Simple Home Wards

*stands under the full moon to charge myself *

✨ Some Herbs, Flowers and Plants in Witchcraft - REVERSED VERSION-✨

Resources: Wicca Herbal Magic by Lisa ChamberlainCharms, Spells and Herbs by Esteban PortelaThe Green Witch by Arin Murphy-HiscockGrimoire of a Kitchen Witch by Rachel PattersonOne of you requested a reversed version of this list, so it’s here!. 

ABUNDANCE: tulip, violet

AFFECTION: thyme

CALIRVOYANCE: artemisa, lavender

CALM NIGHTMARES: thyme, violet

COMMUNICATION: pansy

CONCENTRATION: lilly of valley

CONFIDENCE: yarrow

COSMIC ENERGY: carnation

COURAGE: black pepper, geranium, lilly of valley, marjoram, thyme, yarrow

DESIRE: sandalwood

DISEASE: carnation

DIVINATION: artemisa, bay, dandelion, hibiscus, jasmin, mimosa, mugwort, pansy, rose, verbena, yarrow

DREAM: artemisa, hibiscus, jasmine, mimosa, mint, mugwort

ELIMINATION OF HEXES: lily

ENERGY: carnation, cinnamon, jasmine, sunflower

FERTILITY: daffodil, geranium, mint, mugwort, poppy, sunflower, voilet

FIDELITY: caraway

GLORY: laurel

GOOD FORTUNE: bay leaf, dill

HAPPINESS: basil, calendula, chamomile, geranium, hyacinth, levander, lemon, lilly of valley, manzano, marjoram, nutmeg, pansy, sunflower, tulip, water lily

HARMONY: calendula, chamomile, gardenia, iris, jasmine, lavender, rose, violet

HEALING: allspice, bay leaf, carnation (white carnation), chamomile, cinnamon, clove, comfrey, eucalyptus, fennel, gardenia, geranium, ivy, lavender, lemon balm, nettle, pine, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, yarrow

HEALTH: caraway, comfrey, eucalyptus, marjoram, nutmeg, pine, sage, sunflower, thyme

HOPE: daisy, violet

IMMORTALITY: sage,

INCREASE ENERGY: allspice,

INNOCENCE: daisy

INTELLIGENCE: caraway (yellow caraway), coffee,

INTIMACY: cardamom

INVISIBILITY: poppy

JOY: marjoram, mint

LONGEVITY: fennel, lavender, romero, sage

LOVE: allspice, basil, calendula (red calendula), chamomile, cinnamon, daffodil, daisy, gardenia, geranium, hibiscus, hyacinth, iris, jasmine, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, lemon verbena, lilas, lily, magnolia, mimosa, mint, narciso, nardo, nutmeg, pansy, poppy, rose (white rose), rosemary, tulip, violet, yarrow

LOYALTY: thyme

LUCK: allspice, carnation, cinnamon, daffoil, elecampane, nutmeg, poppy, rose, star anise, violet

LUST: dill, hibiscus, mint, mugwort, nettle, parsley, rosemary

MAGIC: carnation, star anise

MEDITATION: jasmine, lavender

MEMORY: lily, rosemary

MENTAL ABILITIES: caraway, clove, lilly of valley, rosemary

MONEY: basil, bay leaf, herbabuena, lavender, manzano, nutmeg, patchouli, poppy, saffron, salvia

OVERCOMING OLD PAINS: jacinto (love pain)

PASSION: cardamom, carnation (red carnation), cinnamon, lavender, rose(red rose)

PEACE: azucena, basil, carnation (white carnation), chamomile, gardenia, iris, lavender, rose (red rose), star anise, violet,

PROGRESS: azucena

PROSPERITY: basil, calendula, chamomile, cinnamon, comfrey, dill, herbabuena, jasmine, mint, nutmeg, parsley, poppy, romero, tulip, verbena

PROTECTION AGAINST NEGATIVITY: caraway, elecampane, lilac, sage, snapdragon, valerian, verbena

PROTECTION: angelica, basil, bay, bay leaf, birch, black pepper, carnation, cinnamon, clove, comfrey, cumin, dill, elecampane, fennel, garlic, geranium, hyachinth, ivy, lavender, lilac, lily, majoram, mint, mugwort, nail, nettle, nutmeg, parsley, rose, rosemary, sage, snapdragon, tulip, valerian, violet

PSYCHIC POWER: calendula, mugwort, nutmeg, rose, saffron, star anise, thyme

PURIFICATION: angelica, basil, bay leaf, birch, cinnamon, clove, fennel, lavender, lemon verbena, lilas, mint parsley, peppermint, romero, rosemary, sage, valerian

