Pendulums 🧵

by Olivia Au

Dear Diary,

Of all the coffee shops in all of New York City he had to walk into mine. It has been 8 years since I've seen him. 8 years and then he just strolls into my café with his beautiful eyes, strong jaw and charisma. And just like the last time he walked into my life I was just as taken and mesmerized by him. That was why I sent divorce papers and refused to see him after I left him. Then fate brings him right back into my life. Even if only for a moment. Now I need to read my cards and see what they have to say about all this. Consult the Goddess and see whh she would bring him back into my life.

Em

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been 8 years since she had seen that face, nothing had changed. Maybe there were a few a few wrinkles around his piercing deep brown eyes. Other than that, Logan seemed untouched by the hands of time. Ember peeked out at him from the kitchen of her café. He had only just walked in, she had known it was him by the sound of his voice. She herself had been baking in the back when he approached the counter to order. Not daring to show herself to him as he stood at the counter, she quickly messaged Piper at the counter that his food was on the house.

Now there she stood hair a mess, staring at the man she had fallen so deeply in love with ages ago. It felt like a lifetime had passed and yet as she stood there it felt as if she'd never left their apartment in LA. Straightening her hair a bit she tossed the apron she had been wearing to Piper. Making her way to the little nook he was tucked in. He was already on his third refill as she brought him a fourth and one for herself. Sitting it down on the table in front of him before she slipped into the across. Opening her mouth to speak she couldn't form the words, he was even more handsome than she remembered. Taking a sip of her coffee she waited for her courage to kick in.

As an agnostic modern witch, sometimes very old holiday traditions are hard to follow. I don’t have a patron deity or anything but I do still celebrate Christmas. So I put together a modern 12 day holiday guide so I can still celebrate the 12 days of Yule without having to try to cram everything in around my and my family’s work schedule. Now there are tons of ways to celebrate and tons of different traditions out there, so you can adapt this guide however you want.

Walk-A-Mile Hex

Call me old-fashioned, but I am a strong believer that curses inherently have the power to help as much as they have to harm. While witches have used them maliciously countless times, I prefer to learn towards curses that not only seek justice, but change ways. This is of the latter variety – meant not to damn (for the sole purpose of damnation), but to enlighten through disciplinary action. To force someone to see through the eyes of another, for the oppressor to feel his/her own oppression – to walk a mile in another person’s shoes. Hence the title: Walk-A-Mile.

Here I will present three variations to the hex, hopefully befitting a number of different circumstances, budgets and personal tastes.

Walk-A-Mile #1

This one is (objectively) the simplest of the three as far as supplies go, but is heavily reliant on the witch’s ability to acquiesce the foot-tracks of their victim and the power of time. I’ll be the first to note how difficult that can be at times – and one of the reasons I have created numerous variations to fulfill the same basic objective.

Things You Will Need:

Glass Bowl/Jar/Cup

(9) Nails – as per usual, iron being the best, but this one can be accomplished with any make

Dirt of the Foot-Track

Instructions:

Again, this one is quite simple – merely fill the glass vessel with the dirt. Optionally: add to this dirt Hoot Foot Powder, Goofer Dust or drizzle with your favorite crossing oil.

When the dirt has been added and lightly packed down, take the first of the nine nails (again, can be primed with an oil of your choosing) and drive it directly into the center of the dirt – naming your victim and whose misfortune you wish to inflict upon them.

This is where the process can get a little timely. Take one of the remaining 8 nails, driving one in every day for 9 days (the original nail being Day 1) – each time repeating the name of your victim and the misfortune. Ex. (Victim), take upon yourself the misery you have inflicted. When all the nails have been added, allow them to remain in the dirt for another 9 day period.

After the 18 day period, begin the last 9 days by removing one of the 9 nails each day – speaking something to the extent of: From your sorrows, you will grow. Each day, repeating the process until all 9 of the nails have been removed.

On the last day, return the foot-track from whence it came, sprinkle it on the land of the victim, or scatter on the pavement of a road. Ritually wash the nails so they might be reused or drive them into the earth of their property, where every day they might cross them as a reminder.

Walk-A-Mile #2

The process is relatively the same, but can be accomplished in a shorter period of time with a few added “ingredients.” This one also has the benefit of not requiring the foot-tracks of your victim, but a personal affect is still required.

Things You Will Need:

(1) Old Shoe – not your own, unless you seek to make them walk-a-mile in your shoes. I recommend a Goodwill or second-hand shop wherein you might find a cheap, old pair of shoes – just make sure to ritually cleanse them unless you want to risk dragging a stranger into the mix.

