Made To Love, But Not To Be Loved; Made To Understand, But Not To Be Understood; Always The Poet, Never

Creating a "Witchy" Garden

Choose Your Space

Size & Placement: You can create a garden in a small container, a windowsill, or an outdoor patch of land. Ensure the space gets the appropriate amount of sunlight (herbs generally need 6-8 hours per day) and is easy to tend to.

Environment: Design your space to align with the energies you wish to attract, such as placing plants associated with protection near the entrance or flowers that attract pollinators around the garden.

Best Plants to Start With

Beginner-friendly plants that can thrive almost anywhere, regardless of climate. These plants are resilient, adaptable, and useful.

1. Mint (Mentha spp.)

Thrives in most climates, grows quickly, and is great for teas and remedies.

Grows well in pots (to prevent spreading) or directly in the garden.

2. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Drought-resistant, hardy in cold and hot climates.

Used for cleansing, memory, and protection.

3. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Survives in dry, poor soil and is great for cooking and medicinal use.

Symbolizes courage and purification.

4. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Grows indoors or outdoors.

Needs regular harvesting to thrive.

5. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Cold-hardy, great for pest control, and requires little maintenance.

6. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Quick-growing and does well in most conditions.

Can be grown in containers, raised beds, or directly in soil.

7. Radishes (Raphanus sativus)

Fast-growing (ready in 3-4 weeks), thrives in most soils.

8. Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

Hardy root vegetable that tolerates cold and heat.

9. Garlic (Allium sativum)

Grows almost anywhere and is used in protective spells and folk medicine.

Great for warding off negative energy.

10. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Thrives in various temperatures, fast-growing, and nutrient-rich.

11. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

Grow well in most climates and repel pests.

Used for protection and honoring ancestors.

12. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Cold and heat-tolerant, used for skincare and healing.

Represents warmth, positivity, and joy.

13. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)

Grows in most climates and is used for relaxation, dreams, and purification.

14. Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)

Grow in containers, raised beds, or hanging baskets.

Symbolize love and abundance.

15. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Easy to grow in pots or gardens, adaptable to different climates.

Associated with protection and prosperity.

How to Plant & Care for Plants

Soil: Use loose, well-draining, and nutrient-rich soil for most plants. You can create your own mix using compost, peat moss, and perlite for good air circulation. Herbs prefer slightly alkaline or neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.0).

Spacing: Ensure you space your plants to allow for healthy growth. Crowding can hinder their ability to grow.

Planting Depth: Follow seed packet instructions for the correct planting depth. Most herbs and flowers need to be sown at a depth of about twice their size.

Companion Planting: Some plants work well together. For instance, basil and tomatoes are great companions, as basil repels certain pests that could harm tomatoes.

Best Time to Water: Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening. This allows plants to absorb water before the heat of the day or overnight without suffering from water evaporation.

Watering Amount: Water thoroughly when the soil feels dry about 1 inch deep. Be careful not to overwater, especially herbs, as it can lead to root rot.

Timing & Moon Phases

New Moon: Time for planting new seeds. A good time to start a garden.

Waxing Moon: The best phase for planting leafy greens, herbs, and flowers that grow above the ground. Time of growth.

Full Moon: Harvesting of herbs and fruits. It’s a time to gather your plants. Energy is at its peak.

Waning Moon: This phase is ideal for root crops, tubers, and perennials. It’s also a time for trimming and pruning to encourage a healthy harvest.

Zero Waste

1. Composting:

Create a compost bin or pile to recycle organic waste. This not only reduces waste but also enriches your soil with nutrients for your plants. Include plant scraps, peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds.

2. Reusing Containers:

Repurpose old containers like jars, cups, or wooden crates for planting.

3. Mulching:

Mulch with natural materials like straw, leaves, or grass clippings to prevent weeds, conserve moisture, and improve soil quality.

Natural Fertilizing

1. Compost Tea:

Steep compost in water to create a "compost tea" that can be used as a liquid fertilizer. This is rich in beneficial microorganisms that promote healthy soil.

2. Manure:

Use organic manure (chicken, cow, or horse) to provide essential nutrients to your plants. Make sure it’s well-composted to avoid burning plants.

3. Fish Emulsion:

A natural liquid fertilizer made from fish byproducts, providing a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It's perfect for boosting growth in a witchy garden.