RELAXATION: lemon balm, mugwort

SEDUCTION: jasmine

SENSUALITY: jasmine

SENTIMENTAL IMPROVEMENT: azucena

SEX: cardamom, carnation (red carnation), jasmine, parsley, sandalwood, vanilla

SLEEP: lavender, poppy, violet, rosemary

SPIRITUALITY: cinnamon, dandelion, elecampane, incense, jasmine, rose (white rose), salvia, star anise

STRENGTH: bay leaf, carnation, parsley

SUCCESS:  bay

SUCCESS: basil, bay, bay leaf, cinnamon, laurel, lemon balm, mint, sunflower

TANQUILLITY: basil, dill, lavender, mugwort, poppy, rose, salvia, star anise, violet

VALOUR: iris

WELFARE: rose (red rose)

WISDOM: bay, iris, rosemary, sage

WISHES: dandelion, sage

ANTI INFLAMMATORY: calendula, meadowsweet, poppy

ANTIDEPRESSANT: lemon balm

ANTIMICROBIAL: cinnamon, sage

ANTIOXIDANT: hawthorn, poppy, sage,

ANTI-RHEUMATIC: meadowsweet

ANTISEPTIC: mimosa

ANTIVIRAL: lemon balm

ASTRINGENT: chichweed, cinnamon, meadowsweet, sage

BLOOD PRESSURE: hawthorn (lowers)

CALM ANXIETY: sage

CALM HEADACHE: chamomile, mimosa, poppy, verbena

CALM NERVES: chamomile, poppy

DEMULCENT: chichweed, mimosa (mild)

GOOD FOR COLD: ginger

GOOD FOR HEARTH: hawthorn

GOOD FOR LIVER:  dandelion

IMPROVE DIGESTION: angelica, dandelion (mild laxative), mimosa, poppy, sage

RELIEVE STRESS: chamomile, lavender, verbena

RELIEVE WIND: cinnamon, lemon balm, mimosa

SKIN IRRITATION: calendula (like eczema, bruises, scars, scrapes), chichweed ( relieve itchiness, cooling)

SOOTH STOMACH PROBLEMS: chamomile, ginger, lemon balm (antispasmodic), mimosa (antispasmodic),  meadowseet (antacid),  poppy (antispasmodic)  

STIMULATE CIRCULATORY: poppy

Resources:

Wicca Herbal Magic by Lisa Chamberlain

Charms, Spells and Herbs by Esteban Portela

The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch by Rachel Patterson

I think next thursday is gonna be the best day of my entire life tbh

School Witchery

Magic resources for all my student witches out there! Remember, magic isn’t going to save your grades if you don’t also put the effort in. But it can certainly support you through your journey as a hardworking student <3

General tips and advice:

To the witches who are going back to school

Magical school tips

Back to school witch tips

Tips for high school witches

School witch tips

Herbs and crystals to help with school

Kitchen witchcraft for school lunches

University/college witch tips

Everything you need to know about being a college witch

College witchcraft

College witch tips

Little tips for the college witch

Dorm life:

Dorm friendly offerings & altars

Dorm hacks for the college witch

Dorm room witch tips

Dorm witchery

Living magically with roommates 

Kitchen witchcraft for the dorm

Candle/incense alternatives: [X] [X] [X]

Studying:

Witch study tips

Study candle spell

Study sachet

Spell for focus on homework

Stay strong and carry on study spell

Student witch hacks for focus and concentration

Back in focus spell bottle

Studying tips for witches

Tests and exams:

“I can do this!” motivation bottle

Cramming for a test spell

A charm to help you succeed on exams

Using sigils on your tests (tip)

Sigils masterpost for finals week

A spell for finals week

Focus for finals spell bottle

Final exam spell

Other spells:

A spell for good grades

Back to school success sachet

School success sachet spell

Knot spell for doing well in school

Sweet school year spell

“Leave me be” spell

Spell to banish anxiety and get a good mark

Restful sleep spell jar

Spells for back to school (masterpost)

Sigils for school, study and education (masterpost)

You may also like:

Magic to Replenish Energy 

Rejuvenating witchcraft 

Housewarming magic (dorm)

Sick witchery 

Periods suck. Witchcraft helps.

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Drink Magic Masterpost 

Bath Magic Masterpost 

Bedridden witch series

Offerings: Why, and How?