(9) Nails – iron or otherwise

A Hammer

The Shoe Laces or a length of string

A Personal Affect (or at least their name)

Instructions:

Begin by affixing the affect to the shoe in some way. For a name you need only write it on the shoe, some things work better stuffed inside, others are better held onto and affixed later. This is a decision that must be left to the witch cursing – it’s all a matter of taste.

Now, for the fun part. Turn the shoe upside down on a sturdy work surface (outside and on concrete probably being the best idea). Using the hammer, drive the first nail into the center of the sole. Depending on the type of shoe, it may be easier to drive nearer the toe than the heel, as heels are often tougher and thicker.

This has the added beauty of angrily hitting things, which is a useful energy for curses. Similar to the first variation, make sure to note who you are afflicting and the parameters of your desires. With the first nail through, add the others in a cross-like fashion. One above, one below, one to the left, and one to the right. Drive the remaining 4 nails in at the diagonal – making a box design with one nail in the center, or 3 vertical lines of 3 (which ever you see it as).

Flip the shoe back over and (if your shoe has laces) pull them as tight as you can, working and tightening them as you work down the laces. If you shoe doesn’t have laces, simple bind the entire shoe with twine or string, leaving a good length for the “ears” (you’ll see why in the next point).

To complete the working, take the shoe and string it up: 1) in a cemetery, 2) in a tree in the victim’s yard (this one has the added benefit of freaking the victim out) or 3) hanging it anywhere where they might see it.

The cross is complete.

Walk-A-Mile #3

This one is somewhat a combination of the first two, and also requires a personal affect, name, or foot-track (as always, being most preferable). This one requires only a rudimentary knowledge of sewing (just a straight/running stitch) and a collection of sewing pens; ending in something like a charm.

What You Will Need:

Fabric (no more than an 8inx8in square should be necessary; design, color, etc. are unimportant)

Needle and Thread (Black would be best, but really it doesn’t matter)

Personal Affect

Sewing Pins

(Optional: Stuffing if your personal affect is not substantial enough to fill the charm, graveyard dirt (paid for) is a perfect stuffing)

Instructions:

Sketch out a rough foot shape on your folded-over square of fabric – roughly 3 by 4.5 inches. Depending on what you intend to stuff it with (for instance dirt would require a tighter stitch), stitch from the curve of where the heel begins around the front and to the other side (leaving the heel unstitched) – allot a .5in to .75in seam allowance and trim the excess. Flip inside out.

Add into the pocket the personal affect and stuffing, pinch the heel and stitch it closed – giving you a sealed, foot-shaped charm. (At this point, you could add a tie or string so that the charm may be hung or carried)

With sewing pins at the ready, drive them one-by-one into the foot – speaking just as the other variations require, who you wish to inflict and the parameters. You can add as many or as few pins as you want, but for best results use multiples of 9 (9,18,27…), with each one, repeating the aforementioned phrase. 

When all the pins have been pushed it, keep in a visible place (on a key-chain or hanging from a car mirror being two good options), so that anytime you see it and think about it, the hex grows. When the victim has grown or you feel it has run its course, remove the pins, cleanse them and burn the rest.

Photo Source

LETTER TO LOO

Raven sat with her journal open, she had been writing in it off and on for the past hour. It was her day off from the Brew as she sat back sipping her coffee. Looking over at the framed photograph of her on her wedding day. Memories flooded back to her from that day a almost ten years had past since then. It had been a simple day, they had been two young kids that had fallen in love so easily and impulsively gotten married on a whim. As quickly as it came together everything seemed to fall apart as well. Being young stupid kids, they walked away from each other instead of fighting like they should have. Reaching out to picked up the photograph running her fingers over the smiling couple. She traced the lines of Logan's face, his smile, his hair. Placing the photograph back on the table she picked up her pen again and began to write.

My Loo,

This letter is about a year or more over due, as I sit in my home that is not shared with you. I have to wonder where we lost our way. Most of the fault lay at my doorstep as I am the one that left first, but I had hoped you would come for me. Like one of those scenes from a romance novels or movie. Or maybe you did and my grandfather sent you away. Deep in my heart I hope that is the case, yet I hope it is not.

I want you to know I never meant to stay away for this long. The day I packed my things up to leave was the day my grandfather passed away. I had more things to wrap up, in New Orleans. None of these things matter anymore. What matters is that I never stopped loving you, even when I left. Maybe that doesn't even matter anymore. I just want to be a part of your life whatever that may mean, friends, lovers or even to be your wife again someday.

