Easy Magic For The New, Busy, Or Spoonie Witch

Shoutout to the breakers of generational curses.

UPDATE: Patches are up for grabs now! Limited run!

https://tagtaylorsit.bigcartel.com/product/the-cycle-ends-here-patch-preorder

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Update: 11/23 WOW. Firstly, I’m totally overwhelmed and honored by the response this piece has gotten. Seeing it resonate with so many people has sincerely moved me. I’m so incredibly happy that it means different things to different people.

A couple people have sent me messages asking if they could have my blessing to get the Ouroboros tattoo’d on them.

The short answer to that is- absolutely. I would be honored. If you do so please tag me! I would love to see the final product=^} this is a very personal piece to me and I hope to get it on myself soon.

However; I am apprenticing to become a tattoo artist myself and while there is absolutely no pressure, I would greatly appreciate anyone using the design as a tattoo to consider donating to my donate links any small tip they could spare to help support my art as I pursue this career. It’s really tough now doing unpaid work during the pandemic and It would really help me since I can’t afford to currently reproduce any designs. (Donate: www.paypal.com/paypalme/Tagtaylorsit) again, absolutely no pressure. I know times are tough.

If you feel inspired by the Ouroboros and would like to do your own artwork that is totally fine, who am I to stop another artist from expressing themselves? If you would like to draw this particular design on something (someone talked about painting it on their jacket, which I thought was really cool) I am cool with that as well. However; I would like to produce a small run of patches or pins of this design so I do ask that you refrain from selling products using my art.

If everyone who got this tattoo’d on them gave me 10 bucks, I’d be able for afford a proper tattoo machine, which would greatly help me during this apprenticeship.

=^) I love reading everyone’s stories about how they are ending toxic cycles in different forms in their lives and support all of you in your battles. Thank you all so much.

I wish to be with the trees.

Roaming the forest for so long that I eventually start to become it.

I will grow antlers and claws. 

Mushrooms with sprout from my skin, ivy will wrap itself around my limbs. 

My eyes will glow in the dark, I will be able to speak to the animals and plants.

I will live in a cave, and host picnics for all of the citters.

I will thank the trees for letting me be with them. 

I do not deserve them. 

Dove Blood Ink 🩸

Uses

Dove’s blood ink is traditionally used for any type of love, blessing, friendship, reconciliation, desire, and loyalty working/spell. This ink can be used to record spells, write petitions, create sigils, etc. Blood inks (dragon blood, dove blood, bat blood) got their names because of their dark red pigment due to the type of resin used, Dracaena Cinnabari, which causes the inks to look similar to blood.

ingredients

isopropyl 99.9% alcohol

Dracaena Cinnabari resin (medieval DB resin)

a pinch of rose petal

tsp of cinnamon/cinnamon chips

1 bay leaf

a pinch of calamus root (optional)

How to make

In a glass, air tight container, add your botanicals, and then pour isopropyl alcohol over the botanicals, stir, and seal lid tightly. Store vial in a cool, dark place for at least 24 hours.

After allowing the isopropyl to infuse with your botanicals, strain the botanicals from the isopropyl so that your alcohol is now in a separate air tight glass vial (this vial will be the one you store your ink in!)

In a mortar and pestle (preferably a separate one dedicated solely to ink making), crush DB resin into small pieces and/or powder. Make sure this is real Dracaena Cinnabari resin, as this is the only DB resin that dissolves in alcohol.

Add your now crushed resin to your isopropyl that has been strained into your ink vial, and stir. Allow your resin to dissolve for at least 3 hours minimum before using ink. If you would like to strain excess pieces of non-dissolved resin from your ink, you may do so, but I prefer to keep them in the mixture. Depending on preferred consistency, you may need to add more resin and/or isopropyl. Shake/stir before each use.

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

Do not make this ink near/on an open flame, or near ANY heat source. Isopropyl is highly flammable. Please wear gloves and a mask when making your inks to protect yourself from fumes. Do not use rubbing alcohol as a substitute for isopropyl!!! Your alcohol must be 99.9%; any water added to your ink will ruin and harden it because water hardens resin! Any utensils/bowls/vials etc used for ink making should be dedicated purely to ink making. Please do not eat out of or use your utensils for other things that you may ingest.