There are some spirits and gods in the worlds that really must be approached with the correct offering, or will be very offended if you bring the wrong one. This post is not about them.

Thanks goes to @river-in-the-woods for help proofreading and providing additional perspectives

Spirit and deity work is a huge part of my deal, and therefore so are offerings. When I help people with various spirit issues or perform divination that suggests a spirit wants to contact them, I usually recommend giving offerings as a first step.

This usually creates a lot of questions, like:

I don’t want to worship them, so I’m not comfortable with offerings.

I only want to work with spirits I don’t need to pay.

What kind of offerings are OK? I can't afford to buy extra stuff right now.

I can’t have a shrine or leave food sitting out so it’s not possible for me to make offerings.

The reasons why offerings are given change from culture to culture, and situation to situation. I personally see offerings as being one of two things: good manners, or equivalent exchange.

How to do so comes after the saucy radio dialogue and the fairy tale.

Good Manners

Your grandma comes over. She was just on a 5 hour flight to come visit you. She comes in through the front door. You offer her some water and a snack.

Offering grandma water and a snack isn’t a form of worship or payment. It’s polite and respectful. It took her a lot of energy and effort to come and see you. Her well-being and comfort are important to you (in this hypothetical, of course).

When I drive 10 minutes to see my best friend, she always offers me tea. She’s not paying me for my friendship – she’s happy I came, she wants me to be comfortable, and it’s a sign of mutual respect. “I value your presence; I’ll offer you some tea.”

If my friend stopped offering me tea, I’d wonder if our relationship was doing OK – and if she explained to me she was out of money, or she’s doing a no-tea challenge, we’d be perfectly good.

But if you greet grandma empty-handed and say you don’t think it’s your job to provide her meals, the situation feels a little different. It feels to me as if grandma might not be as interested in making the trip to see you next time.

Equivalent Exchange

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“I’m going to bury some stuff. I just did ritual and an important part is burying the remnants at the crossroad.”

“Right on, we’re the spirits of the crossroad, so you came to the right place.”

“Yeah, so you’ll be opening the gates of the four directions and delivering my spell to manifestation, right?”

“Sure, we can do that.”

“…”

“…”

“Are you going to, uh… pay us for that service?”

“I don’t see why I should.”

“But you need us to open the gates for you. We have to spend our own energy to do this work. I mean it’s not terribly difficult, but still.”

“Yeah, but I don’t see why that should be on me.”

“Not even a tip? Have you got some change in your pocket?”

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s fair to me to have to pay.”

“So you want us to work for free?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t care what it costs us to do this work for you, you just want to take the fruits of our services without regard for us?”

“Yes.”

“And we should do it because you feel it's unfair to have to pay us for our work?”

“You got it.”

“And if others told you that you must donate your labor to give them what they want because it's unfair to give you a wage, this would be…”

“A huge injustice. This is actually a major problem in my country right now. We are so underpaid for what is demanded of us that it really is hurting my mental health and wellbeing. You have no idea how hard it is to be exploited for someone else’s prosperity. I kind of feel like one day I might just go off grid and refuse to be a part of their system.”

The Quality of Offerings Are Relative

The fairy queen Medb was curious about the humans beyond the Greenwood, so she decided to meet them all, from the wealthiest noble to the poorest villager, and to give a gold coin to the kindest one. Before she left, she cloaked herself in a human disguise and dressed as if she were a hardworking seamstress.

First she went to the house of a rich farmer who owned herds of cattle. She knocked on the door and was greeted by the mistress of the house, Frau Hilda.

Medb said, “I am a traveler and the road has been long, may I have some water?”

Frau Hilda kindly invited Medb inside. She sat the queen down at her large, clean table in her warm and cozy kitchen. Frau Hilda went to the larder. Medb could see that her larder was overflowing enough with fine wine, cheeses, and sausages to serve an army. Frau and fetched two jugs of milk and two loaves of bread. One of the jugs of milk was thin, and the loaf of bread was dry. The second jug of milk was thick, as if it was pure cream, and the loaf of bread was hot and fresh.

“Here, have some milk and bread,” Frau Hilda said. “It is much better than water, and will restore you from your travels.” Frau Hilda poured a glass of each milk, and handed the queen the thin milk and old loaf. Frau Hilda herself drank the rich, delicious milk and ate the hot bread.

“This is much better than water, and I thank you for your kind generosity,” agreed Medb.

The two women spoke kindly and politely to each other. Medb learned about the wealth and prosperity of the farmer and his household. They spoke until Medb finished her thin milk and old bread. As she left, Medb thought to herself that the thin milk and old bread, although better than water, were the poorest things in the larder. She kept her gold coin to herself, and walked down the road.