Why am I writing you this letter now after all this time? Honestly? It's because I need you to know all these things. They need to be out in the open. You should know that your pictures are still in frames in my home and on my phone. That the sound of your voice still sends shivers down my spine. You should know that the door is open. That you are my lobster.

Rae

Raven paused as tapped her pen onto her journal. Would she even give him this letter? Was she ready to let him know how she was truly feeling? They had spoken a few times when he would come into the Brew for her coffees. Ripping the pages from the journal, she folded them carefully and tucked into her bra. She was supposed to meet him later for dinner, maybe she would give it to him then.

Every Year I Miss You A Little More

There was a text from his mother inviting him to come to have dinner with her Thanksgiving again this year. He sat back as he pondered the thought of spending another holiday with family. Thinking back on the last holiday he actually enjoyed was the last Thanksgiving that his twin was still alive. If he knew then that it would have been her last one he never would have gone partying with friends the night before. He would have spent the whole night sitting up talking to her about her twins, listening to her talk about whatever she wanted to. The hum of the fan droned on in the background as Draven laid on the bed in his room at his mother's house in Brooklyn, where the family was gathered for the holiday. He was loathed to be there for another one of them, but hopefully with the birth of the new babies thanks to his twin. Maybe Raven wouldn't be focused on her son and what he was doing with his life this year. Kaleigh was married with babies, which should have made her over the moon. Nothing really ever made Raven Wolfe over the moon, she seemed to be miserable all the time the past few years. He could smell food wafting up from the kitchen, his mother had been up since before dawn preparing a feast. Draven would never understand why she cooked so much food when there were so few of them. With the grace of a panther, he was off the bed and at the door of the bedroom. His favorite cat perched on his shoulder, Hera. Hades, his faithful familiar ever by his side as he made his way down the backstairs of the brownstone that lead directly into the kitchen. Letting Hades out the back door he set Hera down on the floor before resting his head on his mother's shoulder. "Something smells delicious Ma! When do we eat! I'm starving!" "Ha! You know we don't eat until three." Raven said as she kept kneading the dough for her rolls. She never even looked up at the tall thin young male standing over her. "I laid some snacks out on the table. I knew you'd be hungry when you finally made your appearance. What time did you come in last night anyway Draven?" The petite brunette asked as she finally looked up at her son as he walked over to the table where the snacks were that she mentioned. Shrugging his shoulders as he picked over the plate of fruit and veggies. "Really Ma? Where's the real food? The stuffing and the bird? Can't we ever eat sooner? I have sh*t I wanna do today." "DRAVEN! LANGUAGE!" His mother snapped as his twin walked into the kitchen carrying a basket filled with various sizes of candles. "You will not use that type of language here young man I don't care how old you are!" Raven almost shrieked at her son. "Ma! He only said sh*t, you are acting like he said F*** or something." Kaleigh said in her twin brother's defense, something about her defending him sent their mother into a tizzy. "Kaleigh! What have I told the two of you about using such vulgar language in my home? There are children in this house...." "Ma! They are infants jeez calm the f*** down." Draven said as he winked at his sister, shoving a grape in his mouth. "You're gonna have a heart attack." Taking a seat at the kitchen table he couldn't help but chuckle at the way he and his twin got under their mother's skin. They say that the pain of losing someone is supposed to get easier with time. Those people lie, every year seems to get harder for him to face the family on the holidays as he sinks into his own abyss. He still blames himself for not being there for her when she needed him the most. She was his other half, even though he knows there wasn't anything he could have done. He always feels like maybe, just maybe he could have done more. If he hadn't been wallowing in his own sh*t, maybe he would have seen that she needed him. Picking up his phone as he texts his mother back. "Nah Ma, I'm skipping the holidays this year. Love you."

Holiday Punch

Ingredients

Holiday Punch

1 (64-ounce) container Cranberry juice cocktail

1 (14-ounce) container pineapple juice

1 container frozen lemonade

1 can Sprite or lemon lime soda

1 pint spiced rum

orange slices (for garnish)

fresh cranberries (for garnish)

plenty of ice

Instructions

Holiday Punch

Squeeze the container of frozen lemonade into a large drink dispenser or punch bowl.

Add the cranberry juice cocktail, pineapple juice, and sprite. Gently stir to combine. Add plenty of ice or an ice ring.

Serve over ice and garnish with slices of oranges or any citrus and fresh cranberries.

Recipe Notes

Holiday Punch Tips:

For a great addition, add a scoop of orange sherbet to each glass before pouring this delicious holiday punch!

