Book of Shadows

Let’s be real: divination is one of the most beautiful parts of spiritual practice. It’s empowering, mysterious, insightful — and it feels like a direct line to Spirit, the Universe, the Divine, or your Higher Self.

But here’s the truth most seasoned practitioners know (and more of us need to say out loud): divination has limits.

Yes, even if you’re a gifted reader. Yes, even if you’ve been doing it for 30 years. Yes, even if your deck is cleansed, your pendulum swings perfectly, and your runes hum with energy.

Divination is a tool, not a god. It’s not a cheat code for life. It can reveal patterns, point toward possibilities, and reflect back what’s happening beneath the surface. But it cannot tell you everything — and expecting it to can lead to confusion, obsession, or even spiritual burnout.

Let’s talk about what divination can do… and what it can’t.

Music has long been recognized as a powerful tool for evoking emotions, altering consciousness, and connecting with the divine. In the realm of witchcraft, music can be used to enhance rituals, set intentions, and amplify energy. Here are some ways to incorporate music into your magickal practice:

• Listening to specific songs to help you get in the right mood and mindset for the spell/ritual you're going to perform.

• Creating/charging sigils.

• Magickal choreography (casting spells by dancing).

• Use music to guide a meditation, or meditate on the song itself, its meaning, and what emotion it represents.

• Using beats/rhythms to induce a trance state.

• Sing your incantations.

• Keep music on in the background while doing your craft or studying magick to raise your vibration and improve your results.

• Audiomancy; divination through music (ie: specific lyrics or songs playing at synchronistic times).

• Create playlists for/with the deities and spirits you work with. This can be used as both an offering and an invocation.

• Listen to angry music while doing baneful magick to amplify your rage.

Great for when someone’s intrusive energy won’t back off.

🧂 You’ll need:

A small jar

A mirror shard (or tin foil inside lid)

Salt

Paper with name/situation

Black string

Add the ingredients, seal it tight, and say: “What you send, I do not keep. Return to sender, clean and deep.”

We see so many posts about spiritual awakenings, third eye openings, and downloads from the universe… but almost no one warns about the shadow side: spiritual psychosis.

This isn’t just “dark night of the soul” or a rough patch in your practice. Spiritual psychosis happens when your spiritual journey tips into unhealthy extremes that blur the line between reality and delusion.

a spell jar to manifest good vibes all year long

ingredients:

salt - charging

cayenne - catalyst, manifestation

rosemary - protection

lavender - peace

thyme - love

cinnamon - success

bay leaf - wishes come true

basil - prosperity

sage - wisdom

orange peel - happiness

instructions:

cleanse your jar however you'd like - i use plain ol' soap and water, wipe down the inside with moon water, and then dry completely (moisture + dried herbs = mold)

add salt and cayenne to the jar, first, to act as a foundation for the spell

then add the rest of the ingredients to the jar while focusing on your intent

seal with wax, a ribbon, or however you'd like

place somewhere visible in your home - mine stays atop my altar :)

𝐼𝓃𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒹𝒾𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈: 📜

1. 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 🎨

Intention: 𝙸𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕.

✧~ Pink Himalayan Salt

✧~ Jasmine

✧~ Rosemary

✧~ Cinnamon

✧~ Citrine

✧~ Lapis Lazuli

✧~ Rose

2. 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 🧿

Intention: 𝚂𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢, 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚗𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.

𖤓~ Black Salt / Egg Shells

𖤓~ Cinnamon

𖤓~ Rosemary

𖤓~ Lavender

𖤓~ Black tourmaline  

𖤓~ Bay Leaf

𖤓~ Clear Quartz

𖤓~ Cloves

3. 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 💗

Intention: 𝚂𝚎𝚕𝚏-𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜.

♡~ Himalayan Pink Salt

♡~ Sugar

♡~ Rosemary

♡~ Lavender

♡~ Rose Quartz

♡~ Rose

4. 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚 💵

Intention: 𝙰𝚋𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕-𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐.

$~ Sea Salt

$~ Mint

$~ Chamomile

$~ Bay Leaf

$~ Aventurine

$~ Citrine

𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝑜 𝒰𝓈𝑒:

• Carry It With You: You can carry the spell jar in your bag, pocket, or purse to keep its energy close. This will allow you to tap into its intention whenever you need it.

• Wear It: If you prefer, you can place the jar in a macrame necklace or another wearable item. This makes it a personal talisman, by connecting you to its energy throughout the day.

• Create a Sacred Space: Set the jar in a special place in your home where you can see it regularly. This will help you stay aligned with its intention.

