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Here is a guide to setting up your altar based on common traditions for those new to Wicca or interested in beginning or even those practicing wiccans just looking to shake up your current set up!
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The most important step in setting up your altar is choosing its location; finding a spot where you are comfortable and feel positive energy is SO important! Even small things such as choosing directionality of your altar is important - if you will be using a round table/stand, directionality may not be as important, but if you are using a square set up or intend to always face the same direction when using your altar, choose the directionality which you feel closest to (you can also change directionality with certain spells if you like):
• North: Earth 🌏
• South: Fire🔥
• East: Air 💨
• West: Water💧
It is optimal to purify and cleanse the area you intend to use for your altar as well as the table/stand you choose to use.
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What you choose to set up your altar on is 110% a personal choice. If you don’t want to spend money looking for a specific altar table or building something special to use, simply using something you have laying around already is absolutely fine! For instance, I used an old coffee table that I had laying around not in use. As long as you purify the item with your intent, it can be anything you need. Another consideration is storage - some altars I’ve seen online have drawers and storage beneath which is a great option if space is limited! You will need someplace to store candles, herbs, stones, etc. Also important is deciding how mobile you need your altar to be - if you are a closet witch, mobility is important and a formal set up may not be plausible. Here are some beautiful altar table examples:
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Items of the Altar Include;
⭐️ Athame: A ceremonial blade; primarily this is used as a tool to channel energy through - this is not traditionally used as a cutting tool. Can be used to cast your circle as well as to invoke the elements of the four directions.
⭐️ Bell: Used to open and close rituals - typically associated with banishing of negative influences and energies.
⭐️ Boline: Traditionally used as a cutting tool for herbs, ribbon, flowers, etc.
⭐️ Cauldron: Used for burning of herbs, mixing of herbs, burning of symbols / paper. This should typically be cast iron since it will contain fire often times.
⭐️ Chalice: Used to hold blessed wine or water during rituals or spells.
⭐️ God Candle: Can be yellow or gold in coloration; Used to invoke masculine energies
⭐️ Goddess Candle: Can be white or silver in coloration; Used to invoke feminine energies
⭐️ Pentacle: Used to invoke positive energies into a circle; often times items can be “charged” upon a pentacle
⭐️ Wand: Another tool of invokation used to invoke the gods and sacred energies. Like the athame, this too can be used to cast a circle.
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One option for setting up the altar is a more “traditional” set up dividing the table into feminine and masculine energies. The left side is traditionally meant for femininity with items such as your goddess statue, goddess candle, chalice, bowl of water, cauldron, pentacle, crystals, and bell. The masculine right side includes your god statue, god candle, incense, wand, salt, athame, boline, and matches. The center of the altar is dedicated to ritual and magic set up.
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Another common style is an elemental set up with items representative of water (chalice, bowl of water, cauldron) being set to the west, air (bell, wand, incense) to the east, earth (pentacle, salt, stones) to north, and fire (athame, boline, matches / oils) to the south.
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Other items you could consider adding to your altar representative of each element:
💧 Water: Seashells, Ace of Cups (Tarot), Rainwater, Mirrors, Driftwood, Seaweed, Crystal Ball, Goblet
🔥 Fire: Cactus, Volcanic Stone, Ash, Ace of Wands (Tarot), Lantern, Dragon Statue, Cinnamon Sticks, Incense
🍃 Earth: Ceramics, Coin, Stones, Soil, Salt, Ace of Pentacles, Seeds, Herbs, Flowers, Bone
💨 Air: Diffuser, Ribbons, Wind Instruments, Fans, Butterfly Imagry, Feathers, Ace of Swords (Tarot)
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I hope this was helpful as a basic guide! As always I encourage everyone to do things along their own personal style and employ things meaningful to you. ♥️
This one actually required a lil bit of guts to post because while this works for me, I’m just starting to branch out of the research phase of witchcraft and starting to do my own practice, but I’m still petrified of doing things “wrong.” That disclaimer aside, I’m gonna explain what I’ve been working on and experimenting with.
So I’ve been making spell jars with candles on top lately. The idea here is that the spell jar is harnessing the energy of its contents when the candle is burning. That’s my intention for it anyway, and it seems to be working quite well.
This particular one I made today for the purpose of cleansing residual energy after I’ve helped a spirit cross over. I’ve had some issues with spirits in my apartment lately so that’s the reason for this.