Book of Shadows Ideas that Aren’t Basic

A local specific myth, cryptid, or legend

An obscure historical witch or an old historical spell

A map of your neighborhood with locations that appear ghostly or have interesting energy

Your personal associations to colors, plants to supplement traditional correspondence charts

A chart detailing information of spirits you have communed with

A guide to sailor knots for knot magick

Sustainable and eco friendly lifestyle tips

Magickal practices around the world

Obscure magickal tools or tools you invented

Varying viewpoints in magickal philosophy and technique

Jar Spell: "Stay Off My Turf!"

This jar spell is a ward that will protect your residence, vehicle, or any other physical location/object. It’s a type of aggressive defense that might entail something nasty happening to any would-be intruder or curse-maker, so you should be okay with any ill-wishing intruder getting their comeuppance for attempting to break the ward, as opposed to just being scared off. This spell is for marking your territory and promising harm to anyone who dares step over the line; this is baneful magic.

This spell can potentially involve bodily fluids (not blood) + animal products, but neither of these elements are required. It definitely involves destruction of the jar (glass is preferred for its tendency to shatter under blunt force trauma; safety measures will be discussed further on).

With all of that in mind, let’s get on with the spell!

You will absolutely need:

1 small-ish vessel with a lid, preferably glass

sealing wax (preferably red) or liquid glue

a tool with which to break the vessel, such as a hammer, large wrench, or other heavy object.

A durable bag in which to encase the vessel prior to breaking

For your medley of potential ingredients to go inside the vessel, you will want things that are aggressive, fiery, and martial. You want ingredients that do the symbolic equivalent of spitting in an intruder’s eye and kicking them while they’re down to ensure they stay down. Things that align with the planet Mars, and/or are affiliated with warrior deities whom you work with, and/or are connected to territorial animal spirits whom you feel connected to… they will also do well in this capacity.

Some ingredient suggestions are:

the spiciest pepper you can find, chopped but not seeded

a large helping of cinnamon

red pepper flakes

very hot chili oil

rusty nails and/or fishhooks

iron filings

a small quantity of urine (human or otherwise)

a braided black and white cord/ribbon to represent a skunk

a drawing of a moose’s rack of antlers

a tooth from a carnivorous animal

a sigil involving the symbol or name of a warrior deity/spirit

Directions:

Once your ingredients are assembled and in the jar, put the lid on seal it with the red wax and/or glue. Carve an X onto the wax/glue on the lid and put the entire vessel into a durable bag. Seal the bag, then say something to the effect of, “Fuck off, you bad vibes bastards!”

Once that is done, smash the jar using your smashing tool. (The bag ensures that glass shards don’t go everywhere and from there present a safety hazard). Your ward is now set. Dispose of the bag and its contents without opening the bag (to avoid contact with glass shards).

A Crash Course in Warding

Let’s just start a series of crash courses in witchcraft, since sometimes we need to learn things the quick and dirty way. Today, let’s talk about wards.

What are wards? Wards are protective energy barriers. They keep things out. You can place them around your home, certain rooms, even on certain objects. With practice and clear intentions, you can focus the wards to block out everything or only certain things. We’ll get to that in a bit.

Why should I ward my space and my things? Wards can keep out all sorts of things you don’t want in your home. They can block out negative entities, wayward spirits, mischievous entities, demons, and (if you’re really good at what you’re doing) even gods. Some people ward their divination tools so they know there are no spirits tampering with the results.

So what do I need to do first? Cleanse. This is very important. Wards are kind of like walls, or perhaps more accurately, bubbles. If you don’t clean the space first, you might trap things inside your ward bubble. You do not want that. There are lots of methods of cleansing, from burning sage to spritzing oil-infused water. Find a method you’re comfortable with and cleanse everything you’re going to be warding.

I’ve cleansed my home/item. Now what? Now we ward. I’m going to give you a couple methods. Let’s start with my favorite, incense warding.

