Witchcraft Blog

"Make sure you're in a good state of mind" this, and "Don't be afraid" that.

I made more printables!! In this case, it is a Spell Worksheet set. In most cases, it is best if, when making spells, you take your time and think them out. For each item or step included, you must think, why? Once the spell is done and you receive results, it is equally if not more important to reflect on them. This is one of the best ways you can learn what works and doesn’t work, thus, helping your growth as a witch.

You can get the PDF along with other resources here!

On that note, if you want to see or request specific worksheets or resources, feel free to send those my way!!

You don’t build a fire by yelling “burn.” (or maybe you do?)

So let’s talk about why some spells flop. It's not because your desire was weak. Not because the moon was in the wrong position. But because you built a magical toaster and forgot to plug it in.

You can have a brilliant, spicy spark of intent, but if it has nowhere to go? No structure to hold it, no current to carry it, no ritual act to release it? That energy just... sits there. Fog in your chest. Static in your bones. Sometimes it loops. Sometimes it leaks. Sometimes it just becomes ✧vibe soup.✧

This isn’t about perfection. Or control. Or doing it “right.” It’s about structure and the subtle architecture that lets magic move.

Let’s break it down.

So! I have been seeing a ton of grimoire ideas and thought I’d stuff them all together. A lot of ideas are from @manifestationsofasort, @banebite, and @pigeonflavouredcake. Check them out! They have a ton of cool stuff there.

What Do I Use For My Grimoire?

You can use anything for a grimoire! For a physical one, journals, binders, and notebooks are good. For digital ones, Notion, Tumblr, Docs, and even just your file folder are great.

Introduction

A Book Blessing

Table of Contents

About Me

Your Current Path

Your Personal Beliefs

Your Spiritual Journey

Superstitions

Past lives

Favorite Herbs/Crystals/Animals/Etc.

Natal Chart

Craft Name

How You Entered The Craft

Astrology Signs

Birthday Correspondences (birth tarot card, birth stone, etc.)

Goals

Safety

Fire Safety

What Not to Burn

Toxic Plants & Oils (to humans, plants, animals)

Crystals That Shouldn’t Be Put… (in sun, in water, etc.)

Things That Shouldn’t Be In Nature (glass, salt, etc.)

Potion Safety

How to Incorporate Blood in Spells

Smoke Safety

Wound Care

Biohazards

Core Concepts

Intention & How It Works

Directing Energy

Protection

Banishing

Cleansing

Binding

Charging

Shielding

Grounding

Centering

Visualization

Consecration/Blessing

Warding

Enchanting

Manifestation

Meditation

What Makes A Spell Work

Basic Spell Structure

What Not To Do In Spells

Disposing Spell Ingredients

Revitalizing Long Term Spells

How To Cast Spells

What To Put In Spells

Spell Mediums (jars, spoken, candle, sigils)

Spell Timing

Potion Bases

Differentiating Between Magick and Mundane

Common Terms

Common Symbols

Intuition

Elements

Basic Alchemy and Symbols

Ways To Break Spells

Laws and Philosophies

Correspondences

Herbs & Spices

Crystals & Rocks

Colors

Liquids & Drinks

Metals

Numbers

Tarot Cards

Elements

Trees & Woods

Flowers

Days

Months

Seasons

Moon Phases

Zodiacs

Planets

Incense

Teas

Essential Oils

Directions

Animals

Symbology

Bone Correspondences

Different Types of Water

Common Plants

Entities

Deities You Worship

Pantheons

Pantheons & Deities Closed to You

Common Offerings

Epithets

Mythos

Family

Worship vs Work

Prayers & Prayer Template

Altars

Deity Comms

Devotional Acts

Angels

Demons

Ancestors

Spirit Guides

Fae

Familiars

House, Animal, Plant, Etc. Spirits

Folklore Entities

Spirit Etiquette

Graveyard Etiquette

Boundaries

Communication Guide & Etiquette

Spirit Work Safety Guide

How Entities Appear To You

Circle Casting

Common Offerings

Altars

Servitors

Mythological Creatures (dragons, gorgons, etc.)

