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Blooming Flowers near the glacial ice toe (2013) Located: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
MOON PHASES
NEW MOON : Setting intentions, taking actions, moving forward, focusing in the increase, starting new ventures, exploring opportunities
WAXING CRESCENT : Redefining goals and taking first actions, consistency, gaining momentum, determination, pushing forward
FIRST QUARTER : Finding the balance between the new goals and habits, expansion, being practical, concentration on goals
WAXING GIBBOUS : Cultivating actions toward goals, improving and readjusting, intensive growth, pushing boundaries
FULL MOON : The energy of completion, gratefulness, cleansing, charging, appreciating progress, psychic work, letting go
WANING GIBBOUS : Giving thanks, decluttering, eliminating negative habits, slowing down, reevaluing goals
LAST QUARTER : Letting go, practicing forgiveness, finding time to relax, cord-cutting, get rid of unhealthy habits and addictions
WANING CRESCENT : Making room for new, rest and surrender, energizing by doing things we love, discharging the health issues
Gardening by the Moon
Credit: animamundiherbals
Spells To Do For Each Phase of the Moon
New Moon: Spells related to personal growth, manifestation, abundance, fertility, new relationships, grounding, and stability.
Waxing Crescent: Spells related to success, growth, attraction, communication, and intellect.
First Quarter: Spells related to courage, motivation, breaking bad habits, passion, and creativity.
Waxing Gibbous: Spells related to balance, organization, completion, emotional healing, and intuition.
Full Moon: Spells related to love, intuition, psychic abilities, abundance, protection, releasing negative energy, and grounding.
Waning Gibbous: Spells related to banishing, breaking bad habits, releasing negative energy, and communication.
Last Quarter: Spells related to endings, closure, forgiveness, passion, and creativity.
Waning Crescent: Spells related to rest, renewal, dream work, divination, emotional healing, and intuition.
My Ko-Fi
Planetary placements in a birth chart
The planetary placements in a birth chart represent the position of the planets at the time and location of a person's birth. Each planet represents different energies and archetypes that influence different areas of life. Here is a brief explanation of the planetary placements in birth charts:
Sun: The Sun represents the individual's core identity, ego, and vitality. It indicates the person's sense of self, their inner nature, and how they express themselves.
Moon: The Moon represents emotions, instincts, and the unconscious. It indicates the person's emotional needs, nurturing qualities, and how they experience and process their feelings.
Mercury: Mercury represents communication, thinking, and intellectual abilities. It indicates the person's mental processes, style of thinking, and communication skills.
Venus: Venus represents love, beauty, and harmony. It indicates the person's approach to relationships, aesthetics, and values.
Mars: Mars represents action, energy, and passion. It indicates the person's drive, assertiveness, and sexuality.
Jupiter: Jupiter represents expansion, growth, and abundance. It indicates the person's sense of purpose, optimism, and ability to attract good fortune.
Saturn: Saturn represents responsibility, structure, and limitation. It indicates the person's sense of duty, discipline, and areas where they may face challenges and limitations.
Uranus: Uranus represents innovation, rebellion, and individuality. It indicates the person's need for freedom, independence, and desire to break free from conventional norms.
Neptune: Neptune represents spirituality, intuition, and imagination. It indicates the person's sensitivity, creativity, and potential for escapism or delusion.
Pluto: Pluto represents transformation, power, and intensity. It indicates the person's potential for deep transformation, intensity, and areas where they may experience power struggles or control issues.
The sign and house placement of each planet in a person's birth chart can provide more detailed information about how that planet's energy manifests in different areas of their life. The relationships between the planets in the chart, such as aspects and conjunctions, can also reveal important dynamics and themes in the individual's life.
