This week the goddess is Airmed. The topics are herbs and green witchcraft. Our project– we’re going to create a Witch’s Bottle for Love Magick. You’ll also find a section at this video on precautions for love magick, encouraging common sense, as well as the use of mundane efforts to keep your life running smoothly, and to keep yourself safe. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline number will be found at the end of this video.
I’m VERY PROUD to be featured in the first edition of this NEW PAGAN MAGAZINE:
Available in Digital or Print
The Spellery: FB Fan-page
I updated the “Links” page at my website “The Witch’s Corner”. I didn’t realize that I had so many links! These links are from websites, blogs, and a host of other sites on the internet. I’m trying to get them all posted in one spot for easy reference. I’m not sure I have them all yet, but I’ll keep looking. 🙂
The music on this page is Joanie Madden (“The Black Rose”), enjoy.
Links Page, click Here
Are you single and looking for your True Love?
Let’s cast some Love Magick, but do yourself a favor and don’t include a specific target. I know, this can be hard, especially if you’ve had your eye on what you believe is a “very special somebody”. But I’ll bet the universe has so much more in mind for you; it’s just waiting to connect you to The One. You might be pleasantly surprised…just maybe your “very special somebody” will turn out to be The One.
This Saturday is Valentine’s Day, and we want to rev up the romantic energy, the sexual energy, with all the sparkling razzle dazzle we can muster for a magickal weekend. Let’s whip out those red candles, oil them up with a good Sex Oil, cast a circle, strip off your clothes, and do some foot stompin’ sky clad magick in the privacy of your own Sacred Space.
This is the time to do magick for Coupling.
The Spell:
“Upon this hour,
Amidst this day,
My true love shall
Come my way.
My heart will know,
When I shall see.
As I do will,
So Mote It Be.”
Note: More on Sex, Love, Magick– and Herbs!
Sex and Green Witchcraft, Getting Down & Dirty
Sex Oil: In my new book, “The Spiritual Feminist”, I reveal the recipe for several of my magickal oils, including Sex Oil.
1. Witches always wear black.
Granted, black is a staple color in my closet, but not for any witchly reason. I like basic black because it goes with everything, it feels right when I wear it, my jewelry looks good against it, and it’s a good basic “color” for me. I know plenty of witches who virtually never wear black, but prance about the world in pretty pastels of pink and lavender, blues and greens, and other very unwitchly colors.
2. Witches sacrifice human infants.
Really?…Really. Pleeeeze– I birthed seven babies in my lifetime, and I have yet to sacrifice nary a one. I’ve grounded a few, preached at a couple, pulled my hair out over another, and puzzled over them all. But sacrifice them? Not yet (she says mischievously).
It should also be noted, under this “sacrificial” theme, that witches do not sacrifice animals. On the contrary, some of the most enthusiastic animal rights activists will be found in the pagan community. We tend to honor the animal kingdom, to consider animals our brethren, creatures that we have the pleasure of sharing the Earth with. We embrace their energy, learn from their inherent goddess given wisdom and instincts, and feel humbled when they allow us into their circle of trust.
3. Witches cast spells.
Not necessarily. Some do, and others don’t. It depends upon what road you take within this widely divergent spiritual path. My “thing” is divination, clairvoyance, psychism; at it’s very basic– the tarot. I have cast spells, lots in the beginning, but fewer and fewer as I was shown by the Goddess my true path on this journey, my unique gift. And besides, as magickal practitioners will tell you, casting spells– casting them correctly– is time consuming and a heck of a lot of work. You have to put some effort into it, as in anything, to get the most out of it. I have grown lazy in my impending old-age.
4. Witches are in league with and worship the Devil.
Really…no, this time I mean Reeeaaally! The Devil (or Satan, Beelzebub, Lucifer, etc.) did not arrive on the horizon of civilization until Christianity came along and needed a Fall Guy. It’s rather insulting that that they invent this despicable character, and then they accuse us of playing with him. They can keep him…the gods and goddesses of the world-wide pantheons are so much more interesting and desirable, awe inspiring, beautiful, and magickal.
5. Witches curse people.
Well, I’ll give you this one. Some witches do, or have, or if they haven’t, they still have the ability and the power to do so. However, most witches– and I know a few– would not even consider doing such a thing, under any circumstances. And here’s something else to think about, scary and true…Anyone who has ever deliberately wished something bad on someone has thrown a curse, whether they are a witch or not. The universe hears you, and it’s constantly moving energy according to your wishes and desires. My grandmother told me once: “Be careful what you wish on others.” And she also expanded on this thought by adding, “What you wish on someone else will come back on you.” (She was a woman ahead of her time.)
6. Witches are ugly old hags?
Well, umm, I hope not. If this is true, I’m screwed. Witches are *women of all ages, sizes, ethnicities, and nationalities. They live in the world in the same capacity as every other human being. They inhabit the work force and a normal healthy place in society. A witch could be any woman that you’ve ever met in the course of your life, under the most ordinary mundane of circumstances, and you never even realized it…think about this. With all that said, as a woman standing on the threshold of her 60th decade, I’m more than ready to embrace the Crone, or the Hag, in all her glory. I’m ready to move beyond youthful vanity and revel in the aspect of me that is the most important…what I am, who I am, from the heart
*note: (this is my blog– written from my personal perspective, my world, my point of view)
Everyone wants to cast spells. That’s the first thing people think about, and the most popular aspect of witchcraft. I think it might have something to do with the awesome feeling of regaining your personal power, of being in control of your life, of being responsible for your destiny and it’s outcome. But it also has to do with mystery and drama, the visuals, and our childhood idea of “magick”.
That’s what everyone seems to concentrate on at the beginning– learning to cast spells and do magick. For most of us the idea is new and daring and exciting, made more so by society and the mainstream view of religion and witchcraft. It’s “taboo” in so many social circles, conservative communities, and even some countries around the world. Witch hunts still exist in Africa, and your life is literally in danger if you’re labeled “Witch”. Likewise for certain areas of the Mid-East. You can be put to death. This idea seems outrageous, doesn’t it, in our modern world. But we’re not always as modern as we’d like to think we are, and people still tend to be frightened and irrational when it comes to things they don’t understand, or things they were taught to view as evil.
