren't respecting their autonomy or their role in your life. You should be considerate of their freedom of choice, their values, and show your appreciation, otherwise the spirit or deity may feel offended or distance themselves from you.

Communicating thoroughly is really important to understand your deity / spirit's response once you do ask them. Some of us have spirit-sensing abilities which makes things easier (just make sure your mental health is doing okay). Enhancing / reconnecting with your intuition is a major part of efficient spirit / deity communication, so that even if things are not completely clear, you understand the messages and signs as applicable - being critical but also going with your gut is often really important.

A common mistake I see beginners making is trying to communicate just with tarot. As a tarot reader of almost a decade, I absolutely love the art, but I can also say that it does require a level of understanding, talent or skill that most beginners haven't developed enough. It results in both the practitioner and the spirit / deity being frustrated because the practitioner can't figure out what they mean or misunderstands the meaning of the cards. Tarot often requires cross-referencing to understanding meanings, sometimes energy work, in this case spirit work, aspects of human psychology, and much more - you can't just look at a single guidebook and figure it out based on pictures / words alone. You need to be receptive, because even if the deity / spirit is influencing the message, you are still the reader (not an onlooker or third party).

If you're one of the people who finds that tarot is confusing and not convenient in terms of deity / spirit communication, I recommend using a pendulum instead. This is much easier to understand, it is used as yes / no or true / false (you can make it a bit more elaborate but there's rarely need), and it is easy to make-shift. You can use a button or a pencil tied to a string as a pendulum, or even a piece of jewelry like a necklace. The main thing to consider with pendulum work (sometimes referred to as pendulum dowsing) is involuntary movements - however, there are actually specific positions you can sit in when performing pendulum divination that limit the risk of involuntary movements interfering with the reading.

Of course, there are other methods of divination and communication too - the main thing is to find a method that works for you that is clear and concise. It's difficult to establish bonds like this when you aren't 100% certain of the deity / spirit's response.

Lastly, it's really important to not throw around things like "this deity is my patron" or "she's my patron spirit" until you have confirmed. It often comes across to the spirit / deity as very arrogant or entitled, and it could prevent you from establishing the bond in a way that increases its flourishment (and it can even make it harder for you to find a different patron / matron if the deity / spirit says no).

If they say no, do not pester them or keep asking. You could try asking again later on in your work with them, but you need to respect them and how they feel about you / their relationship with you as their practitioner or friend or what-have-you if you want to continue worshipping / working with them and those they're associated with.

How-To (Basic)

Different methods may be required or preferred depending on the deity / spirit and the practitioner involved.

Discussion

Sometimes, establishment is unofficial or non-business mutual understandings. You could converse with your deity and come to the conclusion together that the word patron or matron / patroness best represents who the deity / spirit is or how they are to you based on how you both view your relationship or metaphorical bond. This is usually the most casual way to go about this, but valid!

Contract

Creating a contract or forging an official agreement that you both acknowledge and "sign" is a great way to form this relationship, especially if it's on a transactional basis. This is often best if you're more concerned about specifics, duties, requirements to maintain the relationship, etc. Of course, you can discuss all of those things regardless, but this is the less casual route.

Deity/Spirit-Specific Methods

As mentioned, different deities may have different methods they prefer - or even require - depending on who they are, who the practitioner is, their relationship to the practitioner, etc.

However, there are also more formal routes to take that these deities / spirits may prefer, some of which are specific to the deities / spirits.

For example, some goddesses are only okay with being called "matron" by someone in their cult or by a recognized priestess / oracle / etc.

Some deities prefer a specific ritual to be done, including prayer, perhaps offerings, and / or other things too.

