Ok Maybe This Is Kind Of A Stupid Question, But Do You Have Any Advice For Researching And How To Determine

𝙵𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗 🌧

Types of Herbal Remedies

I’ve compiled a list of types of herbal remedies, with brief instructions on how to make them. Choose your herbs carefully, as some are poisonous, some will interfere with health problems and medications, and some can cause allergic reactions.

If you are concerned about any health issue you have, or worried about herbs reacting with your medications, go talk to your doctor. This post is not intended as medical advice.

Compress

This is usually cloth that has been soaked in a herbal infusion so that it can be applied topically. Useful for skin issues, muscle pain, joint pain, and general aches.

You can make one by soaking cotton wool in a warm infusion of your choice, wrapping the balls in a piece of clean cloth, and applying to the affected area. Once the cloth cools down you can soak it again in the warm tea and reapply.

Infusion

This is basically the herbalist term for tea. The herbs are usually dried and ground before being steeped in very hot water and then strained out. If you use a bag then you can skip the straining.

Tincture

This is similar to an infusion but much stronger, and with alcohol instead of water, which helps to preserve it.

Put your herbs in a jar. Cover them with alcohol (most people I know use vodka). Put the lid on the jar and shake it daily for a month or so, then strain the herbs out. I tend to keep mine in the little dropper bottles, as you normally don’t need to take much at once.

Decoction

I like to think of these as a stronger infusion. You need four times as much boiling water as dried herb, and you want to simmer the mixture for about half an hour before straining.

Syrup

These are herbs mixed with a sugary substance, which makes them easier to consume and helps to preserve them a little. They’re a good way to get your herbs in if you have a sore throat, as they are often quite soothing.

You’ll need a couple ounces of fresh herb per pint of water. Put them on the stove and heat until about half of the water has evaporated. Then you need to add about five tablespoons of sugar/honey/maple syrup per pint of water you used originally (so if you put two pints in the pan, you need ten tablespoons). Keep stirring for about twenty minutes, then take it off the heat and bottle it up. You need to keep syrups in the fridge, preferably in a dark coloured jar or bottle.

Balm

Essential oils and beeswax, basically. Add about twenty drops of essential oil to a cup of melted beeswax, stick it in a jar, let it cool, and there you go! You can mix in juiced herbs if you like, but that’s optional.

Salve

A salve is basically essential oils mixed with beeswax, oils and herbs. I have seen them made with coconut oil, though if you live in a warmer environment then coconut oil won’t work for you as it melts. You need about fifty/fifty dried herbs and beeswax (if you live somewhere warm) or use a mixture of beeswax and an oil like olive or safflower if you live somewhere colder, just so it’s soft enough to use. Use about twenty drops of oil per cup of beeswax. You’ll need to melt the wax in a double boiler, and let the herbs infuse in the molten wax for about half an hour. Then you add your essential oils, and pour the molten salve into the containers and let it cool.

Ointment

This is basically a liquid balm or salve. Follow the methods above, but use oil instead of beeswax.

Bath

When taking a herbal bath, you are basically making a giant cup of tea! Fill an organza bag with your chosen herbs, and put it in the bath while you run the water, then remove it before you get in. You can reuse the bag of herbs, but they lose potency with each use, so I try to avoid doing this.

Poultice

This is a paste of herbs and sometimes other things that is applied to the skin. Used for infections, splinters, burns, boils etc. They’re pretty simple to make, you just mix some dried herbs with a tiny bit of boiling water to form a paste, put it on the area, and use a piece of cloth or gauze to keep it there. If you want to use fresh herbs you just mash them up.

FATIGUE-BE-GONE JAR SPELL

I’m a witchy soul with chronic fatigue syndrome, so I whipped up a jar spell to help me banish fatigue from my life and welcome energy and healing! 

You Will Need: 

1 cleansed jar of any size

amethyst point ( protective, healing, and purifying)

orange or yellow string

dried dandelion flower (happiness, strength, perseverance)

wings of a bumblebee (strength, hard work made easier)

yellow candle 

dried orange peel (love, divination, luck)

leaf of an african violet ( spirituality, protection, and healing)

anise seed ( find happiness, and stimulate psychic ability)

basil flowers (dispels confusion, fears & weakness)

cloves (protection, banishing hostile/negative forces, and gaining what is sought)

coffee (dispels negative thoughts, overcome internal blockages, energy; provides peace of mind and grounding)

blessed salt

sugar (joy, peace of mind, sweet thoughts, energy)

ginger (personal confidence, prosperity, and success)

jasmine (charging, magickal energy)

mustard seeds (courage, faith, and endurance)

oregano (joy, strength, vitality, and added energy)

rosemary (completing tasks, improve memory and aid clear thinking)

