Category: Miscellaneous Pagan

Spell Work and Casting – (Remember this is Just the Authors Opinion)16 Common Witchcraft Spell Casting Essentials

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY COROSPONDENCES AND SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)

A list of 16 Common Witchcraft Spell Casting Essentials That Every Witch Should Have Source: wakeup.unhypnotize.com

These common witchcraft spell casting essentials are not listed in any particular order. They are listed in the order in which they came to me for the purpose of writing this article.

These are not the only common witchcraft spell casting essentials, however, they are some of the ones that I feel are the main ones.

THE most important witchcraft spell casting essential is intent. Without intent, you have nothing but words and actions, and not really a spell cast at all.

In no particular order, a list of Common Witchcraft Spell Casting Essentials

1. Salt

Used for cleansing and banishing. It is also used for protection during cleansing and banishing spells. Salt is a natural antiseptic. Salt is commonly used for circles for standing or sitting in while casting. It also ensures a clean spell.

2. Broom

Brooms are highly symbolic. Brooms symbolize the sweeping away of anything unwanted. They are used physically, as well as symbolically. You would use a broom to physically sweep away in a cleansing spell, banishing spell, also in some protection spells (ones that would rid unwanted energy from your home to keep it out).

3. Candles

Candles are used for focus and mood. Candles should be readily available in as many colors as you can get a hold of. Different colored candles hold symbolism for a variety of spells. Colors are chosen based on the nature of the spell and what feels right. White can be substituted for any color in the absence of the chosen color.

For example, some people like to use the color Red for love spells, or the colors Green or Gold for money spells, or Blue for healing spells, etc.

You can choose what colors feel right for you for any spell of your choosing. You do not have to go with the commonly used color associations if you feel another color will work better for you in a certain spell or ritual.

4. Crystals and Stones…

5. Incense…

6. Anointing Oils and Essential Oils…

7. Silence…

8. Isolation…

9. Book of Shadows (Spell Book)…

10. Intent…

11. Focus…

12. Confidence…

13. Altar…

14. Herbs and Flowers…

15. Cauldron…

16. Instinct…

This is not a complete list of everything that you will ever need or that you will ever use in your spells and rituals, and it is not meant to be. It is simply a list of some of the most common witchcraft spell casting essentials that are important to ensure a great spell. You don’t need all of these things for each spell. You want to use any combination of the essentials (and anything else that you feel is necessary) in each individual spell.

Witch Trials in the 21st Century

The most famous witch trial in history happened in Salem, Massachusetts, during the winter and spring of 1692-1693. When it was all over, 141 suspects, both men and women, were tried as witches. Nineteen were executed by hanging. One was pressed to death by heavy stones.

However, witch trials are not a thing of the past. Indeed, charges of witchcraft and trials of suspected witches are increasing.

Witchcraft

The word witchcraft has good and bad meanings in different cultures around the world. A general definition of witchcraft is the changing of everyday events using supernatural or magical forces.

Witchcraft is usually associated with the power of nature, such as medicinal and poisonous plants, or rains and floods. People accused of witchcraft are said to be able to control natural events such as storms or droughts.

So-called “witch doctors” use combinations of plants and animals, as well as spirituality or supernatural ability, to treat medical conditions. These “witch doctors” are not accused of being witches themselves—they heal illnesses and ailments blamed on witchcraft. “Witch doctor” is often a derogatory term for a traditional healer. Traditional healers, who rely on ancient remedies, are not witch doctors.

Unlike traditional healers, witch doctors use spells. Spells are words or phrases that are suspected of having magical powers. Casting a spell to be wealthy or lucky in love is an example of witchcraft.

Why do some people believe in witchcraft? Using the example of the love spell, some people may believe that Click here to read the rest of this article

The Nine Sacred Woods for Your Beltane Fire Printable

(SIDE NOTE: These are also the types of wood you need to make Ogham Staves.)

Some Information About Spell/Charm Bags

The Proper Timing for Magick c. 2017

Author: Taliesin McKnight

Timing is one of the most important things to consider when doing magick. Astrology can be likened to a great cosmic clock. It reflects the cycles and rhythms of nature. The proper alignment of the stars, the sun, the moon, and the planets should all be taken into consideration. Does this sound complex? I assure you it is not as complicated as it may sound. In fact, this may reduced to two things: the days of the week and the cycles of the moon.

The seven planets rule the seven days of the week. The names even derive from the planets in many different languages. In English these come from the names of the Norse planetary deities. Sunday is the day of the Sun; Monday is the day of the moon; Tuesday is the day of Tue (Mars) ; Wednesday is the day of Wodan (Mercury) ; Thursday is the day of Thor (Jupiter) ; Friday is the day of Freya (Venus) ; and Saturday is the day of Saturn. Therefore, for maximum astrological benefit, a love spell should be done on Friday, the day of Venus (planet ruling love) . In the same way, magick involving education may be done on Wednesday, which is ruled by Mercury. The planetary correspondences are as follows:

The Sun rules Sunday and is good for Success, luck, spirituality, knowledge, and healing. The moon rules on Mondays. This is a good time to do spells for intuition, dreams, astral travel, and communication with spirits. Mars rules on Tuesdays. It is a good time for effective magick involving battle, conflicts, protection, strength, overcoming adversity, and binding.

Mercury is the planet presiding over Wednesdays. This is a time for rituals for education, knowledge, divination, communication, and healing. Thursday is the day of Jupiter, and governs success, prosperity, luck, and leadership. Venus dominated on Fridays and can bring love, romance, heal relationships, and grant new friends. Saturday is governed by the baleful influence of Saturn. This planet grants protection, destruction, binding, curses, purification, and overcoming weakness.