I remember the early years, pouring over books of correspondences, aligning moon phases with intentions, jotting down ingredients, planning the moment of the casting down to the astrological hour– spending days planning and aligning and gathering. It’s all part of the process you know, it all plays into raising energy. And then, that magickal moment, when the circle was cast, and I was “between-the-worlds”, sitting there with the spell candle and ingredients, the athame and crystals and stones and figurines of the god and goddess; and yes, even the black cast iron cauldron (so clique, but so necessary).
Did the spells work? Actually, 95% of the time, they did. Don’t count the foolish one’s of youth, or the spells whipped up in the white heat of anger. They don’t work, the energy being too fractured and scattered (maybe Spirit is looking out for us this way, maybe this is like the safety on a gun, so that we don’t unintentionally do harm in a rash moment). Casting spells is a lot of work, raising energy to move energy in the universe takes a lot out of you. The power is there, no mistaking that, but it takes considerable effort on the part of the witch to work with it.
You reach a point, after the first few years, after you’ve immersed yourself in that first frenzied layer of activity, when you start to look at witchcraft and see more detail emerge. You see below the layers of magick spells and spell casting, and all the hoopla surrounding it. You start to look at the fabric of witchcraft- and you start to weave this into your daily life, creating your own mosaic, slipping quietly into your niche in the universe.
Okay, you’ve got spell casting down pat, you’ve experienced The Power, you know the magick is real, you are “Witch” through and through. Now what?
For me the second stage of my journey actually began with a spell. The spell was done to touch the universe, my Spirit Guide, and other higher energies floating through the astral, and ask them: “What am I suppose to be doing? Why have I been drawn to this path? What is my Gift? How am I suppose to use it?”
The answer emerged in the flames of a purple candle.
Divination ~
The second aspect of my journey was a new learning process, which included learning about, handling, experimenting with, and using various forms of divination– the pendulum, runes stones, I-Ching coins, crystal balls, Ouija boards, divining rods…and ultimately coming upon the one tool that would finally speak to me: the tarot.
Round three for me– immersing myself in the study of tarot cards.
It started, actually, with a trip to our local bookstore, walking past a shelf full of decks of bright colored and beautiful cards (tarot cards). One deck popped out at me, and that little voice in my head whispered “Buy them.” It sounds easy and simple, but it wasn’t. Learning anything new requires a lot of work and realistic expectations. No one is going to pick up anything overnight, especially something that works through your own personal energy and special Gift– at the beginning you have no idea what this gift is or how the hell it works. You have to start by learning to listen to your own inner voice (your sub-conscious, your intuition) and allowing the cards to trigger images, memories– clairvoyant, clairaudient, and clairsentient experiences. It’s all very confusing. You’re hesitant to trust yourself, or the cards, in the beginning, and a lot of people, when they reach this stage, give up. Fortunately, I wasn’t one of those people.
The biggest obstacle I had to overcome: Being afraid of being wrong.
As that magickal guiding voice in your head is whispering from one direction all the insights and information you are suppose to be relating to the world at large, and one particular individual specifically; that conscious big-loud-bossy voice in your head is screaming at you: “What if you’re wrong? What if you’re wrong? What if you’re wrong?”
And what if you’re wrong? Divination is not an exact science; and no reader is going to be 100% accurate 100% of the time. But I can honestly tell you that I have more regrets, lots and lots of big in-your-face regrets, about what I DID NOT say, rather than anything I did say.
You learn.
When it all seems comfortable and settled down; when you’ve learned to accept who you are, what you are; when you’ve learned to use your Gift, or at least reconcile yourself to the fact that it exists; when you’ve learned to incorporate all of this into your daily life somehow and get it all to work in a meaningful way …then you’ll know that you’ve arrived.
And just when you get ready to level off at this plateau, thinking you’ve learned all you were meant to learn, and you’re doing everything you were meant to do, something unexpected happens. Curiosity comes to call in the guise of crystals and stones, an unusual friend, a new book, a new blog, a study group, or whispered questions sent to you by the universe. Just when you think you’ve arrived at your Spiritual Destination, it dawns on you in a magick flash of twinkling lights …that the Journey has not ended.
____________________
My Google Hangout: Woman Speak
Premiering: FRIDAY, January 9th, 3pm-3:30pm CST
My Google Profile: https://plus.google.com/115470498364726846205/posts?hl=en
Explore the world of women, witches, and pagans on a variety of levels at Woman Speak. Reconnect with The Goddess. Find healing, empowerment, and sisterhood through Matriarchal Divinity. The topics are pagan, occult, new-age, paranormal, and supernatural. The topics will also center around feminism, relationships, family, careers, writing, and books…(Woman Speak– exploring women’s issues.)
*Note: to join me “live” and participate at Woman Speak, you have to be on my Google Friends list.
Here’s inspiration for a spell a day, Monday-Friday…to connect with powerful spiritual entities, beat writer’s block, be delightfully successful in your newest business venture, get that marriage proposal you’ve been waiting for, and find your true inner beauty.
We’re going to be working with my favorite kind of magick…candle spells! I’m including herbs and stones, oils, and magickal incantations. I’m assuming that if you’re reading this, you’re a magickal practitioner who is going to know how to use the correspondences and all the magickally scrumptious ingredients to put together and cast a spell. But just in case you’re not– you can refer to this blog post on Candle Magick…here’s everything you’ll need to know to whip up some delightfully witchy results!
Spell For the Day: Monday
Spirit Guide Connection
(find and connect with your Spirit Guide)
Who is your spirit guide? Are they real?…Yes! They are beings who inhabit the spirit world and are connected to you in some way– to protect you, to guide you, to teach you. You can call them angels, or guardian angels, or they may be spirits of your ancestors, or spiritual beings of a higher evolution than us. They may come to you as nothing more than a small voice in your head that you’re barely aware of, the voice that warns you of danger in the moment– the voice that makes you hesitate just for that split second that was needed when another car runs a red light, or convinces you to postpone a trip and avoid an accident. They may give you warnings in the form of premonitions, or dreams, or visions. They also guide you as you explore and discover your spirituality and your life’s path.
It’s imperative that you connect with your Spirit Guide, and the following spell will help you do just that.