Utility Pages

Gazing Pages

Sigil Charging Station

Altar Pages

Intent Pages

Getaway Pages

Vision Boards

Dream Pages

Binding Page

Pendulum Board

Crystal Grid

Throwing Bones Page

Divination Pages

Mirror Gazing Page

Invocation Pages

Affirmation/Manifestation Pages

Spirit Board Page

Other Practices

Practices That Are Closed to You (Voodoo, Hoodoo, Santeria, Brujeria, Shamanism, Native Practices)

Wicca and Wiccan Paths

Satanism, Both Theistic and Non-Theistic

Deity Work

Religious Paths (Hellenism, Christianity, Kemeticism, etc.)

Animism

Types of Magick/Spells

Pop Culture Paganism/Magick

Tech Magick

Chaos Magick

Green Magick

Lunar Magick

Solar Magick

Sea Magick

Kitchen Magick

Ceremonial Magick

Hedge Magick

Death Magick

Gray Magick

Eclectic Magick

Elemental Magick

Fae Magick

Spirit Magick

Candle Magick

Crystal Magick

Herbalism

Glamours

Hexes

Jinxes

Curses

Weather Magick

Astral Magick

Shadow Work

Energy Work

Sigils

Art Magick

Knot Magick

Music Magick

Blood Magick

Bath magic

Affirmations

Divination

Tarot Cards

Oracle Cards

Playing Cards

Card Spreads

Pendulum

Numerology

Scrying

Palmistry

Tasseography

Runes

Shufflemancy

Dice

Bibliomancy

Carromancy

Pyromancy

Psychic Abilities

Astrology

Auras

Lenormand

Sacred Geometry

Angel Numbers

Ornithomancy

Aeromancy

Aleuromancy

Axinomancy

Belomancy

Hydromancy

Lecanomancy

Necromancy

Oneiromancy

Onomancy

Oomancy

Phyllomancy

Psephomancy

Rhabdomancy

Xylomancy

Tools

Crystal grid

Candle grid

Charms

Talismans

Amulets

Taglocks

Wand

Broom

Athame

Boline

Cingulum

Stang

Bells

Drums

Staffs

Chalices

Cauldrons

Witches Ladder

Poppets

Holidays

Yule

Imbolc

Ostara

Beltane

Litha

Lammas

Mabon

Samhain

Esbats

Deity Specific Holidays

Religious Holidays (Christmas, Easter, Dionysia, etc.)

Celestial Events

Altars

Basics of Altars

Travel Altars

Deity Altars

Spirit Altars

Familiar Altars

Ancestor Altars

Self Altars

Working Altars

Self-Care

Burnout Prevention

Aromatherapy

Stress Management

Coping Mechanisms

Theories & History

Witchcraft history

Paganism

New Age Spirituality

Cultural Appropriation

Thelema

Conspiracy Theories

Cults

Satanic Panic

KJV

Witches in History

Cats in History

Transphobia in Witchcraft Circles

Queerness in Witchcraft Circles

Other

Recipes

How to Get Herbs

Foraging

Drying Herbs and Flowers

Chakras

Reiki

Witches Alphabet

Runic Alphabet

Guide to Gardening

Your Witch Tips

Resources

Other Tips

List of Spells

Cryptids and Their Lore

After having a very strong set of dreams, I woke up and decided to write this alongside a few other posts. As sorcerers. practitioners, whatever you may call yourself as, we are often accustomed to the spiritual end of the spectrum, further pushed by books that provide the same thing of spirituality, spirit over matter deal without going into the basics and hence we end up with a variety of misconceptions. Unfortunately, this is prevalent in the community, everywhere and anywhere, but moving on.

Some of the Unmagical Magical Tools

Discretion and Logic: the witchcraft community is rife with misinformation at times, it is also filled with people swearing that their way is the only way and we end up with mildly cultish sects of people. So too are we told to emphasize the mundane before giving any spiritual answer to the question given to us. Thus, logic and discretion are the tools of the witch. The ability to discern natural occurrence from omen, decide on a practical and effective way of remedying such things, sorting information between fact and fiction, what is good and what is not, discerning whether or not the effects of spell were of good quality, are all various aspects of this. So too, is it in divination. The Tower brings forward many machinations of fear but it doesn't have anything to fear. It's appearance as a Major Arcana already shows it to be one of the major forces of life, of existence, and that we have already experienced such Tower Moments, even without the presence of Tarot. Cards take on meanings depending on the context and the discretion and logic of the magus come into play when needing to discern whether or not "The Wheel of Fortune" is a good card in this reading or not, alongside intuitive nudging.

