#witchcraft101

Feeling weighed down by old patterns?

Witches know that the Waning Gibbous Moon is the perfect time to finally let go. Traditionally linked to the Crone aspect of the Goddess, this period invites deep reflection, purification, and the cutting of ties that no longer serve you. It's also a great opportunity to express gratitude for the lessons learned and the progress made. Use this phase to clean house and set the stage for postive change.

🕰️ Phase Duration: 4~6 days

🧙‍♀️ Ritual for Banishing Negative Attachments 🧙‍♀️

🕯️ Start with a black or gray candle—these colors are perfect for releasing and protection. Pair it with Amethyst for clarity and Obsidian for grounding. You can also (always) use a Black Tourmaline for protection.

🪄 Cast a circle to create a sacred space for your ritual and light your candle. Focus on the negative influences or habits you want to banish from your life. Picture them as weights tied to you and dragging you down.

Write down each of thes burdens on a piece of paper. Hold it and chant this incantation 3 times with intent:

🔥 By the waning Moon’s glow I release what must go As the flame burns These cords dissolve I am complete, I am free, New energy is called to me 🔥

Burn the paper in the candle’s flame and watch your troubles turn to smoke and dissolve. Scatter the ashes near a big plant or a tree, or bury them, as a final goodbye.

Close your ritual by thanking the energies supporting you and reflect on the space you’ve cleared for new, positive growth. 🌿

🌔✨ Elements associated with the Waning Gibbous Moon ✨🌔

These elements align with the Waning Gibbous Moon's themes of release, protection, and transformation. They support banishing rituals and can help you clear away what no longer serves you:

🕯️ Candle Colors: Use Black to banish negative energies and provide strong protection. Gray complements this by neutralizing and dissolving residual negativity.

💎 Crystals: Incorporate Obsidian for grounding and protection. Smoky Quartz transmutes negative energy into positivity. Black Tourmaline is the strongest crystal for shielding against negative influences, and Onyx helps with releasing old patterns and providing strength.

🌿 Herbs: Sage is ideal for cleansing and purifying. Mugwort enhances spiritual clarity and protection, while Rue helps dispel negative energy and offers an extra layer of protection.

🌬️ Incense: Burn Myrrh to deepen spiritual cleansing and purification. Cedar is also powerful for driving away negative energies and safeguarding your space.

🌿 Essential Oils: Cypress helps to release and transition. Pine renews and purifies, and Patchouli supports grounding and protection.

🎴 Tarot Cards: Use The Hermit for introspection and wisdom, Death to signify transformation and endings.

Incorporate these elements into your ritual to fully harness the Waning Gibbous Moon's energies, supporting your intentions for release and protection. 🪬

Follow for more magick and witchy tips 🔮💜

Suggested Reading

*- Highly suggested for beginners

What is Witchcraft?* Fundamentals of Energy Work* Spell Design* Basics of Warding* Basics of Binding Basics of Banishing Introduction to Gnosis* Spell Dictation Anchors Paths of Least Resistance* Conceptualization Vs. Visualization* Research Tips* Threshold Theory

Introduction

When first stepping onto the long winding path of witchcraft and mystical understanding it can be very intimidating, especially when it comes to casting your first few spells. The catch is that designing and casting spells is the only way to advance forward in your practice. It's a case of knowledge Vs. experience. Sadly, there isn’t much in the way of educational media on the topic of spell design, magic theory, and casting processes. This causes most practitioners to turn to Wiccan or Ceremonial sources for their initial research, neither of which are viable foundations for a well-rounded, effective and efficient craft. 

Pentagram:

a pentagram is usually used for invoking and evoking

the points of the pentagram represents the element of earth, fire, water, air and spirit, with the spirit on top representing the divine ruling over the material world

inverted pentagram:

the inverted pentagram is still connected to the elements, but now spirits is at the bottom, showing the material world is ruling over the divine. It is meant to show the powers of the individual and not the powers of a divine or dogomatic system

The inverted pentagram has been used to represent the horned God

Pentacle:

a pentacle is usually used for protection and power

same thing as the pentagram but it is now unified and protected by a circle

the pentacle also represents male and female energy mixing together in a symbiotic relationship. The pentacle being the male energy and the circle being the female energy

inverted pentacle:

This beautiful artwork depicts a Ukrainian tradition but I imagine that ancient pagan celebrations likely looked similar.

