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!
practical and simple ways to cleanse and bless your home 🌿
🌿 burn cedar sticks or cedar incense. cedar helps drive away negative influences, energies, and spirits. really good herb to work with when moving into a new space. helps with protection on all levels.
🌿 sprinkle a blend of salt, sage, and mint on the floors to soak up all the negative energies on the ground and vacuum up when you feel it has picked everything up. clean out all that salt from your vaccuun and dispose of it in the trash outside (not in nature)
🌿 diffuse lavender oil. lavender oil is very protective and helps bring serenity and peace into a space.
🌿 manifest abundance and prosperity by meditating with citrine and placing it in your home. place a clear quartz next to it to amplify abundant energies
🌿 make a crystal gird out of selenite, black tourmaline and white jade. these crystals will create a barrier of protection around your house and they will cleanse the hell out of it.
🌿 place pieces of selenite in windowsills, this will purify energy coming in and out of the house. immediately raises the vibration of the room
🌿 when burned, palo santo releases a cleansing smoke filled with healing energies. great for filling spaces with good health and fortune
🌿 ask your spirits/deities to cleanse, protect, and bless your space and leave them offerings when you are done
🌿 sandalwood incense raises vibrations, cleanses, offers psychic protection, and helps to open up psychic awareness
🌿 amethyst is not only a enhances the intuition and increases calm energies, it is also very protective and will shield you from psychic attacks
🌿 work with the elements for protection, meditation and visualization works well
🌿 visualize an impenetrable bubble of protection surrounding your home protecting you from all lower energies
🌿 visualize a waterfall pouring into your space washing away all stagnant and negative energy leaving your space with abundant and healthy energy
🌿 put mint leaves all around your house, in your windowsills, in your shoes, jewelry boxes, altar, etc. to protect you from evil intentions. also good for protecting your home from misfortune
🌿 wind chimes will warn you when a negative spirit is around, there sound will also help drive them off your property
🌿 cinnamon is extremely protective, i love dressing candles with ground cinnamon for cleansing and protection
🌿 burning dragon’s blood incense will create a wall of fire protecting you and your space, also a really good incense for clearing bad spirits
🌿 sleep with a lavender sachet underneath your pillow to protect you from psychic vampires
🌿 labradorite protects you and your home from demons
🌿 placing a vase of flowers in a room will lift the energy and invite positive energy in. use different flowers for attracting different things example sunflowers for happiness, roses for love, marigolds for success and creativity, etc.
Whether you’re still in the broom closet or known to your craft, I thought I’d list some small and big activities that I plan on partaking in to celebrate Samhain! Hope you all enjoy 🖤
To honor loved ones/those who have passed:
🍂Leave photos of your ancestors at your altar! I think this is a beautiful way to honor them throughout the holiday.
🍂Visit the cemetery you’re loved ones reside at. Do it not only to see your own family/friends, but to pay respect to all the others who don’t have anyone to remember them.
🍂Leave single candles on your windowsills to let your ancestors know they’re welcome to visit you!
🍂Prepare a feast and set a place at your table for loved ones that are no longer with us! Share stories of them, listen to their favorites songs, honor them in any way you see fit.
🍂The veil is at its thinnest on Samhain. Just like old traditions, carve a jack-o-lantern and leave it at your door step to ward of negative spirits. Carve a sigil in the back for added protection!
🍂Leave food/offerings outside for those who have passed and will be walking around tonight. Burying apples is another way to give!
Other ways to celebrate:
🍂Take nature walk! Its the time where winter will soon set in, take this opportunity to enjoy what little bit of the harvest season is left.
🍂Like listed above, carve a sigil into a jack-o-lantern. Not only to protect your home, but the possible trick or treaters that may be wandering this night! Everyone can use a bit more protection.
🍂Decorate your home! Simple things like autumnal colors, gourds, skulls, candles etc are not only traditional to Halloween and won’t be questioned, but are also great ways to welcome Samhain.
