Hit Me Up!!!

Too real! 😂😂

Behold! The accompanying tarot spread for the January Shadow Work Challenge. So if you don’t want to commit to the whole challenge, feel free to give this stand alone spread a go. Best wishes and happy new year!

Oracle Reading for 6-23-16 🔮🌕💜 Dawn: The light after the darkness. I love this card because it's about hope after a tough time. No matter how dark of a place you are in, there can always be hope on the other side. Don't lose sight of that. Don't give up. You can do it. You're a capable and beautiful soul, no matter where you are now. Halloween Oracle by Stacey Demarco.

{Here Be Faeries} by {Chuck Palmer}

It’s okay to not “dress like a witch”,  you are a witch, so you are dressed like one!

Sometimes spells don’t work, don’t get flustered, try again!

Not everybody in the community is nice and welcoming, hold your ground.

Find what path suits YOU, not your peers. 

Witchcraft is customisable to fit YOUR needs. 

Cursing is NOT a bad thing! 

Respect closed cultures always. 

You don’t have to be religious.

Witchcraft and Wicca are NOT synonymous! Witchcraft is a secular practice, Wicca is a religion completely unrelated. 

Remember to ground and cleanse every once and a while. 

Thank your tools occasionally. 

Witchcraft is not the solution to all of your problems.

Ingesting herbs can be dangerous at times, be careful. Especially if you take medication! 

You will not be able to control people, read minds, levitate, or use telekinesis. Those are all movie magic. 

Take everything with a large grain of salt. 

Read as much as you can, even the “bad” (cough silver ravenwolf) books, you can learn what not to do that way.

Avoid Silver Ravenwolf unless just reading for the meme.

You don’t have to keep up an edgy “witch” aesthetic, just be you!

There tends to be a lot of drama surrounding the witch community in particular, stay out of it.

STAY AWAY FROM PAGANSUNCENSORED.

You don’t have to do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing. 

Covens are NOT mandatory. 

There is no special ‘initiation’ to become a witch, you want to identify as a witch? You’re a witch! Just like magic.

Be careful of who you trust, just like any other community there are bad eggs who will try to hurt you. 

You don’t have to use divination to be a witch!

You don’t have to tell people you practice until you feel safe doing so, don’t feel rushed. 

RESEARCH, CROSS CHECK, THEN CHECK AGAIN! Never believe one source. 

Shielding and protection are important. 

Casting a circle is not necessary, it is a preference. 

People who have been practicing for longer than you will sometimes try to belittle you, do not believe them. You are just as much a witch as someone who has been practicing 20+ years, you’re just newer. 

DON’T LICK UNKNOWN ROCKS. Seriously, you could die. 

Using a ouija board is not going to summon a demon, but take the same precautions you would with any spirit work. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or ask someone to teach you something. 

Remember that you don’t have to be ONE type of witch, you can practice forty different types of witchcraft at one time if you want!

Charging your crystals gives them an extra boost and aids in magic. 

If you don’t want to use the title “witch”, you don’t have to. There are many, MANY other ways to say you like a little magic in your cereal. 

There are many ways to practice in secret, but make sure you’re safe in doing so. 

Burying jars is awful for the environment. Find biodegradable things to use instead!

Be careful if collecting graveyard dirt (or anything from a graveyard) - you can get into some pretty extensive trouble. 

Be cautious about using rusty nails. Always wear gloves.

Basic fire safety goes a LONG way. 

Your own intuition is one of your biggest tools, learn to use it well. 

Learn at your own speed!

Don’t use witchcraft in place of medical/psychiatric professional assistance. 

Working with Fae can be dangerous, make sure you know what you’re doing.

Research before doing something, common sense right? 

Familiars will not always be your pets, unfortunately. 

Working with spirits can be dangerous, take necessary precautions. 

Lemon water is probably the easiest way to cleanse, just be careful around crystals. 

You are valid as a witch, no matter if you’ve been practicing 20 minutes or 20+ years. You are awesome. 

Litha (Midsummer) General Guide

Also known as Midsummer, Litha is a celebration of the Summer Solstice. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, usually taking place on or around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere (December 21st in the Southern Hemisphere). Celebrations may begin on Midsummer’s Eve, which is a great time to gather herbs and flowers. In ancient times, the Summer Solstice was a time of great importance for many cultures, often marked with the burning of bonfires. The Summer Solstice marks the sun at the peak of its power and the beginning of the waning year.

