- ̗̀Sunlight & Magick ̖́-

🔥 Fire witches:

Light a candle or a stick of incense. Focus on the flame, the burning. Envision bonfires, hear the crackling of wood. Close your eyes and observe the spectacle underneath your lids.

💨 Air witches:

Open your window for a minute or two. Let the wind caress your face, let your lungs be filled with fresh air. Extend your hand through the window and allow it to flow.

💦 Water witches:

Take a bowl and fill it with water. Bury your hand inside it, feel the temperature shift. Then take it out. Observe the ripples. Imagine the quiet murmur of a mountain brook and the crashing thunder of ocean waves.

🍀 Earth witches:

Water your plants. Contemplate the patterns in which the soil soaks up. Brush the leaves and whisper a quiet ‘thank you’ for providing you with the gift of life. Dip your finger in the soil and smear it across your hand.

🍵 Kitchen witches:

A lovely natural citrine to brighten up your day!

Citrine is known as the merchant's stone and is often said to bring you success and prosperity. Personally, every time I do a fair or mineral show, I keep a piece of it in my money box.

I got exactly two hours of sleep last night and even during those two hours, I was tormented by nightmares. So, I made a sachet for peaceful sleep and sweet dreams, and a jar to fight off nightmares and all that bad stuff. I’ve made these before and I’ve found that the jar especially has very strong protective energy and is very good for people with PTSD, like myself.

I have used herbs and spices that I think are likely to be found sitting in your cupboard already. Many everyday things in your kitchen have magical properties!

Remember that this is only what I like to do. See if it works for you. Or don’t. It’s all up to you.

Anyway, here’s how to make them:

Sachet

Don’t worry if you don’t have all these herbs and spices! Work with what you have at hand. Also note that the sachet should have a pleasant smell. If something doesn’t smell right to you, consider using it for the jar.

lavender - sleep, peace, healing, happiness, love, protection

jasmine - calming, peace, love

chamomile - sleep, calming, healing, protection

cinnamon - healing, love, protection

valerian - sleep, calming, protection

rosemary - wards off bad dreams, sleep, peace, healing, blessings, protection

thyme - wards off bad dreams, strength, courage, healing, protection

basil - peace, protection, happiness, love

I like blue, lavender and white sachets but use any colour you like. Keep the sachet in your bed, under your pillow or inside your pillowcase.

Jar

Again, work with what you already have.

pink salt - love, protection

black pepper - protection, wards off negativity

cayenne - strength, protection

chili powder - wards off unwanted visitors

garlic powder - love, wards off harmful energies and unwanted visitors, strengthens other ingredients

ginger powder - healing, strength

marjoram - peace, protection, courage

onion powder - absorbs and removes harmful energies, healing

Seal with candle wax or a ribbon. Keep the jar near your bed, on your nightstand or under the bed.

More: 

- crystals: e.g. quartz, rose quartz, amethyst

- your own incantation or a lullaby that helped you sleep as a child

I would love to hear your thoughts. If there’s something you’d like to add, feel free to do so!

♡ write a list of things to leave behind, burn it to banish them.

♡ burn a white candle all the way through, and whisper a wish as it died out.

♡ cleanse with lemon water and rosemary on all windows and doors.

🍂 spend some time outdoors while the weather still permits!! we’re officially at the beginning of the harvest season and nature has so much to offer this time of year. take note of all the small changes beginning to happen while we’re slowly transitioning into autumn!!

🍂 decorate your altar!! fall/warm colors such as reds, yellows, oranges, browns and even greens are fantastic to incorporate. and, things such as various plants, candles, fake/real leaves, corn dolls, etc. being the spirit of autumn into your altar!! i love to incorporate some green transitioning into more earthy colors to represent the changing seasons.

🍂 FOOD!! oh, the most glorious part of the sabbats haha. things such as bread, soups, muffins, roasted meats if your diet permits, etc are all fantastic to cook up! incorporating things like pumpkin, cinnamon, nuts and berries, etc are some of my personal abso little favorite ways to feel closer to autumn.

🍂 like i recommend for every sabbat, do some CLEANING!! reorganize your space, cleanse it with sage or incense. we’re transitioning into a new time of the year and now is the perfect opportunity to switch things up and berid of any unwanted energy around your space.