Blue candles/Planet: Moon/Herbs: calamus, cardamom, jasmine, myrrh, sandalwood, vanilla/Stones: aquamarine, chalcedony, moonstone, sapphire/Visions Oil: star anise, angelica, kava kava*
Sweet Guardian Spirit, my teacher, my guide;
Touch my shoulder, stay by my side.
Travel with me on this journey called life;
Protect me from harm, evil, and strife.
Spell For the Day: Tuesday
Go’in to the Chapel
(matrimony spell)
You’re in Loooove! He loves you, you love him (or She loves you and you love her). But for some reason that all important question isn’t getting asked. You’re the perfect couple, kindred souls, coupled spirits, everything is all hunky-dory in the love department. It’s just a matter of who, how, and when those four important little words are going to get said. Here’s a little magick to put some fire under it!
Red candles/Planet: Mars/Herbs: allspice, basil, coriander, ginger, marigold, nutmeg/Stones: garnet, jasper (red), rhodocrosite, ruby/Love Oil: palmarosa, ylang ylang, ginger, rosemary, cardamom
My partner, my love;
Without you, what would life be?
To seal our love and build our dreams,
Will you marry me?
Spell For the Day: Wednesday
Loosen the Pen
(getting rid of writer’s block)
We’ve all done it, those of us who write. We have sat there and stared in a stupor before a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen. The thoughts wouldn’t come, the words wouldn’t come, and the ideas wouldn’t jell. There’s probably mundane ways to break writer’s block, but anything that I’ve tried takes time; you wind up just having to wait it out. I’m impatient. And if you’re a writer with deadlines to meet and assignments to complete, you can’t just sit around waiting for your brain to wake up and that elusive Muse to whisper in your ear. I like the idea of a magick spell to break writer’s block, to get the ball rolling– or the pen writing, or the keyboard clicking.
Yellow candles/Planet: Mercury/Herbs: anise, eye-bright, lavender, marjoram, sage, slippery elm/Stones: agate, aventurine, jasper (mottled), mica/Mercury Oil: lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint
Magickal Muse, whisper in my ear;
Put pen to paper, make my thoughts run clear.
The words will come, the ink will flow;
My brain runs free– and off we go!
Spell For the Day: Thursday
Goin’ for Broke
(business success)
Whether you’re starting a business, or you’re trying to give an old business a new jump start, or you’re thinking about starting a business and you haven’t quite decided to take the plunge, here’s a little witchy magick to bring you success in your business ventures. May this business magick bring glittering twinkles and stardust, bursting fireworks, lots of customers and sales, and money piled high as corn at fourth of July!*
Purple candles/Planet: Jupiter/Herbs: anise, dandelion, hyssop, mint, poppy seeds, star anise/Stones: amethyst, pyrite, kunzite, aventurine/Business Success Oil: bergamot, basil, patchouli, cinnamon
Success and Prosperity shine on me;
The Midas touch will set me free.
Money, success, and flame flow in;
The universe shouts, “Win, win, win!!”
Spell For the Day: Friday
The Goddess in Me
(beauty and self-empowerment)
I am pretty damn terrific!…say it!! Repeat it, shout it, believe it, feel it, wallow in it. Pretend you’re standing at the summit of a mountain, or you’re standing on the roof of your house, or the top of the Empire State Building and shout, as loud as you can– I am pretty damn terrific!!
Now get your gorgeous damn terrific selves busy and cast this spell to draw in all that beautiful powerful over-the-top magnificent Energy!
Pink candles/Planet: Venus/Herbs: aster, catnip, geranium (pink), hibiscus, licorice (the root), willow/Stones: rose quartz, moonstone, emerald, lapis lazuli/Beauty Bath: lavender, rosemary, spearmint, comfrey root, thyme
I am Powerful and Beautiful;
It’s the Goddess in me.
I am Woman Supreme;
By the power of three!*
*Note: the oils and the beauty bath are courtesy of “Incense, Oils, & Brews” by Scott Cunningham. I’ve left the amount of each ingredient used open to your own discretion. As for the oils, personally, I prefer olive oil as a base.
*Note: “…as high as corn at fourth of July”: for those of you unfamiliar with this term, it’s a Mid-western farm thing. When fourth of July rolls around, the corn should be Knee-High!
*Note: the number “3” holds lots of magickal implications– there is the goddess trinity (maiden, mother, crone); there is the infamous line to draw in energy for your spells (by the awful awesome power of three times three); in magick concoctions, it’s often three ingredients called for; and so it goes.
Bad mojo, yes it’s real. Is it just a string of bad luck, or synchronistic events? No. It’s so much worse. It’s so definable. You’ll know when you are the victim of bad mojo…most definitely. There is nothing subtle about Bad Mojo. It’s vindictive. It’s like a sucker punch to the face. You’ll feel the swirling gray dangerous energy; sneaky energy sent by sneaky jealous mean-spirited individuals for whatever reason. When you feel it, you’ll know it. And when you know it, you’ll be able to do something about it. Yes, there are defenses for this type of magick. No, you don’t have to be a victim.
It’s here with me now, this energy, wreaking havoc in our every day life. Vehicles and appliances are breaking down– in rapid succession, one after the other, too numerous and too fast to be coincidental. Illness and unusual incidents are sprouting from the black energy; a series of opportunities lost to bizarre synchronistic events. Bad mojo is swift and destructive. It will leave your head spinning, and it often sends people into a panic. You have no idea how many messages and inquiries I get by people terrified of the fact that they may be targets for malicious magick.
Let’s see, where do I start? I would say “don’t panic”, but that’s like telling someone not to be afraid, or to stop crying, when it’s this emotion that they feel. You can’t stop someone from worrying, or panicing, or being afraid. In fact, it’s okay to be afraid– it will feed the adrenalin; it will add to the power and rush of your energy; it will promote whopping explosive movement of magickal intentions…So, “Be afraid, be very afraid”, as the over-worked movie line goes.
I feel like tapping into the number 9…(By the awful awesome power of 3 times 3)
Nine herbs for protection, to shield from unnatural illness, to ward off hexes and black magick:
1. marjoram
2. star anise
3. cumin
4. garlic
5. dragon’s blood
6. sandalwood
7. ginger
8. plantain
9. basil
How do we use these 9 herbs?