In addition to the seven days of the week, the seven planets also rule the hours in the day. There are several different methods to calculating the planetary hours. One of these involves following the hours from sunrise to sunrise; another divides the hours between sunrise and sunset and divides them into 12 sections and the same is done for the period between sunsets. To avoid all the math and difficulty, a very simple and effective system omits this and simply uses the 24 hours from midnight to midnight. This has worked wonderfully for me and I see no reason to list the other methods. If you would like to examine other methods for calculating planetary hours, that information is readily available online or in other books on magick. For simplicity, just know that the planet for the day also rules the hour at 6 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm.

Now, to illustrate this, let us take an example. If you wanted to do a love spell, it would be a good idea to do this on Friday (the day of Venus) at 8 pm (the hour of Venus) . This acts as a magickal doorway in which the proper astrological conditions are right. In this way the magus moves with the cycles and the rhythms of nature. If one were to bind (or restrict) someone from causing harm to others, Saturday at 6 am would be a good time. The days and hours should be at least partially memorized. The easiest way to do this is to simply memorize which planets rule each day and to simply remember that the planet for that day also rules at 6 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm. In this way, it will not be necessary to look this up every time one wishes to do a spell!

The phases of the moon also have an important impact on the effectiveness of magick. The waxing (growing) phase and the full moon are good from creative magick and bringing things into your life; the waning (decreasing) phase and the new moon are used for destructive spells and getting rid of things in your life. This is the most stressed point in ritual timing in the Wiccan tradition.

The concept of moving with the phases of the moon is very ancient and is found in many different cultures. This can be seen as a more important element in timing than anything else. It is much better to go with the phases of the moon on the wrong day than to do it on the right day of the week and the wrong lunar phase. This aspect of magickal timing should not be over-looked. The full and new moons are peaks of the creative and destructive cycles. The mid-way points (the half moons during increase and decrease) are also times of great magickal power.

The last aspect of ritual timing is the moon sign. The moon passes through the 12 signs of the zodiac, remaining in each sign only for a few days. This is not as important a consideration as the other 2 timing concerns. Nonetheless, this can lend power to rituals and spells. When the moon is in an Earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are good for financial concerns; when the sign is in an Air sign (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) are ideal for education and spells consistent with the characteristics of the element of Air. When the sign is in a Water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) it is a great time for spells that are connected to the Element of water and to emotions, artistry, and relationships; While the moon is in a Fire sign (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) it is a good time to do rituals of a fiery nature.

The individual characteristics of the sign (rather than just the element) should also be considered. This is not a very important aspect to magickal timing, so don’t stress too much over it. As I said before, though, utilizing this can only help and never hinder!

There are other lesser aspects to astrological timing. These would include the weather and the current Sun sign. The reason Sun signs are rarely considered is not so much that it is a weak influence, but rather that it is not practical to wait months just to do a spell, when it will probably no longer even be needed or be too late. This could also be a great aid if followed.

Weather is an issue as well. Storms are usually great for magick because it is a time of great elemental power. Furthermore, if one is doing a ritual involving the Sun, this should be done during the day and when it is sunny. One would assume this would go without saying. On the contrary, however, many people fail to recognize this simple concept. After all, it is only common sense. Thus, weather and the Sun sign can lend a lot of extra power to spells, if you would only harness that power with the use of correct ritual timing.

Now that this has all been laid down and explained, let us take another example to make sure these concepts are well understood. Let us say that someone is looking for a new job and decides to do some magick to help the job search. The moon should be waxing (this is for bringing things into your life) and the spell may be done on a Thursday (the day of Jupiter) at 1 pm (the hour of Jupiter) on a cloudy day because Jupiter is a sky god. The moon should also be in the sign of Capricorn. This would be an extremely good time for such a spell. The conditions are perfect.

Does timing have to be followed? Of course not! In the preceding example, the job is probably needed immediately. It would be foolish to wait for the right conditions during such an emergency. Do spells whenever they are needed. However, WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT, the astrological conditions should be considered. If a spell can wait for the perfect conditions, then great. If they spell can wait a few days for the right day ruled by the proper planet, that is good too. But if the spell can’t wait that long, then do it now. The spell can be repeated when the stars, sun, and moon are aligned right if needed. The spell will still work. The point is lending extra power to your spells. That’s it.

Following the cycles and rhythms of nature is also another way of aligning oneself with the universe. In the ancient Mystery Traditions, from which magick derives, Man was seen as a reflection of the cosmos. One is moving in accordance with the universe. We are moving with the tides of nature. Can magick be done against these cycles and still be effective? Sure. But it is like swimming against a current. Why not “ride with the tide”? It may even carry you a ways if you would only let go and let the currents of the Great Mother take you. Thus, in magick we try to follow the ways of Nature. Magick is merely using Her ways.

Remember, that which separates the initiate from the vulgar is simply that the occultist is aware of the laws of the universe and uses them to his or her advantage while others do not use this power that lies in their hands.

A Talisman or an Amulet… What’s the Difference? (Explained)

Since ancient times, a man has placed faith in the magical power of talismans and amulets, various objects capable of defending their owner from spells and negative influences of all kinds. Not many know that the two terms are not synonymous but are actually very different.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Talismans and amulets are both objects with distinct purposes.

Talismans are intentionally created objects, often jewelry, designed to attract positive energies or outcomes, such as luck or love. They are charged with specific intentions.

Amulets, on the other hand, are objects, like pendants or charms, primarily used for protection against negative energies or harm.

They are not typically charged with intentions but are chosen for their inherent protective qualities or symbolism.