🍂SELF!! LOVE!! SHIT!! As the wheel of the year comes to an end, its time for new beginnings. Make Samhain a day of reflecting on your past year and focus on how you plan to grow, renew and progress.
🍂Going with that, create face masks, teas/potions, sigils, spells, etc that are tailored to YOU and what you need a bit more of this year! For example, I’m lookin to go on a journey for a bit more self love and plan on working with some rose quartz, lavender and rose petals. There are countless posts with items and their correspondents, look around and find something that speaks to you!
🍂D I V I N A T I O N. This is the absolute best time of the year to work with any form of divination, tarot cards, a pendulum, tasseography, palmistry. I’ve heard scrying its particularly fabulous this time of year as well.
🍂Get 2 jars, bowls, etc. In one, write down things on small pieces of paper that you want to leave behind, and in the other write things down that you want more of in your life. Take one of the negatives ones at a time and SAFELY burn (or bury) them, vision them disappearing before your eyes. Read the positives ones out loud and vision them coming to you and becoming a part of you this upcoming year. Leave them at your altar for as long as you see fit.
Samhain, or “summer’s end,” has several aspects. For the ancient Celts, Samhain marked summer coming to a close and the beginning of winter. It is considered the final harvest (for meat) of the year, the Celtic New Year, a time to honor one’s ancestors, and a night that the veil between the physical and spiritual world is thinnest. It is thought that divination is more powerful at this time, that the faerie folk are more active and that the dearly departed are nearer to us (and thus easier to contact) for this reason. Today, Samhain takes place on October 31st.
Apples and apple dishes, corn, meat dishes, gingerbread, hazelnuts, potatoes, seasonal fruits (quince, pomegranates, cranberries, kumquats), vegetables, pumpkin dishes, roasted pumpkin seeds, nuts, beets, squash, turnips, soul cakes, sweet potatoes, ale, mead, cider, mulled wine, and herbal teas.
Symbols, Associations and Decorations
Acorns, candles, torches, lanterns, apples, autumn flowers, autumn leaves, bats, besoms, black cats, bones, carved pumpkins and turnips, photos of ancestors and/or dearly departed, corn stalks, corn dolls, crows, cauldrons, gourds, jack-o-lanterns, masks, mirrors, oak leaves, pine cones, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, skulls, straw, tombstones, and spiderwebs.
Activities for Samhain
Divination (tarot, scrying, cleromancy, etc), honoring/consulting ancestors, remembering the dearly departed, holding a dumb supper, releasing the old, understanding death and rebirth, past life recall, lighting bonfires, leaving offerings for ancestors and/or faeries, cooking, feasting, pumpkin and gourd carving, lighting candles, and wearing costumes and/or masks.
Crystals and Stones
Black obsidian, black onyx, hematite, carnelian, amber, bloodstone, smoky quartz, and petrified wood.
Animals
Black cats, bats, owls, stags, ravens, crows, spiders, and dogs.
Spells and Rituals
Candle magic, divination, casting protection, shadow work, spirit work, and/or rituals/spells for manifesting transformation are all appropriate at this time.
📎 Paper clips – Paper clips are made of steel, which is mostly iron, so it can be used as a substitute for iron or iron shavings. Cut one up and put it in a protection powder. Or, you can bend it into a shape (like a sigil) for a simple window protection spell. Paper clips are known for their elasticity and tension, making them great for change spells, friendship spells, or even curses. They can also connect certain things, or make chains. On a practical note, paper clips can be bent into mini candle holders.
💌 Tape – Tape can obviously be used for bindings. It can also be used for invisibility spells or glamors, if you cover a certain word or object with tape. Using tape on a poppet may help protection or healing, but only for a little while.
✏️ Pencils/Pens – These uses change based on color. However, all of them can be used as wands, or to amplify a spell. You may bless or enhance a pen by washing it with a soap or tea, or cleansing it in incense smoke.
📑 Staples – Also made of steel, staples can be used for wards and bindings. Any spell involving pain can include staples. When you staple, you instill pain; when you remove a staple, you heal. They can also connect certain things, and are good for knowledge or love spells.
