Hey! Call me Corvidae. I'm a witchcraft archival blog. My tags aren't very consistent at the moment because I have multiple disorders that affect my memory, but I'm trying to get a consistent tagging list down. My personal practice tends to dip into pretty much anything, but at the moment I have a specific interest in sea witchcraft and celtic reconstructionism. Tarot (and divination in general) is a long term interest for me and I've been practicing it since the start of my journey (in 2020).
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if those cleansing spells donât feel like their working - try grabbing a broom and physically brushing those vibes away, itâll help clear those last few traces of lingering energies <3
most sources make transplanting sound incredibly difficult, but transplanting young seedlings from areas with sparse dirt, like a driveway or roadside, is actually incredibly easy and can get you some great stuff. Once I worked out the method, i've had a very high survival rate
it took me like a month of trial and error to figure this out so you don't have to.
It is a common belief that native plant gardening is hard and expensive but plants are free. They're everywhere. They just do their thing.
It is common for seedlings to grow in places they cannot survive longterm; the side of the road, pavement crack, gravel driveway.
How did they get here? Plants spread their seeds in a variety of ways. Some of the main ones are:
birds: when birds eat berries and fruits, the seeds are not digested and sprout in the ground when the bird poops.
wind: lots of seeds have fluffy parachutes of helicopter wings so they can be blown far away to find a place to grow
water: rain and streams can wash seeds away and leave them in a muddy area to sprout
mammals: acorns and nuts from trees are foods for families, who bury them later. sometimes they sprout into trees instead
A seed will do its best to sprout... whether it's a good place for a fully grown plant or not. Plants that sprout in harsh places are sometimes beautiful and vulnerable species, and they are easy to transplant.
Here's how:
you will need
a pot: A red solo cup is the right size for most transplantable seedlings- don't use anything much smaller. You can also use an orange juice carton or even a cardboard box. Make sure you cut holes or slits in the bottom so it won't be soggy forever when you water it.
potting mix: it's not the same as dirt- it's lighter, fluffier and drains easily.
a place to put it: put them outside where they get some sun, but not where they get direct sun all day long. If they're on a surface that gets hot, elevate them by putting them on a cardboard box or something.
The idea is to transplant seedlings that wouldn't survive where they are. Don't just uproot plants that aren't in any danger. Obviously don't do anything dangerous or illegal. AVOID roads with frequent traffic or main highways. Do NOT put yourself at risk of being hit by a car.
I collect from roadsides because I live in a neighbourhood with no outlet. If you grab an invasive species, it's in a pot where it can't hurt anything and you can just kill it.
NEVER plant anything in the ground without knowing what it is, though.
A seedling this size (about an inch) or smaller is most likely to survive. The two most important things are to keep as much of the root intact as you can and to make sure the roots stay damp. You can wrap the roots up in a wet paper towel.
How to transplant:
From gravel: seedlings growing in gravel or pebbles are easiest to transplant. Remove bits of gravel one by one and carefully pry up the pieces that are stuck, until the roots are exposed. Mulch can be removed the same way.
From a crack in the pavement: Very carefully pinch the stem as low to the ground as you can and shift and tug until you pull it free. Be patient! Breaking small roots is fine but if you hear the main root 'snap' RIP to the plant.
From dirt: Digging around the whole plant is hard to do quickly and seamlessly. Soaking the ground in water or searching after a rain can help you gently pull small plants up.
How to put them in a pot:
Carefully put potting mix around the roots. Don't crush them.
Don't touch any part above the lower stem with dirty hands... especially not new leaves. A speck of dirt on a delicate new leaf can make it start rotting which will spread to the whole plant. Water, immediately. Get only the potting mix wet, not the leaves (that can make them vulnerable to rotting).
Seedlings with broad, big leaves can dry up easily from direct sun exposure, but many aren't happy in the shade So you can cut one of these (cardboard toilet roll centre) in half and put the half around the seedling like a "collar".
How to take care of them:
After transplanting, plants are very weak. It's like recovering from an injury or illness.