This could all also depend on the cultural community that the deity belongs too, so it's really important to look into specifics like this if you're interested. Remember: traditional does not mean "out-dated," it just means customary or valued by the people. Traditional work is very modern and there are traditional practitioners of cultures that new ageists tend to forget about (including but not limited to Greek, Roman, Norse, etc). Find a traditional practitioner, who has the oral teachings and the knowledge that many new age practitioners are missing, and see if they have any insights. Some scholarly works, though they are a bit more distant from the real people as well as the old and the very much alive practices, may have information to spark such research and connections with others. My advice is to learn from the people you're learning about, and do your best to respect the deity / spirit's wishes. Worst case scenario, you can just outright ask them if there's a method they prefer, which I recommend doing anyways (just make sure you don't feel like you have to do anything - you can also decline to establish the relationship if you don't feel comfortable with a preferred method either, and / or bring up your discomfort with the spirit / deity and consider their response).

Whether you're following traditions or not though, one of the most important things is that you're respectful. Respectful the cultural / religious / spiritual community, respectful of the spirit / deity, and respectful of yourself and your personal alignment.

This is all why it can be important or beneficial to conduct research alongside speaking with the spirit / deity, to ensure you're respecting them as well as the customs association with them (if that's a route they require and / or that you're comfortable taking). It is also a great sign of respect to show that you did your research and have a list of boundaries / things you are or are not okay with when inquiring about establishing this relationship. It shows initiative as the practitioner as well, and that you're ready to be active in that bond / relationship.

General Things You Can Suggest Doing to Establish A Patron / Matron

These are some general tips that you can suggest to the deity / spirit of your interest, if you want to do something more than just discuss! (This is going to be focused on deities but many could work with any given spirit! If you'd like a post on specific spirit types related to this topic, please let me know by commenting or sending an Ask!)

Firstly, consider finding something within their domain.

If you're asking Aphrodite, look for love letters or love poetry, red wine, beauty products, etc.

If you're asking Poseidon, look for gifts he's given you from the sea (such as a sand dollar), an empty bottle, a package of edible seaweed, etc.

If you're asking Pluto, look for coins and collectibles, herbs that grow underground (as opposed to above ground), things that are purple or gold, etc.

If you're asking Minerva, look for thread, something you wove or crafted, something made of patterns / angles / math, etc.

Once you find these things, you can incorporate them into your ask. You could present them as offerings, incorporate them in a safe and related spell / working, utilize them in a ritual, hold them up as representation of your relationship and a testament to why the items / the deity or spirit means so much to you in prayer, etc.

Utilizing Random Items:

Beauty products, fashion you created, color associations, and cleansing works, can all be used to get dressed up either formally or just nicely / comfortably before approaching your deity. This can be done for the initial inquiry, or the actual process decided on to establish them as your patron / matron.

Food and drink can be utilized as "a shared meal." Pour two glasses, or share a glass. Bake the bread, offer the bread. And so on.

Good company is more than merry as an offering or just quality time for many deities / spirits. Maybe created a music playlist just for the occasion, or share some laughter and good moments before beginning / throughout the process / even afterwards!

Jewelry can be offered to the deity / spirit in honour of the decision made, as a sign of gratitude or to represent the relationship, if the deity / spirit consents prior to this (please do NOT accidentally bind them and get their consent before doing it! please make sure you explain your intentions clearly and respect their "no" if given)

Prayer of Gratitude:

A pen or paper (or even the notes app in your phone) are great options if you'd like to prepare a speech or prayer.

It is best to form a prayer (or speech) from the heart, but you can include some classical elements. Whatever you are most comfortable with, just make sure you are not accidentally offering yourself to this deity / spirit or otherwise endangering yourself.

Be mindful of loopholes make sure you're mindful of all wording in case it could be misconstrued.

If you're working on a contract, please draft it up similarly to how you would a swear on Styx in terms of safety. Make sure you also learn about tips and tricks to oath-swearing and don't bind yourself to something you realistically can't (or shouldn't, or might not be able to) follow through with. Also keep in mind the deity / spirit's wishes and abilities as well as described by themselves in the contract.

