Wise & Witchy Ways

I wrapped up this spread--Rahdue's Wheel-- last night.

When I started this I figured it would take a month. It has, I started with the last with the Last Quarter Moon last month and here it is the last quarter moon again and I did it an hour or two before bed most nights.

Altar at twilight.

June 21, 2022

Creating boundaries in your witchcraft is healthy, respect your own boundaries and don't let anyone give you shit because of them

Taking care of yourself is just as important as researching your practice, you need to be okay before anything else

Making your craft accessible to your mental and/or physical disabilities is a right, not a privilege

Witchcraft can 100% be used as a coping skill for mental illness (as long as it is practiced carefully and realistically)

You do not ever need to disclose your craft to anyone

You are not less of a witch for having different needs than Neurotypical or Non-disabled people

This has been an issue/argument for forever, mind you.

When they coined these terms, they were not subtle about which ones they wanted to consider "good" and which ones they considered "bad".

There was a common trend briefly in media as well, around the early 2000s where they attempted to designate a difference between "wiccan and witch" that called wiccans good and witches bad. (Witches in this context were pretty much anyone that deviated from the constant "love and light" concept).

Eventually the word witch became more universal, but the terms for white and black magic still lingered. Even now that large groups are against its usage at all, there's still a constant influx of books touting it as truth.

And aside from racist connotations, as mentioned, magic is just not that simple.

A blessing can be in bad faith if it's done without consent, or directly against someones wishes or religious beliefs.

A hex can be a form of righteous justice to protect those who are most vulnerable.

the men of the age of enlightenment were literally working to try and prove that the colours white and black had inherently ‘good/orderly’ and ‘bad/irrational’ natures in order to justify white supremacy. 

My simple logic is that dark = absence of light. It can be scary, mysterious and confusing. It’s not about color. At night. In a dark room. When there is 0 light. It can be terrifying to most. I am 29 and still straight up afraid of the dark lol.

And dark magic doesn’t mean black. Black is a color in which I use for protection just as much as I use for hexing. Just as I use white for cleansing just as much as I use it for cursing.

Dark magic, for me, is the act of hexing. Not the color in which the candle I use to hex is.

Light magic, for me, is the act of healing. Not the color in which the candle is I use to heal is.

Before she was born, I created a special altar box that consisted of her scan pictures, hand written notes on everything I wished for her ie: to always know she was loved, to be confident and kind etc, crystals to strengthen our bond, mementos from me and my partner etc etc

I also created a protection spell bottle for her and 3 hours later we were rushed into hospital because of a really traumatic labour emergency and she was born safely, exactly 8 hours after creating the protection jar.

I charge her bottles around my crystals after they've been sterilised, I have a very large piece of rose quartz that I visualise infusing her bottles with extra love.

I smoke cleansed her room thoroughly before I gave birth, to ensure her room didn't have any left over negative energy from the people who used it before her.

I trace 'sleep safe and sound' sigils on her face as she drifts to sleep.

I use a baby safe lavender scented pillow spray that has also been charged with rose quartz in her crib to protect her and ensure she has peaceful dreams.

We use lavender, vegan and cruelty free baby body wash and shampoo to promote good sleep.

I stir her porridge clockwise every morning to attract good luck and happiness.

I am in the process of transferring over some of my grimoire and book of shadows pages into a beautiful grimoire to hand down to her when she is older and if she follows my path.

I am creating new traditions and routines for each Sabbat and Esbat that she can join in with me when she is a little bit older.

I will be creating a blessing for her bedroom to banish negativity and bad dreams.

I provide her with plenty of healthy baby foods for lunch with different herbs and ingredients that correspond with the intent of the day. Of course I stir anticlockwise to banish negativity and bad moods if she's particularly grumpy or fussy, and then clockwise to promote happiness and a positive mood for the rest of the day.

I recycle all her baby food jars and use them to store herbs, potions and spells. (It's a very good budget friendly alternative to pricey glass bottles that are often far too small for my personal liking.)

And of course, I gave her a Witchy name that truly suits her beauty.

Of course I will incorporate so much more into her daily life as she gets older as my partner is super supportive despite not practising my beliefs, but these are what I can do now at least.

Thank you for reading. 🌛🌝🌜

May your August be filled with love and growth.

“This Is A Negativity Free Zone”

The shape of a crystal has a large impact on the crystals power. Knowing the shapes will help you utilize the crystal power to the best their abilities. 

Tumbled

gentle, even energy

Raw

strong, sporadic energy

Sphere

even energy all around, scrying tool

Square

grounding, meditating 

Pyramid

manifestation, focused energy, removes blockages

Cluster

radiates everywhere, charges crystals

Geode

grounding, internal energy

Abundance

(similar to cluster, but it has a more singular high point. This is a poor picture, but I couldn’t find a good one. Just pretend that second point isn’t there.) 

attack, wealth, prosperity

Egg

healing, fertility, balance

Point

concentrates and directs energy

Generator

(similar to point, but it’s more stout.)

has 6 faces. amplifies energy

Twin

balance

Double-Ended

absorbs and emits energy, transfers negative to positive

Palm

(flat and smooth)

grounding, worry stone, reduce stress

Isis

feminine energy

Druzy

(similar to geode. Crystals are not enclosed, but rather on a flat outer surface)

Both Talismans and Amulets are magickal objects that are small in nature, therefore making them conspicuous and able to be worn or carried without arousing suspicion. Often, they will be pieces of jewellery suitable for everyday wear or objects that can be discreetly carried on your person.

1. Amulet: provides protection from danger and harm.

2. Talisman: attracts a particular benefit to the wearer/carrier. 

AMULETS:

The general consensus is that Amulets provide protection against bad luck, illness, and evil. They may do this in a general sense, or serve a more specific protective purpose.

The most common form of Amulet to be found, are necklaces and pendants as they can be worn daily without raising alarm, and it is believed by some that the closer to the body an Amulet is worn, the more powerful its effects will be.

Some potential Amulets include: gems and crystals, stones, figurines (people, deities, animals, mythological creatures); diagrams; bones; plants, and words.

TALISMANS:

Talismans are, like Amulets, items that hold magickal power. 

There is debate over what the exact differences between Amulets and Talismans are, and it will vary between sources as to what you read or see. 

In general, Talismans are said to draw things to the wearer/carrier, instead of have a passive protective effect and their magick is specific and not generalised; by this, I mean that unlike Amulets that can just serve general protective purposes, Talismans are used to attract specific benefits tat are determined by their design. They can also be charged to increase their power.

Talismans are more complicated than Amulets in appearance; Amulets can simply be a crystal hung on a leather throng that you wear around your neck, whereas Talismans tend to have symbols, figures or incantations carved or engraved onto them in colours that correspond to the intended benefit you wish to bring upon yourself. 

When it comes to having your Talisman on your person, it is much more common for the item to be something you can carry in your purse, pockets or bad than something you’d wear. They can also be placed near the item or person you wish to bestow the benefits upon. For example, you may place the item above a child’s bed if you want to give them good dreams, or put it into your purse if you wish to draw wealth and prosperity to yourself.