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I have seen quite a lot of promotion of this or that tool to use in one’s craft or place on one’s altar over the years, but I haven’t seen as much discussion on how to properly care for or use those tools. Taking proper care not only increases your connection to the tool - making its use more potent - but extends its longevity. I thought I might start with two near universal work horses: the cauldron and mortar & pestle.

Cauldrons

Cast Iron

The majority of cauldrons I’ve seen commercially available are made of cast iron. Cast iron cannot be cleaned like a conventional pot or ceramic dish. Dish soap and steel wool should never touch your cast iron tools. 

To clean:

A clean, stiff bristled brush and hot water should function for common cleaning needs. Do not soak in water, this will cause rust.

For hard, stuck-on bits make a paste of kosher salt and hot water and use that to scrub with a rag or paper towels. You may also boil water in the cauldron if the situation is dire.

Thoroughly dry the cauldron with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. Air drying is often insufficient and can cause rust to set in.

Using a cloth or paper towel, swab the entire cauldron, inside and out, with oil. I use linseed or flaxseed but olive oil is also very common. This is referred to as seasoning.

If rust does set in do not fret; it’s often fixable by rubbing the area with a raw potato.

Brass & Copper

Brass and copper develop patina/tarnish over time, especially when handled often. There are a few non-irritating methods of removing tarnish that can often be found in your pantry:

Ketchup - apply a layer on your cauldron and let sit 10 minutes. Rinse off with water and buff dry.

Lemon and salt - a 2:1 ratio of fresh lemon juice and salt. Gently buff with a clean cloth, rinse, and buff dry.

Baking soda and white vinegar - Mix just enough vinegar into baking soda to create a thick paste. Layer onto your cauldron, let sit half an hour, then rinse and buff dry.

Mortar & Pestles

Marble & Granite

This is by far the most common mortar and pestle type I have come across. I have one made of marble and use it several times a week. You must season a mortar and pestle when you first get it.

Seasoning:

Grind uncooked rice. This is the initial coarse grind that should loosen up any debris or particles in the mortar. Discard once ground to a fine powder.

Grind garlic. This binds up any dust and debris loosened from the coarse grind, making it easier to remove. Discard once thoroughly pulverized.

Grind pepper then salt (and cumin if you have it). This provides a fine abrasion, smooths the walls of the mortar, and removes any lingering odor from the garlic. If you have cumin seeds grind those to a powder first, then pepper, then salt.

Cleaning:

Rinse immediately after use to prevent staining, especially if grinding oily or acidic materials.

Dab highly pigmented/oily sections with lemon juice or white vinegar but don’t allow it to sit.

Mild dish soap on a cloth or sponge can be used, but I tend to avoid it as it can sometimes leave a taste behind. Rinse with warm water.

Soaking your stone mortar and pestle will stain or damage it. For stubborn stuck-on bits grind white rice, then salt to remove. This is excellent at removing strong odors as well.

Volcanic Rock (Molcajete)

The molcajete is a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle made of basalt. This has been used by Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztec and Maya for thousands of years. Because of the highly porous nature of basalt, the molcajete will develop a deep season over time, and should never, ever, ever be cleaned with soap.

Seasoning:

Seasoning the molcajete is an involved process. If you need to, take breaks between each phase but do not cut corners - it’s worth the time and energy to do it right.

Soak for about two hours in clean water. Allow it to dry thoroughly - because basalt is very porous any lingering water could attract mold.

Before you begin to grind place a very slightly damp kitchen towel or sillpat beneath it to keep it from moving and to protect your counters.

Grind white rice to a fine powder to loosen sediment. The powder should turn grey from basalt being ground away. Do this until the powder stays white.

Grind rice and roughly a tablespoon of water into a paste. It’ll likely look grey and unappetizing; repeat until the paste stays white.

Grind garlic, cumin, salt, and a hot pepper into a paste. Let this sit overnight to absorb flavors, then rinse with warm water. Thoroughly dry your molcajete.

Cleaning:

After the seasoning trial, cleaning is relatively easy.

Rinse with warm water after each use.

Scrub, if needed, with a firm bristled kitchen brush - one that has never met soap. It’s best if you can have one set aside just for cleaning the molcajete.

Thoroughly dry - towel it dry, then flip it upside down, then right side up, repeating while it air dries.

Wood

My first mortar and pestle was a wooden one gifted to me by a well meaning Baba. Not understanding that it had a specific function I promptly ruined it and eventually replaced it with a marble one. Generally speaking you want the material of the mortar and pestle to be harder than the material you intend to grind. A wooden mortar and pestle is best used for softer items - dried or fresh herbs, yams, garlic, and the like - and ideally it should be set aside for a specific ingredient.

Cleaning:

For dry ingredients simply wiping out the mortar with a cloth is sufficient.

Otherwise, rinse with warm water.

A soft sponge with a tiny amount of unscented dish soap can be used. Allow to air dry.

For pungent ingredients, grind uncooked rice into a fine powder.

THE SPELL TO DOMINATE YOUR ENEMY

You must have either a statue of the Nina Negra, if you have a statue of the Nina Negra, you must be able to remove her scythe from her hand.

You will need plastic gloves, 9 coins, an empty coffee can with a lid, a brown paper bag, black pen, cemetery dirt from a fresh grave, black mustard seed, some vinegar, a cigar, 3 red flowers, a can of beer, and 2 black 7 day Santisima Muerte candles.

Now you wear the rubber gloves when you go to cemetery and find a fresh grave and fill the empty coffee can almost to the top and place the lid on it, and leave the 9 coins where you took the cemetery dirt from and say:

Nina Negra, I thank thee for the use of your dirt and I leave payment of 9 coins for your treasure.

Now at midnight on a monday night, when it is tuesday morning wear rubber gloves and take the brown paper bag and cut 6 pieces of paper from it, and write the name of your enemy 4 times, put some cemetery dirt and some black mustard seed in the paper, fold it up away from you and place it deep into the coffee can filled with cemetery dirt and say:

Nina Negra, I offer the spirit and soul of (target name). Repeat 4 times and put the black mustard seed and vinegar in the coffee can and place lid on top of it, place on your altar next to the right side of the Nina Negra and then you remove her scythe and write the name of your enemy 4 times on 1 side of the paper and on the other side write the problem you have with this person and roll it so it will be around the scythe and place back in the hand of the Nina Negra.

Now take screwdriver and on both candles push 2 holes deep into the candle wax, then write your enemy name 4 times on 4 pieces of brown paper bag and roll it up and stick into the 2 holes you made in each candle and use the screwdriver to push the papers deep into the wax, then offer Nina Negra the 3 red flowers, the cigar and the can of beer and say this prayer from deep in your heart with all the faith you have in the Nina Negra

NINA NEGRA

MY QUEEN, MY MOTHER

I OFFER TO YOU THE SPIRIT AND SOUL OF (target name)[SAY NAME 4 TIMES].

TO DO WITH AS YOU WILL

TO HOLD THEIR TONGUE,TO COVER THEIR MOUTH, BIND THEIR ARMS AND HANDS

AND CONQUER THEM BEFORE ME, BEATEN AND DEFEATED

TO LEAVE ME, MY HOME AND MY FAMILY ALONE

TO STOP LYING AND GOSSIPING ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY

TO BIND THEM FROM HURTING OR HARMING ME AND MY FAMILY

TO DEFEAT THEIR MIND SO I AM NO LONGER A MEMORY

THAT THEY WILL FORGET ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY, TO BOTHER AND HARASS NO MORE

NINA NEGRA

I PLACE MYSELF UNDER THY SOLE PROTECTION FROM ALL CRIME, HARM AND EVIL

I OFFER THESE GIFTS FROM MY HEART AND I OFFER UPON THY ALTAR THESE 2 CANDLES WITH THE NAME OF MY ENEMY DEEP

IN THE DARKNESS OF THE BLACKNESS OF YOUR ROPE

AND I THANK THEE FOR THY SOLE PROTECTION OF ME, MY HOME AND MY FAMILY

From Carmina Gadelica V. II collected by Alexander Carmicheal 1900

I trample upon the eye,   As tramples the duck upon the lake,   As tramples the swan upon the water,   As tramples the horse upon the plain,   As tramples the cow upon the ‘iuc,’   As tramples the host of the elements,        As tramples the host of the elements.Power of wind I   have over it,   Power of wrath I have over it,   Power of fire I have over it,   Power of thunder I have over it,   Power of lightning I have over it,   Power of storms I have over it,   Power of moon I have over it,   Power of sun I have over it,   Power of stars I have over it,   Power of firmament I have over it,   Power of the heavens   And of the worlds I have over it,        Power of the heavens        And of the worlds I have over it.A portion of it   upon the grey stones,      [third   A portion of it upon the steep hills,   A portion of it upon the fast falls,

A portion of it upon the fair meads,   And a portion upon the great salt sea,   She herself is the best instrument to carry it,        The great salt sea,        The best instrument to carry it.In name of the   Three of Life,   In name of the Sacred Three,   In name of all the Secret Ones,   And of the Powers together.