📌 Thumbtacks – These are great for protection jars, banishing spirits and, of course, curses. To see through certain situations, you may use a thumbtack to poke through a paper or bag, representing clarity. However, be aware that clarity obtained this way may not come pleasantly.
📝 Sticky notes – Sticky notes have more flexibility than regular paper, in that you can attach them. Use sticky notes for sigils on the go, or stick several sheets of sticky notes together in order to represent layers. If you would like to expand your knowledge, reveal a secret, or even divine, you can write on the top sticky note with a colored pen that matches the intent. Then place a drop of essential oil or moon water on the top note, and see what shapes it forms in the bottom notes.
✒️ Highlighters – Highlighters can be used similarly to pens. They also add extra light and glow to a design, which amplifies a spell’s power.
🔗 Rubber bands – You’ve probably used rubber bands before to wrap up baggies and such. In magic, they can represent tension, flexibility, binding, or releasing emotions. Stretch a rubber band between two poppets (or other symbols of people, like apples) to represent tension between two persons. In the same way, you can also use rubber bands for love, passion and lust spells.
✉️ Envelopes – Envelopes represent anything that encompasses, compresses, or confuses a person. Open envelops or write inside of them for inner clarity. Seal the envelope for anything you want to forget, trap, or hide. You can also use envelopes to hold herbs as a discreet form of witchcraft.
❌ Erasers – Obviously, erasers can help banish or hide things. They also work for invisibility spells, and release a ton of energy through friction. You may want to consider writing a sigil on an eraser, and then erasing it until the sigil wears off.
✂️ Scissors – Scissors can act as a magical knife for those who do not yet have one. Scissors can disconnect and cut off regrets, guilt, persons or memories. Scissors can also be used to carve into candles.
📏 Rulers – If you’re into number magic, a ruler is the tool for you. Imagine drawing a symbol in the exact dimensions of a number that corresponds to your intent!
It can be easy to feel super overwhelmed when you’re first starting off. This post is for very new witches who have limited knowledge and would like a broad overview! These are my opinions, feel free to disagree but be polite about it.
This post is a little different than the other ones, it’s all about casting spells!
Grounding and cleansing yourself:
It often is harder to focus on a spell if you are stuck in your own thoughts or have the energies from the day on you. I’ll often start with cleansing myself, by burning a sage or cedar herb bundle, and then sit and take some focused breaths and becoming present in my body.
Casting a circle:
Many witches cast circles as a way to protect themselves from outside energies or unwanted spirits while they’re performing magic. You can use the elements, a salt circle, invoking a deity, etc. Click the links to learn more! [X] [X] It is recommend you stay in the circle until you finish the spell and close the circle.
Drawing energy from something:
(So you don’t draw all the energy from yourself, which can be draining). Energy can be drawn from the elements, from crystals, deities, and many other things. This can be done by visualization and energy work or by asking.
Casting the spell:
This is when you use your ingredients and the guidelines of the spell. It is best to be completely focused so try to avoid having distractions (like your phone) and have everything you need ready to go.
Closing any loopholes:
Often, this is not included in the written spell so this is up to you. I usually write a list of loopholes I want to close before starting this process, so it’s handy when I’m finished with the spell! If it’s a spell you want to come to light in a certain way or by a certain time, this is when you clarify that. This post has more info [X]
Completing the spell and dispelling any energies:
Once you have finished with the loopholes, finishing the spell can be as simple as “this spell is now complete”. I recommend dispelling any energies you called on and returning them to where they belong. If you didn’t cast a circle, now is the time to rid of anything you may have attracted by performing your spell.
Closing the circle:
Closing a circle is fairly simple! All you have to do is the reverse of how you cast it. (If it was with smoke for example, you would then undo the circle by burning the bundle in the opposite direction).
Cleansing and grounding:
Cleansing here is optional, depends on the spell, how you’re feeling, and if you want to do it. Grounding is highly recommended. This can come in many forms. I often use water, putting drops on the key points of my face (forehead, eyelids, cheeks, nose, lips and chin) and sit while taking focused breaths.
