Steve Gildea Planetary Suite, Circa 1990

does anyone actually read trials of apollo or do we all just find out what happens on tumblr then pretend it doesnt exist?

Tarot of Pagan Cats ✨

Unconventional & Affordable Ingredients for Spells

Here is a list of unconventional and affordable ingredients that can be used in spells and witchcraft along with their correspondences; good for witches “in the woods” and witches on a budget. Many of these can be easily found for inexpensive prices or at home.

Acorns/Acorn Caps: security, abundance, longevity, good luck, youth and brings good health

Animal toys/stickers: relates to correspondences of that animal

Artist’s Charcoal: banishing negativity, protection; cursing

Baby Powder: cleansing, beauty, youth

Baking Soda: cleansing, purification, protection

Birthday Candles: wishes, joy; color magic and number magic depending on their color and/or what number they display

Black Tea Bags (used): earth magic, grounding, strength, stability, banishing negativity; ending, death 

Bottle Caps: prosperity, luck, material gain

Bubble Bath: self-love, relaxation, emotional healing, serenity; plus whatever scent the bubble bath is affects correspondences

Bubbles/Bubble Liquid: wishes, joy, whimsy, imagination, fantasy

Buckeye Nuts: luck, sexual energies, warding

Butter: femininity, flattery, friendship, warmth, happiness; good for fae work

Candy Bars: love, romance, happiness, lust, fertility, emotional healing, healing of the heart, forgiveness, friendship

Candy Corn: courage, imagination, endurance, energy, motivation, happiness, celebration

Candy Foil: sweetness, secrets, protecting one’s emotions; color magic

Chocolate Syrup/Milk: happiness, love, lust, romance, sweetening relationships

Cocktail Swords: strength, assertiveness, competition; cursing, revenge; ending rumors

Cotton Balls: beauty, gentleness, warmth, sleep

Cotton Swabs: cleansing, purification

Dice: chance, opportunity, luck; number magic

Dirt: grounding, earth magic, growth, prosperity, patience, home and family; cursing

Dish Soap: cleansing

Duct Tape: binding, storing energy, cursing

Egg Shells: cleansing, protection, warding

Energy Drinks: energy, motivation

Envelopes: messages, communication, protection during travel

Epsom Salts: purification, cleansing, protection, pain relief, serenity, comfort, stress relief

Fake/Play Money: wealth, prosperity

Fish Sauce: prosperity, water magic, curses

Foil: glamour, protection, storing energy, binding

Glue: sealing, immobility, binding, curses

Googley Eyes: vision, divination, scrying, creativity, protection, imagination; curses, paranoia, nightmares

Grass: growth, nature, learning, healing, new beginnings, recovery from loss

Hand Soap: cleansing, curse removal

Hole Punches: good for cursing

Hot Sauce: motivation, lust, confidence; cursing, anger, revenge, emotional pain

Koolaid: youth, sweetness, happiness; color magic, corresponds with flavors as well

Lip Balm: glamour, confidence in speaking, honesty, beauty

Lollipops: sweetness, innocence, ending rumors and lies, lust and sexual energies, love

Lotion: protection, beauty

Laundry Soap: cleansing, purification

Marshmallows: friendliness, comfort, gentleness, fidelity, sleep and dreams

Metal Crafting Wire: binding

Modeling Clay: poppets, earth magic, grounding, balance, stability, creation, change