Incense warding can also be done with spritzes of water/essential oil blends or herb-infused water if you can’t have smoke in your space. Whichever you’re using, you want to have a blend of protective herbs. Bay leaves, cinnamon, ginger, mustard seed, and salt are some great options that you can find in the grocery store, no fancy witch shop necessary. If you’re using incense, make sure you’re using natural incense and not super cheap stuff that’s artificially scented. The magic is in the herbs, and you won’t get that from fake scents.

How to Incense/Spritz Ward an Item

Smoke or spray item.

Visualize the smoke or spray clinging to the item and wrapping around it like a tight blanket, protecting it from anything that would cause harm (or interference, etc.).

How to Incense/Spritz Ward Your Space

Pick a place to start. I always start at my altar, but it’s up to you. If you’re doing multiple floors, start either at the top or bottom floor.

Moving continuously to your right, smoke or spray along the walls and door frames. As you go, imagine a barrier being formed around the walls, ceiling, and floor, pushing outwards to fill the room. Visualize the smoke or spray forming the barrier to keep out anything that will do you harm. [If you have a hard time with visualization, you can simply focus on the intent of the smoke or spray keeping things out.]

Keep moving right, following the layout of your home, making sure you get all the closet spaces. You basically want to outline the entire area you’re protecting, whether it’s you’re room or your whole house.

For multiple floors, repeat on each level.

For big layouts where there are rooms in the middle, go around those rooms as well.

I like to reinforce the wards over outside doors, windows, and mirrors. These are all passages of sorts, and when I reach them, I use the incense to draw a pentagram in the air over them. This is entirely up to you.

You’re done when you’ve reached the point where you began.

So why do we go to the right? Is that important? Kind of. Going to the right is like going clockwise. It’s about making things and progression, where going to the left or counter-clockwise is about deconstruction or reversal. [I read this idea in a witchy book a long time ago and will try to find a source when I can. If you honestly don’t feel it makes a difference, do whatever you’re comfortable with.]

Can I place wards that keep out certain things but not others? Sure. When you’re going around your space/warding your item, your intent is what’s important. I like to ward out entities that mean harm - it’s nice and general and doesn’t keep the fae out. Some people might want certain spirits and not others. Have your intentions clear in your mind as you place your wards.

That’s neat and all, but what are some other ways to ward? Let’s list a few.

Symbol/Sigil Wards

Choose (or make) a symbol or sigil that has protective properties. I’ve done this with Pluto’s astrological symbol because I worship him and it’s my way of being like, “Hey, Pluto. Please protect me, kthanxbai.” Pentagrams are nice and basic witchy/pagan symbols if you like them.

Draw the symbol over doors and windows. You do not literally have to draw it. It can be in water, incense smoke, or just your finger against the surface if you want.

As you’re drawing, make sure you have your intentions in mind - that nothing harmful can pass through this door, that the windows remain closed against entities, etc.

Energy Bubbles (if you have control over your energy)

Pick an item - any item.

Get your warding intentions in mind.

Channel lots of energy into the item. Visualize it emanating from the item in a bubble to fill your space.

If you’ve got mad skillz, you can form the bubble to the walls and be super exact with where its barriers are.

Vocal Wards

If you like spoken (or thought) spells, come up with a small chant to protect your space.

You can repeat this chant as you focus on your item being protected or as you walk around your home, protecting every room.

This is really great to incorporate into basically any other form of warding and gives your magic an extra bit of oomph.

I’ve heard wards can “fade” over time. True or false? Wards are just energy. Like all energies, they can disperse and weaken over time, or if something particularly nasty puts effort into destroying them. Redo your wards every so often (I do mine every few months, but it’s up to you), and especially before spiritual interactions. I also like to do mine after I’ve had lots of company, to kind of clear out family’s lingering energies and reinforce what I don’t want in my house.

In general, the intent of your wards is the most important part. Know what you want to keep out. This concludes our crash course on warding. Now go forth and protect some stuff!

✨Since a Blue Moon takes place on Samhain, here’s some things to know about them🌝✨

The Blue Moon is when a second full moon appears within the same month (first being October 1st). With its gravitational pull being so strong, it’s a second chance for you to cleanse yourself of all that no longer serves you.

