I Am My Own Parasite.

I made this spell because of the fires in Oregon and the smoke, I live near one of the large fires and it’s really affecting my town so here’s the spell.

You will need- a cup of water and a piece of (charged) moonstone.

To start get your cup of water (I put some full moon water in mine to give us a little more power but you don’t need to do this.) set the cup down and sit down so the cup is in front of you and you are facing west. Then take your moonstone and move it in a circle around the cup six times in a clockwise motion, while doing this visualize the rain and why you want it, visualize what it would be doing. Now drop the piece of moonstone into the cup. Finally set the cup with the moonstone in it outside or on a windowsill overnight.

This spell is to make someone realize and feel guilty about their wrongdoings.

👁️ Ingredients: 👁️ Poppet, taglock, or other representation of the target 👁️ Paper and pen 👁️ Container 👁️ Lemon juice 👁️ Onion powder 👁️ Optional: googly eyes

Sometimes, just saying “fuck off” doesn’t quite do the trick. Whether it’s unsatisfying or doesn’t repel the asshole you’re trying to get rid of, it might be time to pull out the big guns.

This banishing oil is a revamped version of an oil I made for an old friend many years ago. The original purpose was to rid her home of a nasty invasive spirit and then keep it away, since it had already been banished and returned a few times. She used it to anoint her mirrors, windows, doors, and even herself, followed by a large black pillar candle coated in more of the oil and burned every day until it was just a lump of wax.

It worked perfectly for her purposes, so I have taken that old recipe and recreated it in my current style for my current needs. If you saw my earlier rant post, then you know what this is for. If not, that’s okay - just know that someone has tested my patience and taken advantage of my kindness, and now they should kindly fuck off forever.

Like most of my spells and spell ingredients, this oil is 100% edible… and pretty tasty! See my notes below for ideas on how to use it.

Ingredients:

Oil of Your Choice (I used olive oil because it’s what was in my cabinet)

Salt

Pepper

Red Chili Flakes

Smoked Paprika

Garlic, minced

Onion Powder

Oregano, dried

Caraway Seeds

Coriander

Bay Leaf

A Jar or Bottle

Instructions:

Measure how much oil you will need to fill your jar or bottle of choice. You can pour the oil into a bowl or use a measuring cup to both measure and mix your oil, which is what I did. Fewer dishes to wash at the end!

Add each of your ingredients, one at a time, to the oil. Leave the bay leaf for last, and see step 3. I added the ingredients in the order that they are listed, but you can do them in whatever order suits you best. Be sure to give each a purpose tied back to the person, spirit, or other bothersome creature you are banishing (some ingredients have protective properties; see my note below for how I assigned a purpose to each).

Stir your mixture well. Really whip it. Beat the hell out of it. Etc.

Bay leaves are often used in wish magic or as vehicles for sigils. For our purposes, hold the leaf with both hands and stare at it hard. Think of the person, spirit, or thing you are banishing. Whisper or shout your desire to keep them away from you, adding any specifics you like. Stuff the leaf into your jar or bottle whole.

Pour your mixture into the jar or bottle over the bay leaf. Be sure to get all of the bits of garlic in there.

Cap the jar or bottle and give it a good shake. I recommend letting it sit and infuse for a few days to get a really good flavor going, but you can use it immediately if you want. Just be sure to shake it well to charge it before use.

This oil is good for up to six months, though it may last longer. Keep an eye on it; if it forms mold, throw it away immediately. Keep your jar or bottle in a cool, dark space. Refrigeration is optional, but it’ll last longer if you keep it in the fridge.

Notes:

As with most oils, there are many uses for this recipe. It can be either a spell on its own, or you can create it to be a component in another spell. Or both! Both is good.

I like to use this to cook vegetables like brussels sprouts, asparagus, and potatoes, but you could also use it in a stir fry or to cook meats. This oil also makes for a very pleasant salad dressing when mixed with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. It would be both funny and effective to feed a Fuck Off Salad to your target. If you want to do this, I recommend making it extra spicy, especially if they hate spice and you’re feeling especially vindictive.

If you’re not looking to eat this oil in some way, you can also use it to anoint candles for a banishing spell. Or, if you want to get a little more involved, you can submerge a taglock or poppet in the oil to symbolize the person you are repelling. This would be a great way to continuously banish someone or something if they keep trying to return. Plus, it can have the added benefit of being… uncomfortable for the target.