Tarot:Major Arcana
(Simplified, pt. 1)
1.The Magician
Seeing the path ahead
Taking action & making decisions
Stop overthinking
Reversed
Blocked flow
Projects aren’t going ideally
2.The High Priestess
Appreciate the feminine in the world
Value in depth, sensitivity, contemplation
Reversed
Tone down & refocus your energy
3. The Empress
Something of abundance is headed your way
Reversed
Suggests a time of struggling with not having enough of something
4.The Emperor
Divine Masculine
Protection, Order, Power
Reversed
Tyranny
Lack of focus
5.The Hierophant
Learning, Routine, Tradition
Take counsel of trusted ones
Reversed
Rebellion, Chaos, Rejection
Shift in values
6.The Lovers
Love coming your way
Love yourself first
Reversed
Jealousy, separation, indecision
Struggles in love ahead
7.The Chariot
Issues will be resolved soon
Development & growth: not without struggle
Reversed
Upcoming danger
Failures standing in the way
8.Strength
Compassion, charisma, patience
Reversed
Lack of courage
Hopelessness
9.The Hermit
Intense transformation
Spend time alone
Reverse
Too much isolation
10. Wheel Of Fortune
Abundance
Beginning of a new season
Reversed
Change is being ignored
11. Justice
Clear path to success
Balance
Important choice
Reversed
Imbalance, dishonesty, unfairness
12.The Hanged Man
Experience is deepened, refocused, or intensified
Change in perspective
Positive change
Reversed
Trouble adjusting to change
Fighting progress
Wrong level of self-awareness
13.Death
Positive
New Beginnings
Passion
Reversed
Pessimism, Fear
14.Temperance
Magic
Potential pain
Reversed
Imbalanced, Argumentative
Feeling of being fragmented
15.The Devil
Someone in your life is controlling
Potential addiction
Reversed
Unhappiness
Lack of self control
16. The Tower
Imprisoned, Conflict
Fighting for beliefs
Reversed
Avoidance of responsibility
17. The Star
Transcendent openness
Healing & wholeness
Reversed
Wasting time
Loss of self-respect
18.The Moon
Divine Feminine
Truth
Reversed
Confusion
19. The Sun
Expansiveness & success
Clarity & focus
Reversed
Arrogance, self-doubt
Refusal to share knowledge
20. Judgement
Rebirth
Decision making
Changes ahead
Reversed
Ignoring change
21. The World
Completion
Celebrating accomplishments
Reversed
Delay in success
22. The Fool
Innocence, openness, playfulness
Reversed
Irrational, Naive
Never progressing
🌸✨🤍🖤
Pt. 2 is out on my page 💜💙
Secular Altar Themes
Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn
Weather: rain, snow, fog, etc.
Biome: aquatic, forest, desert, grassland, tundra
Element: Earth, Air, Fire, Water
Celestial: Moon, Sun, stars, planets, etc.
Divination: display your methods of divination. If you work with Tarot/Oracle, highlight a certain card and its meanings
Healing: display whatever tools you use for your healing methods
Animal Focus
Color Focus
Crystal Focus
Material Focus: all wood materials, all copper, all glass, all porcelain, etc. Kitchen Witches can even have a whole tea set on their altar to Craft with
Witch Type: if you identify as a specific type of witch, you can coordinate your altar to that. See here for inspiration
Spell Type: love, wealth, prosperity, luck, growth, strength, protection, etc.
Aesthetic: whatever you like, Pinterest has inspiration for you
None: no strong theme at all! Just all your materials in one place with a cleared Craft space
Everyday Magic 🌻✨
Witchcraft comes in all shapes and sizes, and so do us witches. We can’t all always afford the same items, time, energy, spaces to practice larger bouts of magic, and that can leave us feeling a little lost or sad that we haven’t practiced or performed anything.
But, don’t fear, little birds, because I have a whole list of different types of tiny magic practices and there’s definitely something here for everyone! Whether you don’t have many spoons or can’t scrape much cash together, there’s every day magic for you.