1. Marjoram:
Place a small bundle of marjoram leaves at the four corners of your house or property, and this includes everywhere you may be for extended periods of time– like your place of employment. These leaves should be replaced periodically to keep the strength and power going, say at each Full Moon cycle.
2. Star Anise:
To ward off hexes and bad mojo, you’re going to want to make a conjure bag to carry on you– in your pockets, in your purse, put it under your pillow at night. This bag will be your friend, your very close friend. About the only thing you’re going to do without it is shower– but you can still keep it close by!)
Besides the Star Anise, add a pinch of sea salt, garlic, and sage to the bag, along with a snippet of your hair, or fingernail clippings.*
3. Cumin:
You’re going to mix cumin seeds with sea salt to create a mixture you can sprinkle around the perimeter of your yard, around the foundation of your house, across the thresholds and window sills to keep Evil out. One word of caution here, if you use this stuff to sprinkle around the perimeter of your yard, everywhere you pour the sea salt, it will kill the grass. The first time I did this, I didn’t realize this would happen. We got up the next morning and looked out our upstairs bedroom window to see a clear and definite line of dead grass running all the way around the front yard. I thought this was hilarious. My (ex)husband did not see the humor in it.
4. Garlic:
For our purpose here today, the best thing I can tell you to do with garlic is to add it to your scrub water and go to town in your home– wash the hell out of the floors, the stair wells, and the front steps. If you do all this and you still feel Evil breathing down your neck, wash the walls and the windows, stair banisters, and dark and spooky closets and cubbies. Evil can run, but it can’t hide.
5. Dragon’s Blood:
Burn Dragon’s Blood, the chunks or powdered form, on charcoal. I’ve got some Dragon’s Blood incense that I bought the other day that I’m going to try for house cleansing and see how well it works. Frankly, I don’t like messing with those little round charcoals– and for newbies, this charcoal that I’m talking about is not the charcoal that you buy for grills, it’s different. It’s safer, and you can burn it indoors, just be sure that you have a strong fireproof reseptacle to burn it in. I’m still going to cross my fingers and go with the incense; it smells wonderful! (“Be gone, Evil!”, says Dragon’s Blood, kicking Evil in the ass as it rushes out the door.)
6. Sandalwood:
This is another Evil chaser that can be used for smudging, as in incense, or powdered sandalwood can be added to Brick Dust and Sea Salt and sprinkled across all the thresholds to your home. And I do mean *All* the thresholds!…main entrances; back doors; every single window– including tiny basement windows and attic windows; odd entrances like cellar doors, garage doors, etc.
7. Ginger:
For protection keep a whole ginger root under your bed or your pillow at night to ward off Evil Spirits that will prey on you when you are at your most vulnerable, when you’re asleep! This is another herb that is exalted for its ability to ward off Evil from property (and to protect those individuals who reside on said property). Keep it in conjure bags scattered throughout your house; use it to sprinkle doorways, sidewalks, and walkways. Ginger is reputed to slap negative nasty behavior and energy right back to the unfortunate turd who threw it at you– and they will feel it keenly. Take advantage of this.
8. Plantain:
This little herbal magick is going where you go. Tradition advises that you use the roots and leaves of plantain kept in a conjure bag in your vehicle to protect you from the jealousy of those who envy you. Apparently, it’s assumed that Envy travels, following you like a stealthy thief in the night, ready to steal your peace of mind, your self-confidence, and your success. (As a side note, plantain and calamus root are powerful partners for Safe Travel mojo bags, which everyone in my family keeps in their vehicles.)
9. Basil:
What a versatile herb!…Okay, here we go:
1) A Cleansing Wash– add it to your mop water, along with rosemary and a pinch of sea salt and scrub your floors with it.
2) A Dry Wash– sprinkle the dried herb on your floors, and using your Broom, sweep the basil and Evil right out of your house, swooshing them right out the front door. (You can even stamp your foot and swear and cuss a little, let the universe know just what you think about the situation. You’ll feel better, trust me.)
3) Body Wash– in a good sized glass container, make a tincture of Basil that you will use for 9 days to wipe down your body, using a white cloth. On the last day, stand at the threshold of your front door, and throw out any remaining water in the jar. Along with this water, you will be throwing out Evil energy, nasty intentions from nasty people, hate, spite, jealous, vindictiveness, plotting, and gossip. (Listen close, as the water hits the ground, you might be able to hear a squeal or a grunt as this energy is thrown back upon the individuals who are responsible for sending it.)
*NOTE: Fingernail clippings– to some people, the idea gives them the “ewwww” factor. But to me, it seems perfectly natural, as it probably does to most magickal practitioners. Now I’m going to reveal my little secret-slash-tip: To collect my own fingernails, to be used in magicks beneficial to Me, I wait until they get very long before I clip them. But there’s more…I paint them various colors to correspond with the type of magick I might need to benefit myself: green polish/healing; yellow polish/to facilitate communication and creativity; red/for love and passion spells; blue/for moon spells, those things that deal with the feminine mysteries, psychism, visions, dreams. You get the point. I carry the idea of “Personal Concerns”, aka fingernail clippings, one step further than the norm. I’ve never heard this idea anywhere else, so I don’t know if anyone has ever thought of doing this or not. But it works for me.
1. Cleanse each room of energy debris…The negative stuff, the dark and ugly energy lurking in the corners and beneath the couch and chairs, the energy that hides in the cubbies and closets and scares those children who sense it…smudge, incense, burn candles, and bring out that magickal broom– sweep, sweep, sweep that space clean. Leave a wee bit of something behind to keep this space clear, to let the Dark Ones, the Spirits, and Ghosts know that you’ve reclaimed this space, that it is yours— a mojo bag of protection and deflection, some cleansing & protective herbs tied up in pretty bundles and tacked to the ceiling here and there, over the windows, or door frames. And never assume that cleansing this space once will keep it clear forever. Every once-in-a-while, light some candles & incense, send positive energy through this space. Keep your guard up, keep your magickal energy pure, draw your magickal lines in the sand.