• Set Intentions: Take time to hold the jar and focus on your intention. Visualize what you want to manifest as you connect with its energy.

• Incorporate in Rituals: Use the jar in your rituals or meditative practices. Before starting a new project or during moments of reflection, hold the jar and invite its energy to support you.

𝔁𝓸𝔁𝓸- 𝓚𝓲𝓴𝓲 🔮

When casting a spell or manifesting a wish, do not focus on the thing — focus on the feeling.

Don’t focus on what the mansion looks like. Focus on what it feels like to live there.

Don’t focus on the car’s engine specs. Focus on what it feels like to drive it.

Don’t focus on the Maldives’ pristine waters. Focus on what it feels like to swim in it.

For inspiration, motivation, & energy.

Things you will need:

☀️A pocket-sized jar or other such container

☀️Small paper scroll

☀️A writing utensil with a colour you associate with motivation, inspiration, and energy (I used a yellow watercolour pencil)

☀️Ginger* - vitality, high energy

☀️Sugar - joy, sweetness

☀️Coffee* - energy, connection

☀️Marigold* - happiness, solar energy

☀️Orange zest - abundance, joy

☀️Candle (optional) - wax used to secure the ends of your paper scroll so it won't unravel. The colour can even correspond with your intent.

☀️Quartz - intentions, amplification

☀️Sunlight (preferably morning light to build up the energy as the sun rises higher) - solar energy, vitality

*Ingredients should be fully dried to prevent mold growth, not fresh.

After gathering all your materials, cleanse the items as desired.

Take up your writing utensil and write the following on a small piece of paper: "May I be filled with inspiration, motivation, & energy ☀️".

Roll the paper into a scroll or fold small enough to fit into your jar. You can dab the ends of the scroll or sides of the folded paper in melted candle wax to seal it shut.

To the jar add ginger, sugar, coffee, marigold, orange zest and your paper.

Seal as desired and place in a sunny location with quartz to charge.

Carry with you to gain inspiration, motivation and energy throughout the day.

Introduction to Shielding

If you haven’t already, check out my lessons on visualisation for the basic knowledge you’ll need to begin practicing shielding.

So what is shielding?

Shielding is a manipulation of energy, used to create a barrier between yourself and unwanted, usually negative or malicious energies. It’s a basic aspect of spellwork that everyone, beginner or experienced, should use to keep themselves safe.

What can I use shielding for?

Some beginner-level uses for shielding are drawing a circle, or casting a spell. A more experienced individual might use shielding in astral travel or spirit work, where there are a lot more malicious energies involved. Personally, I use shielding as often as possible, for instance when I do tarot readings, spells, spirit work, shadow work, and especially cursing. It gives that extra guarantee that you won't flood your personal space with unwanted energies.

Other uses include shielding against real-life dangers, to a certain degree. I often shield when I am walking through town at night for extra protection. But please remember to take other measures too! Call someone, pretend to be on the phone, plan your route, and even carry pepper spray if it's legal where you are.

An easy shielding method:

The easiest way to explain this is to think of your energy as a physical manifestation. Think how power attacks are shown in anime or cartoons - a streak of colour or light, or an element. Make it personable to you: fire signs (Leo/Aries/Sagittarius) might visualise fire, or a red energy or light etc.

Firstly, some people prefer to cleanse before shielding. I don't think its all that necessary but the choice is yours.

Begin by easing yourself into meditation. Get comfortable, and use whichever technique works for you. I have various methods for this in my visualisation lessons if you are struggling.

Attempt to visualise the energies surrounding you in your mind. It might be a swirling colour of light, almost like a cloud of dust. It could be flames, it could be water. Maybe try to see it held within your hand.

Now, attempt to shape this energy around your entire body. You might want to start with a bubble or a cube surrounding you. Feel this shape surrounding and protecting you. Visualise negative and unwanted energies being held back by it.

You can also layer shields, so if you are working with a particularly malicious energy you might want to have multiple shapes surrounding you, all within each other. You can also work with deities or spirits to ask them to shield you too.

Shielding Incantation

When I am shielding, I recite a spell as well as using visualisation techniques.

The shield of protection, I carry it strong, No ill wishes or trouble shall come along, You cannot harm me, or weaken my soul, My light is my weapon, and peace is my goal.

did you know that st john's wort can induce serotonin syndrome? which is life threatening (and very painful!!) btw

did you know that red raspberry leaf can worsen hormonal imbalances and irregular menstrual cycles?

did you know that ginger (yes!! that ginger!! the one that's in every other tea recipe out there!!) can thin your blood? which can be life threatening for people with certain conditions

and there's so much more this community as a whole should be aware of, especially when considering herbs to consume or apply to the skin

the resource i use most often is just this wikipedia article, although you should do individual research just to double check

Herbs & Flowers

• Rose Petals– drawing romance, passion, and affection. Red for passionate love, pink for gentle affection, white for purity in love.