To Do: 

cleanse your jar using sage incense or spray

add ingredients to your jar one at a time, layering them, with the basil flowers, dandelion, and bee wings on top

tie your amethyst point using the orange/yellow string and tie it around your jar

use yellow candle wax to seal your jar

give your jar a kiss on the lid and thank the components for the help they will bring to you

set the jar near your bed or on your headboard, give the lid a kiss every time you need a boost of energy

~ King’s Grimoire 

I’ve been seeing some WASP NEGATIVITY lately so just a reminder that insects are important and interesting whether you find them “cute” or not. Which btw wasps are cute actually but anyways… (also sorry for the US-centrism)

Celebrating Mabon 🍂

🍂 Bake! Apple pie, pumpkin pie, caramel tart, cinnamon rolls, caramel cookies.

🍂 Eat: corn, apples, plums, grapes, BBQ chicken, pies/tarts, cinnamon donuts.

🍂 Indulge in the fruits of the season.

🍂 Buy fruit & vegetables from a local farmers market.

🍂 Acknowledge & burn or release any bad habits.

🍂 Visit the cemetery or graves of loved ones lost.

🍂 Take care of plants & gardens: weed, sow, repot, fertilise, mulch, prepare frost protection etc.

🍂 Harvest any home grown fruit or veggies.

🍂 Bask in nature!

🍂 Star gaze, have a bonfire & fire gaze as well.

🍂 Watch: Brave, Pocahontas, Open Season, Spirit, Brother Bear, Fly Away Home.

🍂 Research the history & folklore of Mabon.

🍂 Express gratitude! Reflect on successes/ failures & celebrate blessings!

🍂 Declutter & deep clean the house in preparation for Winter.

🍂 Wear gold, red, brown or yellow.

🍂 Do a Mabon rune cast or tarot spread.

🍂 Donate time, money or items to a charity.

🍂 Meditate, write in journal, do yoga & raise vibration with music.

🍂 Review what is in & out of balance/harmony.

🍂 Have quality family time; no screens, outdoors & include pets.

🍂 Create a Mabon mood board on Pinterest.

So much of life is miraculous and we don’t always recognize that. Our body does so much without us consciously controlling it. Blood pumps, organs work, all on autopilot without us saying a word of command. 

Cars? Cars are such a complex and cool machine that have been designed so conveniently. It takes a single turn of a key(or push of a button) to activate this huge metal contraption! Sometimes you can turn them on without even being in them, sometimes the button is in your pocket! 

Our modern life is full of beautiful inventions and conveniences that are downright miraculous and taken for granted so often. 

Spiritual Protection Types, and Why We Need It So Much

Unless you are new, you have probably endured many witches and practitioners emphasize the importance of mastering protection. It is a lot like carrying a self-defense tool, you are preventing something from happening before it happens to you in your most vulnerable state.

DISCLAIMER: This is based mostly on my personal experiences and own research as a practicing witch. Everyone has their own methods, you do not need to agree with me.

If you would like to support my endeavors, check out my profile! I had to retype this 3 times because I didn't save and would appreciate support

What is Spiritual Protection?

Spiritual protection takes several forms. It can be a crystal in your pocket, a jar, a sigil, a sign from a tarot card, a talisman, a ward, a bind, etc.

Basically, spiritual protection is ANYTHING meant to protect you, your loved ones, your sacred spaces, or living spaces.

First and foremost, we must discuss different categories of protection.

Prevention

Not giving room for the energy to enter to begin with. Some of us know the shock of interacting with a negative energy all too well, and in my experience, any negative energy makes it stronger. This makes an influx of positive energy so much more important and valuable

I see us and spaces all as having a limited capacity for energy, just like we have a limited capacity for anything. If there is too much positive energy, there will be no room for the negative energy to enter, let alone negative energy for them to fuel themselves.

Purification

Getting rid of the bad/boring/used energy that no longer serves us is purification. Some of us will practice purification by smoke cleansing, which is my personal favorite. Others will use baths, or protective oils to purify their energy. Energy that has stuck around too long feels like monotony to me, and when I feel monotony, I always cleanse.

Defense

There are a couple of different ways you are able to defensively protect yourself from negative energy. Warding is my preferred method, so we will discuss that first.