Contents

What is the difference between a talisman and an amulet?

What is a talisman?

What is an amulet?

Source: Magickal Spot by Tina Caro

History of Witches

Table of Contents

The Origin of Witches

‘Malleus Maleficarum’

Salem Witch Trials

Are Witches Real?

Book of Shadows

Sources

Witches were perceived as evil beings by early Christians in Europe, inspiring the iconic Halloween figure.

Images of witches have appeared in various forms throughout history—from evil, wart-nosed women huddling over a cauldron of boiling liquid to hag-faced, cackling beings riding through the sky on brooms wearing pointy hats. In pop culture, the witch has been portrayed as a benevolent, nose-twitching suburban housewife; an awkward teenager learning to control her powers and a trio of charmed sisters battling the forces of evil. The real history of witches, however, is dark and, often for the witches, deadly.

The Origin of Witches

Early witches were people who practiced witchcraft, using magic spells and calling upon spirits for help or to bring about change. Most witches were thought to be pagans doing the Devil’s work. Many, however, were simply natural healers or so-called “wise women” whose choice of profession was misunderstood.

It’s unclear exactly when witches came on the historical scene, but one of the earliest records of a witch is in the Bible in the book of 1 Samuel, thought be written between 931 B.C. and 721 B.C. It tells the story of when King Saul sought the Witch of Endor to summon the dead prophet Samuel’s spirit to help him defeat the Philistine army.

The witch roused Samuel, who then prophesied the death of Saul and

Click here to read the rest of this article

Introducing 37 Popular Different Types of Witches

There are possible as many different types of witches, as witches themselves. These various types mentioned below are great for understanding your craft and giving you a frame to research and learn more about magical ways of being.

I want to describe them as an inspiration for you to find the best practice that will suit your aesthetic and interests. It’s not intended to give you another label nor to show the only possible way to practice witchcraft.

Feel free to combine these practices and find your unique way of magic.

Contents

1. GREEN WITCH
Book references for a Green Witch:
2. KITCHEN WITCH
Book references for a Kitchen Witch:
3. HEDGE WITCH
Book references for a Hedge Witch:
4. HEARTH WITCH
Book references for a Hearth Witch:
5. ECLECTIC WITCH
Book references for an Eclectic Witch:
6. CRYSTAL WITCH
Book references for a Crystal Witch:
7. MODERN WITCH
Book references for a Modern Witch:
8. SEA WITCH
Book references for a Sea Witch:
9. NATURAL WITCH
Book references for a Natural Witch:
10. ELEMENTAL WITCH
Book references for an Elemental Witch:
11. DIVINATION WITCH
Book references for a Divination Witch:
12. LUNAR WITCH
Book references for a Lunar Witch:
13. SOLAR WITCH
Book references for a Solar Witch:
14. FOREST WITCH
Book references for a Forest Witch:
15. COSMIC WITCH
Book references for a Cosmic Witch:
16. AUGURY WITCH
Book references for an Augury Witch:
17. FAERY WITCH
Book references for a Faery Witch:
18. DRAGON WITCH
Book references for a Dragon Witch:
19. ART WITCH

Book references for an Art Witch:
20. YOGA WITCH

Book references for a Yoga Witch:
21. WHITE WITCH
Book references for a White Witch:
22. BLACK/DARK WITCH
Book references for a Dark Witch:
23. GRAY WITCH
Book references for a Gray Witch:
24. TRADITIONAL WITCH
Book references for a Traditional Witch:
25. HEREDITARY WITCH
Book references for a Hereditary Witch:
26. SOLITARY WITCH
Book references for a Solitary Witch:
27. FOLK WITCH
Book references for a Folk Witch:
28. WICCAN WITCH
Book references for a Wiccan Witch:
29. DIANIC WITCH
Book references for a Dianic Witch:
30. CEREMONIAL WITCH
Book references for a Ceremonial Witch:
31. CHAOS WITCH
Book references for a Chaos Witch:
32. CELTIC WITCH
Book references for a Celtic Witch:
33. HELLENIC WITCH
Book references for a Hellenic Witch:
34. NORSE WITCH
Book references for a Norse Witch:
35. SLAVIC WITCH
Book references for a Slavic Witch:
36. PAGAN WITCH
Book references for a Pagan Witch:
37. SECULAR WITCH
Book references for a Secular Witch:

What other different types of Witches would you add to this list?

Last Updated on September 10, 2021 by Eva Maria

Some Information About Glamour Spells For Enhanced Beauty Using Witchcraft

With so many types of spells out there, it’s tough to figure out where to start. Glamour spells have been used by witches for centuries, but they aren’t the most well-known types of spells by any means.

Because glamour spells are generally underground, there aren’t many spells on Google or Pinterest that are readily available. I’m hoping that this post will provide you with some simple glamour spell ideas that work.

What Are Glamour Spells?

In magic, a glamour is a veil that hides what’s underneath. A glamour spell brings out one’s natural beauty while hiding those less-than-desirable aspects.

When you’re casting a glamour spell, you can either personally choose the aspects that you want to enhance or you can simply visualize beauty and let the spell choose.

A glamour spell typically doesn’t last that long. I find that most glamour spells I cast will last for a full day or so. I tend to cast glamour spells when I really need them which is mainly for special events.

I personally use glamour spells to appear more like who I truly feel I am inside. I don’t use them to run from myself, but I do have specific aspects of myself that I like more than others, and enhancing those aspects gives me confidence.

When Should You Cast Glamour Spells?

