Witchcraft - Forum - Witches Moon2024-03-28T20:01:28Zhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/feed/category/WitchcraftMaking Hygge Witchier (cozy winter witchcraft)https://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/making-hygge-witchier-cozy-winter-witchcraft2024-01-29T18:13:46.000Z2024-01-29T18:13:46.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><center><iframe title="Making Hygge Witchier (cozy winter witchcraft)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WLCxay1D4xA" width="599" height="338" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></center><center></center><center>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">I've discussed in my recent posts that I am trying to align myself more with natural cycles, so I am still in my winter hibernation recovery period. A few years ago, I read a book that really described activities I was already doing that appealed to me and how these activities can be done together to really create a feeling. Commonly associated with cold weather and winter holidays, the practice is Hygge (heu-gah/hoo-gah). The book was The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. Hygge is described as the feeling of coziness and comfort. It's often associated with things like candle light or other soft ambient lighting , the smell of fresh baked cookies and cinnamon rolls, having a nice coffee. An overall cozy atmosphere. It is a word and a lifestyle and a practice that is originated in Denmark. And a lot of it was stuff as a witch I was already doing like Lighting candles, creating energy in a space and kitchen witchcraft! So in this video/post I wanted to see if I could make Hygge witchier.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Meik Wiking’s book included 10 rules/tenets of Hygge, and while I will be reordering these numerically and combining a few into one, this is my framework of steps to making Hygge more witchy.</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Atmosphere</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Creating an atmosphere is a big role in my daily life, especially in my practice. My room and space needs to be clean, cleansed and a whole vibe needs to be set. I often light candles to create an energy. I prefer soy or even better beeswax candles, especially in the winter so I’m not breathing in as much paraffin wax burnout. Having natural elements like plants also creates a comfortable energy for me. AND MOOD LIGHTING! Turn off the big light, lamps and candles only.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>Making it witchier:</strong></span> I don’t even really know how to make this one much witchier other than making the atmosphere intentionally witchy. Some grounding crystals to have around you could be obsidian, moss agate, hematite, tiger’s eye, smoky quartz.</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Shelter</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">This is a place of peace and security.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>Making it witchier:</strong></span> Protection charms. Now remember, this is Hygge. Don’t exhaust yourself creating a bunch of wards and protection spells. You can do that if you feel it’s necessary but in this instance, finding a way to make the process of magick itself feel cozy is also a key. So I’m going to double up use and make some of these cozy candles protection candles.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Taking a large candle or a jar candle, something you can burn multiple times, carve protection symbols or sigils, or just “protection, security, SAFE” whatever calls to you. Anoint it with an oil. I’m using a protection oil blend I made myself, you can use a kitchen oil like olive or coconut too if that’s what you have on hand.</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Presence.</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Be here now. Turn off the phone. Especially when actively working on your magickal practice. You don’t want your energy to be disrupted or sent to the wrong place even.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>Making it witchier:</strong></span> I’m going to take this one up a level and also add in grounding and centering. Grounding and centering is done before rituals to focus energy, and after to release any excess energy back into the earth or the cosmos. Rooting your energy to whatever your source is can really help make you present in the moment and is a good first step to being in a calmer, more meditative state.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Pleasure</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Coffee, chocolate, cookies, cakes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>Making it witchier:</strong></span> Kitchen witchcraft, coffee witchcraft, tea spells… this one is easy! In the Hygge book they talk about how much of a culture coffee is in Denmark. Charm yourself up a latte, make or buy yourself a tasty little treat and savor it. Add any additional spices or kitchen witchery steps as desired!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Of course, pleasure doesn’t necessarily have to be food. A lot of the practices in Denmark also include reading. This could also be a part of the pleasure section but I’m going to say that snuggling up with a good witchy book is an option. It could be things like consciously enjoying the way the sun comes through a window. Or the way your dogs greet you when you come home. There’s magick in those moments too.</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Equality, Harmony, Truce and Togetherness</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">These are based in the concept of hygge being a community effort. I understand that experiencing Hygge socially is essential in the Denmark tradition, but since I am doing this as a solitary witch, and many won’t or can’t share their witchy practices with others, I’m going rope them into one category and reframe them into just “Harmony.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>Making it witchier:</strong></span> In this moment, you are going to make a truce with yourself to be kind to yourself, feel together with the earth, the sky, the world around you. To feel equal, not better than or below any part of the universe because you are one with it. If you do spirit, ancestor or deity work, you can include them in this as well.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">The energy of Hygge also calls me to mention deities of home, protection and the spirit of your house. I personally am working on building up my altar to Hestia, goddess of the hearth. Finding harmony and togetherness with any or all of these can also help.</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Comfort</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Get comfy, take a break. It’s all about relaxation.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>How do you make taking a break witchier? </strong></span>Here’s an interesting way…. I’m going to enchant a blanket. I want to make a blanket that when I’m snuggled up under it I am comfortable, I am cozy, I am released from my stress. Pick your favorite blanket, or the coziest or witchiest one.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">I’m going to charm this one with crystals, a candle, a ribbon, and a needle and thread. Getting back out some of our grounding crystals I’m going to place them on top of my folded blanket around a candle. Place the candle on top of the blanket on a plate or dish to prevent wax or fire from getting to your blanket (as always, practice the utmost fire safety!). Place your ribbon piece under that too. I’m going to use a birthday size candle because I don’t have the time, it’s getting dark and cold and I want my blanket. Carve, anoint and light the candle. Stitch my ribbon into a corner of the blanket. She’s cozy, she’s warm. She’s comfortable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Lazy witch edit: you can charm the stitching thread instead of charming a piece of ribbon for an even more discreet, less materials needed version of this.</span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size:14pt;">Gratitude</span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Take it in, this might be as good as it gets.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">I’m ending with gratitude. After you’ve completed your grounding, your protections, your charmed blanket, your latte potion, savor it. Enjoy it. This is why you created this peace. Be present, in the moment and grateful for moments like these. <span class="sqsrte-text-highlight"><strong>No extra witchiness needed. </strong></span>You’ll literally feel the magick in the air.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://www.xristiwitch.com/blog/making-hygge-witchier-cozy-winter-witchcraft">Making Hygge Witchier (cozy winter witchcraft) — Xristi Witch</a></span></p>
</center></div>Winter Magick, Spells and Goddesseshttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/winter-magick-spells-and-goddesses2023-12-13T19:33:09.000Z2023-12-13T19:33:09.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p> </p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12324135481,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12324135481,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="12324135481?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p>From Samhain until Ostara, the Dark Goddess has her reign as she is commonly also associated with winter and the cold that it brings.</p>
<p>In the modern age, this time of year is focused on festivities, festivals, parties and events to bring cheer and brighten the dark days of winter.</p>
<p>However, for many people, this feels counter-intuitive to what our bodies and minds want during the winter season.</p>
<p>As the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer, many people experience seasonal effective disorder (also known as SAD), a chemical reaction in the brain caused by the lack of sunlight and a decrease in serotonin levels.</p>
<p>For others, including those with seasonal affective disorder, many feel instinctually a desire to withdraw, slow down, and rest.</p>
<p>We may desire to sleep and eat more, wanting to spend more time indoors. However, the modern world expects us to keep up with our work schedules, our appointments and obligations regardless of the bone shattering cold, black darkness outside or the nor’easter or ice storm pounding at our door.</p>
<h2>The Dark Goddess & Winter</h2>
<p>The Dark Goddess reigns during the winter months, also known as the waning part of the year. When Yule arrives, the birth of the sun comes again.</p>
<p>In ancient times, people prepared for the long, harsh winter storing their reserves and resting for the long season.</p>
<p><strong>During this time of year, the Dark Goddess calls to us to take a break from everything.</strong></p>
<p>We have put in the hard work of the year, reaped what we have sown during the harvest festivals and now is the time to turn inward and rest.</p>
<p>Between Samhain and Yule can be an ideal time for shadow work, working on anything that you want to heal, resolve or work on during the new calendar year when the sun is reborn at Yule.</p>
<p>The time after Samhain and before Yule is a quiet time of rest, reflect and getting ready for the long haul ahead.</p>
<p>This is also a good time to get to know the winter goddesses that rule at this time. Some are associated with the dark goddess aspect as well.</p>
<p>If it gets cold where you live, you can feel the presence of the winter goddesses in the air and see them in snowfall during the season.</p>
<h2>Winter Magick, Spells and Goddesses</h2>
<p>Here are a few ways you can bring magick, spells and the goddesses of winter into your magickal or witchcraft practice:</p>
<h3>Create a Winter Altar</h3>
<p>This can be a decorative or working altar (or both.) Your winter altar can have anything related to the season that has meaning to you:</p>
<ul>
<li>decorations</li>
<li>ornaments</li>
<li>nature elements such as pine needles, pine cones, pine bark</li>
<li>Yule colours (white, red, green, silver, gold)</li>
<li>centrepieces</li>
<li>mistletoe</li>
<li>poinsettia</li>
</ul>
<p><em>A special note about using mistletoe and/or poinsettia in your decorations: mistletoe and poinsettia can be poisonous to dogs and cats (and other pets). Take special care to not have them around or in reach of any pets during the holiday season.</em></p>
<p>If you have a cultural background that celebrates winter holidays, you can add them to your decorative or working altar.</p>
<p>Many religious traditions have the symbolism of light over darkness, so adding candles, lights and decorations specific to your cultural heritage can add tradition and a connection to your ancestors.</p>
<h3>Winter Spells & Divination</h3>
<p>Spell crafting can be unique to the season by using elements of winter in your spells and magick.</p>
<p>Make the most of the season and bring the outdoors inside to feel connected to the earth and the season:</p>
<h3>Plants / Trees</h3>
<p>Mistletoe, poinsettia and pine can be used. (Again, extra care with mistletoe and poinsettia.)</p>
<p>For example, pine has magickal properties for money drawing, healing, spiritual cleansing, protection, exorcism, fertility and longevity. Other trees that can be used for magickal purposes are evergreen trees such as spruce, aspen and fir.</p>
<p>If you use a real tree for your holiday season, you can create magickal decorations to hang from your tree for blessings and protection. Bless the water each time or use water charged with the full moon before Yule when filling the water basin at the bottom of the tree.</p>
<p>Get to know the spirit of your Yule tree in your home, and give thanks and appreciation.</p>
<p>When it’s time to take down your tree, give thanks for its company. If you wish, save a small branch of your tree as a keepsake or use in your magick for the next year.</p>
<h3>Snow</h3>
<p>Snow can be used in spells replacing regular water.</p>
<p>Collect clean snow from outside and use it to cleanse your home and sacred space and use instead of regular water. Bless and charge the snow before magickal uses, especially during the full moon before Yule.</p>
<p>Any magickal purpose that you use water in spells can be substituted with snow during the winter season.</p>
<p>Keep a small jar of melted snow on your altar during the season for spell work. The melted snow can be used later all year around for other magickal workings.</p>
<h3>Ice</h3>
<p>Ice can also be used for spells. Collect icicles or small chunks of ice from outside and bring them inside. They can be stored in your freezer until you’re ready to use them.</p>
<p>Ice can be melted to make water for use in magick and spells or added to the altar during a spell.</p>
<p>If you don’t have ice where you are, make ice cubes out of clean spring water and add them to your spell or magickal working.</p>
<p>Have a problem you want to stall until your ready to deal with it?</p>
<p>Write the name of your problem on a small piece of paper, fold and place the paper in a small container of water (melted snow or spring water).</p>
<p>Place the container in your freezer or outside at night (if the temperature will be below freezing all night and all day.)</p>
<p>Keep the paper frozen in the ice until you’re ready to deal with it. Thaw the ice when you are ready to handle and take action.</p>
<h3>Fire</h3>
<p>Pyromancy is divination done through fire gazing. If you have a fireplace, this can be done by lighting a fire and (safely) gazing into the flames.</p>
<p>Allow your eyes to come out of focus and think of a question or area of your life that you need guidance and see what comes to mind; often the visions won’t be seen in the fire itself, but rather clairvoyantly in your mind’s eye.</p>
<p>This can also be done with a candle, although the larger the flame, the better the effect. Remember to be safe with all open flames and safely extinguish when finished.</p>
<p>Burning petitions for spell work can also be effective, which having a fireplace makes it seem more magickal when casting spells by burning.</p>
<p>Combining ice, snow and fire in spell work can be a great way to use the elements of the season in your magickal workings.</p>
<h3>Cooking and Baking</h3>
<p>Baking is a favourite past time for many during the holiday season. But, if you’re like me and don’t bake from scratch, even the prepackaged Betty Crocker mixes can still be magickal.</p>
<p>Since you’ll still have to mix and blend even the prepackaged cake and cookie mixes, you can add intent and magick while you stir (even if you use a kitchen mixer.)</p>
<p>Add magickal shapes and symbols to your cookies, pies and cakes.</p>
<p><strong>Have family or friends that aren’t into witchy stuff?</strong></p>
<p>Stencil a sigil into the inside of the pie crust before adding the filling or at the bottom of your cake before flipping it over.</p>
<p>Use animal shapes such as deer and stags to add a pagan feel that ties into more traditional symbolism of the season.</p>
<p>Even star shapes for cookies can be magickally charged – use them in your rituals or a treat for guests, family and friends (icing a pentagram on them isn’t necessary if it’ll cause a fuss.)</p>
<p>Add five pointed star decorations to your tree and home or make a pentagram out of cinnamon sticks.</p>
<p>Winter season is an great time for the kitchen witch with lots of cooking and baking. Magickally charge spices and herbs during cooking or baking, stir and prepare meals with intent.</p>
<p>During cold and flu season, healing spells can be done even while just heating up soup. Any meal can be a magickal one.</p>
<h2>Meet the Winter Goddesses</h2>
<p>There are winter goddesses in different pantheons and cultures to choose from.</p>
<p>If you currently work with a pantheon or tradition, you may decide to work with the winter goddess from a pantheon that you’re familiar with. You may also want to choose a winter goddess from a pantheon from your ancestry or culture.</p>
<p>Before working with a winter goddess (or any deity), it’s best to do research about her and who the goddess is.</p>
<p>Learn more about her history, her culture, her stories and legends and read from several different resources.</p>
<p>Get to know her inside and out. After you’re well read in who the goddess is, you’ll then be able to decide if you want to connect with her and experience who she is for yourself.</p>
<h3>Meditate for a Meet and Greet with a Winter Goddess</h3>
<p>To meet a winter goddess (or any deity), spend time in meditation.</p>
<p>If you read tarot, reading the cards can also help to meet and learn more about the goddess to open a dialogue. If you’ve read about the goddess and who she is, you will have a better sense about her.</p>
<p>Be open to feel her energy. Is she talkative or reserved?</p>
<p>Is she strong and forceful or passive?</p>
<p>Does she have words, insight or wisdom for you?</p>
<p>Do you feel you can work with her on a regular basis?</p>
<p>Write down your experience with the goddess that you’ve chosen.</p>
<p>If you want, you may want to meet with another goddess to compare.</p>
<p>After you feel that you’ve made a match, that’s when time and devotion will be important to develop a working relationship.</p>
<h3>Winter Goddesses</h3>
<p>Here are some winter goddesses that you may want to learn more about and research about.</p>
<p>Plenty of books and online resources may help you to learn more about each of these goddesses:</p>
<ul>
<li>Skaði (Skadi / Skathi) – Norse goddess</li>
<li>Holde (Hulda) / Frau Holle (Holda) – Norse / Germanic goddess</li>
<li>Demeter – Greek goddess</li>
<li>Morana (Morena / Marzanna) – Slavic goddess</li>
<li>Frigga – Norse goddess</li>
<li>Cailleach Bheur / Beira – Celtic / Scottish</li>
<li>Khione – Greek goddess</li>
<li>Ameratasu – Japanese goddess</li>
<li>Bona Dea – Roman goddess</li>
</ul>
<p>How ever you celebrate this yuletide and winter season, be sure to honour your own cyclic rhythms and what the Dark Goddess calls to you.</p>
<p>Make space and time for yourself, take care of your mental health and physical health as well.</p>
<p>When Yule arrives, we begin a whole new solar year and from that day, the sun will grow and reach its peak at the summer solstice. We have new promise and beginnings soon to happen.</p>
<p>During the dark phase of the year, we can reflect and contemplate what we want to give birth to in the upcoming months after Yule.</p>
<p>Now is the time to incubate what we want to cultivate and reap by next Samhain.</p>
<p>Yet, this is also a time for rest. We can think about what we want to do next year, but for now, we need time to think it over and plan things out a little more.</p>
<p><em>Many blessings for the winter season ahead.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://tarotpugs.com/2017/11/05/winter-magick-spells-and-goddesses/">Winter Magick, Spells and Goddesses | TarotPugs</a></p></div>Ritual Baths: Your ESSENTIAL Guide to Spell and Spiritual Bathinghttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/ritual-baths-your-essential-guide-to-spell-and-spiritual-bathing2023-11-27T22:02:31.000Z2023-11-27T22:02:31.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12304370066,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12304370066,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="563" alt="12304370066?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>Water is cleansing, healing and relaxing. Are you someone who loves taking a long bath to soothe away worries and stress? Magical baths are becoming more and more popular in modern spirituality for good reason! Whatever your reason for taking ritual baths, we have the ESSENTIAL guide to spell and spiritual bathing for you here including how-tos, ritual bath recipes, and more.</p>
<h2 id="h-first-what-is-a-ritual-bath" class="wp-block-heading">First, What is a Ritual Bath?</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">A ritual bath is a bath taken with a spiritual purpose. Maybe you want to cleanse your aura, heal your heart, or draw money into your life. Ritual baths are effective for these intentions and so much more! Since ancient times, people bathed to clean their bodies but also to purify their spirits. To rid themselves of disease and ward off evil spirits. Water is cleansing, healing, renewing, and refreshing. And when we add things to the water, we boost its magical effects. Water acts as a conduit for spirit and therefore enhances our connection to the universe. Learn more about the power of the <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/water-element/">water element here.</a></p>
<h2 id="h-herbs-and-flowers-in-ritual-baths" class="wp-block-heading">Herbs and Flowers in Ritual Baths</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">When you look up spell baths or spiritual baths online, you’ll notice lots of people adding things to their bath water. Herbs and flowers are a favorite. Here are some favorite herbs and flowers to add to your ritual baths:</p>
<ul class="has-medium-font-size">
<li>Rose petals</li>
<li>Chamomile</li>
<li>Rosemary</li>
<li>Peppermint</li>
<li>Lavender</li>
<li>Oats</li>
<li>Dandelion</li>
<li>Jasmine</li>
</ul>
<p class="has-pale-pink-background-color has-background has-medium-font-size"><strong>WARNING: Make sure whatever herb or flower you add to your bath doesn’t irritate the skin. Try a bit of it on your arm first before bathing yourself in it! This way you’ll know if you have an allergy or not. Do your research first. ALSO, pregnant women should be extra cautious of what herbs and oils they’re using in their ritual baths. Your health is in your own hands!</strong></p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">There are dozens of herbs and plants that can be added to your spiritual baths to enhance the experience, rejuvenate the skin, and cleanse the aura. Don’t forget to look up the herbs’ magical properties to match your intention.</p>
<h3 id="h-ritual-bathing-optional-herbs-to-add-by-intention" class="wp-block-heading">Ritual Bathing: Optional Herbs to Add By Intention:</h3>
<ul class="has-medium-font-size">
<li><strong>To Draw Love</strong>: Aloe, Apple, Lemon Balm, Basil, Catnip, Chamomile, Chickweed, Gardenia, Ginger, Hemp, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Lime, Lotus, Mallow, Marjoram, Orange, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Peppermint, Plum, Plumeria, Raspberry, Rose, Rosemary, Rue (be careful – this herb sometimes causes folks a rash), Spearmint, Strawberry, Sugar, Thyme, Vanilla, Violet, Yarrow</li>
<li><strong>Make Money Bath Herbs</strong>: Almond, Basil, Orange Bergamot, Blackberry, Chamomile, Clover, Dill, Elder, Fern, Ginger, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Marjoram, Mint, Oak (3 leaves is plenty!), Orange, Pine, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Rice, Wheat</li>
<li><strong>Cleanse the Aura</strong>: Basil, Blueberry, Chamomile, Coconut, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon Verbena, Lotus, Parsley (especially the roots), Peppermint, Rosemary, Rue (again, watch this one for allergy…test first!), Thyme</li>
<li><strong>Uncrossing</strong> (ridding yourself of bad luck): Basil, Fern, Garlic, Leek, Mallow, Mint, Mullein, Peach, Pine, Rosemary, Yarrow</li>
<li><strong>Herbs to Promote Health</strong>: Marjoram, Mullein, Oak, Thyme</li>
<li><strong>To Bring Peace</strong>: Gardenia, Lavender, Passion Flower, Violet</li>
<li><strong>Increase Intuition and Psychic Abilities</strong>: Honeysuckle, Lemongrass, Lotus, Mugwort, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Saffron, Star Anise, Thyme, Uva Ursi, Yarrow</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="h-how-do-i-add-flowers-and-herbs-to-my-bath" class="wp-block-heading">How do I add flowers and herbs to my bath?</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">There’s a few different ways to add flowers and herbs to your ritual baths. One way is to throw the herbs and flowers directly into the tub. But, to be honest, this makes for a messy clean-up and sometimes takes away from the experience of the ritual itself. Yes, it looks pretty on Instagram and social media, but the experience is far more different than pictures online. Trust me. <strong>An easier way is to put the herbs and flowers in a muslin bag or teabag and let the herbs steep in the tub</strong>…like a big cup of tea! And yet another way to make an herbal ritual bath is by brewing an infusion on the stove first, then adding the strained concoction to your hot bath.</p>
<h2 id="h-crystals-and-stones-in-spiritual-baths" class="wp-block-heading">Crystals and Stones in Spiritual Baths</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">In addition to adding herbs and flowers to your spell baths, crystals and stones can also lend their magical energy. HOWEVER, just like with herbs, do your research before bathing with crystals. Some crystals and stones dissolve in water and some even have toxic materials that will come off into the water and then onto your skin! It might be safer to set the crystals around the top of the tub instead of in the water with you. The crystals I like to place <em>around</em> the tub include rose quartz, clear quartz, amethyst, and agate.</p>
<h2 id="h-taking-a-spiritual-bath-at-the-right-time-moon-phases-etc" class="wp-block-heading">Taking a Spiritual Bath at the Right Time: Moon Phases, Etc.</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">You can take a ritual bath any time you need to; however, when you align your intentions with the moon’s phases, ritual baths become SO much more powerful. When powerful cleansing or uncrossing is needed, take a bath on the Waning or New Moon. When you want to attract love or money into your life, bathe on the Full Moon. When you are growing a new business, take a ritual bath on the Waxing Moon. In addition to moon bathing, you can also time your ritual baths with sabbats and certain magical times of the day.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">If you find yourself more drawn to the sun, consider taking your ritual baths in conjunction with a specific <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/spell-timing-times-day/">time of day</a>, <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/magical-days-of-the-week/">day of the week</a>, month of the year, or even season. All times that are based on the sun’s energy instead of the moon. For instance, if you’d like to draw love into your life with a ritual bath, plan to take it on Friday. Friday is Freya’s Day, and the magical day of love. Or you can take a ritual bath based on the season. In Autumn, add apples and rosemary to your bath to invoke the elemental energies of Fall.</p>
<h2 id="h-other-ritual-bath-items-and-practices" class="wp-block-heading">Other Ritual Bath Items and Practices</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Truly your ritual bath is special because of the thought and effort you put into it! There are so many ways to take a spiritual or spell bath, including dimming the lights and lighting a few candles. Play relaxing music or nature sounds that match your intentions. Salts can be added to the bath for extra purifying effects – epsom salts are popular. Infusing moon water, sun water, or holy water into your bath amplifies the magick, too. Milk and dried <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/magical-properties-of-fruits/">fruits</a> are also magical ingredients. Some use essential oils in their spiritual baths, though I prefer to leave oils out. There’s too many stipulations on what oils are dangerous or not dangerous and in what amounts, etc.</p>
<h2 id="h-ritual-bath-recipe-1-spiritual-bath-for-money" class="wp-block-heading">Ritual Bath Recipe #1: Spiritual Bath for Money</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Here’s one of our favorite recipes for a spiritual bath for money. Money’s not going to pour out of the faucet, but if you do it right, you may see more $$$ in your pocket very soon! Time this ritual bath on the Waxing or Full Moon.</p>
<h3 id="h-spiritual-bath-for-money-ingredients" class="wp-block-heading">Spiritual Bath for Money Ingredients:</h3>
<ul class="has-medium-font-size">
<li>A clean bathtub</li>
<li>A quiet atmosphere</li>
<li>A green candle</li>
<li>Handful of mint leaves</li>
<li>Moss agate (4 pieces)</li>
</ul>
<p>Instructions:</p>
<ol class="has-medium-font-size">
<li>Run a hot bath.</li>
<li>Light your green candle and set it near the bathtub.</li>
<li>Turn down the lights and get into a relaxed state of mind.</li>
<li>Add a handful of mint leaves to the tub.</li>
<li>Place your moss agate pieces in the north, east, south and west positions around the tub.</li>
<li>Get into the tub and visualize the mint leaves as dollar bills. The moss agate pieces are glowing bright green like money.</li>
<li>Visualize yourself bathing in a tub of free cash. If you wash yourself, wash from your feet and up to your head – this draws money towards you instead of washing it away.</li>
<li>When you’re finished bathing, stand up out of the water and let yourself drip-dry. This allows the magical effects of the spiritual bath for money to seep into your skin and aura.</li>
<li>Thank the universe/the gods and snuff out the candle.</li>
<li>Gather the mint leaves and moss agate in a small bag/sachet. Carry this with you in your purse or wallet.</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="h-ritual-bath-recipe-2-spiritual-bath-for-love" class="wp-block-heading">Ritual Bath Recipe #2: Spiritual Bath for Love</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">While love spells are a controversial topic, a bath that draws love into one’s life seems to be effective and free of messing with another’s will. Here’s our favorite spiritual bath for love recipe to be done on a Full Moon:</p>
<h3 id="h-spiritual-bath-for-love-ingredients" class="wp-block-heading">Spiritual Bath for Love Ingredients:</h3>
<ul class="has-medium-font-size">
<li>A clean bathtub</li>
<li>Cup of full moon water (water charged by Full Moon-light: <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/magical-waters/">learn how to make it here</a>)</li>
<li><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/salt-magick/">Himalayan pink salt </a>– 2 tablespoons</li>
<li>Rose petals – a handful</li>
<li><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/lavender-magical-properties/">Lavender</a> – a handful</li>
<li>Pink or red candle</li>
<li>Rose quartz (4 pieces)</li>
</ul>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Instructions:</p>
<ol class="has-medium-font-size">
<li>Run a hot bath.</li>
<li>Light your pink/red candle and set it near the bathtub.</li>
<li>Turn down the lights and get into a relaxed state of mind.</li>