Mud: grounding, earth magic; curses

Muslin: poppets, change, creativity

Noodles: Longevity, good health

Pompoms (craft): gentleness, comfort, love, sleep, dreams

Paper Clips: balance, focus, organization; curses, binding

Pennies: luck, wealth

Pickle Juice: curses to sour things

Plastic Bags: protection; binding

Plastic Ribbon (wrapping): happiness, glamour, delight; binding; color magic

Plastic Wrap: binding

Popsicle sticks: poppets

Scissors: offensive magic, curses

Seltzer Water: purification, removing negativity; curses

Sewing Needles: curses, pain

Shaving Cream: cleansing, softness, patience, calmness

Stamps: travel, communication

Sour Cream: cursing

Soy Sauce: protection, banishment; cursing

Sticky Notes: communication, memory

Strawberry Milk: love, self-love, beauty, sweetness, friendship

Syrup: joy, sweetening one’s emotions

Taco Sauce: Focus, Energy, motivation

Taffy: joy, flexibility

Thumbtacks: curses

Tissue Paper: softness, serenity; color magic

Toothpaste: cleansing

Toothpicks: curse

Walnut Shells: protection, warding

Wasabi: Energy; curses, anger, envy

Whipped Cream: beauty, light-heartedness

Whistles: communication, attention grabbing, warding

Other Tips:

Recycle bottles, jars and medicine bottles for jar/bottle magic

Reuse tea bags (though not too long after use) in bath magic

If you do wish to use herbs, it is cheaper to order them online in bulk rather than the supermarket. Trust me, supermarkets and grocery stores really over price most herbs. You can get triple the amount for 2 dollars less online

Make up and toiletries are great for glamours

Its fine to use kitchen knives if you can’t afford am athame

Look at the ingredients in food you eat to see what is in it and determine that food’s correspondences, quick and easy kitchen magic

Crayons, colored pencils, markers and pens are good for easy sigil and color magic

Binders are cheaper than blank books and make great grimoires

Witch Alphabet 🖋️

Recently, I created my own alphabet to use in my practice. It was an interesting exercice, and I would like to share my process.

I think most witches already saw at one point or another the Theban alphabet :

I planned to use it at first, but found out it didn’t really fit what I needed : I’m a slow writer by hand, and the letters are pretty complex, so much that they’re more drawn than written.

Why make your own alphabet?

It depends on what you need, but there can be multiple reasons. You might want to have a way to make your craft more personal by having a writing only you understand. You might use it for your coven, so you can write things only for your group. You can use it to obfuscate the contents of your grimoire to anyone else reading it.

How do you do that?

There is more than one way to do that, but here is how I proceeded :

• Decide which language you want to base it on (if you speak more than one). This is an important step, because then it might work for that one language only, depending on how you make your alphabet. (On a side note, you can also make your own language, but I absolutely do not have the time nor the skill to explain that)

• Choose what you want to base it on. The first system you can think of is simply basing it on the alphabet of your first language, but it’s not the only option : you can also base it on sounds, concepts, or syllables depending on how complex you want it to be. For example, I based mine on french sounds, with the main letters being the consonnants and the vowels being accents. That makes a bit more letters than if I based it on the alphabet, but on the other side it feels more personal (and makes much more sense in my opinion. If I don’t want any exceptions then I don’t have to put any exceptions! Looking at you, french language!).

• Make a reference. Usually, that will be a table which you can fill with your letters. For example, I made a table with the consonants as rows and the vowels as columns, but it can be as simple as having a list of letters and writing the corresponding symbol next to it.

• Choose your symbols. That’s the trickiest part. For each letter you want to have, you need to come up with a symbol. I suggest to make them simple, with only a few lines, so they are quick to write. Just keep in mind that you might end up writing it fast when you know it by heart, so make sure the symbols are different enough from each other, but don’t hesitate to base some of them on each other (for example, since the sounds /p/, /t/, and /k/ are similar, I based their symbols on the same shape, and since they’re also similar to the group /b/, /d/ and /g/, I made those the same symbols but mirrored.) Also, don’t forget about punctuation!

• Optional : You might want to ask yourself if you really want it to be written from left to right then top to bottom. Maybe it would look better in another direction! For example, I noticed that mine could look nice if it was written from bottom to top first then from left to right.

• Test it out. Take a chunk of text, and write it with your alphabet. You will have to peak often at your letters at first, but it will come more and more naturally the more you write.

