gaygryffindor44
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The Vibes different types of Witches give me
(This is all from personal experience. I have been or dabbled into these types of Witchery at some point)
Divination Witch:
- I feel like they would like jazz
- Though that might just be because of that “Friends on the Other Side” song
- Probably a (not so secret) Harry Potter fan
- Very good at taking criticism (because they keep getting called out by playing cards)
- Believes in fate
- Appreciates the artwork on very pretty cards
- “Is this my intuition, or am I just anxious?”
- Probably likes Messy Buns
- Aloof when nervous, but very excitable and fun once they’re comfortable
- Incredibly Existential, probably has really deep conversations at like 3 am
- Very motivated, but so damn tired
- May or may not get paranoid a lot
- "You don't choose your deck/pendulum/runes. They choose you."
Deity / Spirit Work Witch:
- “Teacher, (Y/N)’s chanting ancient hymns in class again!”
- Tired eyes
- Peoplewatching, probably studies humans a lot despite being one of them
- Wise beyond their years
- Has a hard time making friends because few people are “on their level”
- The type of person that people are either intimidated by, or everyone looks up to
- Making playlists for your Deities
- Has that bigger-than-life energy that attracts many people, for better or for worse
- Very respectful and knows how to not lose their temper easily
- History and/or Culture enthusiast
- Probably has a fascination with a certain part of the world or culture
Pop Culture Witch:
- That fan who refuses to accept that their favorite character died
- Honestly tired of having to explain and justify their craft
- Probably has an Online Grimoire
- Almost definitely writes fanfiction (or at least reads a lot of it)
- I feel like they’d enjoy Buzzfeed Unsolved or other paranormal series (Gravity Falls, Paranorman, Over the Garden Wall, etc.)
- Stans like 12 different characters
- Enjoys Glamour Spells
- Daydreams a lot
- Owns too many books (or not enough)
- Very intuitive and has a good sense for what herbs/crystals go with a certain character
- Kinda got into Witchcraft by accident (like me)
- Very heavily influenced by their favorite series and such
- Probably likes Gay-coded Music (Mother Mother, Hozier, Lil Nas X, etc.)
Hedge Witch:
- Very vivid dreams
- Very interested in Astral Travel
- Often attracts random animals and children because of their “good energy”
- Talks to their home, the trees, spirits, everyone
- I feel like they’d have very cool looking but functional shoes
- A lonely (but not alone) soul
- Has a good morning routine, probably a morning person
- Any day where they can watch the sunrise is a good day
- Really likes folktales
- Big reader, but probably collects more books than they read
- Really wants an herb garden
- Constantly researching new practices, their book of shadows is huge
Storm Witch:
- Has really good intuition for the weather. Can pretty much feel when it’s going to rain
- Always has jars on the windowsill or pack porch to catch rainwater
- Enjoys the sound of thunder
- Really good at whistling (whistling up a wind)
- Probably really into Hopepunk or other punk subcultures
- Genuinely annoyed when it’s too sunny
- Either really outgoing or incredibly aloof. May be an Aquarius
- Angry 99.9% of the time, but does a decent job at not showing it
- Has a specific outfit for taking walks in the rain
- Has no volume control and accidentally talks to loud
- Very protective over loved ones
Grimoire - Hellenic Polytheism
Hellenic Polytheism In General: HP 101: Where to start Hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable!) resources Things Every Baby Hellenic Should Research/Know Adult Home Study for Hellenic and Roman Polytheists Considering the Hellenic Pagan as an Identity Bedridden and Low Energy hellenic polytheist tips 10 Myths About Hellenismos The Thing About Myths A Clash of Tales: How to Reconcile Conflicting Myths The Gods are not their myths! Some points on Orphism The difference between "religion online" and "online religion" Lets have a chat: about research in recon How to determine if a book on mythology is legit? Hellenic Polytheism: Evaluating “How-to” Books Why learning Hellenic Polytheism (or really any other pagan current) on Tumblr aint a good idea
Hellenic Polytheist Concepts And Practices: Khernips A follow-up on pollution and purification Miasma vs. Lyma Thoughts on cognitive hygiene and pollution Spiritual protection in the Greco-Roman world The Hellenic Gods Aren’t Malicious Towards You. Deepening your relationship with a deity Why personal devotion matters Things the Gods Get Mad at Mortals For On Household Worship Children in Ancient (Athenian) Festivals Basic Prayer Formula Dissecting the Anatomy of Prayer Kharis: The Reciprocal Relationship with the Gods Invoking Kharis Xenia, and why it is our duty as Hellenic polytheists/pagans to be anti-racist and anti-fascist The Pillars of Hellenic Worship Pillars of Hellenismos Oaths and Hellenic Polytheism Hellenic polytheism and witchcraft Witchcraft in Hellenismos Magic in Hellenismos: An Introduction Ingredients of Ancient Greek style reconstructed magic Magic idea: using the Iliad (and Odyssey) for magic Popular Divination Methods in Ancient Greece Introduction to The Underworld as Understood in Ancient Hellas Practical tips for Hellenic Khthonic Ritual Necromancy- a learning journal
Religious Offerings: Extravagant Offerings Are Unnecessary Libations Effects of Libations in the Garden Why water is not a "lazy" offering Basic Hellenic Offering Ritual Historical Hellenic Offerings How to Make an Offering as a Hellenic Polytheist (based on historical methods)
Hellenic Pantheon: Pantheon of the Greek Gods Resources for Cult Epithets of the Greek Gods Theogony Choose Your Starter Theoi Modern Hellenic Polytheist Household Deity Worship Household rituals for the Agathos Daimon The forgotten ones: on honouring obscure gods Zeus and Hera’s Marriage In defense of Zeus Nymph Worship Honouring the Nymphai - The maidens of nature. Ourea: The Mountain Gods Potamoi: The River Gods Offerings to local river gods (potamoi) Hero Worship Hero worship 101 - The basics Hero Worship 101 - Which hero should I worship? How do I contact them?
Festivals And Sacred Days: Libation days in Hellenismos 2021 Attic Calendar Deipnon-Noumenia-Agathos Daimon lunar dates for 2021 The Attic Calendar Hekate's Deipnon Noumenia Agathos Daimon Deipnon, Noumenia and Agathos Daimon Prayers Attempting to set up a "holiday decoration" box Example Modernisation of an Ancient Greek Festival
Things To Beware Of: Authors to Watch Out For in Hellenismos Hellenic Polytheist Groups to Avoid Things to Watch Out for in Hellenic Polytheism How To Tell When "God Drama" Is Fake
My Hellenic Polytheism Practice: My Hellenic Polytheism Recommended Reading List The glorious mess of a Hellenic Pagan with her glorious mess of a religious practice Festivals and holidays I observe as a Hellenic witch To the new worshippers/devotees My advice for beginner Hellenic Pagans Keeping in touch with the gods Things I have learned as a Hellenic Pagan Hellenic Pagan Oath Taking "Permissions" How NOT to act with the gods Asking the gods for favors My advice regarding romantic relationships with Hellenic deities To the witches who would like to work with the Hellenic deities, from a Hellenic witch How I pray as a Hellenic Pagan The gods are complex beings The Hellenic Witch with an Atheist Spouse Why I don't interpret religious/spiritual experiences for others "How do I know... what if..."
This is your obligatory Hermes love post
Reblog if you really love Hermes, like if you really love Hermes.
witchy tips for witches with depression <3
I've been struggling with depression for some time now and I've been having a lot of issues practicing my craft since the lack of energy and motivation, so I decided to compile a list of simple routine things you can try to add to your daily life to get you back on the craft and maybe make you feel better :]
theres no instant cure to depression but there are ways to make it a little less bad, and little by little get you back on your feet !! these may not work for everyone as I am writing down things that work for me and just simple ways I use to incorporate the craft into my daily life. please please please also seek prefessional help if you're able to !! talk to friends and family, you're loved and cared for !! google depression self help tips for more tips, I know most of them may sound dumb or trivial or useless but it is so worth a shot adhering to them for some time, maybe you will notice an increase in your mood :D
1. veiling
when I go out, I wear a scarf on my head to protect my energy or keep me in a good mood, depending on the days activity. you can wear a scarf around the house or go out with it and putting one on also works for a bad hair day (read: haven't washed hair in a week) ;D
just cleanse the scarf by maybe shaking the unwanted energies out of it or with incense or with whatever you see the best and bless the scarf with your intentions for the day :D
2. cleansing
if you have a hard time taking care of your hygiene ( it's okay I promise, it can be very exhausting :/ ), try getting some baby wipes on your bedside table and when you wake up / before you go to bed, wipe your face, armpits, feet etc. with the wipe and with the intention of cleansing. it's quick and very easy and I promise that it's worth it, you'll feel a lot more fresh afterwards. you can do the same with washing in general ! if you take a shower imagine the bad thoughts and depressive energy go down the drain in a black/gray/brown stream of dark water !! you'll feel a lot more fresh and maybe a bit clear-headed even :)
3. tea magick
while getting your cup of tea / coffee, stir your days intentions into the drink or do this:
stir clockwise thrice to bring positivity, stir counterclockwise to let out negative energy in your next three sighs and then seal the spell to let the sadness repel.
