The Witch Of Derry

When the wolf at length had had his sleep out, he got on his legs, and as the stones in his stomach made him very thirsty, he wanted to go to a well to drink. But when he began to walk and to move about, the stones in his stomach knocked against each other and rattled. Then cried he,

“What rumbles and tumbles Against my poor bones? I thought ‘twas six kids But it’s naught but big stones.”

And when he got to the well and stooped over the water and was just about to drink, the heavy stones made him fall in and there was no help, but he had to drown miserably.

- The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids —–

Greed is a curse unto itself, and this spell turns that malice back onto a person whose greed is harming the people around them.

Make or acquire a cloth poppet. You’re going to be stuffing the poppet, so make sure it’s a decent size, with plenty of room in the stomach area.

It is not necessary to have any hair or nails from the target in order to make the spell work, but it can help. In the absence of such things, you can name the poppet thus:

“Poppet, I name you [NAME]. Your limbs are their limbs. Your flesh is their flesh. As you suffer, so shall they suffer.”

With scissors or a small sharp blade, open a slit in the belly of the poppet. If there is pre-existing filling, remove some of it. Into the cavity where the stomach might be, place a whole chili pepper (any kind will do), seven small pebbles, and seven tacks or thorns. Carefully stitch the poppet closed and whisper to it:

“Rumble and tumble, A pepper and stones. Swallow your greed, And choke on the bones.”

Take the poppet to a deep body of water, such as a lake or pond, and drop it into the deepest part you can reach. If such a body of water is not available, you can “drown” the poppet in a bucket of water for three nights and then discard it with your garbage.

-from The Sisters Grimmoire: Spells and Charms for Your Happily Ever After, (2nd ed) © 2017 Bree NicGarran

Want more fairy tale spells? Check out the masterpost here.

School/uni starts in late Jan/late Feb here in Australia so leave me alone if you're already in the middle of your school year lol /hl. These are just a few things I did when I was in HS and intend to do now that I'm going to university next year.

Enchant your water bottle with cleansing/purifying energy. The water will cleanse your energy this way. I do this to help me chill the fuck out. I do not do well with academics and the last thing I need is to pick up other people's stress.

Draw sigils for academic success in the back of your notebooks and planners.

Try binding your hair or veiling this school year! It doesn't have to be for religious reasons, it can just be to protect your energy.

Colour code your books or folders to what you need from each subject and set the intention accordingly! For example, red for math because you need confidence and strength or green for science because you need some extra luck in that subject.

Do you remember the erasers with yes and no written on them? Yeah! Make one of those and flip it for on the fly divination! It actually works if you put enough intention into it and it's a fun way to pass time.

Use colour magick in your outfits and shoes/shoe laces! This is a lot of effort so I've rarely do it but I've heard a lot of good things from people who regularly do. Just be careful that you don't accidentally send a nasty lace code message with your docks (or other boots) and shoe laces.

More colour magick but get coloured pens that correspond with your wanted intention! The ink could be coloured or just the outside, it's up to you.

If you pack your own lunch try your hand at some kitchen magick this year! Deli meats, bread, butter, pasta, tofu, etc all have their own uses and meanings. You can do some amazing stuff with food! I really recommend you try it at least once :)

Set your computer's folders names to affirmations or intentions! "I have incredible grades" "I respect my physical and mental needs" "I have the perfect work/school/life balance" are all examples.

This is less about school/uni/college but enchant any jewellery you wear with protection or dedicate it to a deity!