‘Once in a Blue Moon’ is a metaphor for ‘not very often’, but literally means about once every two-and-a-half years.

☾·.· Power of the Blue Moon✨

A Blue Moon holds double the power of a normal Full Moon. Make wishes and cast spells under a Blue Moon if you’re looking for long-term results. Your intentions will have until the next Blue Moon to germinate.

☾·.· Magickal Effects of The Blue Moon 🔮

Broadening of personal and psychic abilities

Increases spell and ritual power

Encourages accepting and moving on from lessons

Heightened sense of self-awareness and patterns

Elevated clarity and accuracy in divination sessions

Rare window of opportunity to quantum leap

Powerful time for inner-work and healing.

☾·.· Once in a Blue Moon Spell 🌙

Cut out a piece of paper

Write three wishes/intentions for the Blue Moon

Fold the paper in three

Seal the paper with wax (Blue candle, or correspond the colour with the wishes/intentions you wrote on the paper)

Hold the paper up to the moon to charge it with her energy

Read out the wishes, verbally or mentally, then hurt the paper

Leave an offering of silver for the Moon

Your Hatred Is Your Own (Curse Jar)

A spell jar to isolate the negative energy of a person.

Ingredients – Red pepper – Ginger – Dirt (as dry as possible) – Common rock – Name sigil of the intended victim

Steps 1. Collect your ingredients and prepare your workspace 2. Find or create a name sigil for the intended victim. Write it on a paper. 3. Add the ingredients to the jar. 4. Crumple up the sigil paper or burn it and add the ashes to the jar. 5. Seal with a white candle.

A bit late this year but people seemed to love last year’s so here’s one updated for 2021. Again, this is free for personal use!

EDIT: ACCIDENTALLY PUT THE YEAR OF THE BULL IN JAN, IT’S IN FEB

The Moon; Showing Love/Needing Love

 The Moon is a vital component to our personalities. It can show us how we go about showing love for others (and ourselves) and in what aspects we need love. Within the birth chart, positive interchanges between the Moon and personal planets can demonstrate a healthy and developed Moon sign; this is especially true with positive interchanges to Venus. These individuals hold special value in showing love and comfort for others and themselves. We can see a similar outcome in synastry charts when one individual’s Moon has positive interchanges with the other person’s Sun, Moon, or Venus. A positive interchange between one person’s Sun and another person’s Moon demonstrates the most natural compatibility two people could have. These relationships often have the most ease because one individual’s core or character (Sun) aids and uplifts the other’s needs (Moon). Similarly, compatibility between two Moons represents ease in a relationship as two people share like-minded needs; Positive Moon and Venus interchanges in synastry demonstrate ease in understanding and fulfilling another person’s needs.

Aries Moon

How they show love: An Aries’ innate curiosity is their not-so-subtle way of demonstrating love. Aries will go out of their way to spend time with the people they love and actively display interest in them. They can be very passionate and excitable around those they love, like every friend or loved one is another log in their firepit. Aries can also frustratingly push for activity with their loved ones, such as new experiences. They are very impatient and forceful towards the people they care about, but it is simply because they’d love to see them on the same level of hype as they are. Aries’ also demonstrate their love by confidence boosting or role modeling their energy.

What they need: Aries really need patience from others to feel loved and understood; they know they can be frustrating, but they will appreciate those who bare with them. They also really need someone to match their energy or someone to validate their energy; someone to riot with, or someone who is willing to understand their riot. Calming an Aries storm is a plus in their world too.

Taurus Moon

How they show love: A Taurus’ love language tend to fall in line with physical touch and specific acts of service. While physical touch is more obvious (hugs, kisses, cuddles, etc.), acts of service tends to play out in a very background kind of way. Taurus Moon individual’s can quietly carry an entire family’s burden on their backs and be a sanctuary of security and comfort. All who they love the dearest is their babies in their mind. They go out of their way to nurture the emotional well-being of others. In their network of love, they work the hardest and serve their own plate last.