Saltraim air an t-suil,   Mar a shaltrais lach air luin,   Mar a shaltrais eal air burn,   Mar a shaltrais each air uir,   Mar a shaltrais earc air iuc,   Mar a shaltrais feachd nan dul,        Mar a shaltrais feachd nan dul.Ta neart gaoith agam air,   Ta neart fraoich agam air,   Ta neart teine agam air,   Ta neart torruinn agam air,   Ta neart dealain agam air,   Ta neart gaillinn agam air,   Ta neart gile agam air,   Ta neart greine agam air,   Ta neart nan reul agam air,   Ta neart nan speur agam air,   Ta neart nan neamh   Is nan ce agam air,        Neart nan neamh        Is nan ce agam air.Trian air na   clacha glasa dheth,   Trian air na beanna casa dheth,   Trian air na h-easa brasa dheth,

I realized I haven't posted too much about ancestor veneration praxis, at least not in a long time. To be honest as far as actual details go, I prefer to not talk too much about my practice publicly anymore because folks on have a way of misreading things and then running off with only half of the necessary information and messing it all up. I talk about Morrigan devotee things with the original caw squad, and I've got more Jewish witch friends irl now with whom I can share my experiences, and I live in a city full of folk magic so I'm never short on people with which to discuss it.

However, I have realized online there is not a lot of stuff on ancestor veneration that isn't extremely Catholic, or some kind of Norse or Greek vague pagan stuff. Then of course, there are the practices that are specific to African Diasporic Traditional Religions, and should not be dabbled in if you are some uninitiated white person. And the same goes for the well-established ancestor worship traditions of Asia.

Chances are, a one-size-fits-all approach will not appease all your immediate ancestors, unless you come from a really long line of devout Catholics on both your parent's sides. And praying to pagan/polytheistic deities for your dead monotheist ancestors' souls to find comfort is probably not going to go over well with either your great granny or the gods.

One thing that bothered me about most materials on ancestor veneration, and even the advice I got from local practitioners, is that many of the techniques were alienating or inappropriate for my Jewish ancestors. For instance: flowers, though a common offering to the dead, are not traditional in their culture. Instead my ancestors wanted a pile of white pebbles as seen in Jewish cemeteries.

There are other cases when the memorial rites for one ancestor may not be acceptable for another. For example: to a European ancestor, pouring beer or whiskey on the ground is a common offering, however, I have heard that for some Native Americans, pouring alcohol out onto the earth is disrespectful. Many people in the United States have both European and Native American ancestry.

I have found that many ancestors do not feel comfortable being prayed to before the deity they worship. (The ancient dead, those who were pantheist/polytheist, don't mind, they are the mighty dead and are many centuries removed from their humanity). These monotheist ancestors often want their descendant to say a prayer to their God for their soul on their behalf (as they are dead and cannot pray for themselves) before you address them directly and give them offerings and petitions.

Now, some occult authors will tell you that "any psychopomp spirit" will be fine to address before you speak to your dead...maybe that might be the case for those guys, but in my experience, my deceased Jewish grandmother doesn't want me to ask fucking Saint Christopher or Cyprian or whoever the fuck to fetch her from her eternal rest...she can excuse the witchcraft, but she doesn't want to participate in any form of Catholicism. My dead Catholic grandpa doesn't want me praying to the Morrigan for him, nor is he particularly keen on his living wife's Methodist prayers, though he loves grandma and appreciates the attempt. My ex actually really pissed off his ancestors and mine by trying that "any psychopomp deity can meditate" approach to necromancy espoused by Gordon White fans. Dead people are human and have feelings and their own religious beliefs and can get offended.

Those of you who have followed me for a while might be like "but Banshee, you said the opposite a few years ago" yes, I did. At the time I was mostly only really interacting with my pagan ancestors. My late father himself was a self-described pagan. But the older I got, and the more experienced I became in necromancy, I learned that I can't neglect centuries of my family tree. Now, my more monotheistic relatives still showed up, loved me, accepted me, and even assisted me, but they were not completely happy. I expected them to accept my beliefs and lifestyle, and they did, but initially I did not make room for theirs. That was selfish of me. Even the Morrigan pointed out that my insistence on pagan-flavored everything in my younger days was naive and frankly quite stupid. ("stupid" being Her preferred word choice, not mine.)

My ancestors don't care that I'm a witch, they don't care that I'm pan/bisexual, they don't care that I dress sluttily, they respect me because I am their achievement and I have the power to call them...but they want me to respect them in return. That means my mother who died alone, disowned, without a Jewish funeral, or any memorial service, needed me to incant El Maleh Rachamim many days in a row before her own spirit was able to stop mourning and rest. That means that my paternal Grandpa loves to help me with folk magic, but he wants me to say a rosary for/with him every now and then. It means that, for them, their beliefs they held in life hold power even in death. My beliefs are valid, but they want to be honored in according to their beliefs. They will gladly lend me their power, they will happily intercede for me, but their power comes from their respective faiths, just as my power is rooted in my own convictions.

So you may be wondering, "but Banshee what is a non-denominational offering to the dead so I don't offend my ancestors?" Water, my friends. Water. Maybe honey as well. (Maybe put honey in the water.) And stones. Not crystals, just rocks. It seems like stones are a feature in nearly all memorial sites. Perhaps it's because they come from the earth, idk, I don't make the rules. Just start with water and stones, and look up the funerary prayers/prayers for the dead of your deceased loved ones' religion(s). Before saying the prayers, state out loud that you are praying these prayers on behalf of your beloved dead, so that they might find peace, light, and healing, and that they may feel the love you have for them. If you start crying during the prayers don't be alarmed, that is normal. Ancestor veneration helps with the grieving process, for both you and the dead. A candle can help focus your prayers and be an offering of light for your dead, but the water is the most important thing initially. Over time, it should be revealed to you by the dead what other items and offerings they want on their shrine and which prayers they need or prefer.

What is traditional witchcraft?

I think that today traditional witchcraft can be summed up as one of two ideas towards the practice of witchery or a combination of both:  

1. Traditional witchcraft is the archetypical witchcraft a culture’s myth and folklore. This may constitute as Scottish witchcraft, Italian witchcraft, African witchcraft, et cetera. For much of the Western world, the idea of a witch is rather Anglicized, in that it is really believed that only white people can be witches, as the ideas of modern witchcraft were and are put forth mainly by white people. This is perpetuated by the founding of the Wica, and the continuation of a divide between practices such as hoodoo, vodoun, ceremonial magic, and the like. This being said, for much of the non-Western world, witchcraft is still seen as an evil that can be removed through death of the supposed witch, as much of the non-Western world makes a distinction between magic used to heal or help (what was called Faery Doctoring in Scotland) and magic used to kill, hurt, steal, or destroy (witchcraft has many names within each different culture – many persons that a Western witch might call a witch would not liked to be called as such). In essence, traditional witchcraft (note the small T and W) is the folkloric witchcraft of a unique country’s mythology, usually tied to the peasant folk beliefs. For much of European witchcraft, and indeed much of the modern Western ideas about traditional witchcraft, this means the witchery apparently being performed in and around the 16th and 17th centuries, largely drawn from the witchcraft inquisition and folklore at the time. 