Again, not super school related but do a glamour spell with your skin care and/or make up. It just puts me in a good mood and sets the tone for the day.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia rosmarinus)

*Poisonous *Medical *Kitchen *Masculine

Folk names: Compass weed, Dew of the Sea, Elf Leaf, Guardrobe, Incensier, Libanotis, Polar Plant, Seas Dew

Planet: Sun

Element: Fire, Air

Abilities: Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Power, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth

Why Poisonous?: Their oil content. Large quantities of rosemary leaves can cause vomiting, spasms, coma and in some cases, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). Rosemary can cause miscarriages so it is not recommended for expecting mothers. It is also not recommended for those with high blood pressure, ulcers, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Do not consume rosemary oil

Characteristics: With its aromatic, needlelike leaves, the rosemary plant grows in a bush and can be quite large in the right growing conditions. Can grow two lipped, purplish-blue and white flowers.

History: Was first referenced on a stone tablet that dates back to 5000 BCE. Is native to the Mediterranean region. It was considered sacred by the Spanish due to its association with the Virgin Mary. In France, it is referred to as incensier due to its popular usage as an incense.

Growing Rosemary:

Easy to grow?: Yes.

Rating: Beginner Friendly

Seeds Accessible: Yes

How to Plant Rosemary

Video Guide

Where to Find Seeds

Magical Usage:

Stimulates memory and thought processes

If burned, adds an energy of protection and purification to a space

Sprinkling its leaves onto graves will cause the undead to be at peace

Carried in an Herbal Amulet will give one confidence and courage

Placing the leaves under your pillow will ensure good sleep and banish nightmares

Can be used in love and lust incense spells as well as healing poppets

Used to be included in bridal flowers so that the couple will stay true to their vows

The smell is supposedly very offensive to evil spirits

Smelling rosemary every day can help preserve one’s youth

Medical Usage

In oil form, can be used to relieve rashes and blemishes on the skin

Can help relieve muscle pain, improve memory, boost the immune system, and promote hair growth

In balm form, can repel insects

Just a quick compilation of the posts I've made about exercises to help improve your craft. These can be used as journaling prompts, inspiration for activities, or as methods for pulling yourself out of a slump and recharging your witchy inspiration.

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches

Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons

Witchcraft Exercise - Home Brews

Witchcraft Exercise - Witchy Inspo Journal

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Correspondences

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Your Own Runes

Witchcraft Exercise - Shakespearean Witchcraft

Witchcraft Exercise - Music To Witch By

Related Prompt - Music to Witch By

Most of these are also available in the May 2021 bonus episode of Hex Positive (check your favorite podcatcher).

Happy Witching!

“A Cornish charm, from the town of Penzance, is here described to be created for the client who seeks a potent protection against all evil forces and ill-influences. This charm is crafted by the making of a bag of red flannel into which is placed a pinch of the protective and exorcising salt within a twist of red paper, and plant materials in the form of seven fiery pepper corns within a twist of blue paper, and a pinch of wood ash from the strong and solar oak within a twist of white paper. Two rose buds are included; one of red and one of white, before the addition of animal parts. The foot of a rabbit and the spur of a cock complete the contents which are together bound and scaled within their red flannel housing to be charmed and charged by the witch for their client.

A charm of cure and protection for those already in suffering from the ill-wishing of the black witch may be supplied in the form of a leathern bag. Within this is held the strange living metal, full of spirit-furce; 'quick-silver' or mercury; there enclosed to be worn about the neck of the client.

Other charms against the evil influences and the black witch's eye include the magical maiden nail – of the fiery, earthy, red and bloody martial iron. Such may be kept within the pocket, or worn enclosed within a charm bag at the chest as an amulet against all ill-influence.

For more general protection, The Lord's Prayer may be supplied, written upon parchment and kept concealed within the boot as a charm against all calamity and misfortune. Likewise may coal form a fortunate charm against a variety of undesirable things. Most potent is coal discovered beneath the root of the Mugwort, or Plantain on that most potent night for magical prorection; the eve of midsummer. This may be enclosed and kept to be worn as a charm against such maladies and dire misfortunes as plague, carbuncle, lightening, the quartan ague and burning.”

—

‘Old Mother Red-Cap’,

The Black Toad:

West Country Witchcraft and Magic

For dreams and visions; for restful sleep with pleasant dreams.