Simple Witch Things You Can Do

○ burn your favorite incense or candle

○ walk around barefoot to connect with the earth

○ burn random candles as you please

○ cleanse your crystals

○ thank your crystals, pendulums, tarot cards, and other tools

○ give offerings to forest spirits or animals

○ draw in sand

○ paint your feelings

○ meditate on cleansing your mind

○ use your favorite essential oils !!

○ write down all the things you hate and burn it

○ listen to your favorite song, not caring about how many times it repeats

○ draw or doodle with an intention, similar to sigils, but easer to hide

○ love yourself

        witchcraft is what you make of it, if you make it hard, it will be hard

HOW AND WHY YOU SHOULD BE TAKING SPIRITUAL BATHS

There are so many times where you’re either having a bad day, have a lot on your mind, or you just aren’t feeling up to par. How do you tackle these ailments so that you can move freely throughout the day?

WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL BATH?

So what exactly is a spiritual bath?

A spiritual bath is nothing more than a cleansing session where you take the necessary time to yourself to cleanse the physical body, your aura and you mind.

There is no set way to take a spiritual bath, your ritual is completely up to you. We’ll go over some examples of what you can use and how you should proceed with the bath later in this post.

Now I bet you’re wondering, “Why should I take these baths? How do I benefit from them?” Let’s start by saying that there are no negatives to indulging in a spiritual bath. Many of you already bathe in the tub anyway, so why not take an extra step to heal yourself and your mind? Along with cleansing, relaxing, and attracting positive things into your life, the baths aid in grounding the soul. Listed below are some of the possible steps and tools you can implement when you begin to take your much needed spiritual baths.

PREPARING FOR YOUR BATH AND SETTING INTENT

One of the first and most important steps you should take before taking your spiritual bath is setting your intent. Setting your intent is basically figuring out and knowing the reason why your doing something. I find that it helps to write it out on paper as I say it out loud. That way I am using multiple senses. I am using touch (writing), sight (reading), and hearing (my voice as I read).

You can draw your bath and expect healing results without knowing where to direct the healing energy. To get the best and most effective results, be sure to cleanse your space. Remove the clutter, get rid of any trash, and open the windows to let in fresh air. It may also be a great idea to shower before the bath, to be sure your body is open to new energy.

GATHERING YOUR NECESSITIES AND SETTING THE MOOD

The items you bring into the bathroom with you should all be there to support the intention you are focusing on. There are not set rules on what you should have or use during your spiritual baths.

One way to set the mood is by utilizing candles. Candles are great because they serve so many roles. They can be used in place of inorganic light, the aromas are extremely therapeutic, and create an ambience like no other.

You may also want to incorporate herbs and essential oils. You can choose ones for health or relaxation or that correspond to the intention you choose to set. There are tons of herbs you can use, it’s just the matter of picking the ones that suit your needs. In The Grimoire for the Green Witch, Ann Moura lists several herb blends to incorporate in your herbal spiritual baths:

FOR COMFORTING: Calendula (Marigold), Chamomile, Lavender, Mint, Raspberry Leaves, Rosemary.

FOR ENERGY: Heather, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Savory.

FOR PEACE: Chamomile, Hops, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose.

FOR RELAXATION: Chamomile, Dianthus, Heather, Jasmine Flower, Lemon Balm.

Soothing: Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender, Mint, Rosemary.

FOR STRESS RELIEF: Chamomile, Dianthus, Lemon Balm.

Music is another component that I believe could really help bring in wanted energy. You could listen to meditation music, nature sounds, or your favorite songs. You can also use white noise machines, which are pretty unique on their own. Of course, be sure to keep all electronics away from the water because you can’t go into a spiritual bath creating additional problems for yourself.

Sea salt is another must have in my opinion. Sea salt is used to help draw out the impurities in the body, such as bacteria and other debris. When choosing you salts, be sure to pick the best quality, unprocessed salts. Normal table salt should be avoided because it takes out needed minerals, instead of drawing them in. 100% natural, raw and unrefined Himalayan Pink Sea Salt is wonderful.

COMBINING IT ALL AND DIVING IN DEEP

Now that you’ve cleansed your space, and gathered your intent and tools, it’s time to combine it all together. Step into the water filled with lovely scented herbs, sit down and begin to take that mental dive into the world of relaxation. If you are tense, this bath just won’t work for you. As the water rushes around the tub, imagine all of the negative energy being pulled from your body and your intentions being manifested. When you are settled in, take some time to pray and then be still and listen for God's response. When your bath is complete, release the water down the drain and envision all of that unwanted energy flowing away, and thank the universe for all it has done and will do for you.

This lesson was loosely adapted from an article by Star Wolf's Den.