I recommend black tea or white tea or chamomile tea and add some honey / sugar to sweeten the deal !!
4. shadow work
I know that one of the last things you might want to do is dwelve deep into your feelings but it really will be useful in the long run. if you feel yourself getting upset or your mood suddenly dropping, try getting to the bottom of it; what triggered the emotional reaction? take a deep breath, relax into your feelings as they are in that moment and be honest with yourself. observe them without judgment and try to find out where they came from and how to solve the conflict.
here's some prompts and questions you can try asking yourself:
how did you feel ( more accurately than just upset; were you angry, jealous, sad, lonely etc.) ?
is there something you can do right now to solve it ?
how could you handle this situation in a healthy way? eg. try to come up with healthy coping mechanisms.
how can you maybe prevent this in the future?
try the court trial thought challenging technique. if these thoughts or this situation was a court case, which side would win? imagine yourself as the defense attorney. you need to gather 100% foolproof evidence you have siding with the negative thought and then defend it against the undermining counterpart. it's kind of a pros and cons type of list but you adopt the viewpoint of an outside viewer to get a clearer and more realistic view of the situation. this thought process can help you realize that some negative thoughts aren't truthful and help you let them go. you can Google "the court trial cbt" for more on this technique :D !!
5. studying the craft
we're all individuals and we react differently to bad states of mind but what I do often is distract myself by being on my phone and I know ( I hope so, at least ) I'm not alone in this. as a witch, you're always developing and learning new things, was it about learning different kinds of ways to practice your craft or getting to know other practices or maybe reading a guide how to grow your own herbs ! point is, if you're gonna distract yourself, you could try reading ebooks or articles or even tumblr posts about things that interest you !
maybe try making a list of subjects, topics and practices that interest you and set a goal for yourself to read at least about 3 subjects on the list per day !!
6. making pinterest boards / planning
this isnt directly magick but I think it does count as practicing your craft. make mood boards for the next full moon, come up with spells, make pinterest boards about cool things that interest you or maybe start planning for the next sabbath ! just have fun with it, maybe colour coordinate your pin boards or arrange them by season !
7. go out for walks
it is so so so important to try to adhere to some routines. a big part of managing depression is taking care that you get enough sleep, eat enough and do fulfilling, nice and healthy things. go outside and try to look for rocks or crystals from the nature ? or try foraging ! or maybe go for a walk during sunset/sunrise and admire the beautiful sky and clouds ! ANY reason to peep your nose out of the house is a good reason. maybe go meditate to the nearest park ? or try yoga !!
8. interests and passions and things you loved to do
I know that it might be hard to find joy in the things that you used to like doing but you should try to do at least one thing that you used to love doing for 10 minutes every day ! incorporate a little witchcraft into it too if you want to !
draw or paint a sigil and maybe colour it
sing your favourite song with intent that matches the lyrics
try freestyling with any instrument you play and let your intuition guide you with the chords and notes that come out ! you can try also making small melodies that correspond to different intents and use them for cleasing or happiness or protection !!
bake or cook something you've always wanted to try ! look up the ingredients' correspondences and cook with desired intents !
please know that you're not alone !! my dms are always open if you want tips or just someone to talk to, too :) you don't need to do all of these but maybe try taking some inspo and adjust it to your life and surroundings and daily life and come up with ways of your own, it's your craft after all !!
Herbal Correspondences
Cinnamon
Aids in healing spells and anointing objects. Used as an aphrodisiac for love charms. Added to spells to speed up results
Fire/Sun, Mercury
Dandelion
Increases psychic ability, divination and dream work. Promotes personal transformation, courage, and bravery
Pisces, Sagittarius, Air, Masculinity, Jupiter
Echinacea
Draw in prosperity and protection for family. Provides inner strength and enhances any spell
Mars, Scorpio, Earth, Venus, Femininity
Garlic:
Wards of and protects against negative energy and envious people. Used as an aphrodisiac. Promotes strength and empowerment
Mars, Fire, Aries
Lavender:
Used in relaxation spells/ meditation. Strengthens love and soothes insomnia when smoked
Mercury, Virgo, Air, masculinity
Marjoram:
Used in happiness spells/ for coping with grief. Promotes health, love and protection
Air, Mercury, Capricorn, Masculinity
Mint:
Increases personal strength in overcoming obstacles. Promotes courage and harmony
Air, Venus
Myrrh:
Used for purification/ preparation rituals. Also used for connecting with spirits. Associated with a sacrificial death/Christ
Nutmeg:
Small amounts can be ingested to before meditation/divination to enhance clairvoyance. Also used in money spells.
Air, Jupiter, Mercury, Pisces, Masculinity
Poppy:
Used in offerings to the dead. Promotes abundance, love, and luck. Enhances psychic abilities and dream magic
Water, Moon, Femininity
Rose:
Encourages friendliness and good luck. Traditionally used in love spells. Promotes security and truth
Taurus, Venus, water, Femininity
Thyme:
Add under pillow to prevent nightmares. Dispels melancholy and increases strength and courage
Femininity, Water, Venus
Sunflower:
Increases confidence and positive energies in the home. Balances Root Chakra
Sun
Mugwort:
Associated with the cycles of womanhood. keeps out unwanted energy. Smoke for enhanced divination and lucid dreaming
Taurus, Libra, Venus, Moon, Earth, Femininity
Honeysuckle:
Scent can clear the mind and stimulate psychic abilities/dreams. Attracts love and luck. protects gardens
Earth, Mercury, Cancer, Venus
Marigold:
Used in consecration and offerings to the dead. Invites good energies. promotes luck, happiness, success, and health
Fire, Sun, Leo
Cloves:
Wards off gossip/ jealousy and keeps friendships strong. Attracts good luck and used as an aphrodisiac
Fire, Jupiter, Masculinity
Allspice:
Associated with powerful male archetypes. Uplifts energy and increase4s determination. used in healing spells
Fire, Mars, Masculinity
Aloe:
Used to ward against accidents in and around the home. Used in love, beauty, and Moon spells
Cancer, Moon, Water, Femininity
Angelica:
Smoked to aid in clairvoyance. Used for protection and breaking hexes. Protects the home and garden
Fire, Sun, Venus
Apple:
A symbol of immortality and used in offerings to the dead. Blossoms are used in love/fidelity spells
Venus, Taurus, Femininity
Basil:
Carry when traveling for good luck. Steadies the mind and promotes peace/ love. Used in attraction spells + astral projection
Fire, Mars, Scorpio, Masculinity
Blue bells:
Placed on graves to aid mourning. Associated with new beginnings and opportunity. Promotes love, truth, and humility
Cardamom:
Put into sachets, wine, and food to induce lust. A natural relaxant. Promotes love and passion
Femininity, Water, Venus
Chamomile:
Used for removing spells and releasing. Used in money spells and promotes tranquility, purification, peace, and love. Balances Throat Chakra
Sun, Leo, Masculinity
Sage:
Used to alleviate grief. Promotes longevity, wisdom, protection, and purification
Air, Jupiter, Femininity
Dill:
Dispels jealousy and attracts romance. Used for protection and love
Fire, Mercury, Gemini, Masculine
Catnip:
Attracts positive energies. Promotes good luck, beauty, and happiness
Water, Venus, Femininity
Salt:
Used as a protective barrier to repel negative energies. Absorbs negativity, cleanses, and purifies
Earth
Rosemary:
Burn to assist with meditation. Keep under pillow to ward off nightmares. Enhances memory, divination, love, and loyalty
Fire, Leo, Sun
Parsley:
Used in ritual baths to increase vitality, strength, and passion. Associates with communicating with spirits
Mercury, Air, Masculinity
Oregano:
Used in spells for health, happiness, tranquility, and protection. Promotes psychic dreams and deep relationships
Air, Venus
Pine:
Use a pine branch to sweep to remove negative energy from the home. Protects home and enhances strength and optimism
Fire, Saturn, Mars, Masculinity
✨These are going to make some Hellenics mad but the visuals are stunning🤩
Deity Work: Respect vs. Honor vs. Devotion
When deciding to add a religious component into your practice, there’s a lot of factors to consider.
What practices are closed to me?
What kind of relationship do I want to build with the Divine?
How do I practice a religion that most believe to be long gone?
Have I dealt with any negative experiences/beliefs/mindsets that may be hard to let go of from my old religious practices?
While all of these are important, I want to focus on a simple but crucial distinction within deity work- what it means to respect or honor a deity compared to devotion to a deity.
Respect:
Respecting a deity is basically extending common courtesy towards Divine entities that you are not directly involved with. Speaking of them with respect and engaging in discussion of theological differences without deliberate contempt or ridicule.
Why? Well, for one, I think it’s a good idea not to antagonize a being I can’t even comprehend, even if I don’t believe in them. But primarily, it’s an extension of my respect towards those of different faiths. It’s important to note that respecting a deity doesn’t mean respecting people or organizations who use their faith as justification to harm others. It doesn’t mean agreeing or supporting every aspect of a religion’s theology.
