- Hang your smudge bundles upside down using a knot in the twine so that the air can circulate. Ensure the are you keep them is warm and not damp, and not exposed to direct sunlight.
- Leave the smudge sticks to dry for about two weeks. They are ready when they are dry but not completely moisture free. Watch out for mold.
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Making A Smudge Stick – An Alternative Method
- For this you will need much taller herbs, about three times the length of the finished smudge stick you want to make. You will also need fewer herbs since you are folding them over to three times the original thickness. You will need very pliant herbs that will not snap. Aim for a 6 – 7 inch finished smudge stick.
- Again work on a flat surface. You will need a large piece of newspaper, fabric or soft leather for this method. Hold the herbs tightly together and turn the top third of the herbs over the middle third, so the herbs are now double over the top part of the stick. Do this carefully so they don’t break. Secure with twine and a firm knot.
- Now bend the bottom third up so the stick is three times its original thickness, and tie again with a knot to include all three levels. The stick should now be a third of the original height, but very chubby like a cigar.
- With slightly smaller herbs you can bend the herbs just once.
- Before binding the stick, roll the newspaper, fabric or soft leather around it at an angle as tightly as possible. Tie the paper very securely and leave for about 8 hours, with the top and bottom of the newspaper just open to let in air.
- Now unbind the newspaper and tie the compressed herbs tightly with twine. Starting from the stem end, bind them in a criss-cross pattern as before, tying them again very tightly about every 1/2 inch along. Leave the herbs to dry for two or three weeks.
Making A Smudge Stick
With a little practice, making a smudge stick is remarkably easy, though you may prefer to buy them ready-made. The secret is to pack and entwine your herbs really tightly so that they will not fall apart when you light them. There are many different methods and the following is just a series of the most useful:
- You can use sprigs of fresh herbs from your garden or garden center for taller smudge sticks or use packs from a supermarket (either ready cut or still growing in a pot) for smaller smudge sticks.
- Before making your bundle of herbs, test the twine you intend to use by burning a little in your flat dish. Does it flare up or smell foul? Try cotton without any synthetic additions, as synthetic fibers will break. Experiment with undyed natural twines or those where vegetable coloring has been used, you will find one that works well for you. Horsetail is the best, but is not easy to obtain.
- Use thick sprigs (about seven or eight in total) of the fresh herbs with plenty of greenery no more than 12 inches long. The ideal length for your finished smudge stick is 7 – 9 inches so use the longer herbs in order that you can trim the bottoms and tops off to give a smooth finish.
- Use a very sturdy herb to act as anchor at the center of the smudge stick. Some people use a dry stick as a base around which to twine the stems to give the bundle substance. Taper the stick at one end so that the woody part you hold is slightly narrower. Broader smudge sticks tend to work better than narrow ones.
- Lay the herbs flat on a surface on smooth fabric, leather or newspaper. First wrap the thread around the bottom of the herb wand four or five times.
- Then, with the separate ends either side of the herbs, begin to criss-cross from the bottom at about 1 inch intervals. Leave the top third to a quarter unbound. You can if you wish knot every other cross. Tie very tightly, pressing and weaving the herbs together as you work.
- Turn the stick over and from the top, repeat crossing or knotting again at about 1/2 inch intervals so the whole stick is now tied at 1/2 inch intervals
- When you get back to the bottom, make two or three wraps, tie the ends together and cut off the excess.
- Trim the bottom of the bunch below the tie.
- You may also trim any straggly herbs and trim the top.
- Trim the bottom or top off after binding.
Herbs for Smudging
You can make a smudge stick by combining any tall, firm, full-leafed herbs. Some burn better than others. The following list of herbs are traditionally made into Native North American smudge sticks and others used for both commercial and personally prepared smudge sticks. Smudge sticks are made with fresh herbs and the whole bundle is dried together after formation.
Smudge herbs do tend to be single or dual herbs rather than a mix as in incense and are, on the whole, characterized less by sweetness than earthiness.
If you need to use charcoal, drop just one or two drops of lavender or rose essential oil onto the hot charcoal to add fragrance before you begin to burn the herbs. This is effective, especially if you are smudging indoors.