<li>Add a handful of lavender, a handful of rose petals, the pink salt and the cup of moon water to your ritual bath.</li>
<li>Place your rose quartz pieces in the north, east, south and west positions around the tub.</li>
<li>Get into the tub and visualize the roses and lavender as small hearts floating all around you. The rose quartz pieces are glowing bright pink with loving vibrations from the universe.</li>
<li>Visualize yourself bathing in a tub of pure romantic love. If you wash yourself, wash from your feet and up to your head – this draws love towards you instead of washing it away.</li>
<li>When you’re finished bathing, stand up out of the water and let yourself drip-dry. This allows the magical effects of the spiritual bath for love to seep into your skin and aura.</li>
<li>Thank the universe/the gods and snuff out the candle.</li>
<li>Gather the rose petals, lavender, and rose quartz in a small bag/sachet. Hang on your bedroom door.</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="h-3-mother-holle-s-healing-well-a-bath-for-rest-and-regeneration" class="wp-block-heading">#3 Mother Holle’s Healing Well: A Bath for Rest and Regeneration</h2>
<h3 id="h-what-you-ll-need" class="wp-block-heading">What You’ll Need:</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">– A clean bathtub<br />– flowers and flower petals (your choice)<br />– apple bread or pie<br />– a white candle or two<br />– cleansed golden jewelry or clothing OR white clothing<br />– A new moon is best for timing</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Something to understand before the ritual: Your bathtub and bathroom are playing a symbolic role of Mother Holle’s sacred well. The sacred well in pagan (and Christian) times symbolizes the earth’s womb. We return to the earth’s womb upon death, rest there, and then are reborn. Water in the well (tub) plays the conduit of healing and rebirth.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Well-dressing is an ancient custom in which people in Europe decorated sacred wells with flower garlands in honor of the goddesses/spirits and energies there. I recommend reading the full fairy tale Mother Holle, which can be <a href="http://www.authorama.com/grimms-fairy-tales-21.html">read here</a>. This spell is a recreation of the fairy tale and harnesses Mother Holle’s regenerative healing gifts to those who are pure of heart and hard working.</p>
<h3 id="h-instructions" class="wp-block-heading">Instructions:</h3>
<ol class="has-medium-font-size">
<li>Before the actual ritual takes place, you’re going to set up the sacred space which will be your bathroom or wherever you bathe. Cleanse it with smoke or however way you deem fit. Turn on relaxing music (preferably with no lyrics). Light a few candles.</li>
<li>Next, decorate the bathtub with flowers and flower petals. This is called well-dressing and is an offering to Mother Holle, who resides at the bottom of the well. Set the apple bread/pie closeby, as well. This also serves as an offering to Mother Holle whose sacred symbols include bread and apple.</li>
<li>When everything is ready, undress and turn down the lights. Carry a white candle with you to the tub. As you step in, carefully close your eyes and sink into the water, visualizing yourself descending down into Mother Holle’s well. This may seem a bit unnerving to some, but relax and breathe. Feel Mother Holle’s healing, earth energy surrounding you.</li>
</ol>
<h2 id="h-washing-and-drying-tips-and-tricks" class="wp-block-heading">Washing and Drying: Tips and Tricks</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Everyone has their own personal way of doing things, but here are some tips and tricks when it comes to how you wash and dry yourself during and after a ritual bath. If you want to attract something into your life, wash yourself from foot to head (upwards) to draw things to you. If you want to rid yourself of something, wash from head to foot (downwards). If you’re doing a cleansing/uncrossing type of ritual bath, dry yourself from head to foot and FULLY clean out the bathtub. If you’re performing a money or love drawing bath or attracting something to you, let yourself drip-dry instead of towel-drying off.</p>
<h2 id="h-ocean-and-river-ritual-bathing" class="wp-block-heading">Ocean and River Ritual Bathing</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Don’t forget – if you have the ability to bathe in the ocean or river, this is just as powerful if not MORESO than a homemade ritual bath. What better way to cleanse oneself than with the energy of the ocean or river? There’s an old custom of going out into the ocean at dawn and allowing the first seven waves that come your way to wash over your head. This is a powerful purification ritual. The salt, waves, and energy of the ocean is powerful enough to wash away all negative vibrations.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">There’s a reason so many religions perform baptisms in rivers. Rivers are bodies of water that typically flow strongly in one direction. In the magical community, spell remnants with intentions that we’d like taken far away from us are sent downriver. When we bathe in the river, we do the same thing for our auras – we allow the funk to run off of us and down the river. Saying goodbye to it forever. We emerge refreshed and anew.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size"> </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/ritual-baths/">Ritual Baths: Your ESSENTIAL Guide to Spell and Spiritual Bathing (otherworldlyoracle.com)</a></p></div>Banishing Herbs: 9 Herbs to Make Bad Juju Be Gonehttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/banishing-herbs-9-herbs-to-make-bad-juju-be-gone2023-08-29T17:29:13.000Z2023-08-29T17:29:13.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12213479467,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12213479467,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="12213479467?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>Ah, banishing herbs. There’s nothing like sending an icky vibe, a difficult person, or a bad habit on its way. Used with intention, banishing herbs are meant to do just that. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">So, let’s take a look at some of the most common banishing herbs and some creative ways to use them in your magic.</span></p>
<h2>What is banishing?</h2>
<p>Banishing is the magical art of moving something along. </p>
<p>Like other forms of magic, banishing acts on <em>intangible influences</em> rather than literal objects or people. However, the overall effect may impact the relevant parties or things. </p>
<p>For example, in theory, if you banish the intangible influence of temptation, it may indirectly result in less time spent with your friend who <em>also </em>eats too much chocolate when you get together.</p>
<p>In general, banishing is best done during the dark or <a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2017/11/06/10-ways-to-use-the-waning-moon-in-witchcraft/">waning moon</a>.</p>
<h2>Pine Needles</h2>
<p>The fresh scent of pine is an ideal spell component for clearing negative energy from the home. Boil a pot of water and place a handful of pine needles on your stove to clear your home of residual bad vibes or to calm moodiness in the home.</p>
<h2>Sage</h2>
<p>Sage is a great, all-purpose banishing herb. However, it’s especially useful for <a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2019/10/31/spell-to-break-a-bad-habit-banish/">banishing bad habits</a>. Carry a spell bag with dried sage and a piece of garnet when you’re trying to break a negative cycle in your life.</p>
<h2>Dragon’s Blood</h2>
<p>Dragon’s blood may be used to both attract and repel love interests, depending on your intentions and the context of the spell. To banish unwanted romantic interest, write the name of the person on a piece of paper. Fold the paper into thirds with a piece of dragon’s blood inside and burn it in your fireplace, cauldron or in a bonfire.</p>
<h2>Oak</h2>
<p>Oak doesn’t suffer foolishness. Leave oak leaves on the altar to banish confusion or difficulty thinking clearly when trying to make an important life decision. </p>
<h2>Garlic</h2>
<p>You know those cheesy vampire flicks? The ones with the undead vampires that shrink and wilt when the heroine shoves garlic in their faces? </p>
<p>That campy storyline is descended from a long tradition of <a href="https://www.gardencityharvest.org/the-real-dirt-garden-city-harvest-blog/2016/09/07/warding-off-vampires-boosting-fertility-harvesting-garlic-part-ii#:~:text=European%20folklore%20gives%20garlic%20the,rubbed%20on%20chimneys%20and%20keyholes.">European folklore.</a></p>
<p>Use garlic in <a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/category/kitchen-witch/">kitchen witch spells</a> and serve it up at the dinner table to help banish bad vibes from domestic life.</p>
<h2>Cedar</h2>
<p>There’s a reason your grandmother put her wool in her cedar chest, and it’s not just to keep the insects away.</p>
<p>All parts of the cedar tree—-leaves, roots, bark and stem—are excellent for dispelling negative energy. </p>
<p>Especially the kind that creeps in when you’re not looking.</p>
<h2>Mugwort</h2>
<p>The sacred mugwort plant has <a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2022/04/04/using-mugwort-in-witchcraft-spells/">many uses</a> in modern magic.</p>
<p>In the context of banishing, it’s <em>fantastic </em>for banishing nightmares and nighttime anxiety. Burn some in your bedroom during the dark moon. Then, open all the windows to air out bad vibes. </p>
<h2>Rosemary</h2>
<p>The pointy leaves of rosemary betray its reputation for thwarting psychic attack.</p>
<p>If you <a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2022/10/15/in-defense-of-the-3-fold-law/">aren’t comfortable</a> with more combative forms of magic, a banishing spell with rosemary is a nice alternative because it’s primarily defensive. </p>
<p>Think of rosemary like a spike strip. It’s nasty, but it’s not aggressive. A person with bad intentions must willfully cross the line to be ensnared by it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2023/08/10/banishing-herbs-9-herbs-to-make-bad-juju-be-gone/">https://www.moodymoons.com/2023/08/10/banishing-herbs-9-herbs-to-make-bad-juju-be-gone/</a></p></div>How to Ground Yourself (12 Powerful Techniques)https://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/how-to-ground-yourself-12-powerful-techniques2023-08-14T19:12:49.000Z2023-08-14T19:12:49.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p>by <span class="entry-author"><a class="entry-author-link" href="https://lonerwolf.com/about/"><span class="entry-author-name">Aletheia</span></a></span> · Aug 12, 2023 </p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12189224262,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12189224262,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="12189224262?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p class="intro">We have all been in situations that make us feel anxious, frazzled, confused, and panic-stricken.</p>
<p>And yet, some of us seem better than others at dealing with influxes of drama, pressure, and demand than others.</p>
<p><strong>What is the secret to being cool, calm, and collected? </strong>And if there is a secret, how can <em>we </em>find our <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/inner-peace/">inner peace</a> among the chaos in everyday life?</p>
<p>Don’t worry. Learning how to ground yourself in any situation is an invaluable life skill that is far less complicated than you may think. Let me show you how in this article.</p>
<h2 id="h-what-does-grounding-yourself-mean" class="wp-block-heading">What Does ‘Grounding Yourself’ Mean?</h2>
<p>To ‘be grounded,’ or ‘grounding yourself,’ essentially means <strong>staying connected to the present moment without getting lost in thoughts or emotions. </strong>As the ground, or earth, is symbolic of stability and strength, staying grounded essentially means finding your inner roots and your inner connection to the earth.</p>
<h2 id="h-staying-grounded-does-not-mean-fighting-for-control" class="wp-block-heading">Staying Grounded Does Not Mean Fighting For Control</h2>
<p>Once upon a time I used to be completely dumbfounded and annoyed by those who breezed through life, seemingly impervious and infallible to the thousands of little dramas that arise daily.</p>
<p>I used to wonder whether the cool serenity displayed by certain types of people was a result of luck. Perhaps they were just born as impenetrably tranquil demigods who were always, somehow, in control of life 100% of the time?</p>
<p>This mistaken belief that being grounded stems from being “in control” has led me down some pretty hairy paths. Eventually, after a lot of self-imposed anxiety,<strong> I learned that the key to grounding yourself doesn’t lie in controlling yourself, other people, or situations but in <em>letting everything flow in its natural course.</em></strong> Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it?</p>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The paradox is that the more you try to control or resist a situation – whether by demanding it to be a different way, by desiring something else to happen, or by forcing yourself to “look” a certain way – the more physical, emotional, and psychological turbulence you experience.</h4>
<p>The more you accept a situation as it is – without trying to change it in any way or change yourself in any way – the easier it is to remain centered and whole.</p>
<p><strong>Ironically, the more you <em>relinquish</em> control, the <em>more </em>power you have. And the more<em> control</em> you seek, the <em>less</em> power you have.</strong></p>
<p>Life is strange, isn’t it?</p>
<h2 id="h-spirituality-and-feeling-ungrounded" class="wp-block-heading">Spirituality and Feeling Ungrounded</h2>
<p>Many people in the world right now are undergoing what is known as a <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-awakening/">spiritual awakening</a> journey. Sometimes, a spiritual awakening can be so intensely ungrounding and disturbing to one’s daily life that it can be categorized as a spiritual emergency (please read my <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-emergency/">spiritual emergency</a> article for more specific guidance).</p>
<p>At the beginning of the spiritual journey, it’s common to feel ungrounded and spacey, and there are many reasons why this may be the case. For example:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Feeling ungrounded due to exploring different levels of consciousness</strong> (through meditation, fasting, vision quests, plant medicine, and other avenues)</li>
<li><strong>Feeling ungrounded due to not taking the time to properly absorb realizations</strong> from spiritual psychedelic journeys (my <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/psychedelic-integration/">psychedelic integration</a> article will be of help)</li>
<li><strong>Feeling ungrounded due to overly developing the upper chakras</strong> (crown, third eye, throat, and heart) while ignoring and neglecting the lower chakras (root, sacral, and solar plexus)</li>
<li><strong>Feeling ungrounded due to falling into <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/new-age-movement/">new age movement</a> traps</strong> of delusional thinking that results in <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/what-is-spiritual-bypassing/">spiritual bypassing</a> or <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-narcissist/">spiritual narcissism</a></li>
</ul>
<p>If you’re on the spiritual path and want to know how to ground yourself better,<strong> I highly recommend checking out the following resources:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://lonerwolf.com/root-chakra-healing/" target="_blank">The Ultimate Guide to Root Chakra Healing</a></li>
<li><a href="https://shop.lonerwolf.com/product/grounding-cleansing-chakra-bundle/">Grounding & Cleansing Chakra Bundle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-discernment/">How to Practice Spiritual Discernment (Avoid STDs!)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-traps/">11 Deceptive Spiritual Traps Sabotaging Your Growth</a></li>
<li><a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-guidance/">Spiritual Guidance: 11 Types & How to Find True Teachers</a></li>
<li>Or you can see our <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/traps-and-pitfalls/">Traps & Pitfalls</a> sections on this website</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h2 id="h-how-to-ground-yourself-in-any-situation-12-ways" class="wp-block-heading">How to Ground Yourself in Any Situation (12 Ways)</h2>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p>And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.</p>
<cite><em>– Khalil Gibran</em></cite></blockquote>
<p>If you are struggling to keep your feet metaphorically on the ground and stay present in everyday life, you can learn how to ground yourself in any situation with these empowering tips:</p>
<ol>
<li>Focus on your inhales and exhales</li>
<li>Drink a hot and non-caffeinated beverage</li>
<li>Eat something healthy, heavy, and sustaining</li>
<li>Focus on something beautiful</li>
<li>Hold something (or someone)</li>
<li>Have a grounding affirmation on hand</li>
<li>Be self-compassionate</li>
<li>Practicing self-remembering</li>
<li>Practice the “looking back” technique</li>
<li>Incorporate somatic mindfulness into what you do</li>
<li>Focus on the actual earth</li>
<li>Create physical distance</li>
</ol>
<p>I’ll go more into depth into each of these points below:</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Focus on your inhales and exhales</h3>
<p>You might have heard this advice over and over again <em>ad nauseam</em> … but don’t take it lightly! Focusing on your breath when learning how to ground yourself is one of the <strong>easiest and most immediate ways</strong> of centering yourself in the Now.</p>
<p>You might notice that when you’re frenzied or bombarded by intense emotions, your breathing becomes shallow and quick, coming from your upper chest.</p>
<p>In order to ground yourself, focus on <strong>letting your breath become slow and soft. </strong>If it helps, repeat these words as a mantra: “<em>Slow and soft, slow and soft</em>.” The goal here isn’t to control your breath but to let it naturally and organically deepen.</p>
<p>You might even like to try some conscious breath counting. For example, if you’re in a particularly tense situation, allow yourself to stop and start counting each breath you take, e.g., “One, (breathe), two, (breathe), three, (breathe), four, (breathe), five (breathe) …” until you have grounded yourself again.</p>
<p>See our article on <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/breathwork/">breathwork</a> for more guidance.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Drink a hot and non-caffeinated beverage</h3>
<p>As mundane as this recommendation might sound, it’s surprisingly powerful. Heat is soothing and comforting, and it helps to ground us in the present moment (and in our bodies).</p>
<p>When we put the simple act of <strong>drinking + heat together,</strong> the result is near-instant relaxation (or at the very least, more groundedness).</p>
<p>So find ways to have little tea-drinking sessions throughout the day, but ensure that the liquid isn’t caffeinated. <strong>Caffeine tends to sensitize the nervous system</strong>, which is definitely something you’d want to avoid if you’re facing stressful situations.</p>
<p>My favorite grounding and relaxing teas include ingredients and herbs such as ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, damiana, and holy basil.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Eat something healthy, heavy, and sustaining</h3>
<p>Not eating properly can lead to unnecessary stress, anxiety, and tension. As a basic form of <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/self-care-ideas/">self-care</a>, make sure you get at least one healthy, heavy, and sustaining meal per day.</p>
<p><strong>Focus on consuming root vegetables </strong>such as sweet potato, turnip, carrot, beetroot, cassava, and yams. If you eat meat, that can be quite grounding as well (organic is always the best), as well as complex carbs like brown rice, quinoa, beans, and oats.</p>
<p>If you’re struggling to find how to ground yourself in the moment, why not eat a big hearty meal with some of these ingredients?</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Focus on something beautiful</h3>
<p>Orienting to pleasure is a quick way of grounding yourself in any situation. When the mind is focused on beauty, it is much less likely to go into a spiral of fear or overwhelm.</p>
<p>Look around you. What soothing, beautiful, or visually appealing objects of attention can you find? Perhaps you might focus on a ray of sunlight shining on the wall, a tree in the distance, a nice shade of blue that you like, or a pattern on someone’s clothing. Take a few moments to let this beauty touch you and ground your mind and body.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. Hold something (or someone)</h3>
<p>Pick up something interesting from your environment and observe it for a few seconds. Alternatively, if you have a pet or loved one nearby, hug them and focus on the warmth of this connection. You may also like to hold yourself in a self-hug – this is a great way of calming your nervous system.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. Have a grounding affirmation on hand</h3>
<p>Affirmations are empowering statements that help to reprogram negative unconscious beliefs and infuse us with love, happiness, and confidence. It always helps to have a few grounding affirmations up your sleeve. If you don’t have any right now, some examples you could use are, <em>“I am connected to the earth,” “I am safe,” “I relax and breathe deeply,” and “I let go and let be.”</em></p>
<p>See our article on <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/morning-affirmations/">morning affirmations</a> for more guidance.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. Be self-compassionate</h3>
<p>Often, whatever we’re experiencing is nowhere as bad as what the tyrannical self-talk that is going on inside of our minds says.</p>
<p>How often have you been in a situation where your mind whispers (or screams) something like the following: <em>“I can’t do this!” “They must think I’m pathetic,” “There must be something seriously wrong with me,” “I look like an idiot,”</em> and so on.</p>
<p>Practicing <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/self-love/">self-love</a> and <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/mindful-self-compassion/">self-compassion</a> are essential practices for learning how to ground yourself. Simply being more kind and understanding of yourself will help you face intense situations much better in the future.</p>
<p>One surprisingly effective way to start being more self-compassionate is by practicing <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/mirror-work-guide/">mirror work</a> each day.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">8. Practicing self-remembering</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">It is only by grounding our awareness in the living sensation of our bodies that the ‘I Am,’ our real presence, can awaken.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:14pt;"><cite><em>– Gurdjieff</em></cite></span></blockquote>
<p>We’ve all been conditioned since birth to project and maintain a certain image of ourselves around others. For example, your identity might be that of an autonomous, outspoken, and successful businesswoman or a thick-skinned, hands-on type of person who values efficiency.</p>
<p>Whatever the image of yourself is, it’s imperative for you to look beyond the veil of your ego’s beliefs, memories, ideals, feelings, sensations, and inner dialogues to your <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/true-nature/">True Nature</a>.</p>
<p>Ask yourself, <strong>are you really something as finite, transient, and changing as the feelings, thoughts, and beliefs that arise and fade each day within you?</strong> When you strip away everything that comes, goes, and changes (like your body, identity, and personality), <strong>who are you?</strong> What remains?</p>
<p>Self-remembering is the practice of stopping yourself at any moment and asking, <strong>“Is this really me?”</strong></p>
<p>Once you learn that any situation, person, success or failure, and sensation is not really “you” and has nothing to do with who you really are, you can <a title="Wholeness: 3 Sacred Paths to Finding Your Inner Center" href="https://lonerwolf.com/wholeness/">relax in the wholeness</a> of your true Self.</p>
<p>It is through this realization that you can truly know that the nasty way your co-worker treated you this morning, the failure of your exam, the pressure of having to make a good impression, and so on, all have nothing to do with “you” – only your fabricated identity which only exists as a feeble thought.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">9. Practice the “looking back” technique</h3>
<p>The looking back technique is very simple and works on the following premise: <strong>in 10 or 20 years time, will your current problem really matter?</strong></p>
<p>Whatever you’re struggling with right now most likely won’t make much of a difference, and even if it does, there’s always something to learn from such situations. In fact, <strong>finding the meaning in your pain meaning is one of the most powerful ways of dealing with it</strong> – ask Nazi camp survivor Viktor Frankl who came up with the meaning-making philosophy of <em><a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-logotherapy" target="_blank">logotherapy</a></em>.</p>
<p>The fundamental principle of life is that “everything will pass,” and so too will your source of irritation, frenzy, or anger. Understanding this can be tremendously grounding.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">10. Incorporate somatic mindfulness into what you do</h3>
<p>Somatic mindfulness is best paired with focusing on your breath which helps to anchor you into your body.</p>
<p>Also known simply as “<strong>body awareness</strong>,” somatic mindfulness helps to redirect the energy you are focusing on your thoughts, fears, and emotions <strong>to the sensations in your body.</strong></p>
<p>For example, when I’m feeling particularly ungrounded, I like to focus on my breath and roll my shoulders up and down. Focusing on my body in this way helps me to not only dispel somatic tension that tends to accumulate easily but also to center myself in the present.</p>
<p>Other people like to <em>scrunch their fingers and toes into tight balls and release them, clasp their hands together, stretch their limbs, stamp their feet, </em>and many other body-centered techniques that are grounding and centering.</p>
<p>For more guidance, see my <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/somatic-bodywork/">somatic bodywork</a> guide.</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">11. Focus on the actual earth</h3>
<p>Learning how to ground yourself is intimately connected with the earth. What better way of finding that inner sense of solidity than going back to your primal roots?</p>
<p>To focus on the earth itself, <strong>draw awareness to the ground beneath you. </strong>Feel yourself being supported as you walk, stand, sit, or lie down.</p>
<p>If you enjoy visualizations, imagine your energy sinking deep into the earth, like tree roots. You can also pull up energy from the earth through your feet to help ground your entire body.</p>
<p>Also, physically walking on the earth barefoot, also known as “<strong>earthing</strong>,” can be tremendously grounding – I highly recommend you try this!</p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">12. Create physical distance</h3>
<p>Quite simply: walk away. Get out of there!</p>
<p>While walking away from a situation is not always possible, it’s often extremely helpful to <em>take a step back</em> and wind down physically. This simple act allows your mind and body to process whatever has happened.</p>
<p><strong>Finding <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/modern-art-of-solitude/">solitude</a> in nature</strong> is a particularly helpful way of creating physical distance from your problems, grounding yourself, and reminding you that life is so much more than your fears and troubles.</p>
<p>Ensure that you create some solitary time for yourself each day – it’s an excellent way of bringing everything back into perspective without getting lost in the details.</p>
<h2 id="h-how-to-ground-yourself-q-amp-a" class="wp-block-heading">How to Ground Yourself Q&A</h2>
<div class="schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block">
<div id="faq-question-1614824351375" class="schema-faq-section"><strong class="schema-faq-question">How can I ground myself fast?</strong>
<p class="schema-faq-answer">Try closing your eyes and focusing on your feet touching the earth. Stay connected to your body by curling your fists up into a ball, drinking a hot beverage, crossing your arms, giving your feet a massage, breathing deeply and slowly, or simply walking away and sitting in a quiet place by yourself.</p>
</div>
<div id="faq-question-1614824366241" class="schema-faq-section"><strong class="schema-faq-question">How to ground yourself spiritually?</strong>
<p class="schema-faq-answer">Those who walk the spiritual path and have experienced a <a href="https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-awakening-test/">spiritual awakening</a> can often find their energy becoming airy, spacey, and even dissociated. If you often feel like you’re floating away, try drinking a big glass of water, eating some hearty food, and going out in nature. Stop your spiritual practice temporarily and connect with your immediate environment. What can you see, smell, feel, hear, and taste?</p>
</div>
<div id="faq-question-1614824381347" class="schema-faq-section"><strong class="schema-faq-question">How to ground myself when I have anxiety?</strong>
<p class="schema-faq-answer">Focus on self-soothing practices. Think about what makes you comfortable. Perhaps you need to listen to some calming music, wrap yourself in a heavy blanket, cuddle a pet, or take a walk in nature. Be gentle and kind with yourself. Becoming mindful of your self-talk will also help you to stay grounded if you have anxiety. Have an empowering affirmation on hand to help your mind settle such as, “I am centered” or “I am safe and supported.”</p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="has-text-align-center">***</p>
<p>Learning how to ground yourself in any situation requires a little patience and persistence, but it is absolutely possible to do. <strong>Remember that it’s normal to feel ungrounded, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we wind up feeling dissociated. But that’s just part of being human, and it’s okay!</strong></p>
<p>You now have many paths, tools, and practices to use, and I hope they are of benefit to you. You’re just as capable of being calm and collected in daily life as anyone else – all that you need to do is practice a little bit. Experiment with these grounding practices and see what works for you.</p>
<p><strong>May you have strong roots and feel grounded and connected to yourself, others, and life!</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<div class="schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block"> </div>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-ground-yourself/">https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-ground-yourself/</a></p></div>Heard Of Florida Water? Here's Why It's The One Thing Your Rituals Are Missinghttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/heard-of-florida-water-here-s-why-it-s-the-one-thing-your-rituals2023-06-20T17:16:15.000Z2023-06-20T17:16:15.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><a class="sc-141ft0t-7 cEIyoE" title="Sarah Regan" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/wc/sarah-regan">By Sarah Regan</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12054349701,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12054349701,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="12054349701?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">If you've never heard of Florida water, let's get one thing out of the way first: No, this is not the water you'll find in the state of Florida. Rather, it's a special liquid that's believed to help enhance any <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/mini-water-rituals-to-cleanse-yourself" target="_blank">number of rituals</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Here, we dive into what makes Florida water so potent, the best ways to use it, and how to make it yourself.</span></p>