• Repeat the last two steps over if you notice there are things you should change (if a letter is too hard to write, if it clashes with the rest, …)

And that’s it! The key after that is to keep using it regularly so you don’t lose it, and to make sur to also reread what you write to train yourself to read fast.

Hello everyone, a long time ago I did not write anything :) “Signs of desired success from Vitki”. A couple of weeks ago, I gave one friend, to improve personal success and success at work, I helped well :) Signs help to achieve the desired, success, especially at work, including promotion. Signs add good luck noticeably, remove obstacles. The signs are good and strong. Carry with you. And of course, you need to invest energy and intention, thought, desire. You can also stain the signs with your blood to enhance.

Lavender in Witchcraft

Gender: Feminine (Though this is disputed)

Element: Water and Air

Planets: Neptune and Mercury

Signs: Virgo and Pisces

Deities: Selene

Chakra: Third eye

Represents: Longevity and long life, peace, harmony, love attraction and romance, healing, sleep and dreams, the third eye and psychic abilities, as well as purification and spirit healing.

Some uses for lavender:

- Wear the oil, perfume or essence of lavender as a way to attract men, women -or whatever you are into- towards you. Men especially are attracted towards lavender; prostitutes were  known to wear lavender in ancient times to draw in clients.

- Drink a tea of lavender before doing any mental or psychic work; it is said to increase both mental and psychic abilities.

- Burn it or scatter it around your house to ward off evil spirits; as well as cleanse and raise the vibes.

- Scatter a mixture of lavender and rosemary across your doorway to keep unwanted guests * and that really irritating postman*

-Carry some on or around you (ex: keep a sprig in your purse or pocket, wear some oil of it on yourself, throw some in your sock drawer, etc.) for a longevity in your life.

- Add some into your skincare to bring a youthful glow and essence to your skin and body.

Got any more ideas? Let me know!!!

Take care and goddess bless )O(

Making a sigil out of this intention 🙈🙈

Tips for the Dark Half of the Year

Winter is coming quickly. A lot of people see this time of year as bleak, depressing, or just boring. Here are some tips to stay attuned to nature during these months.

❄️ Go outside. Even if it’s cold, the trees are bare, and the only colors are muted and dull. We often think that summer is the only time to enjoy the outdoors—the only time to hike, meditate outside, etc. In winter, there are no lush green trees or balmy days filled with sunshine and the smell of flowers. While summer is intoxicating, winter is a time to contemplate and reflect. Go outside. Feel the cold. Feel the mud and the dead grass and the chilly wind. Listen to how quiet it is. Understand that the dark half of the year is a time of silence, stillness, and death. It’s natural to have an aversion to these things, but take some time to sit down and just listen. Breathe. Feel the reality of silence and death around you. It’s a sobering experience, but also a very insightful one. If you have any fear of death or quiet, now is the time to go sit with those things as they appear in nature and just meditate with them.

❄️ Eat cozy foods. It’s cold outside—warm up with hearty soups, stews, homemade bread, and root veggies. Warm spices and hot drinks will keep you feeling grounded. This is a wonderful time of year to practice kitchen witchcraft—focus on coziness, family, protection, and rest.

❄️ Study magic! The Dark Half of the year is devoted to self-reflection, rest, and contemplation. Snuggle up indoors with a fluffy blanket and devote some time to studying magic and witchcraft with a hot cup of magically-brewed tea.

❄️ Think spirits are sleeping along with all the greenery? Think again! The Dark Half of the year, in many cultures and spiritual traditions, is considered extremely spiritually active. Deities like Odin, Berchta, Hekate, and spirits such as elves and ghosts are very active this time of year. You can choose to honor them if you want, or practice various spirit-working techniques. If you’re into necromancy or divination, this is a wonderful time of year for those things.