For homemade smudge, try to choose herbs that grow in your region. Look on the internet for dried varieties to burn in a bowl or ready-prepared less common smudge sticks. Also try to choose organically produced herbs.
- Bay/Laurel
- Bergamot
- Cedar
- Copal
- Fennel
- Juniper
- Lavender
- Mugwort
- Orris root
- Pine, Fir and Spruce
- Rosemary
- Sagebrush/Sage
- Sweetgrass
- Wormwort (Tansy)
- Thyme
- Yarrow
- Yerba Santa
Samhain Oils – Protection Oil
PROTECTION OIL
Protection Oils are used to anoint any manner of objects in order to
enhance the purity of spiritual vibrations. This 1 is best made on The Dark of the Moon.
Add the ingredients and shake, to mix well, after each addition.
A General Calling In of Good Spirits
After cleansing the energy in your home, it’s always nice to invite sweet and helpful spirits into your space. This is a ritual that will help you do just that. Because it has to do with inviting spirits from the other side (spirit guides, helpful deceased loved one, etc.,), this ritual is best done at night. To begin, obtain a sweetgrass braid (a form of smudge stick or dried herb bundle, burned like ince) or a stick of sweetgrass or copal incense. Light a white or off-white candle, and bring your hands together near your heart in prayer pose. Close yoou eyes and take some deep breaths while consciously relaxing and tuning in to the subtle energetic realm and what is known as the otherworld. When you feel ready, light the braid or incense and say:
“Sweet spirits of the other, I call you. Divine beings of light, I invite you. You are welcome here. Reside, abide, dwell, and bless us (me) with your presence in our (my) home.” Carry the smoking wand from room to room, being very aware of fire safety while continuing to summon sweet spirits, either mentally or aloud. when you’re finished, give thanks to the beings you’ve summoned for answering your call, and extinguish the bundle or incense and candle. You’ll find that after you do this, your home is filled with remarkable feelings of sweetness, light, comfort and joy.Little Ponderings for October 5th
- Insanity is my only means of relaxation.
- Everytime I think about exercise, I lie down til the thought goes away.
- I finally got my head together, and my body fell apart.
- There cannot be a crisis this week: my schedule is already full.
- The nice part of living in a small town is that when I don’t know what I’m doing, someone else does.
- The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.
- Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.
- Seen it all, done it all, can’t remember most of it.
Deity of the Day for October 4th is THOTH
THOTH
“Thrice Greatest.”
God of wisdom, music, magic, medicine, astronomy, geometry, surveying, art and and writing. Historian, scribe and judge. Thoth’s priests claimed Thoth was the Demi-Urge who created everything from sound. It was said that Thoth wrote books in which he set forth a fabulous knowldege of magic and incantation, and then concealed them in a crypt.
Happy Tuesday, dear friends!

Hee, hee, hee, that pic will either wake you up or scare that crap out of ya’! I am feeling a little devilish this morning. Our heater is not working and the house is on the cool side (I think it is comfortable). The cats are running like wild animals. Of course, at one time they were, lol! The smallest one can jump the love seat and not even touch the back of it. She is six months old and she stands as tall as my older cat. Her paws are bigger than his and her tail is twice the length. I think I adopted a cougar. I just hope I don’t never run out of food or else I will have to run like hell. When the older cat gets fed up with the baby, he runs and hops in my lap. I have him hopping off and on and the baby tapping me on the back. She does that when she wants to be held. During the day when she is ready to take her catnap, she comes over and hops in my arms and wants to be held like a baby. She stretches out, with her feet dangling, and I scratch her belly. Most of the time, this is during my daily postings when this happens. She hates the computer because I am suppose to only pay attention to her. She is a brat out of this world. Poor Kiki just stands on the bed and watches the free for alls. I love them all to pieces and I must say they are definitely entertainment. If you are bored, get you a pet. I can guarantee you, you will never have a dull moment again.
Scrying Brew
Scrying Brew
Mugwort Tea, the divination ally of choice! This special tea will actually help you scry. It’s primary ingredient is mugwort, so drink most and scry the remainder!
For each serving, boil one cup of water.
