Honestly I may or may not actually make this a series, but this is an underappreciated divination method so I wanted to go over some different ways to do it today.
Throwing bones
My personal method (and the one I’ve seen most often) is to ask a question, throw the bones, and divine from the pattern. This usually involves an animist approach—the bones themselves have spirits, and so are able to have meanings and speak with the reader.
There are two ways I’ve seen this often done. One is that each bone has a meaning. The closeness of each bones, which are covering which, and which are separate from the rest all contribute to the overall interpretation. The other way is to throw a random bundle of bones and divine purely from the pattern itself.
Divination Tools
Another method is to make divination tools with bones. If one chooses to draw symbols on a collection of bones, this could be done to make a set of runes, or dice for astragalomancy. One could also make a bone pendant for pendulum readings, or perhaps a large vertebrae as a planchette for a Ouija board.
Pyro-osteomancy
This divination method is done by burning bones and divining from the remains. According to Kris Hirst, who’s quoted in the article “Bone Divination” on Learn Religions, “Oracle bones were used to practice of a form of divination, fortune-telling, known as pyro-osteomancy. Pyro-osteomancy is when seers tell the future based on the cracks in an animal bone or turtle shell either in their natural state or after having been burned. The cracks were then used to determine the future. The earliest pyro-osteomancy in China included the bones of sheep, deer, cattle, and pigs, in addition to turtle plastrons (shells).“
Sources
Wigington, Patti. “Bone Divination.” Learn Religions, 17 April 2019, learnreligions.com/bone-divination-2562499. Accessed 9 May 2019.
witch shit
There is a common misconception that only certain people are intuitive, that it is purely a metaphysical skill. A quote that really changed my perception of intuition was discussed by an author who gave a discussion on the different books on intuition and witchcraft she had written, “Intuition is a muscle”. But this would mean that everyone has this muscle! Many people feel barred from even trying to do magic, pick up a tarot deck or rune set, communicate with a passed relative, or even consult with their deity or god because they believe they are not intuitive. Coming from someone who is naturally gullible / somewhat naive, I want to talk a bit about what intuition is and how anyone can become more intuitive.
The best way I can define intuition concisely is the ability to understand or know information immediately, without any conscious reasoning or evidence. The ability to know something without being told or being shown proof. This may sound completely foreign or impossible, so let me provide some context. Have you ever heard the phrase “The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife”? Have you ever gotten a “bad vibe” from someone and avoided them? That is your intuition at work! Even interpreting emotional context based on someone’s vocal tone, pitch, body language, are forms of intuitive understanding.
It may seem strange to think social nuances we have been trained to observe and interpret since the day we were born could involve intuition, but think about it. Is there any physical evidence or conscious reasoning to explain tension that is literally palpable? Is there physical proof that when someone speaks in a certain tone or pitch, or moves in a certain way, that they are angry? No, these are just things we have trained ourselves to understand. A form of intuition. But of course, this may not translate over to tarot, or spirit and deity communication as easily as one would like.
When discussing how intuition works exactly, we have to discuss what exactly someone who is intuitive actually senses. I look at intuition as a form of energy work. Lets briefly discuss the “Thick Tension” example. Tension from a conversation is not a physical concept in that it is not a literal brick that has weight when held in someone’s hand. But the conversation still disrupted the surrounding area, due to the energy that conversation created. Think about how different emotions feel like different things. Many describe anger as sharp, jabbing, thick. Sadness is often equated with water, such as when someone is “pouring their heart out”. Although emotions are not bricks, the energy they have creates a physical disturbance. intuition includes being able to interpret those energies even though they can’t be given physical evidence of existing.
There are a variety of different ways to sense energy, many of which include employing clair senses. Clair senses refer to the ability to have intuitive understanding through our senses, the discussion of which could take up many more posts, but I will link resources at the end of this post. Some of the kinds you may be familiar with include clairvoyance, clairaudience, claircognizance, and clairempathy (also known as being and “empath”).
Well, it depends on what you want to be able to do! But I will link and discuss a multitude of different exercises and things you can do to improve your intuition.
Be aware of physical sensations when speaking with others or entering situations. Do you feel at ease with someone even though you don’t know them? Or do you have a sinking feeling in your stomach that you are trying to ignore? Listen to your gut! More often than not, you will find your “hunch” being right, especially as you practice.
Practice divination! I am not just saying this because I love divination, I’m saying this because I primarily improved my claircognizance through using divination. I used to not really have hunches, but now I have extremely accurate ones after 3 years of practicing tarot reading and other forms of divination.