2. Traditional Witchcraft (note the capital T and W) is the witchcraft revival that was brought up next to Gardner’s revival of witchcraft in the 50s and 60s that includes the British Witchcult of the Wica, Robert Cochrane’s Clan of Tubal Cain, 1734 Tradition, the Cultus Sabbati, Anderson Feri, the Regency, et cetera. These are traditions that draw heavily from the above description, especially of British and French origin, but also may include magical traditions of other practices at the time, such as Thelema, OTO, Spare, Vodou, and the Celtic Twilight revival within the Golden Dawn. This revival was most popularised in the early 90s with the releases of books by Andrew Chumbley, Nigel Jackson, and Mike Howard, and the cyber occult revival of internet forums in the late 90s and early 2000s with witchcraft forums such as the Yahoo group Son of Art, Cultus Sabbati talk groups, and TraditionalWitchcraft.net, as well as livejournal forums. This has continued onto tumblr and Wordpress as blogging has become more popular, with blogs such as this one, @spiritscraft, @hagothehills, @visardistofelphame, @ofwoodandbone, @spiritusarcanum, @iopanosiris, @mandrakeandmarjoram, as well as Sarah Lawless, Juniper, New World Witchery, and others. 

Popularity for traditional witchcraft, or Trad Craft, or Old Craft, has become more and more popular with the release of films such as The Witch, the expansion of publishing companies like Scarlet Imprint and Three Hands Press, as well as a push, I believe, for white people to find their own roots within their own cultural heritage and stop stealing from the practices of PoC. People are looking for something authentic, and real, a call back to the days of night flying witches, cavorting with the devil, and making love to faery folk. People want to fight against their oppressors, and they simply are not finding it in the books they are reading now. They want to know why a red candle is used for love magic, they want to know why thorns are used in poppet spells, the want to hear and talk to spirits, to become possessed by spirits, they want to hear the voices of our ancestors, and they want to take control of their lives. Traditional craft seems to bring that. 

What are some of the beliefs of Traditional practitioners?

Each practitioner is different, of course, but I think there are some beliefs that are rather universal among traditional practitioners, mostly because we are all reading from the same books, and many of us have known one another for a very long time. (Call out to @spiritscraft as it’s going on what…10 years? We’re old busy-bodies, now, girl). I’d also like to believe that all those flights to the Sabbat also have something to do with it. 

Most traditional practitioners I’ve come across seem to believe that the world is alive with spirits, that everything has consciousness. The rocks, the plants, the animals, the trees, the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, the stars, the planets, everything is a living spirit. Witches can become possessed by these spirits, and we can possess them. Witches can befriend some of these spirits; or if they are being troublesome, bind or eat them; they can use them in spell and charm work; some can be employed as guardians or found to be ancestral spirits of a kind. Some of these spirits are so powerful, and so huge that we can not possibly comprehend them; they are almost akin to gods. 

As to the gods, some witches believe and work with them, and others do not. Some, like myself, believe that the witching gods are so much greater than the gods created by civilizations over the years, but are the living intelligences behind these gods. Indeed, I believe these “witching gods” are the true gods that we carried with us way back when humans first became aware of gods and spirits and we became conscious beings. They are eternal, and can not die, and are within and of everything around us. Many witches believe in a Devil as the master of all witchery, and a Faeryqueen who is mistress with him. Or the other way around. I have noticed that witches on tumblr do not seem to talk about the Faeryqueen very much….maybe because there isn’t a lot of information on Her. They are focused on the Devil, and that’s just fine. He is the Guardian to Her Door anyway. When Gemma’s book about Her comes out, then the tide will turn. 

You’re getting cynical….

Traditional practitioners also usually believe in the concept of the Familiar spirit, who is either an indwelling spirit (akin to the Holy Guardian Angel) or is a spirit that is called to from Faery, or the Ancestral stream, or the Underworld or Upperworld in some way. Sometimes there are many familiar spirits (what I like to call Imps) that are created or bound within fetishes. I, personally, make a distinction between many different types of familiar spirit, but conversation with the Indwelling Familiar should be of chief importance for the witch. 

Within traditional witchcraft there is a lot of importance upon ancestral veneration. This opens paths into necromancy, ancestral healing, and transmission of knowledge via the witch ancestors. These witch ancestors are usually reached through the use of Sabbatic flight. The Sabbat is both a oeneric and an actual event. Often the Sabbatic rituals are undertaken alone until a deep trance state is achieved, at which point the soul of the witch is transported to the Sabbat peak to partake in the Sabbat. There the dead feast upon the living, eating all the parts of the witch that they do not need. The Witch becomes a little living and a little dead, here and there, Eman Hetan. 

How does one become a traditional witch?

You say: “I am going to be a traditional witch” and you start doing the traditional witch things. You know. Talking all pseudo-academic-ultra-poetic, and talking about how dark and scurry you are. Oh, and mention the Mysteries. Super important. And post lots of pictures of skulls. And plants. And write about your rituals in this kind of weird story-telling way that are just glimpses at what you’re doing, because you’re cool super secretive and don’t take photos of your rituals. Yeah.  

No, but seriously, start reading about witches. Read about the history, read the do it yourself books that are becoming more and more popular by Gemma Gary, Nigel Pennick, Nigel Jackson, Nigel Pearson (change your name to Nigel), read antiquarian books about folklore, read Chumbley and Schulke, read the Andersons, read RJ Stewart, hell read Robin Artisson and then forget everything he told you because you’ll read it again in Jackson and Gary anyway, but he still gives you that cynical edge you need to get around certain people. Read Gardner and Valiente and Crowther. Read Flame in the Cauldron. Read books about Chaos magic, read Spare, read Kenneth Grant, read books about herbalism, tarot, tea leaf reading. Start growing some plants, go swimming naked, become a little wild, laugh at everything, cry at everything, leave out milk and honey for the Good Folk, see spirits in everything, see spirits in yourself and yourself in the spirits. Fight against capitalism, curse your oppressors, bless your allies, go to church and compare their practices with yours. Bring Spirit to Form. Oh, and poetry, write lots of poetry and tell it to the trees in their own language. There is no such thing as a pure witchcraft, and there never will be.

Where does one start?

Azoetia by Andrew Chumbley 

History of Witchcraft and References

Doreen Valiente’s books. 

Witchcraft for Tomorrow, the ABCs of Witchcraft, Where Witchcraft Lives

Liber Nox by Mike Howard

Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton

Nigel Pennick’s books are also really good, but can be hard to find

Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture by Arthur Evans

Read lots of Folklore both about your ancestors and your country of birth

Communing with the Spirits by Martin Coleman

Aradia Gospel of the Witches by Charles G Leland

Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson

Magic Simplified by Draja Mickaharic

Thorns of the Bloodrose by Victor Anderson

Visions of Isobel Gowdie and Cunningfolk and Familiar Spirits by Emma Wilby can be difficult to find, so read Gay Counterculture above and Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies by Claude LeCouteux instead. 

The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl

Cecil Williamson’s Book of Witchcraft by Steve Patterson

This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but this will certainly give you probably a month or two to get through. The blogs I listed above are also great references. 

I hope this helps some people. My ask box is always open and is always on anon. I would love to start some sort of foundational section, but I have to get organised as to what to start with! 

“Trust your intuition” is a phrase we commonly see thrown around in witchy spaces, and in many cases it’s good advice. Part of practicing witchcraft (especially if your craft has a focus on divination or psychic abilities) is learning to trust in your intuitive promptings. In a lot of cases, going with your gut feeling is the right call. But not always.

Our intuition can be wrong, or can give us an incomplete picture of a situation. It can also sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between intuition and subconscious programming. The human brain is designed to find patterns. Because of this, it can sometimes be hard to tell if we are genuinely receiving a psychic prompting or just connecting dots that are actually unrelated.

There are a few common thought patterns that often get mistaken for intuitive messages by new and experienced witches alike. It’s a good idea to read up on these and to keep them in mind when determining the validity of intuitive messages.

Cognitive Distortions

According to Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA, writing for Healthline, cognitive distortions are “thought patterns that cause people to view reality in inaccurate — usually negative — ways. In short, they’re habitual errors in thinking.”