Other considerations:
Consent: If you are casting a spell on a specific person and they do not know or they have not given you permission, you do not have their consent. Spells cast to bring a general thing (to attract love instead of to make a specific person fall in love with you), with permission, or on yourself don’t need consent/already have it!
Ingredients: Ingredients are often an important part of the spell and are included for a reason. They either represent a part of the spell, what the spell is trying to accomplish or are something you can draw energy from.
Alternative ingredients: If you can’t get your hands on a certain ingredient, you can almost always use a substitute ingredient. Just use correspondences and trust your gut while searching for the perfect substitute. General rule: Clear quartz = any crystal, Rosemary = any herb, Rose = any flower.
Belief: If you don’t believe the spell is going to work – it probably won’t. To combat this, take the time to find a spell you really believe will work and write a list of ways you might expect it to present in your life.
Intention: Similar to belief. I’ve performed magic only using a pen, paper, and my powerful intentions. The more powerfully you want something and bring it into your life, the more likely it is to appear. Intent is the end goal, why you’re casting the spell.
Deities: I do not use deities in my spellwork (or witchcraft at all). There is a huge amount of respect and connection-building that is required before asking a deity to help with your spell. I tend to avoid spells where a listed ingredient is a deity. (If you do have a connection with a deity, by all means ask them to help you out if that feels right to you!)
Energy: It is common to feel drained after casting a spell. Grounding yourself, casting a circle and drawing energy from other things all help with this, but allow yourself some time to recover. [X]
I’d like to note that a part of my post turned out very similar to @lunaesteria‘s post, which you can find here. It was not intentional but I feel it’s important to acknowledge! Some things are also phrased differently there so I’d recommend reading both.
this is a list of magical associations for every tarot card, they can be added into spells to amplify your intentions and strengthen your manifestations
Wands are connected with the Fire element and is centered around movement, direction, energy, passion
Swords deal with thinking, communication, perception, and issues dealing with truth, connected to the air element
Cups are connected with water, and the full spectrum of emotions. every emotion imaginable is covered in the cup’s suit.
Pentacles are connected with Earth and are symbolic of manifestation, rewards, material wealth and material abundance.
The Fool creates new beginnings and can be paired with other cards. ex: the fool + the lovers for new romance, the fool + pentacles for new opportunities, etc.
The Magician increases your power and capability on all levels, willpower, emotional security, balance within yourself, etc.
The High Priestess increases your psychic abilities, mediumship abilities, and intuition
The Empress will help you with creativity and creative endeavors
The Emperor establishes order, structure, and command
The Hierophant can be used in a lot of ways, my favorites are 1. Pairing it with the fool to attract a new mentor, 2. Using it to summon a spirit guide or ascended master
The Lovers help invoke and attract love, partnership, mutual relationships, and passion
The Chariot is amazing for success, and triumph. I always use this in success spells for exams, tests, and projects. The Chariot will help the best possible outcome for a situation to arise
Strength will help you master your emotions
The Hermit is good for rituals and meditations based going within and gaining a better understanding of your own self, and life purpose.