4. Banana Peel Fertilizer:

Chop up banana peels and add them directly to the soil. They are rich in potassium and phosphorus, which supports flowering and fruiting plants.

Seeds

1. Seed Saving:

Collect seeds from plants once they’ve gone to seed, dry them thoroughly, and store them in labeled envelopes. This reduces costs and creates a self-sustaining garden.

2. Natural Seed Starting:

Start your seeds in small biodegradable pots made from newspaper or cardboard to minimize plastic waste.

Consider using kitchen scraps for planting, such as potato eyes for growing new potatoes or citrus peels for herb starts.

Garden Symbolism

Garlic, Rue, and Yarrow: These are associated with protection and banishing. Plant these near doorways or along fences for warding off negative energy.

Rose, Jasmine, and Lavender: Plant these near seating areas for love and harmonious energy.

Aloe Vera, Basil, and Mint: Grow these in abundance for healing rituals and attracting wealth.

Mugwort, Sage, and Lavender: Great for enhancing intuition, psychic visions, and connection with the spiritual realm.

These are just some examples.

Each plant carries its own symbolism, and purpose, but the meanings they hold can vary from person to person. What resonates with one gardener may have a completely different significance for another. Select the plants that speak to you, whether for their beauty, healing properties, or the sense of connection they bring to your space.

What to avoid in your garden

Invasive Species:

Bindweed, Bermuda Grass, Nutsedge: These aggressive plants can overrun your garden, choking out desired herbs and flowers. Their pervasive nature makes them difficult to control, potentially disrupting the harmonious balance of your space.

Plants Harmful to Pets and Wildlife:

Lilies: While beautiful, lilies are toxic to cats and can pose serious health risks.

Other Toxic Plants: Research any plant's compatibility with local fauna before inclusion, ensuring your garden remains a safe haven.

Plants that cannot thrive where you live:

Plants that originate from different regions often struggle in unfamiliar environments. They may require excessive watering, specific soil conditions, or special care that disrupts your garden's natural harmony.

Native plants are better adapted to the local climate and soil.

Using Synthetic Chemicals:

Employing artificial fertilizers and pesticides can introduce harmful substances into your garden. Opt for organic and natural alternatives to maintain the garden's purity.

Other things you can put in your garden (not plants).

Herbal Drying Rack or Witch’s Ladder.

Stone arrangements, wind chimes, candles, a birdbath, water bowl or water basins.

Altars and sigils.

A small fairy house or spirit house.

Crystals & Stones

Moss Agate: "Gardener’s Stone". A great stone for plant growth.

Green Aventurine – "Stone of Prosperity". Ideal for vegetable and herb gardens.

Tree Agate – "Stone of Inner Peace". Enhances the connection between plants and their caretakers.

Obsidian – "Stone of Grounding & Protection". Place near entry points or around a meditation space.

Citrine – "Stone of Sunlight & Abundance". Attracts bees, butterflies, and other helpful pollinators.

Rose Quartz – "Love & Compassion". Place near flowers or fruit trees to boost blooming.

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Since I did this just for funsies, I'll just put it here. An altar for Hekate, the witch ancestors and the spirit allies that I received as an epiphany through the sacred act of taking a shower... All hail the pipewater 🙌🏻

Let's make a quick breakdown!

On the very top of the altar, taking the spotlight, of course, is the Witchmother of this lineage, the matriarch herself, Miss Hekate of the Many Names! Formless Fire, Trimorphis, Brimo! This is her altar before anything else!

Her statue carries a coral-snake-like beaded necklace that tethers my practice to the land I live in, while also honoring these three sacred colors that represent her domain. A skeleton key hanged by red thread can also be seen, and, of course, her black candle is present, representing her main realm, which is earthly and subterranean. The ways, the dead, the world in which she makes herself Most Manifest.

On the lower left side, is the witch-ancestors part of the altar. I must admit I don't have much to put there considering this can only be fleshed out through practice, which is something I want to do with ancestors, but haven't yet.

Regardless, it is a place for deceased wotches that worked under Hekate's guidance in life. A skull is a classic for ancestry, and the cunning witch Medea is a main figure that would serve both as a gateway for these spirits and as a warden.

The candle is red, representing the oceanic part of Hekate's realms, but it's also the same blood that runs through our veins, that which is witchfire.

The lower right side of the altar is for the spirit allies.