Keep a dream journal and try to start interpreting your dreams. As nonsensical as they may seem, if you research symbolism, you may begin to see patterns in your dreams that reflect the main problems or situations in your life. I know I have! And I rarely remember my dreams.
Practice identifying objects without looking at them. This is a fun sensory game for most, but with time and more difficult items, you may be able to sense the energy of the item itself, see an image of it in your minds eye, hear a sound it makes, etc. If you want to amp this up, close your eyes and walk through a room while trying not to bump into anything! This is great for practicing sensing the aura’s of objects, and the more you can sense, the more you can try to interpret.
The next two exercises I am taking from Ellen Dougan’s book “The Natural Psychic”.
The first is practicing using your senses, and requires you to journal for four days.
Day 1: Seeing day
You should focus on your environment as if you are seeing it for the first time. When you enter a new room or landmark, you scan teh area to get a lay of the land, right? Take time to notice colors, shapes, people and items that catch your attention. How do these make you feel? Write down what you notice.
Day 2: Hearing day
No background music today! We drown out a lot of the sounds in our environment to focus on individual tasks. Today, spend time listening to your environment, what do you hear? It would be great to go to a nature location during this day. Take note of what you hear and how it makes you feel.
Day 3: Touching day
At this point, you should be getting the drill. When you touch items today, really spend time touching them. Feel the fabric of your clothing as you get dressed, your keyboard and mouse when you type, feel your own pulse, pet your animals. How do you feel when touching different items, and how does touch impact others, such as your pets?
Day 4: Sensing day
Today we focus on our emotions, and how our environment makes us feel. Take note of how certain environments, certain people, make you feel. You can do this with plants as well! Take note of what you sense.
The second is the ace of spades exercise, and requires a deck of cards.
Take the ace of hearts, the ace of diamonds, and the ace of spades out of the deck. Place all three face down on a flat surface and then mix them up before lining them up in a row. Go over each card one at a time and try to figure out which one is the ace of spades. Turn it over to see if you’re right! For a trial run, do this no more than 10 times in one sitting, and note how many times you were correct. This is a great way to identify what clair senses you may be employing. Answer these questions about the times you were correct,
Did you “just know” it was that card, a feeling in your gut?
Did you know it was the card when you touched it?
Did your inner voice tell you which one it was?
Did you feel an emotional response?
Did you see the card in your mind’s eye?
Other Resources: http://www.okinhealth.com/articles/10-clairsenses-intuition-emily-matweow
https://consciouslifenews.com/8-simple-way-to-boost-your-clairvoyant-abilities85450/1185450/#
“The Natural Psychic” by Ellen Dougan
https://powerpriestess.tumblr.com/post/176034234934/clairvoyance-101
https://ghosthuntingrebelwitch.tumblr.com/post/169571479633/developing-your-super-senses-in-particular
https://messageinthecrystal.tumblr.com/post/178155680555/empath-info
http://rosymystic.tumblr.com/post/177522966777/smalls-ways-to-develop-intuition
Many thanks to dislocated-cannibal here on tumblr, who is my mentor for energy work, as well as other things, who discussed the concept of emotions creating a n energy we an feel with me at length. Please check them out! http://dislocated-cannibal.tumblr.com/
I thought I might not be the only writer out there who likes to put symbolism in their stories so I found some things and what they represent!!