2. Gather your harvest of herbs…As I write this, we’re just nine days out from Samhain. In my neck of the woods we’ve been incredibly lucky with the weather so far. We’ve had a couple really cold nights, only one where I had to cover anything, and we still have a lively garden. So now is my time to Gather Those Magickal Herbs & Plants!!. In the stillness of the Indian Summer days, I will clip and snip, tie and bind, hang and dry a variety of plants that will be tacked to my kitchen ceiling, crushed and added to bottles and jars, or arranged in pretty glass bowls. This is the season for the Green Witch to reap the harvests of Mother Earth, to restock her magickal cabinet. Hurry, before winter descends and the snow flies.
3. Put your garden to rest for the season, magickally speaking…The nature spirits have spent all summer fluttering about your garden, gracing it with health and a wealth of blossoms and buds. But it’s time now for nature to retreat into the depths of winter; it’s time for the plants to finish their final cycle; it’s time for the soil to rest. On a quiet still autumn day, take a white candle and some incense into your garden, thank the fairies and spirits for their care and presence and magick. Bid them adieu, until we meet again in spring. Scatter to the four corners of this magickal space crushed rosemary and sage, allow the candle to burn in the center of the garden, sending out healing energy for Nature, as well as a last flame of light before the darkness of winter descends. It’s sort of bitter-sweet, this process for me; but you can leave your garden with a wistful smile, knowing that this is only a temporary good-by, a temporary sleep. When spring comes, you’ll rejoice with the flowers and herbs and shrubs once more.
4. Prepare your vehicle for winter travel…Just like most people check the tires, change the oil, and mundanely “winterize” their vehicles in anticipation of severe winter weather conditions, so you will want to magickally “winterize” your vehicle, making sure there is a powerhouse of positive protective energy surrounding the vehicle itself and everyone who travels in it. This is an ongoing thing at our house. I use stone talismans created personally, decorated with symbols and words related to specific deities invoking their energy for protection. I use mojo bags filled with calamus root and plantain– one of the strongest combinations of herbs for safe travel– along with a tiger eye stone and even hair clippings from the car’s owner and people who will be routinely traveling in this vehicle. Smudge the vehicle with sage or a favorite incense; asperge (sprinkle) the vehicle with salted water for purification and blessings; anoint the four sides of the vehicle with Mars Astrological Ointment, dipping your finger in the oil and drawing an invoking pentagram discreetly near the bottom of the car doors. Settle into the coming winter months with the security of knowing that you’ve done all you can possibly do to assure safe travel for you and your family members
All questions are posted as received, no editing (except to delete identities), as all questions are posted anonymously. You can contact me through the submission form in the side-bar on the home page at my website The Witch’s Corner. (Hopefully I haven’t repeated any questions I’ve already answered in a previous blog post, but if I did, I fall back on my Best-Excuse-Ever…I’m a post-menopausal woman– my memory is toast. This is my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.)
1) i need your powerful books and crystals,,so help me out.i waiting for your reply.thanks
I’m more than happy to pass on a link to my books: click Here
As far as crystals are concerned, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. All that I recall having up, as far as crystals go, are some crystal pendulums; though I have a big website, and I’ve been busy writing and with other projects, so I haven’t updated my online shops for quite a while. This will be a future When-I-Get-More-Money and When-I-Have-More-Time project. click Here
2) So I recently Bought a Ring, and I want to Channel Energy into it that will give me a Boost in Confidence and Courage. Thus making me able to be more sociable in crowds. I was wondering If you had any Advice on the matter, sites I could Look at, or tell me how and what I need to complete this ritual. thanks in advance if you decide to reply. ~D
Very cool! You’ll find an explanation for enchanting jewelry at the top of This Page. And this little tidbit of info (which I’m copy-pasting here) can be found at the bottom of said page.
3) Hi! I would like to order a spell from you. Just in case asking is it possible. I would like to get a healing spell. Im nicely going to doctors also but im very hopfull with casting spell, because i think i need extra help. Is it possible to order spell for healing or banishing illness? as i live in Estonia in Europa sometimes its not possible to get all things (herbs or oils) I would be very happy and lucky if you can help me 🙂 With best wishes
I’m so glad to hear that you’re continuing with solid mundane Medical Care. This is so important, and I can’t emphasize it enough, whether you’re going to incorporate magickal spells or any other form of holistic healing into your regimen– don’t stop seeing your medical doctor, and don’t stop taking prescribed medications.
Actually, I don’t sell spells. However, I do offer a service in which I help people put spells together for specific intentions (Spell Consultations), and you’ll find more information on the topic at this link: click Here
You’ll also find a whole slew of Free Spells at this blog. Here’s a link to Health & Healing Spells, click Here
Estonia!?! 🙂
Hello Ms. Amythyst! I first would like to mention how much your website and the text I have purchased from you has empowered me. I am looking for guidance. Now, my issues are most likely more than I can touch on one email, but it involves witchcraft. Now, if you do get this message (goddess willing) I will kind of give a synopsis… My grandmother was Wiccan before I was born, but reassigned herself as Christian. Ever since her death, very terrible things have happened to our family. I have no idea if these things are related, but knowing the darker side… I thought I’d check in with a professional. I would like to mention that I looked up Wiccan beliefs because of my belief in crystal healing. Not because of her past. I am new to this but very positive of the teachings. I have just realized I am getting ahead of myself haha. I would love to get a response before I get too excited! Thank you
Interesting. You are sort of wondering, as I’m understanding this, if your grandmother and her Wiccan practices could have anything to do with the unfortunate external incidents you and your family have experienced since her death.
There’s a very simple way to look at this: through your grandmother’s own soul and her curiosity and experimentation with very different spiritual paths.
If the soul survives, and the soul is viewed as that internal part of us which encompasses not only the sub-conscious but our conscious mind and our inherent intelligence as well, one could surmise that your grandmother may have very confusing views of the after-life, and divinity, heaven and hell, as well as a warped view of punishment. If I look at this situation from this viewpoint, I’m thinking that your grandmother needs to know that everything is okay, that she didn’t do anything wrong in her practice of witchcraft, or in her transition to Christianity. She needs to know that all spiritual paths lead to grace. Your grandmother needs to find peace, and you can help her do this. One way is to simply tell her. Even if you don’t think you have the gift of mediumship, this doesn’t mean that our loved ones can’t see and hear us after their passing.
Light a white candle, light some cleansing purifying incense, and have a chat with your grandmother.