Memory - as you can see by the variety of things in my blog, I like studying. I came from an oral tradition and so many of the things I was taught wasn't really written down and it was something strange that it was passed down to me seeing as how the main practice was to give it to a daughter during the Christmas period. Then again, my family wasn't one for tradition. Regardless, the fun thing about an oral tradition is that it is oral. Rarely are there any written texts and most of most things are committed to memory and to memory they should stay. If you remember, congratulations, if you don't - not our business. Memory serves the witch by way of basically remembering that the full moon is tonight, various prayers, the proper way to anoint and light a candle as per the magus's practice, the various traditions and way of honouring the Buddha. Beyond its aspects as logical and a way of literally just remembering information in the theory way, it does also serve well when it comes to non-theory things. These include dreams, visions, omens and signs, things that appear in readings and so on. This is where, my lovely people, I simply tell you to please learn from my mistakes and get a journal or start doing voice recordings of your travels because Hell knows that I wish tiny me knew the power of literally writing stuff down for future reference.

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

After you are done charging, and filling your sigil with your intent you must go through the process of activating it. Activation is the process of firing your sigil into the universe along with the act of allowing the sigil to work in your subconscious. There are two types of ways to activate your sigil. These two types of ways are passive, and active sigil activation. Both of these types of ways have their own benefits, and it is important to understand how to use both of them, so that you can pick the right one for the job.

Active Sigil Activation:

In active sigil activation the energy is usually released all at once, or in a very immediate fashion. This type of activation is usually going to be done through the act of destruction of the sigil, so that all the energy that has been charged into it can be released and fired into the universe, and your mind can greatly actively focus on the sigil that has been marked upon your subconscious. This is usually going to be used for such sigils that are used once on one particular thing. This is really good for quick, and fiery manifestation, but it will go out, and try to complete its task, and then burn out rather quickly. This type of method should be used on things that you want done that are pretty direct, and will only need to be impacted once.

Ways to activate active sigils:

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper, and burning it in fire.

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper, and submerging it in water until it dissolves.

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper, and ripping the paper in half.

Drawing the sigil in to the sand at the beach, and letting the sea wash it away.

Drawing the sigil in the air with your energy, and pushing through it in order to destroy it.

Making the sigil out of dust, or powder, and then blowing it away to destroy it.

Making the sigil in your mind, and then imagining it being destroyed to activate it.

Putting the sigil on food then eating it.

Drawing the sigil on a firework, and then set it off.

Drawing the sigil on a balloon, and then pop it.

Drawing the sigil on your body, and then wash it away.

Singing the sigil out loud for all to hear.

Playing a music, or an audio sigil out loud for all to hear.

Place the sigil on a piece of paper, and rip it up.

Draw the sigil on a rock, and throw it in a body of water.

Putting the sigil on a cigarette, and then smoking it.

Write it on a dry erase board, and then erase the sigil.

Take a picture of the sigil, and then delete the image.

Writing it on the condensation of a window, or mirror, and then allowing it to disappear.

Writing it in the air with a sparkler, and allowing it to eventually fade.

Vibrating the sigil with your voice.

Signing the sigil with sign language.

Using a hand tapping sigils.

Passive Sigil Activation:

In passive sigil activation the energy is usually released overtime through a very moderate, and controlled fashion. This method is done through the act of keeping your sigil around, so that it can continue to work, and releases energy when it is needed. This may be continuously releasing energy overtime, or being triggered at a certain point to release energy. This makes for a very Earthy form of manifestation. This allows this sigil not to use all the energy at once, but to continue working for an extended period of time, or only when it is triggered. This also allows the sigil to work in a more dynamic way allowing it to work to fulfill its desire, or intent in a more ever-present, and passive manner. It will be use only when it is needed, making that sigil more versatile in its actions. Passively activated sigils will always be active, unless they have a trigger. You will have to recharge your sigils if you are using this method every once in awhile after they get low on energy, unless they have a source to draw energy from.

Ways to activate Passive Sigils:

Putting the sigil on a piece of paper.