Like a computer error, cognitive distortions cause us to misinterpret information and draw incorrect conclusions. Cognitive distortions are common symptoms of mental illnesses [see below], but all of us experience them at some point, even if we’re 100% neurotypical. Research suggests that cognitive distortions may have evolved as a survival mechanism, and that they’re usually tied to trauma or negative experiences.

This is way too big of a topic to cover in a single post, but here are a few common cognitive distortions to look out for:

Black and White Thinking (also called “All or Nothing Thinking”): only thinking in extremes, framing every situation as either/or. (Example: “I have to do this ritual right or I’m a failure as a witch.”)

Overgeneralization: applying a conclusion based on a single experience to a whole group of people or things. (Example: “People who cast curses and hexes are all evil.”)

Catastrophizing: assuming the worst in every situation; turning everyday worries into major catastrophes. (Example: “I didn’t feel the gods during my ritual — the gods must have cut me off because they’re angry with me.”)

Personalization: taking things personally when they have nothing to do with you. (Example: “My friend cancelled our lunch plans for today — they must have decided they don’t like me anymore.”)

Mind Reading: making assumptions about what other people are thinking or feeling, usually projecting your own feelings onto them. (Example: “My partner is being quiet tonight — they must be angry with me.”) This cognitive distortion is especially important for witches to look out for, as it can be mistaken for empathy or claircognizance.

Mental Filtering: excluding positives and focusing only on negatives OR excluding negatives and focusing only on positives. (Example: You draw the Tower, the Sun, and Death in your tarot spread. You become fixated on the negative messages in the Tower and Death cards, ignoring the positivity and blessings heralded by the Sun.)

Labeling: reducing yourself, another person, a group of people, or a thing/activity to a single, one-word label. (Example: “I’m lazy.”)

I strongly encourage all witches to do research into cognitive distortions and learn to recognize them, especially if the nature of your magical practice has you leaning heavily on your intuition. A cognitive distortion is not an intuitive message — your intuition should be logical, and can often be fact-checked.

Prejudice

The prejudice I’m talking about here isn’t just the obvious kind, like blatant racism or homophobia. We all have prejudices, whether we realize it or not. Merriam-Webster defines prejudice as a “preconceived judgment or opinion” or “an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.” Prejudice simply means thinking we know what to expect from something, even if we’ve never experienced it before.

You may have an image in your head of what “real” witchcraft looks like. You might feel like emoji spells, for example, aren’t “real magic” because they seem silly, they don’t take a lot of time and effort, there’s no historical precedent for them, etc. etc. In short, you feel like they aren’t “real magic” because they don’t fit your idea of what magic looks like. This is an example of prejudice, and buying into that prejudice prevents you from having access to an easy, fun form of techno magic.

If you find yourself receiving an “intuitive message” that someone else is faking it, is lying about their spiritual experiences, or is only imagining those experiences, take a step back and seriously examine that thought and where it might be coming from. It’s possible that the thought came not from your intuition, but instead from your own prejudices. It doesn’t matter if the way someone practices magic or experiences spirituality is different from your path — it’s the right way for them, and that’s what matters.

When you bring your prejudice into a tarot reading or other form of divination, you bring a set expectation for what the cards are going to tell you. The cards are going to pick up on that, and they may very well tell you what you want to hear — or you may twist the meaning of the cards to fit your expectations. This prevents you from getting clear, accurate readings.

I know it’s hard, but witchcraft requires us to leave our prejudice at the door. There is no “right way” to be a witch or to practice magic. There is no “right way” to communicate with the gods or the universe. Prejudice, biases, and expectations will only keep you from fully exploring your spirituality. Work on letting them go and opening up to the full spectrum of possibilities.

Stereotyping

This one goes hand-in-hand with prejudice and is closely related to overgeneralization (a cognitive distortion). Stereotyping is a necessary coping mechanism that we use to simplify our social interactions — but it is also the root of serious social issues like racism and misogyny. We all use stereotypes without consciously thinking about it.

While it’s important to be aware of stereotyping in order to avoid contributing to social issues, it’s also important for witches to learn the difference between an intuitive hit and a stereotype. This is especially important for witches who use claircognizance, where information often comes in the form of “downloads” that can sometimes be difficult to tell apart from our own thoughts.

For example, you might “just know” or “have a gut feeling” that a man you know is gay. But if that man talks in a higher pitch, acts effeminately, and puts a lot of time and effort into his appearance, then your gut feeling may have less to do with intuition and more to do with applying stereotypes to your friend.

Mental Illness

Many common mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety, can cause you to feel like you know that something bad is about to happen. “Anticipating disaster” or feeling like something is going to go wrong, is one of the most common symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and other anxiety disorders. Hyperfixating on details and worrying over small things are also common symptoms of these and other mental disorders.

As a witch with two anxiety disorders, I’ve had to learn to tell the difference between my intuition and my anxiety. Here’s a very recent, real life example: Last week, the entire staff at my workplace was tested for COVID-19. The results were expected to come back on my day off, and I found myself constantly watching my phone. Now, I do have some claircognizance, and when my phone goes off I usually know who the message is from before I even look at it. But on this day, every time my phone dinged I was just sure that it was my boss texting me to let me know that I’d tested positive. After the first couple of “false alarms,” I realized that this was an anxiety thing, not an intuitive thing. I was anxious about the test results, so that was the first thing my mind went to every time. (For the record, when my results did come back, they were negative.)

If you have or suspect that you have a mental illness that affects your thoughts and emotions, I highly recommend seeking out a good therapist or counselor. A trained mental health professional can help you sort out your symptoms and learn to recognize them, so you can differentiate them from genuine psychic experiences. (I’ve personally had really good results with CBT and DBT.)

Journaling has also been really helpful for me, as it helps me keep things straight and allows me to go back and read over my experiences when I’m having a better mental health day. (In my experience, it’s much easier to tell the difference between anxiety and intuition when you’re not in the moment.)

Resources:

“What Are Cognitive Distortions and How Can You Change These Thinking Patterns?” by Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA, medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP, published through Healthline

“50 Common Cognitive Distortions” by Alice Boyes Ph.D., published through Psychology Today

“Stereotypes” by Saul McLeod, published through Simply Psychology

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Facts page on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) website

Reading up on sea witch spells and seeing people suggest putting offerings in bottles and letting the sea carry then away.

This upsets me.

What???????

No, that’s not how it works. We aren’t plants. Plants make their own food. Don’t assume things about nature, do your research.

Most plants create their own sugar and if you give them more they can die. People use sugar as a weed killer. A shit ton of the food and drink we consume today has sugar in it. Even sugar free shit has a different form of sugar in it. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/moving-sugars-plants

When performing a Celtic Cross, there are three cards that can reveal when the event will happen: the advice, the outcome, and the card at the bottom of the deck. While your intuition will tell you which is most likely, it is best to acknowledge all three possibilities.

THE MAJOR ARCANA

The Fool – Whenever you are ready

The Magician – It has already begun

The High Priestess – You know exactly when

The Empress – During harvest season

The Emperor – It is almost done

The Hierophant – It is finished

The Lovers – As soon as you make the choice

The Chariot – In just a few moments

Strength – The minute you accept it

The Hermit – Only after you meditate on it

The Wheel of Fortune – During your first or next Saturn return

Justice – When you least expect it

The Hanged Man – When the circumstances change

Death – Whenever it is ready

Temperance – After the storm

The Devil – It is happening right now

The Tower – Soon, unexpectedly and suddenly

The Star – The more you believe, the sooner it will happen

The Moon – It cannot be determined at the moment

The Sun – In the summer or by sunrise

Judgement – Soon and inevitably

The World – In divine timing

THE MINOR ARCANA

THE SUIT OF WANDS

Ace of Wands – One day

Two of Wands – Two days

Three of Wands – Three days

Four of Wands – Four days

Five of Wands – Five days

Six of Wands – Six days

Seven of Wands – Seven days

Eight of Wands – Eight days

Nine of Wands – Nine days

Ten of Wands – Ten days

Page of Wands – As we speak

Knight of Wands – End of November to most of December

Queen of Wands – End of March to most of April

King of Wands – End of July to most of August

Ok, kiddies.  Several of you have seen my post about the various resources and books I have in my Pagan/Witchcraft/Magick library and have asked “Where can I download the PDFs from?”