<p><strong>Florida water</strong> is an alcohol-based cologne first used in the early 1800s as a perfume. More recently, it has become a staple in mystical practices, explains the author of <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Witchcraft-Guide-Magical-Activism/dp/0762495731/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20" target="_blank"><em>Revolutionary Witchcraft</em></a><em> </em><a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.sarahlyons.org/about" target="_blank">Sarah Lyons</a>. It's primarily made by the company Murray & Lanman and carries a very citrusy, floral scent.</p>
<p>As <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.gabrielaherstik.com/about" target="_blank">Gabriela Herstik</a>, author of <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.amazon.com/Inner-Witch-Modern-Guide-Ancient/dp/0143133543/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20" target="_blank"><em>Inner Witch</em></a><em> </em>and <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611473/bewitching-the-elements-by-gabriela-herstik-foreword-by-alexandra-roxo/" target="_blank"><em>Bewitching the Elements</em></a><em>, </em>adds, it was given the name "Florida water" because the Fountain of Youth is said to be somewhere in Florida. She and Lyons both note that today, it's used for offerings, cleansing, and more and is popular among those who practice hoodoo, rootwork, and American folk magic.</p>
<div class="sc-1osfqhu-0 jIayrz">
<h2 id="mbg-UA-xkk-hQi" class="sc-1osfqhu-3 jowHiz">Spiritual uses of Florida water</h2>
</div>
<div class="sc-11rlt5o-5 iItpuX">
<p>Here are 20 ways you can incorporate Florida water into your own practices, according to Herstik and Lyons.</p>
<p><strong><em>Note:</em></strong><em> Florida water is flammable, so always be mindful when using it around candles.</em></p>
</div>
<div class="sc-8nga9g-0 bdGXVz">
<ol id="mbg-cuDmsTzrd" class="sc-8nga9g-4 hVcOmo">
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Offer it to your <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/types-of-spirit-guides" target="_blank">ancestors or guides</a> on your altar in a bowl.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Have some in a bowl nearby when communing with ancestors or guides and asking them for advice.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Place a small bowl of Florida water on your altar as an offering of self-love.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Wipe your mirror with diluted Florida water, and then do a <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/full-moon-rituals" target="_blank">self-love ritual</a> of your choosing in front of the mirror.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Energetically <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/tools-for-clearing-negative-energy" target="_blank">cleanse yourself</a> with Florida water by spraying it around you or putting a bit on your wrists.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Energetically (and literally) <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-clean-store-program-your-crystals" target="_blank">cleanse ritual tools like crystals</a> with a bit of diluted Florida water to give them a refresh.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Use it to cleanse your altar and anything on it by diluting some with water in a spray bottle and spraying on your altar, then wiping down.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Use it in your usual floor cleaner to cleanse your home and wash away negative energy.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Fill a small bowl with spring water, Florida water, and a piece of a <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://shop.smudgemetaphysical.com/copy-of-powder-blueing-anil-balls.html" target="_blank">bluing square</a> if you have one. Place the bowl by your front door to <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-cleanse-your-home-of-negative-energy" target="_blank">draw out negative energy</a> from your home. Replace the water once a week.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Use it as the water element in rituals, along with a candle for fire, <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/types-of-crystals" target="_blank">a crystal</a> or rock for earth, and incense for air. (It's considered powerful to have all four elements present when doing rituals.)</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Dilute Florida water with spring water in a spray bottle and use the spray to cleanse any room in your home.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Spray some diluted Florida water around you or your space before you begin <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-do-a-basic-tarot-reading" target="_blank">a tarot reading</a>.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Spray some diluted Florida water around you or your space before meditating.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Anoint yourself with a bit of Florida water (emphasis on just a bit!) if you want an energetic refresh or a boost of creativity and inspiration.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Use it alongside any spells or rituals for attracting love to increase the potency of the spell/ritual.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Wear a bit like perfume whenever you want protection.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Keep some in your workplace or on your desk to welcome positive energy and banish negativity.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Spray some diluted Florida water and patchouli essential oil on your cash for extra abundance.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Add a bit of Florida water to your laundry (especially bedding if you frequently have nightmares) <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/crystals-for-protection" target="_blank">for protection</a>.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Place some in a bowl on your nightstand to more easily <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/why-you-cant-remember-your-dreams-and-what-to-do" target="_blank">remember your dreams</a>.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="sc-1osfqhu-0 jIayrz">
<h2 id="mbg-5dVPS800bX" class="sc-1osfqhu-3 jowHiz">How to make it yourself</h2>
</div>
<div class="sc-11rlt5o-5 iItpuX">
<p>The beauty of Florida water is it's super simple to make yourself and very customizable based on your intention. Herstik and Lyons do recommend getting it from a credible source if you want the "real" thing, though they're not against making your own. Here's what you'll need:</p>
</div>
<div class="sc-1osfqhu-0 jIayrz">
<h3 id="mbg-L61t_r6cr" class="sc-1osfqhu-4 cTepWE">Materials</h3>
</div>
<div class="sc-8nga9g-0 bdGXVz">
<ul id="mbg-RJ9MLjr9gx" class="sc-8nga9g-2 dsZcvS">
<li class="sc-8nga9g-3 eZRWpM">1 cup vodka</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-3 eZRWpM">1 orange peel (or lemon peel)</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-3 eZRWpM">1 lemon peel</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-3 eZRWpM">8 to 10 drops of your <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/essential-oils-beginners-guide" target="_blank">essential oil</a> of choice. (Traditional oils for Florida water include lavender, lemon, bergamot, and ylang-ylang)</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-3 eZRWpM">A handful or two of fresh herbs of your choosing (i.e., mint or basil)</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-3 eZRWpM">1 cinnamon stick (optional)</li>
</ul>
<div class="sc-1osfqhu-0 jIayrz">
<h3 id="mbg-EV9-iv1gT" class="sc-1osfqhu-4 cTepWE">Method</h3>
</div>
<div class="sc-8nga9g-0 bdGXVz">
<ol id="mbg-mmL5J5ilTc" class="sc-8nga9g-4 hVcOmo">
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Combine all your ingredients into a glass container and seal it.</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Let the mixture sit for a full lunar cycle (29 days).</li>
<li class="sc-8nga9g-5 gKlpMt">Optional: Make it on the night of a full moon and let it <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/moon-water" target="_blank">charge under the moon's light</a>. Even if you don't make it on the night of a full moon, you can still place it under moonlight when the next full moon comes around.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="sc-1osfqhu-0 jIayrz">
<h2 id="mbg-Ykak5jDxGS" class="sc-1osfqhu-3 jowHiz">Where to buy Florida water</h2>
</div>
<div class="sc-11rlt5o-5 iItpuX">
<p>If you'd rather skip over the DIY and go with an already-made option, Lyons highly recommends buying it from people who practice hoodoo, rootwork, and American folk magic, "since those are the traditions that first began using it in magic."</p>
<p>Herstik adds that you're likely to find Florida water in your local Botanica stores or witch shops at very reasonable prices, so be sure to check there first.</p>
<div class="sc-1osfqhu-0 jIayrz">
<h2 id="mbg-wnqNVmxDaF" class="sc-1osfqhu-3 jowHiz">The takeaway</h2>
</div>
<div class="sc-11rlt5o-5 iItpuX">
<p>Whether you're <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/spiritual-awakening" target="_blank">doing a ritual</a>, <a class="mbg-track-event" href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-cleanse-your-home-of-negative-energy" target="_blank">cleansing your home</a>, or making an offering to your ancestors, incorporating Florida water can be a way to make the ceremony even more powerful.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/florida-water">https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/florida-water</a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>My Favorite Daily Tarot Practicehttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/my-favorite-daily-tarot-practice2023-05-07T19:43:59.000Z2023-05-07T19:43:59.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><strong><a href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/my-favorite-daily-tarot-practice">September 10, 2022</a><span id="yui_3_17_2_1_1683487412728_1116" class="author"> / <a id="yui_3_17_2_1_1683487412728_1115" href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog?author=542f0318e4b04d0bf2fa68c7">Alexis J. Cunningfolk</a></span></strong></p>
<p><span class="author"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11072545459,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11072545459,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="11072545459?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a></span></p>
<p>One of my favorite tools for cultivating mindfulness and a sense of wellness day-to-day is the tarot. I use tarot not only as a tool of divination but as <a href="http://tarotapothecary.com/">a tool of healing</a>, incorporating the cards into my meditation and <a href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/herbs-for-breathwork">breathwork practice</a>, as well as into practices of sacred inquiry. As someone who likes meditative practices that include tactile experiences - such as meditative knitting or labyrinth walking - I find the acts of setting up a space to read tarot, holding and shuffling the cards to be pleasing. For me, a daily practice needs to be one that is pleasurable, relatively effortless, and something that creates a sense of steadiness along my path. So I've created my daily healing tarot practice with these things in mind.</p>
<p>To be honest, it took me a while to find the "sweet spot" of a daily tarot practice. I've gone through periods of my life where the idea of pulling a tarot card each day as a divinatory reading (i.e. what might be coming my way today) was far more stressful than helpful. Or a daily tarot practice felt more like navel gazing rather than useful, ruminating over a singular issue for far too long. Other times, when things felt particularly stressful, I could slip into the <a href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/three-common-tarot-mistakes">all too common problem</a> of hoping the cards would tell me explicitly what I should do next. So for a long while I only pulled out my cards to either admire their art (something which is a valuable part of tarot - the way it brings beauty into our world) or only for big occasions. Looking back I realized I needed this fallow period and when I was ready again to work with the cards on a more regular basis, I developed the following daily practice.</p>
<p>My daily tarot practice is not strictly divinatory (i.e. looking to foretell future events or reveal hidden ones past and present), but it does help to illuminate and hopefully provide clarity in certain areas of one's life. The purpose of my daily tarot practice is to provide clarity about and support for my current energy. It's low pressure, contemplative in nature, and meant to help me feel connected to the wider web of community. </p>
<p>There's also a practical nature to a daily tarot practice. If you're new to tarot and learning the meanings of the cards, a daily tarot practice is a great way to learn the cards and practice interpretation on a regular, low-pressure basis. For healers and magickal practitioners, a daily tarot practice can be part of your spiritual practice of energy balancing and psychic hygiene. If you keep notes about the cards you draw it can be a great reference to look back at over the years to see the type of cards that came up seasonally or around certain sabbats and Moon phases.</p>
<p>But before you create (or re-imagine) your own daily (or daily-ish) tarot practice, it's good to ask the question: <em>Why? </em>Not knowing your why can lead to muddled energies, but you also don't have to have a complex why. Your why could be that you like the idea of a daily tarot practice, it's not something you've done before, and it's something you want to try. That's a good starting place. Or you're an old-timer whose been reading the cards for years, but your practice feels stagnated and a daily draw seems like a good way to reinvigorate it. So take a moment to ask yourself:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Why do you want a daily tarot practice?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>What are you hoping to learn?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>What is the energy you're trying to cultivate?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>What are you hoping to feel with a daily tarot practice?</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>With our curiosity piqued, let me show you my daily tarot practice and hopefully it'll inspire your own.</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11072543493,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11072543493,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11072543493?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<h2>My Daily Healing Tarot Practice</h2>
<p>Before any cards are laid out before me, I like to take a few moments to orient myself to the sacred. What this looks like for me is some simple breathwork to connect with my current energy as well as my own devotional practices. Breathwork, simple body movement, free dance, guided visualization, prayers or affirmations, and more are all ways that we can acknowledge and resonate with the sacredness that lives within all things including ourselves. Part of what makes tarot so magickal and healing is that it can often deliver messages to us when we are most open to hearing them. Orienting oneself to the sacred helps us to hear what needs to be heard and feel what needs to be felt.</p>
<p>I like to lay out a cloth that I then lay my cards on, light a candle, and maybe some sacred sounds. It's another way of signaling to myself that I'm deserving of taking time and space to reflect on my needs so that I can better show up in community spaces amidst all the needs of everyone else. As creating peace in my personal life, the communities I move through, and the Land I live with is an essential part of my wellbeing, creating a beautiful space for my daily meditation and tarot practice reminds me that it is a beautiful thing to practice peace daily. Here is where you might need to reflect on what it is <em>you're</em> trying to cultivate regularly by having a daily tarot (or meditation or prayer or whatever) practice.</p>
<p>I then begin to pull cards, pulling three in total.</p>
<p><strong>The first card represents my current state of energy.</strong> It is my personal weather report on my energy and current experience of self. There is typically nothing too surprising about this card, but the images and meaning of the card can often offer another perspective or helpful language to describe my current state of energy that I may have been struggling to find. Sometimes I write in my journal about this and the following cards, but that's usually only when I'm dealing with a particularly sticky pattern of energy and healing need. Usually, I try to simply summarize and speak out loud a short description of my energy as reflected back to me from the card. The speaking out loud is part of the healing work of these daily spreads (or equivalent outward self-expression - such as signing, typing, writing - the goal is to move thoughts from our inner to outer worlds). </p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11072543293,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11072543293,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11072543293?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p>Here are some examples of simple card summaries:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Queen of Pentacles: <em>I am feeling abundant and steady in my energy after a period of growth and hard work.</em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Temperance: <em>I am seeking to find a sense of balance and peace in a world that feels chaotic.</em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Page of Wands: <em>I am reconnecting to my creative potential after a period of creative fallowness and frustration.</em></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>The next two cards are in direct relationship to the first card cast. <strong>I pull one card to help me understand what supports my energetic needs and another card to help me understand what hinders my energetic needs.</strong> I like that terms like "helps" and "hinders" are relatively neutral but describe deeply personal experiences. What is helpful to me might be cumbersome or hindering to you and vice versa. Nor are things that might hinder me one day bad (i.e. too much socializing that leaves you feeling drained) be inherently bad because on another day they might be exactly what you need energetically (i.e. a social gathering that leaves you feeling energized and happy). It is the same with the help card.</p>
<p>Oftentimes the help and hinder cards support work that I'm already doing around boundaries, relationships, work and rest balance, and so on. They are more often reassurances rather than revelations, though sometimes they are a bit of both, and frequently the cards relay information to me in a way that re-inspires my way of understanding a certain situation or experience of mine.</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11072544073,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11072544073,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11072544073?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p>
<p>So let's look at some examples of help and hinder cards in relation to the sample cards above:</p>
<p><strong>For the Queen of Pentacles:</strong></p>
<p>What Helps: <em>With the help of the King of Pentacles I am reminded that thinking beyond this period of abundance and growth is a form of self-care and I should look for connections today with a trusted friend or mentor about the abundance in my life.</em> </p>
<p>What Hinders: <em>With the Moon I am reminded that even in times of growth, rest is necessary and to make sure to make time for extra rest today.</em></p>
<p><strong>For Temperance:</strong></p>
<p>What Helps: <em>The Ten of Cups reminds me to connect with family and friends to help find balance in my life - it is time to reach out and ask for help because there are plenty of folks in my life who are willing to help.</em></p>
<p>What Hinders: <em>The King of Swords warns me of being too analytical in my pursuit of balance and thinking myself into a state of confusion, reminding me that balance is achieved through collaboration not through proving I can do it all on my own.</em></p>
<p><strong>For the Page of Wands:</strong></p>
<p>What Helps: <em>The Knight of Wands encourages me to be brave in my creative pursuits after a period of self-doubt.</em> </p>
<p>What Hinders: <em>The Ace of Cups suggests that there is a need for more self-reflection on my fear around creativity and to not avoid understanding those fears better because I'm afraid I've "lost" my creativity.</em></p>
<p>Sometimes I pull an extra help or hinder card if the message feels muddled, but that is on a rare occasion and something that I try <em>not</em> to do as the point of this practice is to be short and simple. Oftentimes if I'm feeling perplexed by one of the cards pulled I'll revisit them at the end of the day or make note of them in my journal to look back on later. Their meaning always becomes clear even if that clarity arrives at a later date.</p>
<p>After all three cards are pulled and guidance is spoken out loud, I end with a few more deep and centering breaths and then that's it! </p>
<h2>A Few Thoughts</h2>
<p>As you can see there is a lot of room for creating a daily healing tarot practice that fits you and your needs the best. For the help and hinder cards you might choose to pull an oracle card that has a direct message. Or you might want a more expansive energetic snapshot and pull a card each for mind, body, and spirit or for each of the energetic centers of your body. While I tend to pull the first card as a general energetic overview, you might have a specific issue or area in your life that you want to focus on - do it! You're developing a tarot practice for you and the way you think and feel, so adjust your approach as necessary.</p>
<p>In addition to being a lovely way of encouraging a sense of wellness in an effortless sort of way, my daily tarot practice has been a fun way to get to know new-to-me decks that come into my collection. Reading with a new deck in this gentle sort of way has been a rewarding way of getting to know the world, characters, and energy of a new-to-me deck while exploring my own energetic landscape.</p>
<p>Most importantly, my daily healing tarot practice has helped me to fall in love with using the tarot everyday again. I needed to take the pressure off of reading the cards as a form of divination or even intense self-reflection while still being interesting over a long period of time and this practice does just that for me. The boundary of these types of readings are meant only for the next 24 hours, I'm not trying to gaze too far into time and space in any direction, and I get to check in with myself in a way that automatically comes with much needed reassurance and guidance.</p>
<p>I hope you find the sweet spot that is your very own tarot practice, whether it's casting cards daily, at the <a href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/aries-season-tarot-and-tea">change of the seasons</a>, <a href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/the-beauty-of-the-year-an-annual-tarot-spread-for-renewal">once a year</a> or whenever the <a href="http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/new-moon-ritual-and-healing">Moon is new</a>.</p></div>Walpurgisnachthttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/walpurgisnacht2023-04-22T17:43:02.000Z2023-04-22T17:43:02.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><div class="k31gt">
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11031461061,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11031461061,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="11031461061?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>Walpurgisnacht or Hexennacht is celebrated from the eve of April 30th to May 1st. This is a traditional Germanic festival associated with witches. “Hexe” is the German word for “witch”, and “nacht” is the German word for “night”. So, the name translated to “witches night”. It’s more common name, Walpurgisnacht, is associated with the Christian feast of Saint Walpurga. This is a night that has striking similarities to the modern Halloween. On the Wheel of the Year, it falls exactly opposite of Samhain, making it the perfect time to feel the thinning of the veil and celebrate traditions of this time. In this essay, I will be covering both traditions.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>It is common knowledge that the early European peoples celebrated the coming of spring. It meant the long winter was over, and abundance and warm weather were soon coming. In German folklore, it is said that witches and warlocks also welcomed the coming of spring by flying around Germany on broomsticks. On the eve of April 30th, they met on the highest peak in the Harz Mountain where bonfires would be lit and a ceremony took place to welcome in the spring. This peak is called Blocksberg Mountain, and has long been associated with witches in Germany. It is more than likely that these “witches” were simply pagans looking for a secluded place to practice their religion in peace, away from the prying eyes of the people and the church.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Over time, these traditions shifted. What once was a ritual to welcome spring, became a ritual to chase away evil spirits. You see, the villagers were afraid of the witches up in the mountains. They believed that witches and evil spirits travelled through the land on this night with ill intent. This is the parallel to the thinning of the veil at Beltane, exactly 6 months away from Samhain when the veil between worlds is the thinnest. In order to chase away these witches and bad spirits, the men of the village would make as much noise as they could to scare them away. This involved shooting shotguns, banging pots and pans together, and any other number of noisy activities. They also lit bonfires to light up the night, and discourage spirits who were sensitive to light from entering their village. Sprigs of foliage were blessed and hung above doorways to block the evil spirits from entering, and traditional bread and honey was left at the edges of town as offerings to the hellhounds.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>So why was April 30th such an important night? Well, Pagan and Christian customs seem to have been tangled together. In medieval times, April 30th was an important half-way point that marked exactly 6 months until All Saint’s Day, which is the Christianized version of the pagan sabbat Samhain. This was an extremely important date for pagans, and was called the festival of Beltane. This was not to last, and the Christian church imposed a new holiday over Beltane, which was supposed to help the pagans convert to Christianity. Instead of the ancient Beltane, they honored Saint Walpurga, and called in Walpurgisnacht.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>So who was Saint Walpurga, and why was she so important? She was born in Devonshire, England in 770AD. When she was young, she was sent to Germany as a missionary, and quickly became the abbess of the convent in Heidenheim. During her time here, she baptized many pagans into the Christian church. After her death, it is said that a healing oil began seeping between the stones of her tomb. This was the miracle that transformed her into a saint, and her body was subsequently split into many pieces and sent throughout Europe as relics. Because she died on May 1st, this is the day that became her holy day, and the eve of May 1st is when her feast was celebrated. She is known as the patron saint of coughs, sailors, hydrophobia, and storms. Many Christians in the Middle Ages also prayed to her to shield them against witchcraft, which was especially associated with her feast and the traditions of the day.</p>
<p><iframe title="FAUN - Walpurgisnacht (Official Video)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nLgM1QJ3S_I" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>It is interesting to look at the similarities between Saint Walpurga and pagan traditions as well. Saint Walpurga’s symbols are grain, dogs, and the spindle. These same symbols are found in pagan tradition. Grain is a traditional symbol of the harvest, dogs are considered traditional familiars for Germanic Goddesses, and the spindle is associated with Frau Holda from the famous fairy tale. This made it easy for pagans unwilling to convert to say they were honoring Saint Walpurga, when instead they were honoring the old Germanic Gods. Though the Christian Feast of Saint Walpurga had different beliefs than the pagan traditions, there were other striking similarities. For one, the tradition of hanging sprigs of foliage over doorways was observed by Christians as well as pagans. Though some traditions remained the same, most of the Christian ones were different. People often made pilgrimages to her tomb in Eichstätt, where they would purchase vials of Saint Walpurga’s oil.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Now let’s talk about some of the customs of Walpurgisnacht. These traditions are very similar to those of Beltane. After the long, cold winter, it is only natural that the coming of spring should be celebrated. This was especially important to early Germanic peoples who lived in a cold place in the world, where winter carried with it a serious risk of death. To welcome back the warmer part of the year, they built great bonfires, and partook in a lot of song and dance reminiscent of that around the maypole for May Day. There are however, a few traditions not reflected in those of Beltane. These are the ones I find to be the most interesting! Remember when I said that this was also considered a witches night? Well, it was tradition to ride broomsticks between balefires or jump over them. It was also a time to burn old brooms in the fire. This is possibly the origin of the myth that witches fly on broomsticks. Anything old or broken was also burned in these fires, symbolically and physically cleaning the old energy from the house. Straw likenesses were created and adorned with illness and other bad things and symbolically burned in the fires as well, ridding the person of these bad things in their lives.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Though these were the traditional Walpurgisnacht traditions, they have changed once again with the times, and modern celebrations look different than they once did. The major difference between this celebration and the Christian celebration is that it is secular, and no longer associated with the Catholic Saint Walpurga. The fear of witches has been largely dispersed in modern times. More and more people are embracing witchcraft either through practice, media, or any number of different ways. With this new view, Germany’s celebration of Walpurgisnacht has turned into a sort of second Halloween in Germany. People come to the Harz Mountains dressed as witches, warlocks, or other magick wielders. Here, they dance and celebrate alongside others and large bonfires. The largest celebration is held in the Hexentanzplatz, which is a plateau near the town of Thale. Though this is the largest celebration, Walpurgisnacht is celebrated across Saxony.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Southern Germany sees Walpurgisnacht a little differently. Here it is seen as a night of pranks, kind of like April Fool’s Day in America. In Finland, Walpurgisnacht is called Vappu, and is one of the country’s most important holidays. It was originally celebrated here only by the upper class, but quickly trickled down and became especially popular with university students. In Berlin, Walpurgisnacht is a traditional night to start riots and protests, as it is closely associated with the German Labor Day. These protests usually begin in the Mauerpark where the remains of the Berlin Wall sit on display as a reminder. This is a new association with Walpurgisnacht, but an important cultural association to the German people.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Unfortunately, the negative connotations of Walpurgisnacht are still present in some cases. In the Czech Republic, this night is known as “Paleni Carodejnic”, which translated to “Burning of the Witches”. Though there is no actual burning of witches, the negative connotation remains. It is tradition here to build bonfires as well and burn images of witches throughout the night.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Walpurgisnacht appears many times in famous literature. The first instance introduced the myth of the witches, and was called “The Blocksberg Performance” by Johannes Präetorius. After this first introduction into mainstream entertainment, Walpurgisnacht found its way into other literature and music. The most well known reference is Goethe’s play “Faust”. Walpurgisnacht is the name of a scene in part one of Faust and part two. Other famous examples of Walpurgisnacht in literature include “The Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee, and “Dracula’s Guest” by Bram Stoker.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<p>Obviously, there are many traditions associated with Walpurgisnacht. It is especially pertinent to those of us who practice witchcraft due to the rich history of pagan and witch traditions on this night. This is just another way to further celebrate Beltane and the welcoming of spring. Modern witches can use this night to feel more witchy and to connect to their pagan and witch ancestors.</p>