Kitchen Craft:
Sprinkle some dried herbs into your smoothies, pasta sauces, or dips to invoke their correspondences and intents
Stir clockwise to manifest intentions or anticlockwise to banish/let go of thoughts
Drink different herbal teas for different intents, like ginger tea for clarity and grounding
Coloured utensils! Keep different coloured pots, cups, or spoons to use in baking. Pink cups for love drinks, green spoons for money magic, and so on
Keep store bought dried herbs for spells if you struggle with/cannot have real plants
Draw sigils with the sauces you apply to your food
Make your own breads and sauces and turn the recipes into different spells
Home Craft:
Sprinkle a herb onto the floor and leave to sit for a few minutes before you vacuum to bless your home with that intent
Let a black candle burn by the front door to cleanse off negative energies which may have come through it
Light basil incense around the house for new beginnings and cleansing
Keep a money jar, and each time you add to it, make a wish for future prosperity. When you break it, spend the money you need to or give it away to the less fortune/charities to spread the fortune it brought you
Make essential oil sprays to spruce up a room with your intent easily, but be sure to do your research (here’s two to start you off)
Play calming playlists to re-energise your home, I personally like to use forest sounds
Hang herb bundles on doors to invite their intents in, like a bundle of basil and lavender for prosperous and positive new beginnings
Set out diffusers and match the number of sticks to an angel number you wish to invoke, such as four for support and family
Bathroom Craft:
Soaps and shampoos with scents/ingredients/colours matching what you wish to invoke
Add petals or herbs to your bath to bless yourself in their intents
Sing chants, songs and poems in the shower about how you want your day to go
Carve sigils and runes into your bars of soaps
Draw sigils into the smoked up glass and mirrors
Keep a white flannel for cleaning the bathroom, and could even put herbs or magic water onto whilst doing so
Sleep Craft:
You can put any manner of things under your pillow to invoke their intents, from sigils to leaves to crystals to money
Read a story before bed similar to what you want to manifest into your own life, such as a love story or a poem about being courageous
Sleep with a playlist with calms you to ease yourself into rest when you’re struggling
Say goodnight to your guides or ancestors!
If possible and healthy, wake up to an alarm at an angel number to ‘fit’ your day to that energy, for instance, if you have to get up at 6am, try 5:55 instead
Travel Craft:
Pack yourself a mini witch kit if you don’t have access to your things. You can include mini herb hard, micro crystals, a small pen and paper, string, and a small birthday candle, for instance
Talk to your guides and beings in this time in your mind to wish them well and ask them for advice or to accompany you if you wish
Take a moment to listen to the natural bustling world around you between having your headphones on
Say any prayers you wish to give in your mind at this time
Trace sigils on the windows or surfaces around you
Write sigils into your shoes for safe travel and unsore feet
Wear crystal pendants associated with safe travel
You can learn on the go! Whether it’s books, blogs, or podcasts, this would be a good time to dedicate to learning new craft
Work Craft:
A desk plant is still a plant, and you can use it as a spell of growth in your career
Bring lunch with you that you’ve magically prepared at home (kitchen magic above!)
If you’re someone who doodles as they work, but you don’t want to be told off or caught, keep an empty pen for drawing out invisible sigils (but make sure it’s really empty)
Keep spell sachets for success at the bottom of your work bag
Garden/Nature Craft:
Collecting ethically and sustainably can take a lot of research, so when you’re unsure, simply use the ‘discards’ rule. Take only what you see is discarded by nature, such as broken off stems or fallen wilted flower heads, sticks from the ground, or leaves also. Be sure you know if they’re safe to use, touch, or eat though
In your own garden, plant all year round and native plants if you don’t have much time for upkeep
Use food waste as compost for your plants! This is an easy way to recycle otherwise landfilled food waste whilst also giving your plants a nutritional meal for them. Take a read here about composting.
Keep window boxes for your plants if space is an issue, or even a vertical plant holder
Strolling/being in nature, parks, and gardens is a brilliantly way to recharge you and your tools
Art Craft:
Paint your dreams and what you wish to manifest
Sing songs about your desires and wishes
Work with colours reflecting the intentions you wish to invoke
Before using a canvas, lightly wash it down in magic water with any herbs or spices which reflect your intent for the piece you’re making
Weave your crystals into pendulums and jewellery to bond with them
Sew sigils into the inside of your clothing or bags
Sew a dried herb pouch into the inside of a bag or coat to bless it with these things (but be sure to do so properly and not let it get wet to avoid mould)
Write letters and poems to the universe thanking it or asking for blessings
Divination Craft:
A pendulum can be made out of anything and string. Whilst crystals and pure metals and such are nice, don’t overlook a metal key or a beach stone
You can make your own deck, tarot or oracle, and it can be as detailed or not detailed as you like
Homemade runes can be made in an oven! Hunt around for people’s various different methods of home cast runes
Your own body can be a pendulum if you concentrate on the question and allow your sway to take you
If you’re a scryer, you don’t need a crystal ball, a regular mirror can work with your technique, but always do your research on the method nonetheless
Keeping PDFs on meanings is 100% valid, okay, and actually a really wise thing to do! They can help look at your spreads in a way you didn’t initially see
You can pull a card a day without having a set question
Sunlight and moonlight can charge your decks
Selenite is known to be a good charger for any and all tools
New In Stock at Portland Button Works and the PBW Witch Shop and PBW Zine Distro January 13, 2021
Back in stock!