Because I don’t have any particulars, and this is all the information that I have regarding your specific circumstances, I’ll let it stand here. If you’d like to tell me more, feel free to do so. The other alternative to this scenario would involve curses and hexing and that type of thing, which would be a whole different ball game, and wouldn’t necessarily have anything to do with your grandmother.
___________________
All questions are posted as received, no editing (except to delete identities), as all questions are posted anonymously. You can contact me through the submission form in the sidebar on the home page at my website The Witch’s Corner.
Old school Witchcraft 101…those of you who’ve thrown some magickal energy around (in a good way, of course), cast a few circles, chanted a few chants, those who have walked this path for any length of time and tapped into the magickal realm of witchcraft and wizardry, are going to be familiar with the information in this blog post, but be patient with me. This post is for the new kids on the block. (Better than being patient, why don’t you add your magickal two cents to this post with a comment by leaving some of your own wisdom for new witches to pick up on, things you’ve learned through your own experience and practice…thank you in advance.)
Below are the planets and their special energies and ten of my favorite herbs for each planet:
MOON— Day/Monday– this is the planet that is immersed in the energy of the goddess, feminine energy, intuition, inner mysteries, dreams, the filmy ethereal world of fairies and mythical creatures, and the element of Water
The herbs: calamus, lemon balm, gardenia, passion flower, jasmine, lotus, moonwort, myrrh, sandalwood, poppy, camellia
MERCURY— Day/Wednesday– this is the planet connected to communication and creativity, it centers on intelligence and wonderful lucid moments of awareness, and the element of Air
The herbs: fennel, lavender, lemongrass, marjoram, peppermint, almond, bittersweet, flax, horehound, lily of the valley
VENUS— Day/Friday– this is the planet connected to love and romance, beauty and luxury, it’s bathed in the warm glow of healthy narcissism and mutual attraction, sexuality, warm and fuzzy friendships, and the element of Water
The herbs: apple, aster, magnolia, hibiscus, foxglove, geranium, blackberry, corn, lilac, willow
MARS— Day/Tuesday– this is the harsh, hot, in-your-face energy of the warrior, it encompasses strength, it protects, it challenges, it sets boundaries and patrols the parameters of our world, on the watch for negative energy, and it is connected to the element of Fire
The herbs: cumin, garlic, ginger, holly, pine, tobacco, wormwood, coriander, allspice, hawthorn
JUPITER— Day/Thursday– this is the planet of growth and expansion, it touches and influences the financial commercial world we inhabit, it infiltrates the judicial system, the institutions that keep our society running smoothly, and it’s influenced by the element of Earth
The herbs: anise, dandelion, sage, nutmeg, witch grass, clove, honeysuckle, hyssop, maple, fig
SATURN— Day/Saturday– the dark side, the shadow world is found here, the place that so many tend to tip-toe through, but the energy so often needed, this is the planet that will bring the truth to light and punish those who have harmed others, and it’s connected with the element of Earth and Fire
The herbs: skullcap, slippery elm, wolf’s bane, morning glory (devil’s guts), hemlock, hemp, belladonna, comfrey, mimosa, knot weed
The Pagan has a very different view of the afterlife than the Christian; and even within the Pagan community, you will find diverse beliefs about what happens to us when our bodies die. However you choose to look at death and what comes afterwards, the event itself will be marked, as all major events in a life generally are– with a ritual.
Items Needed:
1. A white pillar candle representing the deceased
2. A photo of the individual
Besides the regular ritual tools, you will choose a white pillar candle to represent the deceased. You may want to carve the individual’s name into it. This candle could also be adorned and decorated with herbs, sparkles, seashells, stones, ribbons, etc., or whatever else that resonates with the energy of the deceased– buttons from their clothing, beads from one of their necklaces.
The altar could also be decorated with flowers that were special to this individual, as well as personal items such as mementos from milestone occasions, old toys, things the individual may have collected, or items connected to an interest they pursued in life.
This ritual does not have to be conducted in a cast circle. However, the perimeter of the area could be set with white candles, white stones, bouquets of flowers, or bunches of herbs, and a purifying incense such as sandalwood.
1. When family and friends are gathered, the Priestess will stand before the altar, saying:
“As we all come from the Goddess to experience life; in death so shall we return to Her to experience peace.”
2. The Priestess will then light the altar candles, including the white pillar candle. Holding aloft the special white pillar candle, she will say:
“(name of deceased),
By the element of Earth, you were grounded in the physical world.
By the element of Air, you were open to knowledge and communication.
By the element of Fire, you were inspired with passion.
By the element of Water, you could dream your dreams.
So now, by Earth, by Air, by Fire, by Water…shall you pass to the next stage of your existence.”
3. The Priestess will then return the white candle to the altar. At this point, she may give a short eulogy on the deceased and his/her life; or family members and friends can be invited to come forward and relate memories and stories.
4. A ‘cakes & wine’ ritual can be incorporated into the ceremony at this point, if the family members wish.
*Note: You’ll find a “Cakes & Wine” ritual Here
5. When these aspects of the ritual are complete, the Priestess will take her place at the altar, raise the white pillar candle before the assembled group and say:
“(name of deceased),
Merry we meet,
And merry we part,
Until we merry meet again.”
6. The Priestess will then extinguish the flame of the white pillar candle. She may step forward and present this candle to the deceased’s closest relative, spouse, or partner.
____________________
The source for these rituals: The Gray Witch’s Grimoire
When it comes to money spells, it’s become common place to equate these magickal endeavors with such sanctimonious cliques as ‘I’m only doing this spell for necessities’, ‘money spells are not done to make you rich’, ‘only ask for what you need’, blah, blah, blah. Ya, right– and who believes this. There isn’t anyone who wouldn’t love casting a money spell, only to wake up the next morning filthy rich. If I could– I would, and so would a lot of people, they just won’t admit it.
But what we view as the successful manifestation of these spells, and what the universe views as successful manifestation of these spells are often two very different things.
This was brought home to me one fine summer day.
One of my daughters and I were going to take a walk together. When they were younger, I would love doing this on an individual basis in order to have one on one time with each child. This was also the day I was casting a money spell, and I was just finishing up this little ritual, and kind of hurrying through the end of it, as my daughter was calling to me, ready to go for her walk.