</div>
<div class="k31gt">
<h2><strong>Works Cited:</strong></h2>
</div>
<ul class="RihjV">
<li class="k31gt">Melanie Marquis (2018), Beltane: Rituals, Recipes, and Lore for May Day, Llewellyn, Fourth Edition, Print, Pages 39</li>
<li class="k31gt">Raven Grimassi (2001), Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore & Celebration, Llewellyn, Print</li>
<li class="k31gt">Various (Various), Walpurgis Night, Wikipedia, <a href="https://href.li/?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night</a></li>
<li class="k31gt">Karen Anne (April 28th 2017), What is Walpurgisnacht? And How Did an English Nun Become Associated with Witches?, German Girl in America, <a href="https://href.li/?https://germangirlinamerica.com/what-is-walpurgisnacht/" target="_blank">https://germangirlinamerica.com/what-is-walpurgisnacht/</a></li>
<li class="k31gt">DHWTY (November 9th 2018), Walpurgis Night: A Saint, Witches, and Pagan Beliefs in Springtime Halloween for Scandinavia, Ancient Origins, <a href="https://href.li/?https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/walpurgis-night-0010965" target="_blank">https://www.ancient-origins.net/history … ht-0010965</a></li>
</ul></div>Embracing the Magic of Three: A Witch’s Guide to the Power of Threehttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/embracing-the-magic-of-three-a-witch-s-guide-to-the-power-of-thre2023-04-16T17:09:03.000Z2023-04-16T17:09:03.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11028911265,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11028911265,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="11028911265?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>The power of three is an ancient concept that has been around for centuries. It is said that everything in the universe is made up of three elements – body, mind, and spirit. In witchcraft, this concept is used to create powerful spells and enchantments.</p>
<p>To understand the power of three, we must first look at the number itself. The number three is considered to be a sacred number in many cultures. It represents balance and harmony and is said to be the number of the divine. In witchcraft, the power of three is used to create a balance of energy, which is essential for effective spellcasting.</p>
<p>The witches’ power of three is also known as the rule of three. This rule states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, whether it be positive or negative, will be returned to them threefold. This is why witches are encouraged to practice only positive magic and to use their powers wisely.</p>
<p>The power of three is often used in spellcasting to create a balance of energy. For example, when casting a love spell, a witch might use three different herbs or crystals to represent the body, mind, and spirit of the person they are casting the spell on. This creates a balance of energy that is said to be more effective than using just one herb or crystal.</p>
<p>Another way the power of three is used is in creating spells that involve the elements – earth, air, fire, and water. By using three different elements in a spell, a witch can create a balance of energy that is said to be more powerful than using just one or two elements.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in creating sigils, which are symbols used in magic to represent a specific intention or desire. A sigil can be created by combining three different symbols or by using three different colors. This creates a powerful symbol that is said to be more effective than a simple symbol created with just one color or symbol.</p>
<p>In addition to spellcasting, the power of three is also used in creating magical circles. A magical circle is a sacred space created by a witch to perform magic. By using three different elements in the creation of the circle, a witch can create a balance of energy that is said to be more effective than using just one or two elements.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in creating talismans and amulets. A talisman is an object that is charged with energy to attract a specific intention or desire, while an amulet is an object that is charged with energy to protect the wearer from harm. By using three different elements in the creation of a talisman or amulet, a witch can create a balance of energy that is said to be more effective than using just one or two elements.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in creating potions and brews. By using three different herbs or ingredients in a potion, a witch can create a balance of energy that is said to be more effective than using just one or two ingredients. This is why you might see many potions and brews that contain three different herbs or ingredients.</p>
<p>In addition to all of these magical practices, the power of three is also used in divination. Tarot cards, for example, are divided into three sections – the major arcana, the minor arcana, and the court cards. This creates a balance of energy that is said to be more effective in providing accurate readings.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in numerology. In numerology, the number three is considered to be a powerful number that represents creativity, self-expression, and communication. This is why many witches use the number three in their magical practices and rituals.</p>
<p>One popular example of the power of three in witchcraft is the Triple Goddess. The Triple Goddess is a deity that is worshiped by many witches and is said to represent the three phases of a woman’s life – maiden, mother, and crone. This creates a balance of energy that is said to be more effective in connecting with the divine feminine.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in the creation of magical symbols and sigils. By combining three different symbols or using three different colors, a witch can create a powerful symbol that is said to be more effective in manifesting their intention or desire.</p>
<p>In addition to all of these magical practices, the power of three is also used in many myths and legends. For example, in Greek mythology, there were three Fates – Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos – who controlled the destinies of mortals. This creates a balance of energy that is said to be more effective in telling powerful stories.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in many fairy tales and folklore. For example, in the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” there are three bears – Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear – who represent the three stages of life. This creates a balance of energy that is said to be more effective in creating captivating stories.</p>
<p>The power of three is also used in many religions. For example, in Christianity, there is the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – which represents the three aspects of God. This creates a balance of energy that is said to be more effective in connecting with the divine.</p>
<p>The witches’ power of three is a fascinating and charming concept that has been around for centuries. It is used in many magical practices and rituals to create a balance of energy that is said to be more effective in manifesting desires and intentions. Whether you’re a seasoned witch or a curious beginner, the power of three is sure to enchant and captivate you. So, embrace the magic and let the power of three guide you on your journey of self-discovery and transformation.</p>
<h2>The significance of the number three in different cultures and religions</h2>
<p>The number three has held great significance in many cultures and religions throughout history, and it’s no surprise that this powerful number also has a prominent place in witchcraft.</p>
<p>In many ancient cultures, the number three was associated with the divine feminine. The goddesses of these cultures were often portrayed as triads, consisting of three aspects or three distinct figures that represented different phases of the moon or the seasons. The three aspects of the goddess were sometimes referred to as the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone – a trinity that is still revered in modern witchcraft as the Triple Goddess.</p>
<p>In other cultures, the number three was associated with the concept of creation. In Hinduism, for example, the universe was said to be created through the union of three gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. This idea of creation through the combination of three elements is also present in many magical traditions, where spells and rituals often involve the use of three components, such as three herbs or three types of crystals.</p>
<p>The number three has also been associated with the idea of balance and harmony. In many ancient cultures, the number three was seen as a symbol of balance between opposing forces, such as light and dark, good and evil, or heaven and earth. This concept of balance is an important aspect of witchcraft, where practitioners strive to create harmony and balance in all aspects of their lives.</p>
<p>In some religious traditions, the number three has been associated with the idea of resurrection or rebirth. In Christianity, for example, Jesus is said to have risen from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. In witchcraft, the power of three is often used to symbolize transformation and renewal, and spells and rituals often involve three phases or three stages that represent a process of change and growth.</p>
<p>The number three is also a powerful symbol of manifestation in witchcraft. The Triple Goddess represents the three stages of manifestation – intention, action, and manifestation itself. This trinity is often invoked in spells and rituals to help manifest a desired outcome or bring a specific goal to fruition.</p>
<p>The number three is a potent symbol in witchcraft that has roots in many cultures and religious traditions. Its association with the divine feminine, creation, balance, and manifestation make it an important aspect of magical practice. Whether you’re a seasoned witch or a newcomer to the craft, the power of three is sure to add a touch of magic to your spells and rituals. So embrace the power of three, and let its mystical energy guide you on your journey of self-discovery and transformation.</p>
<h2>A deep dive into the Triple Goddess</h2>
<p>The Triple Goddess is a powerful symbol in witchcraft that represents the three stages of a woman’s life and the phases of the moon. Her history can be traced back to many ancient cultures where goddesses were often portrayed in triads, consisting of three aspects that represented different phases of life or the seasons. In modern witchcraft, the Triple Goddess is honored as a sacred archetype that embodies the divine feminine and serves as a source of inspiration and guidance for witches everywhere.</p>
<p>The Triple Goddess is often depicted as three separate figures: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. The Maiden represents youth, new beginnings, and the waxing phase of the moon. She is often associated with springtime and the color white. The Mother represents fertility, abundance, and the full moon. She is associated with summertime and the color red. The Crone represents wisdom, transformation, and the waning phase of the moon. She is associated with autumn and the color black.</p>
<p>In ancient cultures, the Triple Goddess was often revered as a symbol of fertility and the cycles of life. In modern witchcraft, she is honored as a source of strength, wisdom, and inspiration. Many witches invoke the Triple Goddess in their magical practice as a way to connect with their feminine power and tap into the cyclical nature of the universe.</p>
<p>The Triple Goddess is also associated with the three aspects of the divine feminine: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. The Maiden represents the aspect of creativity, inspiration, and new beginnings. The Mother represents the aspect of nurturing, protection, and abundance. The Crone represents the aspect of wisdom, transformation, and release. By connecting with these aspects of the divine feminine, witches are able to tap into the power of the Triple Goddess and manifest their desires.</p>
<p>In modern witchcraft, the Triple Goddess is honored in many different ways. Some witches create altars dedicated to the Triple Goddess, using symbols and offerings that represent each of her aspects. Others invoke the Triple Goddess in their spells and rituals, calling upon her power to aid them in their magical work. Still others incorporate the Triple Goddess into their daily practice, using meditation and visualization techniques to connect with her energy.</p>
<p>The Triple Goddess is a powerful symbol in witchcraft that represents the three stages of a woman’s life and the phases of the moon. Her history can be traced back to many ancient cultures, where she was revered as a symbol of fertility and the cycles of life. In modern witchcraft, she is honored as a source of strength, wisdom, and inspiration. Whether you are a seasoned witch or a newcomer to the craft, the Triple Goddess is sure to guide and empower you on your spiritual journey.</p>
<h2>How the power of three can be used in everyday life, inside of witchcraft</h2>
<p>In witchcraft, the power of three is a fundamental concept that is used in a variety of ways to enhance magical workings and manifest intentions. The number three is often associated with the Triple Goddess and the three phases of the moon, making it a powerful tool for witches to tap into the energies of the universe.</p>
<p>One way the power of three can be used in witchcraft is through spellcasting. When casting a spell, witches often repeat an incantation or perform a specific action three times. This reinforces the intention and energy behind the spell, making it more powerful and effective.</p>
<p>Another way the power of three is used in witchcraft is through the use of three symbols or ingredients. For example, a spell for prosperity may include three green candles, three coins, and three herbs associated with abundance. This use of the power of three adds a layer of symbolism and energy to the spell, amplifying its effectiveness.</p>
<p>In some forms of witchcraft, the power of three is also used in ritual and ceremony. For example, in Wicca, the Great Rite is often performed in a series of three acts, representing the union of the God and Goddess. This use of the power of three in ritual adds a deeper level of symbolism and energy to the ceremony, making it a powerful and transformative experience for the participants.</p>
<p>The power of three can also be used in divination and tarot readings. When performing a reading, witches often draw three cards to represent past, present, and future or to gain insight into a specific question or situation. This use of the power of three adds a layer of depth and meaning to the reading, allowing the witch to tap into the energies of the universe and gain greater insight and understanding.</p>
<p>The power of three is a powerful tool for witches to tap into the energies of the universe and manifest their desires. Whether through spellcasting, ritual, or divination, the power of three adds a layer of symbolism and energy that can enhance any magical working. By tapping into the power of three, witches can align themselves with the energies of the universe and tap into the magic that surrounds us all.</p>
<h2>How the power of three can be used in everyday life, outside of witchcraft</h2>
<p>The power of three is not just limited to witchcraft; it can also be used in everyday life to manifest our desires and achieve our goals. In fact, many people unknowingly use the power of three in their daily routines without even realizing it.</p>
<p>One way the power of three can be used in everyday life is through affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that we repeat to ourselves to reprogram our subconscious mind and manifest our desires. By repeating an affirmation three times, we are reinforcing the message to our subconscious mind and increasing the likelihood of it becoming a reality.</p>
<p>Another way the power of three can be used is through setting intentions. When we set intentions, we are stating our desires and directing our energy towards achieving them. By setting three intentions, we are creating a clear and focused energy towards what we want to manifest.</p>
<p>The power of three can also be used in creating habits. It is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit, which is three weeks. By committing to a new habit for three weeks, we are creating a pattern and programming our subconscious mind to adopt this new behavior as a routine.</p>
<p>In numerology, the number three is considered a powerful number that represents creativity, manifestation, and growth. By incorporating the power of three into our daily lives, we are tapping into this energy and aligning ourselves with the universe to achieve our goals and manifest our desires.</p>
<p>One way to incorporate the power of three into your daily routine is by practicing a three-part meditation. This can be done by focusing on your breath, body, and mind, and repeating this cycle three times. This will not only help you relax and clear your mind, but it will also help you tap into the energy of the number three and align yourself with the universe.</p>
<p>The power of three is not just limited to witchcraft; it can also be used in everyday life to manifest our desires and achieve our goals. By incorporating the power of three into our affirmations, intentions, habits, and meditation practice, we are tapping into the energy of creativity, manifestation, and growth. Whether you are a witch or not, the power of three is a magical tool that can help you align yourself with the universe and achieve your goals.</p>
<h2>How the power of three is incorporated into different forms of divination</h2>
<p>Divination is a popular practice among witches and is used to gain insight and guidance from the universe. One common theme in many forms of divination is the use of the power of three. The number three is often associated with the Triple Goddess and the three phases of the moon, making it a powerful tool for witches to tap into the energies of the universe.</p>
<p>In tarot, the power of three is present in many ways. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, which can be divided into three groups of seven and one final card, the Fool. This division represents the journey of the Fool through the three stages of life: youth, adulthood, and old age. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, each consisting of ten numbered cards and four court cards. The number three is present in each suit, with the three of swords representing heartbreak and sorrow, the three of cups representing joy and celebration, the three of wands representing growth and expansion, and the three of pentacles representing collaboration and teamwork. Additionally, when performing a tarot reading, many witches draw three cards to represent past, present, and future or to gain insight into a specific question or situation.</p>
<p>Runes are another form of divination that incorporate the power of three. The Elder Futhark, the most commonly used runic alphabet, consists of 24 symbols, each with a corresponding meaning. The first eight runes are often referred to as the Aett of Freyja, the second eight runes are the Aett of Hagal, and the final eight runes are the Aett of Tyr. This division represents the three stages of creation: birth, growth, and death. Additionally, when performing a rune reading, many witches draw three runes to represent the past, present, and future or to gain insight into a specific question or situation.</p>
<p>The power of three is also present in other forms of divination, such as scrying and pendulum dowsing. When scrying, witches often use a reflective surface, such as a crystal ball or a mirror, to gain insight into the future. The three most common methods of scrying are water scrying, fire scrying, and mirror scrying. Pendulum dowsing, on the other hand, involves using a pendulum to gain insight and guidance from the universe. Many witches ask three yes or no questions when performing a pendulum dowsing session, which can help to clarify and focus their intentions.</p>
<p>The power of three is a common theme in many forms of divination and is used to tap into the energies of the universe and gain insight and guidance. Whether through tarot, runes, scrying, or pendulum dowsing, the power of three adds a layer of symbolism and energy that can enhance any divinatory practice. By incorporating the power of three into their divination practice, witches can align themselves with the energies of the universe and gain greater understanding and insight into the world around them.</p>
<h2>The role of the power of three in spellcasting, and how it can be used to amplify the effectiveness of spells</h2>
<p>In the world of witchcraft, spells are a powerful tool used to manifest desires and intentions. The power of three is often incorporated into spellcasting, as it is believed to amplify the effectiveness of spells and increase the likelihood of success. Here, we will explore the role of the power of three in spellcasting and how it can be used to enhance the potency of spells.</p>
<p>One of the most common ways the power of three is incorporated into spellcasting is through the repetition of a spell or incantation three times. This is often referred to as “tripling” the spell. The repetition of the spell is believed to strengthen the intention and energy behind the spell, making it more powerful and effective. This technique can be used for any type of spell, from love spells to protection spells.</p>
<p>Another way the power of three is used in spellcasting is through the use of three ingredients or objects in a spell. For example, in a love spell, a witch might use three different types of flowers, or in a protection spell, a witch might use three different types of crystals. The number three is believed to bring balance and harmony to the spell, making it more effective.</p>
<p>The power of three can also be used in the timing of spells. Many witches choose to perform spells during the waxing, full, and waning phases of the moon, which correspond to the Maiden, Mother, and Crone aspects of the Triple Goddess. By aligning their spells with the energies of the moon and the Triple Goddess, witches can tap into the power of three and increase the potency of their spells.</p>
<p>In addition to the Triple Goddess, many witches also work with the three elements of fire, water, and air. These elements are believed to be the building blocks of the universe and are often incorporated into spells. For example, a witch might use candles (fire), water (in a bowl or spray bottle), and incense (air) in a spell for cleansing and purification.</p>
<p>The power of three can also be used in the visualization and manifestation of spells. When performing a spell, a witch might visualize their intention three times, each time with greater detail and intensity. This repetition is believed to help manifest the desired outcome and bring it into reality.</p>
<p>The power of three plays an important role in spellcasting and can be used to enhance the effectiveness of spells. From the repetition of spells to the use of three ingredients or objects, the power of three adds a layer of symbolism and energy to spells that can amplify their potency. By incorporating the power of three into their spellcasting practice, witches can align themselves with the energies of the universe and manifest their desires with greater ease and effectiveness.</p>
<h2>Power of three is used in manifestation by witches to bring their desires into reality</h2>
<p>The power of three is not only utilized in spellcasting, but also in the manifestation process within the world of witchcraft. Manifestation is the process of bringing your desires into reality by aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions with the energy of the universe. Here, we will explore the connection between the power of three and manifestation, and how witches use this connection to bring their desires into reality.</p>
<p>The power of three is often used in manifestation to bring balance and harmony to the process. Just as the Triple Goddess represents the Maiden, Mother, and Crone aspects of femininity, the power of three represents the balance between the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our being. When we align our desires with these aspects of ourselves and the universe, we can bring them into reality with greater ease and effectiveness.</p>
<p>Witches often use the power of three in their manifestation practice by focusing on their desires three times, each time with greater intensity and detail. This repetition is believed to help manifest the desired outcome and bring it into reality. The use of the power of three in manifestation also emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you truly desire, rather than simply what you think you want.</p>
<p>In addition to the power of three, many witches also use other tools and techniques in their manifestation practice, such as visualization, affirmations, and gratitude. By combining these techniques with the power of three, witches can amplify the energy behind their desires and bring them into reality more quickly and effectively.</p>
<p>The connection between the power of three and manifestation can also be seen in the concept of the Law of Threefold Return. This law states that whatever energy you put out into the universe, whether positive or negative, will come back to you threefold. Therefore, when witches focus on manifesting positive desires, they are not only bringing them into reality but also attracting more positivity into their lives.</p>
<p>To use the power of three in your own manifestation practice, start by focusing on your desires and aligning them with the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of yourself and the universe. Then, visualize your desires three times, each time with greater detail and intensity. Finally, trust in the power of the universe to bring your desires into reality in the best way possible.</p>
<p>The power of three is a powerful tool in the process of manifestation for witches. By using the power of three to bring balance and harmony to their desires, witches can amplify the energy behind their manifestations and bring them into reality more quickly and effectively. Whether through spellcasting or manifestation, the power of three is a fundamental aspect of witchcraft that emphasizes the importance of aligning oneself with the energies of the universe to bring positive change into one’s life.</p>
<h3>Final Musings</h3>
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<p>The power of three is a central and magical concept within the world of witchcraft. From the Triple Goddess to spellcasting and manifestation, the power of three holds a significant role in many aspects of witchcraft.</p>
<p>But beyond just its practical uses, the power of three holds a deeper spiritual significance for many witches. It represents the balance and harmony that can be achieved when the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our being are aligned with the energy of the universe.</p>
<p>As witches continue to explore the power of three in their craft, it is important to remember the importance of intention and focus. Whether using the power of three in spellcasting or manifestation, it is vital to approach it with respect and reverence for the energy being invoked.</p>
<p>So if you’re a budding witch, or just interested in the world of magic and spirituality, consider incorporating the power of three into your practice. Whether you’re casting a spell or manifesting your desires, the power of three can be a valuable tool in bringing balance, harmony, and positive change into your life.</p>
<p>In the end, the power of three is just one of many magical concepts and practices that make witchcraft such a fascinating and unique path. And whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting out, there is always something new to discover and explore in the world of witchcraft. So embrace the power of three, and let the magic unfold.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://witcheslore.com/bookofshadows/witches-workshop/embracing-the-magic-of-three-a-witchs-guide-to-the-power-of-three/39506/">https://witcheslore.com/bookofshadows/witches-workshop/embracing-the-magic-of-three-a-witchs-guide-to-the-power-of-three/39506/</a></p>
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</div></div>13 Candle Spell Hacks That Anyone Can Usehttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/13-candle-spell-hacks-that-anyone-can-use2023-02-16T19:21:32.000Z2023-02-16T19:21:32.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><strong><a class="ll-blue-uc-spaced slashafter" href="https://www.llewellyn.com/author.php?author_id=6464">BY MADAME PAMITA</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a class="ll-grey-uc-spaced slashafter" href="https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2847#">OCTOBER 05, 2020</a></strong></p>
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<p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10968425690,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10968425690,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="10968425690?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Candle Magic Doesn't Have to Be Overwhelming</strong><br />If you've never done a candle spell before, candle <a href="https://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/term/magic">magic</a> can seem a bit daunting. Even if you've done a few candle spells, you might feel bogged down with the details.</p>
<p>I hear from panicky spell casters all the time who are overwhelmed by too many moving parts in their spells. They are unsure if they have to start on a certain day or use a certain candle or say certain words to get the result that they want. While timings, candle style, and incantations can all add power to a spell, if they are causing "analysis paralysis" then all that anxiety around your spell is actually working against you.</p>
<p><strong>Are You Overthinking Your Spell Work?</strong><br />We've all seen those Hollywood movies with <a href="https://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/term/witch">witches</a> doing elaborate candle spells with eye of newt and toe of frog, and it's natural to worry that, if our spell isn't Instagram-worthy are we doing something wrong?</p>
<p>"What if I pick the wrong candle?"<br />"What happens if I make a horrible mistake?"<br />And, the big one..."Where do I even start?”"</p>
<p>The good news is that not every candle spell has to be an elaborate set up with rare ingredients on a dedicated altar. Even a beginner witch can do powerful spells with less complicated magic and see amazing results.</p>
<p>I'm going to share 13 of my favorite easy-breezy tips and tricks for candle spells that bust the myths you might be carrying around in the back of your head and give you the encouragement to go for it.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>If you need the results now, do your spell now.</strong> It might be lovely to wait until a certain special moon phase or day of the week, but if you need those spell results ASAP, do your spell right now.
</li><li><strong>More is not always better.</strong> More candles, more herbs, more oils. We can overload our spell with too much stuff, confusing the energy, or worse, creating a flammable mess. A single candle charged with a clear and focused intent can be more productive than twenty candles imbued with 13 different herbs and spices and some wishy-washy energy. Which bring me to...