It contains: 💧Stream Water (for cleansing) 💧Swamp Water (for banishing) 🌱Juniper leaves + berries (for cleansing and protection against malignant forces) 🍃 Violet Leaves (protection against evil)
(Also I’m totally aware that the ingredients list in my grimoire includes sage. I just forgot to add the sage before I sealed it lol).
I tried it out and it works pretty well. After I helped this one spirit cross over, I left it burning where she was standing for a few minutes and the residual energy was lessened but not gone. I’d imagine I’d need to let it burn for longer.
Anyway this was a little insight into my current practice. Maybe it could serve as an idea for someone else, or maybe I’m about to get roasted. I don’t really know.
Either way, thanks for reading ☺️
new job protection pouch - a requested spell, a pouch to protect you while you start a new job
motivation spell - a spell to give you motivation
plant growth spell - a spell for helping plants/herbs grow and stay alive
rose quartz shielding spell - protects from and dispels negativity
waiting for the bus in the rain - night vale spell to make the bus come
what kind of man - spell to help get away from a bad relationship
sea foam latte - a bath spell and coffee scrub for motivation and clarity
~*~ “Letting Go” Jar
Something to put your guilts, fears and hiccups into. Draws away their power, cleanses them, and protects you. Very soothing.
- empty jar - epsom salt - turquoise stones (could use black stones too) - lavender oil - problems written on scraps of paper – put the lid on tightly and shake –
Most spells like this say to bury the jar or hide it in your closet - but that’s the opposite of what you want to do with your problems. It’s sealed, put it on your shelf if you want and add to it/shake it whenever. Looking at it should remind you you’re so much bigger than those problems; you’ve let go of them.
im a baby witch, and after performing my first spell ever today i was immediately exhausted and slept for 4 hours, despite getting at least 8 hours of sleep last night...what could the reasoning for this be?
(I started answering this but had to draft it because I ran out of spoons; someone else answered this really well but I cant remember who, and I’m not wasting a list I put this much energy into already, so fuck it all.)
This probably happened because you used up too much energy in the spell, leaving very little in your body to get you through the rest of your day.
This is a common occurrence for those new to magic and energy work - being unaware of your own limits, you put out too much and leave very little for yourself. It happens, I’ve heard about it a lot, but is definitely not very good for you if it keeps happening. Like, it is common, but definitely not meant to happen, and not very good for you energetically and physically. Over time you will learn your limits better, by experimenting and practicing (the more energy work you do, the easier it gets, trust me), and your capacity for manipulating, holding, and sending out energy will expand.
In the meantime, take it easy on spellwork for a few days. Make sure to eat regularly, drink plenty of water, and get as much rest as you need. Do what you can to avoid that feeling too many times in a row - you could burn yourself out.
I also recommend practicing grounding, and learning how to draw energy from other sources through yourself and into spells, or just directly into the spells instead, to prevent energy drainage again.
[Airy Grounding Guide]
[Coffee Grounding] (cw: gif)
[Grounding]
[Grounding]
[Grounding]
[Grounding]
[Grounding – A How-to]
[Grounding and Centering]
[Grounding and Centering]
[Grounding, Centering, and Shielding]
[Grounding or ‘Earthing’]
[Grounding Techniques]
[Grounding Theory and Application]
[Grounding With the Elements]
[Grounding with Your Aura]
[Rooting Meditation]
[Shielding and Grounding]
[Sinking]
[Spiral Meditation]
[Sea Grounding] (cw: gif)
[Sea Witchcraft: “Sinking”]
[Some Favorite Grounding Visualizations]
[Star Grounding] (cw: gif)
[Storm Grounding] (cw: gif)
[3 Methods of Grounding]
[Why You’re Magically Exhausted and Grounding Isn’t Helping]
[Witch Tips: Grounding]
[Witchcraft 101 - Grounding & Centering]
[Witch’s Guide to Grounding]
[Witch’s Guide to Grounding - Sturdy as Stone]
[Channeling Cosmic Energy] (cw: gif)
[Channeling Energy to Work Magic]
[How to Stop Using Your Own Energy to Fuel Your Witchcraft]
[“Raising and Releasing Personal Power”] (cw: gif)
[Secular Magic: Energy Sources]
[Working with Energy Sources]
Yeah, sorry again for being late on this one, but I hope you see it and it proves useful anon!