Well, now that things have calmed down a bit…Here it is!  This post will always be growing as I find more PDF books. I did my best to organize them according to category.

Happy reading, loves :)

PS- Please message me if links are wrong or broken!

Book of Shadows/Grimoires

The Azoetia: A Grimoire of the Sabbatic Craft by Andrew Chumbley*

Cunningham’s Book of Shadows: The Path of an American Traditionalist by Scott Cunningham*

The Pop Culture Grimoire: A Pop Culture Magic Anthology by Taylor Ellwood*

The Gardnerian Book of Shadows by Gerald Gardner*

A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk: A Practical Guide to Witchcraft on the Crooked Path by Peter Paddon*

Witch’s Master Grimoire by Lady Sabrina*

The Complete Uncut Book of Shadows by Riders of the Crystal Wind*

The Alexandrian Book of Shadows by Sekhet Sophia*

Crowley/Thelema

The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley*

The Book of Lies by Aleister Crowley*

The Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley*

Book 4 by Aleister Crowley, Frater Perdurabo, and Soror Vira*

Book 4 Part 1: Meditation by Aleister Crowley*

The Confessions of Aleister Crowley by Aleister Crowley*

Diary of a Drug Fiend by Aleister Crowley*

Duty by Aleister Crowley*

Eight Lectures on Yoga by Aleister Crowley*

The Equinox by Aleister Crowley*

The Equinox of the Gods by Aleister Crowley*

Goetia of Solomon the King by Aleister Crowley*

Household Gods by Aleister Crowley*

Invocation of Hecate by Aleister Crowley*

Liber CVI (Book 106): Concerning Death by Aleister Crowley*

Liber 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley by Aleister Crowley*

Liber LXXXIV vel Chanokh by Aleister Crowley*

Little Essays Towards Truth by Aleister Crowley*

Magick in Theory and Practice by Aleister Crowley*

Magick Without Tears by Aleister Crowley*

Moonchild by Aleister Crowley*

The Necronomicon: The Call of Cthulhu by unknown

Olla by Aleister Crowley*

The Tao The King by Aleister Crowley*

Thoth Tarot Deck by Aleister Crowley*

The Vision & the Voice With Commentary and Other Papers: The Collected Diaries of Aleister Crowley by Aleister Crowley, Victor B Neuburg and Mary Desti*

Godwin’s Cabalistic Encyclopedia:  A Complete Guide to Cabalistic Magic by David Godwin*

Abrahadabra: Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thelemic Magic by Rodney Orpheus and Lon Milo Duquette*

Crystals/Gems

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham*

Dunwich’s Guide to Gemstone Sorcery: Using Stones for Spells, Amulets, Rituals and Divination by Gerina Durwich*

Divination/Psychic Ability

Opening of the Third Eye by Douglas Baker*

Shadow Work Guidebook by Jessica Cross*

Divination for Beginners: Reading the Past, Present, and Future by Scott Cunningham*

The Art of the Pendulum by Cassandra Eason*

The Complete Guide to Psychic Development by Cassandra Eason*

Spiritual Power by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee*

Gods and Goddesses

Dictionary of the Gods and Goddesses by Michael Jordan*

Encountering Kali: In the Margins, At the Center, IN the West by Rachel Fell McDermott and Jeffrey Kripal*

Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal by Rachel Fell McDermott*

The Magic of Kali: Inner Secrets of a Tantrik Goddess by Michael Magee*

Goddesses and the Divine: A Western Religious History by Rosemary Radford Ruether*

Herb/Nature Magick

Treaties on Occult Medicine & Practical Magic by Samael Aun Weor*

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham*

Earth, Air, Fire & Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic by Scott Cunningham*

Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic by Scott Cunningham*

The Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham*

Herbal Magick; A Witch’s Guide to Herbal Enchantment, Folklore, and Divination by Gerina Dunwich*

Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune*

A Witch Alone, New Edition: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic by Marian Green*

Earth Divination: A Practice Guide to Geomancy by John Michael Greer*

The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison*

The Weiser Concise Guide to Herbal Magick by Judith Hawkins-Tillirson*

The Element Encyclopedia of 1,000 Spells by Judika Illes*

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes*

The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs by Richard Allen Miller*

Incense Crafting and Use of Magickal Sense by Carl F. Neal*

The Extremely Large Herbal Grimoire by Que Sage and Midnight Mindi*

Gardening with the Goddess: Creating Gardens of Spirit and Magick by Patricia Telesco*

The Folk-Lore of Plants by T. F. Thiselton- Dyer*

Natural Magic by Doreen Valiente*

Herbs in Magic and Alchemy: Techniques from Ancient Herbal Lore by C. L. Zalewski*

Historical/Classic Reference

Paganism Surviving in Christianity by Abram Herbert Lewis*

The God of Witches by Margaret Alice Murray*

The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger by Heinrich Kramer, James Sprenger and Montague Summers*

Aradia or Gospel of the Witches by Charles G. LeLand*

Persephone’s Quest: Entheogens and the Origins of Religion by R. Gordon Wasson, Stella Kramrisch, Dr. Carl Ruck, and Jonathan Ott*

Household/Kitchen Witchcraft

The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home by Scott Cunningham & David Harrington*

Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects by Scott Cunningham and David Harrington*

Magick

Advanced Candle Magick by Raymond Buckland*

A Little Book of Altar Magic by D.J. Conway*

Creating Magical Entities by David Michael Cunningham*

Candle Power: Using Candle Light for Ritual, Magic, and Self- Discovery by Cassandra Eason* 

The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy by Rosemary Ellen Guiley*

Meta- Magick: The Book of ATEM- Achieving New States of Consciousness through NLP, Neuroscience, and Ritual by Philip Farber*

Fire and Ice: The History, Structure, and Rituals of Germany’s Most Influential Modern Magical Order: The Brotherhood of Saturn by Stephen Flowers, PhD.*  

Applied Magic by Dion Fortune*

An Introduction to Ritual Magic by Dion Fortune and Gareth Knight*

High Magic’s Aid by Gerald B. Gardner*

Circles of Power: Ritual Magic in the Western Tradition by John Michael Greer*

Learning Ritual Magic: Fundamental Theory and Practice for the Solitary Apprentice by John Michael Greer, Earl, Jr. King, Clare Vaughn*

E-Witch: Teachings of Magical Mastery by Deborah Gray*

Magic When You Need It by Judika Illes*

Pure Magic by Judika Illes*

The Basics of Magick by Amber K. *

True Magic: A Beginner’s Guide by Amber K.*

Modern Magick: Twelve Lessons in the High Magickal Arts, Second Edition by Donald Michael Kraig*

Protection and Reversal Magick by Jason Miller*

The Secrets of High Magic: Vintage Edition: Practical Instruction in the Occult Traditions of High Magic, Including Tree of Life, Astrology, Tarot, Rituals, Alchemic Processes, and Further Advanced Techniques by Francis Melville*

The Mystic Foundation: Understanding & Exploring The Magical Universe by Christopher Penczak*

The Book of Solomon’s Magick by Carroll Runyon*

A Week of Magic by the Sea Witch*

Tactical Magick by Seth*

An Enchanted Life: An Adept’s Guide to Masterful Magic by Patricia Telesco*

Enocian Magic for Beginners: The Original System of Angel Magic by Donald Tyson*

New Millennium Magick: A Complete System of Self- Realization by Donald Tyson*

Magician’s Workbook: Practicing the Rituals of the Western Tradition by Donald Tyson*

Not in Kansas Anymore: Dark Arts, Sex Spells, Money Magic, and Other Things Your Neighbors Aren’t Telling You by Christine Wicker*

Occult

Three Books on Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa*

A Manual of Occultism by Sepharial*

Shamanism

Walking Between the Worlds: The Science of Compassion by Gregg Braden*

Psychedelic Shamanism: The Cultivation, Preparation, and Shamanic Use of Psychotropic Plants by Jim DeKorne*