A ward can be a metaphorical wall, or an energy sponge, regardless of how you use it, it keeps everything you don't want out. Wards have to be scripted or programmed beforehand, in my experience. The more detail/work you put into them, the stronger they get. You can make them like Jell-O, or like concrete. They can allow any energy, no energy, or only certain energies to enter. The bounds to wards are endless, the only downside is trying to figure out when to charge them. (I recommend using the sun or moon to charge them, using yourself later on, charging them once a week). A more in depth post on wards is coming later.

Setting boundaries is another way to defend yourself, they allow us control in our relationships and interactions. They are exactly the type of boundaries you are thinking of, physical and mental (or psychic) boundaries. Developing strong boundaries is crucial to most relationships, not allowing toxicity to interfere with the beautiful relationship you have. Physical boundaries may be a salt line or circle, while mental may be shielding or cleansing.

Offense

I don't recommend beginners to start by working with offensive protection, unless absolutely necessary. I do not use offensive protection unless I genuinely feel that I am in harm's way.

This is a type of protection that will hunt the perpetrator down, regardless of whether or not it is a known energy or being. Sometimes simply casting chaos into the world is enough for the energy to leave you alone for a while, but other times, it is to keep the energy at bay. Hexes are considered offensive protection by some (me included).

Deflection

This is simply reflecting the energy sent onto you back onto the source, the most simple "no you don't" in witch history. Most commonly, deflection is done through Return To Sender workings, and when the energy or being is returned it is stuck to them.

Some witches can sense when negative energy is on their way to them, others find out through readings. Mirror Boxes are great for deflecting, along with sigils or witch balls.

Divine or Spiritual Protection

Calling upon protective deities, guardians, familiars, etc. to protect a person or space can be done through regular offerings to them. The offerings signify you still need their assistance, but this can very from being to being. All different beings can be pinned against each other in the name of protection, just ensure that they are stronger than whatever energy is trying to harm you. Many will set up altars or spirit houses as a way to visualize the agreement to work with the beings, making it special to the energy.

Thank you for reading my post until the end, and I hope it helps someone who needs it.

I used my own experiences and this link to learn about all of the different types.

Introduction to Shielding

If you haven’t already, check out my lessons on visualisation for the basic knowledge you’ll need to begin practicing shielding.

So what is shielding?

Shielding is a manipulation of energy, used to create a barrier between yourself and unwanted, usually negative or malicious energies. It’s a basic aspect of spellwork that everyone, beginner or experienced, should use to keep themselves safe.

What can I use shielding for?

Some beginner-level uses for shielding are drawing a circle, or casting a spell. A more experienced individual might use shielding in astral travel or spirit work, where there are a lot more malicious energies involved. Personally, I use shielding as often as possible, for instance when I do tarot readings, spells, spirit work, shadow work, and especially cursing. It gives that extra guarantee that you won't flood your personal space with unwanted energies.

Other uses include shielding against real-life dangers, to a certain degree. I often shield when I am walking through town at night for extra protection. But please remember to take other measures too! Call someone, pretend to be on the phone, plan your route, and even carry pepper spray if it's legal where you are.

An easy shielding method:

The easiest way to explain this is to think of your energy as a physical manifestation. Think how power attacks are shown in anime or cartoons - a streak of colour or light, or an element. Make it personable to you: fire signs (Leo/Aries/Sagittarius) might visualise fire, or a red energy or light etc.

Firstly, some people prefer to cleanse before shielding. I don't think its all that necessary but the choice is yours.

Begin by easing yourself into meditation. Get comfortable, and use whichever technique works for you. I have various methods for this in my visualisation lessons if you are struggling.

Attempt to visualise the energies surrounding you in your mind. It might be a swirling colour of light, almost like a cloud of dust. It could be flames, it could be water. Maybe try to see it held within your hand.

Now, attempt to shape this energy around your entire body. You might want to start with a bubble or a cube surrounding you. Feel this shape surrounding and protecting you. Visualise negative and unwanted energies being held back by it.

You can also layer shields, so if you are working with a particularly malicious energy you might want to have multiple shapes surrounding you, all within each other. You can also work with deities or spirits to ask them to shield you too.

Shielding Incantation

When I am shielding, I recite a spell as well as using visualisation techniques.

The shield of protection, I carry it strong, No ill wishes or trouble shall come along, You cannot harm me, or weaken my soul, My light is my weapon, and peace is my goal.

Try it out for yourself and let me know in the comments how it went! Thank you as always for reading. Please message for requests.