Here are the purposes I assigned to each ingredient; feel free to use these or come up with your own based off your own experiences:

Salt - Protect the caster during the creation and use of the oil, repel bad vibes and start the process of cleansing

Pepper - First line of fuck off; give a reason or a particular attribute that you want gone, such as “aggression” and “lying”

Chili flakes - Second line of fuck off, this time with ✨spice✨; I assigned “threats” and “rancid vibes” to this ingredient

Garlic - Third line of fuck off; protection against further nonsense, repelling them from contacting me

Onion - Keeping away pests; I use the layers of the onion to symbolize the layers of “fuck off” in the oil and reinforce each one

Oregano - Now comes the part where we protect ourselves from the offending party’s possible retaliation! This is protection from backlash and luck for the success of the spell. This has extra power for me, since my mom grew this oregano and is superbly pissed about someone threatening her kids!

Caraway seeds - Boosting my convictions and inner power, preventing the spell from backfiring on me (the target(s) are also witches, so this was very important to include!)

Coriander - Personal protection against further nonsense, cementing this oil as a line of self-defense

If you use this oil in a spell, let me know how you liked it, if you made any substitutions, and/or how it worked for you!

Happy Banishing, Witches!

Human blood is one of the most potent sources of magical power. It has strong associations with both life and death, and is a way to inject your own essence into a spell or ritual. Blood is considered sacred in some cultures and taboo in others. Of all the human effects used in magic, blood is undoubtedly the most powerful.

When Should You Use Blood?

Because it is so powerful, blood may not be an appropriate addition to every spell.

It’s important to remember that when you add your blood to something, you are putting a part of yourself into that thing and tying it to you both physically and energetically. You don’t want to use your own blood in a curse, for example, because you don’t want all that negative energy to be tied to you. Likewise, you probably don’t want to use your own blood in banishing spells.

You also may want to leave blood out of spells that are meant to be gentle or subtle. You don’t want to use your blood in a love spell for the same reason you don’t want to use words like “obsessed” or “addicted” — it may create a connection that is too powerful and/or unstable, resulting in a toxic or codependent relationship. (If you want to use a personal effect in a love spell to create a physical link to you, try using sexual fluids and/or saliva instead.)

So when should you use blood in your magic? Blood is most commonly used to create very strong bindings. Anointing something with your blood connects it to your own life force. Add a drop of your blood to a magical oil, spell, or charm to create a link to your physical body. (Note that once you do this, you shouldn’t use that item on other people!) Blood is also associated with the ancestors (your “bloodline”), so you may choose to incorporate blood into rituals for ancestor worship.

We’re all familiar with the fictional trope of characters forming a blood pact by cutting their palms and mixing their blood. While blood can be used to create a bond between people, this bond is extremely powerful and should not be taken lightly. In folklore, these bonds are nearly unbreakable. Once you have this kind of connection to someone, it becomes extremely difficult to separate yourself from them. Think very seriously about whether you really want to be that closely intertwined before forming a blood bond with someone.

Blood is used in some religions as a devotional offering to deities or spirits, but in others it is a taboo to use blood as an offering. Do research into the deities you work with and their historical worship before deciding whether blood would be an appropriate offering. Don’t just assume that because a deity is associated with war or death, they enjoy blood offerings. That deity may belong to a pantheon that treats blood as taboo, in which case it would be offensive to offer it to them.

When considering using blood as an offering, remember that using your own blood creates a physical link between you and the spirit who receives it. Because of this, I recommend only using your blood as an offering for spirits you have worked with for a very long time and/or are formally dedicated to. If you feel like blood would be an appropriate offering but don’t want to use your own, try offering animal blood or one of the other substitutes listed below.

Safety, Ethics, and Etiquette

If you haven’t read my previous post about using human effects in magic, I recommend checking it out. All of the safety precautions listed in that post also apply to blood magic.

When collecting your own blood for ritual use, you should ALWAYS use a sterile lancet, a device used for blood testing that can be purchased over the counter at any pharmacy. This will only produce a couple of drops of blood, and will ensure a clean and safe draw. Always use a fresh lancet straight out of the packaging, never reuse a lancet or share one with another person, apply a clean band-aid to the pinprick, and make sure you dispose of your lancets properly. DO NOT use knives, pins, or any other nonsterile object to draw blood. These safety precautions eliminate the risks of infection and of taking too much blood by mistake.

When doing magic with blood, a few drops is more than enough. Exercise caution and never draw more blood than you need. A little goes a long way.

If you have struggled with suicidal ideation and/or self-harm, blood magic may not be for you. Collecting blood with a sterile lancet is virtually painless and is not the same as self-harm, but if you feel that the sight of your own blood may be triggering, do not attempt to do so. You can use another personal effect, like hair or saliva, instead. Alternatively, you may want to use one of the substitutions listed below.