Drawing the sigil on your body.

Getting a tattoo of the sigil on your body

Carving sigils into a candle, and lighting the candle.

Carving sigils into soap, and washing your body with the soap.

Making a sigil amulet.

Writing, or carved the sigils upon wood, or stones.

Drawing it in energy upon something

Placing the sigil as your computer, or phone background.

Posting an image of the sigil online.

Drawing the sigil with chalk on the street, or sidewalk.

Having a piece of clothing with the sigil on it, or sewn into it.

Drawing it in a public place.

After you have used one of the sigil methods to create a sigil that encompasses your desire or purpose you need to charge it in order to fill it with energy, while simultaneously thrusting it into the back of your subconscious. In order to charge a sigil one must do an act in order to give energy, and focus to the sigil in order to empower it with your mind, and spirit. There are many acts that you can do in order to charge your sigils, and in order to help you figure out what you could do, I am going to provide a extensive list of charging methods.

Charging methods for sigils:

Pushing energy into the sigil by using energy work.

Meditating intently on the sigil.

Focus on the sigil intensely.

Dancing around the sigil.

Working out with the sigil.

Chanting over the sigil.

Masturbating on to the sigil.

Masturbating while looking into the sigil.

Burning candles around, or on the sigil.

Rubbing blood upon the sigil.

Anointing the sigil with essential oils.

Anointing the sigil with holy water, or any other type of magickal water.

Anointing the sigil with semen.

Spitting on the sigil.

Putting the sigil in the sunlight, or moonlight.

Having the sigil by a crystal grid.

Placing a charged crystal on top of the Sigil.

Looking at the sigil while causing pain to yourself, or another. (not recommended)

Something dying, or being killed near, or around the sigil.

(not recommended)

Submerging the sigil in water.

Having sex around the sigil, on top of the sigil, or while looking at the sigil.

Talking to the sigil as if it was a person, trying to convince it to do it job.

Having people see and/or interact with the sigil.

Speaking about the sigil to other people.

Having the sigil on your person while going through your day, keeping it with you so that it can feed off your energy.

Having the sigil on you while you do something that gets your adrenaline pumping.

Having the sigil near you while you are playing video games.

Focusing on the sigil while being in a intense emotional state.

Asking a higher power to charge the sigil for you.

Praying over the sigil.

Singing over the sigil.

Using the death posture to charge the sigil.

Giving birth over, or near the sigil.

Making contact with the sigil through any form of contact such as tapping touching, or moving.

Place the sigil in front of music speakers, while music is playing.

Allowing the wind to blow the sigil.

Placing the sigil in front of a fan, and allowing its air to blow it.

Breathing on the sigil.

Having the sigil outside in a thunderstorm, storm, or the rain.

Placing your phone on top of the sigil, while your phone is charging.

Placing the sigil underneath your pillow, while you sleep.

Feeling powerful emotions while near the sigil.

Crying on to the sigil.

Placing crystals on top of the sigil.

Reading holy scripture to the sigil.

Saying the names of God to the sigil.

Using a Tibetan singing bowl, or bell near the sigil.

Link sigils to the sigil, so those sigils can charge it.

Walking on top of the sigil.

moving the sigil around with kinetic energy.

Sprinkling herbs and spices on top of the sigil.

Tell it to draw energy from something, or a link it to some other  construct to feed off of.

Tell somebody about the sigil.

Acknowledge the sigils existence.

Placing the sigil somewhere with a lot of negativity, or positive energy.

Placing the sigil at a ley-marker.

Placing the sigil in your underwear, or bra.

Heating up the sigil.

Cooling down the sigil.

1. Always begin with protection. Circle, salt, prayer, guardian. Whatever your tradition teaches — begin there.

2. Be respectful, not fearful. Fear clouds the mind. Respect sharpens it.

3. Know who you're calling. Not all spirits are who they claim to be. Names hold power — and risk.

4. Don't demand. Invite. You are not their master. You are a guest in their presence.

5. Offer before you ask. Give water, incense, light, or words — a sign that you understand reciprocity.

6. Speak with intention. Every word is a blade or a bridge. Choose carefully.

7. Not all spirits want to help. Some are tricksters. Some are wounded. Some are bound to old grief. Learn discernment.

8. Record everything. Your memory fades. Their messages don’t.

9. Don’t bargain what you can’t give. No soul, no life, no years. Be firm in your boundaries.

10. Cleanse after every contact. Even the kindest guest leaves a trace.

11. Don’t open doors you can't close. Not every ritual needs to be performed. Not every spell needs to be spoken.

12. Your bloodline walks with you. Ancestors see what you do. Act accordingly.

What Is Necromancy?