I recommend casting a glamour spell anytime you want to enhance your natural beauty. This might be when you feel a bit down, click here to read the rest of this article

Witchcraft – Definition, History, Varieties, & Facts

Witchcraft, traditionally, the exercise or invocation of alleged supernatural powers to control people or events, practices typically involving sorcery or magic. Although defined differently in disparate historical and cultural contexts, witchcraft has often been seen, especially in the West, as the work of crones who meet secretly at night, indulge in cannibalism and orgiastic rites with the Devil, or Satan, and perform black magic. Witchcraft thus defined exists more in the imagination of contemporaries than in any objective reality. Yet this stereotype has a long history and has constituted for many cultures a viable explanation of evil in the world. The intensity of these beliefs is best represented by the European witch hunts of the 14th to 18th century, but witchcraft and its associated ideas are never far from the surface of popular consciousness and—sustained by folk tales—find explicit focus from time to time in popular television and films and in fiction.

Meanings

The modern English word witchcraft has three principal connotations: the practice of magic or sorcery worldwide; the beliefs associated with the Western witch hunts of the 14th to the 18th century; and varieties of the modern movement called Wicca, frequently mispronounced “wikka.”

The terms witchcraft and witch derive from Old English wiccecraeft: from wicca (masculine) or wicce (feminine), pronounced “witchah” and “witchuh,” respectively, denoting someone who practices sorcery; and from craeft meaning “craft” or “skill.” Roughly equivalent words in other European languages—such as sorcellerie (French), Hexerei (German), stregoneria (Italian), and brujería (Spanish)—have different connotations, and none precisely translates another. The difficulty is even greater with the relevant words in African, Asian, and other languages. The problem of defining witchcraft is made more difficult because the concepts underlying these words also change according to time and place, sometimes radically. Moreover, different cultures do not share a coherent pattern of witchcraft beliefs, which often blend other concepts such as magic, sorcery, religion, folklore, theology, technology, and diabolism. Some societies regard a witch as a person with inherent supernatural powers, but in the West witchcraft has been more commonly believed to be an ordinary person’s free choice to learn and practice magic with the help of the supernatural. (The terms West and Western in this article refer to European societies themselves and to post-Columbian societies influenced by European concepts.) The answer to the old question “Are there such things as witches?” therefore depends upon individual belief and upon definition, and no single definition exists. One thing is certain: the emphasis on the witch in art, literature, theatre, and film has little relation to external reality.

False ideas about witchcraft and the witch hunts persist today. First, the witch hunts did not occur in  click here to read the rest of this article

Have you heard about the 7 Hermetic Laws? by Guest Author Andy

Hey there! Have you heard about the 7 Hermetic Laws? These are ancient universal principles said to guide the workings of the universe and everything in it.

Understanding these laws can help you gain deeper wisdom about yourself and the world. Let’s explore what each one means and how you can apply them in your life!

 

1. The Principle of Mentalism

The first law states “The All is Mind; The Universe is Mental.” This means that there is one universal mind at play behind everything. This creative intelligence expresses itself through all of existence, including our individual minds!

The Principle of Mentalism states that everything in the universe originated from thought. All matter begins in the mind as an idea or thought form. Physical reality springs from the mental plane of existence. The universe itself is mental and everything is interconnected through consciousness.

This means your thoughts and beliefs shape your outer world. By mastering your inner mental processes, you gain the power to direct energy and manifest the experiences you desire. Your thoughts and expectations influence the flow of events. To transform any circumstance, first shift your state of mind.

2. The Principle of Correspondence

Now for the second law: “As above, so below; as below, so above.” This law tells us there are connections between the physical and spiritual realms. There are parallels between what happens on the inner planes of ideas and emotions and the outer planes of actions and events.

The Principle of Correspondence reveals the interconnectedness between different planes of reality. It states that what happens on one level of existence happens on every other level in similar patterns and ratios. The microcosm reflects the macrocosm.

You can look to fundamental universal laws to better understand any field of knowledge. The ancient phrase “as within, so without” also applies here. The same natural forces operate in our bodies, relationships, societies, and galaxies. By observing nature’s patterns, you gain higher wisdom.

3. The Principle of Vibration

The third law is “Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.” This law indicates that all energy expressed through the universe is in constant motion and has its own frequency.

The Principle of Vibration decrees that all energy vibrates at specific frequencies. It states that nothing rests; everything moves and vibrates in the universe. The differences between forms of matter and energy are the result of varying rates of vibration. Higher vibration equals higher consciousness.

You attract what you emit vibrationally. By raising your frequency, you elevate your experience. You can change any condition by harmonizing your inner vibration with your desired outcome. To ascend to higher states, attune yourself to joy, gratitude, and love through thoughts and actions.

4. The Principle of Polarity

Now we come to the fourth law: “Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites.” This law acknowledges that all things have an equal yet opposing force. There are always two sides to every person, situation, or idea.

According to Wisdom Tavern, the Principle of Polarity teaches that everything contains opposite poles or pairs of opposites. Heat and cold, light and dark, male and female are examples of polarities. Opposite extremes are actually the same, differing only in degree. All truths are but half-truths, and to see the whole picture, you must synthesize opposites.

Challenges provide contrast needed for growth. By accepting and reconciling seeming contradictions, you gain wisdom and wholeness. Remain open to all perspectives so you can transcend polarized thinking and recognize the whole truth. Extremes serve the greater balance.

5. The Principle of Rhythm

Are you noticing a pattern here? The fifth law says “Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides.” This law recognizes the natural ebb and flow of life between periods of activity and periods of rest.

The Principle of Rhythm decrees that everything flows in cycles, pulses, and patterns. It states that the pendulum swing manifests in all things. The measure of the swing between extremes is the measure of harmony and equilibrium. Mastering rhythm allows you to utilize natural cycles beneficially.