Emoji spell to keep your loved ones safe from harm. Likes charge, reblogs cast 🔮
Today I ground too much coffee at work and they let me take the grounds home. Knowing that Mabon is soon approaching on the 21st, I decided to do some easy magic in preparation! I unfortunately will be very busy that week house and babysitting so celebrating/participating may be very minimal, with my extra coffee I decided it's only natural to make some coffee sugar scrubs so I can banish unwanted energy and invigorate my week with cozy fall energy!
I will be listing below two seperate recipes I made. One is a Mabon corresponding sugar coffee scrub. The second is a Psychic Protection sugar coffee scrub, best for protecting yourself from unwanted energy.
These scrubs are great for Mabon or Samhain! The ingredients are safe for the skin during any bath or shower ritual, you can even slice apples crosswise to reveal their hidden pentacle and add to your baths as well to enhance your experience and add a witchy mood!
MABON SUGAR COFFEE SCRUB
1 1/2 cups of sugar- to attract sweet things to you
1/2 cup of olive oil- to ensure your Mabon and Autumn Equinox is blessed with good intent
1 tbs of ground coffee (you can use dry or wet, I used dry dark roast coffee)- to break curses and ground you.
Small handful of ground whole cloves- for friendship
1 tsp of Honey- for beauty and self love
1 Ground whole cinnamon stick- corresponding with Wednesday, and to represent bonfires of fall.
10 drops of skin and body safe pumpkin spice essential oil (I was heavy handed because who doesn't love pumpkin?)- for wishes being granted
10 drops of skin and body safe orange essential oil- for prosperity
A sprinkle of sea salt - for protection
PSYCHIC PROTECTION SUGAR COFFEE SCRUB
1 1/2 cups of sugar- to attract sweet things to you
3/4 cup of olive oil- to anoint/and bless yourself.
3/4 cup of liquid coconut oil- corresponding to the moon and purification.
1 tbs of ground coffee (you can use dry or wet, I used dry dark roast coffee)- to break curses and ground you, also aids in divination.
Small handful of ground whole cloves- for friendship
1 tsp of Honey- for beauty and self love
1 Ground whole cinnamon stick- corresponding with Wednesday, and to represent bonfires of fall.
1 tbs of lavender buds- divination clarity, protection, and cleansing
1 tbs of dried rose petals- psychic power and divination
10 drops of rosemary essential oil that's safe for skin and body- healing, power, and protection.
10 drops of rose essential oil that's safe for skin and body
A sprinkle of sea salt- for protection
Crush the whole cloves/cinnamon in a mortar pedestal until fine, combine with all dry ingredients in a medium to large bowl and give a good stir. Stir with your intent in mind. You can transform these into very protective or courage invoking scrubs.
Next add in your oil and honey, stir in slowly, making sure to scrape the sides and get all the sugar mixture well incorporated. Stir counter clockwise to banish evil spirits or negativity, stir clockwise to draw in good energy and happiness toward you. Invision it and see it happening in real time.
As Aggie Cromwell in Halloweentown says, "Magic is really very simple, all you've got to do is want something and then let yourself have it!"
Spoon into a mason jar and seal the lid tight. This also makes great gifts for others, I'm giving one to my mother as her birthday ends on Mabon and she loves PSL/Fall.
Hope you all enjoy it! You can also use the coffee, oil, sugar base for any type of scrub. 🔮💖
Here is a list of unconventional and affordable ingredients that can be used in spells and witchcraft along with their correspondences; good for witches “in the woods” and witches on a budget. Many of these can be easily found for inexpensive prices or at home.