Also called death work, necromancy is the art of interacting with the spirits of the dead. Necromancers may have many reasons for doing this including, but not limited to, divination, communication, healing, and cursing. Necromancy is an ancient magick, practiced in many forms, by almost all cultures, for thousands of years. The spiritualist movement of the 19th century popularized mediumship and gathering for seances. Today, necromancy is not as commonplace, but many witches still reach out to the dead to enhance their craft and to shift their perspective on death.

Many fear death, but the reality is that death eventually comes for us all. Death is a part of life, a process of nature, and an element in and of itself. Death has an energy that is capable of empowering those brave enough to face it head on.

Working With The Dead

Necromancy can be carried out using many different methods and for different purposes. Contacting the dead can actually bring peace to the living, helping them understand and embrace their own mortality. Conversely, ghosts can be employed as a means of baneful magick, cursing targets with their presence. The nature of the spirit will determine their influence on the living. As such, there are a few notable types of spirits:

• The Beloved Dead- The spirits of your dead friends, relatives, and ancestors. These are people who were connected to you in life, or by family ties. These spirits can be contacted to bring healing through closure as well as for general communication. They can lend their energy to workings, empower and heal you through their presence, as well as protect you from harm.

• The Mighty Dead- These are spirits of fame, notoriety, and influence. Having made a mark on the world in life, they still have much to offer in death. This type of spirit is fantastic for divination, empowerment, gaining knowledge and skills, and deep communication. The can be invoked by a necromancer through their name.

• The Dark Dead- These are the tormented souls who haven't moved on from their own traumatic death. They are full of sorrow, confusion, and rage. These types of spirits are extremely strong and should only be contacted by a skilled practitioner. Often, violent or intense hauntings are the work of these spirits. They can influence emotion and energy and can also exhibit poltergeist behavior.

• Animal Spirits- Dead animals can also be contacted through necromancy, often using the animal's skull or bones as a beacon and vessel. These spirits can empower workings, offer protection, or even help you connect to nature on a deeper level. Deceased pets can be worked with similarly to the Beloved Dead.

Furthermore, there are numerous methods and techniques one can utilize to achieve communication with the dead. These practices are not limited to the dead, as you can utilize many of these to connect with non-human spirits and deities as well. The most notable means of communication with the dead:

• Mediumship- Being a medium means you can psychically communicate with the dead. While some people are born with the natural ability, others can develop it over time from exposure to the spirit world.

• Seance- A group endeavor to summon a spirit, usually lead by at least one medium. Many other methods may be employed during a seance. These can be long events, often lasting hours.

• Talking boards- A talking board, often referred to as a ouija board, is perhaps one of the most widely known means of communicating with the dead. These boards have been used for centuries in various forms, usually by moving a planchette across the letters and symbols.

• Pendulum/dowsing rods- Also used to detect water underground, these useful tools are very sensitive to energy. A pendulum is a weight at the end of a cord or chain that swings in various directions and circles in response to energy. Dowsing rods function very similarly, but they are held loosly in the hands so they can spin freely. Most dowsing rods are made of copper wire, bent into an L shape. These can be used to detect spirits as well as calibrated to answer yes or no questions.

• Tarot/oracle cards- Cards have often been used to communicate with the dead. They can provide valuable insight into the nature, feelings, and traits of spirits as well as key events of their life/death. I recommend being a skilled reader before using this method to contact the dead, as there can be miscommunication.

• Mirrors- Mirrors can act as portals to the spirit world as well as make it easier to see spirits. Black mirrors work especially well for this as they limit distractions, allowing one to better focus or scry for answers.

• Technology- Modern necromancy definitely has an edge thanks to ground breaking devices often utilized by ghost hunters. Inventions like the ghost box and ovulus are made specifically for speaking to the dead. These can be expensive, however. An affordable alternative is a digital voice recorder which are able to pick up spirit voices or EVPs (electronic voice phenomena). Simply ask a series of questions, with pauses in between, and play it back to hear any responses.