</li><li><strong>Your emotions and focus are the most important ingredients.</strong> Sometimes you might feel like you can't do your spell because you don't have the correct "stuff," but don't forget that your confident emotions and your positive focus on your goal are the most important ingredients of any candle spell.
</li><li><strong>You don't always need to do all the work.</strong> While I am a total advocate for empowering people to create their own candle spells, sometimes we don't have the energy or the time to learn everything needed to craft a particular candle spell formula from scratch. That's where reliable and trusted shops come in. Purchase a spell kit or prepared candle from your favorite magical candle shop and you will be able to do a spell that's as simple as lighting a wick.
</li><li><strong>Size matters! (But probably not the way you think it does.)</strong> I love big pillar candles (and I cannot lie!) but for a spell where you need results right now, a candle that burns for a long time might not be the best choice. A smaller candle such as a chime candle or even a birthday candle may be just the thing if you need to get that spell out there into the ether right this minute!
</li><li><strong>You can't mess up the words.</strong> If you're not sure what spell words to use, speak from your heart. Extra bonus witch tip: When possible, try to phrase things in the positive (for example, "I am protected" rather than, "Bad things are not going to happen to me anymore").
</li><li><strong>There are plenty of great substitutes for the rare and endangered.</strong> There are a lot of old candle spells that utilize herbs or roots that are endangered or animal parts that may be harvested in unethical ways. Don't feel pressured into using ingredients that don't mesh with your own ethical standards. You don't necessarily need a rare and expensive mandrake root for every (or even "any") love spell. There are dozens of amazing plants that you can add to your magic that can probably be found in your spice rack or your garden (I see you, cinnamon and rose!)
</li><li><strong>You can do a candle spell without a dedicated altar space.</strong> I love a good altar (the five altars in my house will testify to that) but you don't always need a formal altar to do a candle spell. Clear a shelf, window sill, side table, or even a kitchen table and it can serve as a space to do your candle magic. Just be sure that all flammable things (such as curtains or papers) are kept far away from your flame.
</li><li><strong>You don't need to wait to be <a href="https://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/term/initiate">initiated</a> to do candle spells.</strong> Becoming an initiate into a mystery tradition can be an amazing and enlightening journey, but it's not required for you to do candle magic. Candle magic isn't a part of any one spiritual path. It belongs to everyone. It's the people's magic!
</li><li><strong>If your candle does wonky things, fix it!</strong> Candle spells aren't called spell "work" for nothin'! Sometimes you have to give it a little effort. If your candle is doing something weird as it burns, don't just stand by and watch—work on it! Pour out excess wax, add a helper wick for a candle where the wick gets drowned in the wax pool, or trim back the wick for a candle flame that is burning too high. The goal is to have an even and steady burn and if you have to tend to your candle to get that, then do it.
</li><li><strong>Trust your magic.</strong> One of the simplest concepts to know but most difficult to master is the idea that you have to have trust. Trust that your candle is sending lightwaves of positive intention out into the universe. Trust that your herbal allies are supporting your magic. And most importantly, trust your own power to transform your life through magic.
</li><li><strong>Have patience with your results.</strong> Sometimes a few things have to unfold in time and space before you can get your candle spell results. One phrase I love to add to my candle spell words is "...the perfect outcome in perfect timing..." By saying that, I remind myself to be patient and aim high for the very best outcome. <br /><br /></li>
<li><strong>Don't be afraid to try a different approach.</strong> Once in a while, even the most adept magicians casts a candle spell that does nothing. Don't beat yourself up about it. It's just feedback that's telling you that you need to approach the matter in a different magical way. Try the same candle with a slightly a different intention, try a different candle spell, or try a spell that doesn't involve a candle at all. Make notes about what works and what doesn't in your <a href="https://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/term/book+of+shadows">Book of Shadows</a> (or your spiral notebook) and you'll start to see what magic is most effective for you.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>K.I.S.S. (or, "Keep It Simple, Sorceress/Sorcerer")<br /></strong>If you find yourself hesitating before doing a candle spell, remind yourself that people have been playing magically with fire for hundreds of thousands of years. Your ancestors probably didn't stress about whether or not they had all the things that they thought they needed for a spell and neither should you.</p>
<p>Remind yourself that it's better to do a simple and focused candle spell with what you have available than to do nothing at all. Candle spells are meant to be exciting and fun. Free yourself to play with candle magic in simpler ways and watch your magic soar.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2847">https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2847</a></p></div>Sacred Sites & Pagan Places: Origins and How to Find Ley Lines Near Youhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/sacred-sites-pagan-places-origins-and-how-to-find-ley-lines-near-2023-01-12T14:48:19.000Z2023-01-12T14:48:19.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p>Ley lines are straight tracks or lines, essentially energy grids, that stretch across the earth in every direction. The ancients were said to have marked these lines with stone monuments and pagan temples. This definition makes sense but doesn’t provide the whole picture of what ley lines truly are. Our ancient <a title="Ancestor Prayer Tutorial: Calling on Ancestors for Help" href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/ancestor-prayer-tutorial/">ancestors</a> could feel the magic and power emanating from these energy lines, and so they marked them. They set up natural sanctuaries and called the intersections of ley lines their sacred sites. But are these ley lines still in existence? How do these ancient ley lines affect us in modern times? How can we find local ley lines and harness this energy?</p>
<h2 id="h-sacred-sites-of-the-ancients-ley-lines-origins" class="wp-block-heading">Sacred Sites of the Ancients: Ley Lines Origins</h2>
<p>If we look at some of the world’s most important ancient sites on a map, we can draw straight lines between one to another. These lines form a grid-like pattern across the globe. Stonehenge, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and Machu Picchu are sacred sites that connect to other sites via lines, including landmarks like Mount Everest. You won’t find these lines on a geographical map nor in your typical history book. Ley lines are mostly recorded in folklore and occult books, the comparative concept developed by a man named Alfred Watkins in 1921. Watkins believed so strongly in ley lines he organized a club. The club gathered in England and walked the countryside in search of these powerful ley lines.</p>
<h2 id="h-corpse-roads-fairy-paths-and-ley-lines" class="wp-block-heading">Corpse Roads, Fairy Paths, and Ley Lines</h2>
<p>Spirits travel the earth in straight lines – ley lines. In Britain and throughout Europe, there’s something called a corpse road. A corpse road was a path taken by a funerary procession to move the dead to its burial place – a churchyard, typically. Terrifying stories are told of otherworldly creatures on corpse roads. A headless black dog, ghostly lights known as corpse lights, and soul-sucking wraiths have all haunted these terrifying trails. Is it no wonder these corpse roads run along ancient ley lines?</p>
<p><strong><em>“Imagine a fairy chain stretched from mountain peak to mountain peak as far as the eye could reach…” ~ Alfred Watkins, The Old Straight Track (1925)</em></strong></p>
<h3 id="h-fairy-pathways" class="wp-block-heading">Fairy Pathways</h3>
<p><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/fairies-america-fairy-folklore-native-legends/">Fairies</a>, also known as the “wee folk” and “sidhe”, are known to travel along specified paths as well. There are many tales in the British Isles and Ireland that point out fairy pathways leading into hills and traveling over fairy bridges. These paths also happen to follow ley lines. Folks are warned never to travel a fairy path during twilight hours -dawn or dusk. Or at night for fear the fairies might carry them away. So, we have the dead, wraiths, and fairies all traveling along these ancient energetic grid-lines. But why?</p>
<h2 id="h-ley-lines-today-why-are-they-important" class="wp-block-heading">Ley Lines Today: Why Are They Important?</h2>
<p>So why should we care about ley lines? How do they affect us? Though it seems an outdated idea, ley lines affect us now just as much as ever. If you’re a believer in energetic vibrations, if you believe Mother Earth is a living being, then you’ll understand why ley lines are important. I like to think of them as Mother Earth’s veins – sacred sites where the earth allows us to easily tap into her essence. If you feel revitalized after taking a dip in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, or dipping your feet into a creek, then you’ll feel the potency of being near or on a ley line.</p>
<h4 id="h-ley-lines-affect-our-daily-lives-in-many-ways" class="wp-block-heading">Ley lines affect our daily lives in many ways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>If your home is on a ley line, it may make the energy more intense or chaotic</li>
<li>You may not be able to relax or sleep</li>
<li>Your home may experience paranormal activity including ghostly apparitions, disembodied voices, and visits from the faeries and elementals</li>
<li>If your business is on a ley line, you may find an increase in energy. That energy may be increased amounts of positive OR negative</li>
<li>Your business may be “haunted” or experience supernatural activity according to employees/customers</li>
<li>When ley lines cross or intersect, if a building or home is located on that intersection, energy is constantly flowing and may be chaotic</li>
<li>At ancient sites on ley lines, you’ll experience spiritual enlightenment, visions, feelings of peace, etc.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="h-how-to-find-ley-lines-near-you" class="wp-block-heading">How to Find Ley Lines Near You</h2>
<p>I recently went on a quest to find my local ley lines. I had no idea how easy it would be until I began researching. First thing I suggest is to think of your local area and if there are any significant historical landmarks. If you live in Europe, there are literally thousands. This should be the easy part. If you live in the United States, I recommend looking specifically at Native sacred sites like caves, manmade mounds, burial grounds, etc. The ancient Natives were in-tune with nature and knew of ley lines intimately. </p>
<h3 id="h-how-to-find-ley-lines-ley-lines-maps-in-your-area" class="wp-block-heading">How To Find Ley Lines & Ley Lines Maps in YOUR Area</h3>
<p>When I began looking for local ley lines, I first thought of a local Native burial mound located in Safety Harbor, FL. I had a feeling it was built by the Natives on or close by a ley line. Then, I simply googled “ley line maps + United States” and BOOM. There are dozens of maps accessible online. Please don’t ask me to provide you with a map. It’s as simple as a Google search. Once you have a ley line map, print it out and lay it on top of a local map to see where the lines travel and intersect. </p>
<p>Following, I looked up the historical mound on a map of Florida. Then I compared this map to the ley line map and found a match. One particular ley line that converges with others just off the Eastern coast of Florida also runs directly north of Tampa and straight through the sacred site of the Tocobaga Indian mound in Safety Harbor! I was shocked and thrilled to discover my guess was correct!</p>
<h3 id="h-take-a-trip-to-confirm" class="wp-block-heading">Take a Trip to Confirm</h3>
<p>After finding your local lines, it’s time to take a journey and confirm in person. This is a sacred journey and you should prepare as such. Take a cleansing shower or bath before traveling to these sacred sites. You can also <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/how-to-smudge-your-home/">smoke-cleanse</a> beforehand. You want to be as spiritually pure as possible so the energy from the ley lines is easier to sense. Ideally, you’ll take a pendulum with you. Once there, be open to every sensation. Do you feel nervous? Excited? Like you’re about to meet up with a friend you haven’t seen in years? This is how I felt when I visited my local ley line. I had relentless butterflies in my stomach.</p>
<p>You can use a pendulum to dowse and find certain areas at the site that have a high energetic charge. Stop in places where you feel energy the strongest, then hold your pendulum out and still. Let the pendulum swing or circle on its own. If it does nothing (which I doubt if you’ve found a ley line), then move on to another spot. I guarantee you’ll find the pendulum swinging vigorously, as mine did. This is a form of dowsing, which is a method that’s been used for years to find ley lines. Use your pendulum to also communicate with the spirits traveling the ley lines. Don’t forget to cleanse the pendulum and yourself after any <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/spirit-work-protection/">spirit work</a>. </p>
<h2 id="h-my-pendulum-session-at-the-tocobaga-mound" class="wp-block-heading">My Pendulum Session at the Tocobaga Mound</h2>
<p>The mound is beautiful – luscious greenery and centuries-old trees dot this man-made hillside that overlooks the Bay. Walking to the top of the mound, I received flashes of the Tocobaga tribe that once inhabited the site. I saw a woman wearing a necklace of shells and tree fronds on her clothing. The hustle and bustle of an entire civilization of people traveling up and down the mound. I chose a park bench on the front side of the Tocobaga Mound, as far away from the other park visitors as possible. It was quiet and I made it known to the spirits I was there in peace and just wanted to connect to better understand. I stated aloud clockwise motion meant yes and counterclockwise motion meant no. I asked the spirits if they were nature spirits, they confirmed. Then I asked if there were native spirits there, they confirmed. When asked if the spirits there were angry, they confirmed.</p>
<p>At this point I got a little uneasy and asked if the spirits were angry with the people on the mound today, the pendulum moved counterclockwise (phew!). I made an educated guess and asked if the spirits were mad at the Spanish men who came from the water. They confirmed. You see, on the same site there was turmoil between the Spanish seafarers who landed there in the sixteenth century and the natives who had been there for centuries before. The Spanish were slaughtered but today there are historical markers commemorating them. </p>
<h2 id="h-ley-line-magick" class="wp-block-heading">Ley Line Magick</h2>
<p>In addition to speaking with spirits at local ley lines, the energy of ley lines can be harnessed to aid in manifestation. Enlightenment is number one. This should go without saying that a journey to local sites will give you divine insight. Healing is another form of ley line magick. While there, ask Mother Earth to send healing vibrations up through your feet and throughout your body. Stand still for a while and feel the healing energy pulsing up from the earth. It is truly amazing. Other forms of ley line magick include: drawing love to oneself, abundance, grounding, and cleansing. Have a ritual that needs a particularly strong amount of energy? Perform all or part of it at your local ley lines and see what happens!</p>
<h2 id="h-if-you-live-in-the-united-states-here-are-some-of-the-sacred-sites-located-on-ley-lines" class="wp-block-heading">If you live in the United States, here are some of the sacred sites located on ley lines: </h2>
<ul>
<li>Montana Megaliths</li>
<li>Pryor Mountains Megaliths, MT</li>
<li>Bighorn Medicine Wheel, NY</li>
<li>Sedona, AZ</li>
<li>Serpent Mount, OH</li>
<li>Mount Shasta, CA</li>
<li>Mount Denali, AK</li>
<li>Tocobaga Indian Mound, FL</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="h-all-over-the-world" class="wp-block-heading">All Over the World</h2>
<p>It doesn’t matter where you live in the world – there’s a ley line close to you. Think of your local historical sites and of the natural landmarks. England has dozens of sacred sites and pagan places that converge on one particular ley line running southwest to northeast. There’s a line that runs directly through Easter Island in the Pacific. A huge intersection of ley lines is found in northern Egypt. And another runs over Dublin, Ireland. Wherever you live in the world, look up ley line world maps and start hunting! I promise the journey and magick will create a profound impact on your spirituality and life.</p>
<h2 id="h-further-reading" class="wp-block-heading">Further Reading:</h2>
<ul>
<li>The Book of English Magic by Philip Carr-Gomm and Richard Heygate</li>
<li>The Old Straight Track by Alfred Watkins</li>
<li>The Ley Hunter’s Manual by Alfred Watkins</li>
<li>‘Early British Trackways by Alfred Watkins</li>
<li>Earth Grids by Hugh Newman</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/sacred-sites-how-to-find-ley-lines/">https://otherworldlyoracle.com/sacred-sites-how-to-find-ley-lines/</a></p></div>The Magic of the Morrigan: Shedding Light on the Dark Goddesshttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/the-magic-of-the-morrigan-shedding-light-on-the-dark-goddess2022-12-29T15:48:51.000Z2022-12-29T15:48:51.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10921737881,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10921737881,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="10921737881?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<ul class="m-detail-header--horizontal-list">
<li>
<div class="m-description--details m-detail-header--meta-item"><a class="m-detail-header--meta-author" href="https://exemplore.com/@cerridwendevoteed">AMANDA WILSON</a></div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="m-detail-header--date m-detail-header--publication-date m-detail-header--meta-item m-description--details">AUG 3, 2022</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<h2 id="meet-the-morrigan">Meet the Morrigan</h2>
<p>As ‘newbie’ witches, we think we can light a candle, pick an altar cloth based on a correspondence list in the back of some “Intro to Witchcraft” book, say the right words, and poof! All of our major life problems are solved. Sorry, but it doesn’t work like that. Real change, such as manifesting a new car after you total yours (like in my case), takes <em>real</em> power. I mean <em>a lot </em>of power, like that of the Morrigan.</p>
<p>Many books that introduce Wicca or witchcraft will include a section about common Pagan pantheons and which deities to call upon for various magical goals, i.e., call on Brigit for creativity, Aphrodite for love, Cerridwen for herb magic, you get the idea. If you treat the gods like Santa Claus, calling on them to add energy to your spells like a child sends Santa a wish list, then chances are not many of your spells have worked. You must develop a relationship with a deity before you can expect them to help you. This is particularly true for the Morrigan. And keep in mind, the gods have their own wants and needs, so be prepared to have them ask you for something in return. (FYI, if that happens, you have every right to negotiate with the god or goddess to make sure that you can carry out their request).</p>
<p>The Morrigan is a mighty goddess, and even though, at times, working with her can be frightening, she should not be feared. This misunderstood Celtic goddess will make incredible changes to your life—changes that you thought would never occur outside your fantasies. She does not do anything for free, though! She will make you work for what you want. In order to transform, you must crawl out of the quicksand that is keeping your life stagnant. This Dark Goddess will make you look at the parts of yourself you have buried deep from shame; she will teach you battle strategies, then thrust you into the ring to fight your demons; she will make you face and conquer all of your fears. She does what she has to so change can manifest in your life. I know firsthand her transformational powers.</p>
<p>She is not an easy Goddess to follow; I won’t lie. <em>But it is worth the effort!</em> This multi-faceted goddess has many faces, and there are multiple aspects to understanding her. Learning about the Morrigan is a process, but I will outline simple steps you can take to establish a relationship with her. The steps involved can help you forge a relationship with any of the gods, but I will be providing specific tips and information relevant to meeting the Morrigan.</p>
<p>It is important you understand the meaning and uses of her name, as there is a lot of confusion and conflicting information regarding that area. Before you begin your devotional practice, you should know the history and mythology of the deity you want to bring into your life. The Morrigan appears several times throughout history, and I will summarize the best-known myths about her, which will give you a starting point for conducting your own research if you decide to meet and work with her. The last step of the process is actually the beginning of the relationship, and I will provide a few ideas on how you initiate your devotional practice.</p>
<h2 id="the-title-and-name-of-the-morrigan">The Title and Name of the Morrigan</h2>
<p>The meaning of the name "Morrigan" is somewhat debated amongst scholars. The most agreed-upon translations are “The Great Queen” and “The Phantom Queen.” You will often see that the Morrigan is referred to as a Triple Goddess. In Wiccan traditions, a triple goddess is comprised of a maiden, mother, and a crone. That is not the case in this situation.</p>
<p>The triplicity refers to three sisters: Badb, Macha, and Anu (aka Anand). There have been references stating that the third sister is either the goddess Nemain, Fea, or Morrigu. Personally, I believe that Morrigu is another name for Anu, and the sources naming Fea and Nemain meant those goddesses were presented as the third aspect but were not the original sister. I encourage those feeling drawn to the Morrigan to conduct research, study as many resources as you can, and then decide for yourself which goddesses you feel comprise the Morrigan triplicity.</p>
<h2 id="ancient-mythology-of-the-morrigan">Ancient Mythology of the Morrigan</h2>
<p>According to lore, the Morrigan was involved in two major Irish wars. She helped the Tuatha Dé Danann defeat the Fir Bolg and the Fomorians. She won the wars by either weakening or killing the opposing king or with magic, making it rain fire and blood onto the enemy. A 19th-century scholar classified her as a War Goddess, but that is not quite right, however.</p>
<p>More accurately, she is the goddess of sovereignty. She was the patroness of those who wielded power, of kingship and prowess on the battlefield. She is known as the Goddess of Glory in Battle & Cleverness of the Cattle Raid. The reason behind her violent actions boils down to sovereignty—she both granted it and took it away by any means necessary. It would be an incomplete summarization to say she was just the goddess of sovereignty, however. She is the goddess of magic and fertility as well.</p>
<p>She used her magical powers to either instill courage or take it away. It was said that she would shapeshift into a crow and fly over the battlefield. Some men would be empowered with courage, and others would be plagued with panic and fear. The Morrigan specialized in binding magic, which means she would strip the enemy of his power. She would do that at a key moment in the battle, leaving him helpless.</p>
<p>The Morrigan’s confidence radiates through history, along with her strength, power, and shameless sexuality. Women today are discouraged from using their sexuality to obtain power, but the Morrigan embraced it proudly. According to lore, she laid with many men and had dozens of children from unknown fathers. In the ancient Celtic community, this was not something to be ashamed of, though. Sex is a natural part of life, and it was very much a part of their culture. There are two instances in her mythology when the Morrigan based her decision on whether to help a community on whether or not the king would lay with her. When she approached Dagda, he happily obliged. There is a river ford in Ireland the locals still call “The Bed of the Couple,” referring to the union of the Morrigan and Dagda. Some references have said that Dagda was the Morrigan's consort—in other words, her husband.</p>
<p>The second time she approached a warrior with the promise of supporting his cause in exchange for relations was with Cu Chulainn. She appeared to him as a hag, just as she did Dagda. Disgusted by her wrinkled skin, hunched stature, and crackling voice, he rejected her advances. The Morrigan then transformed into a beautiful maiden, thus revealing to him who she was. She warned him that his death was in her hands, and his deference to her would save his life. Being a proud, macho man, he refused to bow to her. As promised, the Morrigan sided with his enemies and helped them defeat his army.</p>
<h2 id="magic-of-the-morrigan-how-to-harness-the-power-of-the-great-queen">Magic of the Morrigan: How to Harness the Power of the Great Queen</h2>
<p>Working with the Morrigan can bring about real change in your life. Before you can start making requests of her, however, you must take the time to get to know her. Forging a relationship with the Morrigan can be done in a process that would work when working with any new deity.</p>
<p>The first thing to do is research the myths and legends surrounding the deity. It is vital to learn about their strengths, weaknesses, and even their personality. For example, when the Morrigan presents herself to Cu Chulainn and reveals that she is the Great Queen, she demands that this lowly soldier takes a knee. He refuses and then suffers her wrath. I have journeyed to meet a few different aspects of the Morrigan, and she appreciates when you show reverence by bowing or kneeling before her (unlike other goddesses I've met who have all stopped me or pulled me to my feet, saying it isn't necessary).</p>
<p>There are a few things to keep in mind when researching the Morrigan so you don't become discouraged when you encounter one of these problems. Historical sources often portray varying or outright conflicting information. This is an issue that arises with many ancient deities, especially Celtic gods and goddesses. The Celts believed that the word was sacred, so it was forbidden to write down any of the rituals, spells, or stories about the Celtic gods and goddesses. They believed that the magic of the word was lost if it was written down. Most of what we know about the Celts was written by Christian monks and Roman military leaders. The best way to approach this conundrum is to reference a variety of resources. Once you have gone through a handful of books and articles, you can judge for yourself what you believe is most reliable and what to disregard.</p>
<p>You may come across some sources that focus solely on the history of the Morrigan and provides little to no personal experience. Other sources will be on the other end of the spectrum, providing only personal stories and relaying anecdotes about the experience of others. You should aim to find a happy middle. While the history of the gods and goddess is important, so is the experiences that people today have had with them. It gives you a firm idea of what to expect when you journey to interact with the deity.</p>
<p>Once you have thoroughly researched the myths and legends associated with the Morrigan and you feel that she will be a fitting addition to your pantheon, you will initiate your devotional practice, the key to forming a relationship with the Great Goddess. In a way, devotional practice is an art. Ponder the medium of your masterpiece—what will best express your feelings for the goddess? The last thing you want to do is treat her like a magical Santa Claus, giving her a list of wants and needs.</p>
<h2 id="devotional-practice">Devotional Practice</h2>
<p>In <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738752568/?tag=hubacct11671-20" target="_blank">Dark Goddess Craft: A Journey Through the Heart of Transformation</a></em>, Stephanie Woodfield defines devotional practice as "the art of honoring and connecting to deity, usually through offerings, prayers, and other acts of devotion" (p.19). Woodfield goes on to explain that it is not so much what you do but the manner in which you do it. If you are treating it as a chore, then do not expect to get very much of a response from the Morrigan. She can when a devotee prays or pours libations with love in their heart and when they do it because it is what they <em>have to do</em>.</p>
<p>You should set up an altar for the Morrigan. It can be as simple as a black feather on your dresser, or you can have an elaborately decorated table. It is totally up to you. What matters is you have a sacred space set aside where you can go and nurture your relationship with her. I have an altar in my bedroom, but I also have a spot in my backyard where I sit, meditate, and commune with the Shining Ones. The gods and goddesses are everywhere, so you can connect and pray anywhere, anytime.</p>
<p>One person may spend more time on meditation and communication, while another provides offerings every day. I will use traditional offerings for Sabbats, but when I am performing a ritual designed to help or heal myself, I will communicate with the deity I am working with and ask him or her what they would like. This has gone over very well when I've worked with the Morrigan. For example, instead of wine, she asked that I pour my favorite soda as a libation. I don't like wine, and I only buy tiny bottles (that have an ounce or so in the bottle) specifically for magic rituals. It takes nothing away from me to pour the wine, except for the money spent purchasing it. So by offering my favorite drink, it showed I was willing to sacrifice something I enjoy and appreciate to express my gratitude for the work the Morrigan was about to conduct on my behalf. What I do may be the complete opposite of what you may feel drawn to do, and that is perfectly okay! You may pour the traditional libation called for in the ritual or spell instructions, or you can offer something wholly different. As I said before, the manner in which you carry out the act matters more than the act itself. If you feel compelled to provide a unique offering, consider this: Does it have meaning for you? Do you feel that the deity accepted the offering? If you answered yes to both, then you did it right.</p>
<h2 id="what-to-expect-when-you-re-devoting">What to Expect When You're Devoting . . .</h2>