❄️ Be kind to local wildlife by installing things like bird feeders outside your home. We modern humans may have an easy time of it in winter, but animals struggle to survive during these months. Any bit of kindness will be much appreciated.

❄️ Nurture your fire energy. During winter, it’s easy to internalize the cold and take on its characteristics—sluggishness, sleepiness, a foggy-headed feeling. Some crystals that are great for winter include golden rutilated quartz (aka Venus hair), citrine, carnelian, obsidian, and garnet. All of these crystals contain a strong fire element as well as offer grounding qualities, mental clarity, and protection.

❄️ Go out and forage for magical ingredients! Melted snow is extremely purifying and can be incorporated into spells for purification and cleansing. Icicles can serve as temporary wands, especially in spells that require a strong water element. The ash from bonfires (or hearth fires) can be used to make black salt. Fallen branches can be crafted into wands. There may be nothing growing this time of year, but you can get creative and still find magical ingredients in unexpected places. Just be respectful and don’t collect from places where it’s illegal!

This is by no means a comprehensive list—these are just some ways I’ve celebrated the colder months. I hope they’re helpful in any way!

Pendulum Dowsing

One of the most commonly used tools for divination and dowsing is a pendulum. The art of using a pendulum is something that anyone can learn and master, and enjoy experimenting with. Here we offer an introduction to using a pendulum, from how it works, and what you need, to how to get started.

What Is a Pendulum?

A pendulum is a symmetrical, weighted object that is hung from a single chain or cord. It’s never made of a magnetic substance, but is often a crystal. It’s also possible to use objects such as a favourite trinket, a bead, a metal ball or even a key. The pendulum is a very simple tool and one that lets the user tune in to their intuitive powers. The pendulum acts as a receiver and transmitter of information, and moves in different ways in response to questions.

What Is Pendulum Dowsing Used For?

Pendulum dowsing can be used in a variety of different ways. In its most simple form, you can use it to answer questions or aid in decision making. Pendulums can also be used for:

Healing purposes and identifying allergies.

To cleanse and dispel negativity in a room.

To help you find lost objects or pets.

To find water or ley lines (dowsing rods are often used for this too, which work in a similar way to a pendulum).

How Does Pendulum Dowsing Work?

A pendulum works by tapping into your intuition and sixth sense. The pendulum acts as a form of receiver and transmitter, from your higher guidance, guardian angels and spiritual teachers. As the pendulum moves, you gain answers in response to questions – it is best suited to use to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. Some people describe the way a pendulum works as being like bringing together the rational and intuitive sides of you (the left and right sides of your brain). When these two elements are brought together, you’re able to make decisions using all the sources, rather than just one of them.

Where Do The Answers Come From?

Many people wonder where the answers come from and debate whether it’s really working, or just the pendulum responding to the movement of the user’s hand. Whilst the pendulum can certainly be made to move with your hand movements, this isn’t the case always and after practice you’ll get to see why. As with any form of divination, using a pendulum involves a certain degree of faith, belief and a decidedly open mind, as the answers come from your intuition and from higher spiritual guides.

What Sort of Pendulum Do I Need?

There are a variety of pendulums available for dowsing, but you certainly don’t have to buy a posh, expensive pendulum to get good results. In fact, the type of pendulum you choose depends in part on what feels right for you. Many people choose to use a crystal pendulum. Clear quartz, for example, is a popular choice, as the crystal is associated with clarity and connecting to a higher purpose. Amethyst, which has a strong connection with the spiritual, is often popular too, as is a pendulum with the calming properties of a rose quartz crystal. Ultimately, whatever your favourite crystal, or the one you feel more drawn to, can be used on a pendulum, as long as it is rounded or pointed at one end. In fact, you could even have more than one pendulum if you wish, with different crystals on them, to use on different occasions. When you are starting out for the first time, you can practice the basic concepts by using a do-it-yourself or handmade pendulum if you wish. For example you could use a rounded glass bead, a metal ball or even a key suspended on the end of a simple piece of cord. When you know you want to try more work with a pendulum, you can then upgrade to a better, professionally made pendulum.