Remember that any contract is optional for both parties to "sign," and try to add a clause for making amends in case of unforeseen issues.

Lastly, you can also break your ritual up into sections. For example:

Cleanse yourself and get ready

Make sure all protections are in place

Call them in, greet them, and light some incense

Pray or speak with them

Make an offering or perform a "middle step" of the ritual

Do another speech or prayer

Establish the relationship

Do a closing step of the ritual

Celebrate together

Lighting the Flame:

Lighting the flame is powerful in many traditions.

You can light a flame beforehand for visualization, energy work, and / or purification. It can help with communication, purity and cleansing.

You can light a flame during the ritual to signify the new change, the spark, the passion of the decision, etc. You can keep this flame ongoing until it goes out, or maintain it for as long as they are your patron / matron.

You can even set some water by it for cleansing and focus, among other things.

You can light incense or a candle as an offering or as part of the ritual. You can light it to burn something if that's part of your ritual, or even to divine the smoke / ash / burn marks of wood / melted pieces of a candle.

You can take inspiration from the traditional Greek hearth, or communal fires of many Indigenous peoples, or whatever culture you align yourself with (respectfully).

Personal Experience

Personally, my chosen definition (consented to by him as well) of "patron" would closely align with "father-like spirit" or "father-like guide" etc, specifically in reference to my chosen and established patron spirit (i.e. a spirit, not a living person). He is much like a supporter, guardian or sponsor for me, and a good friend. I wouldn't say he's at the level of a "godfather" for me if he were human, but our relationship is great and individual and I greatly appreciate it.

(Please note that when referring to my patron spirit, I am not referring to my actual spirit father / spirit parent, but rather the spirit who has stepped into that place of guidance and spiritual support for me after we established that relationship. He is a grand protector of mine, a soft guide, and an honorable individual.)

My patron spirit establishment came about via genuine and loyal friendship and mutual interest, not religious or spiritual devotion. We established that relationship based on our metaphorical bond rather than exchange or transaction. I do not devote myself to spirits religiously or spiritually (or really in any way that I'd describe as devotion in such a manner), and I do not worship any deity or spirit. Instead, I work with them, and form those bonds. Usually, I would opt into an official exchange or transaction, but I feel comfortable referring to him as my patron spirit as he doesn't demand anything from me and respects my boundaries as a living and spiritual individual. Considering my protections and knowledge, I felt safe enough to not trap myself in a deal when I'm simply just on good terms with this spirit.

We were both interested and discussing this (more on that below), so it was a very natural and casual development, even if intimate and profound.

Who is your patron spirit, Mimi?

This might not come as much of a shocker (or it might haha), but my patron spirit is Love (energy force; spirit of the energy). I am a Priestess of Love, so we work closely together in that area of my work and teachings as well!

I often refer to Love as Yahweh, for many reasons. One reason is in honour of the Canaanite deity, pre-Abrahamic development of the name. Another reason is in honor of my Abrahamic teachings, teachers, family, and elders (including Christian and Jewish individuals). To clarify, I do believe that Yahweh and Love are two separate beings, but the name resonates with me and it is a name Love has also been called before, so I feel most comfortable using that name. (You will often just see me refer to him as Love though because explaining this every time gets exhausting lol.) Out of respect for any Jewish people who see this post, I have crossed out the name.

Love is also referred to by other names. Meraki is the Greek translation, but he's also been known as Primordial Eros. I would like to clarify again that I am not syncretizing these spirits / deities, just acknowledging shared names and roles.

If you'd like to learn more about Love (my patron spirit) or other energy forces, please do check out our community's Discord server, Energy and Us.