The next day, Medb came upon the hovel of a poor woodcutter and his wife. She knocked on the door and was greeted by Frau Brunhild.

Medb said, “I am a traveler and the road has been long, may I have some water?”

Just like Frau Hilda, Frau Brunhild kindly invited Medb inside. Frau Brunhild’s kitchen was small and cramped. She went to her larder and Medb could see it was almost empty. It only held a bag of flour, a scrap of bread, and a jug of water.

Frau Brunhild brought out the water and bread. “I am sorry I don’t have any milk for you,” Frau Brunhild said. “But let us share in what little we have.”

Frau Brunhild poured Medb some water and gave her one-third of the bread. “We must save some for Mister Brunhild,” she explained.

“I thank you for your generosity,” said Medb. “You show kindness in sharing what you have.” The two women spoke kindly and politely to each other until they had eaten the bread and drank the water. As she left, Medb thought to herself that although it was only water and a little slice of bread, Frau Brunhild had truly offered the best in her larder.

Medb was so moved by this generosity that she returned to the hovel that night, and hid the gold coin in one of Frau Brunhild’s shoes, and after that the Brunhilds always had better prosperity and fortune.

No matter what you have, your best is your best. You do not need to over-spend, give away too much, or sacrifice your wellbeing to give respectful offerings to spirits. If the best you have is a glass of tap water, that is good enough.

What kinds of offerings can you give?

I’m copying this over from my neighborly protection post.

Food and Drink: Good offerings include things with strong tastes and smells, foods high in caloric value, milk, honey, all nuts, eggs, and seeds (things which contain the potential for life are very good offerings), all home cooked/baked foods, fresh water (an especially good offering), coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and juices all make very fine offerings.

Perhaps tellingly, the finest or most necessary offering is simply a glass of fresh water (yes, it can be tap water).

Consumables: Incense and candles both make good offerings. Both should be burned. I am actually more wary of using real resins and herbal powders for spirit offerings, since the natural powers of these plants are released and may affect what I’m trying to do (or make it easier or harder for spirits to speak to me, or drive away spirits I’m trying to talk to, or draw in ones I don’t want to talk to). For these reasons I like to use stick or cone incense for offerings. It is the light and warmth from the candle which is enjoyed by spirits so it can be any type or color of candle.

Artwork, fake paper money, origami, and other burnable stuff can be dedicated (another way to think about this is to gift it to them) and then burned. The point is not destruction; the astral essence of these things is released so the spirits can possess them in their world.

Non-consumables: Coins are very common offerings. Small, delightful objects (especially shiny ones), like shells, little figurines, or toys often make good offerings. The act of devoting a ritual tool or vessel to a spirit can be an offering. Things which can be consumed (like cigars or paper art) don’t have to be burned and can be given as regular offerings also.

Energy: Your personal energy is a great offering. You don’t have to give a ton of it away. Try making an energy ball and sending it upwards and away, intending that it reach the spirit you want to give it to. I often like to pattern these gifts into an object, like an energy coin or energy apple.

How do you give physical stuff to a nonphysical being, though?

Lay out the offerings on a clean surface. It doesn’t have to be an altar or a shrine, although I suspect such consecrated places can make it easier for spirits to access and enjoy your offerings. It can be just like setting out a glass of water and half a sandwich for grandma.

Do something which indicates the offering is for the spirits or a specific being. My friend can make me a cup of tea, but if she just sets some tea down on the table and walks away, I’m not going to be sure it’s OK for me to drink it until she says, “this is your tea!”

What you do can be as simple as standing before the offering and saying or thinking, “This is for [names of spirits, or ‘the household spirits’, etc], please enjoy! I’ll come clean it up by noon, enjoy it before then.”

At a minimum I recommend leaving non-consumable offerings out for fifteen or thirty minutes. If it’s a candle or incense, they burn out when they burn out (you do not have to let large candles burn completely, but be careful of promising a candle as a gift to spirits, then going back on that promise and using it for something else). Energy offerings are given instantaneously and no waiting period is necessary.

Whenever you return to clean up the offering, it’s polite to say something like, “thank you for coming by, and I hope you enjoyed! It’s time for me to clean up now. Please return to your abodes; as you came in peace, leave as friends.” I personally like to affirm the purpose of giving an offering - that it’s because I want to be a good neighbor, I want to have solid relationships with the spirits around me, and that I hope we’re all going to be friends. I also like to affirm that although I invited them all to the offering, they should go home now - I wanted you for the BBQ but it’s like 9pm now and we’re going to bed, so you need to go home too.