What are the Sabbats?

The pagan sabbats are the 8 religious holidays associated with Wicca. Although these holidays come from many different places, they were complied into the wheel of the year by a Wiccan. Most witches celebrate some variation of these holidays even if they are not Wiccan. The sabbats were specifically chosen to correlate with important transitions within the seasons (like the equinox, etc.) so it is common for witches from a variety of different practices to celebrate during these days.

The witches wheel of the year begins on Samhain (or Halloween), which is considered the witches new year.

Where do They Come From?

The witch's wheel as we know it comes from Wicca, although all of the sabbats originate from other traditions. They were first gathered and incorporated into modern witchcraft by Wiccans. This is why some witches choose not to celebrate the sabbats in the format present below. Some will only celebrate the sabbats that are meaningful to them, while others will incorporate them (amongst other celebrations) into their ritual work. It all depends on the practitioner and what they want to do.

Many of the sabbats originate from Celtic culture with evidence of several celebrations found in Ireland, Britain, Scotland and Wales.

Celebrating the Sabbats:

Note: Pinterest has many different offering/celebration ideas so if you are looking for more ways to celebrate, I suggest going there!

Samhain- when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. The last harvest festival and a time to celebrate past ancestors. Offering can include apples in honour of the dead.

Yule- the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year. Signifies the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days. Offerings can include yule logs and holly.

Imbolc- a celebration linked to fertility and rebirth. The halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Offerings can include Brigid's crosses.

Ostara- the spring equinox and a germanic holiday. This is the time to plant seeds and begin projects. Offerings can include coloured eggs and is strongly associated with the rabbit.

Beltane- celebrates the coming of summer and is the halfway point between the equinox and the summer solstice. Offerings can include a bonfire, a maypole and lots of dancing. This is still celebrated across Europe as May Day.

Litha- longest day of the year and the summer solstice. Signifies the shortening of days. Offerings include feasting and honey cakes.

Lughnasadh- halfway point between the solstice and the fall equinox. The first of three harvest festivals and signifies the ending of summer and the coming of fall. Offerings include bread and wheat.

Mabon- the fall equinox and the second of three harvest festivals. In hellenic paganism, it is when persephone travels to the underworld. Offerings can include fall leaves and acorns (or other tree nuts).

*All images are from Pinterest*

🖤For more information on the sabbats and their origins, check out this website:

ʀ ᴇ ᴅ

elemental: fire.

planetary + astrological: aries, scorpio + mars influencing saturn.

associated chakra: root.

associated body parts: bones, teeth, nails, colon, prostate, rectum + blood.

magical association: passion, fire, courage, strength, power, joy, renewal, energy, health, motivation, desire, ambition, leadership, self-esteem, business deals, combat, confrontation, buying & selling, mechanical things, repairs + hunting.

ᴘ ɪ ɴ ᴋ

elemental: ---

planetary + astrological: venus influencing mars.

associated chakra: ---

associated body parts: muscular system.

magical association: personal success, self-love, personal harmony, friendship, calming, romance, harmony, passion, partnerships, getting a move on, physical energy, sex, action, exercise, surgery, buying, selling & adopting animals, gardening, woodworking, new beginnings, honor, morality, emotions, femininity, breast cancer, homosexuality, compassion, relaxation + infants.

ᴏ ʀ ᴀ ɴ ɢ ᴇ

elemental: fire.

planetary + astrological: sun, leo + sagittarius.

associated chakra: sacral.

associated body parts: pelvis, kidneys, uterus, bladder, lymph, sperm, adrenalin + digestion.

magical association: relieving depression, feelings of abandonment, increasing opportunities, happiness, mental alertness, breaking down barriers, material gain, kindness, sealing a spell, harvest, strength, dominance + legal matter.