The green candle was still perking along, flaming in magickal anticipation, as we started off down the road together.
We had gone quite a ways when we decided to turn onto a dead-end gravel road. The end of this road stopped at a wire fence, staunchly held in place with large square posts. Beyond the fence was a wide grassy pasture, where a beautiful horse was lazily grazing and swatting at flies with its thick tail. Surprisingly, the horse came when we called, and we were enthralled to be able to touch this beautiful animal and to look into its big brown eyes.
We were leaning on one of the large square posts supporting the fence, and I just happened to glance down to see a very small square object partially buried in the dirt.
“What’s that?”, I ask my daughter.
She bends down to retrieve it, and brings up a very dirty piece of paper, folded several times into a tight square. She begins unfolding it, and unfolding it, and unfolding it, until it is fanned out in her hands.
Her eyes open wide in astonished amazement…it is a $10.00 bill.
(The above text is an excerpt from
Natural Magick the Gray Witch Way)
Money, Money…Come to ME!
money spells– click Here
I have lots of hair, and I’ve tried lots of products– expensive and not– and I always come back to a tried and true shampoo and brand that’s always worked for me…Suave. The line that they have now, the one we’re going to look at in this post, is relatively new– or at least it is in our area. It’s in a sage green bottle, and it comes in a variety of herbal mixtures. I love them all, but the one I’m using right now is “Rosemary & Mint”.
So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and look at some of the ingredients and the magickal energy:
Eucalyptus:
Element: Air; Planet: Moon; Energy: Feminine
Uses include great healing properties, kills germs, infections, eases lung congestion, heart stimulant. Attracts healing vibrations and protection. Use to purify and cleanse any space of unwanted energies. Also useful in dream and sleep pillows.
Spearmint:
Element: Water; Planet: Venus; Energy: Feminine
Healing, love and protection while sleeping. Burn for healing magick, especially for respiratory conditions. Carry for healing. Use in ritual baths for strength and vitality. Write a wish on paper and wrap it in spearmint leaves; place in a red cloth and sew with red thread, then keep in a safe and secret place — by the time the scent is gone, your wish should have come true.
Aloe:
Element: Water; Planet: Moon; Energy: Feminine
Protection and luck. Place on the grave of a loved one to promote peaceful energy. Thought to relieve loneliness and assist with success. Hang in the home to attract luck and protection for those who live there. Grow in the home to provide protection from household accidents. Burn on the night of a full moon to bring a new lover by the new moon.
Lemon Grass
Element: Air; Planet: Mercury; Energy: Masculine
Psychic cleansing and opening, used in lust potions.
Rosemary
Element: Fire; Planet: Sun; Energy: Masculine
Protection, love, lust, mental powers, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep, youth. Burn to purify and cleanse. Use in love and lust incenses and potions. Use for healing of all kinds. A tea of rosemary causes the mind to be alert. Circulatory, digestive and nerve stimulant. Heals headache, depression, and halitosis.
Lavender
Element: Air; Planet: Mercury; Energy: Masculine
Magickal uses include love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, and peace. Promotes healing from depression. Great in sleep pillows and bath spells. Believed to preserve chastity when mixed with rosemary. Burn the flowers to induce sleep and rest, then scatter the ashes around the home to bring peace and harmony. Use in love spells and sachets, especially those to attract men.
All questions are posted as received, no editing (except to delete identities), as all questions are posted anonymously. You can contact me through the submission form in the right column on the home page at my website The Witch’s Corner.
1. Well I don’t really know how to cast a circle and there are some things about a money bottle I don’t understand and the mojo bag also help thank u
First, Witch’s Bottles…
Witches’ bottles are an old form of magick wherein the spell, in the form of personal effects, herbs, and a variety of objects, are deposited in a glass jar or bottle. The container is then sealed up with wax and used in a variety of ways, depending upon it’s purpose. Money bottles can be kept near the front door where they are visible and handy, and you can grab them and give them a shake from time to time to keep the energy moving towards manifestation. Witches’ bottles for protection might be buried on your property, as near the threshold of your front door as possible. A wild and wooly bottle, meant to kick some magickal butt or get rid of a pesky problem, will be buried as far away from your land as is physically possible and reasonable. A bottle meant to conjure love, well, I’d tuck that beneath the bed, where the energy will pool and puddle, perk and boil, till the damn bursts and love and passion bloom.
You can use any kind of bottle that has a mouth large enough to deposit some of the more unusual items for your spell. My personal favorite is a glass bottle that contains my favorite cold coffee drink. I rinse these out and save them for Witches’ Bottles– the ultimate in recycling. They’re just the right size.
Witches’ Bottles are easy spells to cast, fun to put together, and long potent lasting magick.
Circle Casting…You’ll find a circle casting ritual at my website by clicking Here
To cast most magick, you will want to create sacred space in which to work; space that is cleansed, consecrated, and reinforced against negative energy and entities. This space will hold and contain magickal energy as it builds, until you are ready to release it into the universe, sometimes with explosive abruptness. This space will give you the reassurance of protection, so that you can concentrate on your spell casting or ritual, knowing that you are safe– physically mentally, and spiritually– knowing that nothing will interfere with you or the energy within your circle. This space will provide a place of beauty and serenity, in which to invoke Deity.
Whether or not the boundaries of your magick circle are marked with physical objects…a ring of stones, a silver cord, bouquets of flowers, or candles; you most likely will feel the invisible energy of this circle as a shift in temperature, the sensation of being closed within a small space, a tingling sensation on the soles of your feet, or a slight change of pressure around your head or inner ear. Some people experience a physical sensation within the circle, and others do not. It may depend on an individual’s physical sensitivity to various energies. Even if you experience no sensations within the magick circle, know that this space, when properly cast, is as solid and real and sacred as the most intimidating cathedral, or the quaintest neighborhood church.
Mojo Bags…You’ll find more info Here
The magick of the mojo bag can be yours. The ancient practice of combining spell ingredients for particular intentions in small bags and pouches is an ancient one, and a magick that has proved particularly powerful. Mojo bags can be carried in your purse or pocket, tucked beneath your pillow, worn from a cord or chain around your neck, tucked in an enemy’s personal space, or even dismantled and thrown to the wind…You’ll know what to do.