<p>I will leave you with one final thought. When things go wrong, and they will from time to time, <strong><em>don't panic</em></strong>. The gods and goddesses we work with are not lovey-dovey beings in a faraway place—it isn't all rainbows and butterflies. Especially not with a dark goddess like the Morrigan. I believe that the gods care about us, but the first thing I learned when I became a Pagan was the gods have every emotion a human does, except amplified and way more intense because, well, they're gods (duh). You can piss them off and may not even realize you have done it. You may offend a god by providing an offering of something that was harmful to them in ancient times, or you may be oblivious to a message they have been trying to get through to you. Whatever the issue, they won't turn their backs on you forever. No, you didn't read that wrong. Yes, the gods can and will turn their backs on you if you make them mad enough. The Morrigan is a teacher of hard lessons, and she does not coddle her children. If you break a promise you've made to her, or if you are continuously oblivious to something she has been trying to tell you for far too long, she will get mad and will let you know. When that happens, you can resolve the issue the same way you forged the relationship in the first place: <em>provide offerings, communicate, and </em><em>listen!</em></p>
<p> </p>
<h2 id="references">References</h2>
<p>Alexander, S. (2018). <em>Find Your Goddess: How to Manifest the Power and Wisdom of the Ancient Goddesses in Your Everyday Life.</em> Avon, MA: Adams Media.</p>
<p>Daimler, M. (2004). <em>The Morrigan, Meeting the Great Queen.</em> Moon Books.</p>
<p><em>The Morrigan - Coru Cathubodua Priesthood</em>. (2018). <em>Coru Cathubodua Priesthood</em>. Retrieved 11 May 2018, from <a href="http://www.corupriesthood.com/the-morrigan/">http://www.corupriesthood.com/the-morrigan/</a></p>
<p>Woodfield, S. (2011). <em>Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess: Invoking The Morrigan.</em> Woodbury MN: Llewllyn Publications.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://exemplore.com/paganism/The-Magic-of-the-Morrigan-A-Three-Part-Series">https://exemplore.com/paganism/The-Magic-of-the-Morrigan-A-Three-Part-Series</a></p></div>How To Create a Moon Bath Ritualhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/how-to-create-a-moon-bath-ritual2022-12-12T17:39:15.000Z2022-12-12T17:39:15.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><em>BY</em> <a href="https://helloglow.co/about/"><span class="entry-author"><span class="entry-author-name">LISA VERONESE</span></span></a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10908585865,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10908585865,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10908585865?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">There is something so intriguing, inspiring, and influential about lunar energies—if you’re anything like me, you may find yourself to be more reflective and slow around new moons, or invigorated, stimulated, and largely sleepless around full moons, ebbing and flowing like ocean tides according to the light at night.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The moon’s movement through the 12 zodiacal constellations also influences the particular quality of energy being stirred up; within this lies the potential for deep reflection, contemplation, and growth. Rituals can offer a wonderful way to work in tandem with the power of the moon, whether they involve invocations under the dark skies of the new moon, or cathartic releasing under the swell of the full moon.</span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Cycles of the Moon</span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">If you are at all familiar with the <a href="https://helloglow.co/tarot-cards-self-care/">tarot card-reading system</a> (the intuitive arts are also closely linked with the moon), you may know that the aces represent new beginnings, offerings, opportunities, and sparks of insight and inspiration, while the 10s bookend each suit by representing endings, culminations, completion, or the closing out of a cycle. </span><span class="s1">We can understand the strength of the <strong>new moon</strong> as aligning with the aces, so rituals around this time are most fruitful if they focus on what new energies, opportunities, or beginnings we would like to manifest.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Full moon</strong> time aligns with the 10 cards, it is the time in the month where we have had our fill, and can best reflect on what needs to be released, on what’s nearing the end of a cycle, on letting go of our attachments to people, situations, or energies that no longer serve us. The new moon is opening a door, whereas the full moon is about using the wisdom we’ve gained to understand which doors we now need to close.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">What is so beautiful about tuning in to the cycles of the moon is that we are offered an opportunity to become conscious of what we really want or where we want to go, and also of what we no longer need. You might choose to work in a ritual around journaling, or writing down your clear manifestations on a small piece of paper and either burying them (new moon) or burning them (full moon). Or you might consider following a moon bathing ritual, which is a way to work with the cleansing water element (ruled by the moon!) to set intentions, contemplate, and reflect upon your life each month.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Since this may be a new concept for a lot of you, we’ve put together a guide on how to create your own moon bath ritual. These are guidelines only, please feel free to adapt or modify your personal rituals in whichever ways are most meaningful to you. If you’re not one to follow the cycles of the moon closely, the <a href="https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/moon/calendar">Farmer’s Almanac Moon Phase Calendar</a> is a great tool to follow in planning your rituals. </span></p>
<h2 class="p1"><span class="s1">Creating a Moon Bath Ritual</span></h2>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">For any moon related ritual, I like to incorporate the elemental powers of water, air, earth, and fire together. If you want to work with the new moon, or new beginning “aces” power, the number one is very powerful. Light one candle, choose one crystal, and add one scent to your bath to enliven the air. If you are focusing on the releasing potential of the full moon, think abundance and feel free to add more of everything when setting the stage.</span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Set an Intention</span></strong></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">It’s very important in any manifesting/releasing ritual to get clear on what you’re doing and why. Some of you may want to sit beside the tub as if fills and write down what you are hoping to manifest in a journal, while others may choose to mentally set their intention, or even speak it aloud. Add in 1 cup of <a href="https://helloglow.co/diy-epsom-salt-bath-soak/">Epsom salts</a> or a few handfuls of <a href="https://helloglow.co/himalayan-salt-bath/">Himalayan pink salts</a> if you have it, as salt has long been used in rituals for its ability to balance and cleanse energy. As the water runs, consider what you are invoking or releasing: </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the new moon</strong>:</em> What doors would you like to open? What obstacles are you hoping to move past? What would you like more of in your life? What seeds are you planting? What are you hoping to grow? Envision this or reflect upon it in your journal as your bath is running.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the full moon</strong>:</em> What needs to be released? What heavy burden is no longer yours to carry? Who or what needs to be let go of in order to welcome in fresh, new potential? What cycle has come to a close that you would like to honor with a ritual of completion?</span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Fire Element</span></strong></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The fire element is an essential part of any ritual, whether it is focusing on manifestation or release, as it represents the power of initiation and action. If there are things you would like to welcome into your life, there will need to be motion and motivation in the real world behind it. Set a candle, or a group of candles, by your bath and turn out the lights. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the new moon</strong>:</em> As you light your candle, ask for a door to be opened; envision movement and action surrounding your intention.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the full moon</strong>:</em> As you light your candle(s), ask for release from any ties that bind you, envision heavy cords being cut, and focus on releasing past or old, stagnant energies so that you can make room for beautiful new blessings.</span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Earth Element</strong></span></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Incorporating the vibration of earth helps to ground our intentions and offers them a solid foundation. Choose a <a href="https://helloglow.co/12-healing-crystals-and-their-meanings/">crystal</a> that aligns well with what you’re looking to manifest/release, and if the mineral/stone is hard enough (ie. if it has a Mohs scale hardness of over 6—you’ll need to look this up), you can add your crystal(s) directly into your bath water. If it’s not hard enough to withstand being submerged in water, you can set it near your bath.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the new moon</strong>:</em> As you add/set your crystals, ask for your visions to be grounded in the element of earth, supported and rooted with the strength and stability they need in order to grow.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the full moon</strong>:</em> Tune into your crystals and ask them to absorb the energies you are carrying that you no longer need or that burden you or keep you down. If your crystals are in the bath with you, you might also envision them taking on whatever heavy/negative vibrations you are hoping to release. It’s a good idea to cleanse and charge your crystals after they have done any heavy lifting, so if you’re putting a lot into them, consider that in the days following.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Note: If you don’t have any crystals to use for this ritual, you can bring in the grounding energy of earth in other ways. You could add flowers or herbs to your bath. A stem of eucalyptus is wonderful if you have it, but flower petals, or herb bundles work very well (put them in a small mesh bag to keep pieces out of your drain if they are small). I fully support this idea of working with what you have, so if that means a small stone from your garden, then so be it! Set your intention as you would when working with the crystals.</span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Air Element</span></strong></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The air element governs the realm of the breath, the mind, and communication. Enlivening the air with scent or sound is a great way to stimulate clarity of consciousness when setting intentions. Choose an essential oil that aligns well with what you are calling in or closing out—love/relationships work <a href="https://helloglow.co/floral-diffusion-blends/">with florals</a> such as rose, jasmine, or geranium oil, whereas career/material realm works better with strong tree oils such as cedar or pine. Citrus is great for calling in anything playful or uplifting, whereas lavender, ylang ylang, or clary sage is best for releasing, for emotional healing and support. </span></p>
<p>If you would like to add in sound, I suggest choosing something with a singular, clear vibration such as crystal bowls, or Tibetan singing bowls; the choice of music should support your ability to get into alignment, rather than act as a distraction. Silent rituals are also beautiful. </p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the new moon</strong>:</em> Add a few drops of <a href="https://helloglow.co/essential-oils-in-the-bath/">essential oil into your bath water</a>. Inhale deeply—inhalations are vibrant and uplifting—tuning in to the mental energy surrounding your manifestation; ask for the ability to think clearly, to be able to communicate with kindness, openness, and compassion.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><em><strong>For the full moon</strong>:</em> As you add a few drops of your essential oil (or blend of a few complimentary oils (to align with the abundance of this moon), breathe deeply and focus on your exhalations, which is the body’s way of releasing tension. Bring to mind what you are working to release, and visualize this energy getting smaller and smaller with every out-breath.</span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Water Element</span></strong></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Since the moon is most closely aligned with water, the bath itself is the main event. Now that you’ve set the stage with the other elements in support of your vision, it’s time to submerge yourself. Water is often used in sacred rituals to symbolize purification and transformation. It not only literally washes away the dirt that we carry, it energetically cleanses as well.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Relax into the water and clear your mind. You have embedded your intention with the energies of the elements, and now it is time to surrender, to trust in the seeds that you’ve planted, in your ability to heal, transform, and to shed the proverbial skins of the past. Give yourself at least 20 minutes in your bath, as you’ll need some time to fully settle into the charge of what you’ve created. </span></p>
<h3 class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Gratitude</span></strong></h3>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">I believe that one of the most powerful offerings that we can put behind our manifestations is gratitude. Being thankful and aware of our blessings sets us in a vibration that aligns with abundance, and also keeps us elevated above petty attachments that keep us stuck in the past.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">As you drain your bath and watch the water flow away, take a moment to offer gratitude for all of the goodness you have in your life, for what lessons your challenges have taught you, and for the strength and vision that has carried you this far in life. Visualize the draining water washing away all that you have released, or carrying all that you have planted outward to manifest. After you’ve dried off, in gratitude, blow out your candles, and put your crystals away or return your earth elements outside. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Whether you decide to practice with the new moon, the full moon, or both, taking some special time out to reflect, to get clear, and turn inward on a monthly basis is a way to stay aligned with the life you envision for yourself.</span></p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://helloglow.co/moon-bath/">https://helloglow.co/moon-bath/</a></span></p></div>A List of Powerful Road Opener Herbs [+ How To Use Them]https://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/a-list-of-powerful-road-opener-herbs-how-to-use-them2022-11-04T15:24:04.000Z2022-11-04T15:24:04.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><h3><span id="Yarrow"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10863720659,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10863720659,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10863720659?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>Yarrow</span></h3>
<p>According to some, yarrow is under the dominion of Venus and is also a personal talisman for natives of the sign of Virgo. The ancient Celts used it for magickal purposes, while in the East, sages used its stem to interrogate the Chinese oracle I-Ching.</p>
<p>In addition, yarrow, if collected on the night of the solstice, has talismanic properties and can heal many diseases. If the obstacles are linked to you feeling sick and not healthy enough to stick with your plans, this herb is the perfect one.</p>
<h3><span id="Garlic">Garlic</span></h3>
<p>Garlic has had the power to keep away witches and evil spirits, who can often intrude during ceremonial magick rituals. It is often used to make chaplets with garlic, to be placed near the magick circle or even around the neck of the magickian himself.</p>
<p>You can also use a few drops of essence of garlic, to be sprinkled along the edge of the magick circle.</p>
<p>Garlic is also used in <a href="https://magickalspot.com/protection-spells-guide/">rituals to remove curses and evil eyes</a>. If you think bad energies are preventing you from living your best life, use garlic to open the road ahead by erasing all the negativity.</p>
<h3><span id="Ferns">Ferns</span></h3>
<p>Ferns fall <a href="https://magickalspot.com/jupiter-energy/">under the rule of Jupiter</a>. This plant has been repeatedly mentioned in ancient treatises of magick, and in ancient Grimoires and has given rise to a long series of uses.</p>
<p>Tradition says that the ferns should be collected on the eve of St. John’s Night on June 23, at the stroke of midnight, and put in their home in contact with coins, it is said, that there will always be plenty of money if you do this.</p>
<p>At the dawn of June 24, collect a fern seed and always carry it with you, it is said, that this will give gamblers a big fortune, whereas the burning of ferns, on the night of the Solstice, will remove the misfortunes.</p>
<h3><span id="Mauve">Mauve</span></h3>
<p>Mauve is placed under the planetary dominion of the Sun, strangely this herb is not widely used in magick, even if, picked at the right time, it can prove highly effective in combating negativity, in particular, a magician’s apprentice should often drink, an infusion of this herb, prepared as a normal tea to purify himself.</p>
<h3><span id="Lemon_balm">Lemon balm</span></h3>
<p>Lemon balm is placed under the protection of the planet Venus. Essential oil is extracted from lemon balm and makes an excellent love talisman, but it must be worked during appropriate hours to obtain the desired effects.</p>
<p>Magick tradition says that the lemon balm should be harvested after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_Day" target="_blank">the day of St. John</a> at around noon.</p>
<h3><span id="Mint"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10863721087,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10863721087,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10863721087?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a>Mint</span></h3>
<p>Mint provides considerable complementary forces in spells made to prevent or drive away negative vibrations. It is also used to foster interpersonal relationships, peace, and serenity of the spirit. If used as an infusion, it is excellent for promoting digestion and treating neuralgia.</p>
<h3><span id="Parsley">Parsley</span></h3>
<p>In the past parsley was used in infusions and love filters and during witchcraft practices. It was believed to be a satanic plant, and it is customary to sow it on Good Friday when malignant influences could not infect its growth.</p>
<p>Even now, parsley is used in evil spells and <a href="https://magickalspot.com/having-the-evil-eye/">evil eye rituals</a>. Legend says that if you fumigate with parsley, you can get excellent visions of clairvoyance to see what is blocking your road and remove it so you can finally get what you want.</p>
<h3><span id="Rosehip">Rosehip</span></h3>
<p>Rosehip is placed under the planetary <a href="https://magickalspot.com/venus-energy/">dominion of Venus</a> and is also the flower of all the natives of the sign of Taurus. It is a powerful magickal agent for all matters related to love and affection in general.</p>
<p>Those born under the sign of Taurus can also use it to encourage enterprise. Parts of the plant are often used for the creation of elixirs for enchantment.</p>
<p>It is also possible to mix the petals, leaves, dried and powdered fruits to fill talismanic bags.</p>
<h3><span id="Rosemary">Rosemary</span></h3>
<p>Rosemary is a grass of a modest nature, it emits beneficial vibrations for overcoming depression caused by the behavior or attitude of others, to turn upside down situations that cause anguish, and to open the way to new relationships. It is used as a simple presence in the spell or by burning some dry twigs. It should always be placed at the bottom of all magickal objects.</p>
<h3><span id="Valerian">Valerian</span></h3>
<p>All “male” planets dominate Valerian. The Greeks and Romans have previously made extensive use of it in the natural pharmacology of their times. In the Middle Ages, during the inquisitions, it was surrounded by the reputation of a magickal and legendary plant.</p>
<p>Wizards and sorcerers used it in abundance to make <a href="https://magickalspot.com/what-is-the-evil-eye/">evil eyes</a> and aphrodisiac mixtures, a sprig of Valerian, picked during the <a href="https://magickalspot.com/mars-energy/">days of Mars</a> or <a href="https://magickalspot.com/mercury-energy/">Mercury</a>, tied to the back of the bed, infuses strength and vigor.</p>
<p>Valerian can be used for spells and evil eye, but according to an ancient belief, it would be enough to touch a person with a Valerian root and say the following formula; “Like grass to grass, so this person is attracted to me and remains tied to me forever”.</p>
<h3><span id="Verbena">Verbena</span></h3>
<p>Verbena falls under the <a href="https://magickalspot.com/venus-energy/">dominion of Venus</a>, and is a sacred herb in love remedies. It is an excellent natural talisman for everyone, but especially for the natives of Taurus and Libra.</p>
<p>In the Middle Ages, Verbena was used by witches and spellcasters to remove nightmares, evil spirits, and unwanted presences.</p>
<p>Still today it is considered a powerful plant talisman if it is always kept at home and that it is personally picked on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_John%27s_Eve">St. John’s Night</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4 class="author-box-title">About Tina Caro</h4>
<div class="author-box-content">
<p>Tina Caro is a passionate solitary witch, an astrologer, a yogi, and she's a passionate supporter of all things holistic! Her favorites are green magick, moon rituals, and shadow work.</p>
<p><a href="https://magickalspot.com/road-opener-herbs/">https://magickalspot.com/road-opener-herbs/</a></p>
</div></div>What the Scent of a Witch Revealed About the Ancient Worldhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/what-the-scent-of-a-witch-revealed-about-the-ancient-world2022-10-28T20:42:11.000Z2022-10-28T20:42:11.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><h2 class="ArticleHeader__subtitle">Antiquity’s perfumed sorceresses still influence ideas about magic today.</h2>
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<div class="ArticleHeader__byline-dateline"><span class="ArticleHeader__byline">BY <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/brittaager?view=articles">BRITTA AGER</a></span><span class="ArticleHeader__pub-date">OCTOBER 24, 2022</span></div>
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<div class="SocialLinks" style="text-align:center;"> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10857367070,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10857367070,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10857367070?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><span style="font-size:8pt;"><strong>"Circe," painted in 1910 by Frederick Stuart Church, depicts the powerful sorceress of the ancient world. <a class="caption-credit" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48005187" target="_blank">SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM/PUBLIC DOMAIN/WIKIMEDIA</a></strong></span></div>
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<p class="item-body-text-graf"><em>This story was originally published on </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/smells-like-witch-spirit-how-the-ancient-worlds-scented-sorceresses-influence-ideas-about-magic-today-169066">The Conversation</a><em> and appears here under a Creative Commons license.</em></p>
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<p class="item-body-text-graf"><span class="section-start-text">MOST PERFUME ADS SUGGEST THAT </span>the right scent can make you sexy, alluring and successful. A <a href="https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/general-catalog-perfume-oils/excolo/hecate/">blend by Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs</a>, meanwhile, offers to make you smell like Hecate, the three-faced Greek goddess of witchcraft.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">As <a href="https://hcommons.org/members/brittaager/">a classics scholar</a> who studies both magic and the senses in the ancient world, this idea of a witch-inspired perfume fascinates me—and “Hecate” is just one of many magic-inspired fragrances available today. What does a witch smell like, and why would you deliberately perfume yourself like one?</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Smells are impossible to see or touch, yet they affect us emotionally and even physically. That’s similar to how many people think of magic, and cultures around the world have connected the two. <a href="https://www.press.umich.edu/10082698/scent_of_ancient_magic">My current research</a> is focused on how magic and scent were linked in ancient Rome and Greece, ideas that continue to shape views of witches in the West today.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Greeks and Romans of all walks of life believed in magic and used spells ranging from curses to healing magic and garden charms. <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/G/bo3684249.html">Magical handbooks</a> from the time show that Greco-Egyptian magicians used fragrance extensively in their rituals, even scented inks, and <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315736051-9/smell-sign-cure-ancient-medicine-laurence-totelin">doctors believed strong-smelling plant species</a> to be more medically effective than others. The gods themselves were thought to smell sweet, and places they touched retained a pleasant odor, making <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315736051-11/divine-scents-presence-ashley-clements">scent a sign of contact with the divine</a>.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Professional magicians in the ancient world claimed they could curse enemies, summon gods, heal the sick, raise ghosts, tell the future and accomplish various other miraculous feats. Surviving descriptions suggest that a majority of them were men, although certainly not all. When it comes to Greek and Roman fiction, however, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195342703.001.0001">most magicians are women</a>.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10857367861,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10857367861,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10857367861?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><strong>“Medea,” painted in the late 1860s by Frederick Sandys. <a class="caption-credit" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1846125" target="_blank">PUBLIC DOMAIN/WIKIMEDIA</a></strong></span></p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf"> </p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Witches in ancient literature use smells even more aggressively than their real-life counterparts did. Medea, for example—the most famous witch of antiquity—casts magic through scent repeatedly in Apollonius’s epic poem “<a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Greek/RhodiusArgonauticaHome.php">Argonautica</a>,” about the hero Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece. To help him, Medea <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Greek/RhodiusArgonauticaIV.php">puts the dragon guarding the fleece to sleep</a> by chanting spells and drizzling herbal potions in its eyes. The odor of her herbal concoctions finally overcomes the monster.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Later in the poem, more ominously, <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Greek/RhodiusArgonauticaIV.php">Medea scatters herbs into the wind</a>, and their scent lures her own brother into an ambush. Medea has run off with Jason by this point, and he kills her brother to prevent her from being forced to return home.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">The Roman poet Horace wrote several poems <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/HoraceSatiresBkISatVIII.php">about a character named Canidia</a>, who is a more horrific witch than Medea: <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/HoraceSatiresBkISatVIII.php">Her teeth are black</a>, and she uses her long fingernails to dig up graves. In <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/HoraceEpodesAndCarmenSaeculare.php#anchor_Toc98670053">one poem</a>, Canidia and her friends murder a child so they can use his liver and bone marrow in a magical perfume to re-enchant her lover, who has left her. In <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/HoraceEpodesAndCarmenSaeculare.php#anchor_Toc98670065">another poem</a>, Horace even describes Canidia attacking him with scent. She made him ill with her odors, he writes, in return for his unflattering descriptions of her.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">In the patriarchal societies of Rome and Greece, women were regarded with general suspicion, especially in matters of self-control like sex, money, and drinking. Not only were women considered <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/26927955">liable to weakness</a>, but they were likely to lead men into self-indulgence as well.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Stories about magical scents encode these ideas, especially fears about the dangers of sexually alluring women. It was said that women who used perfumes and cosmetics could seduce men into behaving in ways they would not choose to if they were in their right minds. Roman writer <a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=13:chapter=4&highlight=perfume">Pliny the Elder commented</a> that the best perfume was one that made all the men in the area forget what they were doing when a women wearing it walked by. <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/CuresforLove.php#anchor_Toc523020778">The poet Ovid suggested</a> that if you want to get rid of love, you should pay your girlfriend a surprise visit to catch her without her makeup—her “blended potions.”</p>