My common courtesy does not extend to religious leaders within the Catholic church that have refused to apologize or take responsibility for the decades of abuse of Indigenous children.
If you live in the U.S. or Canada- go to this website and learn what Native land you’re living on. If you can, make a donation to a local or national Indigenous organization to start making a dent in these injustices.
Respect is simply having good manners. It’s how we want others to treat our deities, symbols, and traditions.
Honor:
Honoring a deity is when you believe in a deity, you engage in practices with/for/associated with them but you do not have a personal commitment to a relationship with them.
For example, I honor all of the deities of the Hellenic pantheon. I might make offerings on days of significance or participate in specific festivals but I don’t have a dedicated altar space or have a committed practice of worship. And I also don’t honor all of the Hellenic deities in the same way or with the same frequency. I honor Artemis and Dionysus more than others because of personal connection.
I think it’s important for polytheistic pagans not to feel pressured into honoring every single deity within that pantheon. Setting aside the 12 Olympians, there are dozens of deities within the Hellenic pantheon. Learning and feeling confident enough to work with 1 deity is already challenging, so please be kind to yourself.
Devotion:
Devotion is making the commitment to a personal relationship with a deity. It takes a lot of time and emotional energy to devote yourself to a deity, lots of learning and understanding of them and their traditions.
There’s no framework for how to devote yourself or if you should become devoted to a deity. It’s a very personal journey and it’s impossible for anyone to tell you exactly what to do if you’re interested in a deity. I can offer advice about my experience with Apollo, but your experience with Him will be completely unique to you.
Devotion to a deity as a practice also looks very different. I have a dedicated altar, I pray, I make offerings and celebrate festivals. But if your relationship with a deity doesn’t include any of that? That is okay. Especially if you’re a solitary practitioner and learning on your own- the Divine are patient and understanding. We’re human and I really believe that the Divine prefer you at your most genuine rather than perfection. Especially if that fear of not being “good enough” is what’s keeping you from establishing that relationship in the first place.
I hope that helps clarify the differences. You can always send a message or an ask with questions on deity work or other witchy topics. Just know that with deity work in particular, it’s hard to get specific answers because of how personal that journey is.
How do you perform deity work? What’s something you love about your particular path or pantheon?
Brightest blessings! - Kate
Athena [Olympia, Greek]
A page from my Grimoire.
Goddess of: wisdom, rational thought, strategy, mathematics, law, justice, arts, crafts, civilized life, & warfare
Zodiac sign: No specific zodiac, some associate her with Aries and/or Libra
Planet: No specific planet, some associate her with Mars and/or Venus
Lineage: Daughter of Zeus
Primary cult centres
: Athens, Argos, Sparta, Gortyn, Lindos, Larisa
Athena is of no mother, she was bore from Zeus’ head as a woman in full armour. She is often called Zeus’ favorite child and was even allowed to use his thunderbolt. She was worshipped by Aegean Greeks and was said to protect the king and inspire household crafts.
She is often referred to as “grey-eyes.”
Athena is another goddess associated with spinning and weaving. We see this with Artemis as well, who is the goddess of the beasts, and was associated with human births. Weaving is common symbolism with goddesses who are responsible for weaving ties between life. As Artemis helped mothers weave connections between themselves and their children, Athena spins relationships between soldiers in battle. She led battles as Athena Promachos. She is contrasted to the god Ares who represents the violent aspect of war, she is representative of strategy & discipline in war.
Athena, like Artemis, is a virgin. Like Artemis, she is allowed to retain male-like qualities, like warfare, which could be linked to her virginity. With this virginity, she is said to demand sexual modesty in polis. She was often involved in ritual initiations, especially of women into marriages.
She is a deity strongly associated with the polis and her temples are often found in the acropolis. She defeated Poseidon as the city-state deity by planting the first olive tree.
She is the patron deity of heroes & craft workers.
She invented the flute, but did not play. She also invented the bit, chariot, wagon, and bridle.
There are many stories associated with Athena that tell not only of her fierceness and her ruthlessness in punishment, but also her compassion. She turned the weaver Arachne into a spider after she beat Athena in a weaving contest with a tapestry that insulted the Olympian gods, particularly Zeus. However, she also cared for Hephaestsus’ half man half serpent child, although he tried to rape her and was not successful. Athena created Medusa and aided Perseus in killing her. She has a large part in the Iliad, appearing to the Greek heroes many times and eventually helping Achilles in killing Hektor. She aided the Greeks because Paris [Trojan] did not declare her the most beautiful goddess, rather, he chose Aphrodite. However, an image of her called the Palladium protected the Trojans at other times. Finally, she helped Hercules kill the Stympahlian birds.
The Gorgoneion that she is said to created, is often called Medusa from later myths, was originally thought to have warded off evil.
Athena is a goddess to have by your side if you are fighting a battle, such as a battle within yourself, like struggling with mental health. As the goddess of wisdom, she is a great goddess for students or philosophers. She will lead you toward strategy and discipline. She is also a great goddess for those who explore or work in a “heroic” discipline or a discipline that requires strategy, wisdom, justice, law, or good judgment [teachers, doctors, nurses, military, lawyer, etc]. Athena is also a representation of power, if you are struggling with your personal power in any way, such as self-worth, she can help you.
Festivals & Worship
Panathenaea: Celebrated in Athens during the month of Hekatombaion [mid August]. This was the most important Athenian festival. It consisted of great sacrifices, rites, and a procession to Athena. There were music contests and epic poems were recited. It was celebrated every four years.
Plynteria: “Feast of the Bath” held at the month Thargelion. It’s a five day festival that involved the ritual baths and cleansed the sanctuary of Athena. They washed the clothes of the statue of Athena & purified her body.
Chalceia - Bronze age festival for craft workers held on the last day of Pyanopsion.
Symbols
Items: Golden armour, spears, spindles, bowls
Animals: owls, serpents, horses, ram, dove, bulls, ox
Mythological creatures: Gorgoneion
Plants/herbs: olive trees, pomegranate, roses, cinnamon, cyprus, oak, tiger lily, citrus trees, rosemary, bay leaves
Colors: silver, blue, gold, red, white, emerald green, yellow, orange
Scents: dragon’s blood, orange, cedar wood, frankincense, myrrh, musk, any aromatic spells
Crystals: pearls, onyx, sapphire, rube, lapis lazuli, gold, emeralds
She is associated with the number 7
Offerings
Plants/herbs/food: Olives, olive oil, honey, wine, bread, cinnamon, roses, honey cake, bread, fruit, all meat
Items: diplomas, handmade items, owl feathers, flutes, yarn, hair, or string, trophies or awards, books, armour [prop, drawings, etc], horse hair, incense
Poetry or songs about her
Drawings, sculptures, carvings
How to Worship
Play sports, especially martial arts or weapon based sports [archery, sharp shooting etc]
Study anything, get education, learn skills
Create something
Play a strategy game
Self care rituals and any ritual that is private
Read a book, write a book, write poetry or music
Play the flute or learn it
Make her something! Anything you put work into.
Paper crafts
Ride horses
Pray to her
Spells for wisdom or courage
Knit, crochet, weave, sew
Work hard on anything
Help people or animals in need [courage, bravery]
Make a plan for your future or a to-do list
Make & stick with a routine [discipline]
Epithets
Parthenos - Virgin
Polias/Poliouchos - City State
Athena Promachos - Leads into Battle
Athena Nike - Bringer of Victory
Athena Ergane - Patron of crafts & craft workers.
Potnia - Lady of Athens/Mistress Athena
Khalkíoikos - of the Brazen House [Sparta]
Hippia - Equestrian
Chalinits - the Bridler
Hygieia - Health or Treatment
Glaukopis - Bright eyed, with gleaming eyes, silvery
Tritonia - triple born [Zeus’ 3rd born daughter]
Sources
Keep reading
How To Compose A Formal Hellenic Polytheist Prayer
Today I’d like to introduce y’all to the formal format of a Hellenic polytheist prayer. Of course, you can have whatever interaction with the gods on whatever terms both you and them wish, but if you’re interested in a more formal, traditional prayer, this should hopefully function as a good set of guidelines to assist you. A formal prayer is different from a casual prayer or an introductory prayer in many ways. Primarily, a formal prayer is typically used to request something of the gods or to formally praise and honor the gods. Generally speaking, you should build your relationship with the god you will be praying to, through libations, casual prayer, performing acts in their honor, living your life with piety, and the other values the Theoi encourage us to observe.
1. Naming the gods
You always want to begin by naming the god or gods you wish to supplicate to. Starting with “Hear”/”Hear me”/some variation on getting the gods’ attention, you want to go on to name the specific god or gods you wish to pray to, along with the specific epithet(s) that you are invoking. It is incredibly important to name the gods and the epithets you want; if you are asking the gods for something, you want to list an epithet that invokes the specific dominion that god has, which is related to your ask. For example, if you are praying to Zeus to help your relationship/marriage, you will call Zeus Gamelii, Zeus who presides over marriages. If your friend needs divine assistance, and you are praying to Zeus, you should call Zeus Hetaereius, Zeus who protects friends and companies of friends. Theoi.com is a great resource for locating the specific epithet(s) you wish to call to.