🍂 tend to any of your crops/plants!! this is the beginning of the harvest, darker and colder days are ahead of us while the hustle and bustle of gardening is slowly becoming behind us. now is the time to take some extra care of your gardens to prepare for the harvest of mabon!

🍂 honor the sun!! in whatever way you see fit. the darker months are approaching and it’s so important to appreciate the brightness while it’s still around. light some candles and say a prayer, perform a sun ritual, bask in the daylight. take the opportunity now while it’s still here!

🍂 create a gratitude list. as the darker months approach i find it difficult to adjust. creating a list of things that i’m thankful for, or things that mean a lot to me, truly help me to ground myself and make the transition much easier. i plan on writing them down on small pieces of paper and leaving them on my altar!

🍂 spice up any of your current tools if you find the need!! i find this the perfect time to do so, as we’re at such a transitional part of the year. whether you have tools you’d like to jazz up, or you’re looking into creating/buying your own, this sabbat is a fabulous time to do so!!

🍂 work on your book of shadows/grimoire!! i’m finally starting back up on mine again this lughnasadh and i’m just so excited! i find sabbats one of the absolute best times to learn about my craft because i truly feel at my peak on these days.

🍂 spread the love!! whether it be through text messages to friends and family or creating some baked goods to share, you don’t have to out yourself in any manor! just some kind gestures to spread some light to those around you. im personally baking some pumpkin muffins and will be blessing them + sharing them.

🍂 celebrate with colors!! this is a fabulous way for those of you in the broom closet to have some fun. warm and earthy tones are incredibly welcome, browns and golds, reds and oranges. painting your nails, wearing some makeup or even dressing up in these colors is such a lovely way to honor this sabbat.

🍂 treat yourself!! this holiday is about celebrating the hard work that has come with this past harvest. incorporate some self care into this day by preforming acts that make you happy.

🍂 create a list of your accomplishments of the year and a list of your goals for the future!! i adore doing this, especially around this time of year, just to get a grasp on where i am in my craft.

Autumn draws near and with it, comes Lughnasadh.

Lughnasadh, pronounced “LOO-nah-sah” and known also as Lammas, is a Celtic festival that occurs from the 31st of July through into the 1st of August. It was observed fervently throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man and marks the beginning of the harvest season.

Also called: Lúnasa (modern Irish), Lùnastal (Scottish Gaelic), Luanistyn (Manx Gaelic).

Lughnasadh is the celebration and ritual of the first harvest of fruit, wheat, and grain. This festival both acknowledges and celebrates the waning of light - Lughnasadh is the initiation of Winter preparation.

It is named for Lugh Lámhfada. and is in honour of his step-mother, Tailtiu who perished of exhaustion after clearing the fields of Ireland ready to be planted, sowed and seeded. Lughnasadh was originally a set of rituals, gatherings and funerary games (named Tailteann Games, or Áenach Tailteann) in honour of Tailtiu’s death and sacrifice. 

Some Symbols of Lughnasadh:

Wheat

Corn

Barely

Oats

Onions

Grapes

Straw dolls/straw bales

Corn dolls

Wood

Tarot (strength)

Runes (Eihwaz)

The Colours of Lughnasadh:

Yellow

Orange

Red

Violet

Dark green

Brown

The Stones & Crystals of Lughnasadh:

Carnelian

Cat’s Eye

Citrine

Marble

Sale

Granite

Lodestone

The Herbs of Lughnasadh:

Heather

Blackberry

Rose

Sandalwood

Goldenrod

Important/Celebrated Foods of Lughnasadh:

Bread

Apples

Corn

Beer/Ale/Mead

Grapes

Onions

Apricot

Pear

Activities to be done during Lughnasadh:

Baking/Cooking: Sharing food is a good thing to do with each sabbat, especially those with agricultural ties. If you incorporate seasonal foods, and foods associated with the sabbat itself, it can be seen as an offering or as being done in honour of what you’re celebrating.

Take some time to enjoy nature: Lughnasadh is a time when the seasons are changing, so take this time to walk and enjoy the last that summer has to offer. Collect things whilst you walk to put on your altar if you have one.