Graveyard Etiquette

Graveyards, cemeteries, and burial grounds are excellent places to make contact with the dead. These hallowed spaces are often hubs for spirits and can be very valuable to practitioners who conduct themselves properly. The rules for graveyard necromancy are as follows:

• Leave an offering at the entrance for the cemetery guardian. Also leave an offering at any graves you work with. Traditional offerings include coins, liquor, tobacco and flowers.

• Ask for permission before taking anything from a graveyard and leave an offering in return.

• Ward/shield yourself before doing graveyard work. You can wear a pentagram or other protective symbol, or cast protection magick on yourself.

• Treat the graveyard and every grave with respect. Try your best to fix any damages done by others and keep the grounds clean of litter. Doing this will earn you major respect from the resident spirits.

• Always thank the dead for their time before leaving.

• Consider cleansing yourself after a visit, to ensure nothing follows you home. You can also wear a hood/scarf so spirits don't grab onto you, as they usually go for the back of the neck/head.

Graveyards are considered to be liminal spaces. These are special settings that exist in a place of transition and are known to be gathering places for spirits. Any magickal working done in a liminal space will be enhanced by the energy of that location. Other examples of liminal spaces include crossroads, hedge rows, halls, and doorways.

Relevant Posts

Necromancer's Tool Kit

Liminal Spaces In Witchcraft

The Pendulum

The Dark Dead And Baneful Necromancy

When I built my first altar, it looked like a sad thrift store shelf, mismatched candles, half-melted incense sticks, a chipped mug standing in for a chalice. I was so desperate for it to look witchy, like the glossy photos in books. But it didn’t feel like mine. It felt like a stranger’s stage.

It took me years, and many messy, candle-wax-soaked attempts, to realize: your altar isn’t an Instagram post. It’s a heartbeat. It’s your magic’s nest. It should feel like home, because it is one.

Here’s how I’ve learned to build an altar that breathes with you, one that feels like warm floors, familiar shadows, and the exact right hush of your spirit.

🕯️ 1. Know What An Altar Really Is

Strip away the fancy words: an altar is just a sacred spot. It’s where you gather your power and your gratitude in one place.

It can be as humble as a windowsill or as grand as a dedicated room. A shelf, a table, a box, all that matters is intention.

Think of it as a tiny crossroads: your body, your spirit, and your magic meet there. The rest is just trimmings.

🌿 2. Start With What Calls You

Forget the shopping list that says you must have a pentacle, a wand, a chalice, this and that.

Ask: what do you reach for when you feel witchiest? A candle that smells like your grandmother’s kitchen? A stone you found at the river? A jar of salt?

Your altar is not a museum. It’s a nest of meaning. Let it be ugly at first. Let it be real.

🔮 3. Give It a Heartbeat

I always tell baby witches: your altar’s alive if it changes with you.

Maybe you set it up on the floor for a spell, then move it to a shelf when you get a cat who loves knocking things over. Maybe you swap the flowers every season. Maybe you leave offerings that rot a little, because magic is not sterile.

Mine has bits of charred candle wicks, a cracked seashell, and a scrap of cloth from my mother’s apron. I clean it, but I don’t bleach it of history.

🗝️ 4. Make It a Conversation

An altar is not a monologue. You don’t just speak at it. You speak with it.

When you light a candle, linger. When you place a new object, ask it, “What do you bring here?” Listen. Maybe you rearrange things when they feel stale. Maybe you sleep with a stone under your pillow before giving it a spot on your altar, so it knows your dreams.

This is the bit the books forget to tell you: your altar listens back.

🌙 5. Protect It, But Don’t Police It

It’s good to cleanse your altar, blow off dust, pass smoke over it, ring a bell if it feels heavy.

But don’t let perfectionism be your deity. I once wasted hours agonizing over where to put a feather. It’s a feather, Nyra. Spirits don’t care if it’s center-left or right.

Your hands are sacred. Trust them.

🕸️ A Few Simple Ideas To Try

Place something that represents each element, but only if it feels real to you. A rock, a candle, a cup of water, a pinch of salt.