ʏ ᴇ ʟ ʟ ᴏ ᴡ

elemental: air.

planetary + astrological: mercury, taurus + libra.

associated chakra: solar-plexus.

associated body parts: lower back, spine, gall bladder, pancreas, liver, spleen + digestion.

magical association: healing, friendship, increase productivity, remove negative thinking, increase creativity, inventiveness, prosperity, self-esteem, beauty, life, humility + intellect.

ɢ ᴏ ʟ ᴅ

elemental: ---

planetary + astrological: sun.

associated chakra: ---

associated body parts: ---

magical association: money, inspiration, prosperity, wealth + power.

ɢ ʀ ᴇ ᴇ ɴ

elemental: earth.

planetary + astrological: venus, mercury, aquarius + cancer.

associated chakra: heart.

associated body parts: upper back, spine, shoulders, breasts, heart, lungs, respiratory system + circulatory system.

magical association: increasing love and trust, faeries, general healing, wellness, transformation, new beginnings, prosperity, money, career, employment, hope, immortality, rebirth, garden magic, herbal magic, fertility, luck, courage, change, peace, harmony, relationship success, beauty, soul mates, artistic ability, affection, partnerships, alliances, grace, luxury, social activity, marriage, decorating, cosmetics, gifts, income, gardening, gardeners, architects, artists, cosmetologists, chiropractors, dancers, engineers, entertainers, fashion, models, designers, music, painting, poetry, courtship, dating, household improvements, planning events + shopping.

ʙ ʟ ᴜ ᴇ

elemental: water.

planetary + astrological: jupiter, moon, virgo, capricorn, aquarius + pisces.

associated chakra: throat.

associated body parts: neck, throat, thyroid, lungs, ears + mind.

magical association: increase wisdom, wealth, joy, opportunity, patience, peace, truth, loyalty, meditation, introspection, insight, happiness, fidelity, remove confusion, the ocean, elevation, calming, long distance travel, higher education, political power, social standing, dealing with foreign cultures/countries, religion, philosophy, forecasting, broadcasting, publicity, expansion, luck, growth, sports, horses, legal matters, doctors, guardians, merchants, police officers, psychologists, charity, self-improvement, research, studying + reading.

ᴠ ɪ ᴏ ʟ ᴇ ᴛ - ᴘ ᴜ ʀ ᴘ ʟ ᴇ

elemental: ---

planetary + astrological: mercury, saturn, capricorn, jupiter, gemini + sagittarius.

associated chakra: brow.

associated body parts: face, nervous system, upper respiratory system, bones, eyes, ears, pituitary gland + emotions.

magical association: clairvoyance, relief of emotional hurt, spiritual protection, heal wounded pride, spirituality, wisdom, increasing psychic powers, meditation, justice, forgiveness, humility, the occult, hidden forces, secret dealings, memory, intelligence, communication, intelligence, education, correspondences, messages, students, merchants, editing, writing, advertising, contracts, kinship, ambition, progress, visiting friends + astrology.

ᴡ ʜ ɪ ᴛ ᴇ

elemental: ---

planetary + astrological: moon + pisces.

associated chakra: crown.

associated body parts: brain, pineal gland + semen.

magical association: safety, protection, transformation, enlightenment, connection to higher self, becoming more outgoing, relieving shyness, the cycle of life, freedom, health + initiation.

ʙ ʟ ᴀ ᴄ ᴋ

elemental: earth.

planetary + astrological: saturn,

associated chakra: ---

associated body parts: teeth + bones.

magical association: use in combination with white to represent balance, opposites, the union of opposing forces. Divination, beginning, creation, rebirth, absorbing energies, patience, binding, stability, neutralizing forces, material gain, protection, karma, death, manifestation, law, understanding one’s limits, overcoming obstacles, challenges, tests, real estate matters, farming, sacrifice, separation, criminals, civil servants, plumbing, justice, wills, debts, discoveries, elders + truth.

ɢ ʀ ᴀ ʏ - s ɪ ʟ ᴠ ᴇ ʀ

elemental: ---

planetary + astrological: moon.

associated chakra: ---

associated body parts:---

magical association: divination, secrets + psychic awareness.

ʙ ʀ ᴏ ᴡ ɴ

elemental: earth.

planetary + astrological: scorpio + capricorn.

associated chakra: ---

associated body parts: ---