Low Effort Magic 🌙

i hope you are being compassionate with yourself today. you are your oldest childhood friend

— Quick Card Spread

Past Wounds Spread

A: The thing that still hurts you

B: Advice

Step by Step

shuffle and draw as you usually do

the first card is about your wound. it's something that still hurts you to this day, either consciously or subconsciously. it can have a great impact on your current life or a smaller one, however, aspects of this still linger and influence you.

the second card is a suggestion. something that may help you work through it or slowly come to terms with it. it can be a piece of advice or a thought to remind yourself of, a message about it, or a piece of general advice on how to deal with the influence of this old wound.

personally, I tend to go by suit. with a cup card, my old wound would be related to emotions or relationships, with a sword card, it may have been an argument, my thoughts, someone else's thoughts/opinions, criticism, or problems that left a mark on me.

Example Reading

A: Four of Pentacles

B: Star

Depending on how you usually read the cards, this can have multiple interpretations (read: more than just these two I wrote out here)

Possibility 1)

The way I personally read, I'd say this is about someone who had to be very careful with money in the past, someone who had very little and needed to hold onto their resources tightly all the time. It may prompt them to stick with this behavior, even if their situation might have changed by now. To me, the star signals letting go of this, trusting a bit more that times changed and that they don't need to hold on so tightly anymore, that they can give themselves a nice little thing once in a while.

Possibility 2)

Another way would be to say that the first card is about someone clingy, someone who is afraid to give room to people or things because they might leave then. someone who is afraid to lose something

and with the star there, the message wouldn't change much from the previous one, but perhaps, the focus would be more on "trust it will be alright" because the star is always a positive omen and a signal that hope and faith are needed to overcome something.

Here is a little graphic I did to get people in the mood for Imbolc!

A quick guide to salt types

Table Salt

Source : Harvested from salt deposits found underground.

Character : Fine Grain

Additives : Anti-caking Agent, Iodine

Description : Cheap and easily available, standard taste

Kosher Salt

Source : Harvested  from underground salt deposits

Character : Coarse Grain

Additives : Normally nil

Description : Used to make meat Kosher (draws out the fluids)

Sea Salt

Source : Harvested from evaporated sea water. Key producers are the Cayman Islands, France, Ireland, Sicily, Apulia in Italy, Maine and Cape Cod in the US.

Character : A far more complex taste than table salt due to the additional minerals.

Contains : A mix of the minerals phosphorus, bromine, boron, zinc, iron, manganese, copper and silicon.

Description : Prized for its taste there a subtle variations depending on where the salt is harvested.

Himalayan Salt

Source : Dug out by hand from the Khewra Salt Mine in the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan

Character : A strong bold taste and one of the most pure salts

Contains : It contains 84 natural minerals and elements found in the human body with an attractive a deep pink colour due to Iron Oxide (Yes that is rust)

Description : Prized for spa treatments and the kitchen. This is one of the most healthy salts available.

Black Himalayan Salt (Kala namak or Bire Noon)

Source : Standard Himalayan salt is placed in a furnace for 24 hours while sealed in a ceramic jar with charcoal along with small quantities of harad seeds, amla, bahera, babul bark, or natron. Once cooled it is aged prior to consumption.

Character : Due to the sulphur formed It smells like eggs (Some say rotten eggs)

Contains : hydrogen sulfide (the smells) and bisulfates (slight sour taste)

Description : The eggy flavour is becoming popular with Vegans who are looking to add an egg flavour to their cooking.

FLEUR DE SEL

Source : Harvested from tidal pools off the coast of France. The salt crystals are delicately drawn from the water’s surface using wooden rakes

Character : Known as the Caviar of salts the delicate taste that is second to none and used by most high end restaurants. It is a pretty salt that resembles snowflakes.

Contains : Contains trace amounts of calcium and magnesium chlorides

Description : This salt can only be used for sprinkling not cooking.

Red Hawaiian Salt (Alaea)

Source : Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is a mix of evaporated sea salt enriched with purified volcanic red alae clay.

Character : It has a rich earthy taste and a deep red colour

Contains : It contains over 80 natural occurring minerals including Iron Oxide.

Description : Tribes in Hawaii have used this mystical salt for generations. Sadly due to it popularity china are mass producing cheap versions which are passed off on the internet as the real thing.

Magic : Used in Hawaii for religious purification rituals, Tool Cleansing and healing practices.

Black Hawaiian Salt

Source : Harvested from evaporated seawater in shallow salt marshes on Hawaii’s Molokai Island and then blended with activated coconut-shell charcoal.

Character : The salt should be used raw sprinkled over food and not in cooking. Tastes like sea salt but the activated charcoal make it more health.

Description : The activated charcoal makes this salt a perfect addition to your beauty treatments as it clears unwanted oils from the skin.

Magic : Used by locals for generations to drive away evil and negative energy

Celtic Salt

Source : Harvested from the bottom of tidal ponds off the coast of France. Character : This salt is actually wet still giving it a slightly brine taste and pale gray colour. Contains : It contains 82 trace minerals needed by the human body for optimal health.

Description : Extracted from one area in brittiny only using a rake technique for over 2000 years it is one of the most expensive salts on the market.