2. Name relevant myths, perhaps of things that god(s) has done in a myth that is similar to what you are asking for, or a myth that particularly honors the god(s)
In my opinion, this is similar to legal precedent. You want to establish that you are seeking something or intend something which has been asked of the gods before. You can also use this time to honor and flatter the gods by reciting a myth that honors them or glorifies them. This section doesn’t need to be a full retelling of a myth; for example, for Zeus Hetaereius, Hetaereius was used to honor him after Jason first sacrificed to him to protect the Argonauts on their journey. You can summarize this in one line; “He who protected and led the brothers of the Argonauts to glory”
3. Justify your intention of this prayer by establishing what you have already done to honor that god/gods.
This is not about literally justifying or trying to persuade the god you’re praying to, to grant you what you wish because of what you’ve already done for them. It’s about invoking the relationship you’ve already established with the god, and showing that you’re actually dedicated and not just interested in a transaction with the god. You’re basically saying, I’m serious about this religion and about you. “If ever I have poured a libation out to you/erected a holy shrine in your name/sacrificed xyz to you/performed xyz act of charity in your name…”
4. State your intentions of this prayer
Here is where you say what you want. Sometimes you want to formally honor a god or gods. Sometimes you want the gods to protect you, or bless you, help you pass a test, protect someone else from harm. I personally like to connect steps 3 and 4 into the same sentence. Continuing with Zeus Hetaereius, “…cloak my friend xyz under your protection and bless them and our bond.”
5. Vow to freely offer something
Reciprocity, or kharis, is the foundation of our relationship with the gods. Now that you’ve asked the gods to do something for you, or let you do something like honor them, you give freely in return. This is incredibly important; the cycle of gift-giving is one of the primary ways we build relationships with the gods and this is how you further commit yourself to the gods. You must selflessly give. “I will burn incense/pour libation/perform act of charity/sacrifice/etc. for you.”
🌺💕 Aphrodite Invocation Spell 🌺💕
💖 This spell was used when I felt a strong connection to Aphrodite and don’t know how to reach her. The spell is based on my personal experience! 💖
📝 Note: Use this spell when you have a very strong connection to Aphrodite. The spell will be 100% successful if your connection is strong with her. I had a very strong connection with Aphrodite for 5 months before doing this spell and my results came in a few hours after casting this spell. 📝
🌛 When to cast: 🌜
• Preferably any day/time/phase during april (april is a scarced month for Aphrodite) or any day/time/phase you want
💐 Things you will need: 💐
• candles ( preferably red, pink, blue, seafoam or white )
• rose incense or any herbs corresponds with love
• food offerings: apple slices, any chocolate snacks, apple juice, milk, strawberries, fruit flavored yoghurt, candies. etc whichever from this list
• item offerings: roses, lavender, pearls, seashells, rose quartz or any love crystals, your favourite jewellery
• your favourite divination tools
• circle casting tools
🕯️ The spell: 🕯️
🌸 First, cleanse the altar/area and tools your are working on. then cast your circle and light the candles and incense.
🌸 In your on words, invoke Aphrodite and welcome her to the circle
🌸 Tell her about yourself, likes/dislikes, favourite foods, hobbies, books.etc
🌸 You can ask her any questions with tarot cards, pendulums or any divination tools
🌸 When you are done talking give her the offerings raise them towards the sky and say: “ Goddess Aphrodite, i offer all to you, so mote it be.” And let yourself feel her energy around you.
🌸 You can close the circle and let the incense burn til the end and thank her. You can do some devotional acts to her such as: take a rose bath/shower, eat some sweets, research on her, meditate with a rose quartz.
🌸 Signs you will see her are: her entering your dreams, pictures of her in random places (on newspapers, signboard, statues etc.), doves flying, roses everywhere you walk, finding wild strawberries and bees, having the urge to visit the beach, craving for apples or sweets, feeling a random gentle press on your body, mysterious sweets smells, roses on the beach, finding a certain same shell multiple times during a visit to the beach, noticing that everyone you know will be slightly be kinder towards you, receiving chocolates from friends💕
💗 Happy casting! Feel free to ask me any questions! 💗
🖕🏻💔 Radfems/terfs DO NOT reblog/like 🖕🏻💔
🌠 Reblog to attract wealth and abundance 🌠
I attract all good fortune.
🧿🏹🔮🙏🏽💸💕🏡✨👩🏽🦱🧑🏽✨🏡💸💕🙏🏽🔮🏹🧿
You attract luck. You are affluent. You are safe. You are loved. You are everything. All good comes your way, period.
likes to charge, reblogs to cast.
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blessed be, bb 💕✨
Banishing Nasty Spirits
If you’ve been following this series of posts, you know why a witch might work with spirits, how to establish a relationship with a spirit, and how to communicate with spirits. What we haven’t yet discussed is how to get rid of spirits that are bothersome, annoying, or malevolent.
I was planning to talk about pathworking and astral travel before getting into banishing, but in light of some asks I recently received on Tumblr, I think it’s important that we take a moment to discuss how to get rid of spirits that, for whatever reason, you don’t want around.
There are lots of reasons you might not want a spirit in your space. Just like with people, some spirits just aren’t a good fit for you and your practice. Part of being a spirit worker is cultivating a “spirit team” of beings that you can have healthy and beneficial relationships with.
Some spirits are mischievous and like to cause trouble. If you find yourself on the receiving end of lots of spirit pranks, you may want to gently encourage them to move along. And there are some spirits out there who just genuinely hate humans and will go out of their way to cause mental, emotional, and even physical harm.
Don’t get me wrong — malevolent spirits aren’t common. In my experience, the vast majority of unwanted spirits are more annoying than dangerous. I’m not saying this to scare you or make you paranoid. But these things do exist, and it would be negligent of me not to mention them in a series on spirit work.
There’s a reason that one of the most common truisms in witchcraft is, “Never conjure something you can’t banish.” If you’re going to be working with spirits, it’s a good idea to know how to banish them just in case. With that being said, here’s how you can clear out any nasties that may be lingering in your space.
Cleansing
The first step is to kick those unwanted spirits out of your space. There are lots of ways to do this, so choose the one that is the best fit for you.
Cleansing with fire and smoke is a very old and very simple method. If this is the way you decide to go, there are several magical substances you can burn to banish spirits. Burning sulfur or asafetida will clear out just about anything, but they both smell awful and are potentially toxic, so you’ll want to get an okay from the other people living in your home, burn a little at a time, and make sure you have lots of windows open. (Some people say sulfur and asafetida will banish all spirits, not just the unfriendly ones, so you may have to invite your spirit team back in later.) For something that smells a little more pleasant, you can try a mix of frankincense and myrrh resin, or burn a mix of dried rosemary, sage (garden sage, not endangered white sage, please!), and bay leaves — but again, make sure you have windows open, because these get smoky. Plus, you want the windows and/or doors open so the spirits have somewhere to go when the smoke chases them out.
If smoking up your living space isn’t an option for you, you can manually clean your space with a wash or powder. If you have hardwoods, you can make a floor wash with water, salt, lemon juice, rosewater, lavender essential oil, and either bay laurel or rosemary essential oil. (This is adapted from an uncrossing bath in the book Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison.) Use this mixture to mop your floors, as well as to wipe down your walls and furniture. If you have a humidifier or essential oil diffuser, diffusing some of this mix would also be a good idea.
If you have carpet, you can make a powder by combining salt, dried lemon peel, dried roses, lavender flowers, and bay leaves. You’ll need to ground this really fine, so I recommend using a coffee grinder or food processor. Sprinkle the powder on your carpet, let it sit for a few minutes, and then vacuum it up. I would supplement this by also diffusing a mix of saltwater with rosewater, lemon juice, and lavender and/or bay laurel essential oil. If you don’t have a diffuser, at least sprinkle some saltwater around the room and on your belongings.
No matter which form of cleansing you decide to use, it’s important to verbally state your intention to banish these unwanted spirits from your space. Tell them out loud that they are no longer welcome here and that they need to leave. Don’t be rude about it, but be firm and speak clearly and with confidence.
After you cleanse your space, it’s a good idea to cleanse yourself as well to remove any psychic ties to the spirits you’ve just banished. The easiest way to do this is with a ritual bath. The floor wash recipe mentioned earlier can also be used as a psychic cleansing bath. Other options include a bath with salt, frankincense, and myrrh or a bath with salt, rosemary, sage, and bay laurel. You can use essential oils for your bath, or add the resins and herbs to a cheesecloth bag and drop it into the tub for easy diffusing and cleanup.
If you don’t have a bathtub, you can cleanse yourself in the shower. Place two cups of salt in a bowl. Add lemon juice, rosewater, lavender essential oil, and either bay laurel or rosemary essential oil. If you don’t have essential oils, you can add dried lavender and crushed bay leaves. Add some of your favorite body wash to create a scrub (if you don’t have body wash, use olive oil). While in the shower, use this mixture to scrub your skin — visualize yourself scrubbing away any psychic gunk you might have picked up.