New Stuff in the Portland Button Works Shop and some restocks:
Is it an athame? Because it just looks like a book arts bone folder to me that just happens to have a pentacle on it. Great for folding zines or other book arts projects Neat! $5
Small Brass Bell $1
Cast Iron 3.5" Mortar and Pestle $16
Especially Now by Jonas Cannon a small book of even smaller and very lovely micro stories $5
Lavender and Rosemary Incense $2.50
Back in stock!
Cast Iron Incense Burner $5
Charcoal burner $7
Antique Keys $3
Small 3" Cast Iron Cauldron $10
Antique Horseshoes $5
Witchcraft Exercises - Witchy Inspo Journal
Not sure what to do with all those notebooks you’ve collected for future use in your craft? (Don’t lie, we all have a stack somewhere.) Turn them into inspo journals!
Create and maintain a journal where each page is a quote or song lyric or picture that inspires you in your craft or defines some element of your practice. Use scrapbooking materials, washi tape, stickers, stamps, and any art supplies you wish. If you’re skilled at drawing or painting, you can do that too.
The journal can be a simple notebook or a three-ring binder or a nice scrapbook from the craft store, whatever works for you. Try to do a page a week if you can, and collect ideas for future pages when you can’t. Update as often as you feel inspired to do so and enjoy some witchy art therapy.
This can also be turned into a devotional activity, with your inspo journal dedicated to your chosen deity(ies) or pantheon. A devotional inspo journal can also make a great private altar if you don’t have the space for one in your home or if you’re a stealth witch who can’t practice or venerate openly.
Here are some examples from my own inspo journal:
Started doing grimoire prompts as a group in my discord server, and now I'm making a trip to the stationary store today because I'm gonna do this shit. I might post pictures and stuff here as I make progress
Fairy Tale Spells by Bree NicGarran
Fairy tales have always been with us. Apart from teaching moral lessons and practical cautions, they remain a source of wonder and inspiration that persists even in a modern age dominated by technology.
There is magic in these tales as well - spells and charms that aid the worthy and conquer obstacles, heal the ailing and bring wealth to the poor, thwart the wicked and exact terrible revenge, or grant someone their hearts' desire and make their dearest wishes come true.
I have created over a hundred such spells, inspired by the tales recorded by the Brothers Grimm and the folklore collected by Andrew Lang. One volume was published back in 2017 and another is forthcoming. If you're curious (and maybe a little bit daring), here are some previews of the spells to be found in the pages of The Sisters Grimmoire.
After all, who couldn’t use a bit of Happily Ever After?
The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. I
A Bellyful of Stones - A curse to punish the greedy.
Roughskin - To protect and disguise oneself from those who mean to harm you.
Table of Plenty - To obtain needed money or provisions.
The Red Flower - For removing enchantment.
The Sorrow Pot - To relieve your sorrows and bring justice for a grievance.
The Wall of Thorns - To protect one’s home and property.
The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. II (forthcoming)
Make Sure You Lock Up - To set your household wards when you lock your front door.
The Ferryman's Curse - To curse another with the problems that plague your own life.
The Shining Web - To repel trouble from the home.
You can find more spells from The Sisters Grimmoire, Vol. I and potion and powder recipes from Pestlework by checking out the mid-month minisodes of Hex Positive, available on your favorite podcast platform.
All of my titles can be found on Amazon or ordered from the Willow Wings Witch Shop. (If you'd like to see them in your local witch shop, feel free to give the proprietor my contact information!)
If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar! 😊
Sea Magick
Tarot Through a Jewish Lens (Part I)
Is Tarot Jewish?