Add boiled water to a teapot in which the following have been placed:
3 tablespoons or more dried mugwort (not only good for helping us contact our inner wisdom, it is also very relaxing).
1/ cup dried oatstraw (good for nerves)
1 piece of cinnamon stick, 2 to 3 inches long, for it’s delicious flavor.
Steep for 15 minutes. Strain and pour into a dark-colored mug, preferably black. Sweeten with maple syrup, honey or brown sugar, if desired.
Now sit comfortably in your “Power Place” with your cup. Sniff your Scrying Brew, feel the steam and warm as a breath on your face. Take a sip and savor the earthy flavor. As you sip become aware of your breathing. Is it shallow or deep, quick or slow/ As you drink, be with your breath, without attempting to change it. When the tea is nearly gone, gradually turn your attention to the tea remaining in your cup. Gaze at it without effort, simply letting yourself be with the cup and the tea. The disc where the tea meets air might look silvery if it catches a light’s reflection. As you look pay some dreamy attention to the thoughts that flash through your mind, like fish. What are they? All over the world people are scrying and dreaming tonight. What images do you see?
Take as much time as you can. You may want to leave the remainder of the tea in its cup on your kitchen altar as an offering for you long-forgotten kindred who knew how to do this ancient ritual.
Depression Banishing Ritual
1 Invoking Candle: Pink or red, placed at the right of the altar.
Incense: Sage, cedar, rosemary or pine at the beginning of the ritual, changed later to rose or amber.
Oils: Use Goddess or Altar oil on the Goddess candle, sage, pine or other banishing oil on the banishing candle and rose oil on the invoking candle and for self-blessing.
Light candles: “Dress” the candles with the oils, working base to tip, (away from you) for the banishing candle and tip to base (towards you) for the invoking candle and the Goddess candles. Visualize the intent, banishing depression when handling the banishing candle, and invoking joy and self-love while “dressing” the Goddess and invoking candles. Light only the Goddess candles at this time.
Purify: Start the charcoal block or stick incense. If using a charcoal block, give it time to heat up. Sprinkle loose herbs of sage, cedar, rosemary or pine on the hot coal and use the smoke to purify. Visualize the intent of the ritual. At this point visualize banishing depression and emotional pain, while smudging with the smoke. Then light the black candle from the Goddess candle.
Cast a circle/invoke a Crone Goddess or Goddesses to help in banishing, and a Goddess of gentleness and peace for the invoking part of the ritual. Try Kali the Destroyer or Hecate for banishing, and Kwan Yin for gentleness and invoking. Use Goddesses for the five elements or these two aspects only, or whatever feels right. Perform a full casting and invoking to make
the circle, or as informal invitation to the aspects and elements.
Invocation: Dear mothers of wisdom and grace, I invite you here to ask your help. I refuse my depression and choose to banish it, and ask instead for joy and peace of mind. Help me in my work tonight, Kali and Kwan Yin.
Body of ritual: Focus on the flame of the black candle, thinking of all the things that need changing. Remember fully all the reasons for depression and pain, acknowledge all your anger, all your rage, and all your fear. Dwell on every source of pain, emotional injury and negative though that mires you down. When you have focused them all onto the candle, shout “NO!” and blow the candle out in a decisive, quick motion. Watch the smoke rise from the extinguished candle, and feel all the negativity dissolving in the rising air. Breathe the banishing incense for a while.
Light the invoking candle. Do it from the Goddess candle, and sprinkle rose incense on the charcoal block or light a stick of rose incense. Let the light of the pink candle and the fragrance of the rose incense fill you as you watch and breathe them. Breathe the energies in deeply, remembering the qualities of Kwan Yin, or other Goddesses of mercy invoked in the ritual. Ask Kwan Yin for her presence and help. Focus on the candle flame and think of all the good things in your life. Refill each banished item and negativity with some positive attribute; where there was pain before, replace it with love. For every wrong remember something to give thanks for; for every pain remember something joyful. Remember your accomplishments in life, what a genuinely good person you are or individual self attributes that you feel make you a wonderful person. Do a series of affirmations, “I am” or “I have”, to list your good qualities and the qualities you choose to become or gain. Continue stating the positives and affirmations until you feel filled with pink light and the scent of roses.