Hallucinogens and Shamanism by Michael Harner*

Shamans/Neo-Shamans: Ecstasies, Alterative Archaeologies and Contemporary Pagan by Robert Willis*

In the Shadow of the Shaman: Connecting with Self, Nature & Spirit by Amber Wolfe*

Spellwork

The Ultimate Book of Spells: A Complete Guide to Using Magic to Improve Your Life and the World Around You by Pamela Ball*

Exploring Spellcraft: How to Create and Cast Effective Spells by Gerina Dunwich*

Spells For The Solitary Witch by Eileen Holland*

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Spells: 88 Incantations to Entice Love, Improve a Career, Increase Wealth, Restore Health, and Spread Peace by Michael Johnstone*

Witches’ Potions and Spells by Kathryn Paulsen*

The Cyber Spellbook: Magick In The Virutal World by Patricia Telesco and Sirona Knight*

Crone’s Book of Spells and Charms by Valerie Worth*

Symbols, Amulets, Sigils

Amulets and Magic by E.A. Budge*

A Dictionary of Symbols by J. E. Cirlot and Herbert Read*

Basic Sigil Magic by Philip Cooper*

Practical Sigil Magic: Creating Personal Symbols for Success by Frater U.:D.:*

Dictionary of Occult, Hermetic and Alchemical Sigils by Fred Gettings*

The Complete Book of Amulets & Talismans by Migene González-Wippler*

Runic Amulets and Magic Objects by Mindy MacLeod and Bernard Mees*

Symbols, Signs, and Spells by Lolita Perdurabo*

Secrets of Magical Seals: A Modern Grimoire of Amulets, Charms, Symbols and Talismans by Anna Riva*

The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems by William Thomas and Kate Pavitt*

The Power of the Word: The Secret Code of Creation by Donald Tyson*

Crone’s Book of Magical Words by Valerie Worth* 

Spirit/Otherbeing Work

Buckland’s Book of Spirit Communication by Raymond Buckland*

Witch’s Guide to Ghosts and the Supernatural by Gerina Dunwich*

Fabulous Creatures, Mythical Monsters, and Animal Power Symbols by Cassandra Eason*

Faery Magic: Spells, Potions, and Lore from the Earth Spirits by Sirona Knight*

Summoning Spirits: The Art of Magical Evocation by Konstantinos*

Faerie Way: A Healing Journey to Other Worlds by Hugh Mynne and George A. Russell*

The Necronomicon by Simon*

Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern British Witchcraft and Magic by Emma Wilby*

Voodoo/Hoodoo/Root Work

Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Conjure: A Handbook by Jeffrey Anderson*

The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals by Denise Alvarado*

The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook by Denise Alvarado*

Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual by Denise Alvarado*

The Candle and the Crossroads: A Book of Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root-Work by Orion Foxwood*

Charms, Spells, and Formulas : for the Making and Use of Gris Gris Bags, Herb Candles, Doll Magic, Incenses, Oils, and Powders by Ray T. Malbrough and Bill Fugate*

Waters of Return: The Aeonic Flow of Voodoo by Louis Martinie*

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs by Stephanie Rose Bird*

The Super Voodoo Coursework by Unknown*

Wicca

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca In The Kitchen by Scott Cunningham*

Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham*

Witchcraft

Witchcraft: Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles*

The Goddess Is in the Details: Wisdom for the Everyday Witch by Deborah Blake*

A Witch’s Dozen: 13 Practical Rituals for the Everyday Witch by Deborah Blake*

Witchcraft on a Shoestring: Practicing the Craft Without Breaking Your Budget by Deborah Blake*

Witchcraft: A Concise Guide Or Which Witch Is Which? by Isaac Bonewits*

Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland*

Witchcraft From The Inside: Origins of the Fastest Growing Religious Movement in America by Raymond Buckland*

Power of the Witch: The Earth, the Moon, and the Magical Path to Enlightenment by Laurie Cabot*

The Dark Side of the Moon - A Complete Course in Magic & Witchcraft by Basil Crouch*

Witch Crafting: A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic by Phyllis Curott*

Every Witch Way: Spells and Advice from Two Very Different Witches by Ellen Dugan and Tess Whitehurst*

A Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magick Spells by Cassandra Eason*

Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern Days by Raven Grimassi*

The Witch’s Familiar: Spiritual Partnership for Successful Magic by Raven Grimassi*

The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft, and Wicca by Rosemary Ellen Guiley*

Progressive Witchcraft by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone*

The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner*

Mastering Witchcraft: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks & Covens by Paul Huson*

Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magick After Dark by Konstantinos*

Witchcraft Today: An Encyclopedia of of Wiccan and Neopagan Traditions by James Lewis*

8 Sabbaths of Witchcraft by Mike Nichols*

The Gates of Witchcraft: Twelve Paths of Power, Trance and Gnosis by Christopher Penczak*

The Living Temple of Witchcraft, Volume 1: The Descent of the Goddess by Christopher Penczak*

The Living Temple of Witchcraft, Volume 2: The Journey of the God by Christopher Penczak*

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk*

The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft: Shadows, Spirits, and the Healing Journey by Christopher Penczak*

The Real Witch’s Handbook by Kate West*

World Pagan Practices

An Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek and Roman Mythology by James Hampton Belton*

Buckland’s Book of Saxon Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland*

The Book of the Dead: The Papyrus of Ani by E.A. Wallis Budge*

Egyptian Magic by E. A. Wallis Budge*

Witta: An Irish Pagan Tradition by Edain McCoy*

The Practical Pagan Guide: Commonsense Guidelines for Modern Practicioners by Dana Eilers*

Practising the Witch’s Craft: Real Magic Under a Southern Sky by Douglas Ezzy*

Hermetic Magic:The Postmodern Magical Papyrus of Abaris by By Stephen Edred Flowers*

Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune*

The Book of the Holy Strega by Raven Grimassi*

By-Paths of Sicily by Eliza Putnam Heaton*

Germanic Spirituality by Bil Linzie*

The Religion of Ancient Egypt by W. M. Flinders Petrie*=

The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Rituals by Robert Ritner*

In a lot of my posts, I say to cleanse your body and your space. What does that mean? Why and how do you do it? Hopefully I can answer those questions and clear up some misconceptions about cleansing in magical practices.

What is Cleansing?

Cleansing is a process via which the charged energy, spellwork and/or spirits on or in something is removed. Banishment is a subset of these practices (or at least I consider it to be) that forcibly drive out spirits or negative influence attached to something or someone. Cleansing, in one form or another, is a part of basically every magical practice and culture.

Cleansing does not equal removal of negative energy. It’s cleaning out what there’s, positive or negative, to make something neutral again.

Cleansing is also not the same as physically cleaning a room, but it is an tool for improving the energy. I’d recommend cleaning a room (pick up things, sweep, clear off surfaces) at least mildly before performing a cleansing on it.

Why Should I Cleanse?

The same reason you should clean anything! For daily living, it can make you feel better and more at peace. For any work with spirits or energy (including spellwork) it’s important to not mix in energy remnants, like if you cooked with unwashed pans or on a dirty countertop. And, if you got something on you that could make you ill, you need to cleanse it off!

Cleansing yourself, as in your body, before spellwork is also important to get spirits and deities to listen to you and do what you say. Especially powerful spirits. (many practices phrase this in terms of purity, but I find it helpful to also think of it like asking someone for help when you haven’t showered or brushed your teeth recently)

When Should I Cleanse?

As with cleaning anything, there are multiple degrees of intensity of cleansing. Here, I’m using “light cleansing” to mean performing something short and not requiring much preparation, while a “heavy cleansing” may take an hour or more, be done over several days, required specialized ingredients, etc.

When to do a light cleansing:

When you first buy a tool for magic or divination

Before and after spellwork (especially your tools**)

Before meditation or energywork

During a negative or unlucky day (but watch for signs of this negativity being a curse)

After being somewhere with a negative spiritual presence

After being around disease and decay

After being in a crowded area/on public transport*

After sex or masturbation*

After working with or being around the dead*

* In some cultures these acts are considered unclean but they don’t necessarily expose you to negative energy. It comes down to the beliefs of your culture and those of the spirits/deities you work with.