No. Tarot was not a Jewish creation and nor does it come from Kabbalah. When Waite made his famous RWS deck, he was a Christian occultist/magician and part of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and also formed his own Fellowship of the Rosy Cross. He was a Catholic involved in ‘western esotericism’ and fell under the learnings of Eliphas Levi. Eliphas Levi was not a Jewish man. He was a French gentile occultist who changed his name from Alphonse Louis Constant to Éliphas Lévi Zahed – why? He wanted his magical works to sound more authentically exotic (aka, Jewish) because he appropriated from Jewish mysticism and skewed it for his own wants. He believed that Kabbalah was the “linking factor between the Old Testament and the New Testament”, and that is rooted in Christian supersessionism, a violent ideology that has resulted in many murders of the Jewish people. Another example is the french occultist, Court de Gébelin, who claimed that the Major Arcana were numbered to correspond to the 22 letters in both the Egyptian and Hebrew alphabets. It didn’t seem to trouble him that at the time different versions of the deck that was in circulation sometimes had more than and sometimes less than 22 Major Arcana cards. Or that ancient Egyptians didn’t use an alphabet.
So no. Tarot was created as a playing card game, sprung up in Italy, Germany, and France. It was not intended for 'occult’ use until much later. And still, in no way shape or form, was it ever Jewish in origin. In the Torah, besides certain kinds of divination/tools, divination is forbidden and Tarot is considered avodah zarah (idolatry) because it is a non-Jewish practice.
Now I’m sure you’re asking: Well you read tarot, why are you telling me this? Aren’t you incriminating yourself? I’m telling you because I want to stress and push back against cultural appropriation and Christian supersessionism that is rooted in these beliefs, and I want to make it clear that the relationship between a Jew, halacha, and G!d is on them - but to not fool oneself claiming a non-Jewish practice is actually Jewish. That, I think, is more ludicrous than just using tarot.
Alright, now onto the fun parts and what you are here for.
My Jewish Theology with Tarot
Keep reading
Teshuvah Tarot Spread
Putting things into tarot spreads helps me process and understand them better, so this spread was born! Especially with Yom Kippur coming up, this felt good to share. Teshuvah is a Jewish process of repentance, designed to aid us in confronting our own wrongdoings, making right on them, and working to make sure we are better people in the future. Gentiles are welcome to use this spread for their own self-improvement, but please do not use it for a profit!
CARD ONE- Going astray. Identifying the wrongdoing, the harm we have caused, and where we have strayed off the path of doing the most good. This can be used to identify a transgression you might not be aware of. If you are reading for a specific wrongdoing, treat this card as a “why?” card; what troubles or toxic elements led us to act this way? Is there a larger problem that needs addressing?
CARD TWO- Making right. Card two doesn’t necessarily have to go before card three in this spead, both “occur” at the same time. It’s important to try and help repair any damage we caused, apologize, and make things right, if possible. This card guides us on how we can best do so, what actions we can take to restore the balance.
CARD THREE- Casting away. It’s not enough to just address the aftermath of our actions; we must also look at the root. We looked at where the harm came from in card one; how can we distance ourselves from that place? What actions can we take so that we won’t it again?
CARD FOUR- Prepare for the future. They say the real test of repentance is not the apology, but changed behavior, aka how you act the next time a similar situation comes up. This is advice for that moment: when life goes on and we find ourselves faced with the same demons/temptations/conflicts, what lesson should we keep in mind?
CARD FIVE- Honor your path. We are all working to be the best versions of ourselves. What can we do to continue down that path? What actions can we take to welcome in more truth, more loving-kindness, more balance, and more opportunities to do good? How can we best honor our journey of becoming the kind of people we want to be?
I hope you enjoy and please feel free to let me know what you think! If you like this spread, consider getting a reading from me (@will-o-the-witch) for PWYW!
As someone who’s been wanting to convert for a while and who’s also been drawn to witchcraft for ages, do you have any resources or starting points for how Judaism and witchcraft can work together? I’m stuck in this battle of feeling like I have to choose one or the other to commit to and I’m Bad for wanting both, and I feel like I’d face extra judgement as a convert, if that makes sense to you?
(I’m happy to donate in exchange for this question, because I know you must get a lot of the same kind of thing but I don’t know where else to go)
jewitches.com has a lot of great articles, many of which dive into the intersection of Jewish practice and witchcraft! Zo is a lovely human being and also cites all her sources. YIVO institute also has a great, free (free!) course on Ashkenazi folklore which I think is really neat (and I'm happy they make the distinction that it's specifically Ashkenazi instead of treating it as universal.) Here's a link.