Ingredients:

• 2 pt Marjoram • 1 pt Hibiscus Flower • 1 pt Jasmine Flower • 1 pt Valerian** • 1⁄2 pt Poppy Flower* ** • 1⁄2 pt Vervain

Materials:

Mortar & Pestle or Spice Grinder

Funnel

Mesh Strainer

Collection Dish

Container

Grind each ingredient separately for several minutes to produce fine powder. Sieve the material through the mesh strainer into the collection dish; this removes the larger ungrindable pieces and gives you cleaner powdered herb. (Pro-Tip: Putting a funnel under the strainer helps reduce lost material.)

If desired, use an electric spice grinder to reduce the herbs to usable powder. Combine the component powders in the collection dish, mix well, and bottle immediately. Label and date for future reference.

Use in magics intended to bring pleasant dreams, banish nightmares, and ensure a restful night’s sleep. This powder can also be used in any magic related to sleep or dreaming, including (but not limited to) dream-sending, dream manipulation, and protection from nightmares while sleeping.

To make a dream doll for sympathetic magic, mix a few pinches of powder with soft clay or melted candle wax and form the substance into a small human figure. Name the figurine for the person it is meant to protect, wrap it in cotton cloth, and tuck it under the mattress.

To increase the probability of prophetic dreams or visions, a small amount of Dream Dust may be combined with powdered incense and burnt before retiring to bed. Do not directly inhale large amounts of the smoke, and do not use this method if you are pregnant or nursing.

*= Use with caution. **= Do not use if pregnant or nursing.

A small list of ideas of witchy things that you can do to your car. I hope this inspires you!

Keep a protection satchel in your car

Put road opening oil on the dashboard/outside of car/mirrors/seats/etc. to avoid traffic

Put luck oil on the dashboard/outside of car/mirrors/seats/etc. to avoid accidents

Hang charms or spell bags on the rearview mirror

Keep crystals in cup holders/door pockets/glove box/etc.

Make steering wheel covers or mirror covers and enchant them

Making and/or enchanting window shades

Get air fresheners (vent or hanging) that correspond with your intents (scent or shape)

Use essential oils that correspond with your intents

Keeping a worry stone in the car

Keeping lucky things (rabbit feet, feathers, luck charms, etc.) in the car

Playing grounding/visualizing/whatever music that corresponds with your intents for the day

Keep a spell bag in your car to bring it back to you if it’s lost/stolen/towed

Keep a mini broom in your car (for protection and to clean it)

Create sigils to use in your car (drawing them on with writing utensils/water/oil, keeping a piece of paper with them written on it, etc.)

Enchant windows and mirrors to be more aware of the road and conditions

Keep a satchel to remember things (parking permits, your registration and license, your wallet, your keys, etc.)

Enchant coins for prosperity and easy access to parking or tolls

Get car washes to cleanse and purify your car or to banish unwanted energies (spirits, people, luck, etc.)

Keep a grounding spell in your car to always find your way home (never get lost!)

Keep a spare divination tool in your car just in case

Keep a voice recorder in your car to record any spiritual thoughts or ideas you may have and to keep your mind flowing

Enchant your steering wheel to turn easily

Enchant your mirrors to never go out of place

Manifest/pray/etc. in traffic or when having to wait in your car

Use colors from stickers, covers, decor, etc. in your car that correspond with your intent

Enchant your tires to never get stuck, never get you lost, never flat, etc.

:by the-witchyforest

TAROT TIME

WANDS: Days

SWORDS: Weeks

CUPS: Months

PENTACLES: Years

If you pick for example 5 of swords, that means 5 weeks of time. The number of the card is the number of the time. If you ask "how soon will this thing arrive?", the symbol of the card is the equivalent of time you need to wait.

Another way to read the time is based on the season.

