WITCHFIT

If you were captivated by August’s total solar eclipse, there’s another sky show to look forward to on Jan. 31: a total lunar eclipse!

Below are 10 things to know about this astronomical event, including where to see it, why it turns the Moon into a deep red color and more…

1. First things first. What’s the difference between solar and lunar eclipses? We’ve got the quick and easy explanation in this video:

2. Location, location, location. What you see will depend on where you are. The total lunar eclipse will favor the western U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and British Columbia on Jan. 31. Australia and the Pacific Ocean are also well placed to see a major portion of the eclipse, if not all of it.

3. Color play. So, why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse? Here’s your answer:

4. Scientists, stand by. What science can be done during a lunar eclipse? Find out HERE. 

5. Show and tell. What would Earth look like from the Moon during a lunar eclipse? See for yourself with this artist’s concept HERE. 

6. Ask me anything. Mark your calendars to learn more about the Moon during our our Reddit AMA happening Monday, Jan. 29, from 3-4 pm EST/12-1 pm PST.

7. Social cues. Make sure to follow @NASAMoon and @LRO_NASA for all of the latest Moon news leading up to the eclipse and beyond.

8. Watch year-round. Can’t get enough of observing the Moon? Make a DIY Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator that will keep all of the dates and times for the year’s moon phases right at your fingertips HERE.

Then, jot down notes and record your own illustrations of the Moon with a Moon observation journal, available to download and print from moon.nasa.gov.

9. Lesson learned. For educators, pique your students’ curiosities about the lunar eclipse with this Teachable Moment HERE.

10. Coming attraction. There will be one more lunar eclipse this year on July 27, 2018. But you might need your passport—it will only be visible from central Africa and central Asia. The next lunar eclipse that can be seen all over the U.S. will be on Jan. 21, 2019. It won’t be a blue moon, but it will be a supermoon.

1. Clear your intention: Think about what it is that you want. Be clear with your wants. and desires. Example: If you’re doing a spell to help find a job. Be clear with what kind of employment you’re looking for. Consider distance, profession, pay. Don’t just ask the universe to hand you a “Job”

2. Clear your space: Clear your space of negativity and distractions. Example: If you’re doing a luck spell, Don’t just wing it. Cleanse your space with herbs, reduce noise, clutter, or things that will get in your way. This could also mean people. Meaning, If there is company, or people around you who are not involved in the spell try to find a calm peaceful space where they won’t effect the outcome. 

3. Improvise premade Spells:  If you’re using a spell from a book, Or online (Tumblr) switch up the spell to make it personal and doable for you. Example: If the spell calls for lavender and you don’t have it use other calming ingredients like salt, Or your favorite calming incense. 

Hello Witches,

Now, I know as much as we’d prefer to spend our days riding broomsticks and brewing our potions in the big ol’ cauldron.

We still have responsibilities * shudders*, some of us are mothers, students, workers, or just people with a hectic schedule.

These are ways to get some witchy practice without completely throwing off our daily routines.

                                  🌅 Waking Up 🌅

Do some Yoga poses for 2 minutes.

Brush your teeth counter-clockwise to banish negativity from your day.

Stir your Coffee/Tea in a clockwise motion to invoke positivity to you and your day.

On your way to work, whisper a silent greeting to the sun. Enjoy its warm rays on your commute.

If you’re willing, try to pack or purchase a healthy snack like fruit and veggie bowls.

                                  🌤️Afternoon🌤️

Ditch the soda! Try rejuvenating yourself with water instead, maybe add some lemon, cucumbers, or even fruits to your water to detoxify your body.

Meditate for 2 minutes, but don’t forget to eat and energize your body again.

Carry crystals with healing and or corresponding energies pertaining to your work, school or plans for that day.

                                   🌕Evening🌑

When cooking/ cleaning, take a moment to play some of your favorite music to invoke spiritual energy.

Take a few minutes to google something you’ like to know! Crystals? Candle colors? Moon phases? Research and learn something new!

Mediate! Even if it’s for another 2 minutes. Anything counts! Clear your mind and relax.

Whisper a “Goodnight” to the moon, enjoy its glow for a few seconds.

Hope this helps you in your journey! We actually do things on this list and it’s been easy to manage! 

“Dark” does not mean bad.

“Light” does not mean good.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot by Rachel Pollack – deep and rich with information, no list is complete without this book.  If I did have to pick a favorite, this may be it.

Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning – based on her online course, this book will get any tarot newbie reading the tarot proficiently in no time.

Mary K. Greer’s 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary Greer – novel ideas to expand your tarot skills.