Obviously I'm biased, but I really don't believe magic work and Judaism are opposing forces. A lot of folk practices and religious rituals (in a lot of religions, really) would be indiscernible from magic work on paper. We're just busy calling it tradition instead of magic. The word "witchcraft" is also very nebulous and can encompass a lot of different practices, some of which you may decide to abstain from because of your religious affiliation or not. That part is totally up to you.
You're not Bad at all for having your own approach, no more than anybody else is bad for doing their thing. Your connection with the Divine is between you and that Divine! You'll have a lot more luck converting under reform or renewal movements, probably. You don't have to be "out" about your practice with your peers if you don't want to, that's your business. I don't recommend lying to your Rabbi though, so you'll want a Rabbi who is willing to have those conversations. I'm sure they're out there!
I hope all this helps! Totally reach out if you have any other questions. :) And thank you so much for offering to tip, that's very very kind of you. Usually I would refuse, but you caught me in the middle of trying to stop immediately rejecting every nice thing people offer me so I'll share my Paypal and Venmo links just this once lol. Please do not feel obligated to tip me though!!
🕯 Jewish Entities 🕯
Many folks know that Judaism is a closed practice, but don't always know how to spot appropriation. Here is a list of Jewish entities that aren't shared with Christianity, meaning they are closed to non-Jews.* This list isn't fully-comprehensive, but I've marked some of the more popular ones. (For Jewitches, this could also be treated as a list for Jewish spirit workers who want to reclaim some of these entities as part of our own path!)
*Note: Some of these entities ARE shared with Islam (another initiatory tradition,) so they would still be open for our Muslim friends to work with but still restricted to the general public. Those entities are marked with an asterisk*.
Angels
Erelim
Hashmallim
Ishim/Eshim*
Lailah
Metatron*
Se'irim
Demons
Agrat bat Mahlat
Alukah
Lilith
Mazzikin
Naamah
Samael
Tanin'iver
Creatures & Monsters
Broxa
Chalkydri
Dybbuks
Estries
Golems
Re'em (Unicorns are okay, just don't call them Re'em!)
Ziz
Jewish Angel Work
I don't see a bunch of writing about angel work in general, and what I do find is often heavily Christianized! I wanted to talk about what angel work can look like from a Jewish perspective.
(Gentiles may interact and enjoy, but understand that this is for educational purposes and not an invitation to appropriate! 🤍)
A Jewish-Specific Perspective
Judaism views angels in ways other traditions may not share! Some examples:
Angels aren't former humans. They are their own distinct beings just like demons, cows, land spirits and butterflies. People who pass away, even children, are not considered "angels returning home." These angels have specific forms and looks depending on the type, some more humanoid than others.
Angels don't have free will. This does not mean they are held hostage or can't have their own personalities, but their will is an extension of HaShem's Will, serving a specific role in making that Will manifest. Kind of like employees in a corporation doing their tasks!
They don't have names. Or at least, they don't have names we're supposed to know or ask for. They may be incomprehensible to humans, or maintaining a level of anonymity as to not distract from HaShem. Either way, asking for a name is often discouraged in traditional texts.
They AREN'T all here to help you. While it all serves a Divine Will and is therefore Good in the grand scheme of things, many angels serve completely neutral functions from a human perspective. Some could even be considered harmful to humans, the most prominent example being HaSatan. (Even still, HaSatan isn't seen as a true villain. He's just doing his job.)
Some of them are ONLY here to help you! Historical Rabbis were big on the concept of guardian angels. The Talmud says "Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'" (Midrash Rabba, Bereshit 10:6.) Every living creature, including you, has a guardian angel to help you along your path. Some translations say the angels hit the grass, and that's not the only story of angels smacking things, so that guidance isn't always gentle, but it's always in the right direction.
Types of Angel Work
Spirit guides. Like mentioned above, guardian angels can help encourage you to "Grow! Grow!" and keep you on a path in line with spiritual health and lovingkindness.
Communing with HaShem. Gd is extremely esoteric. Angels help us send and recieve messages in an easier-to-conceptualize way! Meditation and prayer can also play into this. Beyond every-day applications, angels can also appear unexpectedly with important messages.
Communicating with other spirits. As angels are often messengers, I also think it's helpful to call upon their aid when working with other spirits!
Working with angels of various functions. Modern day Rabbis often marry angelic theology with scientific phenomena, with angels overseeing the process. By that extent, we could ask those angels for help/guidance when relevant!