Alligator - stealth, survival
Ant - diligence, industry, community, remarkable strength, hard working, success, patience
Antelope - action
Armadillo - boundaries, self protection
Badger - aggressiveness, passion and drive
Bat - rebirth, longevity, joy, good luck
Bear - gentle strength, dreaming, introspection, power, protection
Beaver - builder, accomplishing goals
Bee - divine messenger, love, service, gathering, community
Bird - enlightenment, perspective, swiftness, vision, prophetic knowledge
Boar - nature-based wealth, prosperity, success, protection, courage
Buffalo - prayer, abundance, survival needs met, good fortune, healing
Bulls’ horns - a good symbol in meditation for motivation
Butterfly - rebirth, the soul, transformation, the three phases of life
Cat - feminine energy, mystical power, used to keep the wearer safe in travel, wholeness
Chameleons - ever-changing future, inconsistency
Cheetah - speed, focus
Cougar - power, swiftness, balance
Cows - red cows are a symbol of hope, inspiring symbol for nurturing efforts
Coyote - trickster
Crane - longevity. A pair of cranes symbolizes “Long Marriage”
Cricket - good luck charm, singing, Spring, fertility
Crow - sacred law, gateway to supernatural, shape shifting, illusion
Deer - graceful gentleness, sensitivity, compassion, kindness
Dog - companionship, health, service, loyalty, protection, future prosperity
Dolphin - manna, joy, childlike play, helpfulness, breath of life, harmony, intelligence, self connection
Donkey - fertility, easy childbirth, efficiency, health, well-being, and luck
Dove - peace, innocence, fidelity, love, gentleness, kindnes
Dragonfly - good fortune, magic, vision, dreams, luck, and ancient knowledge, illusion
Dragon - wisdom due to long lives and potent magic, royalty, Emperor, eternity, courage, strength, rain, Spring
Eagle - courage, spirit, bravery, strength
Elephant - commitment, strength, astuteness
Elk - stamina, pride, power, majesty
Fish - miracles, providence, sea/water magic, good luck and prosperity, foresight, fortune, salmon in particular, are associated with knowledge
Fox - camouflage, adaptability, integration, tricksters, shape shifters, and possessors of great magic
Frog - healing, cleansing, messages, health, honesty, fluidity, purification
Gazelle - awareness
Giraffe - grounded vision
Goat - tenacity, diligence, can help to achieve goals, endure criticism, and stay safe. Goat’s fur or foot - an anti-evil talisman.
Goose - safe return, love of home
Grasshopper - nobility, prosperity
Hawk - nessenger, strength, foresight, truth
Hippopotamus - emotional depths
Horses - power, stamina, speed, transportation and communication - A black horse with a white marking on its forehead is lucky
Hummingbird - joy, pure love, celebration of life
Ladybug - delight, trust
Lamb - filial piety (dutiful respect or regard for parents).
Lion (baby) cubs - inspire mercy and gentleness.
Lion (grown) - inspire strength, courage
Lions - pride, nobility, cunning, courage, just laws, fairness, the sun, images can protect sacred ground.
Lizard - dreaming, foresight, ancient secrets
Lynx - secrets
Monkey - benevolence, drives away evil
Moose - self-esteem, assertiveness
Mountain Lion - wisdom, leadership
Mouse - frugality, rebirth, scrutiny
Opossum - strategy, diversion
Otter - medicine (woman), balanced feminine energy
Owl - deception, wisdom, clairvoyance, magic
Ox - evil spirits that disturb lakes, rivers, and seas
Peacock - wholeness, dignity, beauty, recognition, self assurance, pride
Pig - rebirth and rejuvenation
Porcupine - innocence
Rabbit - fear, fertility, moon magic, speed, swiftness, longevity, courage, strength
Raccoon - dexterity, disguise
Raven - magic
Robin - growth, renewal
Rooster - courageous, warlike disposition, warmth and life of the Universe
Scorpion - the “fire within” that often needs careful tending
Seal - inner voice
Sheep - sacrifice
Snake - cunning, evil, supernatural power
Spider - destiny, fate, weaving
Squirrel - gathering
Swan - grace
Tiger - courage, bravery, fierceness, strength, being in the now
Turtle - mother earth
Weasel - stealth
Whale - record keeper
Wolf - teacher, A Guide to the Sacred
Zebra - Individuality
Aloe- Healing, protection, affection
Amaryllis- Pride
Anemone- Forsaken
Angelica- Inspiration
Apple blossom- Preference
Arborvitae- Unchanging friendship
Aster- Symbol of Love, Daintiness
Basil- Good wishes
Bay- Glory
Begonia- Beware
Bittersweet- Truth
Black-eyed Susan- Justice
Bluebell- Humility, kindness
Candytuft- Indifference
Red carnation- My Heart Aches, admiration
- White carnation- Innocence, pure love, women’s good luck gift
- Pink carnation- I’ll never forget you
- Yellow carnation- Disdain, disappointment, rejection
Chamomile- Patience
Chives- Usefulness
Chrysanthemum- Cheerfulness
Clover, white- Think of me
Coreopsis- Always cheerful
Coriander- Hidden worth
Crocus- spring, Youthful gladness
Cumin- Fidelity
Cyclamen- Resignation and good-bye
Daffodil- Regard