Energy and Us is a project I am leading as Lantern Holder of the community, and it is our first time sharing our teachings publicly in recent years (which is why you may not find much information about us online). We are very traditional, and we have members of our small community that align with all different cultures, religions and spiritual beliefs, because our teachings can apply to anyone who resonates with them, including a variety of religions and customs. There is no one way to be an energy force worker. This is one reason why many of our teachings involve various cultural, religious, spiritual, witchy, and scientific influences (respectfully and developed through many, many years). Though we are traditional, we are still a modern practice, and eager to slowly release information in a larger community space! (Please keep in mind that we ask that all teachings we share be kept within the server until it is safer for us to allow otherwise, as we have already been attacked for coming out into the open again by people appropriating our practices.) If you're interested in our server but don't want to join just yet, you can check out our Introduction website. Thank you for reading / learning, or your interest!

How long did it take you to establish a relationship with your patron spirit, Mimi?

I knew Love longer than I began calling him my patron. I've worked with him for many years now!

I don't remember off the top of my head currently (sorry, I am sick lol) which came first, between priestess discussion or patron discussion, but they happened around the same time.

Once I became proficient enough in working with his energy, he decided I was fit enough to become his Priestess and I was interested in that advancement, and I went on to earn the title officially in the summer of 2025 (this year!), sometime in June. I decided to wait until around July or August to announce publicly that I had completed my training and was officially recognized as a Priestess instead of just a "Priestess (in training)" as I tended to refer to myself as!

I inquired about him being my patron around March of this year (2025), since I have worked with him before and we were already good friends / closer than other spirits (including other energy forces). We discussed for a few months actually about this, I want to say around 2-4 months, before deciding that I would refer to him as my patron spirit and he would take on the responsibility of a patron spirit for me.

Part of why it took so long to discuss is because I am a bit unconventional in comparison to other spirit workers and Priests. I do not accept the blessings or markings of any spirit or deity (for the most part), which was something very important to me around the time of this discussion with him. This is incredibly uncommon as most people are honoured and would love to be blessed / marked by a deity or spirit - I am also incredibly honored by those who have been interested, I just choose to decline the gesture. Though I still have my spiritual credentials and they are acknowledged in the spirit world (so you can ask various spirits / deities about them and I encourage you to), I am not easily identifiable as a practitioner of various deities and spirits I work with - including Love - because I reject the markings and blessings. This is out of trauma for me. Rather than just blatantly saying no to Love's blessing / marking, I tried to work up to accepting it during the months of ongoing discussion about him potentially being my patron spirit, but I eventually asked him if he would still be my patron without giving me the mark / me accepting the mark considering my trauma and efforts, and he was very gentle and supportive in saying yes to that. It was actually quite an emotional conversation now that I'm recalling it haha, I did cry and he was very caring and understanding. I was truly working towards accepting the mark, but I just never did and don't think I will in the future.

For clarification, markings are representative of blessings and also representative of being claimed / loved / appreciated / protected by that deity / spirit, and they also boost the practitioner's gifs in relation to that spirit's / deity's energy or domains. However, it is not only friendly spirits who can give you markings. Love's blessing would have enhanced the Love energy in and around me - however, instead of just having that around me 24/7, I declined the marking and just call the energy during the times that I need it, which he allows to me freely. This works just as efficiently, the only difference is the energy is around me when I deem it rather than all of the time. I don't worship him, so though I am a strong educator in his values and I share his teachings, I do not need to embody his energy so often.

As a side note: This trauma, though, is also why I am a Seer in my community, but do not have any blessing or marking from Apollo (Roman) or Apollon (Greek) in response to that role / those gifts.

Overall, I've been making strides in my healing journey, despite it being an absolute rollercoaster, and am really grateful for the spirits and deities who are understanding of this boundary and respectful of my personal / individual journey. Though I haven't accepted their blessings or markings, just being considered for such and knowing they honour me just as I honour them are wonderful things all on their own. And, as Love is my patron spirit, his support as I navigate this spiritual trauma / trauma in general means a lot.

Did you do any specific ritual to establish this relationship?

This question delves into closed practices, so I will only answer it in-short.

I did not do any official ritual to establish this, though am considering it (for my case, it was optional).