I throw out food. I compost it if I can. Whether or not you can eat food already offered to spirits is a whole discussion and beliefs vary. My belief is that you shouldn’t eat it after it’s offered.

Other non-consumable objects can be buried if they’re nontoxic to the environment. They can be left on an altar or shrine, and cleared out on a regular basis (like once a full moon, or on holidays).

To Eat or Not to Eat?

I mentioned briefly above that I don’t believe you should eat offerings after they’ve been offered. This is a pretty complex topic that does merit discussion.

For example, I sometimes eat the offerings while they’re being offered. I have a close relationship with various spirits, and sometimes I invite them into my body to taste and experience the food and drink I eat.

The reason I don’t prefer to eat offerings after they’ve been offered is that my belief is that the metaphysical substance which supports us as living creatures has been removed and taken away from the spirits. I don’t believe the food would be harmful, but that it also wouldn’t be helpful. To me, throwing the food away isn't a waste because it already fulfilled its purpose.

However, tons of people believe that you should eat food and beverage offerings. This is in order to avoid waste (because after all, even if I say metaphysically the food served its purpose, I’m still throwing away totally edible food). I am advised that in Buddhism, offerings given to ancestors, buddhas, and bodhisattvas aren’t degraded at all, and you can safely eat and drink offerings afterwards (and not doing so would be wasteful). For buddhas and bodhisattvas offerings are just a sincere gesture; the ancestors do get nourishment from food offerings and they greatly benefit from it. Even so, food offered to ancestors is still perfectly wonderful to eat.

In other belief systems, some people think that eating offered food can actually make you sick, especially if it’s offered to the dead. This may be due to a metaphysical change in the food, or because the spirits don’t want to share.

Sometimes, whether or not food is eaten after being offered depends on the type of spirit or god it’s given to; chthonic entities often seem to frown upon their offerings being eaten or shared.

Some believe that food offerings shouldn’t be eaten but neither should they be trashed; they should be burned or buried.

Sometimes, dedicating a food or drink offering to a spirit is a way to bless it under their power. If I dedicate a glass of water to the Indweller of the Sun, it’s understood to be imbued with the virtues of the Sun. If I drink it, it becomes a form of equivalent exchange - I gave something to the Sun, it gave something to me, and this ritual action is completed when I consume the offering.

Given all these varieties of belief, it’s safe to say that you probably can’t go wrong. If you can’t or don’t want to waste food, or it isn’t counter-indicated by your path, eat food offerings.

If you’re especially nervous or worried about what might happen to you if you do eat them, then don’t. Or, avoid the problem altogether by just giving energy or incense offerings.

Hellenic Resources Masterpost {Last Updated 11.28.15}

Hey guys! :D I answered a bunch of questions regarding Hellenic deities, so I thought I would make a post linking to them all ^_^ 

Beginner Help

How Do I Know When A Deity is Interested in Me? What if they Aren’t?

Tips on Getting Started

How to Introduce Yourself

What’s hair wrapping/veiling, and why is it something some Hellenic Polytheists do? 

How did you personally begin worshiping your deities? Do you have any tips regarding some of them?

How can I connect to a god/goddess that I am beginning to worship?

How Can I Do Rituals When I Live in a Loud Home?

How can I worship deities if I am a secret polytheist? (includes advice specifically for Athena and Artemis as well) 

I’m having a hard time getting my words out to introduce myself to the deity I want to worship. Have any tips?

Sacred Locations for the Main Twelve Olympians

How Can I Discover My Religion/Deities?

I’m Anxious About Introducing Myself. Any Tips?

Playlists I’ve Made So Far

Offerings/Devotion

Do you know of any offerings that would work for almost any deity?

Can I throw away offerings that aren’t nature-friendly? If so, how can I do that respectfully? 

How can I learn to write poetry that I can give to the gods as offerings?

How can I give offerings without burning them? 

Types of Books to Read to the Gods

Do I have to Read Aloud When Reading to my Deities?

I Told Someone That I am a Hellenic Polytheist and They Aren’t Taking it Seriously.

What Are Some Ways I Can Show my Devotion?

How Can I pay More Attention to my Deity?

How did you know your deity asked you to do Hairbinding/veiling? 

DIY Devotional Prayer Beads

Epithets of the Gods 

General Offerings

How Do You Use Prayer Beads?