• Lavender – Promotes peace, harmony, and long-lasting commitment. Also excellent for calming anxieties in relationships.

• Chamomile – Encourages happiness, warmth, and kindness between partners. Great for gentle, nurturing love.

• Jasmine – Increases sensuality, attraction, and deep connection.

• Hibiscus – Heightens passion, desire, and sexual energy.

• Cloves – Brings loyalty, protection, and the “binding” aspect of love.

• Bay Leaf – Write your specific intention (“lasting love,” “healing relationship,” “new partner”) and place it inside.

• Mint – Refreshes stagnant energy in relationships, encourages growth and renewal.

Vanilla Bean/Extract – Adds warmth, comfort, and lasting sweetness to love energy.

Fruits, Seeds, & Sweeteners

• Cinnamon – Adds fiery passion, excitement, and quick movement in matters of love.

• Sugar or Honey– “Sweetens” a relationship or draws sweet, kind affection.

• Apple Seeds/Petals – Associated with love, fertility, and the goddess Aphrodite.

• Pomegranate Seeds – Symbol of eternal love, devotion, and deep soul bonds.

Crystals & Stones

• Rose Quartz – attracts unconditional love and promotes healing.

• Garnet– Passion, intimacy, and physical attraction.

• Amethyst – Balances relationships with spiritual connection, loyalty, and emotional harmony.

• Moonstone – Heightens intuition and emotional understanding in relationships.

Other Symbolic Additions:

• Thread/Ribbon (Red or Pink) – Ties intentions together, bonds two people, or strengthens self-love.

• Small Charm/Token – A heart charm, key, or tiny personal symbol makes the jar uniquely yours.

Throughout eras and across cultures, hair is seen as a symbol of strength. In an occult sense, our hair is an extension of our spirit. That is why long beautiful hair is associated with strong inner power. In a material sense, long beautiful hair requires maintenance, which often costs time and money, making it a status symbol. Whichever way you look at it, healthy hair shows power.

Hair as Sacrifice

“Cut three inches of your hair, and make him suffer for three years.” A simple but ancient vengeance spell that even non-witches know about in my community. Of course it only works if you fuel it with fury, and if your hair is actually beautiful. Because to sacrifice means to give up something precious. If your hair is damaged, its power is non-existent, rendering your curse useless.

Hair as a Conduit

“Dry your hair, and dry up someone’s harvest along with it.” As with the first one, this is a simple, well-known curse among traditional families. Different witches use different ancient words to power it, but its main engine is made up of faith and righteous anger. As you dry your hair with a fan, a dryer, or under the sun, imagine your enemy losing their joy and abundance.

Hair as Offering

“Renounce possession of your hair and give it to the Lord." Something Catholic witches do. Take care of their hair as if it is a plant offered to their god. When their hair is healthy, their Father is happy. When it is not, it means they have sinned. There are also others who hide their hair because they see it as a weapon of seduction that they must carry in secret when unneeded. 

Hair as a Declaration

“Witches have long hair. Like our divinities. Like the roots of trees.” Growing up, even before I knew of my family’s true faith, whenever I thought of a witch, I thought of someone with long hair. It was to me a witch’s mark. And now, it is to me a badge of honor. As an adult, in my society, wearing our hair long is an expression of pride in our identity.

Banishing Spell

If there is someone who has been harassing you, ask the powers that be to take them away from your vicinity.

Lock yourself in a bathroom, with a piece of natural paper, a wooden pencil and a black candle in hand.

Light the candle, and write on the paper the name of your villain. Pass the paper over the candle as you recite to the divine the reason you want this person out of your life.

When you are done expressing your worries, burn the paper and stare at it until all of it is ash. Blow out the candle as you thank the higher powers for their assistance. Then throw it away.

The people I have recently given this spell to have seen their abusers getting stuck in faraway places during and even after the lockdown.

Problem Solving Spell

If you are facing a dilemma, be it practical, intellectual or moral, ask your higher self for the best solution.

Acquire a small handful of these herbs: rosemary, lemon balm and peppermint. When combined, they invite clarity of mind.

Create a tiny sack from one of your old clothes. It does not have to look beautiful, but you need to sew it yourself. Put the herbs inside it.

Before you sleep, place the sack beneath your pillow, imploring your higher self to help you arrive at the best approach to your problem.