The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals (Special Topics in Tarot Series) by Mary Greer – I’m a fan of reversals (they are not mandatory by the way) and this is THE book for those of us who choose to read upside down.  (Honorable mention:  Joan Bunning also has a good book on reversals, Learning Tarot Reversals )

The Complete Tarot Reader: Everything You Need to Know from Start to Finish by Teresa Michaelson – this book has a massive amount of information – it’s like a little encyclopedia

Tarot Masterclass by Paul Fenton-Smith – this book is rarely mentioned but I think it is pure genius.  Not just a tarot primer but also a great section on being a professional tarot reader.  (Honorable mention: Fenton-Smith also has a great beginner’s book, The Tarot Revealed: A Beginner’s Guide )

The Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols by Angeles Arrien – featuring the Thoth deck, this book will help you to understand tarot clearly – even if you do not read with the Thoth deck

The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa – This profound book gets super deep with the Marseille deck.  How I wish I would have had this book when I first started out!

Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis – loads of interpretations and a slant towards  beginners, this is the book I recommend to all my students

Understanding the Tarot Court (Special Topics in Tarot Series) by Mary Greer – face it, the Court cards are one of the hardest suits for any tarotist to master.  Greer spells it all out with clarity.  LOVE this one.

Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprentice, Classic Ed (Connolly Tarot) by Eileen Connolly – this is the first tarot book I ever got my hands on.  It’s still a treasured favorite.  Some might be put off by her Christian undertones but I find the interpretations to be pure gold.  I love all of her works.

SuperTarot: New Techniques for Improving Your Tarot Reading by Sasha Fenton – although this is out of print, it is worth searching for a copy. The techniques contained within will help you expand your tarot skills.

The Secret Language of Tarot by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone – a fantastic book detailing the symbols in the tarot cards.

Tarot for Life: Reading the Cards for Everyday Guidance and Growth by Paul Quinn – A modern book with real life examples of tarot readings, this one will help you bring your readings to life.

Best Tarot Practices: Everything You Need to Know to Learn the Tarot by Marcia Masino – another great book that tends to be overlooked, this one has novel exercises and good advice on reading tarot professionally.

Tarot: Your Everyday Guide by Janina Renee – this book focuses on using tarot for dispensing advice.

Beyond the Celtic Cross: Secret Techniques for Taking Tarot to an Exciting New Level by Paul Hughes Barlow and Catherine Chapman – a very different approach to tarot – card counting and elemental dignities explained in a conversational format.

Rachel Pollack’s Tarot Wisdom: Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings by Rachel Pollack – once again, Pollack delivers an impeccable and thought provoking book with new insights for the modern tarot reader.

Classic Tarot Spreads by Sandor Konraad – I’ve had this book for years and learned many a good spread from it.  (Honorable mentions:  Learning Tarot Spreads by Joan Bunning and Tarot Spreads and Layouts A User’s Manual For Beginning and Intermediate Readers by Jeanne Fiorini)

The Spoken Cabala: Tarot Explorations of the One Self by Jason Lotterhand – based on the Thursday night talks from Lotterhand, this book will give you some insight into the Kabbalah and how it relates to tarot.  (Honorable mentions:  Tarot and the Tree of Life: Finding Everyday Wisdom in the Minor Arcana by Isabel Radow Kliegman for a glimpse on how Kabbalah weaves through the Minor Arcana plus The Tarot Workbook: Understanding and Using Tarot Symbolism by Emily Peach which is a great Kabbalah/tarot primer for beginners)

Tarot Decoded: Understanding and Using Dignities and Correspondences by Elizabeth Hazel – every single dignity and correspondence you can imagine is featured here.

Who Are You in the Tarot?: Discover Your Birth and Year Cards and Uncover Your Destiny by Mary Greer – this is a fantastic book that gives deep insights on your personality, life and journey based on your “birth card”.

Tarot for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Reading the Cards by Barbara Moore – the easiest beginner book out there, this one will appeal to absolute newbies and those who are really sure they can’t “get it”.  Moore shows you that you CAN.

Tarot 101: Mastering the Art of Reading the Cards by Kim Huggens – excellent exercises, good reading list suggestions and a unique format make this book one you cannot miss.  Good for all levels.

I’m very excited to announce that @breelandwalker and I will be hosting a LIVE webinar about secular spell writing! And even better, attendance is totally free!

WE’RE GOING TO SHOW YOU…

How secular spells are made

How you can personalize your own spells

PLUS!

You’ll get a free downloadable workbook

There will be a live Q&A with the witches afterward

Not to mention a special webinar only discount for Bree’s book!

An essential guide to the most popular oils

Understanding Shadow Work

Part 1: What is the Shadow?