DIY Freeverse Devotional Poem

How I Make Offerings At Lunch

Shrines/Altars

I want to maintain an altar, but I don’t have a lot of space. Do you have any ideas?

How do you maintain an altar in secret?

How can I use my body as a shrine?

Autumn Shrine Decor

Receiving Sings/Communication

What Are Some Steps I Should Take to Communicate With a Deity?

How can I communicate with Deities?

How Do You Scry To Communicate With a Deity?

~Specific Deities ~

Aphrodite

I’m depressed. Can I still work with Aphrodite? & How can I know what god/goddess is trying to get my attention if I am bad at picking up on signs?

I have self-harm scars. Will Aphrodite be displeased by me? Can I still use my body as an altar?

How should I make an altar to Aphrodite/make an altar for any deity?

Offering Ideas, Shrine Ideas, and Resources for Athena and Aphrodite

Aphrodite Devotional Day Ideas

Aphrodite Walking Shrine Ideas

Aphrodite Offering Ideas

Connecting During Everyday Tasks 

Apollo

Offerings for Apollo and Selene, altar ideas, and resources

Apollo Masterpost

Apollo Walking Shrine Ideas

Apollo Worship/Tips for New Worshippers

Connecting During Everyday Tasks

Ares

Offerings for Ares and Morpheus and resources

Ares and Hermes Walking Shrine Ideas

Artemis

Is there a difference between Selene and Artemis?

Altar ideas and resources for Artemis

To Anyone Interested in Artemis, read this tip from an Anon :)

Artemis Links

Walking Shrine Ideas for Artemis

Morning Worship Ideas for Persephone and Artemis (Separated)

Small Ways to Connect

Athena

Offering Ideas, Shrine Ideas, and Resources for Athena and Aphrodite

Body Altar Ideas for Athena

Devotion Ritual

Small Ways to Connect

Ananke/Morai

Do you Have Any Ideas on How to Honour Ananke or the Moirai?

Tips for Beginning Work With the Moiria

Demeter

How can I approach Demeter?

Demeter Resources

Small Ways to Connect

Dionysus

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Hades/Persephone and Dionysus

Eos

How should I worship Eos?

Gaia

Gaia Shrine Ideas

Resources

Hades

Secret shrine to Persephone and Hades

Hades Tea Offering Ideas

How can I introduce myself to Hades and Persephone?

How can I use my body as an altar to Hades & Persephone?

Hades/Persephone Masterpost

Do I Have to Introduce Myself to Hades Before Becoming a Devotee?

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Hades/Persephone and Dionysus

Is Hades the Devil?

Tips for Incoming Worshipers

Shrine Ideas

Tips For New Worshipers II

Worship Dates/Festivals

Small Ways to Connect

Devotion Ritual for Hades and Persephone

Hecate

Hecate Resources

Hecate Shrine ideas and Resources

More Hecate Resources

How Can I Worship Hecate?

Hera

Hera Resources and Shrine Ideas

Small Ways to Connect

Hermes

What are some arcane-ish symbols/things Hermes is related to?

Ares and Hermes Walking Shrine Ideas

Connecting During Everyday Tasks

Hestia

Hestia Offerings, Resources, and Shrine Ideas

Hestia Worship

Resources

Connecting During Everyday Tasks

Morpheus

Offerings for Ares and Morpheus and resources

Small Ways to Connect

Nyx

Nyx Resources

Shrine Ideas for Nyx

Nyx Worship Ideas

Nyx Walking Shrine Ideas

Offering Ideas

Pan

Pan Offerings and Resources

Persephone

Can you tell me about Persephone? How should I introduce myself to her?

What should I put on my altar to Persephone?

Secret shrine to Persephone and Hades

How can I introduce myself to Hades and Persephone?

How can I use my body as an altar to Hades & Persephone?

Hades/Persephone Masterpost

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Hades/Persephone and Dionysus

How Can I Worship Persephone in Everyday Life?

Tips for Incoming Worshipers

Morning Worship Ideas for Persephone and Artemis (Separated)

Small Ways to Connect

Devotion Ritual for Hades and Persephone

Poseidon

Poseidon resources, acts of devotion, shrine ideas, etc.

Small Way to Connect

Selene

Is there a difference between Selene and Artemis?

Offerings for Apollo and Selene, altar ideas, and resources

Zeus

I want to begin working with Zeus. How should I get started, and what are some tips or pointers you have?

Cheap and Discreet Shrine Ideas for Zeus

Devotional Acts for Zeus

I Want to Connect With Zeus. Any Advice or Tips?