Many neo-pagans incorporate the dying vegetation god theme into their rites and celebrations. At this time, the Oak King (god of the waxing year) gives way to the Holly King (god of the waning year). In this tradition, the two sides of nature and ourselves are honored, the light and the dark shadow self. The Goddess is heavy with pregnancy at this time, and will give birth to the Horned God at the Winter Solstice.

Colors

Gold, green, blue, red, white, yellow, and orange

Flowers, Herbs and Scents

Daisies, honeysuckle, marigold, roses, sunflowers, foxglove, buttercups, anise, apple, basil, birch, carnation, chamomile, chicory, chickweed, cinquefoil, fennel, ferns, frankincense, parsley, galangal, heartease, heather, heliotrope, chives, hemp, feverfew, holly, ivy, chevril, laurel, lavender, lemon (lemon grass, lemon balm), citronella, lily, tarragon, mistletoe, mugwort (poisonous), nettle, oak, orchid, pine, rose, rowan, rue, saffron, sandalwood, St. John’s Wort, thyme, vervain, wisteria, wormwood, yarrow, ylang-ylang, peony, houseleek, sage, cedar, myrrh, mint

Food and Beverages

Citrus flavors, garden fresh vegetables and fruit, curries, peppers, onions, strawberries, summer squashes, tomatoes, honey, green/leafy salads, roasted or grilled chicken/fish/pork, blueberries, apples, carrots, carrot cake, cider, cream, honey cakes, lemons, honey, pumpernickel bread, mangoes, broccoli soup, tomatoe soup, zucchini, any sun-shaped/round foods (bread, tortillas, pizzas, etc). Drinks: herbal teas, ale, mead, iced tea, carrot juice, red wine, white wine

Symbols, Associations and Decorations

Fire, torches, summer flowers, images of the sun, sun wheels, sun wreaths, sundials, statues/depicitions of earth and solar deities, Fae, dried herbs, dried flowers, fire deities, fertility deities, seashells, potpourri, baskets of flowers/herbs/fruit/vegetables, candles, blades, daisy chains, flower crowns, stone circles, drums, rattles, other musical instruments, Witches’ Ladders, feathers, fireworks, fir wood, oak wood

Activities for Litha 

Lighting bonfires, bonfire leaping, processions, all night vigils, cooking, singing, feasting, herb/flower gathering and drying, crafting divining rods and wands, setting up altars, crafting protective amulets, handfastings and weddings, gathering of mistletoe in oak groves, picnicking, leaping between two fires, mistletoe (without berries, use as a protection amulet), enjoying the seasonal fruits and vegetables, richness and abundance, nature spirit/Fae communion, earth healing, divination, love and protection spells, re-dedication of faith, rites of inspiration, hiking and other outdoor activites

Crystals and Stones

All green stones (jade, malachite, emerald, green aventurine, etc), agate, Alexandrite, diamonds, clear quartz, Herkimer diamonds, fluorite, lapis lazuli, citrine, sunstone, carnelian, orange calcite, green calcite, fire agate, moonstone, pearls, tiger’s eye, yellow topaz, yellow tourmaline

Animals

Robins, wrens, hummingbirds, all summer birds, deer, fireflies, bees, dragonflies, horses, and cattle. Mythical creatures include satyrs, faeries, firebirds, dragons, thunderbirds, and manticores.

Spells and Rituals

The Summer Solstice is an excellent time for spells and rituals associated with prosperity, fertility, energy, love, protection, inspiration, good health, and healing. Many believe that it’s a good time to search for and honor the Fae.

Charm of the Oak

Charm for Safe Travels

Elemental Chant

To Attract Flower Faeries

Find a Fairy Spell

Energy Bath

Herbal Protection Bath

Pet Protection Spell

Prosperity Knot Spell

Love Cord Spell

Health and Vitality Spell

Calming Summer Rain Sachet

Other names and celebrations that mark the Summer Solstice: Midsummer, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Alban Hefin, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, Feast of Epona, All-Couple’s Day, and St. John’s Day

Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, Source 4  / Craft Ideas / Midsummer Cookie Recipe