Nature’s ebbs and flows create periods of activity and rest. By cooperating with life’s rhythm, you align with divine flow. There is a season and purpose for every phase. Allow what no longer energizes you to fade so what resonates can emerge. Change is nature’s rhythm.

6. The Principle of Cause and Effect

Now for a big one – the sixth law: “Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause.” This law reminds you that all actions have consequences. Even thoughts and emotions can be causes that ripple out as effects.

 

The Principle of Cause and Effect explains that every cause has an effect and every effect has its cause. It states that there is a law of sowing and reaping and that actions produce results of corresponding magnitude. To change any outcome, alter the energy you extend.

You shape your reality through your deeds. What you send out returns multiplied. Every thought, word, and action plants seeds that will blossom similarly. Fulfill your desires by sowing their seeds through focused intention, integrity, and purposeful action.

7. The Principle of Gender

Finally, the seventh law states “Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles.” This law conveys that all forms contain the energies of both masculine and feminine essence.

The Principle of Gender embodies the truth that gender exists in all things. It states that everything contains both the masculine and feminine principles. The masculine projects, directs, and gives life. The feminine receives, integrates, and nurtures. True mastery involves balancing both qualities.

Even same-sex partnerships contain complementary energies. Everyone possesses both energies inside. By embracing your wholeness, you integrate both halves intuitively. Gender principles are essential creative forces. Balancing your inner masculine and feminine allows you to manifest powerfully.

 

Combine Witchcraft With Switchwords to Boost Your Magical Practice

What Is a Switchword?

The concept of “switchwords” is based on the work of a man called James T. Mangan. As a businessman and motivational author, Mangan was a perpetual student of life and knew how to win it. He concluded that there were certain principles that, if followed, would inevitably lead to a happy and fulfilling life.

He wrote a book called The Secret of Perfect Living in which he explains the principles in great detail. In the book, he also talks about switchwords as a way of flicking on the subconscious to get to wake up and work for you. While the book is excellent in its own way, it is lacking a proper list and guidelines for using these special words. I have written another article, How To Use Switchwords, which explains how they work and which words and combinations of words to use to help you get the desired result.

Adding Magic to Your Daily Routine More Information

Source: exemplore.com/wicca-witchcraft

Adapt and Adopt Spells

The most powerful magick is when you devise it yourself. Performing someone else’s spell is exactly that, a performance. Whereas if you put thought, effort and creativity into designing your spell, it’s yours and only yours. So I encourage you to use these ideas as mere frameworks, upon which you’ll hang your own unique touches.

You can write them into your Book of Shadows and each time you use them, you can change them a little bit.

Using Spells in Daily Life

What’s so good about using spells and magick in everyday life? Well, because you can. Once you have mastered the trick of tapping into your emotions and desire at will to raise the energy, then you might as well make the most of it and live an enhanced, enchanted, always surprising, lovely witchy life.

Now that doesn’t mean that you won’t have to deal with bad stuff occasionally. We all have to. No one can sail through unscathed or untouched by negativity. And I promise you, you wouldn’t want to. The contrast of the not-so-nice times helps you appreciate the great times. Without the dark, you wouldn’t be grateful for the light.

That Old Universal Energy

I just have to mention once more, that any spell will not be effective unless you put the effort of energetic emotion into it. So before you start, make sure you know what emotion is necessary. Think about what you want to achieve and feel it into reality. Hold that feeling and work your magick.

How the Pope Stole Christmas

How the Pope Stole Christmas

Once in ol’ England, both ancient and vast,Lived folks with traditions, long held and steadfast.

They danced and they sang when winter was nigh,
Under the stars, beneath the cold sky. The solstice was coming, the shortest of days, They prepared for the feast in so many ways.
With holly and ivy, they decked every hall, and a Yule log was burned, a tree once so tall. But just West of Rome, sat a man robed in white,
Pope Greg, in his Vatican… was his hat too tight?
For he pondered and prayed with his furrowed brow, “How can we bring these pagans to vow? VOW! VOW! VOW! VOW! “To our faith, to our fold, in the Christ Child believe, and their old pagan ways they must surely leave.”
So he plotted and planned, found a few saints to send, “We must change their tradition, Saturnalia must end! Shouting, “Let us take over this pagan delight, and make it about the Holy Birth Night.
We’ll infuse their rituals with our good Christian grace,
And Christ’s Mass will slowly take the solstice’s place. “So it happened o’er time, to the pagans’ surprise, Their meals and their dances became Christianized.
Their feasting was now for the Christ Child’s birth, and their parties lost some of their ol’ heathen mirth. Where Odin once rode ‘cross the sky on Sleipnir, soon Saint Nicholas would soar, with eight tiny reindeer.
All the mistletoe, holly, ham, trees, and wassails,
Would all stick around, though the Pope’s plan prevails. For the people adapted, they bent and they swayed,
But the essence of joy in their hearts, it still stayed.
They embraced the new faith, yet remembered the old,
In the stories they recounted, both spirited and bold. Pope Greg had succeeded, but maybe not as he planned,
For the spirit of solstice in their hearts still fanned.
The magic of yule, it forever remained,
Hiding inside the message that Christmas contained. And so, my dear reader, has our tale closed?
Is babe Jesus the victor, to reign unopposed?
Or could his day be stolen out from under his manger?
As Jeff Bezos circles… is “Christmas” still in danger? Perhaps the real lesson is that the season’s so large,
That there is no need to leave just one group in charge.
For the joy and the love, in each heart does reside,
No matter the reason, or the faith that’s applied. We hold one goal in common, or at least we should,
And that dream is just: to do that which is good.
So we’ll wrap up our poem, though last but not least:

Who sitting here will carve the roast beast?