Some Zeus Resources and Worship Ideas

Zeus Masterpost

Walking Shrine Ideas for Zeus

Small Ways to Connect

~ Tips for Hellenic Polytheist Who Have No Money ~ By: Me, a Hellenic Polytheist With No Money

Offerings

Shrine Decor

My Take on the Underworld/Afterlife **Opinion and Personal Research**

Elysium/Getting There

Fields of Asphodel

Resources

Recreating Hairstyles { Soloontherocks }

What’s Miasma? { Royalautumnfrost }

How Can Men Veil/How Was it Done in Ancient Greece? { songbirdspells }

Good Websites to Learn About the Gods { shipping-the-gods }

Introduction to the Underworld { Waterspeak }

Hellenic Terminology Page { baringtheaegis }

Honouring the Nymphai { Bayoread }

Sacred Animals of the Gods  { thewhisperingmountain }

What Even is Hellenic Polytheism? What are Some Good Links to Read When First Getting Started? { Royalautumnfrost }

How to Make a Libation { Bayoread }

Do the Gods Always Respond? What Does it Mean When A Bond I have Already Formed Doesn’t Seem to Be Active Suddenly? { Pomegranateandivy }

More About Getting Started { thepaganstudygrouppage }

Hellenic Veiling Ideas/Tutorials/Inspiration {Shipping-the-gods }

Fasting Tips { baringtheaegis }

Masterpost of Pagan E-Shrines { Hellenicappalachia }

Ritual in Hellenismos { @mythologyrules​ }

Pillars of Hellenismos   { @mythologyrules​ }

Pillars of Hellenismos { @soloontherocks }

Finding Your Ritual Calendar { @hearthfirehandworks​ }

How to Make an Offering { Bayoread }

Building Your Worship { @pomegranateandivy​ }

Pomegranateandivy’s Hellenic FAQ { @pomegranateandivy​ }

How to Write a Prayer { @hearthfirehandworks​ }

🧚🏻‍♀️Protection From The Fae🧚🏻‍♀️

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Iron

Iron in any form or shape has always been considered the very best protection against fae – in almost all legends, the metal is like kryptonite to Superman. If you kept an iron nail in your pocket, you couldn’t be carried away by them. Sometimes iron nails were sewn into the hems of children’s clothing for that reason. A pair of iron shears hung on the wall near a baby’s bed was said to prevent the child from being swapped for an ugly fae baby.

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Steel

Steel is also effective against the faeries because it is created from processed iron. If a faery is cut by a steel or iron blade, the wound will not heal or will take a very long time. In some stories, the Fae is slowly poisoned by such a wound. Steel or iron weapons are among the few things that can actually kill a Fae being.

However, unless it was plainly self-defense (and sometimes even that wouldn’t help your case), you could expect the rest of the faeries to exact a terrible retribution!

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Horseshoes

You can put one above the main entrance of your house and it will help protect the entire home. For added protection, put iron near any opening a person could go through. If you have large windows, you may want to place some nails near it to make a barrier. You can do the same with your dog’s house to keep the fairies out.

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Bells & Chimes

Bells were also said to have frightened off evil faeries in Medieval Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. Specifically the big, deep-sounding Church bells that would ring to draw the people to Church. So this theory can be applied to your home by hanging deep-toned chimes on your front or back porch or by using deep sounding bells during magickal ritual.

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Food

Traditionally, bread and salt provided protection from the Fae. Carrying yeast-risen bread with you had a two-fold effect. It would repel some faeries. Other faeries would accept it as an offering and leave you alone.

My gramma taught me a Welsh tradition of leaving a saucer of milk and a slice of bread or some bread crusts on the back porch as an offering to the faeries, so they wouldn’t play pranks on the family or trouble the livestock. Sometimes, if you were seeking the faeries’ aid, you might add berries, honey, or cheese.

Even humble oatmeal was believed to be a fairy repellent. You could carry a handful of dry oatmeal in your pocket or sprinkle it on your clothes. As long as you didn’t mind looking flaky, you’d be safe.

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Salt

Salt’s association with purity made it an excellent tool against otherworldly beings. Spreading salt across the threshold and along the windowsills has long been the primary method of keeping faeries, demons, and spirits out of houses. If you had to carry food to the farmhands in the fields, sprinkling it with salt was said to keep the faeries from taking it – or from extracting the nourishment from it unseen!