Protection
Once you’ve removed any unwanted spirits from your space, you want to lay down some protection to keep them from coming back. There are as many ways to ward off spirits as there are witches, but here are a few ideas to get you started.
One option is to create a ward. You can do this by anointing the door frames, door knobs, and window frames of your home with a protective oil blend and/or by creating lines of salt across your doorways and just inside your windows. You can use other protective substances if you prefer. As you lay down these protections, visualize a protective shield around your home, and speak aloud your intention to keep harmful spirits out.
Iron is said to repel spirits. Keep a railroad spike or other large piece of iron under your bed to prevent nightmares and to keep spirits from messing with you while you sleep. There’s an old superstition that says that hammering iron nails into the four corners of your home protects it from spirits — this may not be possible if you’re renting, but you can create a similar effect by displaying a piece of iron in each of the four corners of your home. Hematite is a crystal that is high in iron, so it can be used in a similar way to ward off spirits.
Aloe is said to protect from negative spirits, and to bring protection and good luck more generally. It’s also a common house plant that is easy to care for, so this method of protection is especially great for witches who need to keep their practice a secret. Keep several aloe plants in your home to protect those who live there.
For witches with a crafty side, making a witch bottle is another option for protection. There are lots of different recipes for witch bottles, but the basic method is to fill a bottle with sharp objects, add something from your body, and hide it somewhere outside your home (traditionally buried on the property, but leaving it in an outbuilding works just as well). The idea is that any nasty spirit that comes looking for you will be attracted to the bottle (because it contains part of your body), get caught by the sharp objects, and be trapped. To create a simple witch bottle, fill a mason jar about halfway with sewing pins, then add a bit of your hair and some of your fingernail clippings, and finally fill it with liquid (traditionally, this liquid is your own urine, but if that makes you uncomfortable vinegar will also work). If you want, you can also include some of your favorite banishing herbs, resins, or crystals.
Religious symbols can also keep nasty spirits away. If you identify strongly with a religion, display protective symbols from that faith in your living space. For example: a Christian witch might hang up a crucifix or set out a statue of Archangel Michael, a Norse pagan witch might hang up an image of Mjolnir, a Hindu witch might display a statue of Durga, etc. Sometimes the most effective way to keep nasty spirits away is to let them know that you’re under the protection of someone more powerful.
When dealing with unwanted spirits, the most important thing to remember is that you do not need to be afraid. You are a powerful witch, and you are more than capable of getting rid of them. Be confident in your abilities and know that whatever happens, you can handle it.
Resources:
Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon
A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin
Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison
Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler
So I found this caterpillar on my way to class
We’re bros
✧ *.🎃Samhain Solitary Rituals🎃*✧
As the air grows cooler and the winds begin to howl and rip the dead leaves from trees, we know the veil is thin and Samhain is near! After the equinox, which was equal parts night and day, Samhain marks the time of the wheel that we descend into the darker half of the year. It’s this time of the year that communication and connection to the spirit world is a lot easier and we’ve grown accustomed to making wards to protect the home from malevolent energy in the form of jack o lanterns and lights. On a positive note it is a time to leave out treats and foods for passed away loved ones and to remember them. It’s the final harvest full of well spiced comfort autumn foods as well as a ‘New Year’ since it’s a sabbat that honors the natural cycle of death and sees it as a form of transformation.
A lot of us witches practice alone and have our own solitary rituals for each sabbat that we observe (or the ones we’ve created just for ourselves that we observe alone!) Like any solitary eclectic witch I do things my own different way but some of these things might line up with others practices. I do refer to some of the equinoxes/solstices/crossquarters by their celtic sabbat names but I celebrate them in a secular animist way and treat the wheel of the year I celebrate as more of an argrarian cycle and celebrating nature. I use sabbat names as a point of reference and also people that do celebrate these witches sabbats more traditionally might find value in my personal practice! Here is my personal correspondences post and my personal samhain tag!
When I am alone and casting spells a lot of it is visualization/intent so my solitary rituals are more like activities I like to do then specifically casting a spell. If I am doing a spell with an activity based on it a lot would be listening to music to get in the mood and focusing on a candle while visualizing for a period of time! Eves are also important to my celebration as I like to stay up until midnight and cast a spell then!
Hallow’s Eve
Tuesday October 31st 2017
Dressing up in your most witchiest Ok every year I’m a witch, whether it’s just a lazy witch in my black clothing or an over the top kitschy witch with colorful hair and electric colored make up, but I just like to have these looks casually on Halloween day cause its amazing and a chance for me to be myself!
Pumpkin Carving! If you haven’t already tonight is definitely the night for pumpkin carving! Write sigils inside your pumpkin for protective magic. I love this DIY for a pumpkin indoor lantern cause it shows how to rub spices like cinnamon and nutmeg inside to achieve that sent of pumpkin pie in the home. Use electric candles instead of flame if you want it to last the night since the flame’s heat will cook the pumpkin.
Mini Pumpkin Tea lights Also an easier alternative to carving if you don’t have much time. Even gutting the mini pumpkins takes a lot of time for me but doing so and filling them with a black tea light will make an excellent centerpiece either for your altar or feast table!
Making Candy Apples I associate candy coated sweet red apples with halloween (and caramel/maple sugar on granny smith for mabon) and I love how you can make the candy various colors like a poisonous black or vibrant blood red!
Setting sweets aside for spirits So everyone has spirits that chill with them and it would be great to show appreciation for the positive spirits that surround you. Set some sweets on a dish and make a tiny altar for them in your space.
Enjoying sweets while doing crafts! Enjoy some of that halloween candy for yourself! My favorite treats on this night are chocolate coated donuts, reeses cups, cider sugar donuts, red licorice and apple cider.
Watching a spooky or Halloween themed movie Or halloween themed film. My favorite will always be the 80s halloween special The Worst Witch with Tim curry. I watch it religiously.
Spirit Contact I wouldn’t suggest using an Ouija board or doing any communication with spirits if you have never had experience. They can be rude and harass you, YET if you are experienced and know how to guard yourself, then this is a great night to play with an ouija board! (PS I think Ouija Girl has a great informative blog about working with ouija boards. Here is her FAQ page. But still, it’s always better to do work with a medium or someone with experience than trying to figure it out alone). A safer experience for someone with no spirit communication experience is attending a seance! In NYC there are a few mediums that hold seances monthly. I love the one at Catland in Brooklyn, the mediums that host the event there are fantastic. It might be hard to attend an authentic one on Halloween night since a lot of people will want to just try to cash in on creating a 'spooky’ experience, but if you really want, try to get in contact with mediums and ask if they host any seance events. Important to know: usually the spirits that chill around you are guides and family and they might have more info to give you then you might be ready for. My first seance I really don’t know what to do with the info given to me but I really hope I make the best of it and don’t mess anything up.
Witches Flight This is like an extension of the previous point where if you have never done this before just completely disregard this suggestion cause flying is dangerous. For many years witches have flown on Halloween night to other realms using flying ointments.
Protective Magic: Finally, protect yourself from the high spirit activity with crystals like black tourmaline, obsidian and spirit quartz. Do protective spells for any cats you see or live with especially black cats since they tend to be targets.
Midnight Spell:
This sabbat honors the natural cycle of death and transformation. Focus on what you want to transform in your life. Magic on this night is very powerful so think about it before hand and make sure it is what you want for if you ask to transform something, you might find a lot of endings that suddenly occur in your life to lead to the transformations that you want. (There was a conversation on here I can no longer find but it was put really nicely that death is not just some simple 'transformative’ process it can be very drastic, often very uncomfortable and if you are not ready though you ask for something to change, you might not be ready for the new obstacles that will be thrown at you. Just know that you will be ready for what you ask for.)
Some spell activities can be shuffling the deck visualizing what you want to change and then finding the death card and seeing the card that follows will be your answer to seek how you can further bring that transformation closer.
I’m a mixologist and enjoy working with liquor for rituals. I find fire to be a great transformer yet instead of burning something I prefer blessing a shot of whiskey or absinthe with my intent then taking it like liquid fire to transform me within. If you do not like alcohol or can not drink it for whatever reason you can perform this with hot apple cider instead!
Samhain Day
Wednesday, November 1st 2017
Upon the day I like to dress in complete black. My makeup is very dark and I wear long black dresses and veils. Depending on how you want to honor the dead, dress how you wish.
Gravesweeping Visit your loved ones on this day and leave flowers and gifts on their grave! If you want you can also visit any cemetery, yet make sure to practice good graveyard etiquette. Leave a penny by the gate, do not sit or lean on any tomb stones, of course don’t take anything from a grave. Be respectful of those whom are resting.
Close Your Garden This is a time to close the garden for the winter to come. Harvest the last fruits and herbs and bring in any delicate potted plants within the home.
Shadow Work Especially if you are looking to transform some aspect of your life this is a great time to do shadow work and look within if you are creating any obstacles for yourself. Get to know your shadow self, get to solve problems together. This is also an excellent day for divination and scrying.