TAROT SEASONS

WANDS: Spring

SWORDS: Autumn

CUPS: Summer

PENTACLES: Winter

Intent: To keep one safe and free from mishaps on long trips.

Ingredients:

Irish Moss (aka Carrageen)

Comfrey Root

Feverfew

Black Cohosh

White Oak Bark

Nutmeg

Materials:

Mortar & Pestle

Funnel

Mesh Strainer

Collection Dish

Container

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not use the Black Cohosh if you are or think you might be pregnant. If need be, you can substitute Basil. Note: Powdered versions of most herbs are available online. I recommend such sites as Starwest Botanicals and Penn Herbs for the quality products at reasonable prices. Also, if you can get your hands on a good spice grinder, you can make your own powder from dried herb products.

Grind each ingredient separately for several minutes to produce fine powder. Sieve the material through the mesh strainer into the collection dish; this removes the larger ungrindable pieces and gives you cleaner powdered herb. (Pro-Tip: Putting a funnel under the strainer helps reduce lost material.) Retain the leftover large pieces that don’t make it through the strainer. You can use this for loose incense or charm bags later. Remember, witchlings: waste not, want not! (For the Nutmeg, supermarket spice works just fine.) Combine the component powders in the collection dish, mix well, and bottle immediately. Fold a few pinches in a paper packet containing your travel details. Tuck this into your luggage or the glove compartment of your car. For more travel general protection, you can sprinkle a few pinches in the footwells of your car, or just keep a few blank paper packets around if you frequently travel on short notice.

For more recipes to fill out your potion kit, you can check out Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. (Available on Amazon and in my shop!)

Put on your flower crowns and your dancing shoes, it's time for the Buck Moon!

Buck Moon

The Buck Moon is the name given to the full moon in the month of July and is called this because at this time of year, the antlers on male deer are at the height of growth and impressiveness. This month also marks the first supermoon of the year!

Other European names for the July moon include Hay Moon and Wort Moon. North American Indigenous names for this moon include Salmon Moon (Tlingit), Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe).

The West Abenaki also call this the Thunder Moon in reference to the often-stormy summer weather. (This one is my personal favorite and the name appears in lunar calendars just as often as the Buck Moon.)

What Does It Mean For Witches?

The July full moon continues June's template of planning for the future, this time with a focus on your passions and ambitions. Reflect on what you've accomplished so far this year and plan your next step.

Dream big and plan big, but don't give in to reckless urgency. Summer (and capitalist grind culture) gives us the urge to Go Go Go. Despite all this, it's important to take time to rest and recharge, lest we find ourselves burning out and losing our motivation.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Celebrate your victories and revel in the abundance of the summer season. If you're inclined to do so, take a page from the deer and do a bit of prancing around a bonfire or your favorite flower arbor with some festive flowery headgear.

Go exploring! Find a local park or garden and take a stroll among the greenery, or use TV and the internet to explore and learn about faraway places. This is another opportune time to go and check out pick-your-own farms and farmers markets as well. Sharpen your foraging and plant identification skills while you're out and about!

If you're tending a garden, harvest some herbs and investigate what you can make with them. Whether it's seasoning for meals, homemade botanical products, or just helpful spell ingredients, many herbs and flowers have a plethora of uses. As an exercise, select three plants growing in your garden, research their magical correspondences and botanical properties, and try to think of as many ways as possible to use each one for witchcraft and for practical purposes.

(Safety Note: Always clean and prepare home-harvested herbs properly before using them for kitchen, bath, or medical preparations. Always consult a doctor before trying an herbal treatment and take all allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions into account. Please also note that while herbal treatments can be helpful, it can have negative interactions and side effects just like any other medication, and it is not meant to be a replacement for modern medical care.)

Apart from the usual full-moon festivities, I've always found this is an excellent time for weather-witching. Summer weather is notoriously fickle, but it is also highly malleable - one recalls that old American Southern epithet of, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."