The Wheel of Fortune can be used for luck, change, and getting a desired situation moving
Justice is great for truth, legal matters, and justice
The Hanged Man buys you time for a situation you aren’t ready to face, delays events
The Death card works well for ending situations, closing doors, gaining closure, and new beginnings
Temperance will restore balance and serenity to any situation
The Tower is best used for hexing and cursing, brings misfortune, unhappiness and chaos
The Star card is good for when you are casting spells focused on gaining something, The Star card is centered around healing, openness, and hope
The Moon helps develops intuitive abilities and can be used to send bad dreams
The Sun is used in spells for summoning happiness, success, and health
Judgement will help clear confusion and help you with understanding your life mission similar to the Hermit in that aspect
The World invokes wholeness and completion
Page of Wands: works with communication, messages, action, and passion
Page of Cups: boosts creativity, taps into your spiritual nature to bring out new creativity
Page of Swords: amplifies ingenuity and creativity, helps deliver messages from one person to another, can be used to attract someone’s attention to yourself
Page of Pentacles: good for grounding and centering spell work
Knight of Wands: speeds up any workings involving passion, love, and creativity
Knight of Cups: speeds up workings dealing with emotions, psychic development, inner strength
Knight of Swords: speeds up workings involving communication, balance, and thinking
Knight of Pentacles: speeds up workings dealing with manifesting abundance, material wealth, prosperity, and creativity
King of Wands: associated with leadership, command, can help you gain authority
King of Cups: associated with personal feelings, can help you resolve personal conflicts and inner turmoil
King of Swords: aids in strengthening your communication and speaking skills
King of Pentacles: invokes luxury, great card for business success
Queen of Wands: establishes a sense of self security and sufficiency
Queen of Cups: develops your psychic abilities, also helps with understanding/controlling your emotions
Queen of Swords: helps you develop stronger focus
Queen of Pentacles: abundance, creativity, fertility
Aces: used for new beginnings based on the energy represented in that suit
Two of Wands: positive progress in any situation whether it be romance, health, career, etc.
Three of Wands: business prosperity
Four of Wands: strengthens any type of relationship
Five of Wands: used in hexes and curses to invoke conflict, and arguments
Six of Wands: manifests recognition, success,
Seven of Wands: use this card when you’re in a tough situation, it will help you succeed and come out of it stronger
Eight of Wands: directs energy and intentions towards a specific goal or purpose, helps to speed up workings
Nine of Wands: use this card when you come face to face with a difficult task, this card will keep you brave and strong
Ten of Wands: can either be used to achieve something great, or it can be used in a hex or curse to manifest burdens
Two of Cups: union, strengthens romantic relationships
Three of Cups: strengthens a friendship
Four of Cups: dissatisfaction with surroundings
Five of Cups: causes despair and sadness
Six of Cups: lifts your mood when you’re feeling down
Seven of Cups: illusions and deceptions
Eight of Cups: used to help you move on from the past
Nine of Cups: make a wish and use this card’s power to grant your wish, invokes happiness
Ten of Cups: brings happiness to relationships of all kinds, friends, family, romantic, etc.
Two of Swords: used in curses and hexes to cause someone to have a limiting mindset
Three of Swords: heartbreak and emotional strife
Four of Swords: used in healing spells, sleeping aid
Five of Swords: manifests conflict, and failed success
Six of Swords: this card will aid you when you face a difficult change, helps you to move on and move forward
Seven of Swords: causes betrayal
Eight of Swords: powerful energy that causes isolation
Nine of Swords: sends nightmares and anxieties
Ten of Swords: defeat and betrayal
Two of Pentacles: brings balance
Three of Pentacles: strengthens business connections
Four of Pentacles: manifests financial stability
Five of Pentacles: financial problem
Six of Pentacles: prosperity
Seven of Pentacles: material abundance
Eight of Pentacles: if you’ve worked hard this card ensures you that your efforts will be rewarded
Nine of Pentacles: success, luxury, accomplishment
Ten of Pentacles: success, wealth
Negative aspects of the cards can be used for hexing and cursing
This week is Mabon! For all Witches, and with any sabbath, it’s a fun time to celebrate. So, I figured I’d put together a little guide for Mabon.
Mabon is also known as the Autumnal Equinox, when Night and Day are equal with each other. With Mabon, we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending darkness. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth.
At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.
Symbolism of Mabon:
Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.
Symbols of Mabon:
wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.
Herbs of Maybon:
Acorn, benzoin, ferns, grains, honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, passionflower, rose, sage, solomon’s seal, tobacco, thistle, and vegetables.
Foods of Mabon:
Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Incense of Mabon:
Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.
Colors of Mabon:
Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.
Stones of Mabon:
Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.
Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.
Spellworkings of Mabon:
Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.
Deities of Mabon:
Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man.
Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!
tumblr archive 