Meditation and Energy Work by the base of a tree I love to do energy work on the days of the sabbats yet as the earth grows colder, the roots dig deeper and the world goes into hibernation. Sit at the base of a tree preferably with thick roots and feel it’s connection to the cold earth beneath you. Dig into yourself and see what needs to rest and what needs to be healed.
Evening Celebratory Feast
So in many practices people like to host a dumb supper but instead I like to have a lively feast where everyone will share a story about someone they loved that passed away or a story of an ancestor in their family. At the end of each tale we toast our glasses to them! (And pour a little bit of drink to them or set aside a snack if they are not into alcohol.)
Hold a feast of rich comfort foods that are spiced and sweet like sweet potato mash, candied brown beans, pumpkin bread, smokey bourbon pulled pork or maple glazed beef brisket, roasted carrots and beets and (I personally love to make baked mac and cheese but its a fall comfort soul food for me). My Samhain feast is abundant with fall soul foods and sweet roots and spices. (here is a fantasy feast post and my personal feast post from last year)
If you are alone (as this is a solitary post), make a few fall dishes you deeply enjoy or cook the favorites of loved relatives that have passed away, eat some sweets and set out some offerings to passed away loved ones.
A Simple Samhain Rite for Small Groups
My candlelight vigil continues on! I often take the time during this night to research, take notes, or write up rites, spells, and rituals.
Later today, I will be meeting with some friends and coven sisters for a simple Samhain rite and lunch. As I usually do, I have written up the rite to be open for multiple faiths given that there is quite a bit of diversity in the group.
Whether you are celebrating with a coven, or with a couple of friends, I would like to offer this simple rite as inspiration for your workings! The italicized paragraphs are for reading or paraphrasing aloud, while the rest are the guidelines for performing the rite. Enjoy! Simple Samhain Rite for 2017 Materials: -Incense (Frankincense/Myrrh; Dragon’s Blood; Palo Santo -Candle (Black or White), carved and dressed -Offering for the Dead (Drink and Food) -Paper, Writing Utensil -Cauldron (for burning paper) -Matches or lighter -Flowers for the Departed (Optional) 1) Set up altar, cleanse space, cast circle as needed. Arrange flowers and decorations as is aesthetically pleasing. On this day of Samhain, we gather in the presence of spirits seen and unseen. The veil between worlds is thin, and we can feel winter on the horizon. Today, we gather to honor those we love, who have already passed beyond the veil. They have helped shape who we are, inspiring us and caring for us in life, and leaving us with memories that will continue caring for us until it is our time to part from this world. We are united in that we have experienced grief. We have and still do feel the pain of loss, sometimes years after our loved ones have passed. But amid the pain, we rejoice, knowing that they have merely transformed and gone on to the next life, watching over us from the afterlife of their respective faiths. Even amid the last breath of summer, we know that the world must die before being reborn in spring, and so we acknowledge that life is a cycle - that death is merely a process of rebirth. 2) Light candle.
With the lighting of this candle, we remember our ancestors, friends, and loved ones. May their love continue to light our paths even in the darkest of times.
3) Raise offerings. It is a Samhain tradition to offer food and drink to the departed. It is a Celtic tradition meant to provide some spiritual sustenance to the recently departed so as to give them strength for their journey into the afterlife. This tradition is shared also in the offering of food during Dia de los Muertos and other honorary rites and holidays.
May this food and drink nourish our visitors, and may it be blessed for all who partake. So Mote It Be.
4) Scatter and pour offerings, and share some portions with those who would like to partake.
5) Distribute paper and writing utensils.
Samhain is a celebration of the last harvest. Over the past year, we have all gained blessings, large and small, in abundance. We have worked hard, and reap the benefits before the sun disappears for the winter. As we thank our respective deities for their part in bringing gifts and blessings into our lives, may we look ahead to the new year.
These pieces of paper shall serve as our petitions - our requests and prayers for our growth in the coming year. As we write our hopes, goals, and desires, may we hold the image of us attaining such joys in our minds, knowing that the joys are not only just within reach - they are already on their way.6) Write petitions on papers, fold, and burn in the cauldron. With our offerings made, we set our desires into motion. By our wills, so mote it be.
At this time, may we take a moment of silence for those who have passed, and share memories if desired.
7) After moment of silence and sharing of memories, return to candle.
We thank the spirits seen and unseen which have joined us this day. May our hearts be full of love and joy. Blessings did we receive, and blessings do we give. Love is the law and love is the bond, so mote it be!
8) Open circle, clean up, and ground.
Samhain🍂🎃
It feels like just yesterday I was writing my post on Mabon, but Samhain is almost here already! I’ve been having a pretty tough time lately, with quite a lot going on that started around Mabon. I’m excited for Samhain, for new beginnings.
Here is a compilation of info on Samhain from my Book of Shadows!
🍂Date: October 31st, the same day as Halloween! This is the halfway point between the Autumn equinox and the Winter solstice.
🍂Basics: The veil between the spirit world and the physical world is the thinnest on Samhain. In the traditional Wiccan religion, the Goddess is going to the land of the dead, where she will be with the dying God. The dying God represents the Earth during the autumn season, beginning to die off in preparation for the winter. She opens the door to the world of the dead, which is why the veil is the thinnest during this time. Samhain is the third and final harvest festival, signaling the end of the lighter part of the year.
🍂Reflect on: With the thinning of the veil, this is the best time of the year to reflect on ancestry and those who came before you. Give thanks for the sacrifices of your ancestors, and the witches that came before you. The Wheel of the Year is coming to an end. Reflect on the past year and all of the good and bad that has come with it, knowing even the bad parts are important to your growth in the end.
🍂Corresponding herbs and foods: Rosemary for healing, good health, and help with memory. Sage for purification, spirituality, and cleansing. Mugwort for divination and spirit work, insight, and ancestral connection. Apples for protection. If you cut an apple in half, you’ll see 5 seeds symbolizing the protective pentacle. Pumpkins are also used for protection, carve faces into them and place them in front of your house to ward off evil spirits.
🍂What to do:
Visit a graveyard. Honor ancestors, even if they’re not directly related to you. Clean up unattended graves and talk to the people resting there! Leave small offerings to show your appreciation for the people that came before you.
Samhain is the best time for divination, making this a great time for tarot, runes, scrying, and more.
Spend time outside, observe the beauty of the fallen leaves and enjoy the harvest season before it passes!
Celebrate life! Trick or treat with your family, go to a party, enjoy being alive. Honor the dead by living your life to the fullest!
🍂What I’m doing: I don’t really know my plans yet, but I will be spending lots of time with friends and family! I’ll be doing a Samhain ritual for sure, giving thanks for the year and honoring ancestors. Since Samhain falls on Halloween, I’ll be celebrating that as well! I’ll dress up and probably go to a Halloween party. I’ll be celebrating Samhain throughout the week it falls in, just to make sure I can do everything I want to! I’ll definitely visit a graveyard and do lots of divination and spirit work!
Thank you so much for reading! Have a blessed Samhain and October!
Sources: Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials: Samhain
remember.
Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits
Reblog this on the first of the month for good luck all month long!
I wonder why each little bird has a someone to sing to
i got a few requests for a companion piece to the gifts of beauty and song, my retold sleeping beauty fairytale, so here you go
so maleficent is the good fairy here, right, and the three fairies are the bad ones, so like fae do they each appear to be what they’re not. and aurora, given fae gifts and raised by fae, is nearly fae herself. maleficent knows that only an elf could hope to sway a fae heart, because elves are impervious to their glamour. maleficent kidnaps the young prince philip, and brings him to the elven realm. she tries to bargain a prince for a prince, but the king is unswayed. a human prince, he declared, is only worth an elvish servant, so that’s what she gets.
maleficent takes the servant and puts him in philip’s place, gives him that name, and watches as the servant elf is made a prince among mortals, watches as he eventually captures aurora’s heart, and saves her from her living death. watches as the elf servant turned prince becomes a king, as the almost-fae princess aurora becomes queen, and their two kingdoms become one and they rule the land of men together.
this, of course, begs the question – what happens to our dear human philip?
he is not the first child that has been bargained away to the elves, and elf queen thalia settles the young boy on her hip and raises an eyebrow at her husband, waiting. the child awakens by degrees, until he’s clutching her neck and blinking at the gathered elves. thalia is only grateful that he hasn’t started screaming, like so many of his kind do.
normally the children that are bargained to them are put to work in the castle, where they’re safe, where their clumsiness and their ignorance and their mistakes will be glossed over, where she and the king will ensure they will be politely ignored rather than harassed. they’ve lost a servant boy, and so she’s sure a servant boy is what this young human is meant to become.
except a woman of the court steps forward, and she’s old, old enough that it shows, that her curly hair has gone silver and wrinkles are etched deep in her face. lady ember is older than the forests they reside in, is older than her grandmother, than her great grandmother. everyone’s lost track of her exact age, but she’s the oldest elf in village. thalia likes her – she and lady ember have skin of the same dark shade. thalia hopes that if she is to live long enough, she and lady ember would look alike.