The candle is white, representing the last realm of Hekate, that which is heavenly, and further away still. It is also the color of fog and elusiveness, that which is present in these spirits.

The star comes in a symbolic way, bringing the mystery of magic again through the lense of elusivity and unknown-ness.

☆

This was done just as a visual aid for the idea I had. I wish I'll be able to bring these thoughts into reality soon enough.

Transparency: I couldn't bother drawing the statues from scratch for a visual exercise. The Hekate statue is very common and you'll find tons of them with a quick search. The statue of Medea was carved by William Wetmore, and the news it cannot be easily attained as a replica soured my day. /hyperbole

September 2024 Witch Guide

New Moon: September 2nd

First Quarter: September 11th

Full moon: September 17th

Last Quarter: September 24th

Sabbats: Mabon- September 22nd

September Harvest Moon

Also known as: Autumn Moon, Child Moon, Corn Harvest Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Haligmonath, Leaves Turning Moon, Mating Moon, Moon of Brown Leaves, Moon When Dear Paw the Earth, Rutting Moon, Singing Moon, Wine Moon, Witumanoth & Yellow Leaf Moon

Element: Earth

Zodiac: Virgo & Libra

Nature spirts: Trooping Faeries

Deities: Brigid, Ceres, Chang-e, Demeter, Freya, Isis, Depths & Vesta

Animals: Jackal & snake

Birds: Ibis & sparrow

Trees: Bay, hawthorn, hazel & larch

Herbs: Copal, fennel, rye, skullcap, valerian, wheat & witch hazel

Flowers: Lily & narcissus

Scents: Bergamot, gardenia, mastic & storax

Stones: Bloodstone,carnelian, cat's eye, chrysolite, citrine, iolite, lapis lazuli, olivine, peridot, sapphire, spinel(blue), tourmaline(blue) & zircon

Colors: Browns, dark blue, Earth tones, green & yellow

Issues, intentions & powers: Confidence, the home, manifestation & protection

Energy: Balance of light & dark, cleaning & straightening of all kinds, dietary matters, employment, health, intellectual pursuits, prosperity, psychism, rest, spirituality, success & work environment

The full Moon that happens nearest to the fall equinox (September 22nd or 23rd) always takes on the name “Harvest Moon.” Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight & allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive. 

• While September’s full Moon is usually known as the Harvest Moon, if October’s full Moon happens to occur closer to the equinox than September’s, it takes on the name “Harvest Moon” instead. In this case, September’s full Moon would be referred to as the Corn Moon.

This time of year—late summer into early fall—corresponds with the time of harvesting corn in much of the northern United States. For this reason, a number of Native American peoples traditionally used some variation of the name “Corn Moon” to refer to the Moon of either August or September. 

Mabon

Known as: Autumn Equinox, Cornucopia, Witch's Thanksgiving & Alban Elved

Season: Autumn

Element: Air

Symbols: Acorns, apples, autumn leaves, balance, berries, corn, cornucopia( Horn of Plenty), dried seeds, equality, gourds, grains, grapes, ivy, pine cones, pomegranates, vines, wheat, white roses & wine

Colors: Blue, brown, dark red, deep gold, gold, indigo, leaf green, maroon, orange, red, russet. Violet & yellow

Oils/Incense: Apple, apple blossom, benzoin, black pepper, hay/straw, myrrh, passion flower, patchouli, pine, red poppy & sage

Animals: Dog & Wolf

Birds: Goose, hawk, swallow & swan

Stones: Agate, amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow Agate & yellow topaz

Food: Apples, blackberries, blackberry wine, breads, carrots, cider, corn, cornbread, grapes, heather wine, nuts, onions, pomegranates, potatoes, squash, vegetables, wheat & wine

Herbs/Plants: Benzoin, bramble, corn, ferns, grains, hops, ivy, milkweed, myrrh, sage sassafras, Salomon's seal, thistle, tobacco & wheat

Flowers:  Aster, heather, honeysuckle, marigold, mums, passion flower, rose

Trees: Aspen, cedar, cypress, hazel, locust, maple, myrtle oak & pine

Goddesses: Danu, Epona, Inanna, Ishtar, Modron, Morgan, The Morrigan, Muses, Pomona, Persephone, Sin, Sophia & Sura

Gods:  Bacchus, Dionysus, Dumuzi, Esus, The Green Man, Hermes, Mannanan, Thor & Thoth