<blockquote class="article-pullquote-content">What does a witch smell like, and why would you deliberately perfume yourself like one?</blockquote>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Medea’s odoriferous potions and Canidia’s fragrant spells <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/preternature.8.1.0001">resemble ordinary women’s perfumes</a>, but exaggerated to supernatural levels. The same misogynistic fear that women have the power to enchant men’s minds underlies both stories of witches and stories of ordinary seduction. In the “Iliad,” the goddess Hera distracts her husband, Zeus, from the Trojan War <a href="https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Greek/Iliad14.php#anchor_Toc239246023">by seducing him</a>. Her preparations include cleansing and perfuming herself with divinely fragrant ambrosia as well as borrowing a magical, lust-inducing belt from Aphrodite. Zeus falls asleep in Hera’s arms, unaware that a battle rages.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">The association of fragrance and magic persisted long after the end of the Greek and Roman world. In C. S. Lewis’s 1953 novel<em> <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-silver-chair-c-s-lewis?variant=32117136130082">The Silver Chair</a></em>, for example, a witch appears who could be Medea’s cousin. She throws a green powder onto a fire to produce a “sweet and drowsy” scent, which makes the characters more and more confused.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">These days, however, smelling like a witch has its attractions. Misogynistic stereotypes of seductive enchantresses and evil crones <a href="https://theconversation.com/sirens-hags-and-rebels-halloween-witches-draw-on-the-history-of-womens-power-149110">have been reclaimed as feminist symbols</a>, and the modern proliferation of perfume blends named for witches, spells and potions suggests that many people find their associations empowering.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf">Modern perfumes evoking magical imagery are often presented with a feminist twist, reclaiming ancient stereotypes. Another scent from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, “<a href="https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/general-catalog-perfume-oils/diabolus/medea/">Medea</a>,” describes her as “the embodiment of ruthless power, indomitable will, and furious vengeance.” Aether Arts Perfume’s “<a href="https://aetherartsperfume.patternbyetsy.com/listing/699597392/circe-goddess-witch-lover-woman-an">Circe</a>” is based on <a href="http://madelinemiller.com/circe/">Madeline Miller’s novel</a> about the great witch of “The Odyssey” and describes her as “a woman of power and strength.” <em>Harry Potter</em> fans can find all sorts of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/search?q=hermione%20candle">Hermione-themed</a> scented candles online.</p>
<p class="item-body-text-graf item-body-last">Like costumes, perfumes offer a way to try on a persona for a little while. Maybe you want to feel like <a href="https://www.sagegoddess.com/product/hecate-perfume/">a powerful goddess</a>, <a href="https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/collaborations/ars-inspiratio/the-witch-strega-perfume-oil/">someone with a library full of magical tomes</a>, or <a href="https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/in-memoriam/halloween/halloween-2018/the-witch-bride/">a seductive monster</a>. But while costumes are obvious to other people, only the wearer knows what a perfume “means”—and perhaps that’s half the fun of smelling like Hecate.</p>
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<p class="item-body-text-graf item-body-last" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-witches-smell-like">https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-witches-smell-like</a></p>
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</div></div>Autumn Leaf Magickhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/autumn-leaf-magick2022-09-23T13:36:52.000Z2022-09-23T13:36:52.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Using the beauty leaves of fall for magick is fun and easy. Going outside and gathering a few leaves off the ground is quick, it’s free and it doesn’t harm the trees! It’s perfect for any autumn magick or spells you may have.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10825388862,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10825388862,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10825388862?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></span></p>
<p><strong>Tree Correspondences:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Almond: clairvoyance, divination, moon magick, wisdom</li>
<li>Apple: healing, love, romance, fertility, lust, youth, prosperity</li>
<li>Ash: protection</li>
<li>Apricot: love</li>
<li>Aspen: protection</li>
<li>Birch: new starts and beginnings, protection, purity and purification, fertility</li>
<li>Cypress: protection, past life work</li>
<li>Elder: prosperity, protection, healing</li>
<li>Elm: protection</li>
<li>Eucalyptus: healing</li>
<li>Fig: sensuality, fertility, healing</li>
<li>Fir: immortality</li>
<li>Grape: joy</li>
<li>Hawthorn: protection, love, cleansing, Fae (faeries)</li>
<li>Hazel: wisdom, strength, divination, protection</li>
<li>Maple: divination, love</li>
<li>Mulberry: wisdom, willpower, divination, knowledge</li>
<li>Oak: healing, money and finances, longevity, strength</li>
<li>Peach: divination</li>
<li>Rowan: magick, protection, strength</li>
<li>Walnut: healing, divination, protection</li>
<li>Willow: enhancement, moon magick, the Underworld, healing, protection</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Color Correspondences:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Brown: earth, cottage magick, the home/hearth, animal magick, generosity, friendship, endurance, protection, grounding, strength, decision making, finding lost objects, concentration, focus, family, construction, real estate, material goods, food, harvest</li>
<li>Gold: Masculine energies, great fortune, abundance, prosperity, divination, understanding, fast luck/temporary luck, sun magick, positive emotions and energies, justice, health, attraction, luxury</li>
<li>Orange: relieving depression, abandonment, opportunity, happiness, alertness, kindness, material gain, energy, legal matters, strength, creativity, self-expression, overcoming addiction, ambition, success in business, fun, vitality, celebration</li>
<li>Red: passion, love, lust, anger, strength, confidence, fire, courage, power, joy, desire, health, business deals, combat, confrontation, hunting, survival, fertility, sexual natures, competition, sports, mercy</li>
<li>Yellow: air, healing, friendship, productivity, remove negative thoughts, creativity, invention, beauty, life, intellect and intelligence, prosperity, self-esteem, motivation, happiness, success, memory, learning, inspiration, the imagination, travel</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Ideas and suggestions for using leaves for magick:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Decorate your altar with them!</li>
<li>Press them into your grimoire or book of shadows for safe keeping or use later in the year</li>
<li>Draw sigils on them then crumple them up or burn them to activate</li>
<li>Crush them into a jar for potent jar spells</li>
<li>Line your plants with them for not only nutrients and to hold in moisture but to give them the traits of the leaf’s color and tree</li>
<li>Charging stones, crystals, water, oils and tarot/oracle cards with the energies of the tree</li>
<li>Use them in curses to cause sudden change, destruction/death of things or decay of things</li>
<li>Grind them into a powder to mix with salt or egg shells and use for protection, cleansing and warding</li>
<li>Using fresh ones line the edge of your tub with them during bath spells and magick, wash them in a sink and let them float in the tub with you if its safe</li>
<li>Cut them up and put small pieces of them in oil and into a pendent bottle/bottle charm to wear</li>
<li>Drip wax on them to seal a spell into them for later use</li>
<li>Hang them on or around your door and other entry points to ward off negativity and protect your home </li>
</ul>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10825392064,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10825392064,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10825392064?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p></div>MABON AND ALL SABBATS ~ WHEEL OF THE YEARhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/mabon-and-all-sabbats-wheel-of-the-year2022-09-09T17:37:11.000Z2022-09-09T17:37:11.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10807602678,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10807602678,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="10807602678?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a>Here is a list of articles posted in the <a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year" target="_blank">WHEEL OF THE YEAR</a> group for upcoming </span><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;">Mabon:</span></a></p>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/mabon-ritual">Mabon Ritual </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/simple-wiccan-mabon-ritual-for-solitaries-without-ritual-tools">Simple Wiccan Mabon Ritual for Solitaries (Without Ritual Tools) </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/mabon-ritual-for-the-beginner-witch">Mabon Ritual for the Beginner Witch </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/apple-magick-banishing-spell-for-mabon">Apple Magick Banishing Spell for Mabon </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/mabon-reset-ritual">Mabon Reset Ritual </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/harvest-simmering-potpourri">Harvest Simmering Potpourri </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/mabon-and-modron">Mabon and Modron </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/mabon-incense-recipe-by-scott-cunningham">Mabon Incense Recipe by Scott Cunningham </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/mabon/mabon-long-history"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Mabon Long History</span> </a></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>RECIPES & CRAFTS</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/food-drink-recipes/ginger-apple-moscow-mule">Ginger Apple Moscow Mule </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/food-drink-recipes/caramel-apple-upside-down-cake">CARAMEL APPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/food-drink-recipes/mabon-as-a-kitchen-witch-celebrate-the-harvest-with-a-meal">Mabon As A Kitchen Witch: Celebrate The Harvest With A Meal </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/food-drink-recipes/autumn-harvest-punch">AUTUMN HARVEST PUNCH </a></span></li>
<li class="entry-title"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/crafts-for-sabbats/floating-acorn-cap-candle"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Floating Acorn Cap Candle</span> </a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em>There is a section for each sabbat within the group:</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/samhain" target="_blank">SAMHAIN</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/yule" target="_blank">YULE</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/imbolc" target="_blank">IMBOLC</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/ostara" target="_blank">OSTARA</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/beltane" target="_blank">BELTANE</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/litha-midsummer" target="_blank">LITHA / MIDSUMMER</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/lughnasadh" target="_blank">LUGHNASADH / LAMMAS</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/food-drink-recipes" target="_blank">FOOD & DRINK RECIPES</a></span></p>
<p><a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/wheel-of-the-year/crafts-for-sabbats" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;">CRAFTS FOR SABBATS</span></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Please share your thoughts, ideas, rituals & recipes with the WITCHES MOON community!</span></p></div>Witches’ Mark: Do You Have Any of these Witch’s Marks on Skin or Palms?https://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/witches-mark-do-you-have-any-of-these-witch-s-marks-on-skin-or-pa2022-08-16T00:04:10.000Z2022-08-16T00:04:10.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p class="has-medium-font-size">The Witches’ mark dates back centuries, possibly thousands of years, and is often carried by witches in each of their lives. But what is it, exactly? We will dive into the history and lore here and find out if YOU have any of these witch’s marks on your skin or palms!</p>
<h2 id="h-what-is-the-witches-mark">What is the Witches Mark?</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">There’s a growing trend in the witchcraft community where women are looking for their witches mark. There are photos circulating online that show the witches mark as a very specific mole on the right lower arm. I believe this is just a trend and the modern witch’s mark can be one of many things. There are also claims that witches marks are found all over the body on various parts of the skin. And they can be red, dark brown, or even an extra nipple. So what is the truth? What exactly is the witches mark?</p>
<h3 id="h-witch-hunters-look-for-the-witches-mark">Witch Hunters Look for the Witches Mark</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The concept of a witches mark historically dates to the Medieval and Early Modern period and has a much darker history than the witches mark of today. During the Witch Trials, witch hunters scoured the countryside in search of witches to burn, hang, drown and torture. One way a witch hunter “confirmed” a witch was to locate the witches mark on his/her body. This could be a mole, birthmark, scar, extra digit or even a third nipple. Some claimed the witches mark was given to the witch by the devil and was a “teet” from which the witch’s familiar would suckle blood. Others claimed scars or scratches on the body were a sign the devil had marked his territory.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">According to Michael Dalton’s <em>Country Justice </em>(1618), “their said familiar hath some bigg, or little teat, upon their body, and in some secret place, where he sucketh them.” Witch hunters took any malformation of the skin or body as a mark of the devil. And here’s the thing – technically everyone has some kind of mole, freckle, or skin tag. So, whomever was accused of witchcraft, likely had a “witch’s mark” according to these malevolent men’s agenda. I feel the worst part of this is the witch hunters would search the accused for this “witch’s mark”. They claimed it was frequently found in the witch’s most “secretest parts”. Basically, it was a way to get their rocks off on many different levels.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10769720660,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10769720660,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="564" alt="10769720660?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<h2 id="h-the-witches-mark-today">The Witches Mark Today</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">The Witches mark in modern times is viewed in a different light. Modern witches believe birthmarks, moles, and the like are actually indicators of their magical abilities or signs of their past witch lives. For example, a birthmark that repeats itself on family members may indicate a line of witches depending on the shape and location.</p>
<h3 id="h-patterns-symbols-and-shapes">Patterns, Symbols and Shapes</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">No one can determine what your birthmarks and moles mean or if they are the witches’ mark or not. Only you can determine that. I know that’s vague, so here’s a few ways to look for witches marks on your skin and body:</p>
<ul class="has-medium-font-size">
<li><strong>By pattern</strong>: a cluster of moles may form a pattern with a magical meaning. For instance, 3 moles side by side might look like the triple moon symbol for the goddess.</li>
<li><strong>By symbol:</strong> birthmarks and moles can form patterns that look similar to symbols. For instance, a red birthmark that takes the shape of a rune or some other magical symbol</li>
<li><strong>By shape</strong>: a witches mark on the skin might also take the shape of a country, the shape of a heart, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Extra digit</strong>: an extra toe or finger nearly always meant a witch in past centuries and some believe still so today</li>
<li><strong>Extra nipple</strong>: an extra nipple in the Burning Times meant you were a witch; if you have an extra nipple today, you can claim it as your witch’s mark</li>
<li><strong>Red hair:</strong> in Celtic countries, people with red hair were often suspected of being witches</li>
<li><strong>Extra breasts</strong>: a condition called polymastia indicated a witch in centuries past</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="h-but-what-do-these-birthmarks-and-moles-mean">But what do these birthmarks and moles mean?</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">If you’ve found you have a strange birthmark or mole, maybe you’re wondering what it actually means. Some birthmarks may indicate your past life or lives as a witch – showing how a witch was tortured or even died. For example, an elongated birthmark on the back may indicate a stab wound or a line around the neck may indicate being hung in a past life.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Other birthmarks or moles might be symbols you carry with you as sacred dedication to a specific god or goddess OR to witchcraft in general (like a triple moon, rune, etc.) They also indicate past lives in specific countries, for example a birthmark that resembles Australia or South America. In addition, birthmarks in the same place as other family members may indicate <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/witch-bloodline-names/">magical bloodlines</a>.</p>
<h2 id="h-please-note">PLEASE NOTE!</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Be aware some moles and birthmarks may indicate a skin problem like skin cancer. If you’re unsure or notice a mole that looks different than it did before, please see a doctor.</p>
<h2 id="h-palm-signs-as-witches-marks">Palm Signs As Witches Marks</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">While birthmarks and moles may indicate a witches mark, not every mole or mark on the skin has a meaning. Most of us have moles and freckles all over our bodies in various place. And they don’t all have a spiritual significance. We recommend looking at your palms for an easier way to detect your magical abilities and past lives.</p>
<h3 id="h-the-healer-s-mark">The Healer’s Mark</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Many witches are healers and were healers in their past lives, healing with energy, herbs, by faith, etc. If you have healing abilities, you probably have the healer’s mark on one or both of your palms. The healer’s mark is a series of three or more vertical lines directly under the pinky finger on the palm.</p>
<h3 id="h-clairvoyant-and-psychic-palm-signs">Clairvoyant and Psychic Palm Signs</h3>
<p class="has-text-align-left has-medium-font-size">There are various palm signs that indicate if the person has clairvoyant, psychic, and empathic abilities. One is the “mystic cross” found somewhere in the middle of the palm, usually between the head and heart lines. Another cross to indicate psychic ability is seen on the middle pad of the index finger. The “psychic triangle” is also seen in the middle of the palm. To confirm a strong intuition, there’s a line of intuition that’s a curved vertical line on the outside of the palm under the pinky. And empathy curved lines just under the index finger indicate empathic abilities.</p>
<h3 id="h-starseed-constellation-palm-signs">Starseed Constellation Palm Signs</h3>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Many witches find they are also of starseed origins. This means they lived past lives in other star systems or constellations. Common starseeds include: Sirians, Orions, Arcturians, Pleiadians, <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/lyran-starseeds-markings-origins-gods/">Lyrans</a>, Andromedans, etc. from those respective star constellations and/or planets. Starseeds carry reminders of their otherworldly origins in shape or pattern of their other constellations. For example, you might have a pattern of lines on your palm that resemble Orion’s belt or the Lyran constellation, etc.</p>
<h2 id="h-do-you-have-any-of-these-witches-marks-on-your-skin-or-palms">Do You Have Any of These Witches Marks on Your Skin or Palms?</h2>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">We admit not every mole or freckle has a supernatural meaning. But if you find a strangely-shaped or large birthmark that resembles something sacred – you might have the witches’ mark! Or if you have a mole or birthmark that looks like a past life wound or country, this might link you to a past witch life. What about your palms? Have you found some of the palm signs above on your palms? If you have, what should you do now? Begin studying and practicing the craft, if you haven’t already. Look into understanding and embracing empathy, clairvoyance, intuition or healing depending on your palm signs. Here are MORE <a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/could-i-be-a-witch-physical-signs-of-being-a-witch/">Physical Signs of a Witch</a>.</p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size"> </p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/witches-mark/">https://otherworldlyoracle.com/witches-mark/</a></p></div>How To Fix Your Money Mindset For More Effective Abundance Magichttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/how-to-fix-your-money-mindset-for-more-effective-abundance-magic2022-07-07T16:44:26.000Z2022-07-07T16:44:26.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p>BY <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn" href="https://averyhart.co/blog/author/julie">JULIE HOPKINS</a></span></p>
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<p>The first spell I ever performed was a money spell. I didn’t know anything about witchcraft, but I’d already tried everything else to help my financial situation to no avail. I’d begun to suspect that the money issues that plagued my twenties were energetic, rather than due to my conscious actions. What I mean is I’d done “All The Things” that people are supposed to do to make a decent living like getting a college degree in marketing, working hard, reading a ton of business and personal development books, and downsizing my monthly expenses.</p>
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<p>There I was, closing in on the big 3-0, and all I had to my name was $4000 of credit card debt.</p>
<p>How could it be that I was just barely scraping by, month after month, year after year, for the entirety of my adult life?</p>
<p>I pondered this question as I looked over the instructions for my witchy money spell kit. I held the candle in my hands, read aloud the incantation, and arranged the three crystals around the candle as I was directed.</p>
<p>I lit the candle and sat there a while, waiting for something magical to happen.</p>
<p>And I started crying.</p>
<p>Performing that spell made me think about the time I signed up for a $300 spa treatment when I was twenty-two and missed the appointment, losing all of my money. I felt so much shame around that moment still—almost eight years later—all because I made a mistake that cost me $300. Why was this memory so fresh in my mind? Why did it make me sob like I was watching the last scene of the Notebook? Why was I still beating myself up over $300?</p>
<p>As I thought (cried) about it more, I realized that my shame wasn’t about the $300. It was about what I started believing as a result of making that money mistake—that I couldn’t be trusted with money.</p>
<p>That, my friends, is a money block.</p>
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<h1 class="has-text-align-center">My Money Blocks</h1>
<p>Because much of witchcraft works through energy, I believe my specific money block rose to my awareness that day as a result of my money spell. I was being told to release that baggage so I could allow my spell to work. Witchcraft has helped me take my first steps towards healing.</p>
<p>My money blocks go even deeper, though. If you’re wondering why a twenty-two-year-old had $300 to blow on a seaweed body wrap, let me explain.</p>
<p>My grandparents, being responsible money-minded people they were, decided to give out their inheritance early to their grandkids.</p>
<p>I got a big, fat check with more zeros than I had ever seen in my bank account in all my life. I was twenty at the time, and what do you do when you’re twenty and get a huge wad of cash?</p>
<p>You drop out of college and move to Los Angeles!</p>
<p>I think you know where I’m going with this. I partied like a rockstar for a few years—nice restaurants, swanky parties, shopping sprees—until one day I was putting gas in my car and my debit card got declined. I checked my bank account and saw I only had $4. Yikes. Never in my life had I felt so, so scared, stupid and ashamed.</p>
<p>I moved back to my mom’s house, got a job waiting tables, and picked up the pieces of my broken life. Nearly ten years later, I had only managed to make EXACTLY enough to cover my bare-bones living expenses, not a penny more.</p>
<p>Ten years later, thinking about money still made me feel scared, stupid, and ashamed.</p>
<p>Why? Because my past money trauma had taught me that I wasn’t capable of managing excess money, among other things.</p>
<p>So, my witchy friend, what lies have you started believing about yourself?</p>
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<h1 class="has-text-align-center">Why Aren’t Your Abundance Spells Working?</h1>
<p>There are a lot of reasons why your financial abundance spells aren’t working, but there are five in particular that I’ve discovered in myself and that I’ve frequently seen in others. These reasons are all related to your energy and mindset around money.</p>
<h2>Reason #1: There’s an event in your past that is still affecting you.</h2>
<p>This can be the time, years ago, when you couldn’t pay your credit card bill and now your scary-looking credit score is keeping you from getting approved for an apartment. You think about it every day because your financial mishap from the past is still following you, holding you back and making you feel bad.</p>
<p>This also can be an event that is energetically affecting you, like when I started crying about the $300 I wasted. That $300 all those years ago wasn’t the reason I was currently struggling, but it was still affecting me energetically.</p>
<h2>Reason #2: You’ve acquired some false beliefs around money from your childhood.</h2>
<p>This can be from your parents, your siblings, your childhood friends, your school teachers, etc.</p>
<p>The way you get to the bottom of this is to start by thinking about how your parents treated money. I’ll give you another example from my personal life. When I was a kid, my mom tended to splurge on nice things that we didn’t necessarily need. My dad, on the other hand, wouldn’t even pay for a plumber to fix our leaky kitchen sink. He insisted on solving the problem by arranging several cereal bowls under the sink to catch the water. This extreme behavior on both sides of the spectrum may have led to me making some bad money decisions when I was in my early twenties.</p>
<p><strong>Here are a few questions you can answer to get you started.</strong></p>
<p>What did your mother and father do with their money?</p>
<p>What money did you have control over as a kid? (Allowance, after-school jobs, etc).</p>
<p>Did your family have a lot of money or was money scarce?</p>
<p>Do you remember being teased for having too much or too little money?</p>
<p>Did your parents ever fight about money?</p>
<p><strong>Here are some common false beliefs people learn when they’re kids:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Money is dirty. Don’t touch it.</li>
<li>Money causes fights.</li>
<li>You only make money by working long hours.</li>
<li>My parents had too much (or too little) money and I don’t want to be like them.</li>
<li>You’re worthless if you can’t support your family.</li>
<li>Good people are happy with simple things.</li>
<li>Money makes people greedy.</li>
<li>Money doesn’t grow on trees.</li>
</ul>
<p>Have you heard any of these? Do any of them resonate? If so, you’ve likely uncovered a money block.</p>
<h2>Reason #3: You don’t value yourself.</h2>
<p>Since the only time in my life I’d had a lot of money was when it had been given to me, I began to believe that my abilities weren’t valuable. I didn’t make that money. My grandparents did. All I was good at was spending it.</p>
<p>This led to me setting the prices for my graphic design work way too low, messing up interviews for high-paying jobs, and doing lots of work for free. Interestingly enough, none of my bosses tended to value my work all that much either.</p>
<p>YOU set your own value in this world. Others will pay you what YOU are willing to ask for. What is your time worth? A lot! You have a good, creative brain, and you’re MAGICAL. Don’t let others tell you what you’re worth. Stand in your power and tell the world what you’re worth.</p>
<h2>Reason #4: You’re playing small.</h2>
<p>After I spent my entire inheritance on worthless things, I didn’t trust myself with money. Neither did my parents. Or grandparents. Or my friends. Or the bank.</p>
<p>Eventually, they forgave me—even the bank!</p>
<p>However, I never forgave myself for my mistakes, and as a result, I never wanted to get into a situation where I could lose thousands of dollars. You can’t lose what you don’t have. Any time I had more than enough money, it went away. I either spent it immediately or made less money the next month which caused everything to even out.</p>
<p>On an energetic level, I was playing small to protect myself.</p>
<p><strong>To see if you have this block, perform this journaling exercise.</strong></p>
<p>Write the amount of money you actually make each month. Next, write down all the benefits of staying at this income level.</p>
<p><strong>Here are a few common ones:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>I pay fewer taxes.</li>
<li>I fit into with my family and friends.</li>
<li>I don’t have to worry about losing or misusing excess money.</li>
<li>I won’t be taken advantage of.</li>
<li>Other’s won’t view me as a greedy rich person.</li>
<li>My kids will learn to value the simple things in life.</li>
<li>I don’t have to take on more responsibility at work.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Reason #5: You may not fully believe in an abundant universe.</h2>
<p>If you believed that every dollar you made caused your best friend to lose a dollar, how would you feel about making money?</p>
<p>Do you ever see pictures of people in other countries living in poverty and wonder why you can have so much while others have nothing?</p>
<p>Are you afraid to spend any money because you don’t think you’ll be able to make it back?</p>
<p>You might be living with a scarcity mindset. The way to work through this block is to shift your perspective.</p>
<p>Think about all the things that are abundant in your life—air, water, Chipotle burritos, laughter—whatever! Make a list of all the things you know you will always be able to get more of.</p>
<p>Money is exactly the same way. There is more than enough money to go around. If you are rich, you certainly aren’t lessening my chances of getting rich. If anything, now you’re in a position to teach me how to make more money. Plus, if you decide you want to help those people in other countries who are poor, guess what? Now you have extra money that you can donate to them if you choose.</p>
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<h1 class="has-text-align-center">How Witchcraft Can Help You Heal Your Money Blocks</h1>
<p>If you want to make this process of finding and releasing blocks a regular part of your witchcraft, a great time to do this is during the phase of the waning moon. The waning moon energy helps many witches to let go of things and energies that are no longer serving them.</p>
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<h2 class="has-text-align-center">Waning Moon Bath Ritual</h2>
<p>Sit outside under the waning moon and journal about some of your money beliefs. When you’re done, burn the pages (using proper fire safety) and allow the smoke to rise up into the universe, far, far away from you.</p>