The solution will come to you in your dreams, as a straightforward answer or as symbols that will have a relevant meaning.

Pain Relieving Spell

If you are suffering from pain —physical, emotional or spiritual, activate the healing powers of salt, light and water to cleanse it all away.

On the witching hour, at three o’clock in the morning, run a hot bath for yourself. Place a cup of bath salt in the water.

Light as many tea light candles as the pains you wish to cure: one for your headache, another for your sore legs, a third one for your heavy heart, and so on. Place these candles on the bathtub ledge by your feet.

As you dive in and soak your body, visualize the heat of the water draining away your pains… the sharpness of the salt dissolving them quickly… and the light of the candles melting away any hurt left.

1) It has Christian or Biblical elements.

As I openly shared in my previous blog, my ancestors were among many pagans who dressed up their incantations in Catholic disguise to avoid persecution and prying eyes. So if you see words that sound like a Christian prayer, names of saints, or verses from the Bible, then the spells are likely old and were used by earlier pagans — not invented by New Age Christians.

2) Google Translate cannot decipher all the words.

When a foreign spell can be translated to English perfectly, it may have been reverse-engineered. Which means someone wrote it in English then translated it to Latin or another old language to fake heritage. Witches used to tweak their grimoires, using the wrong vowel or symbol here and there to encrypt their orisons. Real spells should be “imperfect” when translated. Which brings me to my third point:

3) Most of the orisons are not in English.

Not because “English is too mainstream”, but because pagans and witches from various cultures were still creating and strengthening their spells by the time practicing witchcraft had become fatal in the English-speaking world. In other words, the growth of English-language spells was stunted and killed while everything else was still thriving.

4) Some details are quite disturbing.

In line with the above, remember that witches of the past did not live by today’s politically correct standards. Spell books that mention gutting animals or taking a drop of your neighbor’s blood while she’s asleep are most likely copied from authentic sources. Which is not to say that we should do such things now. But a spell that is all sugar, spice and everything nice is unlikely to have any old roots.

5) There are inconsistencies or gaps in the instructions.

Unlike in today’s blog posts and YouTube videos, where spell instructions are step-by-step, grimoires of the past were, again, encrypted. So that the authorities or anyone undeserving can try the spells but gain nothing from them. An initiated witch would have been taught how to recognize the “code names” and ignite all the necessary flames.

The Number of Witches Who Have Used It

Ancient orisons are powerful not because they are in Latin or in another old language. But because they draw their power from all the witches throughout the centuries who have used them. Every time someone recites an incantation, it echoes with the voices of those who, ages ago, also spoke them.

The Gratitude of Those It Helped

If a spell is protective or healing, then the thanksgiving of every soul who benefited from it acts like oil that lubricates its engine, keeping it alive, and preventing it from corroding.

The Fear of Those It Harmed

If a spell is malicious or avenging, then the terror of every soul who suffered from it acts like wind that feeds a wildfire, keeping it alive and eternally spreading.

The Faith of Those Who Saw or Heard It

One reason that a modern spell can never outrank an ancient one is because almost every single mortal who came across an old spell believed in it. Feared it, cherished it or hated it. But believed in it. Priests, nuns, royals, peasants, merchants, children. The lingering memory of their existence enhances the gratitude or the fear of those whom a spell has affected. The integrity of modern spells, on the other hand, is eternally vulnerable to the sneers and dismissal of today’s skeptics who come across them on the internet, magazines or whatnot.

The Deities and Entities Invoked for It

Ancient spells are associated with certain gods, demons, fairies or other immortal creatures. Whenever these spells are spoken or written down, the old ones can feel a presence. They draw near to the one who cast it, judging if the invitation deserves to be accepted. And then they bend the laws of the Universe to help the witch make magic happen.

The Passion of the Mortal Who Cast It

Silver Represents the Moon

As you know, the Moon does not have its own light. It simply reflects the Sun’s. Silver does the same. It amplifies whatever powers a witch already has. Therefore, wearing pure silver jewelry while performing a spell is like using a microphone while speaking in public.

Gold Represents the Sun

Just as sunlight rouses us from sleep, gold awakens whatever is hidden in us. Say, if your elders have the gift of healing and you would like to know if you inherited it, wear pure gold jewelry as you perform a healing ritual. If the gift is indeed present but asleep, the gold will wake it.

Their Use in Earth Magic

Earth magic harvests power from storms, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other displays of nature’s power. If a witch wants to absorb this power, she needs to use silver as a conduit between earth and her. But if a witch wants to save it for later, he needs to store it in a gold container.

The Gods Who Own Them