If you're hoping to bring some rain to water your garden or break the back of a heat wave, this may be the time to do it. My personal favorite folk magic ritual for rain-calling involves going outside with a broom and a bucket of water, using the broom to scatter drops of water over your yard, and shouting up to the clouds, "SEE? IT'S NOT HARD!"

Make sure you take local weather patterns into account and try to draw on existing fronts and nearby precipitation to get the desired result. And keep in mind that with weather magic, less is more and one casting is enough. Asking for too much or asking too often can produce undesirable results. And if you manage to make it rain, be sure to collect some for moon water!

If you're interested in weather-witching, I highly recommend checking out this masterpost by @stormbornwitch for a number of excellent articles and suggestions.

Happy Buck Moon, witches! 🌕🦌

Further Reading:

Buck Moon: Full Moon in July 2023, The Old Farmer's Almanac

Buck Moon 2023: The Awesome Spiritual Meaning of July's Full Moon, Amanda Brethauer, The Peculiar Brunette

The Hearth Witch's Garden Herbal, Anna Franklin, Llewellyn Publications, 2023.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison

I was a baby witch once, and there were tons of small, little things that went over my head until later in my practice. I'm hoping that some of these will ring a bell for those who may need to hear them.

When you're cleansing a room, especially if it's a smoke cleanse, you need to open a window. This gives an 'escape route' for what you're cleansing away and also gives the smoke somewhere to go other than sticking to your walls.

Speaking of smoke cleansing, do not smoke cleanse in a room with pets in it. It can be very, very dangerous to them.

When you're doing research, you should be cross-checking across four to six different sources. If something matches across multiple sources, it's more likely to be solid.

You can incorporate your craft into pretty much anything. Showering? You're washing off the bad energy. Cleaning? You're preparing your space. Gardening? You're encouraging growth and prosperity. And delicious tomatoes!

If you're using a smoke cleanse, you can add the burnt portion to salt to make a beginner's black salt.

Spell jars don't have to go on your altar.

Altars are not completely necessary, especially if you're in the broom closet. Work with what you have.

Every herb has benefits and correspondences. You can utilize these without spell jars, burn spells, etc. Kitchen magic is one of my go-tos - cooking with spices and herbs infuses your food with their benefits.

Ask 'dumb' questions. Reach out to people. If they laugh at you for your questions, you know they are not a reliable source of information. (P.S. - my ask box is always open!)

White wax can replace any other color of wax. Get birthday cake candles for easy, fast burning.

Clear quartz can replace other crystals.

Here's a simple color chart.

Here's a simple moon phase chart.

Here's a simple guide to flowers and their correspondences

Here's a simple guide to cascarilla

As always, do your own research. Take everything you hear with a grain of salt until you do research - yes, even from me, because I make mistakes, too. Blessed be, and good luck, baby witches!

Intent: To increase creativity and inventiveness. Also assists with clearing creative blocks.

Ingredients:

3 pt Salt

1 pt Horehound

1 pt Jasmine

1⁄2 pt Allspice

1⁄2 pt Witch Hazel*

* - This herb should be avoided by persons who are pregnant or nursing. Exercise all proper precautions.

Materials:

Mortar & Pestle (or spice grinder)

Funnel

Mesh Strainer

Collection Dish

Container

Note: Powdered versions of most herbs are available online. I recommend Starwest Botanicals and Penn Herbs for quality products at reasonable prices. Also, if you can get your hands on a good electric spice grinder, you can make your own powder from dried herb products. If you don't have premade powdered herbs, grind each ingredient separately to produce fine powder. Sieve the material through the mesh strainer into the collection dish; this removes the larger unground pieces and gives you cleaner powdered herb. (Pro-Tip: Putting a funnel under the mesh strainer reduces lost material and makes collection much easier.)

Combine the component powders in the collection dish, mix well, and bottle immediately. Label with the name, date, and ingredients for future reference.