What they need: Physical touch and outlets to relax. The fixed signs, such as Taurus, are guilty of holding onto emotional tension which then turns into physical tension. They need to be shown that they too can be cradled into someone’s arms and melt away. Taurus love massages, dedicated time to rest, and having some of the workload taken off of them. Good food doesn’t hurt also!

Gemini Moon

How they show love: Geminis are the spending quality time type. They can ease away tensions and anxieties with their ability to distract. Gemini Moons have an abundant presence, so while they can lead conversations, they can also direct comfortable silences too. They are great at reading the room and they are perceptive of the technicalities of others needs. With their cooled approach, they will rationalize and come up with creative ways to aid these needs. Their mental toolbox is chalked-full of ideas; “maybe you need to look at it from this perspective,” “I have just the movie for this,” “let’s go for a walk and talk it out!”

What they need: Their chilled exterior can often hide lots of inner anxieties. They really need someone to listen to their tangents. They also really need someone to tell them not to over rationalize their feelings, “you’re just feeling like this, there doesn’t need to be a because, and that’s okay.” They need people to spend their abundant, emotional energies with; vent about it, joke about it, etc.

Cancer Moon

How they show love: Cancers are very protective of their emotional world, so opening that world up to someone is their way of demonstrating love. Emotional vulnerability portrays their deepest act of sincerity. A Cancer’s innate mothering qualities is another way they demonstrate love. They want to create security for their loved ones as well as encourage personal growth. They reassure loved ones directly that their love is unconditional and uncircumstantial. Cancers are very sentimental about physical togetherness, so quality face-to-face time is an important aspect to how they show love.

What they need: Cancers need that natural nurturing quality returned. As much as they want to create security and comfort for their loved ones, they too need others to shield for them. Cancers need to be shown that they are safe; one can do this by dedicating time spent with a Cancer, perhaps inviting them over to your home or spending time at home in a familiar environment. 

Leo Moon

How they show love: Leos are known for praise and thoughtfulness. Leos like showing love through acknowledging others accomplishments that have been forgotten or overlooked. Leos are great at figuring out what is important to others and demonstrating praise, approval, and confidence building language. Leos can also be very thoughtful; they aren’t the “gift-giving” type, though when they find things that remind them of their dearest companions and loved ones, they will go out of their way to give gifts with special meaning. Similar to how a cat chooses whose lap to curl up in, Leos also show love by making one feel “chosen.”

What they need: Leos need verbal and physical praise. Leos find themselves in situations of self-doubt when without reminders of affirmation. Compliments, advice, pats on the back, and encouragement are a few ways to demonstrate affirmation. When in doubt though, a long hug goes a long way with Leos. 

Virgo Moon

How they show love: Virgos choose their words carefully and eloquently and this is how we can acknowledge their way of showing love. Though they are not one of the outright expressive Moon signs such as Cancer, they’ll know exactly what to say or write to make someone feel loved. Though cliché for a Virgo, acts of service is also their way of demonstrating care. They don’t mind doing the small things just to make someone’s life a little easier. Virgos also love leaving things better than when they first found them; physical improvements equate to mental improvements. Virgos also have a tendency of checking in with their loved ones; “have you eaten the right food today?,” “a shower might make you feel better,” “did you get enough fresh air today?,” etc.

What they need: Virgos need acknowledgement that they are doing enough. There is a major tendency towards inadequacy and guilt when they feel like they aren’t doing the right things or enough things. Virgos need reminders of what they’ve accomplished and improvements they’ve made thus far. Remedy their nerves with tea and quality time; nothing can make a Virgo feel more loved than showing them life can be simple.

Libra Moon

How they show love: Libras really set aside their own emotional needs for others; they would much rather please others than have to deal with their emotional world. They graciously give and bend their energy to their loved ones to promote harmony and contentment in their lives; “how can I make them feel comfortable?,” “how can I make them feel wanted?,” how can I make them feel luxurious?” They can be zealous in their efforts to beautify the world around their loved ones. Libras are absolutely the gift-giving type and they don’t need an occasion for it either. They enjoy surprising their loved ones and spoiling them when they can. 

What they need: Libras need to see gratitude for their efforts. Libra Moons live in an emotional world best described as “I don’t know,” so words of affirmation from their loved ones is very important. They also genuinely like hearing what you want from them as they are eager to please. Give Libras decisiveness and they will feel loved. 