When working with other people’s blood, it’s important to be aware of the possibility of bloodborne diseases. To be safe, always wear gloves, make sure you don’t have any exposed cuts or sores, and be careful not to get any blood near your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Menstrual Blood

If you have a period, you may choose to work with your menstrual blood in spellwork or ritual.

One major advantage to menstrual blood is that it exits the body naturally, so you don’t have to draw blood with a lancet. Menstrual blood is completely sterile in most cases, and is not any more or less clean/safe than any other type of blood.

In addition to the normal associations of blood, menstrual blood is associated with the divine feminine, lunar energy, childbirth and reproduction, protection, and the release of old energy. This makes it a powerful and extremely versatile magical tool.

Animal Blood

Animal blood has similar associations to human blood, and may be an appropriate alternative when you don’t want to use your own blood. Like human blood, it is associated with both life and death and with the balance between the two. Historically, animal blood was a common offering to deities in certain cultures. Like human blood, it adds a power boost to spells and rituals.

Getting your hands on animal blood may be tricky, but you can find it if you look. If you have a local butcher, ask them if it would be possible for them to set some aside for you. This request is much more common than you think — blood is an ingredient in several dishes, such as blood sausage and black pudding. You may also be able to find coagulated blood (usually pig’s blood) in some international grocery stores.

Alternatives to Using Blood

If you are uncomfortable using blood, don’t. You could use animal blood as described above, but if you don’t want to or don’t have access to it there are other substitutions to consider.

If you want to bind something to you, use some of your hair. Hair is another powerful personal effect and, like blood, it is associated with binding things to your personal essence.

If you want to incorporate the symbolism of balance between life and death, use pomegranate juice. Pomegranate is well known for its association with the Greek underworld and the goddess Persephone. However, its many tiny seeds give pomegranate a strong link to fertility. As a symbol of Persephone, pomegranate represents the cycle of life and death.

If you want to make an offering to a spirit or deity, use red wine. Wine is a classic devotional offering, and has even been used as a substitute for blood in religious ritual. In Egyptian mythology, the enraged goddess Sekhmet is appeased with a huge amount of beer dyed red to prevent her from killing humans. In the Catholic mass, red wine is used to represent the blood of Jesus Christ. The link between blood and wine is an ancient one, which makes this a powerful choice for those who want to call on the symbolism of blood without actually using it in their practice.

Blood magic is not scary, dark, or unsafe if it is approached with appropriate respect and caution. Because of its potency and rich symbolism, blood can be a powerful additions to many spells.

Resources:

Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison

Ash of Roses

I was recently asked how to create Ash of Roses for use in witchcraft. The reply I began to write wound up being rather lengthy, so I have decided to post it.

The first and most important component of Ash of Roses is…not roses. Or flame. It is FIRE SAFETY. For this method, you will work with open flame and plant material that is ON FIRE. Always make sure that you have a safe work area, away from flammable materials, and that you have water or an extinguisher at the ready in case of accidental flareups. Far better to lose your rose ash and make a mess than have a conflagration that might consume the room or your home.

For best results, this is best performed out-of-doors in a ventilated but sheltered area, so that breezes do not carry burning embers into the surrounding brush or dry grass.

To make Ash of Roses (the way I do it), you will need the following:

Whole dried rose petals, 1 - 2 cups (any color)

Several long bamboo or metal skewers

Small taper candle and candleholder

Heat-safe bowl at least 3″ deep

Lighter

Fork and spoon

Container for cooled ashes (screw-top recommended)

Bandanna or surgical mask (for allergy sufferers)

Step 1: Set up all your equipment on a fire-proof surface. Clear fire hazards from the area and make sure there are no stray breezes that will carry away the ash, or more importantly, burning embers. Light the candle and let it burn for a minute or so until the flame is good and strong. Place the bowl right beside it for easy collection.

Step 2: Thread several dried rose petals onto the sharp end of a skewer. (I usually do about half a dozen at a time.) Try to pierce close to the center of each petal, and scrunch them together so that they’re not too spread out on the skewer.

Step 3: CAREFULLY hold the skewered petals over the candle flame until they ignite. Quickly (and again, carefully) move the burning petals over to your heat-safe bowl. Gently tap the skewer on the lip of the bowl so that the blackened petals fall into the dish below. If the petals are not burnt, leave them on the skewer and re-ignite them. (The petals will self-extinguish pretty quickly.)