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Accomplishment, agriculture, balance, goals, gratitude & grounding

Spellwork: Balance, harmony, protection, prosperity, security & self-confidence

Activities:

•Scatter offerings in a harvested fields & Offer libations to trees

• Decorate your home and/or altar space for fall

• Bake bread

• Perform a ritual to restore balance and harmony to your life

• Cleanse your home of negative energies

• Pick apples

• Collect fall themed things from nature like acorns, changing leaves, pine cones, ect)

• Have a dinner or feast with your family and/or friends

• Set intentions for the upcoming year

• Purge what is no longer serving you & commit to healthy changes

•Take a walk in the woods

• Enjoy a pumpkin spice latte

• Donate to your local food bank

• Gather dried herbs, plants, seeds & pods

• Learn something new

• Make wine

• Fill a cornucopia

• Brew an apple cinnamon simmer pot

• Create an outdoor Mabon altar

•Adorn burial sites with leaves, acorns, & pinecones to honor those who have passed over & visit their graves

The name Mabon comes from the Welsh/Brythonic God Mabon Ap Modron, who's name means "Divine/great Son", However,there is evidence that the name was adopted in the 1970s for the Autumn Equinox & has nothing to do with this celebration or this time of year.

• Though many cultures see the second harvest (after the first harvest Lughnasadh) & Equinox as a time for giving thanks before the name Mabon was given because this time of year is traditionally when farmers know how well their summer crops did & how well fed their animals have become. This determines whether you & your family would have enough food for the winter.That is why people used to give thanks around this time, thanks for their crops, animals & food

Some believe it celebrates the autumn equinox when Nature is preparing for the winter months. Night & day are of equal legth  & the God's energy & strength are nearly gone. The Goddess begins to mourn the loss she knows is coming, but knows he will return when he is reborn at Yule.

Related festivals:

• Sukkot- Is a Torah-commanded holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals on which Israelites were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Originally a harvest festival celebrating the autumn harvest, Sukkot’s modern observance is characterized by festive meals in a sukkah, a temporary wood-covered hut, celebrating the Exodus from Egypt.

• Mid-Autumn festival- September 17th

Is also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. It is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture, similar holidays are celebrated by other cultures in East & Southeast Asia. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back over 3,000 years.  On this day, it is believed that the Moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of Autumn.

During the festival, lanterns of all size and shapes – which symbolize beacons that light people's path to prosperity & good fortune – are carried & displayed. Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during this festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology.

• Thanksgiving- This is a secular holiday which is similar to the cell of Mabon; A day to give thanks for the food & blessings of the previous year. The American Thanksgiving is the last Thursday of November while the Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated in October

• The Oschophoria- Were a set of ancient Greek festival rites held in Athens during the month Pyanepsion (autumn) in honor of Dionysus. The festival may have had both agricultural and initiatory functions.

-Amidst much singing of special songs, two young men dressed in women's clothes would bear branches with grape-clusters attached from Dionysus to the sanctuary of Athena Skiras & a footrace followed in which select ephebes competed.

Ancient sources connect the festival and its rituals to the Athenian hero-king Theseus & specifically to his return from his Cretan adventure. According to that myth, the Cretan princess Ariadne, whom Theseus had abandoned on the island of Naxos while voyaging home, was rescued by an admiring Dionysus; thus the Oschophoria may have honored Ariadne as well. A section of the ancient calendar frieze incorporated into the Byzantine Panagia Gorgoepikoos church in Athens, corresponding to the month Pyanopsion (alternate spelling), has been identified as an illustration of this festival's procession.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

Reblog if you think a woman can be complete without children

Y’ALL HAVE TIME TO REBLOG THIS. IT TAKES LESS THAN FIVE SECONDS.

Voices of clarity and truth in the faces of those who wish to silence so many is what is needed. FORWARD! ✊🏾🙌🏽🫶🏾✌🏽

“It’s never too late while you’re breathing.”

— Lois McMaster Bujold, The Warrior’s Apprentice

Hekáte of the Crossroads,

Lovely Goddess of the Gate,

Guide me with Your Torches as I navigate this new pathway,

Trivia, help me forge this new journey,

Perfect Mother of Witches,

Guard me with Your Hounds as I take these next steps in life.

Hail Hekáte! I devote myself to You!