Scorpio Moon

How they show love: A Scorpio demonstrates love with extreme obviousness and intensity. Their love is the smothering kind. Since Scorpios like control over their emotional world, the love they give, and the love they recieve, they use many modes of love languages. Physical and emotional intensity are the most obvious. They have an aggressive neediness for their loved ones; if they need you, they won’t beat around the bush about it, they will go and get you. Scorpios demonstrate the peak of their love when they reveal secrets and create or bond over a secret with another. 

What they need: Scorpios really need vulnerability from others. A lot of that “control-freak” persona Scorpio holds is from fear. By actively creating an environment of trust for them, they will feel loved and like they have a special bond. Scorpios really need emotional intimacy. Scorpios can also feel loved by others who give them a sense of purpose. 

Sagittarius Moon

How they show love: Sagittarius’ best demonstrate love through offering experiences. New experiences, trips, and special outings are a few ways Sagis’ try to ignite the light in another’s eyes. They acknowledge the special bonds formed through experiences or shared learnings. Sagittarius’ will go out of there way to place that booking, whether it be a concert, a campsite, hotel, or a niche workshop. Don’t feel like leaving the house? Sagis’ can get pretty creative around the house too; crafting, new recipes to try, documentaries to stream, new hobbies to take up. Honestly, don’t even be surprised if your Sagittarius brings home a tattoo gun one day. Sagittarius’ love through excitement.

What they need: Sagittarius’ really need mutual excitement and enthusiasm. They find comfort in those who truly listen to their philosophies and laugh at their jokes. Sagittarius’ really need to feel like they are a part of something, so family-like networks are also very important to their well-being despite being considered one of the more “flighty” or independent signs. An ear from many can make a Sagi’ feel truly loved.

Capricorn Moon

How they show love: Capricorns are not always direct in expressing love, but you can really tell one loves you when you are including in their life plans and goals. Capricorns have an innate need to control, so they often express love through being a providing or protective figure in their loved one’s lives. They provide a backbone or structure to their loved ones that would be extremely noticeable if they weren’t around. Capricorns also tend to provide guidance and mentorship to demonstrate care. Capricorns can be quite stingy as well, so if one spends their money on you, it says a lot!

What they need: They need people who can show them the more direct and vulnerable forms of love. They really need intense physical and emotional care; those who can introduce them to these realms of love. Saturn energy can make a person very structured and rigid so they need a good dose of warmth in their life to feel loved.

Aquarius Moon

How they show love: Without trines or sextiles, Aquarius’ showing love can be very subtle, hence why this placement is infamously known for being “unemotional.” However, Aquarius’ are fantastic lovers; they often demonstrate love through validation. Aquarius’ have a keen idea of what it’s like to be misunderstood so they’re the ones who are best at making others feel like they’re not a black sheep. They have a “being weird is okay” mentality when the focus isn’t on themselves, so if an Aquarius validates your off-beatness, it most definitely means they love you.

What they need: Aquarius’ really need validation in return for the validation they’re known for giving. Relatability is one way of demonstrating validity. Similar to Taurus and the other Fixed signs, their emotional tension leads to physical crystallization. Creating outlets to release their emotional tension as well as physical touch to aid the built-up tension are two of Aquarius’ biggest needs.

Pisces Moon

How they show love: Pisces have a large capacity to love and they demonstrate this through empathy and their fully immersed listening. They want to help their loved ones through giving advice, relating, or just lending their ear. Pisces are sensitive and openly vulnerable about how they are feelings and this is in hopes that others will relate and connect to them through this. Pisces are always the ones to step into the uncharted territories of the emotional world, leading others behind them; comforting, helping, teaching. 

What they need: Pisces really need guidance and clarity. They feel loved when someone is guiding them and giving them definitive truth to how they are feeling. Pisces can often get mixed up about their own feelings, so the ones who really look out for them, Pisces will remember and cherish. Those who show a willingness to connect also make Pisces feel loved; Pisces would absolutely be enthralled by a nap buddy or meditation partner.