The Wayside Witch

I wanted to take a minute to discuss altars. In particular, the ways in which we witches craft and build our altars. Now, there is nothing wrong with spending countless hours picking out the perfect pieces and ordering the perfect statue, items, and adornments to place on it (I have my altar made this way as well). However, I want to discuss the beauty of the subconscious altar.

Yesterday, I was cleaning my study and actively moving items around the room trying to pick them up from here or there and stacking them on shelves, my desk, tables, etc. Then at a point, I took a pause and gazed around the room and realized the formation of a new altar had begun. The items themselves were just stacked haphazardly, but with a little rearranging, I had the workings of a new altar.  

Now, this altar is still in its infancy but with a little TLC I know this can become a new a fantastic sacred space.

I wanted to use this as a teaching moment for both myself and my fellow witches. Don’t ever fret or bog yourself down with how your altar looks or what you should put on it. Furthermore, make sure you don’t go out and spend and spend on things that you may already have lying around your house. (If you have the means to do so then go ahead, but don’t feel that you are less of a witch because your altar doesn’t look like someone else's.)

Also, look around your house for altars that may already be present that you failed to realize you created.

How do these altars come about?

Otherworldly spirits, be it divine or magical, guide your hand.

Your own subconscious knows what you need and leads you to it.

The magic in your home manifests in a physical form.

The items themselves get drawn to one another’s energy.

So go out and make your altars. Take agency over your sacred spaces. Be the witch you were meant to be.

Materials:

9 Black Peppercorns (Whole)

Some sort of hot pepper

A black candle

Paper

An image of the person you are attempting to curse

Black Thread

A fireproof cauldron or bowl 

1. Place your black candle in the center of your altar and light it.

2. Place 9 peppercorns around the base of the candle. (This helps contain the curses energy around the candle until it is ready to send.)

3. On the piece of paper write the name of the recipient who is to receive the curse. Roll this up along with an image of them and tie it with black thread. (It should look like a scroll.)

4. Concentrating on the person recite the lines below:

Hounds of Hecate hear my plea,

May Queen of Witches set you free.

Seek mine enemy through blackest night,

With warm breath and curse filled bite.

5. Place the hot pepper onto your tongue and chew keeping the pepper in your mouth. While chewing burn the scroll and place it into the cauldron. (During this time also manifest the energy and visulaize how you want this person to suffer.)

6. Once the paper is finished burning spit the pepper over the ashes and say:

With my suffering the spell is done.

7. Blow out the candle and bury the ashes, chewed pepper, and peppercorns at a crossroads.