Check on the plants at least a couple of times a day and water a little if the potting mix is dry. I like to adjust their location at different times of the day- newer seedlings might need to be moved to a shadier spot when it's sunniest, but later in the evening plants in the shade benefit from being put in the sun.
Don't be discouraged if they die, they had a very harsh early life and some of them won't make it.
As they get bigger you can identify the species you have and decide if you want to plant them. My policy is to plant only species that are native to my area. You WILL find invasive species and you want to get rid of those, trust me. Uprooting them and leaving them on a concrete surface kills just about everything. Don't throw an invasive plant in the grass and DO NOT try to compost them.
That's all. Embark on your life armed with this knowledge.
I advise becoming familiar with the invasive species in your area first and foremost. Then, iNaturalist will be a great help. You can also try plant identification apps (they're not perfect but they give you something to look up and compare) and for the USA, my favorite plant website is wildflowersearch.org. It has loads of links to other useful websites with every entry.
A little something for when life insists on kicking your ass.
Materials
Red candle
Black peoper
Coffee grounds
Dress the candle with coffee grounds and pepper or sprinkle the two in a circle around the base of the candle.
As you light the candle, think about what's been weighing you down. Don't hide from it. Face it. Embrace it. Think about all the things you've survived before, and how you're still here.
Take a moment to focus on the flame. Feel the warmth and take comfort in it.
even outside of helpol Random Social Media User will not have a message from a deity or any kind of spirit or the universe meant for you, Other Random Social Media User. they do not know you and if the message was that important it would come to you directly, not via a stranger
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A rare hot take from me - If you have to algospeak about a topic like death or sex, or around words like blood or menstruation, you have no business making those topics a focal point of your practice.
I don't really interact with occult or spiritual communities outside of Tumblr, but I've seen folks here and on other platforms say things like "s*x magic is the most powerful magic I've ever done" or "I've started doing bl00d magic."
So much of my practice centers around death, dying, and caring for the spirits of the dead. I can't imagine not using the actual words and instead using "d3ad" or "đ˛-ing". If a topic is important, powerful, vast, etc. enough to be a central tenant of your spiritual or magical practice then it deserves to be spoken with the real words.
I don't care what platform you're on. Do not comply in advance.
The reason people are told "mundane before magic" is so they remember to do things like check whether they've got mold or carbon monoxide in their house before they decide the problem is a malevolent spirit, find out whether their health problems have a treatable medical cause before deciding they're cursed, and make sure they have a mechanic check their car once they hear funny noises instead of just casting a safety spell on it and calling it good. People get hurt if they neglect the mundane.
Well, I'm so glad you asked! Or at least wondered. Welcome to the beginning of my #HerbalCompendium which has been somewhat inspired by #TheHerbaliciousChallenge by @pomegranate-jewitchery! I've been planning on doing this little series for a short while now, but I guess I just needed a kick in the butt to get going! If you look up their challenge you'll find a post all about their challenge with a wheel to spin, and I landed on mint, so let's get to it!
The two plants are obviously quite similar, but are far more different than most people realize. They look quite similar to the untrained eye and both contain menthol like many other plants in the mint family, however the percentage of that content differs extremely between each plant. (There are other mints such as the Japanese mint, watermint, corn mint, etc, as well as herbs such as rosemary in this family but today we'll just be covering these two)
The mint family overall does share some mythology and folklore, although not much that I could find. In Greek mythology mint is named after the nymph Minthe, who was a mistress to Hades and thus was turned into the mint plant as punishment by Persephone. Hades himself made the plant aromatic so she could still be admired. But Greek mythology isn't the only culture/religion which holds mint as sacred to the dead, as many have used mint (often amongst other herbs) to dress corpses during funeral rites to mask the smell of decaying flesh.
Not only did the mint smell good, but its menthol made it a particularly useful insecticide. People from various regions would rub spearmint against their furniture, walls, and windowsills to deter pests such as mice and bugs. In another Greek myth doing this is seen as an act of hospitality, as in the story of Bachus and Philemon they were the only men in their village who welcomed two beggars into their home, the beggars actually disguised as Zeus and Hermes. They adorned their table with mint in welcome, and so moved by their hospitality the two Gods blessed them both with a full life of abundance.