Self-blessing: If you feel inclined, insert a self-blessing into the ritual at this point. This portion is optional
Thank Kwan Yin for your joy and Kali for her energy of change.
Open circle/ground.
Allow the pink candle to burn out itself, or extinguish and relight it nightly until at least the next Full Moon. Do affirmations nightly with the flame. Continue burning pink candles for as long as needed to remind you of new joy and positive energy. Repeat the ritual on the next waning moon if needed; it
will be needed less each time you do it. Each time, bury the remains of the black candle in the earth, along with the ashes from the incense; visualize your pain being buried with them. Repeat the self-blessing at any time, and do it often, at least every New and Full Moon.
Full Moon Holy Water
Full Moon Holy Water
pink-self love and friendship
red-passionate love
green-money
blue-healing
purple-increase of psychic abilities
.
you want to bring to you. Ask the blessings of the Earth and Goddess
and then drink a bit to cleanse you inside. The remainder of the
water can be kept tightly corked to use in spells and recipes
anytime you need the extra power of the Full Moon!
A Spell to Attract Money
You will need:
light green candle
yellow rose
grapes
The scent of poppy, honeysuckle, or almond (to rub into the candle)
Cast your circle and meditate on why you need to attract money to yourself. Light the candle. Raise energy, then say aloud: “I draw in the flow of prosperity to connect with me on this evening. I call in Fire, Earth, Air, and Water to manifest abundance around me. I affirm I am open to all forms of prosperity, and that it comes to me easily and readily. I ask that I be guided to use this gift within the greater good. So be it, and so it is.” Blow out the candle and eat at least one grape.
A Quick Money Spell
This spell requires good visualization. Take a green candle and anoint it with cinnamon oil. Take the bill or write on a piece of paper the amount of a bill you owe and who it is to. You will need a candle that can burn for 7 days. Place the paper under the candle. Hold your hands over the candle and say…
“This candle burns to light the way for the money I need to pay this bill in a way that harms no one.”
Light the candle and burn patchouli incense. Meditate for about 5 minutes as the candle burns. Visualize yourself writing the check or purchasing the money order for this bill and putting it in the mail. Burn the candle every day around the same time for 7 days and 15 minutes at a time. Also, burn patchouli incense every day too with the candle. On the last day, burn the paper with the flame from the candle and let the candle burn completely out.
The Money Bath
Put the 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 4 tablespoons of parsley in the filter cup of the coffee maker. Add five cups of water and let brew. Draw a warm bath and add one cup of the tea. As you pour it into the bath, chant:
Money come from far and near. Money come to me! Appear!Completely immerse yourself in the water five times, then soak in the bath water for eight minutes. Concentrate on the improvement of your finances. Let your body dry naturally.
Take this bath on five consecutive days for best results. Use one cup of tea for each bath. Store the tea in a jar with a screw-on lid, and keep it in the refrigerator between baths.
Rumanian Money Spell
Place a small bowl or cup in a place you will see it every day. Hold three coins of any denomination in your dominant hand and say:
Trinka five, trinka five Ancient spirits come alive Money grow and money thrive. Spirits of the trinka five.Toss the coins in the container. Repeat the spell daily, tossing three coins in the dish each day for nine consecutive days. Then continue doing the spell once a week until you have the money you need.
Cellphone Magick
In today’s world, it might seem strange to think of someone not owning a cell phone, and it probably seems equally bizarre for a phone to be associated with magick and casting spells? So it may surprise some people to learn that high-tech gadgets and gizmos do have a very important place in a modern witch’s toolbox.
Although there are some eccentric witches out there who still brew steaming potions in remote corners of forests, they really are quite a rare sight these days. We’ve gone mainstream, and most of us have cell phones. I remember when I purchased my first mobile phone some years ago, even before I’d figured out how to call someone, I was seeking ways in which I could use the device magickally. It didn’t take me long to figure out that by transmitting my desires over the cellular network, I could turn all of my wishes into reality.
I can’t take all the credit for this new way of spell-making. My trusted friend and coauthor, Shawn, helped me to try out many different ways of weaving together these contemporary spells, and after a few months of experimenting we figure out how to make the cell phone work to our advantage.