P.S. – If you’d like to share the poem on Facebook, we also posted it there:

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Winter Solstice Rituals for Witches: Honor the Darkness and Embrace the Light – Article by Guest Author – Patti Negri, the “Good Witch”

As the frost settles and the days grow shorter, the veil between worlds starts to thin, inviting witches to honor the celestial dance of the Winter Solstice. This sacred juncture marks the longest night, inviting us to embrace the darkness and await the return of the sun’s warmth.

In witchcraft, the Winter Solstice holds profound significance. It’s a time of reflection, transformation and potent magic. During this period, rituals and traditions intertwine with the rhythms of nature, guiding practitioners to create sacred spaces adorned with symbols that resonate with the season’s energy.

Witches may also use candle magic to illuminate the shadows, offering a beacon of hope in the night. Additionally, they may use herbal enchantments to weave their potent spells with seasonal botanicals.

In this article, we’ll explore the depths of Winter Solstice practices. From crafting altars imbued with ancient symbolism to embracing the transition from darkness to light through intention-setting rituals, we’ll delve into the timeless traditions that honor the solstice, bridging the realms of the mystical and the mundane.

The Significance of the Winter Solstice in Witchcraft

The Winter Solstice holds pivotal significance in witchcraft, marking the year’s longest night and the rebirth of the sun. It symbolizes the eternal dance between light and darkness, mirroring life’s cyclical nature.

If you’re a practicing crystal witch, this celestial event is a time of introspection, honoring the unseen and embracing the shadows within. It’s a moment to honor your ancestors, reflect on the past year’s lessons, and set intentions for the coming cycle.

By aligning with nature’s rhythms, you can harness this potent energy, weaving spells that invite transformation and renewal. The solstice embodies the essence of transition, and it can guide you toward cosmic alignment and personal growth.

Creating a Sacred Space

Crafting a sacred space for the Winter Solstice means arranging altars adorned with potent symbols resonant with the season’s essence. You can use elements like evergreens to signify resilience, and crystals like quartz and obsidian to channel transformative energies.

Candles can help evoke warmth amid darkness, representing the returning sun’s light. Seasonal items like pinecones, mistletoe or holly can also infuse rituals with nature’s vitality. This is where placement and arrangement are important; you have to align the elements with cardinal directions or personal intention.

These altars will become portals where you commune with cosmic energies, facilitating connection and manifestation. Each symbol chosen has a deeper meaning, creating a sanctuary where your intentions will converge with elemental forces during this sacred celestial juncture.

Candle Magic for Illumination

Candle magic during the Winter Solstice serves as a beacon, illuminating the darkness of the longest night. Lit candles symbolize hope, inviting the returning sun’s warmth and guiding lost spirits towards renewal.

Moreover, colors like gold and silver embody the sun’s vitality, while blues and purples evoke tranquility and introspection. As flames flicker, you can infuse your intentions into the wax, manifesting your desires and dispelling negativity.

This ritual involves consecration, visualization and focused intent, harnessing the elemental power of fire. Through this ancient practice, you’ll embrace the transformative potential within the solstice’s shadows, kindling your inner light.

Herbal Enchantments

As a witch, the Winter Solstice is the ideal time to harness the enchanting power of seasonal botanicals in spellwork and rituals. For instance, sacred herbs like cinnamon, juniper and mistletoe infuse ceremonies with their potent energies, invoking protection, renewal and abundance.

By crafting herbal sachets, teas or incense blends, you can honor nature’s dormant yet vibrant essence, inviting its transformative forces. Each botanical holds unique properties—pine for purification, chamomile for inner peace—aligning intentions with nature’s wisdom.

Through these herbal enchantments, you can embrace the solstice’s essence. This will help you commune with the earth’s dormant energies to facilitate personal and cosmic metamorphosis.

Reflection and Intention

During the Winter Solstice, reflection and intention is a sacred ritual that facilitates the transition from darkness to light. As a practitioner, you can engage in introspective ceremonies, honoring lessons learned amid the year’s shadows.

Through meditation and journaling, you can reflect on personal growth and release that which no longer serves you. You can meticulously craft intentions, infusing them with newfound wisdom and aspirations for the returning light.

These rituals may involve symbolic actions like burning written reflections or lighting candles to signify newfound clarity. This marks a pivotal moment, guiding you from the depths of introspection into the dawning promise of renewal and illumination as the sun’s rebirth draws near.

To Wrap Up

By engaging in these profound rituals during the mystical Winter Solstice, you can honor the dance between darkness and light. This is the time to weave spells, kindle inner flames, and commune with nature’s wisdom.

The solstice reminds us of life’s cyclical nature—of endings that birth beginnings. As you step forward, carrying the solstice’s transformative energy within, may your intentions continue to blossom.

May you navigate the year ahead with the resilience of evergreens, the clarity of candlelight, and the wisdom gleaned from this sacred journey from darkness to light. May you continue to be connected to the celestial rhythms of our world.

Witch-Cult Hypothesis

The witch-cult hypothesis is a discredited theory that the witch trials of the Early Modern period were an attempt to suppress a pagan religion that had survived the Christianization of Europe. According to its proponents, accused witches were actually followers of this alleged religion. They argue that the supposed ‘witch cult‘ revolved around worshiping a Horned God of fertility and the underworld, whose Christian persecutors identified with the Devil, and whose followers held nocturnal rites at the witches’ Sabbath.