This mint is a very common herb to grow in the wild ans has the lowest menthol content of the two, only containing .5% - 1% of menthol in its composition. As such it's the better of the two mints for cooking due to its milder flavor and is the one you want to reach for when treating digestive issues. Its leaves are a bighter green with spear-like leaves, hence its name.
Beyond digestive upset spearmint is also used as a medicinal property for hormone related issues, reducing stress and anxiety, and provides good antioxidant support. It's less irritating to the nose and skin, and is actually quite a relaxing scent similarly to that of eucalyptus because its menthol content is so low.
Peppermint
(Photo from the Gardening Know How website)
Bred by a cross between spearmint and watermint, this mint really shoots up in menthol content, 40% in its composition! It's a hybrid between spearmint and watermint, with a much sharper taste better suited for aromatherapy, tea, and as a flavoring component in things like baking. Its leaves are dark green and more crumpled looking with red and purple stems.
As for medical properties peppermint is best used for head, nose, and chest congestion, headaches, and inflammation or tension related pain relief. Because of how strong the menthol in peppermint smells its aromatherapy properties can also be used for a bit of invigoration and mental clarity on days you're feeling more fatigued.
Overall, they can be used for many of the same metaphysical things. Mint overall is an herb of cleansing, protection, and banishment thanks to their insecticide properties. European and Mediterranean cultures would hang mint over their windows to protect against illness and evil spirits, or even sleep with mint under their pillows to induce dreams that told the future. Peppermint may be better suited to the latter due to its ability to reinvigorate the mind, and is good for any spell requiring mental clarity in school for a test, at work to get that promotion, or a general boost in charisma. As such mint can also be used in beauty spells considering we use it so often to keep ourselves looking and smelling clean! And since we use mint primarily to clean our teeth, one can use mint as a vocal sweetening spell of sorts, to make our words sound cleaner and more convincing to people if we need to persuade someone or capture attention.
And if there are any other ways in which you use mint, be it peppermint, spearmint, or another member of the mint family feel free to share ways in which you use it! Or if you have any mythology or folklore on the plant that I didn't cover here! Thank you for reading, and slowly I will be coming out with more herbs!
my biggest step towards detaching from christianity happened when i updated my definition of âgodâ. the Theoi are not ever-watching, flawless, all-powerful judges. the fundamental and evangelical church describes god as unchanging and demanding of loyalty, a scrutinizing eye always watching and waiting for you to mess up. the gospel relies on you believing you are inherently sinful without the intervention of god, damned when left to your own devices.
this is the interpretation iâve landed on: the greek gods are forces of nature, energy and power, guides that do not DEMAND worship. gods take pleasure in worship and are known to grant favor, yes. but (unless youâve made a vow or oath) they do not have a set of rules beyond respecting life, their domains, and their temples. they arenât lying in wait for the moment you mess up to point and say âyou donât deserve me, but iâll love you anywaysâ like the evangelical/fundamentalist depiction of god is known to do. the gods do not see humans as inherently evil or BAD. just smaller, more prone to death, prone to fighting and sickness, corporeal with all of the downfalls that come with itâ but not bad. not damned. not evil.
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Intent: bring persistent happiness to someone in your life
Materials:
A tag lock of some kind that can be burned(I'll be using a strand of hair.)
A candle.
Several small chunks of citrine and/or sunstone.
Ground cinnamon (would fresh work better? Probably! But I'm using the pre-ground stuff in my kitchen cupboard!)
Day of the Full Moon, before its peak
Hour and day of the Sun and/or Jupiter, if timing so allows
Something to carve the surface of your candle with.
The astrological symbols of the Sun, Jupiter, and Moon.
Small, heat safe dish.
A song you associate with happiness (I will be using Dog Days by Florence and the machine!)
A Vessel. Not necessarily a container, this vessel will be the anchor of this spell. I will be using a heart shaped rock I have.