It’s all in the power and intent of the message. We know, for example, that by sending a thought to the universe, we attract the things we desire. Writing spells with pen and paper is a quick and easy way of getting what you want, but because of the energy that powers cell-phone towers and the speed with which we can send and receive texts, sending spells as text messages takes them to the next level.
Another easy aspect of spell texting is that you don’t need candles or any other objects. All you needs is a companion, preferably one who also owns a cell phone and who knows you well enough to recognize that you are not completely mad! This person doesn’t necessarily have to have any magickal know-how, just as long as they are open-minded and eager to experiment. In the past, I have known some witches wo do this process alone by using two mobile devices, but in my opinion the spells work best if you actually enlist the help of another person.
A Modern-Day White Witch’s Guide Wiccapedia Shawn Robbins & Leanna GreenawayColour: Red
Lustre: Vitreous to adamantine
Hardness: 9
System: Trigonal
Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum, coloured to chromium oxides. (The blue variety is sapphire and there are also yellow and colourless conundrums). High-quality gem rubies of rich colour and translucence are rare, hence their great value. Much more common are red and purple-blue opaque stones with a heavy metallic sheen. But even low-quality rubies have a mouth-watering beauty that makes them hard to resist. Traditionally the gemstone of the sun, ruby is believed to confer wealth and power, long life and health.
Identification and care:
-
The tone is sometimes cut into a cabochon to show asterism (star-like pattern), caused by inclusion of rutile.
-
Hexagonal cross-sections are most commonly used in healing.
Magick:
-
Acts like the sun – as a reliable source of life-energy – and brings the wearer benefits associated with the sun (for example, vitality and success).
-
Smooths relationships with other people.
Healing functions:
-
Helps to engender feelings of confidence, security, enthusiasm and self-esteem
-
Warms and steadies
Practical ideas:
-
To re-establish balance with the Self, use six rubies: place one at the top of the head, one below the feet, one near each knee, and one near each elbow. The effect is amplified if you lie on a yellow cloth.
Daily Zen Meditation for October 1st
We had warm, wet weather all spring.
Now, white autumn is clear and cold.
Dew frozen, drifting mists gone,
Bottomless heavens open over this
Vast landscape of clarity,
And mountains stretch away,
Their towering peaks an unearthly
Treasure of distance.
These fragrant woodland chrysanthemums
Ablaze, green pines lining the clifftops:
Isn’t this the immaculate heart of beauty,
This frost-deepened austerity?
Sipping wine, I think of recluse masters.
A century away, I nurture your secrets.
Your true nature eludes me here,
But taken by quiet,
I can linger this exquisite moon
Out to the end.
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– T’ao Ch’ien (365-427)
Lady A’s Spell of the Day for Sept. 27th: NEW JOB CANDLE BURNING MAGICK
NEW JOB CANDLE BURNING MAGICK
Items You Will Need:
Goddess Candle
God Candle
Money Incense
Green Candle
Good Luck Oil
Black Candle
Banishing Oil
Petitioner Candle
The Spell:
Build your altar. Place the Petitioner candle beneath the Goddess candle and place the green and black candles beneath the God candle.
Light the incense. Anoint the black candle with banishing oil and say,
” Empower this candle to absorb all negative forces acting upon me.As this candle burns, let it’s powers engulf all obstacles in my way, leaving my path clear for success.”
Light the black candle. Anoint green candle with good luck oil and say,
“I empower this candle to bring me good luck, prosperity and success in acquiring a new and better job. As this candle burns, so might it be a beacon for good fortune and prosperity.”
Light the green candle. You need not anoint the petitioner candle, but focus strongly on this person (if it is yourself, see yourself in your new job) as you light it, saying,
“As this candle represents {name}, let it be a beacon for positive forces and energies. As this candle burns bright, so does the light of {names}’s heart burn bright with ambition
and desire for a new, better job.”
Concentrate firmly, directing your power to the petitioner candle, which is receiving the energy from the green candle that is burning. After ten minutes or so of concentration,
extinguish the candles in the reverse order in which you lit them. Each day, repeat the spell, moving the green candle two inches closer to the petitioner.
Your spell is complete when the two candles touch.



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