** Unless these tools are meant to collect energy! For example, you might have one jar that you always and only use for favor spells for yourself.

When to do a heavy cleansing:

Before performing an elaborate ritual or spell

After performing unprotected spellwork

When you and/or the people, plants, and animals around you are frequently falling ill or experiencing other unwellness (this is a clear sign of a curse or negative spirit attached to you)

During certain times of year and/or along with certain cultural ceremonies

Some Methods of Cleansing

This is not an exhaustive list! These are just some cross-cultural cleansing methods I’ve seen. Furthermore, all methods below can include (and are augmented by!) a chant, prayer, or some other form of words that correspond to the cleansing.

Salt

Put it in salt, put salt over it, throw salt around, etc. and leave it for a bit. Anime fans and Graeco-Egyptian sorcerers alike can tell you salt is cleansing. However, be mindful of not throwing a lot of salt around outside, where it can harm the environment, and ensure that whatever you’re putting in salt will not be damaged by the salt.

Washing

Of course, a natural way to cleanse something is washing it! This includes bathing to cleanse your body. Typically, the water is augmented with salt, herbs, or a prayer during washing so that it washes away spiritual dirt instead of physical dirt. Personally, I use salt water to wash just about everything. Again make sure the object/surface will not be damaged by water or whatever you’re adding to it. If you are bathing, ensure that nothing you add to the tub is unsafe for the skin or will cause an allergic reaction. Also would recommend avoiding salt baths if you have open wounds.

If you’re washing your magical tools that got stuff on them like ash, wax, etc. I’d recommend first doing a cleansing wash to get off the energy, then washing with soap and water to get off the substance. 

Flinging or Spraying Salt Water

Basically the above but for clearing the air. Again, some people use herbed water or magically-charged water instead of salt water.

I’ve seen some hate in the traditional magic community for spray bottle cleansing, but, as someone who usually cleanses a space by dipping my hand in salt water and then shaking it around, I see no reason why pouring it into a spray bottle will make it less effective.

Incense and Smoke

Lighting some incense or herbs and cleansing with the smoke is a good way to cleanse rooms, objects, and people. However, whatever you’re using must burn clean. You should not be getting a black, ashy residue on what you’re cleansing. If you are trying to drive away negative things, I’d recommend using a foul-smelling, instead of sweet-smelling, incense. The negative scent, while not pleasant, drives things away instead of attracting them. 

Safety-wise, remember fire safety and ensure that everything you’re burning is safe to inhale.

Using Ringing or Chiming Instruments

A bell is the easiest instrument to find for this. To clear a space, loudly make the ringing or chiming noise, usually while walking around it. Some people perform the ringing an auspicious number of times.

Drawing the Energy or Spirit Into Another Object

In banishments, this usually includes subsequent destruction of the object, like burning or smashing the object. If you plan to use this for a banishment, find a specific, reliable practice to perform. If you’re doing this for something more minor, like getting rid of your negative emotions, then it’s less risky to do something you make up on the spot.

This can also be performed without destruction of an object via channeling it into an energy sink. I’ve found that entirely black stones like black onyx make good energy sinks. However, remember that energy sinks aren’t literally black holes for energy and can get “full”. You will need to cleanse/ground the object occasionally, especially if you are trying to draw a lot of charge into it.

Prayer or Spellwork

Some prayers or spells are specifically used for cleansing, either by design or by cultural tradition. Of course, please be respectful of which culture a practice comes from and do not appropriate other cultures.

Cleansing Misconceptions

Sunlight, moonlight, and sun/moon water isn’t “naturally” cleansing. I see so many things telling people to cleanse (usually) crystals with one of these. If you are using the light of the sun or moon in cleansing, you are asking spirits of the celestial body to drive out the energy. This goes for charging too! It may be functionally the same to assume that moonlight has inherent magical properties but there are risks with trying to get a spirit to do something for you without payment.

Cleansing is not smudging. You’ve probably seen posts about this before, but if you haven’t, here’s one.

Channeling positive energy into an object isn’t cleansing it. As stated in the first section, cleansing is about the removal of energy and “resetting” things. Unlike acids and bases in chemistry, things can’t be neutralized by adding more of the opposite. You can make a room with negative energy feel better by adding positive energy, but this isn’t the same as cleaning it out.

Cleansing a space, driving out a spirit, etc. cannot be done with just visualization. You can regulate your own energy with visualization and send out positive energy into the space around you but, again, this isn’t cleansing.

You don’t need to cleanse your tarot deck often. Tarot decks are kind of like cast iron skillets: they pick up “seasoning” from use. However, this is usually a good thing! By getting more energy into a deck, it’ll give richer readings. It’s often necessary to spend a bit of time “breaking in” a deck through use. If you’re having trouble getting helpful answers from your deck, first try to center yourself, step away from your cards for a bit, and then come back to them when your energy is more stable. If that doesn’t work, then try cleansing the deck.

St. John’s Wort:

Side Effects: Insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, upset stomach, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, skin rash, and diarrhea.

Drug Interactions: Antidepressants, allergy medications, cough medicines, immunosuppressants, HIV medication, birth control, sedatives, anticoagulants, and other drugs.

Ginseng:

Side Effects: Insomnia, menstrual problems, breast pain, increased heart rate, high or low blood pressure, headaches, loss of appetite, diarrhea, itching, skin rash, dizziness, mood changes, and vaginal bleeding.

Drug Interactions: Anticoagulants, antidepressants, anti-diabetic medications, aspirin, and morphine

Valerian:

Side Effects: Headaches, excitability, uneasiness, and insomnia.

Drug Interactions: Alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, and sedatives.

Lavender:

Side Effects: Constipation, headaches, skin irritation, and increased appetite.

Drug Interactions: Sedatives

Chamomile:

Side Effects: Drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and thinning of the blood.

Drug Interactions: Alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, antifungal drugs, birth control, insomnia medications, and sedatives.

Echinacea:

Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, muscle or joint pain, dry mouth, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and insomnia.

Drug Interactions: Caffeine, immunosuppressants, and CYP’s

Aloe Vera:

Side Effects: Skin irritation, painful abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.

Drug Interactions: Laxatives, antidiabetes medications, anticoagulants, and diuretic medications.

Milk Thistle:

Side Effects: Nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, intestinal discomfort, bloating, pain, and loss of appetite.

Drug Interactions: CYP’s, cholesterol medications, and estrogen supplements.

No no no no no no. 

Sit down we must have a conversation.

There were 6 Celtic nations.

Éire, Cymru, Alba, Kernow, Breizh, and Ellan Vannin.

Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, Brittany, and the Isle of Mann respectively.

They’re all related, but not the same. They all have different languages descended from a similar group, Irish (Gaeilge), Scottish (Gàidhlig), Manx (Gaelg), Welsh (Cymraeg), Cornish (Kernowek), and Breton (Brezhoneg). Some are more widely spoken than others, for example Welsh is still commonly spoken in Wales, whereas hearing Cornish in Cornwall instead of English is rare.  All Celtic nations have varied mythology and culture. Irish Mythology is different from Breton Mythology, and even Welsh and Cornish mythology (arguably the most related Celtic Nations) have subtle differences to each other. I wish I could add more about the cultures at this time but my knowledge of Celtic nations is primarily made up of the history and languages of those regions, particularly Cornwall. 

You might have notice that England and English are missing from this, because the English descended from Anglo-Saxons, who were German invaders that came to the isles right around the Fall of the Roman empire in the 5th Century, erasing the Celtic influence in what is now England. 

Reversed cards like to rain on your parade, delaying what is hoped for and dampening what is great. But not all of them are villainous. These ones are especially auspicious.

The Devil

The ropes around you are loosening. Your liberation is coming.

Five of Cups

Pain has been dealt. Grief has been felt. Sorrow can now begin to melt.

The Moon

What is hidden will come to light. All will once again be clear and bright.

Five of Wands

Conflicts are almost over. Furious minds and hateful hearts will soon feel sober.

The Hanged Man

What is delayed is now in position. Action will soon succeed stagnation.

Four of Cups

A farewell to dullness and apathy. You will soon have a reason to be very happy.