Add one thing that smells good. Scent ties your spirit to memory.

Leave an offering to your guides or ancestors, even if it’s just a whisper of thanks.

Keep a tiny cloth or broom nearby to sweep off old energy when needed.

🌒 A Final Whisper

Your altar is not a shrine to aesthetics, it’s a mirror for your spirit.

Build it slow. Let it shift. Let it hold your tears, your giggles, your burnt matches and hopeful wishes.

One day you’ll sit at that sacred little corner, a mug of tea in hand, and think: This is mine. And it will hum back: Yes. And I am yours.

If you are feel called to work but are tired/drained, sit outside. Take in all the energies around you. Nature can help charge you

Every witch does a little bit of a bunch of types of magic but sticks mainly to one or two in general. You usually won't be eclectic forever. You'll find what magics work best with you.

Never be lazy or cut corners with spirits. Always be respectful and always tell them to leave when you're done

When you see a plant or ingredient with a long list of properties, there are different things at play. Season of collection, the part of the plant, the health of the plant, etc all play a role in impacting which properties it will carry.

Don't call on spirits unless you have confidence and control

Be careful with sea/water magic. Get into it gently and slowly until you have the energy figured out because it can get out of hand quickly.

Adding a little pinch of magic into your breakfast can make a major difference in your day.

Your personal emotions/feelings over something will impact a work

Planting some plants is good, not only to have a garden, but the dirt helps cleanse you too. Get all dirty and muddy. It's good for ya

Not all trees are nice

The more you listen to your intuition, the easier it will be to tell it apart from your anxieties and worries

Incense is very easy to make which is why it's usually cheap to buy. But you can find a million tutorials online on how to make your own personal incense which is great if you want a spell to take effect over a while but also want to infuse the fire energy in it.

The more you work with something the better feel you get for it. Cinnamon goes in almost everything i cook and most of my spells because me and cinnamon just get right along

Hey beautifuls,

I’ve compiled a checklist in booklet format of pretty much anything I could think of or find online that you could include in your Grimoire/book of shadows. Please note that this is a very very broad list and you do not need to include absolutely everything listed. Pick and choose what matches your craft!

also if you would like a non-watermarked PDF print version (digital file) I’m offering this for just $3 AUD. You can direct message me here on tumblr or on my Insta account “@beautifulvalleywitch”.

Otherwise enjoy this free version lovely’s 🥰🥰

first thing in the morning—take three slow deep breaths (air/sky) more grounding than immediately checking a phone

notice your feet on the ground taking root when you stand up for the first time of the day, take a little stretch (earth/land)

wash or splash your face to get alll the way awake. then chug a big glass. (water/sea)

appreciate any trees, plants, dirt, or clouds you see

place both hands on your heart to feel your own heat and warmth. feel your heart beating. “i am alive” (fire)

wear or carry a rock, hagstone, crystal, talisman, or amulet

in times of stress or dissociation, rub your thumb in small circles on the back of your other hand to ground and soothe. (clockwise for attracting an intention, counterclockwise for banishing)

color magic with clothing

add cinnamon, lavender, or peppermint to coffee according to intention if you don’t want to drink tea

stirring tea/coffee according to intention

sometimes i pick a little affirmation for the day— “may i forgive myself” “the universe is within me/the wild is within me”

visualization—inhale a bright light and let it fill your lungs, exhaling clouds of negativity

or create a shield with breathing. with each breath, imagine a bubble forming around your body, then your aura, growing with strength.

cleansing shower at the end of the day (intending it to cleanse my aura makes me more motivated to take one, idkw)

if taking a bath, add a dash of moon water

sniff lavender essential oil before bed

Basil:  money, luck, prosperity, happiness

Bay Leaf: energy, cleansing, can be charged with almost any intention

Camomile: Caring, kindness, luck, growth, self-love growth, confidence, avoiding negativity, happiness