Use Inspiration Salt in any and all magics meant to stimulate innovative thinking or inspire new ideas. If you are a witch with a creative side or lots of term papers to finish, this salt just might be your new best friend.

Place a small bowl of Inspiration Salt in workspace to encourage new ideas. If you are inclined to candle magic, you can place a tealight candle in the center of the dish to amplify the salt's effects. (Open flame is not required to make this work; a battery-operated LED candle can provide the necessary amplification if needed.) If a candle is not available, a lodestone works well too.

Inspiration Salt makes a good additive for clay charms if you're in the mood to make salt dough clay. A small "study buddy" may be crafted to sit on your desk and lighten your work sessions.

-adapted from Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils, (c) 2017 by Bree NicGarran

A brief masterpost of some of my advice posts for beginner witches and the episodes of my podcast dealing with the same. (There is UPG here, particularly where marked, as I base a good deal of my advice on my own experience and observations of other witches.)

Hex Positive Podcast Episodes

Hex Positive, Ep. 04 - Advice for Beginner Witches (July 2020)

Hex Positive, Eps. 6-7 - Come In For A Spell 1 & 2 (Sept 2020)

Hex Positive, Ep. 12 - Witching From The Broom Closet (Jan 2021)

Hex Positive, Ep. 24 - Warding A Witchy Home (Dec 2021)

Hex Positive, Ep. 27 - When Inspo Takes A Holiday (March 2022)

General Tips & Advice

I Feel Like I Might Be A Witch...But I Don't Know

I Have Mental Health Issues - Can I Still Be A Witch?

Can I Still Be A Witch And Use Magic If I Take Medication?

How Do I Teach Myself To Believe In Magic?

How Does Magic Work? (upg ahoy)

Will I Be Possessed Or Haunted If I Try Witchcraft?

What Are Some Things I Can Do To Get Started?

How Can I Start My Practice If I Don't Have Tools Or Books?

How Do I Organize My Study Materials?

How Do I Contact A Deity?

How Do I Worship My Deity If I Can't Have An Altar?

Tips On Working With Deities And Spirits (here be upg)

My Intuitive Spark Feels Low - How Do I Get It Back?

I'm In A Slump - How Do I Get Out Of It?

I've Reached A Stopping Point - What Do I Do Next?

My Candle Is Flickering - Does It Mean Something Bad?

How Do I Make A Magic Circle For Spellcasting?

What Happens If I Get Interrupted While Casting A Spell?

Do I Need To Maintain Positive Vibes For My Spells To Work?

What Should I Do If I REALLY Want To Hex Someone?

How Do I Know / What Do I Do If I've Been Hexed?

How Do I Become More Skilled And More Powerful?

How Do I Know When I'm Ready For The Next Step In My Practice?

Additional Tips For Developing Your Practice

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches

Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons

Witchcraft Exercise - Home Brews

Tips on How to Visualize and Construct Basic Wards

Practicing Your Warding Technique

Cleansing Before Warding / Warding A Shared Space

Refreshing / Patching Existing Wards

Non-Appropriative Herbs for Smoke-Cleansing

Smokeless Cleansing / Other Methods

A witch's personal record of their journey with the craft can have many names - witchbook, spellbook, grimoire, Book of Shadows, Book of Mirrors, and so on. To this list, I would like to submit my own project, The Book of Lessons.

Where other personal books might be dedicated to spells, correspondences, ritual descriptions, or journaling, The Book of Lessons is specifically geared toward remembering what we've learned from our mistakes. Experience is a wise teacher, but so is failure, and the lessons that come from trying, failing, and trying again are invaluable to one's growth as a practitioner and as a person.

Each page of the book is dedicated to an occasion where one tried and failed and subsequently learned an important lesson. It can be trivial or tragic or anything in between. You can include specifics about the time, date, and occasion, or simply record the lesson learned, i.e. Roll up your sleeves BEFORE lighting the candles.