Part 2: What is Shadow Work?

Part 3: How Does One Prepare for Shadow Work?

Types of Shadow Work

Intro

Part 1: Journaling

Part 2: Introspection

Part 3: Emotional Awareness

Part 4: Dream Work

Part 5: Memory Regression

✨ Here’s how I put together the shadowbox form my crystals ✨ 

✨ Wood box - $8.99 from craft store (but most stores have coupons)

✨ Stain - $4.99

✨ Faux fur - (I can’t remember.. not to much tho probably like $3-4)

✨ Hot glue or super glue for fur

(side note you can make your own box too, I didn’t because 1. wood is expensive and 2. I don’t currently have access to shop tools)

Before:

✨  Just a plain wooden box with glass.  ✨ 

✨  I stained it a dark reddish brown. I didn’t worry about the particle board because I was covering that up.  ✨ 

✨  I lined it with a faux fur fabric. Something soft for my crystals to rest on.  ✨ 

Alternately titled: Why am I doing this at 5 in the morning?????

So, I’ve noticed a lot of newbie tarot readers don’t know what a significator is. Long, winding definitions short, it’s a tarot card that signifies something. It could be you, it could be an event, anything significant. It’s usually a Court or Major Arcana card, but not always. There’s no set rule on how to choose a significator for yourself, but here’s several ways you can discover it:

A card that just won’t stop popping up in readings, even for other people. It may not even seem to fit in their reading! If this is the case, check the card’s meaning–be it your own interpretation or the original RW (Rider-Waite) meaning. See if you connect with it–with a Major Arcana, it would be a meaning that has something to do with you in that point in time (The Hermit for someone on a soul vacation; Justice for someone who has to act as a mediator to find a balance between people etc). If it’s a Court card, check that meaning too (The Queen of Cups for someone loving, nurturing, and empathetic, with a strong love for the creative arts; very relaxed and go-with-the-flow). It could also be a regular old Ace through Ten, in which case check to see if that card holds any significance in your life at the moment.

Meditate on the deck for a while and shuffle it for a time, wondering about what your significator might be and focusing on the various cards. Take a deep breath and trust your intuition when you feel it’s right to stop shuffling. When you do, draw 3-5 cards but don’t use a spread. Instead, lay them out and start to puzzle them out, how they interconnect, what your deck is trying to tell you about your significator. Sometimes it’ll be in the drawn cards themselves, others you have to think about how they connect as a whole to form the meaning of your significator card. 

And finally, trust your intuition. It’s not exactly necessary to have a significator card, and often people change and so do their significators. It’s a constantly evolving card, just as your experiences shape you. If you just got your deck in the mail yesterday, focus on getting to know your deck more rather than going into specifics. You’ll often find the answer will be apparent to you in time :)

Hello! This is a quick little guide on making yourself a self care sachet. This can be used by anyone, but is centered around aiding those with long term mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. 

They are basically a little promise you are making to yourself. Whether that be to remember to feel less anxiety over doing daily activities such as washing or brushing your teeth or just a reminder to not be so hard on yourself and to drink more hot chocolate, it’s up to you what you pick. The idea is to pick a purpose that cares for you in a positive way. I’ve been making these recently and they have really helped me. As the process is quite beginner friendly I thought I’d share!

You will need:

Herbs of your choice (Optional)

Small crystal (Optional)

Tissue paper (ordinary paper if you lack tissue paper)

scissors

A lighter/matches

Tape OR string

pen

ordinary paper/leaf

1. Write your intent down.

Some examples of intent: “I try my best to eat regular meals” “I am able to stay calm outside of my room” “I allow myself to enjoy a hot chocolate”.

Create a sigil out of your statement and write it down on another piece of paper or a leaf.

Read your statement out loud and will all of your energy into visualising it coming to fruition.

Burn the piece of paper/ the leaf and collect the ashes.

2. Gather your materials.

Cut a small square to make your sachet with from your tissue paper. 

Add each of your chosen herbs to the middle. (I chose lavender for peace/anxiety, sage for wisdom and cleansing and dried dandelions picked in beltane for positivity and energy)

Add your crystal.

Close the sachet by either taping it or tying it together with a piece of string.

3. Hold the sachet in your hands.

Again, visualise all of your positive thoughts and good energy flowing through your arms down into the sachet. Kiss it, if that’s your thing.

1/3: Venus enters Pisces

¼: Mercury Rx (Sagittarius)

1/8: Mercury Direct Station

1/12: Full Moon in Cancer @ 22 Degrees

1/12: Mercury enters Capricorn

1/19: Sun enters Aquarius

1/27: New Moon in Aquarius @ 8 Degrees