Construct an altar: if this is something you do, decorate your altar with some of the items mentioned in the list above. If you’re pagan and have a deity who corresponds with this holiday, leave an offering on your altar. In Lugh’s case, he is a god known for his skills in craftmanship and His ability to turn His hand to anything. He is also known for playing the harp, so anything you have crafted or that has taken skill to create will be well received by Him.

Decorate your home: if you like, small decor changes can really get you in the mood and act as a celebratory act.

Bonfires: Invite friends and/or family to a bonfire. Not only is Lughnasadh a celebration of waning light and of the god Lugh, it is a celebration of fire. Share plans to remove negative habits or influences from your life with your loved ones, burn representatives of negativity, drink to future prosperity and toast to Lugh.

Light a candle and do the same, if you are not yet an outed witch.

Craft: as mentioned before, Lugh is a god of craft and skill. Make something! Finish a project you’ve been putting off! 

If you don’t want to do something in Lugh’s name, you can make dolls out of corn (a very traditional activity) and they can be left on an altar if you have one, used as decoration or turned into a poppet.

Acts of athelticism: The funerary games of Lughnasadh were its primary reason for creation. To honour this, you can do something on a small scale, such as jogging or yoga, or going to the gym, if you are able.

Trading: Bake some bread and give it to your friends/family/coven in exchange for herbs, or some canldes! That’s just an idea. but you get the gist of it.

Lots of trading took place at historic Lughnasadh celebrations, as they assembly for this season festival was always large.

Hi everyone! Here are some very EASY ways to celebrate midsummer!

Open up the curtains and let some good sunlight cleanse your room.

Open up the window.

Clean cobwebs from the ceiling and other places.

Go on a picnic!

Eat some berries.

Pick flowers.

Light a candle that reminds you of summer or of the sun.

Wear a floral print.

Make a honey and sugar face scrub.

Make a flower crown.

Garden, or water your plants.

Most people are reblogging an ask I answered long ago about offerings to give to the dead. It’s long overdue, but I’ve finally typed it up into an actual cohesive post.

~ Herbs ~ 

Lavender, for peace in passing on

Thyme, to give peace to those who have died from violence

Apple, a common Irish symbol for the dead, which I often give to my ancestors 

Pomegranates, myth of Persephone and all that

Rosemary, for remembrance

Myrrh, commonly used in necromancy, also used to give off good vibes

Chervil, often used in rituals for the dead

Mugwort, usually used to aid divination and communication with the dead. I also give it as an offering

Bay, same as mugwort (my mentality is that these herbs will help “send” the offerings to the dead)

Lemonbalm, for peace and healing

Wormwood, to strengthen the communication with the dead, as well as healing and revenge

Frankincense, a traditional herb (usually incense) to honor the dead

~ Flowers ~ 

Calendula, for blessings and eternal love

Rose petals (or the flower) for love and healing

Marigolds, perfect for ancestor worship (as well as spirit work salves and tea)

Lilies, for a sense of security and togetherness; ideal for children

Orchids, for balanced emotions and adoration; ideal for former lovers

Daisies, also ideal for former lovers and lost family members

Tulips, to spread happiness

Dandelions, ideal for connecting with certain spirits (especially when drunk as a tea)

~ Liquids ~

Water, a traditional offering for the dead, often left out for passing spirits

Wine or other alcohol

Juice, namely pomegranate or beet

Oils, such as olive oil, pomegranate oil, coconut, almond, vinegar

~ Other ~

Stones or crystals

Coins

Tobacco (I also know some people who use cigarette smoke or ashes)

Grains, traditionally brown bread

Meat

Candles, namely dark colored or earth-toned

Cleaning up graveyards, placing offerings on graves and speaking to them also makes a great offering

Song and music

Anything personal to the person you’re sending the offering to

~ What to do with the Offerings ~

Burn herbs or flowers (safely) with a written message to “send” the offering to the soul

Leave coins, flowers or herbs on the grave

Pour liquid into the earth, or leave them out in a bowl

Leave offerings out as a “standing offering” for the dead who pass through (idea from @arachnospooky)

Sea sand is amazing for dream work. Keep a jar of sea sand (dream dust) next to your bed to protect against nightmares and help guide your dreams ⛱

**add rosemary to help remember your dreams