Three of Swords

Forgiveness will be given or received. Your agony will hence be relieved.

The Tower

You survived or avoided a disaster. What awaits now are greener pastures.

Ten of Swords

The worst of it is over. From this moment, it all starts to get better.

Nine of Swords

There are no more reasons to worry. You can stop being scared and weary.

Five of Pentacles

All that you lost and all that you lack are now, at last, on their way back.

Knight of Swords

Sympathy and gentleness will banish cruelty and recklessness.

Eight of Swords

Remove now your blindfold. What was once copper has been turned into gold.

Ten of Wands

The heaviness will lift. You will put down your burdens and set them adrift.

Five of Swords

In the spiritual world omens are everywhere and there are no such thing as coincidences. You can use signs around you to guide your life and your workings if you only know how to interpret them. 7 day candles have long been used by hoodooists to read a specific working and determine its effectiveness, or warn of any problems or solutions. Just like reading tea leaves, the burnt candles can provide valuable insight. SOOT The soot on a candle is one of the most recognizable results of burning a candle. While in the mundane world one might say this was merely soot, in the spiritual we know there is a message to be interpreted in that soot. Black soot is a sign of negativity and witchcraft.

If the soot does not travel all the way down the glass, is only at the top or perhaps stops in the middle, the negative influence or obstacle has been unblocked.

If the black goes down the entire length of the candle it means your working has been blocked and there are still things preventing you for attaining your desired result. It could also indicate someone has casted against you or has significant spiritual protection. If this is the case burn another candle to try to break through their defenses.

If the soot is at the bottom of the candle it is a warning that negative influences are being sent to you. This can be the case when someone casts against you.

White soot is another matter all together. This can indicate spiritual communication, purity, and exorcism. It could indicate that the spirits have heard your prayers and removed the negativity from the working. This is especially true in unhexing rituals. Again, look to the amount of soot to tell you if it is completed or not.

If the soot only goes half way down or less, the cleansing was successful.

If the soot is carried through the length of the candle you may need further cleansing and spiritual work.

If the soot is at the bottom of the candle, it signifies the presence of outside aid or help either spiritually or physically.

If the candle burned half black and half white this means that one aspect is overriding the other. Look to which is on top to see what was undone. If black is on top, your spirits cleared it. If white is on top the spirits of another have combated your attempts.

If the soot is on only one side of the candle, this is a sign that what you are doing is incorrect. Either the candle fixing wasn’t appropriate or the spirits aren’t happy with the candle itself.

FLAME The flame is by far the most important part of any candle working. The subtle actions of the flame can tell you a lot from the moment you light it, to the moment it goes out. Let start with lighting the flame.

If the candle does not light this means that this type of working will not work for what you need and another type of spell should be used.

If the candle lights and splits into two or more flames, this indicates the presence of others, either spirits, deities, or human, getting involved. Look to the rest of the candle to interpret whether this person is good or bad. If you are trying to split up a couple and both flames stay lit, the couple will stay together. If you are doing a working for attract a lover and the second flame seems to rise out of the wax your working will be successful especially if both flames grow into one large flame.

If the candle flame is high it means there is a lot of power behind the spell and little resistance. If the candle burns low it means there is a strong opposing spiritual force and a cleansing and or banishing may be needed.

If the flame makes a crackling or popping sound it indicates conversation. Either the spirits are trying to talk to you or the target is talking about you. Look to the purpose of the candle and the other actions of the flame to determine which is which.

If the flame flickers there is a spirit around. If the flame pops while flickering it is the spirit trying to communicate to you. Open yourself up to it. If it is a devotional candle and it is flickering it means you are in contact with your deity and any prayers or petitions will be heard.

If you attempt to blow out the flame and it does not go out this means the spirit does not want you to extinguish it. The same can be said if you blow it out and it flicks back on. Let the spirit complete its work, something important may be in the works that you do not want to interrupt. If you are uncomfortable ask the spirit to protect the candle or ask for permission and try to extinguish it again.

If the entire top of the prepared candle catches fire it means all the resources of the prepared candle are being used due to spiritual influences creating obstacles. Look to the other signs to see if the candle was successful. If the preparations do not collect along the glass as the candle burns, but remain pooled together, it means all the resources are needed and will burn at the end of the candle. The soot, flame, and glass should be read for the outcome.

If the flame burns high and calm and produces no soot you are in the presence of a larger entity or guardian spirit, most likely benevolent. The same can be said for high aggressive flames that flicker in large strokes . These tend to be darker spirits and deities, both are there to listen or aid you.

If the flame goes out while burning this means the spirits cannot help you and the answer you seek is already determined. This can also happen if you unexpectedly get the result before the candle is finished.

GLASS The glass retains the story of the working through the soot and preparation but the glass itself can tell you things about the spell.

If the glass cracks but does not break it means there was some type of opposition that was broken. It may have been sent to the spell to try to deflect it or it may have been encountered along the way. If it does not break or shatter then the spell is protected and was successfully defended.

However, if the glass breaks or shatters it means you are up against something larger than yourself. Malicious forces have either protected your target or have been attracted to your working and are trying to interfere. It can also indicate someone is casting against you and you are not spiritually protected or strong enough as what was thrown at you was larger than what you were sending out. Either way, do a stronger working and light another candle to try to combat it.

By Martin Duffy, Three Hands Press

‘Within the witch’s craft many apparently mundane objects are considered to have both magical and mystical virtue, one example being the humble nail. Although some, on basis of morphology, ascribe to nails a phallic virtue, they also have a fixative power, i.e. the ability to bind one thing to another, for good or bane. Nails also partake in no small measure of the powers ascribed to their material, which is normally iron, that heavenly metal linked in the occult mind with blood and the virtues of redness.

When a thing is brought into contact with another it makes an alligation. The basis of alligation is that all things created, whether by the hands of man or nature, are bestowed by the Soul of the World with virtue, which is harnessed by bringing the virtuous object into contact with people/places/objects. Included in this is the binding of two things together in alligation by a nail, so that one might influence the other.

The thing or power being fixed by the nail to person, place or object can be manifold; even celestial powers corresponding to the time at which the nail was struck into its medium can be bound into workings. Herein we understand the basis of hammering various amulets into the lintel above the threshold, such as the apotropaic images of the sun, open hand or ubiquitous horseshoe.

Contrary to popular belief, nails are as protective as the horseshoes they affix. Indeed, Pliny the Elder advised hammering three iron nails, not horseshoes, into the threshold’s lintel to protect the home, likewise Paul Huson in Mastering Witchcraft advocated driving three iron coffin nails into the door, one above and two below in triangular formation. Similarly, protective enclosures are fashioned by striking nails into their four corners and wandering spirits are stopped by hammering nails into their coffins, whilst Romans averted plague and misfortune by driving nails into house walls. Thus is it axiomatic that the number of nails found within a horseshoe affects its potency, the more nails the greater the luck, although some hold true to the custom of fixing the shoe with three nails by means of three blows, alluding to the kinship betwixt nails and the number three.

Horseshoe nails have long been held to possess an array of powers, e.g. the crooked horseshoe nails hung as amulets about the necks of Irish children, and the horseshoe nails driven into the hearth by Teutonic peoples to draw back stolen property. Traditional witch Robert Cochrane recounted that “a horseshoe nail dipped in spring water was considered a prime remedy to use against the ‘little people’ when they grew bothersome”, which relies also on the well-known enmity betwixt the Fair Folk & iron.’ …

‘The most familiar witch tradition concerning nails is their use to pierce the witch’s manikin with benevolent or malevolent intent, yet there is equal tradition in using blackthorn spines, which like nails have an innate warding virtue. Thorns are often used alongside or in place of nails in the magical arts, e.g. in the famed witch-bottle or being tied into the end of the curse cord in place of a rusty nail. We might thus consider them as ‘wooden nails’ fashioned by the green hand of the Faerie Smith, to which Schulke alludes in Viridarium Umbris when he says, “the Thorn is both punitive & binding, the Holy Nail of the Greenwood executing the grim sentence of Crucifixion at once harnessing the forces of binding & torment”; it is in the crucifixion that we discover the nail’s apotheosis.’