You can also include important parables, quotes, or philosophical points that have helped you define your craft and your way of thinking.

This has the potential to be particularly diverting for witches who enjoy scrapbooking or junk journaling, as the opportunity to represent lessons in artistic form makes for a fun ongoing project. And it doesn't have to be perfect or social-media-worthy. It just has to have meaning to you.

There are lots of ways to create spells, from planning everything to the minutest detail ahead of time to absolutely flying by the seat of your pants in the moment. If you'd like to write your own spells, either for use in your craft or as a creative exercise, here are some suggested steps that I use in my own practice:

1) Determine the intent or goal of your spell. Decide, first and foremost, what you want the spell to do. Refine your goal if necessary and try not to be too nebulous. Your intent tells the spell what it's meant to do. A more focused goal may increase the chances of success.

2) Determine how you want the spell to manifest. Decide how the spell should work and what the result should look like. This is a good time to build in a sign of success, especially for spells that may not work in an obvious or visible way.

3) Determine what or whom the spell will affect. If the spell is to have a target, be it a person or a place or an animal or an object, decide what that should be and how they or it will be represented in the casting.

4) Determine how long the spell is meant to work. If your spell is timebound or has a deadline, decide what that will be. If the spell is meant to work long-term, you may want to check in and refresh it from time to time. (Not every spell will be timebound. Many spells will simply expire when they have fulfilled their purpose or if they are blocked or circumstances are not favorable.)

5) Determine the timing of the spell, if applicable. Not everyone uses celestial or astrological timing for their spells, but if you do, look into the prevailing conditions and decide on an advantageous time for your casting. (Please note that magical timing can only enhance your spell and casting something on the "wrong" day will not necessarily cause it to fail.)

6) Determine what methods and materials you want to use to cast the spell. Decide how you're going to go about performing the casting, whether you're doing a ritual or making a charm or just using energy. If you're going to need a ritual space or physical components, plan that out and make sure it fits with what you want to do.

7) Determine the words, if any, which will empower the spell. If you want to include a prayer or a petition or a song or an incantation with your spell, decide what that should be. This is not strictly necessary and the words need not be spoken aloud. (Rhyming incantations are not required, but if you prefer them that way, you can certainly do so.)

8) Prepare the materials for casting the spell. Get all your necessaries together ahead of time. Make sure you have everything you need, that tools and components are in good and useable condition, prepare your workspace, and make sure everything is within easy reach so you don't have to stop and search for things in the middle of your casting. (And for goodness sake, if you're working with open flame, observe fire safety and tie your hair and sleeves back.)

9) Finalize details and perform the casting. When you're ready to begin, try to eliminate as many possibilities for distraction or interruption as possible. Go over your spell and components one more time, then proceed with casting the spell.

10) Record the particulars for future reference and to determine how well the spell worked. Make a record of the spell, including your goal, how it should manifest, the words and components used, the date of the casting, the casting method and procedure, and how the casting went. If there are any additional details or observations that seem important, include those as well. This will serve as a useful learning tool in the future and will allow you to check your work if the results make themselves known.

It's useful to write spells from time to time if the inspiration strikes you, in order to better understand how they fit together and how they work. Plus it's a fun and creative journaling exercise and recording the spells you cast a great way to measure your progress later on.

For additional tips on writing your own spells and helpful tricks for using timing and available materials to your advantage, check out my podcast, Hex Positive, Eps. 006-007, "Come In For A Spell, pt 1 & 2."

(And if you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

Just a quick compilation of the posts I've made about exercises to help improve your craft. These can be used as journaling prompts, inspiration for activities, or as methods for pulling yourself out of a slump and recharging your witchy inspiration.

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches

Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons

Witchcraft Exercise - Home Brews

Witchcraft Exercise - Witchy Inspo Journal

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

Prompt - Music to Witch By

Most of these are also available in the May 2021 bonus episode of Hex Positive (check your favorite podcatcher).