Acorns/Acorn Caps: security, abundance, longevity, good luck, youth and brings good health
Animal toys/stickers: relates to correspondences of that animal
Artist’s Charcoal: banishing negativity, protection; cursing
Baby Powder: cleansing, beauty, youth
Baking Soda: cleansing, purification, protection
Birthday Candles: wishes, joy; color magic and number magic depending on their color and/or what number they display
Black Tea Bags (used): earth magic, grounding, strength, stability, banishing negativity; ending, death
Bottle Caps: prosperity, luck, material gain
Bubble Bath: self-love, relaxation, emotional healing, serenity; plus whatever scent the bubble bath is affects correspondences
Bubbles/Bubble Liquid: wishes, joy, whimsy, imagination, fantasy
Buckeye Nuts: luck, sexual energies, warding
Butter: femininity, flattery, friendship, warmth, happiness; good for fae work
Candy Bars: love, romance, happiness, lust, fertility, emotional healing, healing of the heart, forgiveness, friendship
Candy Corn: courage, imagination, endurance, energy, motivation, happiness, celebration
Candy Foil: sweetness, secrets, protecting one’s emotions; color magic
Chocolate Syrup/Milk: happiness, love, lust, romance, sweetening relationships
Cocktail Swords: strength, assertiveness, competition; cursing, revenge; ending rumors
Cotton Balls: beauty, gentleness, warmth, sleep
Cotton Swabs: cleansing, purification
Dice: chance, opportunity, luck; number magic
Dirt: grounding, earth magic, growth, prosperity, patience, home and family; cursing
Dish Soap: cleansing
Duct Tape: binding, storing energy, cursing
Egg Shells: cleansing, protection, warding
Energy Drinks: energy, motivation
Envelopes: messages, communication, protection during travel
Epsom Salts: purification, cleansing, protection, pain relief, serenity, comfort, stress relief
Fake/Play Money: wealth, prosperity
Fish Sauce: prosperity, water magic, curses
Foil: glamour, protection, storing energy, binding
Glue: sealing, immobility, binding, curses
Googley Eyes: vision, divination, scrying, creativity, protection, imagination; curses, paranoia, nightmares
Grass: growth, nature, learning, healing, new beginnings, recovery from loss
Hand Soap: cleansing, curse removal
Hole Punches: good for cursing
Hot Sauce: motivation, lust, confidence; cursing, anger, revenge, emotional pain
Koolaid: youth, sweetness, happiness; color magic, corresponds with flavors as well
Lip Balm: glamour, confidence in speaking, honesty, beauty
Lollipops: sweetness, innocence, ending rumors and lies, lust and sexual energies, love
Lotion: protection, beauty
Laundry Soap: cleansing, purification
Marshmallows: friendliness, comfort, gentleness, fidelity, sleep and dreams
Metal Crafting Wire: binding
Modeling Clay: poppets, earth magic, grounding, balance, stability, creation, change
Mud: grounding, earth magic; curses
Muslin: poppets, change, creativity
Noodles: Longevity, good health
Pompoms (craft): gentleness, comfort, love, sleep, dreams
Paper Clips: balance, focus, organization; curses, binding
Pennies: luck, wealth
Pickle Juice: curses to sour things
Plastic Bags: protection; binding
Plastic Ribbon (wrapping): happiness, glamour, delight; binding; color magic
Plastic Wrap: binding
Popsicle sticks: poppets
Scissors: offensive magic, curses
Seltzer Water: purification, removing negativity; curses
Sewing Needles: curses, pain
Shaving Cream: cleansing, softness, patience, calmness
Stamps: travel, communication
Sour Cream: cursing
Soy Sauce: protection, banishment; cursing
Sticky Notes: communication, memory
Strawberry Milk: love, self-love, beauty, sweetness, friendship
Syrup: joy, sweetening one’s emotions
Taco Sauce: Focus, Energy, motivation
Taffy: joy, flexibility
Thumbtacks: curses
Tissue Paper: softness, serenity; color magic
Toothpaste: cleansing
Toothpicks: curse
Walnut Shells: protection, warding
Wasabi: Energy; curses, anger, envy
Whipped Cream: beauty, light-heartedness
Whistles: communication, attention grabbing, warding
Other Tips:
Recycle bottles, jars and medicine bottles for jar/bottle magic
Reuse tea bags (though not too long after use) in bath magic
If you do wish to use herbs, it is cheaper to order them online in bulk rather than the supermarket. Trust me, supermarkets and grocery stores really over price most herbs. You can get triple the amount for 2 dollars less online
Make up and toiletries are great for glamours
Its fine to use kitchen knives if you can’t afford am athame
Look at the ingredients in food you eat to see what is in it and determine that food’s correspondences, quick and easy kitchen magic
Crayons, colored pencils, markers and pens are good for easy sigil and color magic
Binders are cheaper than blank books and make great grimoires
Edmund | he/him | 22 | digital altar & spell gathering corner | non wiccan eclectic witch (spirit work, sigilcraft, technomancy, death craft, pop culture craft, etc.) | new to the craft & willing to learn
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