The theory was pioneered by two German scholars, Karl Ernst Jarcke and Franz Josef Mone, in the early nineteenth century, and was adopted by French historian Jules Michelet, American feminist Matilda Joslyn Gage, and American folklorist Charles Leland later that century. The hypothesis received its most prominent exposition when it was adopted by a British Egyptologist, Margaret Murray, who presented her version of it in The Witch-Cult in Western Europe (1921), before further expounding it in books such as The God of the Witches (1931) and her contribution to the Encyclopædia Britannica. Although the “Murrayite theory” proved popular among sectors of academia and the general public in the early and mid-twentieth century, it was never accepted by specialists in the witch trials, who publicly disproved it through in-depth research during the 1960s and 1970s.

Contemporary experts in European witchcraft beliefs view the ‘pagan witch cult’ theory as pseudohistorical. There is now an academic consensus that those accused and executed as witches were not followers of any witch religion, pagan or otherwise. Critics highlight several flaws with the theory. It rested on highly selective use of evidence from the trials, thereby heavily misrepresenting the events and the actions of both the accused and their accusers. It also mistakenly assumed that claims made by accused witches were truthful, and not distorted by coercion and torture. Further, despite claims the ‘witch cult’ was a pre-Christian survival, there is no evidence of such a ‘pagan witch cult’ throughout the Middle Ages.

The witch-cult hypothesis has influenced literature, being adapted into fiction in works by John Buchan, Robert Graves, and others. It greatly influenced Wicca, a new religious movement of modern Paganism that emerged in mid-twentieth-century Britain and claimed to be a survival of the ‘pagan witch cult’. Since the 1960s, Carlo Ginzburg and other scholars have argued that surviving elements of pre-Christian religion in European folk culture influenced Early Modern stereotypes of witchcraft, but scholars still debate how this may relate, if at all, to the Murrayite witch-cult hypothesis.

Early modern precedents

Further information: Witches’ Sabbath and Witch trials in Early Modern Europe

The witch-hunt of the 16th and 17th centuries was an organized effort by authorities in many countries to destroy a supposed conspiracy of witches thought to pose a deadly threat to Christendom. According to these authorities, witches were numerous, and in conscious alliance with Satan, forming a sort of Satanic counter-religion. Witch-hunts in this sense must be separated from the belief in witches, the evil eye, and other such phenomena, which are common features of folk belief worldwide. The belief that witches are not just individual villains but conspirators organized in a powerful but well-hidden cult is a distinguishing feature of the early modern witch-hunt.

This idea of an organized witch-cult originates in the second half of the 15th century, notoriously expounded in the 1486 Malleus Maleficarum. In the following two centuries, witch trials usually included the charge of membership in a demonic conspiracy, gathering in sabbaths, and similar. It was only with the beginning Age of Enlightenment in the early 18th century, that the idea of an organized witch-cult was abandoned.

Early Modern testimonies of accused witches “confirming” the existence of a witch cult are considered doubtful. Norman Cohn has argued that such testimonies were often given under torture, and that their details were determined mainly by the expectations of the interrogators and by free association on the part of the accused, reflecting only the popular imagination of the times.[1] Carlo Ginzburg and Éva Pócs hold that some of these testimonies can still give insights into the belief systems of the accused. Ginzburg discovered records of a group calling themselves benandanti, the “good walkers” who believed that they combatted witches (streghe) by magical means. The benandanti were persecuted for heresy in the period of 1575 to 1675.[2]

The early theory… click here to read the rest of this article

Everything you need to know about hag stones

Everything you need to know about hag stones

Hag Stones are just any type of stone that has a naturally occuring hole through it, but are considered sacred objects.

It is believed that magick cannot work on moving or running water, and it’s holes are created by the energy of the element of water as it runs acrosss stones and “traps” smaller ones into crevices.

These smaller stones act as drill bits and the longer they stay under running water, the deeper the hole gets until it goes all the way through. The earth power of the stones combined with water and wind make them so magical.

The best place to find them is on a dry river bed or any place that running water has receeded. The flat river bed presents itself as the water level lowers and you can find many of them.

The Lore

In some folk magic practices, these stones are believed to ward off or break hexes, sickness and nightmares. I think most of that came from an old tale that tells that cureses and bad luck are caused by spectral hags.

It is said that when you look through the stone itself, you can see other realms. Some traditions state that you can see the Fae, other dimensions and even nature spirits.

You can hold it up and look at the full moon through them and speak your desires or what you want to get rid of.

These stones have been used as amulets, talismans, in spell work and in ritual to both present the 3 elements and to protect. Since magick doesn’t work in running water, you can use to get rid of hexes and curses, especially when you trap something inside of that hole and take it back down to the river to wash it away and let the water carry it all away from you.

Worn as protection, these were also used as a “toll” to counteract workings against you and paid the witch’s price.

Hanging on a black ribbon or thread over the doorway or window, it is said to “trap” negative energies and can also be used for dreamwork when hung over the bed.

You can hang them in your work area, across windows and door ways, wear them or use them to enhance that “witches” eye by working with the energy of the stones.

These powerful stones are said to help open up your witch or third eye.

The Work

Tie a hag stone to a protection candle.

Tie a stone and hang above your working altar to keep negative energies away.

Use as your “eye” to fire or water scry.

Carry it with you.

Hang one in your car to protect you while on the road.

Hang one over your bed to trap nightmares.

Hang one over your front door to take any bad energy that walks into your house.

Place around water, fire or candle magick with other protective herbs to enforce your circle.

Hide one in your front flower bed.