Daisy- Innocence, hope
Dill- Powerful against evil
Edelweiss- Courage, devotion
Fennel- Flattery
Fern- Sincerity
Forget-me-not- True love memories
Gardenia- Secret love
Geranium- oak-leavedTrue friendship
Gladiolus- Remembrance
Goldenrod- Encouragement, good fortune
Heliotrope- Eternal love
Holly- Hope
Hollyhock- Ambition
Honeysuckle- Bonds of love
Horehound- Health
Hyacinth- Games and sport, playfulness, rashness
– Blue Hyacinth- Constancy of love
– Purple Hyacinth- Sorrow, forgiveness, regret
– Yellow Hyacinth- Jealousy
– White Hyacinth- Loveliness, prayers for someone
Hydrangea- Gratitude for being understood; frigidity and heartlessness
Hyssop- Sacrifice, cleanliness
Iris- A message
Ivy- Friendship, continuity
Jasmine- white- Sweet love
Lady’s-mantle- Comforting
Lavender- Devotion, virtue
Lemon balm- Sympathy
Lilac- Joy of youth
Lily, calla- Beauty
Lily, day- Chinese emblem for mother
Lily-of-the-valley- Sweetness, purity
Lotus Flower- Purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, and rebirth
Magnolia- Love of nature
Marjoram- Joy and happiness
Mint- Virtue
Morning glory- Affection
Myrtle- Good luck and love in a marriage
Nasturtium- Patriotism
Oak- Strength
Oregano- Substance
Pansy- Thoughts
Parsley- Festivity
Peony- Bashful, happy life
Pine- Humility
Poppy, red- Consolation
Rhododendron- Danger, flee
Rose, red- Love, I love you.
Rose, dark crimson- Mourning
Rose, pink- Happiness
Rose, white- Purity, heavenly, I’m worthy of you
Rose, yellow- Jealousy, decrease of love
Rosemary- Remembrance
Rue- Grace, clear vision
Sage- Wisdom, immortality
Salvia, blue- I think of you
Salvia, red- Forever mine
Savory Spice- interest
Sorrel- Affection
Southernwood- Constancy, jest
Sunflower- Adoration
Sweet pea- Pleasures
Sweet William- Gallantry
Sweet woodruff- Humility
Tansy- Hostile thoughts
Tarragon- Lasting interest
Thyme- Courage, strength
Tulip, red- Passion, declaration of love
Tulip, yellow- Sunshine in your smile
Valerian- Readiness
Violet- Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, modesty
Wallflower- Faithfulness in adversity
Willow- Sadness
Yarrow- Everlasting love
Zinnia- Thoughts of absent friends
Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate, sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan)
Pink: love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
Beige and ivory: symbolize unification.
Ivory: symbolizes quiet and pleasantness.
Beige: calm and simplicity.
Yellow: signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.
Dark Blue: Symbolizes integrity, knowledge, power, and seriousness.
Blue: Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.
Turquoise: calm.
Teal: sophistication.
Aquamarine: symbolizes water.
Lighter turquoise: a feminine appeal.
Purple: Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honor, arrogance, mourning, temperance.
Lavender: femininity, grace and elegance.
Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.
Green: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, service, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.
Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.
Gray: Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm.
White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.
Black: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures), austerity, detachment.
Anything and everything that involves witchcraft and alcohol. Please drink legally and responsibly! And please tag this appropriately for those who avoid alcohol.
Correspondences of…
Wine types in witchcraft
White wine
Red wine
Rosé Wine
Champagne
Beer brands and witchcraft
Booze correspondence table
Making…
Blackberry gin
Booze witchcraft (making gin)
Tonic wine recipes
Mulled wine
Yule buttered rum
Hot toddy
Moon vodka
Infuse your booze
Using in witchcraft…
Vodka luck spell
Lucky night shots
Simple spell for warmer weather
Hot toddy (for good health and cheer!)
Love spell cocktail
Simple love potion
Witchy whiskey
Use of alcohol in a ritual
Get that bartending job spell
*Multiple links were pulled from this post*
Knot magic and witches ladder
Useful information for anyone exploring the Zodiac.
I love you with Endless Love, Blessed Be.
Not that long ago I purchased a tarot book that finally gave me the confidence to start making my own spreads and WALLA! My first ever spread! I got the inspiration from a few other’s that I have seen wandering around, but I really wanted one that was more unique to my own situation. I would also love to hear feedback, so please let me know how it worked for you! :)
Sometimes I wake up or just go about my day and suddenly an anxiety attack comes on, but I have no clue what action may have caused it. This spread helps me go through the steps of revealing what happened and how to get prevent it from happening in the future. Or at least recognizing it in the first place and be able to take the steps towards improvement. Feel free to twist up the question to your liking or expand it further.
