The Witch's Pen

Hi, hello! I'm Kristy. I like long walks along the river bank and talking to vultures. This is where I share thoughts and things about being a chaos witch, Hellenistic polytheist, and divination nerd. Sort of like working, digital grimoire. It's my hope that it becomes an abundant resource for witches, both new and old. I want this to be what I needed when I started out. I’ve been practicing witchcraft for 14 years, slinging cards for just as long. I have quite a bit to say about both. So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let me tell you a thing or two about witchcraft and cartomancy. - K

Though only separated by a handful of hours, they are two completely different lunar events. The Dark Moon begins when the Moon’s illumination reaches 0%, and the first sliver of illumination to follow will be the New Moon. Why does this matter? Any witch worth their salt will tell you how powerful the Moon can be when harnessed for your craft. When the Moon is waxing, we focus on growth. When she is full, we reflect, especially on what we’re most grateful for. When she’s waning, we release what doesn’t serve us. And when she’s new, we carve paths forward. But when you’re struggling, holding onto pain, or anger? When you need to banish, bind, or cleanse a spiritual or emotional wound so it can truly heal? Or to hide something, to protect it from prying eyes or harmful intent? Maybe you just want to make sure your cord cutting spell really sticks? The Dark Moon is the perfect time to focus on this type of energy. She can be a dark companion at your side for baneful workings, the cover of night when you need to go unnoticed, or haven of shadows to harbor you while you prepare for major change. It’s a small, yet powerful window of time for you to face fears, to work your shadow, or remove any major obstacles that stand between you and what you want. It’s also the perfect time to honor deities associated with darkness, night, or the underworld. Hekate devotees like myself even use this time to celebrate Deipnon, or Hekate’s Supper, where we cleanse our home, altar, and self before preparing a feast or offering to leave for her at a crossroads or liminal space that night. Whether it’s a phase you work with monthly, or just when you feel the need for a little extra “oomph,” to amplify whatever spell or ritual you’re doing, she’s there for you. The next Dark Moon falls on February 17th, 2026 if you’re looking to incorporate it into your practice!

-The Witch's Pen

You don't need fancy tools to practice the craft, hell you don't actually need anything at all to make magick happen. But if you're anything like me, sometimes you just need to do something with your hands to feel like you're doing anything at all. That's why I keep an emergency sewing kit in my bag, even though I can't sew for shit lol. How I use it:

1. Thread

I’ve never found a spell I haven’t been able to do with just a single piece of thread.

Every color serving its purpose, corresponding to various aspects of our lives; green for money, red for love and desire, yellow for friendship, blue for communication, purple for magic, brown for grounding, etc.

And if you’re limited to the barest of basics? That’s okay too. Black or white will do in a pinch.

Black for anything that I want to protect, banish, stop, or relate to Hekate’s domain as my patron deity.

White for healing, or anything I want to draw into myself.

Just cut your piece of thread and focus on your intent while tying your knots to solidify your will. If you’re familiar with numerology and how it relates to what you’re trying to do, feel free to apply that knowledge. Or just tie them until you feel confident it is done. Personally, I'm fond of sets of 3.

2. Scissors

Aside from their practical use, can be consecrated and used to sever the ties of old habits, cut toxic people from your life, or set you free from anything holding you back from being who you want or having the life you want to live. If the thread is symbolic of fate, the power to change that fate can be found in a pair of scissors.

3. Buttons

These can be enchanted to be anything you need, from protective shields to good luck charms. They can act as amulets you can sew into your clothing, or carry like worry stones to remind you of your goal or power.

Alternatively, they can be eyes for poppets, or wards to place in your home; inconspicuous little guards to keep your space and energy clear of negative influence.

4. Safety Pins

Not too different from buttons in that they’re another convenient, inconspicuous way to carry a protective amulet.

Worried about losing your magical button?

Don’t know how to, or even want to sew something into a garment?

Enchant your safety pin and secure it in place for as long as you need it with you. Take it off at the end of the day. You can even recharge it for the next time you need it.

I also love using them as little nets to trap negativity before it can touch me, similar to your traditional evil eye amulets, though a bit more accessible.

5. Sewing Needles

Just as versatile as the other tools, if not more so. You can use them to inscribe your intent into candles. You can use them as protective wards by placing them, crossed, into your curtains, or under your doormat at the entrance of your home.

Enchant them with your intent before using them in mundane ways too; like for comfort and safety before using one to repair a hole in your child’s favorite stuffed animal.

If I had to choose a single book to recommend anyone who hopes to be a witch, it's this one.

I've been following Kelly-Ann Maddox's YouTube channel for over a decade, and she's always been such an inspiration. So when she published her first book, of course I scooped it up immediately.

I thought I knew what I was getting into in cracking this one open, but damn was I in for a surprise.

It's so much more than a beginners guide, but an inspiration to carve out your own path, discover, AND honor your own power before ever considering following another.

The tiny tin or pouch that comes with the teensiest collection of colored threads, scissors, a couple of buttons, a few safety pins, and of course, sewing needles? Yea, that's the one.

Do I still have a magpie's collection of witchy tools and altar decor? Yes, yes I do. I've never been accused of being a minimalist, and I doubt I ever will.

But when push comes to shove, and life gets the better of me? There has always been comfort in knowing I have the power to change things with the simplest of tools.

In witchcraft; the possibilities are only ever limited by your imagination.

When it comes to witchcraft, there’s an abundance of information out there. So it’s perfectly normal for you to pick up a beginner’s guide or spell book and treat it like an instruction manual.

There’s nothing wrong with that, especially at first.

But everyone’s practice is deeply personal, unique to them. What works for one person might be a complete bust for another. The only real way to find out what will work for you is to try it out. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.

It’s not an exact science, but it can be. In fact, do you remember the scientific method you learned in grade school? Question → Research → Hypothesis → Experiment → Data? That’s the essence of practicing witchcraft, in my honest opinion.

It can be applied to any aspect of witchcraft, tradition, or even paganism, if you feel drawn to a specific god or pantheon. Just start by asking questions, and let your curiosity guide you.

It’s one of the oldest forms of witchcraft, found in almost every tradition in some way or another.

From poppets to cord cuttings, if you’ve seen any kind of spell work, you’ve likely seen an example of sympathetic magic.

When you understand that everything is connected, it's not hard to see how a representation of a person or situation can actually affect that person or situation.

That is the essence of sympathetic magic.

It allows you to use whatever resources you have at your disposal, no matter how much or how little, to enact your will.

Sometimes it can feel silly preforming it, like you’re a kid again, making mud pies and potions. And sometimes it can feel silly you didn’t think of doing it that way from the beginning.

Anything can be used for sympathetic magic, all you’ve got to do is shift your perspective a little. Tap into your imagination. Look at the world like a Witch.

Getting started can feel overwhelming AF.

A hundred different people can tell you where to start, but ultimately, it’s up to you. To mitigate the overwhelm by keeping it simple in the beginning, and adding as you go. When you feel ready.

And take notes!

Whether you journal religiously (you should, especially in the beginning, imho), have a designated book of shadows, are crafting a grimoire, jotting everything down in a composition notebook, or just filling up your notes app-it doesn't matter.

In whatever way feels natural, keep track of what you do, read, learn, experience, and feel.

If you do a spell, write it down. Why did you do that spell? What’s it for? What do you hope to gain from it? Write that down too.