How Glamor Magic Works

Glamor spells are a fascinating and often misunderstood form of witchcraft. This form of spell work can be very intimidating to newer witches. It can seem very complex, unpredictable, or intangible, and many witches avoid them entirely simply because they don’t know enough to feel comfortable performing this kind of magic. Some witches consider glamor spells to be immoral, almost like lying, while others consider glamor to be more like magical makeup, in other words, not immoral at all. And then there are the misconceptions about what glamor spells even do and how they work. Does it change how you look? Does it change what other people are seeing? Are the changes permanent?

Not to worry. Today we’re going to clear up all of this confusion and take a look at what glamor spells are, how they work, how you can use them in your craft, plus three new glamor spells that you can add to your grimoire today.

What Are Glamor Spells?

A glamor spell is any spell that changes how you are perceived by other people. This might be a change in how you look to other people, it might be a change in how you sound to other people, it could even be a change in the emotional response that you create in other people. Often when we hear the phrase glamor spell, we think of it as a purely physical type of magic, focused entirely around the visual presentation that you have, but this is not always the case. And glamor spells are not just for making yourself look more attractive!

This kind of magic is excellent for adjusting not only how people see you visually but also how confident your voice sounds, how competent you seem, how your gender presentation is being perceived, how put-together you seem, how much people feel like they can empathize with you, and much more. If you can think of a way to adjust how someone else is perceiving you, you can probably achieve that with a glamor spell.

That said, you can use glamor spells for vanity! There’s nothing wrong with that. If I’m going out on a date and I want to feel more confident and attractive on that date, a glamor spell can give me a little boost and help me feel much better going into my evening. If I’m going to a job interview and I want to impress the interviewer, I can use a glamor spell to make myself seem more competent, or professional, or trustworthy. As long as the magic adjusts how other people perceive you, then it’s a glamor spell.

How Glamor Spells Work

The big thing to know about glamor spells is that they do not actually change anything about you. Using spells that make you look more attractive to your date does not change your physical appearance. A spell to change how your gender presentation is perceived will not change your gender. Hell, a spell that’s designed to make you seem competent and trustworthy will not make you competent and trustworthy if you’re not. All a glamor spell does is change how people are perceiving you.

This means that if you cast a glamor spell to make yourself more attractive, your appearance is not changing. Instead, people are going to be more inclined to be attracted to you exactly as you are. If you cast a glamor spell to seem more confident, it’s not giving you confidence, all this spell is doing is making it so that the people you encounter feel like you are a confident person.

Some of you may be disappointed by this, but this is an excellent way to approach this kind of magic. It might take ten times the amount of magical energy to give you a boost in confidence, as it would to just make you appear more confident. And the amount of energy it would take to create actual physical changes to your body would be astronomical, to the degree that it’s practically impossible, compared to simply changing how other people perceive you. Not only that, but creating real, tangible changes takes time. Remember, we have to work within the bounds of the reality that we live in. Physics still exists. Time still exists. If you’re going to change something big about yourself, that change will take time. Usually, by the time you realize you need the change, it’s too late to cast a spell to do something that big. Glamor spells are a quick, relatively energy-sparing form of magic that can give you the result of making the change without having to spend a ton of effort making that change first.

You should also keep in mind that glamor spells can only do so much. You can’t make yourself look totally different from how you are. You probably won’t be able to make someone who hates you suddenly feel positive toward you. These spells are for creating subtle shifts in perception, not for making you into someone totally different!

Is Glamor Magic Immoral?

Okay, this brings us to the next question. Isn’t this kind of like lying to people? While I can’t give you a definitive answer as far as morality is concerned, since morals are highly relative and very much dependent on your individual beliefs, I can give you my perspective on the matter. Using glamor is no different from pretending that you are more confident than you are or putting on makeup to make yourself feel more attractive. And we do these things every day! Almost everyone pretends to be more confident than they are in a job interview. Everyone takes steps to make themselves look and feel more attractive before going on a date. These things aren’t lying, it’s natural to want to present yourself in the best light.

Often, glamor spells are used on special occasions. They’re used for that first date or they’re used for that job interview or they’re used for meeting your spouse’s parents. Usually, we use them in situations where we want a little boost to help things go our way or to help us feel more comfortable going into a situation. Now, if you were to use a glamor spell every single day, at that point it might tip into being morally questionable. For instance, if you use a glamor to make yourself more attractive on a first date and then you continue to use that same spell every single day for the entirety of your relationship, that could be seen as lying to them or manipulating them with magic.

Again, it’s not my job to tell you what’s right and wrong for you to do. But if you feel you have to use a glamor spell every single day, you should consider making real tangible changes to your life instead. Ask yourself, why do you feel like you need a glamor spell every single day? Do you feel like this person wouldn’t like you without the spell? Do you really want someone in your life who doesn’t like you unless you greatly alter their perception of you? Is this a change that you would want to make in your life, and would that change be worth the effort?

Only you can answer these questions for yourself and it’s going to vary depending on your circumstances. The bottom line is that glamor spells themselves are not immoral, but how you use glamor magic may or may not conflict with your moral compass. It’s up to you to figure out what feels right and wrong in your practice.

Using Glamors In Your Craft

Okay, so you have a better understanding of what glamor really is and how it works, and hopefully, you’ve taken a bit of time to figure out what feels right to you in terms of using this magic in your own life. Now how do you go about using glamor spells in your practice?

The good news is that glamor magic is just like any other spell. Provided you are following a quality spell and you’re comfortable and confident in your spell casting, there’s very little difference between casting a glamor spell and casting weather spells or love spells or money spells. The end goal is simply different. Here are three of my favorite glamor spells that you can use to try out this kind of magic for yourself.

Source: thetravelingwitch.com