“i would like the child,” she says, eyes like amber, and for the moment she appears younger than she ever has. there’s something eager in her, and it brings a life to her that thalia hasn’t seen in a long time.
thalia looks to her husband, and king celedor gives a minuscule twitch to his lip which is an equivalent to a shrug. she sets the young human on the ground, and ember holds out a single hand. the child looks behind him, then in front him, and takes cautious steps forward. he steps until he can take her hand, his own looking small and pale in hers. “it’s been a long time since i was able raise a child,” ember says, “i would like to do so again. will you come home with me?”
and thalia understands. elf children take many hundreds of year to mature, and ember would not risk dying on a child before it could take care of itself. but humans are candles that burn at both ends – hot, and fast. within a decade or two the child in front of them will be able to survive on his own, will not need lady ember to coddle him for centuries.
he nods, and finally opens his mouth to say, “i am philip.”
“hello philip,” lady ember smiles, “i am lady ember of the mother tree. now you are lord philip of the ember tree.”
they are elves. they don’t do something as gauche as gasp, but the sentiment comes out just the same. celedor’s mouth drops open a millimeter and thalia’s right index finger twitches. raise a human child like a beloved pet they could all understand – but to adopt one, to truly adopt one that she’d just met and didn’t know and bequeath to him the estate and title the noble name of the mother tree?
lady ember leads her new son away, and the gathered elves can do nothing but stare.
~
prince elion – eli, to everyone who doesn’t want the prince of the elves nursing a personal grudge against them – comes home in the dead of night, when he can slip past the guards and the fawning people on the street and sneak into the royal quarters.
“mother,” he greets as he enters the library. his father sleeps early, but his mother doesn’t go to bed until nearly dawn. he kneels by her side, and she runs a hand through his hair, tugging the leather tie off when it gets in her way. his mass of dark curly hair tumbles around his head, and as he shakes it out leaves other debris fall out. thalia sighs, but doesn’t remark on it.
“your hunt went well?” she asks, although she knows the answer. eli is one of the best hunters in the kingdom, and his hunting parties – comprised of the strongest and best among the noble families – are notoriously profitable.
he grins, teeth extra white against his skin, “of course, mother. did anything interesting happen while i was away?”
“the faerie maleficent came and bargained away a human prince,” she says, “she wanted you in return. your father gave her a servant boy instead.”
eli laughs, too loud and boisterous, in a way he would never allow himself to laugh around his father or his subjects.
~
philip thinks perhaps he should be screaming, or crying, or causing some sort of fuss about this new life and this old woman who insists she’s his mother now. but he’s never had a mother before, and this new place is beautiful. they live in palace carved out of an enormous tree – the mother tree that their name comes from – and philip is given a lot more freedom as an elf lordling than he was as a prince.
he hopes the boy who took his place is nice to his father, and doesn’t mind long evenings with only the servants for company. being a prince can be very lonely. he knows from experience.
ember gives him rooms and toys, but warns him that he has a lot of work ahead of him. as a human, he’s at a severe disadvantage here at the elf court. elves are faster than humans, stronger and smarter and wiser. “it sounds to me,” philip says, “that maybe they’re just older. if i had hundreds of years, I could be all those things too.” ember’s eyes crinkle at the corners when she smiles, and he returns it.
philip knows hard work. he was set to rule a whole nation, was set to lead whole armies. he knows training and learning and patience. learning to become an elf lord seems like it will be a lot easier than being a human king.
lady ember and her servants are harsh, but fair. in their home, in the mother tree, he is a pampered lord. out of it, however – he acquires many scars from training, from falling and failing. ember and her staff run him ragged into the ground, because he must be able to keep up with elves.
they have hundreds and hundreds of years to practice, to become strong and smart and fast. philip doesn’t have that long, so his mother forces him to do more, train harder, learn faster than would be expected of any elf.
so he learns. the first time he beats his trainer at an archery competition, he feels a swell of pride like nothing he’s felt before. as he inches his way to the level of his teachers, and then surpasses them, the feeling stays.
they’ve always been kind to him. but as his skill grows, they come to respect him, and that’s far more valuable.
~
eli hears of the human that lady ember of the mother tree took as her own – of course he does, it’s all anyone can talk about. but he doesn’t actually get a chance to see the boy, because lady ember keeps him safe on her lands, in her tree that none of them dare trespass on. so he assumes, like many, that she keeps him coddled and safe, away from those who would seek him harm, away from a world that would seek him harm.
then, two decades from when she gave young philip her name, lady ember finds him at court. she tilts her head, and he bows. he may be higher in rank, but he was raised to respect his elders, and lady ember is certainly that. “prince eli,” she says, “your next hunt is coming up, isn’t it?”
“yes, my lady,” he answers, wondering if she has a request. he doesn’t mind tracking down a certain type of meat or pelt for her – he likes the challenge, and likes lady ember.
she smiles at him, and for some reason he feels as if he’s staring into the jaws of a dragon. “excellent. might my son join you? he grows bored of hunting on his own.”
the last thing in the world eli wants to do is keep an eye on a bumbling, spoiled human. but this human is also the lord of the mother tree, and he can think of no response that wouldn’t bring his mother’s wrath down on his head. “of course, lady ember.”
Keep reading
🐇 Eros Deity Information 💘
Eros
Modern - Cupid (Cherub)
Blindfolded - ‘Love is blind,’
•Figures of 3
•Eros
•Himeros
•Pothos
Son of
•Aphrodite & Ares
•Possibly just Aphrodite’s servant
•Isis & Zephyrus
•Nyx & Erebus
•Gaia & Tartarus
•Poros & Penia
•Aphrodite’s birthday
•Chaos
God of
•Love
•Lust
•Hetero
•Protector
•Homo
•Protector
•Fertility
•Athleticism
•Sexual Power
•Art
Family
•Wife
•Psyche
•Brother
•Anteros
•Daughter
•Hedone
Ancient
Spring festival (w/ Aphrodite)
4th day of every month (dedication)
•Offerings
•Plants & flowers
•Oils
•Wine
•Jewelry
•Sacrifices
•Personal objects
•Candles
•Shadow work
Offerings
•Fruit
•Apples
•Grapes
•Quince
•Pears
•Flower/plants
•Roses
•Lilies
•Clover
•Myrtle
•Sandalwood
•Symbolism
•Rabbits
•Bow & arrows
•Rams
•Torches
•Doves
•Eggshells (fertility)
•Shells
•(Pink) Stones/gems
•Rose quartz
•Morganite
•Pink petrified wood
•Drawings
•Sweets
•Tea
•Food
•Chocolate
•Candies
•Devotion - Love
•Relationship exploration
•Recounting old love
•Shadow work
•Winged sandals
•Palm branch
•Copper
•Colors
•Red
•Pink
•Gold
•Silver
•Cinnamon
•Vanilla
•Candles
•Fruity
•Floral
•Pink
•Sweet
•Personal
•Alter/shrine
•Playlist
•Archery
•Lyre
Aphrodite Sex Life Hyperboost Spell
This spell is intended to give your sex life a temporary boost, perfect for getting out of a slump or making a special night even more passionate. You can do the spell with or without calling on Aphrodite to help you, but in my experience she’s great at helping out if you’re open to it.
So here’s what you need: A red rose, hung and dried A taper candle, black white or red (red if you’re looking for pure passion, white for innocence in love, and black for strength and risk) A dish for burning Disk charcoal and sand (optional but useful)
If you’re going to be calling on Aphrodite: A pink birthday sized candle Prayer (which can be as formal as you’d like) Offering and dish
Open the ritual how you normally would, with your Rose and burning materials on hand. You’re either going to burn the rose by holding it over a candle or placing it on a charcoal disk. Open the ritual and begin burning. As you burn the rose, focus your intentions on what you want to happen with with the boost to your sex life. When the rose is burned all the way, grind the ashes and scatter them outside, saving just a bit of them to wear on your person, or spread around your bed frame. If you’re calling on Aphrodite for this spell, then while the Rose and candle burn, light your small pink candle and pour out your offering. Add your prayer to Aphrodite along with your intentions for the spell and there you go
Some examples of offerings are fresh rose petals, wine, honey, tea, chocolate, or even something like conversation hearts or seashells
This spell is pretty straight forward and flexible, but in my experience it works like lighting both for bringing opportunities for new partners and spicing up existing relationship. I wanted to share it because I’ve had a 100% success rate with it, so here you go lovelies, I wish you lots of love and a beautiful day. 💖
BIG OL WITCHY MASTER LIST
POSTS BY ME ARE ITALICIZED!
This is by no means completed, up-to-date, or the only way you can view or perceive witchcraft. These are just some posts, found on my blog, put together in a list for easier access.
This is also being updated as I go through my archives, and whats on the list as of [Sept 22nd, 2018] is from start - August 2018. This list will be updated as often and as quick as I can possibly manage.
I PREVIOUSLY HAD MY DAILY WITCH TIPS ON HERE, I DELETED THAT SEGMENT.