Step 4: Scrape the blackened petals off the skewer using the side of the bowl or a fork. Do this slowly so that the petals, which are now very delicate, don’t disintegrate or fly away. Take care also that the ash does not fly into your eyes, nose, or mouth. (If you have allergies or are sensitive to smoke, the use of a bandanna or surgical mask is recommended.) Let the blackened petals sit in the heat-safe bowl until they are completely cool.

Step 5: Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until you have blackened all the rose petals. Let the petals cool completely (about 3 min after last burning should do it), then carefully scoop the burnt material into your storage container. A screw-top jar is recommended for ease of use and airtight storage. You can add a marble to the container and shake to reduce the petals to powder, or store them whole, whichever works best for your purposes.

Step 6: Make sure you clean up your work area and extinguish any open flame or glowing embers before you go.

Some magical uses for Ash of Roses are:

Inversion (creating the opposite effect of any mix to which it is added)

Repulsion of unwanted love or romantic or sexual attentions

Ending relationships

Repelling love magic

Reducing or removing romantic feelings

Baneful magic (especially curses for unfaithful lovers)

Have fun, witchlings! And just once more - Safety First!

Origins, Meaning and Utility

The Structure of the Mind

Carl Jung theorized the existence of three levels/spheres in the human psyche: the Ego, representing the conscious mind, the Personal Unconscious where memories are contained and the Collective Unconscious, where all knowledge and experiences of the species are shared.

Each Sphere has in it a certain number of Archetypes, used to better describe the components of those structures, and the Shadow is one of them.

What is the Shadow

The shadow can be seen as a instinctual or primitive part of ourselves, it exists as part of the unconscious mind and is composed of repressed ideas, weaknesses, desires, instincts, and shortcomings.

It is this archetype that contains all of the things that are unacceptable not only to society, but also to one's own personal morals and values, normally going against social norms and rules as well as what we personally consider right.

The Shadow is often described as the darker side of the psyche, representing wildness, chaos, and the unknown, and it is common for people to deny this element of their own psyche and instead project it on to others.

The Shadow in Witchcraft and Benefits of Shadow Work

Art: Unknown

The Shadow, in witchcraft, can represent The Unknown, hidden depth of ourselves. Speaking in terms of energy, this is an area that can be a deep source of energetic issues, because it’s locked up in the dark and always striving to reach the light.

To not work with one’s Shadow is to make it greedy and aggressive, as well as denying a big part of oneself, making everything a half of a whole.

Through that brief explanation, we can already establish the importance and role of the Shadow in witchcraft, and with that in mind, comes the concept of Shadow Work.

Shadow Work can be seen in a number of practices, meditation, trances, inner journey’s, lucid dreaming, astral travels, spells and divination.

The method can change, but the principle is simple: Centering your intent to self discovery, self knowledge and self acceptance.

Working with one’s Shadow is not only beneficial to one’s craft, as it allows one to get in touch with their intuition as well as allows for easier connection with one’s guide/guides, but it also allows for healing and acceptance of one’s feelings and needs.

Think of all aspects of life as a wheel. If there is one part bent, the wheel can turn, but with more effort. If the owner spends time fixing that bent part, the wheel will turn in a much more smooth manner.

That is what happens when you take the time to do Shadow Work, you have to put in effort, and most of the time it’s not easy, but once done, all other components on the wheel of your life will be relieved to move on without that obstacle that makes their job harder.

The Shadow is not evil, as evil is just a moral compass invented by humans. It is a part of one’s nature, and to deny it is to supress a connection with yourself.

Take the time to know and accept your shadow, and you’ll see that life will be a little easier.

References:

A Natureza da psique (Structure & Dynamics of the Psyche) by C.G. Jung

I know a lot of us would like be able to visit other places right now. It looks like we won’t be able to do that for a while, but we can at least pretend!

Museums:

Egyptian Museum (Floor 1, Floor 2)

Inside the Louvre (Part 1, Part 2 (also includes Napoleon Apartments))

The British Museum

Natural History Museum, Washington, DC

National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan

Russia’s Hermitage Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Natural History Museum, London

National Museum of Scotland

Libraries:

New York Public Library Tour

Guided Tour of the Library of Congress in 360°

Boston Public Library Tour

Old Library Ambience

Ambience: Being in an Old Library while it Rains

Royal Library Ambience: Rain and Fireplace

Luxurious Study Room/Library Ambience

Study in the New York Public Library

Ambience - Writer’s Library from the 1930′s

University + Study with Me:

Columbia University, Manhattan, NY

University Lunchroom Ambience

Study with a Friend at Columbia University’s Butler Library

Study with Another Friend

Korean Student Study with Me

Walking Around Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut

Oxford in the snow (some talking)

Walk a City:

NYC Museum Mile Walk

Dubai - Marina Waterfront to Jumeirah Beach

Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Amsterdam City Center

Valencia, Spain

Historic Heidelberg, Germany

Ho Chi Minh Nightlife

Hanoi Nightlife

NYC Midtown Manhattan (Part 1, Part 2)

Walking in the Rain in Tokyo

Walking in the Rain in Boston, MA

Downtown Seattle + Top Attractions

Downtown Chicago

Downtown San Francisco

London - Oxford Circus to Bloomsbury

Prague, Czech Republic

Historic Naples

Sydney + Historical Landmarks

Caythorpe Village + English Countryside

Castleton Village + English Countryside

Walk Nairobi, Kenya

Cairo Khan el-Khalili, Market  (skip intro)

Lagos Town Center in the Algarve, Portugal

Grimmelwald Switzerland

St. Ives, Cornwall

Groningen, Netherlands - Martini Tower to Groninger Museum

Walk New Orleans in the Rain

Walk Paris, France

Visit Historical Landmarks:

The Eiffel Tower

Berlin TV Tower

Saigon Skydeck (Bitexco Tower), Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace

The Empire State Building

Statue of Liberty Tour

Walk of the Taj Mahal

The Colosseum, Rome

The Great Wall of China

Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

Machu Picchu (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

Leaning Tower of Pisa + Extra (some talking, mute if needed)

Visit the Roman Forum

Parks + Nature:

Forest Walk - Grand Ridge Trail, Issaquah, WA

Winter Forest Walk

Forest Hike - Baker River Trail & Chain Lake Trail

Forest Walk - Middle Fork Trail in Snoqualmie

Phacelia Flowers Field

Flowery Meadow, Bird Sounds Ambience

Butterflies and Flowers in a Meadow

Relaxing Meadow and Mountains

Scenic Drives:

From Nice to Monaco

English Countryside - Buxton, Blakewell, Matlock Bath

Banff National Park, Icefields Pkwy, Alberta, CA

San Francisco Pacific Coast Highway

Byway 12, Utah (with music)

Miami, FL Drive

Mount Rainier (Foggy, forested roads) (with music)

Furka Pass, Switzerland

Public Transport:

Tokyo Yurikamome Train

Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Train

Sea to Mountains Train, Montenegro

NYC Subway - 96th to Times Square

Norway Subway from Stortinget to Jernbanetorget

London Bus Ride - Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Regent Street

Scuba Dives + Snorkeling:

Music and some editing is just unavoidable in these kinds of videos for some reason? Please be ready to mute if needed.

Roatan, Honduras - Half Moon Bay Wall and Dixie’s Place

Florida Keys - Horseshoe Beach

Scuba Diving the Egypt Red Sea

Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia Coral Reef

Maldives Deep South Diving

Triton Bay to Raja Ampat, Kaimana

Hawaii Oahu Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving in Molokini Crater Maui Hawaii

Cafe Ambience:

There’s a lot of these that seem the same, but trust me, they are different.

Cozy Coffee Shop with Jazz and Rain

Rainy Day at Cozy Shop with Jazz

Rainy Night at Coffee Shop with Romantic Jazz

Rainy Day Cafe with Piano Music

Zen, Relaxing Rainy Day at a Cafe

7 Hours of Actual Coffeeshop Footage (with chill music)

Restaurant Ambience:

Romantic, Cozy New York Restaurant Ambience

Restaurant with Background Music

Outdoor Italian Restaurant at Night

Misc. Public Places

Staten Island Mall

The Florida Mall

Mall of America

Dubai Airport

Oceanografic Valencia, Spain (Largest Marine Park in Europe)

Tilburgse Kermis Funfair Carnival

Magical/Other Worlds:

Cozy Medieval Cottage Home with Rain and Fireplace

Magical Potion Shoppe Ambience

Witch’s Lair Ambience

Peaceful Nature Covered Subway with lofi (and cat)

Magical Forest Ambience

Witchy Coffee Shop

A Cozy Home:

Cozy Vintage Home with Fireplace and Thunderstorm

Cozy Winter Ambience with Fireplace and Snowstorm

Cozy Cabin Ambience

Randomizers:

The Secret Door: Tour random places in Google Maps.

Geoguessr: Get “lost” on Google Maps and find where you are.