Cinnamon: passion, quick success, fire magick

Chia seeds: Growth, health, kindness, Property

Chilli flakes:  Pride, confidence, power, strength, Passion

Cumin: Courage, bravery, protection, loyalty

Dandelion: wishes, charisma, success, good luck

Dill: sexual love, luck, protection

Eucalyptus: cleansing, healing, purifying, relaxing, comfort

Fennel:  hate, anger

Flax seeds: Prosperity, growth, new beginnings

Ginger: fiery passion, success, and personal power

Jasmine: love, dreams, sensuality, luxury and kindness

Lavender: love and attraction, purification, relaxation, restful sleep

Nutmeg: luck, Health, Fidelity, Love, Prosperity, comfort, loyalty

Oregano:  comfort, love, warmth

Paprika:  Pride, confidence, power, strength

Parsley: Cleansing. purification

Peppermint: healing, purification, love and energy, cleansing, prosperity

Poppy seeds: protection, intuition, self-assurance, hexing and cursing

Rose: love, beauty, harmony, romance, attraction

Rosemary: cleansing, purification, wisdom, protection

Sesame seeds: Prosperity, growth, health, nurturing

Spearmint: love, cleansing, renewal, blessing

Sunflower seeds: happiness, growth, joy

Thyme: beauty, strength, courage

Turmeric: confidence, creativity, energy

Vanilla: love and sexuality

Rosemary - memory, anxiety, sleep, cleansing, purifying, learning, healing, love, lust, protection, wisdom, mental power

Turmeric - healing, strength, vitality, purification, abundance, joy, prosperity

allspice - healing, energy, love, luck

pepper - courage, protection

sage - health, immortality, longevity, protection against negativity, protection, purification, wisdom, wishes, anxiety

bay - divination, good fortune, healing, anxiety, money, prosperity, peace, protection, happiness, purification, love, tranquility

oregano - peace, love

parsley - protection, power, strength, lust, purification, prosperity

garlic - protection against evil eye

cinnamon - aphrodisiac, passion, love, luck, prosperity, success, spiritual vibrations, energy, purification, healing, protection

cayenne - healing, removing blockages, protection, strength, motivation, courage

clover - fidelity, protection, love, money, success, animal protection, luck

pine - health, healing

nutmeg - money, prosperity, good luck, protection, psychic abilities, happiness, love, health

cloves - healing, love, friendship, cleansing, protection, abundance

thyme - health, courage, eliminates nightmares, attracts loyalty, affection, psychic abilities

ginger - energy, speeding things up, love, prosperity, success, power, healing

mint - avoid jealousy, dreams, protecting, prosperity, joy, fertility, purification, love, success, lust, travel, money, luck

chamomile - love, healing, stress-relief, calming, sleep

lavender - purification, concentration, love, healing, sleep, dreams

jasmine - divination, innovation, attraction, dreams, love, beauty

mugwort - psychic powers, protection, lust, fertility, prophetic dreams, divination, relaxing, tranquility, banishing, consecration

peach blossoms - luck, prosperity, romance, love, passion, affection, harmony, peace, health, longevity

peony - protection from hexes, luck, prosperity, business success, attracts fairies

rose - divine love, self-love, friendship, healing, domestic happiness, lasting relationships, closeness with nature, divination, tranquility, harmony, psychic ability, spirituality, protection, luck

lemon grass - openness, communication, clear mind, love, luck, libido, psychic abilities, calming

chrysanthemum - longevity, mental clarity, optimism, protection, solving mysteries, soothing grief

pink Himalayan salt - purification, grounding, abundance, prosperity, self-love, cleaning, growth, protection, peace, calming

palo santo - cleansing, positivity, good fortune, creativity, love

sweet orange - optimism, charisma, confidence, restoring aura, attracting love, fertility, abundance

bergamot - protection, purification, calming

ylang ylang - sexual attraction, persuasiveness, peace, love, anxiety and depression relief, fairy magic

geranium - prosperity, happiness, healthy pregnancy and fertility

eucalyptus - purifying, cleansing, good health, protection, negativity

sandalwood - calming, anxiety, purification, protection, healing

anise - peace, tranquility, awakening of psychic awareness, luck, spiritual connection, psychic and magic power

jojoba - healing, protection, purification, grounding, meditation, love

frankincense - cleansing, energy, uplifting, inner peace, balance

peppermint - mental clarity, prophetic visions, success, prosperity,

cedarwood - love, growth, longevity, psychic powers, healing, money

tea tree - cleansing, protection, uplifting, energy, memory, love

vanilla - sex, calming, good luck, love, empowerment, happiness, growth