Process:
0. Gather ingredients and set your space as you normally would for spell work. If utilizing a planetary hour, perform this step just before it begins.
1. Carve your candle with the astrological symbols listed above. If you are performing this work during the day and/or hour of any of these, carve the symbols in order of day, then hour. As you carve each symbol, call upon the celestial object represented to aid you.
2. Place your heat safe dish in front of the candle.
3. Take your crystals in hand one by one and think of a moment of shared joy with your target, a new one with each stone. Place the stones at roughly equal distances apart around the heat safe dish.
4. Place your tag lock in the heat safe dish and sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Light your candle to activate your carved symbols.
6. Take your chosen vessel in your dominant hand and draw the celestial energies into it as the wax melts.
7. Once the symbols have totally melted, start your chosen song. For at least thirty seconds, really focus on the song and feel that happiness. Pour that energy into your vessel.
8. Once ready, hold your vessel a safe distance above your heat safe dish and concentrate on your target and their happiness. Light the contents of your dish on fire.
9. Continue holding your vessel and concentrating on your targets happiness until your taglock has fully burned and your song has ended.
10. Blow out the candle and end your ritual as you usually do. Clean up and cleanse your components and tools.
11. Place the vessel somewhere safe, preferably where it will get sunlight.
12. Feed your vessel as needed. One possible method of such would be holding your vessel while playing the song you chose, preferably during the full moon before its peak or during the day and hour of the sun and Jupiter.
This is your annual reminder that âThe 7 Pillars of Hellenic Polytheismâ were not made in antiquity. They hold no true binding to Hellenic Polytheism as a religion as these Pillars were not followed in Ancient GreeceâOr at any time until the last decade or so
They are, of course, nice to have in mind, and everyone should be kind and humble when necessary, but Iâm honestly kind of tired of hearing that these Pillars are âfoundationalâ to the religion or included in âHelpol basicsâ posts
A man named Timothy Jay Alexander initially created these Pillars, and while he took inspiration from Ancient Greek philosophers, he very much was not one himself
Heâs known to be intolerant of Revivalist views of Hellenic Polytheism, and because of his strict Recon perspective, believes that queer, ill and disabled people cannot or should not be allowed to hold the title of Priestx (link)
You are allowed to hold yourself to standards like the Pillars, but acting as though they are actual rules of Hellenic Polytheism, or, Gods forbid, pushing them on others, is so disheartening to see
Just because something has a Greek name, doesnât automatically make it authentically Helpol or from antiquity
The closest thing from antiquity that we have like the Pillars are the Delphic Maxims, honestly
Anyway. Do you what you like, but this is just some information for those of you who are unaware
elitism sucks, none of us have any authority over anotherâs practice nor how they identify, and all pagans of all various stages and research levels are welcome on this page đ
learning as you go is always welcome when done with respect and openness to correction! đ
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those long âinformationalâ posts about altars and spell craft or being âwitchyâ with the emdashes and patronizing, pseudo-calming tone set off my fight or flight. yaâll KNOW thatâs AI right? bolded words randomly scattered, all examples in triplicates⌠donât let this stuff proliferate our practice and space. block the âwitchesâ that create this crap. call them out in the comments. shut this shit down.
Let your joy Shine through the darkness
Let your joy Burn through the hate
Let your joy Scorch through all enemies
Let your joy Radiate through all space
At this time where it feels like the very sky can fall, and the earth can break into pieces, and the multitudes of suffering cannot end, I implore all of us to not surrender, to not break, to not stop being and becoming ourselves, Truly, Genuinely, and Authentically Trans, for we are Glory and Joy and Resistance incarnate.
Our very existence shines through all the darkness and burn through all the hate and our happiness and joy transforms those who are fighting with us, while our enemies are charred by it, their own hostility becoming a scorching flame that never ends. We are like the Sun, a blessing that radiates throughout all time and space, for our Trans Joy is without end.
Free To Use, Distribute, Whatever.
ps: all transphobes and queerphobic people, and nazis and magas are not allowed to use this, if you do endless misfortune will fall on you.