I have, however, been a part of other rituals related to this deity's role in my life as patron, specifically in regard to other loved ones. All parties consented to those rituals and customs.

Energy Force Patronage

Referring to an Energy Force as your patron, patroness or matron is currently a closed practice. This means that it is not open to the general public, but it is something you can be initiated into doing. Sometimes this requires going to our community, sometimes it requires just going to the force themselves and our community can verify if anyone questions it (going to our community is preferred though, since we're the only ones with our teachings, customs, etc).

Each Energy Force is different, just like each deity, so we hope to open this practice up in the future, but currently it is too dangerous for our community to allow random people to share our teachings willy-nilly or call the forces we work with their patrons / matrons without verification. There are exceptions to this rule as like I said every force is different, but for the most part please inquire with us if you would like to claim an energy force as your patron / matron. We are not unfriendly to genuine learners - part of us opening our server is to share our teachings - we just want things to be done safely as in the past it was not done safely and we suffered immensely for it as a community.

Is working with energy forces a closed practice then?

To clarify, working with the energy forces is not closed, but some practices are closed and being an officially recognized practitioner of some energy forces is closed. We talk about this in our community space and can lead you if you're interested in learning what's okay, what's not, and how to get initiated. We're looking for genuine people though, not just the curious onlookers, to initiate. Our teachings are sacred and serious workings and we expect them to be held in high regard by anyone who wishes to initiate into closed practices. Thank you for respecting our boundaries, wishes, traditions, and teachings.

To learn more about energy forces, or contact the community with inquiries, please contact me directly or visit our public community space:

Thank you!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and / or learn from me! You can check out my other Tumblr posts at this link, and you can learn more about me at this link.

If you have any questions / inquiries, feel free to send an Ask!

As a reminder, this post is not all-encompassing. There are nuances and practices where some of this just simply does not apply and that is okay. I just hope this serves as a brief guide for beginners and those interested, because some of it is in general universal!

If you like, please feel free to comment below who your patron / matron is, or who you'd like to ask!!

Graveyard Dirt

Gathered from a specific grave or a corner of a graveyard, this dirt is typically gathered for two things: to work with the grave's spirit or to buy the dirt from the spirit for magic purposes.

Graveyard dirt is one of the most versatile tools you can have. You can use it for spirit work, protection, cursing, finances, love... Pretty much anything you can think of. Always offer something of equal value before taking it. You don't want an angry spirit following you.

Churchyard Dirt

Churchyard dirt is gathered from the yard of a church. This is best done on a Sunday since that is considered the "holy day" in Christian terms. Some old folk remedies call for churchyard dirt to ease some ailments such as colds or toothaches. For magic, churchyard dirt is best used for healing and protection purposes.

Bank Dirt

Gathered from the yard of a bank, the purpose of bank dirt it pretty self-explanatory. Bank dirt has been used to increase luck regarding finances and gambling. Common methods include sprinkling the dirt in your shoes or adding them to a sachet.

Police Station Dirt

Gathered from the yard of a police station, this dirt is also self-explanatory. You can use this keep the law away or to help bring the law down on a person.

Courthouse Dirt

Gathered from the yard of a courthouse, this dirt is typically used for the purpose for gaining a positive outcome from a court case.

Railroad Dirt

This dirt is gathered from a railroad, but if you want it to work it has to be a railroad that is still active. That being said, railroad dirt is best used for workings related to having people come or go, and to make charms for safe travels.

Crossroad Dirt

The crossroads are known to be a place of immense power. It's why so many workings call for visiting them. Crossroad dirt can be used for increasing luck, acquiring something you want, or removing an obstacle. Always pay the crossroads three of the most shiny dimes you can find before taking its dirt.

Home Dirt

This dirt can be gathered from within your own property or another person's property. Home dirt is used more as a taglock. You could use it to lay down protection for the home, or you could use it for more malicious workings.

Red Clay & Red Brick Dust