I have a whole section in my online book devoted to mojo bags with directions on making your own with correspondences for a number of intentions…”These enchanting magickal charms can be carried and integrated into your life in a variety of ways. Mojo bags to enhance your dreams or to prevent nightmares can be tucked beneath your pillow, releasing their magick and fragrance right under your nose each night. Mojo bags for prosperity can be carried in your purse, rubbing elbows with your wallet or checkbook, bringing you success and plenty in the financial world. Mojo bags for love and employment, for protection and hexing, can all be created to move energy along, to invoke spirits, to create change, and to shake up the mundane world in a million different magickal ways.”
Some of the information above was taken from my online book, “Natural Magick the Gray Witch Way”
2. Hello Amythyst this (Name Deleted) and you once did a reading for me and was about who thought at the time was my soul mate only to find out for my goddess Hecate my true soul mate is Gabriel and that the (Name Deleted) guy was just somebody I was sing to help. It turns out that I am still waiting for my true soul mate and I want him in my life and I feel alone and want somebody do love me too. I feeling confused with my life and want to know why my life. I want to know why I am never lucky with anything I do? I feel like I never get anywhere and I think more about helping other people but am to worried to help myself. I feel that if I try to make my life better that everything will not work out. I just want to be happy. I am not happy with the way my life is. Can you help me?
I see several questions within this question…
First: Can I help you?…Basically, no. Up to a point– I can listen to you, I can encourage you, I can comfort you, I can advise you– I can read for you, I can make suggestions; but in the end, ultimately, you are responsible for your own happiness, you are responsible for your own decisions, you are responsible for your own actions or inaction.
“I feel that if I try to make my life better that everything will not work out…”…So you’re saying that you’re so afraid of failure you’re not even going to try? (If you don’t try, you’ll never succeed.) Are you saying that it’s better to live a life of unhappiness and discontent, rather than to make the effort to change it?
One of the first questions to ask yourself is– What do I have to do to improve my life? Think about every area of your life, from relationships, to employment, to spirituality, to health (both mental & physical). Make a list…What do I need to do to improve my life? How many things on this list are do-able in the short term, like now; and how many things on this list are long-term issues that you should start working on now in order to make the future better? Once you’ve made this list, you can’t just sit forever and ponder on it, you actually have to get out there, contact the right people, and start things in motion.
One thing about this that irks me is the fact that women in general have a tendency to be thrown completely for a loop when a relationship doesn’t work out. It’s sad, yes; it’s disappointing, yes; but it’s not the end of the world. You need to be a whole and complete, happy and content human being on your own before you’re ready to enter into a relationship with anyone. I actually think that some women benefit from a period of time on their own, time to find their center, time to learn about who they really are and what they really want out of life. Some women need a period of time to themselves to gain confidence in their ability to fend for themselves, to make good decisions, to handle business, to delve into their creative sides. Some women just plain benefit from time to themselves, period.
My advice?…Stop pining for this guy you broke up with. Stop looking for spiritual mates in the ether world. Concentrate on this world, this life– take the idea of potential partners out of the picture all together. What do you want to do with your life? You said that you wanted to help people– How do you do this? Does this touch your soul and make you feel good inside, good about yourself, good about the world? Concentrate on this aspect of life.
If you’re meant to find your soul mate, you will, when the universe and Spirit decide it’s time. Stop wasting so much of your energy fretting over this issue. In order to draw good things into your life, you have to surround yourself with and project positive energy– work on this.
Learn to love yourself.
This spell will require the energy of the seven of cups tarot card—the card of decisions, decisions, decisions.
When you find yourself facing a life changing all important decision and you are having trouble reaching it, this is the spell for you. It’s also beneficial if you are faced with a multitude of decisions and must choose the best one.
Correspondences
Moon Phase: waxing to full moon
Day: Friday
Planet: Venus—a planet that deals not only with relationships, but with decisions as well
Colors: green or white
Herbs: sandalwood, lilac, sage, Solomon‘s Seal Root
Oil: psychic oil
Incense: sandalwood
Tarot Card: seven of cups
What to do:
1. Cast a circle.
2. Light the incense.
3. Use white and green candles, as many as you need for the number of choices you have to decide upon. Anoint them with the oil, and roll them in a mixture of the herbs you’ve chosen from those listed, and then sit these candles upon your altar.
4. On small slips of white paper, write down each individual choice involved with the decision or decisions you must make. There will be one small slip of paper for each choice. Place one slip of paper beneath each candle.
5. Sit the seven of cups tarot card upon your altar, among the candles, where you can see it and meditate upon it, or if you wish, you can hold it.
6. Light the candles.
7. As the spell candles are burning themselves out observe them. Which candle is burning itself out first? Which flames are you drawn to? After the candles have finished burning themselves out, skry the wax. What shapes do you see in the remnants of the wax? Which one catches your eye?
8. Gather the remains of this spell, including the slips of paper you placed beneath the candles, whether they have burned to ashes or not, and place these items in a small bag, along with the clear quartz crystal and the seven of cups tarot card. Sleep with this bag beneath your pillow until you reach a decision.
This task should be easier now.
Here’s the recipe, which sounds delicious! We’re going to go through the ingredients and see just what kind of magick can be found in this simple popular dish:
Makes 4 servings
8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika
Directions:
1. Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
3. Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.
The Magick:
Paprika…Use to add energy to any spell or mixture. Throw in someone’s yard to cause them problems.
Also Called: African Pepper, Bird Pepper, Chili Pepper, Goat’s Pod, Grains of Paradise, Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper, Tabasco Pepper, Zanzibar Pepper, Capsicu
Wheat (found in the bread crumbs & the macaroni)…Induces fertility and conception, attracts money
Salt (if you add a dash)…Cleansing, purification, exorcism
The Divine Connection:
Wheat is a grain associated with the goddess Demeter:
“DEMETER was the great Olympian goddess of agriculture, grain, and bread, the prime sustenance of mankind. She also presided over the foremost of the Mystery Cults which promised its initiates the path to a blessed afterlife. Demeter was depicted as a mature woman, often crowned and holding sheaves of wheat and a torch…” For more info– lots more, click Here
Mother & Daughter
(Demeter and Persephone)
Magickal Connections 