This isn’t really as organized as I would like it, but I broke it down into categories and alphabetical order such as:
Moon Shit:
2017 Lunar Calendar
August 2018 Lunar Schedule
Full Moons Of The Year
Lunar Eclipse Dates
Lunar Phases
Magick Of The Moon Phases
Moon Magic
Moon Magic Grimoire
Moon Phase Runes
Top Stargazing Events of 2018
Herb Shit:
5 Herbs Every Witch Should Have In Their Garden
Anti-Anxiety Herbs
Big Witchy Guide On Herbs And Flowers
Dangerous Herbs
Gardens Of The Witches
Herb Masterpost
Herbs For Hexing
Herbs For Protection
Indoor Plants For The Space Conscious Witch
Poisonous Herbs
Reasons Herbs May Not Work
Sacred Herbs Of The Gods
Top 10 Magical Herbs
Crystal Shit:
Crystals Every Witch Should Have
Gems For Depression
Taking Care Of Your Crystals
Emoji Spells Shit:
Easy Sleep
Spells Shit:
4 Free Spells
A Method To Cleanse And Ward After Unsavory People Leave
Anti-Anxiety Charm
Anti-Anxiety Jar
Bad Habits Tarot Spread
Bad Luck
Bandage Sigils
Banishing Nightmares
Bath For Sunburns
Belladonna’s Spell Page
Celestial Nail Polish Magic
Change Your Luck
Crow Bone Hex
Curse A Bitch
Dreams and Nightmare Protection
Easy Cleansing Ritual
Elemental Ideas
Forest With Me
From My Grimoire
Glamour Enchanted Jewelry
Hail The Glow Cloud
Hex For 2017
Icelandic Staves
Increasing Emotional Tolerance
Lavender Self Love Jar
Love Enhancer
Love / Protection
Memory Aid
Mermaid’s Breath
New Year Purification Bath
Peppermint Spell
Recharging
Return To Sender
Ritual For Positive Thoughts
Ritual Of Gratitude
Self Love And Healing Jar
Seven Useful Powder Spells For Every Occasion
Sew Closed Your Heart
Simple Protection
Simplicity
Sleep Spells And Sigils
Steps To Strengthen A Romantic Relationship
Stop Nightmares
Using Glitter In Spells
Ward Types and Components
Warmth In Winter
Advice Shit:
10 Common Misconceptions of Baby Witches
10 Daily Witch Things
10 Plants To Survive A Zero Sunlight Bedroom
10 Terms Every New Witch Should Know
26 Activities To Help Your Mind, Body, And Soul
A Collection Of Witch Tips
A Long List Of Ways To Spiritually Protect Yourself
Astral Temple Meditation
Aura / Energy Colors & Meanings
A Secret Witches Guide To Concealing Your Craft
Back To School Magic
Basics Of Kitchen And Cottage Witchcraft
Beginner Masterlist
Beginner Witchcraft
Being A Witch
Blood Magic
Breaking Astrology Down
Candle Uses & Meanings
Charging/Activating Sigils
Cosmic Witch Masterpost
Daily Witchcraft
Discreet Little Witchy Things
Discreet Witchcraft
Earth Element Correspondents
Enchanting Items
Everyday Magic Is Easy
Faerie List
Fire Safety
Hearthandhold Reading List
How I Draw My Sigils
How Runes Work
How To Learn Witchcraft
How To Make Your Own Sigil
How To Use A Sigil Wheel
Imbolc
Incense Uses
Inexpensive/Free Witchcraft
Jarring Tips
Keeping Yourself Protected
Knot, Thread, and Cord Magic
Little Tips For The College Witch
Low Energy Tips
Magic For School/Education
Magical Herb
Modern Polytheism
Modern Witches
Modern Witches
My Advice For Baby Witches
New Witch Budget Tips
Nik’s Tips For Discreet Witchcraft
Reading Tea Leaves
Rose Water Is My Religion
Salt & Witchcraft
School / Work Grounding
Some Things To Track
So You Want To Talk To Spirits?
Spell Books
Stoner Witch Tips
Succulents
Tarot Cheat Sheet
Tech Witches
The Wiccan’s Glossery
There Comes A Time When You Need To Stop Researching And Just Practice
Tips For Discreet College Witches
Tips For Writing Incantations
Types Of Witches
Types Of Witches And Witchcraft
Understanding Concepts In Witchcraft
Urban Witch 101: House and Home
Violets Witchcraft Masterpost
Ways To Start Feeling Again
Water Magic
Witchcraft In The Shadows
Witchcraft PSA
Witch Resources
Witch Tips For City Witches
Witches With Depression
Witchling Endeavors
Witchy Grimiore Ideas
Witchy Podcasts
Witchy Tips
Recipe Shit:
Anti-Nightmare Pouch
Apple Cider Love Bringing
Black Salt
Budget Witch DIY
Calming Sugar Scrub
Charming Lip Balm
Cleansing And Calming Salt
DIY Gemstone Necklace
Drawing Out A Latent Talent Pouch
Drying Out Roses
Infused Water Magic
Milkshake Magic
Moon Spell Cakes
Moon Water
Peaceful Sleep Sachet
Potion For Sleep
Rose Water
Smoothie Potions
Soothing Dreams Sachet
Communication Shit:
Crystal Hand Of Prosperity
Dead Dash
Earth Witches Reblog…
Hey There
Like/Reblog if you…
Looking To Follow
Money Bear
Money Pentacle
Witchcraft Asks
Witches
Witches reblog if…
Witches Reblog If…
Witchy Asks
Wonderful Weekend
Manifesting 101
1. Know what you want: It doesn’t have to be super specific but it can be! Define the experience you want as much (or as little) as you want. This is just a mental activity, you can create a list if you want but it’s just to know what you want. Take it as a brainstorming session.
(Optional but in the long run will make things easier)
1.2 What’s holding you back?: Write every single reason why it couldn’t work, let it all out. Now realize this are stories, try to find their source (did your mother tell you so? Or maybe it’s because things like that don’t happen to people like you?) either way, it’s bullshit. Turn every limiting belief into an affirmation. Write them down, keep them on your phone and read them twice per day for a week (minimum). As you read them make sure to feel what you’re saying. This will help you to create new thought patterns.
2. Speak it into existence!: Now comes the fun part. How do you want to manifest it? Maybe script everything as you want it to happen, visualize your outcome, say “wouldn’t it be nice if…” and forget about it, play and pretend you already have it, do the 55x5 method or maybe the 2 cup method, create a vision board…the possibilities are endless and everything works as good! Choose the one that calls to you right now and put all your focus and energy into it. Make it fun, make it easy, there’s no way you can mess it up.
3. Let it come to you: As a lovely follower said the other day, your order is on its way! There’s no need to stress about when or how it will come. Just know that you said what you wanted and now it will find its way towards you. Think of it as an amazon package. When you keep refreshing the tracking page seems like it never arrives but if you keep doing your own things an enjoy your life then seems like that package came super quickly.
Now it’s time to enjoy your manifestation✨
♡🌊 overnight manifestation tip for water people 🌊 ♡
by water people, i am referring to poeple who feel a connection to water; ocean and seas or people who have water placements in their chart, this is for y’all mermaids! 💖💖💖
write down what you want to manifest on a piece of paper and draw a sigil if you want
then have your cup of water placed on top of the note with the intent of manifesting it
let it sit for the whole night, then drink it the first thing in the morning as you visualize or repeat in your mind that you’re manifesting your wish
<*)))<
The Great Smudge - Table Cat
Via Lancelot Falk
Herbs In Magic
Like always, I compared different sources and just added the most common meanings!
Anise : Happiness, Loyalty, Affection, Purification, Sleep, Meditation, Protection, Divination, Anti-Nightmare
Basil: Protection, Wealth, Love, Luck, Happiness, Banishing, Peace, Exorcism, Courage, Anti-Confusion, Anti-Fear
Bay: Healing, Protection, Success, Dreams, Wishes, Love, Luck, Wisdom, Purification, Divination, Consecration
Bergamot: Success, Protection, Memory, Sleep, Wealth
Catnip: Love, Luck
Chamomile: Love, Healing, Meditation, Wealth, Sleep, Anti-Stress, Relaxation
Chilli Pepper: Love, Hex/Curse Breaking, Fidelity
Cinnamon: Success, Healing, Luck, Wealth, Protection, Power, Love, Energy
Dill: Protection, Love, Money
Fennel: Protection, Healing, Purification, Love
Jasmine: Ideas, Sleep, Prophetic Dreams
Lavender: Sleep, Love, Purification, Protection, Healing, Happiness, Relaxation, Anti-Depression, Anti-Stress
Lemon Balm: Healing, Love, Success, Anti-Stress
Marigold: Prophetic Dreams, Protection, Love
Mint: Protection, Vitality, Energy
Mugwort (Careful, Poisoning!!): Lucid Dreams, Prophetic Dreams, Protection, Astral Projection, Healing
Nutmeg: Luck, Money
Peppermint: Prophetic Dreams, Love, Healing, Beauty, Purification
Poppy Seeds: Love, Luck
Rosemary: Healing, Love, Protection, Purification, Vitality, Memory, Sleep, Exorcism
Sage: Purification, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection
Sandalwood: Exorcism, Healing, Protection
Thyme: Healing, Loyalty, Affection, Purification, Sleep, Love, Courage
Always inform yourself before you use anything, especially if you plan to eat it!!