Protection. Psalm 91, often recited for protection, depicts HaShem commanding angels on your behalf to guard you in all ways. One bedtime prayer names the four archangels to surround us.
Shalom Aleichem is traditionally sung on Friday nights before Shabbat dinner. It invites angels of peace to basically come and hang out with us during shabbat, then to leave in peace once shabbat is over. Many arrangements also make a good lullaby.
Other Notes
Metatron (מֶטָטְרוֹן) is a specifically-Jewish angel who gets appropriated a lot in spiritual circles. He does not appear in the Tanakh, but is mentioned in the Talmud and largely fleshed out in kabbalistic literature! (Islamic literature does mention him by different name, ميططرون, Mitatrun/Mitatrush. Solidarity.)Lots of people recognize Lilith as closed, but the same attention hasn't been given to Metatron. He's a very complex and ambiguous figure worth a whole post of his own so I won't get into it here!
This post is by no means comprehensive! This is just a very "quick" overview of a very rich field of study.
Further Study
On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture-- Mika Ahuvia
A Gathering of Angels: Angels in Jewish Life and Literature-- Morris B. Margolies
Ascending Jacob's Ladder: Jewish Views of Angels, Demons, and Evil Spirits-- Ronald H. Isaacs
hi! ive been getting back into the craft recently and i was wondering if you have any book reccomendations that i could learn more from! (i know youve published your own, which i will be checking out soon!!)
I have a book recs tag that contains most of the titles that I regularly recommend for witchcraft studies, but there are a few I could mention by name:
History:
Drawing Down The Moon (Margot Adler)
Triumph of the Moon (Ronald Hutton)
The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present (Ronald Hutton)
The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic (Owen Davies)
Witchcraft, magic and culture 1736–1951 (Owen Davies)
Witchcraft:
The Dabbler's Guide to Witchcraft: Seeking an Intentional Magical Path Seeking an Intentional Magical Path (Fire Lyte aka Don Martin)
New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic (Cory Thomas Hutcheson)
By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn: The Theory & Practice of Effective Home Warding (Althaea Sebastiani)
Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices (Dana O'Driscoll)
Honoring Your Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration (Mallorie Vaudoise)
Spellcrafting: Strengthen the Power of Your Craft by Creating and Casting Your Own Unique Spells (Arin Murphy-Hiscock)
The Magical Writing Grimoire: Use the Word as Your Wand for Magic, Manifestation & Ritual (Lisa Marie Basile)
Light Magic for Dark Times: More than 100 Spells, Rituals, and Practices for Coping in a Crisis (Lisa Marie Basile)
Sigil Witchery: A Witch's Guide to Crafting Magick Symbols (Laura Tempest Zakroff)
The Hearth Witch's Year: Rituals, Recipes & Remedies Through the Seasons (Anna Franklin)
Previous Posts:
Here are the Top Ten foundational texts that I started out with.
Here are the books I recommend if you want to work with plants.
Here are the three titles I have on the market.
Here is the Dropbox I made with free (legal) historical texts on witchcraft and magic.
And here is my personal library (slightly out of date) which might give you some more ideas!
Witchcraft Books by Bree NicGarran
Grovedaughter Witchery: Practical Spellcraft
For the witch whose town is devoid of occult shops and covens, learning the craft can be a daunting task indeed. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for a budding practitioner to make a start.
Stroll down the forest path with Bree NicGarran, author of The Sisters Grimmoire, and discover the surprising ways you can practice your craft with commonplace items from the supermarket and the craft store. Build a travel kit for on-the-go magic. Create your own spells from scratch with a step-by-step guide. Learn how to make your own witch webs and magical powders. Uncover the secrets of walnut charms and witchballs and much, much more. Every page carries tricks of the trade and homegrown charms from the files of the Grovedaughter herself.
From besoms to banishings to a bit of good advice, Grovedaughter Witchery is the ideal book for any witch with an inclination toward a practical, no-frills approach to witchcraft.
The Sisters Grimmoire: Spells & Charms For Your Happily Ever After
Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, Who’s the cleverest witch of them all?
With the spells in this book, it just might be you!
Inspired by the well-known works of The Brothers Grimm, this volume boasts over sixty original spells lovingly crafted from favorite fairy tales, along with helpful spellcrafting instructions and several indices to aid you in your journey. All of this is wrapped up with useful chapter forewords discussing the various themes within the tales, some insight into the creative process, and a bit of discussion on ethics and the usage of magic.