Before You Start Using a Pendulum

Before you embark on having a go at using a pendulum, it’s advisable to cleanse it first and charge it with your own energy. The easiest way to cleanse your pendulum for dowsing is to put it on a windowsill in direct sunlight for a day, so it catches the rays of the sun. To charge it with your energy, hold the pendulum in your hands, closing your hands around it. Then spend a short time (5 to 15 minutes will be fine) sitting quietly, with your eyes closed, focusing your energy on your pendulum. If you’d like to, you can say a pray or ask your spirit guides or guardian angels for their support and guidance when using the pendulum. Once your pendulum is cleansed and charged, it’s a good idea to keep it somewhere safe. Many people like to wrap their pendulums in silk or pop them in a small velvet bag for safekeeping.

How to Get Started With Using a Pendulum

Anyone can have a go at using a pendulum, but the main criteria is that you need to start with an open mind and put any doubts to one side. The string, chain or cord of the pendulum should be held between your thumb and forefinger in which ever hand feels most comfortable. Some pendulums have a small metal loop or ring at the top of the chain which can make it easy to hold. Ideally the pendulum chain shouldn’t be too long, especially when you’re first getting started, so if it seems too long or of you’ve got excess string or chord, then you can wrap it lightly around your index finger. When you’re ready to start, sit with your pendulum held between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and run your other hand down the length of the pendulum chain or cord, bringing your hand to rest with the bottom tip of the pendulum in your upturned palm. The pendulum should now be completely still and you can move the hand away from the bottom of the pendulum. As you move it away, the pendulum will probably start moving. This is perfectly normal.

Always be polite

One way to start this focusing process is to try the following process whenever you begin a quest with your pendulum:

1. State what you want to do.

2. Ask, “May I dowse at this time?”

3. “Can I dowse at this time?”

4. “should I dowse at this time?”

always ask these questions before you dowse. Over time more experienced dowsers can shorten the process so that asking the question “Lets Dowse” infers the meaning of all three being asked separately.

If at any stage it says not then don’t dowse, leave it for another time try and keep an open and inquiring mind but always check the answer.

Stay relaxed

Try and be as relaxed as possible (the more relaxed your are, the better your flow of energy will be) and sit watching the pendulum whilst it moves. It may come to a halt after a while and you can begin to have a go at determining the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ response of your pendulum. Ask your pendulum out loud or in your mind, ‘Please show me a YES response.’ Take time to watch the response – it may only be minor at first, but this is normal, as it takes time to get to know how your pendulum interacts with you. Pause for a while, then try the same again asking for the pendulum to show you a NO response. Don’t worry if you can’t tell much difference from the yes and no responses yet – this is perfectly normal at first and you should get to be able to tell the difference with the more practice you get. For example, some pendulums will make wide circular movements in response to ‘yes’ and backward or forward swings in response to ‘no’. It’s helpful to repeat this exercise again, several times, before you’re happy with what your ‘yes’ and ‘no’ pendulum responses are. Sometimes they can change over time and, if someone else uses or inspects your pendulum, you may need to do it again to recharge it with your energy.

What Type of Questions Can I Ask the Pendulum?

The pendulum responds better to questions where there are ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. When you’re starting out and practising, try asking simple questions, like,’ Is today Tuesday?’, ‘Is my best friend’s name Phil?’ or ‘Do I live in the UK?’. This will help you get a better grip of how your pendulum responds and help you gain more confidence in using it. As you get more proficient, you can ask questions about decisions you’re making in your personal life, such as whether to get a certain type of car, whether you can trust someone or whether you’re eating healthy enough food. You can also try fun exercises, such as locating a castle, ruin or water on a map. Hold the pendulum over different parts of a map and see the responses. As you get more experienced, this method can also be used to locate lost people or animals.