Honeyed Lips

This glamour is designed to help you appear more persuasive. This can be helpful when applying for a job, public speaking, or convincing friends/family/lovers. BE AWARE - this type of glamour is inherently manipulative and should only be used to help you convince others and make people more inclined to listen to what you have to say.

MATERIALS

10g Shea Butter

10g Beeswax

10g Coconut Oil

1 Tsp Honey (Local if you can)

5 drops Sweet Orange Oil

On a double boiler (medium/low heat) melt the Shea Butter, Beeswax and Coconut Oil. Turn of heat and stir clockwise as you add the Honey and Sweet Orange Oil. Sing as you stir:

Smooth as butter,

Sweet as honey,

Enchant my words,

To be bright and sunny.

With honeyed lips,

And charming smiles,

Those who hear me

Are not hostile.

To my words,

They shall listen,

And be convinced

By my proposition.

Let it cool in a container of your choice (I like a small metal tin). Once cool, apply to your lips and repeat the above chant. The heat of your lips will activate it.

- Marci

Imbolc is so close. I don’t like to think of Imbolc as the beginning of spring, but rather a reminder it is around the corner. I heard someone once say Imbolc is like a mother bear turning over in her cave, and I really like that metaphor.

Credit on IG to @lupinehollow

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!

Flameless Hearths & Devotions

Ideas for Hestia devotees/worshippers who are unable to use a fireplace or flames in their worship. Welcome for all who find this helpful!

Using flames safely and/or discreetly:

(For the occasional need)

Use a tea light or lighter outside; on a fire-safe surface such as concrete or gravel.

Burn objects over your sink or a bowl of water.

Outdoor fire pits or grills. 

Creating your hearth:

Your hearth should feel like a central, focused place that represents your home. Someplace where you feel calm and safe. Traditionally, this was often in the kitchen; but it can be anywhere in your home. It can also be in multiple places, or small and contained. 

My shelf altar. I keep it clean and tidy. It contains items that remind me of home, and offerings to Hestia. It represents hearth and home, and is a space I can visit when I wish to feel connected to her. 

My dedication wall. I used to have a wall with a dried marigold garland, soothing poetry, devotional poetry, artwork and prayers on it. This is an excellent way to have a discreet (if you so choose) dedicated space that doesn’t take up much surface area. 

My stovetop. Each time I put the kettle on for tea, I feel connected to Hestia. I offer the first sip to her. I simmer pots of water with herbs, spices or other scented things (such as orange peels) to spread a beautiful aroma around my home. 

Don’t have a stove? An electric kettle and microwave will do!

My oven. Each time I bake (both the preparation and the baking itself) I feel connected to her and give a portion as an offering.

My woodstove or outdoor firepit. It is worth noting that because I have these things (and use my woodstove as a primary heating source) I do often use these as my hearth and burn offerings here. 

Flame and candle alternatives:

What feels right to you? What matches the energy/warmth of fire and flame?

Electric candles, especially ones that flicker and have warmer colors.

Electric tealights in candle holders. 

Solar charged lanterns

Fairy lights in a jar

Himalayan salt lamp

Wax or oil warmers (with heat bulbs).

Electric fireplace

Flame ambiance videos

Scents:

For me, certain smells embody home. And this is wonderful, because we can control them–even without candles or incense!

Essential oil or reed diffusers 

Wax or oil warmers

Scented electric candles

Potpourri 

Scented sachets

Room/pillow sprays

Pot of water on the stove with scented things

You  may also like:

Resources for Hestia devotees - a masterpost

Hestia small devotional acts

Bedridden devotion to Hestia

I view this as divination with animals, but also as indicators within our own body. My wrist hurts on the daily, therefore I'm being inflexible and strained- which is true.

Bone Correspondents

Note: Only aquire bones from ethical sources.

Ankle - catalyst. movement. moving on.

Antler - Cernunnos. deflecting. earth. endurance. hope. masculine energy. protection. strength.

Arm - blocking. helping. lifting others up. support.

Claw - balance. discovery. fighting. knowledge. opportunity. protection. struggle. 

Finger - endurance. fluidity. progress. 

Foot - endurance. hard work. independence. journeys. leaving things behind. luck. movement. moving on. travel.

Hand - art. artistic ability. creativity. energy. holding something or someone close. letting go. 

Hip - endurance. keeping it together. strength.

Horn - aggressive protection. cursing. determination. stubbornness. the home. wealth.

Leg - endurance. long journey(s). movement. strength. taking a stand. travel. 

Nail - (See claw) something or someone lost.

Skull - astral work. communication. deep thought. divination. stubbornness. spirit work. the mind.

Spine - asserting oneself. confidence. courage. level-headed. pride. support. 

Tail - adaptability. agility. alarm. cursing. distrust. secrecy. 

Teeth - communication. defense. fear. frustration. learning a new language. news.

Toe - balance. changing luck. help. money. prosperity.

Wing - adventure. comfort. deviating from the norm. hope. luck. movement. new adventures or endeavors. sending or receiving messages. travel. wishes.

Wrist - flexibility. hard work. strain.