Whether you’re ready to yell “All Heads Off But Mine,” looking to turn your luck around with some Buried Coins, or just wanting to show the world What Big Teeth you have, there is sure to be a spell within these pages that is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
After all, who couldn’t use a bit of Happily Ever After?
Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils
From the author of Grovedaughter Witchery comes a volume of potions and powders for all occasions, suitable to enhance the craft of any practitioner.
Old standards like Banishing Powder and Blessing Oil meet new classics like Dream Dust and Stargazer Wishing Oil. Need to rid your house of a troublesome spirit? Try a sprinkle of Ghost-Be-Gone Powder. Looking for a way to get your zest back after spellwork? Brim With Vim Vitality Oil might be just the thing. Over 200 original formulae await you within these pages, along with helpful hints, safety tips, and detailed instructions for creating your own magical powders and oils.
Collected for the first time in a single volume, these recipes are the product of twelve years of experience and much experimentation. While magic is never a guarantor of success, the potions within these pages just might give your spells the edge you need.
Visit my Amazon Author Page for listings and book reviews! You can also visit my Wordpress shop to order books and other witchy goodies directly from me. (All orders billed through Paypal. Nominal shipping charges will apply.)
Make sure you check out my podcast, Hex Positive, on your favorite podcatcher app! (Part of the Nerd and Tie Podcast Network.)
If you own a shop and would like to carry my titles, please contact me at BreeNicGarran@gmail.com for wholesale information.
Witchcraft Exercises
Just a quick compilation of the posts I've made about exercises to help improve your craft. These can be used as journaling prompts, inspiration for activities, or as methods for pulling yourself out of a slump and recharging your witchy inspiration.
Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft
Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches
Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons
Witchcraft Exercise - Home Brews
Prompt - Music to Witch By
Most of these are also available in the May 2021 bonus episode of Hex Positive (check your favorite podcatcher).
Happy Witching!
MOON PHASES
NEW MOON : Setting intentions, taking actions, moving forward, focusing in the increase, starting new ventures, exploring opportunities
WAXING CRESCENT : Redefining goals and taking first actions, consistency, gaining momentum, determination, pushing forward
FIRST QUARTER : Finding the blance between the new goals and habits, expansion, being practical, concentration on goals
WAXING GIBBOUS : Cultivating actions toward goals, improving and readjusting, intensive growth, pushing boundaries
FULL MOON : The energy of completion, gratefulness, cleansing, charging, appreciating progress, psychic work, letting go
WANING GIBBOUS : Giving thanks, decluttering, eliminating negative habits, slowing down, reevaluing goals
LAST QUARTER : Letting go, practicing forgiveness, finding time to relax, cord-cutting, get rid of unhealthy habits and addictions
WAXING CRESCENT : Making room for new, rest and surrender, energizing by doing things we love, discharging he health issues
The Eight Sabbats and The Wheel of the Year: My Digital Grimoire Series
*these are my notes, please do not repost as your own!*
What are your favorite Latin phrases or just phrases in general?
omg this is a cool question, let me try to recall some of my favs:
per adua ad astra, and all it’s variations (per aspera ad astra, sic itur ad astra, and so on). they’re all various ways of saying “through hardship, you will go the stars”. Idk, ever since I first learned the phrase, it’s always stuck with me as one of the most beautiful expressions.
Veni, vidi, vici- I came, I saw, I conquered. It sounds imposing and powerful and like something i’d have tattoed on myself if i was a battle-scarred warrioress.
semper ad meliora- always towards better things. I like it simply because a) it sounds nice to say (which is a common factor for all my favorite phrases, tbh) and b) it’s inspirational, as cheesy as that seems.
Auribus Teneo Lupum- “I hold the wolf by the ears,” this one is actually an ancient proverb.
bellum se ipsum alet- “war feeds itself”
capax infiniti- “holding infinity”
luctor et emergo- “I struggle and emerge”
dum vivimus, vivamus- “while we live, let us live”
“ita vero” is a phrase I always wish I could have courage to throw out in casual conversation, since it just means “thus indeed” and it’d be hella eloquent to use it while trying to sound smart.
lux aeterna- “eternal light”
nec aspera terrent- “they do not fear the difficulties”