My Anxiety Spread - also good for ptsd & depression
How am I dealing with the situation?
What triggered the anxiety?
Why do I feel stuck/trapped?
What am I not facing/seeing?
How do I work through it?
please do not remove caption.
The First House: Our compass; like the spark of vital life energy, that which guides you forward. Ruled by Aries.
The Second House: Our foundation; like a bear preparing for hibernation, what makes you feel secure. Ruled by Taurus.
The Third House: Our connections; like an observant child, how you relate to the wider world. Ruled by Gemini.
The Fourth House: Our womb; like a receptive mother, what provides you a sense of home. Ruled by Cancer.
The Fifth House: Our purpose; like a blooming flower, how you creatively express your unique self. Ruled by Leo.
The Sixth House: Our efficiency; like a true hustler, how you solve problems and improve. Ruled by Virgo.
The Seventh House: Our bonds; like royalty, what influences you to choose who to form unions with. Ruled by Libra.
The Eighth House: Our transformations; like a snake shedding its skin, how you adapt to the rhythms of life. Ruled by Scorpio.
The Ninth House: Our journeys; like a vagabond charting a new map, what opportunities you will lean into. Ruled by Sagittarius.
The Tenth House: Our victories; like the heroic warrior of a story, how you will be of benefit to the world. Ruled by Capricorn.
The Eleventh House: Our dreams; like looking deeply into the night sky, what dreams you want to manifest. Ruled by Aquarius.
The Twelfth House: Our transcendence; like the chaos in the death of a phoenix, how you will rise again from primordiality. Ruled by Pisces.
Where do our herb associations come from?
In our little community we regard rosemary as an all purpose herb, a replacement for other herbs. Rosemary itself is used for a lot of things just in general, and according to pinecone.pub and onespiritx.tripod it can be used for Anointing, Blessing, Cleansing, Consecration, Defense, Determination, Divination, Exorcism, Healing, Inspiration, Love, Lust, Memory, Protection, Psychic Development, Purification, Sleep, Spiritual Healing, Spirituality, Warding, Willpower, Wisdom, Youth.
however, i’ve also noticed a lot more people are asking why we use this herb for that, rallying against blindly following herb meanings and taking them for granted, so i’ve done some cursory research (x). it doesn’t cover everything, but here’s some to get the ball rolling:
cleansing/defense/protection/purification/warding - we tend to think of these in more magical/spiritual senses, of course, but originally it was brought to funerals to protect against infection (segways into next bullet)
memory - the herb took on another association, for memory, as funeral goers would start dropping the rosemary onto the coffin, symbolizing a promise to remember the deceased. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare writes, “Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary/ On this fair corse.” rosemary would also be used in bridal wreaths in tudor weddings to help the couple remember their vows. the memory association is again noted in shakespeare, as he says in Hamlet, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember.” and he mentions rosemary again in The Winter Tale, “For you, there’s rosemary and rue; these keep/ Seeming and savour all the winter long…” referencing how distinctive the scent is all year round.
Love/Lust - again, shakespeare references rosemary in Romeo and Juliet, though this relation seems a little weak, “Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with the same letter?“
Anointing/Blessing//Consecration/Exorcism/Protection/Purification/Spiritual Healing/Warding - rosemary became considered a “holy plant” through its association with sacred rites, became heavily used by the church for festivals and holidays, and was used as a ward against “black magic”. “Down with rosemary and so,/Down with the baies and mistletoe,/ Down with the holly, ivie all/ Wherewith ye deck the Christmas hall.” -the poet Herrick
sleep/warding/protection/healing - in a letter from Queen Phillippa of England’s mother, “The leves layde under the heade whanne a man slepes, it doth away evell spirites and suffereth not to dreeme fowle dremes ne to be afeade. But he must be out of deedely synne for it is an holy tree.” [the leaves laid under the head when a man sleeps, sends away evil spirits and prevents nightmares]. It was also customary around this time to burn rosemary and juniper berries as a disinfectant. it was also made into teas to disinfect sore gums/throats
youth - “Make thee a box of the wood of rosemary, and smell to it and it shall preserve thy youth.” - Banckes Herbal, 1525. a possible indication of the cultural beliefs surrounding rosemary in this era.