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Offerings

Leave a pail of fresh milk, butter, or cream outside of your front door on the eight holy days to appease the fae and keep them from wreaking havoc on garden and home. Leaving faery offerings and libations dates back hundreds of years, and if you have any Celtic ancestors, you probably have ancestors who partook in this tradition. Some people in Europe still do! This is a preventative method of protection from trickster and evil fairies. Make them happy at the back door so they don’t intrude.

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Plants

Historically, garlands were often made of marsh marigolds and hung over the barn doors to protect the horses from being ridden to exhaustion by faeries in the night. Flowers, especially primroses, were spread over windowsills and hung above the door-posts of the house for safety. Your best bet, however, was a plant called St. John’s Wort. Wearing it was said to provide strong protection from fairy magic and mischief.

Fairies could vanish at will and remain invisible to mortal eyes for as long as they pleased. Carrying a four-leafed clover would allow you to see the faeries – but only once. A Celtic tradition was to sew several of the clovers into a tiny bag to be worn around the neck. You could then discern the faeries once for each clover in the bag. In some legends, the clover was said to allow you to see through fairy glamors and magical disguises.

Red berries were believed to keep fae at bay, especially if they were from rowan trees, mountain ash or holly. So did red verbena (a flower). Daisies were often tucked into children’s pockets or woven into fanciful chains to wear around their necks to prevent them from being taken away by the fae. And if you were walking through the woods, it was best to carry a walking stick or staff made of ash or rowan wood.

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Protection Charm

At this season, the Winter Court is in rule and you will want to look out for malicious, harmful beings in your interactions with the fae. You can make yourself a protection charm using:

St. John’s Wort

Sea Salt

Lemon Zest

Rosemary

Eggshells

An Iron Nail

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Ancestral & Deity Protection

One of the MOST effective forms of protection against evil faeries (and other spirits in general) is to invite your ancestors and gods into your home. Once your guides and guardians take up residence in your home, they do most of the work of keeping out negative forces like evil fairies and the like. In fact, my ancestors are SO good at protection, I have to ask their permission to allow any other spirits inside the home!

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Faery Box

Decorate a small box by painting it and gluing on glitter or plastic gems. Inside place leaves, pinecones, crystals, and plants. Add a piece of felt or fleece in the centre as a soft bed you can add essential oil to. Draw a sigil on it that will protect you from harmful fae. At night, light a fake candle by the box, and leave out some food.

Make sure to protect yourself from negative influence. Then invite those of good intention to see the place you’ve prepared for them to rest in, and stay with you through the night if they wish to. Leave the candle on, as long as it’s a fake one, and then go to bed.

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The Circle Of Light

Another effective yet simple technique of faery protection consists of using one’s mind and energy. If you are used to using visualization in your meditations, rituals, and spells, this method of fae protection should be familiar to you. It’s what I like to call the Circle of Light.

You can do this visualization exercise any time of the day, any day of the week and as often as you’d like. For me particularly, I do it every night as I’m lying in bed and before I go to sleep to continue to build the circle’s strength around my home

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Running Water

Fae folk are unable to cross streams and rivers, so in any pursuit leaping from bank to bank will be a sure escape for the hunted human. Water courses running south are said to be especially efficacious.

Oddly, nevertheless, fae seem to have no objection to still water. They actively seek it out for washing themselves and they are from time to time associated with wells. For example John Rhys in Celtic folklore (1901, p.147 & chapter 6) notes the existence of several ‘faery wells’ in Wales which demanded attention from local people, in the absence of which they would overflow or flood.

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Hag Stones

According to John Aubrey, if a person could locate stones through which natural erosion had created a hole, they could protect their horses from night-riding by fae by hanging the stones over each horse’s manger in the stables- or by tying the stone to the stable key. The fairies would not then be able to pass underneath.

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Sources : http://aminoapps.com/p/4sn2it

General Etiquette for Working with the Dead

These are some of the guidelines I follow when working with the dead:

When entering a graveyard, be sure to greet and leave something for the guardian of the graveyard.

Never walk on the graves of the deceased.

Never take anything out of the graveyard without permission of the guardian or a specific grave’s resident.

Never take items people have left for their loved ones off the graves.

Only gather graveyard dirt from the perimeter of the graveyard, never from the graves themselves.

Upon leaving the graveyard, say farewell to the dead you encountered, and the guardian.

Never force the dead to work for you, if they are unwilling or unable to aid you try again later or try another spirit.

Be mindful of the dead’s beliefs in life, not all will be friendly to those who practice magic.

Give the dead the same respect and thought that you yourself would wish to be given.

Obey your local laws and ordinances regarding the dead and graveyards/burial sites.