- - - - - - - - - -
so with superstitions and traditions aside, rosemary itself does have its own medicinal uses. you often see it touted as useful for “muscle pain, improving memory, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth”.
however, before making a tincture for any of these uses i would recommend looking for medical studies to see how well/proven these uses are.
Roman Goddesses
Roman mythology features a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each with their own unique roles, personalities, and stories. Here are some Roman goddesses:
Juno: Juno was the queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage, childbirth, and women. She was known for her fierce protectiveness of women and her ability to bestow fertility and prosperity.
Venus: Venus was the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She was associated with desire, sensuality, and pleasure, and was often depicted as a seductress.
Minerva: Minerva was the goddess of wisdom, art, and war. She was associated with strategic thinking, creativity, and skill in battle.
Diana: Diana was the goddess of the hunt and the moon. She was a protector of women, animals, and nature, and was known for her independence and fierce determination.
Vesta: Vesta was the goddess of the hearth and home. She was associated with domestic life, family, and hospitality, and was honored with a perpetual fire that burned in her temple in Rome.
Ceres: Ceres was the goddess of agriculture and grain. She was associated with fertility, abundance, and the cycles of nature.
Proserpina: Proserpina was the goddess of the underworld and the wife of Pluto. She was associated with the cycles of life and death, and was a symbol of rebirth and transformation.
These are just a few of the many goddesses in Roman mythology.
שמוש תּהילים Shimmush Tehilim [“Use of the Psalms”] is a work attributed originally to האי גאון Hai Gaon in the 10th century. It’s unclear to me at this point what role it played in Jewish life though many contemporary Jewish sources describe it as relatively little-known. As the story goes, a Christian convert named Johannes Gottfried Seelig translated the Shimmush Tehilim into German in the 16th century where it became a mainstay of Pennsylvania Dutch magic. In the 19th century the work was translated from German to English (Secrets of the Psalms by Godfrey Selig) and in the early 20th century became a popular source for rootworkers. [1] It’s been around the block! To me that suggests efficacy and I’ve found quite a bit of success with it myself.
This is a topic rife for study by the Jewish witch, here I’m going to focus of the use of the Psalms for warding a home.
Here are a few ideas for warding of a space, listed by Tehilim/Psalm number.
For each of these tehilim, the Shimmush Tehilim recommends reciting them followed by setting your intention with a petitionary prayer. Most of these are designed for personal protection. To adapt them to create a relatively simple ward of a space, I recommend methodically walking through the space while reciting the tehila and setting intention. For something stronger, write a more complex ritual that combines a few of these methods.
61: The quintessential tehilah for warding a home. It is especially strong when placed after the previous tenants have left but before you move in. If that isn’t possible because you’re warding a place you already live in, consider combining this tehilah with one or more tehilim below.
44: Walk through the home, reciting this and set your intention. Reapply often.
59: Recite this from the second verse through the end at solar noon and just before sunset for three days in a row.
91: This tehilah is often called “the anti-demonic psalm” and lives up to its name. The Shimmush Tehilim suggests reciting it 7 times for its basic effects. For stronger protection, consider reciting it 7 times for 7 consecutive days. In particularly challenging cases, recite it 99 times (7 times a day for 2 weeks, then one more time the next day). I think this is overkill for a day-to-day ward (I find that it also keeps benevolent spirits out), but it is helpful for thoroughly cleansing a space.
For creating warding amulets
31: Recite this tehila (again, quietly) over a small dish of oil (pick what feels best to you). This oil can then be used to charge an amulet of your choosing to divert עין הרע ayin ha-ra, the evil eye.
68 + 101: Write both of these on a bit of parchment if you can get it (if you cant, use something more sturdy than paper) to create a protective amulet.
To create a protective anointing oil
20: Mix rose essential oil, olive oil, and salt. Recite this tehila over it, followed by setting your intention (the Shimmush Tehilim stresses that this is done in a quiet voice). The resulting oil can be used to anoint thresholds for warding the home (or on anything else for that matter). The oil will need frequent reapplication.
For a quick, short-term ward
17: Shimmush Tehilim suggests reciting this in the morning after waking, followed by setting clear intention. This one is for short term warding of a person or space. In the most ideal conditions it can last until sunrise the next morning, though in personal practice I only rely on it for a few hours after sundown.
Posts in the home warding series…
Mezuzot: warding a Jewish home
Using Psalms/Tehilim for warding
Using sigils to create amulets
Anchoring and focusing a ward
A glance at my warding procedure
Erosion: physical considerations in warding