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<h2 class="has-text-align-center">Block-Releasing Tarot Spell</h2>
<p>Carve a sigil, word or image that represents a money block you’d like to release into a black candle. As the candle burns, begin to shuffle your tarot or oracle cards. Draw one card to answer each of the questions.</p>
<p><strong>Card #1:</strong> Where did this block come from?</p>
<p><strong>Card #2:</strong> Why must I release it?</p>
<p><strong>Card #3:</strong> How can I release it?</p>
<p>Sit with the cards and journal about the thoughts and images that appear in your mind. Allow the candle to burn down or extinguish it to complete your spell.</p>
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<h2 class="has-text-align-center">Your Spiritual Money Journey</h2>
<p>As you release blocks, you might find even deeper ones underneath. That’s ok. This process is about healing and spiritual growth, and that’s always ongoing. Some witches refer to this kind of work as shadow work. When you bring shadow work into your practice, you will likely notice changes in your life. You might feel more powerful because you’ve released things that had been weighing on you unconsciously for so long. You might see results from your spells faster.</p>
<p><strong>Can you perform effective money spells when you still have blocks?</strong></p>
<p>Abso-freaking-lutely.</p>
<p>Witchcraft is POWERFUL, and so are you. Even at my most “blocked” I saw money miracles occur in my life as a result of my spells. It made me believe in magic. Trust that every time you perform a money spell, it IS working. Trust that all your flaws and past mistakes bring your awareness to ways you can step more fully into your power. Your mistakes aren’t actually mistakes. They’re the steps you’ve taken in your spiritual journey for your ultimate healing.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://averyhart.co/blog/how-to-fix-your-money-mindset-for-more-effective-abundance-magic">https://averyhart.co/blog/how-to-fix-your-money-mindset-for-more-effective-abundance-magic</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">For More See MONEY SPELLS - <a href="https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/spells-and-shadows/money-spells">https://witches-moon.ning.com/groups/spells-and-shadows/money-spells</a></span></p></div>9 Ways to Use Whiskey In Witchcrafthttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/9-ways-to-use-whiskey-in-witchcraft2022-06-09T19:24:19.000Z2022-06-09T19:24:19.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.moodymoons.com/author/moodymoons/">moodymoons</a></span></p>
<p><span class="entry-tags-date"><a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2019/03/17/9-ways-to-use-whiskey-in-witchcraft/">March 17, 2019</a></span></p>
<p><span class="entry-tags-date"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10551028866,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10551028866,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="300" alt="10551028866?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a></span></p>
<h2>Exorcism and Warding off Evil Spirits</h2>
<p>The legendary tale of St. Patrick and the innkeeper goes something like this:</p>
<p>A innkeeper once poured St. Patrick a stingy glass of whiskey. Miffed, St. Patrick informed the innkeeper that a satanic spirit haunted his cellar. The only way to rid his dwelling of the evil apparition required him to fill each of his customer’s glasses to the brim.</p>
<p>The innkeeper obliged, and St. Patrick promptly informed him the spirit left the premises.</p>
<p>This charming tale speaks to whiskey’s power of exorcism.</p>
<p>If you’re a paranormal investigator, or you’re dealing with weird vibes of your own, anoint windows, doors and/or the lowest level of your home with whiskey to chase away negative entities.</p>
<h2>Leave Some for the Fairies</h2>
<p>Whether you call them faeries or simple good vibes, legend has it the friendly woodland spirits who dwell in the thickets of the natural landscape around you love the amber stuff.</p>
<p>On your next outdoor woodland ritual, pour some as an offering to the fairies. Ask them for small favors, like helping your find a lost set of keys or encouraging your spring seedlings to sprout.</p>
<h2>Funerary Rites</h2>
<p>Whiskey is a traditional drink for mourning.</p>
<p>Toast the recently departed with a generous glass, pour some on a loved one’s grave or serve it at a <a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2018/10/21/dumb-supper-what-it-is-how-to-host-one/">Samhain dumb supper</a> to honor the dead.</p>
<p>Or, bury a bottle as an offering to your ancestors when seeking their guidance and protection.</p>
<h2>To Promote Change or Transformation</h2>
<p>Use whiskey as a base for potions intended to promote change or transformation.</p>
<p>Perfect for spells to loosen yourself from a stubborn rut, break bad habits or move on from a situation that no longer suits you.</p>
<p>Just be careful! Go to far and you risk finding yourself in a state of instability!</p>
<h2>For Banishing</h2>
<p>Whiskey makes a great carrier alcohol for banishing infusions.</p>
<p>Drop a stick of cinnamon in a small Mason jar and pour in enough whiskey to cover it. Allow the infusion to cure at least overnight, or for several days. Consider leaving it in the moonlight if the weather is mild.</p>
<p>Use the infusion in rituals for banishing.</p>
<h2>In Mabon Apple Tarts</h2>
<p>Plan to make an <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1780/irish-apple-tart">Irish apple tart</a> for Mabon this year.</p>
<p>The combination of ingredients touches on many of the themes for this harvest festival.</p>
<p>Use an authentic Irish whiskey and local apples for a truly magical meal that captures the spirit of the season perfectly!</p>
<h2>To Bless Friends</h2>
<p>Add whiskey to a magical gift basket to bless friendships for warmth and endurance.</p>
<p>This hearty drink is perhaps best known for drawing people together and encouraging merriment!</p>
<p>Throw in some cocktail ingredients, a bundle of fresh rosemary (or other “friendship” herbs) and a couple of whiskey glasses for an American twist on an Irish classic.</p>
<h2>Heal Old Emotional Wounds</h2>
<p>Did you know whiskey was originally used primarily for its medicinal properties?</p>
<p>Of course, we since developed much more reliable, safer methods for the treatment of colic!</p>
<p>But its metaphysical healing properties may still be used in ritual arts. Add whiskey to potions for healing old emotional wounds that stubbornly rear their ugly heads from time to time.</p>
<h2>In Ritual Floorwash</h2>
<p>If you use a moisture-resistant, hard surface for your ritual area, add 1 part whiskey to 10 parts of your homemade magical floor wash to increase potency.</p>
<p>Perfect for use before and after communication with ancestors, to clear negative energy and for use before and after banishing rituals.</p>
<p>Blessed be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.moodymoons.com/2019/03/17/9-ways-to-use-whiskey-in-witchcraft/">https://www.moodymoons.com/2019/03/17/9-ways-to-use-whiskey-in-witchcraft/</a></em></span></p></div>Using Bells for Cleansing and Protectionhttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/using-bells-for-cleansing-and-protection2022-05-25T21:34:57.000Z2022-05-25T21:34:57.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10515637054,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10515637054,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="10515637054?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></a></p>
<p>Experienced spiritual workers and magic practitioners often keep musical instruments on their altars. These could be anything from drums to <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/tibetan-meditation-singing-bowl/" target="_blank">singing bowls</a>, but there is one specific instrument that you can find all over, in all sorts of religions and magical paths: bells. Bells are used to cleanse, protect, drive away evil, and more. If you have never used one before, here are some of the most common ways to incorporate an altar bell into your practice:</p>
<h2>Cleansing a space before ritual work</h2>
<p>Bright, clear tones help remove negative or stagnant energies from an area. Before you perform a spell or ritual, ring a <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/altar-bell/" target="_blank">bell</a> while declaring your space cleared. If you wish, you can incorporate sound cleansing into a broader cleansing practice, like smoke cleansing with <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/la-bomba-incense/" target="_blank">incense</a>, or burning a <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/house-cleansing-custom-scented-candle/" target="_blank">cleansing candle</a>.<br /><br />You can also use a bell to help clear unwanted energies from your home. Ring it at least four times in each room, preferably with the doors and windows open and while burning cleansing incense. If you are not able to burn things where you live, then a bell can be a great solution for energy cleansing without smoke or fire.</p>
<h2>Driving away evil</h2>
<p>Evil spirits are said to hate -- or at least be annoyed by -- the sound of a bell. This may go back to the belief that faeries (including the malevolent ones) hate iron. When bells were made of iron, ringing them would drive evil faeries out of an area. In other traditions, any kind of loud sound was believed to chase away evil forces.<br /><br />Simply ringing a bell loudly is enough to drive some evil spirits away, but you can also use other tools like <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/go-away-evil-custom-scented-candle/" target="_blank">Go Away Evil candles</a>, <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/go-away-evil-spray/" target="_blank">room spray</a>, or <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/go-away-evil-floor-wash/" target="_blank">floor wash</a> alongside a bell. Give your floors a good wash from the back of your home to the front with the floor wash, use the spray in each room of your home, then light the candle in the kitchen or living area. As it burns, ring a <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/brass-altar-bell/" target="_blank">large bell</a> while declaring that all evil spirits must leave.</p>
<h2>Attracting goodness</h2>
<p>Small, sweet-sounding bells have a reputation for attracting helpful, benevolent spirits and energies. You can hang up little wind chimes that tinkle rather than ring loudly, or make strings of small bells with colorful beads to hang around your home. You may also tinkle a small bell after cleansing with a louder one, to draw in positive energy and fill the spaces left by negativity.</p>
<h2>Invoking and banishing spirits</h2>
<p>Bells and chimes are often used in spirit work. They can be helpful for all kinds of spirits, including calling the elemental spirits in traditions like Wicca. In these situations, the bells serve three purposes: Their sound tells spirits when it is time to arrive and depart, marks the beginning and end of specific phases of a ritual, and ensures that you are getting helpful spirits, not evil ones.<br /><br />In this case, ritual formats will usually have a section for repeating a chant or request to call upon a spirit, followed by a few rings of a bell. Even if you are not following a specific, defined format, you can simply use your bell when it makes sense to you. You do not need a large or loud bell for this -- a <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/brass-bell-wood-handle/" target="_blank">small one</a> will suffice. You may also want to have specific bells for different purposes, like a small, sweet bell for calling spirits, and a larger, louder one for banishing unwanted energies.</p>
<h2>Protection</h2>
<p>Since bells are so good at driving off evil, they can also keep it away if you use them preventatively. Objects called "witches' bells" are used by many to ward their homes. These are just a small hoop of metal or wood, with bells, charms, and ribbons tied to them. The user slips the hoop over the inside knob of their front and back doors, and the bells ring every time someone enters or exits. This does a great job of making sure that no malevolent influences or entities come in when the door opens!<br /><br />If you do not have access to witches' bells or the items needed to make them, you can keep a bell near your front and back doors and just remember to ring it each time you enter or leave your home.<br /><br />You can also use a bell while calling on angelic protection. If you like, choose a <a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/saint-michael-bell/" target="_blank">Saint Michael bell</a>, and ring it while reciting a prayer to Saint Michael for protection.</p>
<h2>Marking the opening and closing of a ritual</h2>
<p>Rituals are usually structured in very specific ways. The atmosphere of the ritual is designed to be a kind of container for spiritual energy, which is raised up, directed, and released. Ringing bells can be a wonderful way to mark the beginning of a ritual, as well as send energy on its way at the end.<br /><br />You can do this with any kind of bell. All you need to do is set aside a few seconds during your rituals to ring it. The sound of a bell is a beautiful way to mark the difference between mundane reality and ritual space and time.<br /><br />Bells produce bright, clear tones that send energy out as sound waves. They are great for chasing off evil spirits, dispelling negative energy, protecting from malevolent influences, and much more. If you do not have a bell in your home, it is a spiritual tool well worth investing in.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.originalbotanica.com/blog/altar-bells-cleansing-protection/">https://www.originalbotanica.com/blog/altar-bells-cleansing-protection/</a></em></span></p></div>Scotland Issues Formal Apology to Thousands Accused of Witchcrafthttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/scotland-issues-formal-apology-to-thousands-accused-of-witchcraft2022-04-06T18:21:06.000Z2022-04-06T18:21:06.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p><span style="font-size:18pt;">An estimated 2,500 Scots were executed as witches between the 16th and 18th centuries</span></p>
<p class="author"><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/jane-recker/">Jane Recker</a></p>
<p>April 5, 2022</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Scottish First Minister <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicola-Sturgeon" target="_blank">Nicola Sturgeon</a> has issued a <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotland-considers-pardon-for-thousands-of-accused-witches-180979316/" target="_blank">formal apology</a> to the estimated 4,000 people accused of witchcraft in the country between the 16th and 18th centuries, reports <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60667533" target="_blank">BBC News</a>. Charged with violating the <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4146312?seq=1" target="_blank">Witchcraft Act</a>, which was passed in 1563 and repealed in 1736, most of the individuals targeted were women. According to the University of Edinburgh’s <a href="https://www.shca.ed.ac.uk/Research/witches/introduction.html" target="_blank">Survey of Scottish Witchcraft</a>, two-thirds of those accused (around 2,500 people) were executed.</p>
<p>Scotland’s <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/map-visualizes-scale-16th-and-17th-century-scottish-witch-hunts-180973226/" target="_blank">witch hunts</a> took place amid a wave of similar <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/early-modern-witch-trials/" target="_blank">mass hysteria events</a> in both Europe and further afield. In the United States, for example, the 1692–1693 <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/" target="_blank">Salem witch trials</a> resulted in the deaths of <a href="https://historyofmassachusetts.org/salem-witch-trials-victims/#:~:text=The%20official%20death%20count%20for,in%20prison%20while%20awaiting%20trial." target="_blank">20 people</a>. Other countries and regions, including <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/12/23/german-church-apologizes-for-killing-witches-centuries-ago/" target="_blank">Germany</a>, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60149778" target="_blank">Catalonia</a> in Spain and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-08-28/swiss-pardon-18th-century-witch/491462" target="_blank">Switzerland</a>, have issued exonerations for victims of witch hunts in recent years—but Scotland only formally apologized for this bloody chapter in its history last month, notes Sarah Durn for <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/witches-scotland-pardon-apology" target="_blank"><em>Atlas Obscura</em></a>.</p>
<p>“At a time when women were not even allowed to speak as witnesses in a courtroom, they were accused and killed because they were poor, different, vulnerable or in many cases just because they were women,” said Sturgeon in a speech on <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/" target="_blank">International Women’s Day</a> (March 8), as quoted by BBC News. “It was injustice on a colossal scale.”</p>
<p>Lawyer <a href="https://www.compasschambers.com/advocates/claire-mitchell" target="_blank">Claire Mitchell</a> and writer <a href="https://booksfromscotland.com/bfs-author/zoe-venditozzi/" target="_blank">Zoe Venditozzi</a> tell the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/world/europe/scotland-nicola-sturgeon-apologizes-witches.html" target="_blank"><em>New York Times</em></a>’ Maria Cramer that they were “delighted” with Sturgeon’s speech. On International Women’s Day in 2020, the two launched a campaign called <a href="https://www.witchesofscotland.com/" target="_blank">Witches of Scotland</a>, which pushed for the Scottish Parliament to <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotland-considers-pardon-for-thousands-of-accused-witches-180979316/" target="_blank">pardon and memorialize</a> the accused. Last year, organizers submitted <a href="https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1855" target="_blank">a petition</a> bearing the signatures of more than 3,400 supporters to the Scottish government.</p>
<p>Mitchell and Venditozzi founded Witches of Scotland after partnering up to create a true crime podcast on an undetermined topic. As Mitchell tells Atlas Obscura, her research led her to the witch trials.</p>
<p>“I started looking at [them] … as kind of an academic, legal exercise to find out what were these witch trials about, how many of them were there, what was the evidence like,” she says.</p>
<p>The lawyer’s findings were disturbing. Confessions were often given under duress, be it via sleep deprivation, thumbscrews or iron muzzles. Professional “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/014107689709000914" target="_blank">witch-prickers</a>” were tasked with continually piercing the accused with a needle until they came upon a “Devil’s” or “witch’s mark” spot that didn’t bleed or elicit pain. Sometimes, these witch hunters stripped the accused while searching their bodies for signs of wrongdoing.</p>
<p>On their <a href="https://www.witchesofscotland.com/podcast" target="_blank">podcast</a>, which launched on the same day as their campaign, Mitchell and Venditozzi interviewed experts and shared their findings on Scotland’s witch trials, focusing on events not typically taught in schools.</p>
<p>“In Scotland, the perception of witch trials is almost unknown,” Mitchell tells Atlas Obscura. “It’s only in the past few years that people have really engaged with the idea of talking about the witch trials.”</p>
<p>While the pair say they are pleased with the government’s apology, they still plan to push for an official pardon (which Member of Scottish Parliament <a href="https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/natalie-don" target="_blank">Natalie Don</a> is working to introduce as legislation, per BBC News) and a memorial.</p>
<p>“We want there to be a state national monument that will mark what happened,” Venditozzi tells the New York Times, “let people know what happened if they’re traveling to the country, and will stand for us to remember this terrible miscarriage of justice for many, many, many years to come.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotland-issues-formal-apology-to-thousands-accused-of-witchcraft-180979869/">https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scotland-issues-formal-apology-to-thousands-accused-of-witchcraft-180979869/</a></em></span></p></div>8 SIMPLE RITUALS TO IMPROVE YOUR DAILY TAROT READINGShttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/8-simple-rituals-to-improve-your-daily-tarot-readings2022-04-04T18:19:20.000Z2022-04-04T18:19:20.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p>Do you want to build a relationship with Spirit?</p>
<p>Do you want to strengthen your intuition and trust your inner voice?</p>
<p>A daily Tarot practice, is a powerful way to do all of those.</p>
<p>Here are my favorite rituals to support a Daily Tarot Practice…</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PCP0EP-56tg" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<h3><strong>1. MEDITATE</strong></h3>
<p>So first and foremost, I like to meditate - ground and center!</p>
<p>Here's the quick version: Grab your cards and take a deep breath. You call yourself back into your body and into the present moment. If you want to go a little deeper, do five minutes of meditating. Focus on your breath: inhale, exhale. That's all it takes. </p>
<p>I like to add on a grounding exercise where I imagined roots extending from the base of my spine going down into the earth, all the way to the center. It helps me feel anchored and supported by the Earth. Send down those roots any negative, dense, or stagnant energy. Draw up the roots the nourishing and supportive energy of the earth. </p>
<p>In a pinch. I will “drop anchor.” I imagine a huge metal anchor chained around my waist, and I visualize it dropping down into the earth. It quickly makes me feel rooted, grounded, and anchored.</p>
<p>To ground and center, you can also do a mini chakra check-in by going through the different orbs of light: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white. Imagine polishing them and helping them spin and move. Then draw energy down from source and up from the earth. Feel it flow up and down, opening up and clearing that channel of energy. </p>
<p>Again, all you have to do is take a deep breath.</p>
<h3><strong>2. CLEANSING</strong></h3>
<p>When I come to my desk for my Morning Tarot Ritual, I often have a bit of clutter from the night before. So, I tidy up my desk to make sure there is space for the ritual. Then, I dive into energetically cleansing my space. </p>
<p>My favorite is to burn magical/medicinal herbs: rosemary, cedar, white sage, palo santo. (Please be sure to buy ethically harvested herbs to prevent abuse of the plant.) It is important to state your intention to be rid of any dense, stagnant, or negative energy - including mindsets or negative self talk. Saying it aloud is best, because spoken words are true words. Move the smoke in a counterclockwise motion. Depending on how much cleansing your cards need, you may also want to go over the cards with the smoke. There is nothing like the smell of burning herbs to really shift into a magical mindset, but smoke is not necessary. You can use a spritzer, bells, or even the wave of your hand to energetically cleanse yourself and the space. </p>
<h3><strong>3. CANDLE LIGHTING & INTENTION-SETTING</strong></h3>
<p>The candle activates the sacred space and it helps the mind stay focused on your magical intent. As you light your candle, say what you wish to call in. It could be something like this, ‘I am open to the magic and wisdom of the Universe.” </p>
<p>The other thing a candle does is act like a beacon - informing Spirit that you are open for magical workings. It’s like turning on the “open” sign at a business. Energetically you are saying to Spirit and the Universe, “I have my magical mindset turned on, and I am ready to receive your wisdom and guidance.”</p>
<h3><strong>4. DROPPING IN</strong></h3>
<p>For a long time, I didn't know what “dropping in” meant. I’m not sure if this is what other people mean, but this is my take on the term. </p>
<p>Before I drop into the cards, I drop <em>myself </em>into the energetic field. In my mind it looks like a web of energy. It’s like a network of energetic strings that connecting us to all beings. I take a moment, and I imagined myself actively and consciously connecting to that network.And then, I pick up the cards. </p>
<p>I make sure to say hello to the cards, like a little greeting, “Nice to see you.” To me, it’s important to enter into relationship with permission. If I feel/sense joy or consent from the cards, I hold them close and imagine plugging them into my energy, which is connected to the larger field of energy. I visualize folding them into my energy, almost like a figure eight, wrapping them into this interconnected network of energy and consciousness.</p>
<h3><strong>5. SHUFFLING</strong></h3>
<p>It’s important to move the cards, to “get the blood flowing.” This is the time when you want to direct your question at the cards. </p>
<p>A common type of Tarot shuffling is a rough movement that almost looks like you are shaking the cards from one hand into another. This is called “overhand shuffling." I love this motion. It feels good. This is how I shuffle the cards informally. </p>
<p>If you want to shuffle the cards more thoroughly, you want to use the “riffle shuffle” where you split the deck and thumb them back together. This is especially good if you want to clear the deck of any patterns that have gotten stuck in the cards and you want to bring a fresh energy to the deck. </p>
<p>“Smooshing” is another way of shuffling the cards. You spread the cards out on a surface and then mix them all up. There is no wrong way to shuffle them.</p>
<h3><br /><strong>6. DRAWING A CARD</strong></h3>
<p>A lot of students ask me, ‘What’s the right way to pick a card?” I personally don’t think there is any one right way.</p>
<p>I was originally taught to place the deck on the table, and with my left hand - split it into three piles. Then restock the piles and draw from the top. I did that technique for many, many years - probably most of my years of reading Tarot. </p>
<p>These days I fan the cards out in my hand and pick. There are two approaches to this. First, if you are still gaining confidence in your intuition, pick any card without worry. Just pick a card. Don’t think about it. Trust that synchronicity is leading you to the right card. The other way is to intuitively sense if there is a card that wants to be picked. Sometimes a card will get stuck and it’s like it’s saying, “Nope, not the card.’</p>
<h3><strong>7. REFLECTION - </strong><a href="https://magicalhomemaking.com/shop/2021-daily-tarot-journal"><strong>THE DAILY TAROT JOURNAL</strong></a></h3>
<p>Once you've got your daily card, it’s important to record it. This is how you learn and grow as a Tarot Reader. In the <a href="https://magicalhomemaking.com/shop/2021-daily-tarot-journal">Daily Tarot Journal</a>, there are pages for writing down your thoughts. These prompts help you check in with your intuition before jumping into research.</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>What is your first reaction?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>What do you see / notice?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>What is the energy / vibe of the card.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>There is space for research, AND there is box to reflect on how the card showed up during the day. </p>
<p>The other way you can record your Daily Tarot Cards is the Tarot Patterns sheet, also in the <a href="https://magicalhomemaking.com/shop/2021-daily-tarot-journal">Daily Tarot Journal</a>. It lists all the different cards, and you can write the date when you pull a card. It allows you to see, over time, which cards are coming up over and over, and which cards are not showing up.<br /><br /></p>
<h3><strong>8. CLOSING</strong></h3>
<p>I always close with a little gratitude. Tuck the cards back in their bag / spot. Close up the sacred space by mindfully blowing out the candle. Remember to hold the card in your mind throughout the day and remain open to the lessons of the universe and what it wants to teach you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://magicalhomemaking.com/blog/daily-tarot-rituals">https://magicalhomemaking.com/blog/daily-tarot-rituals</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>A-Z Gods and Goddesses & Plant Associations: A Reference Guidehttps://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/a-z-gods-and-goddesses-plant-associations-a-reference-guide2022-02-18T18:11:45.000Z2022-02-18T18:11:45.000ZSunKathttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/SunKat<div><p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10122184688,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10122184688,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="10122184688?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a></p>
<p class="has-medium-font-size">Our ancestors believed the trees, rivers, mountains, stones and animals had souls. These nature spirits were eventually deified and came to be the gods and goddesses as we know them today. For those who need a reference to gods and goddesses and their magical plant associations, here’s our A-Z list. The deities are not categorized by culture or origin. Knowing the magical plants associated with your deities will help you learn, as well as give ideas of appropriate offerings. If your god or goddess isn’t included, please leave a comment.</p>
<h2><span style="font-size:14pt;">Goddesses and Magical Plant Associations</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Aphrodite – apples, linden tree, myrtle tree, pomegranate, poppies, prickly lettuce, roses, star of bethlehem</li>
<li>Artemis – artemisia (mugwort, southernwood, tarragon, wormwood), bay laurel, cedar, chase tree, fir, myrtle, oak, walnut, wild fig, willow</li>
<li>Astarte – alder, arabic gum, cypress, juniper, myrtle, pine</li>
<li>Athena – cinnamon, citrus, cedar, cypress, dragon’s blood, geranium, hellebore, oak, olive, patchouli</li>
<li>Arianrhod – ivy</li>
<li>Baba Yaga – black sunflowers, medicinal herbs, poppies, rye, tobacco</li>
<li><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/cat-goddesses-male-cat-gods/">Bast </a>(Bastet) – catnip, myrrh, frankincense</li>
<li><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/berchta-goddess-women-children-perchten/">Berchta</a> – birch, evergreens, flax, wild berries, straw</li>
<li>Blodeuwedd – broom, meadowsweet, and oak</li>
<li>Brighid – blackberries, oak, rushes, clover</li>
<li>Cerridwen – corn</li>
<li>Circe – Alder, juniper, mandrake, nightshade</li>
<li>Demeter – barley, chaste tree, fig, oak, mint, poppies, pomegranate, pennyroyal, wheat</li>
<li>Diana – apple, grain, oak</li>
<li>Freya – apples, barley, flowers</li>
<li><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/egyptian-goddess-of-love/">Hathor</a> – blue lotus</li>
<li><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/witch-goddesses/">Hecate</a> – asphodel, black poplar, date palm, garlic, henna, lavender, mandrake, medicinal herbs (various), pomegranate</li>
<li>Hel – beech, elder, elm, ivy, juniper, mullein, willow, yew</li>
<li>Hera – chaste tree</li>
<li>Hestia – Angel’s trumpet (Datura), California poppy, chaste tree, goldenrod, hollyhock, purple coneflower, and yarrow</li>
<li>Holda – flax</li>
<li>Iris – iris</li>
<li>Isis – flowers, myrrh, sycamore fig, vervain</li>
<li>Kali – red hibiscus, red rhododendron, poinsettia</li>
<li>Kuan Yin – lotus, oolong tea leaves, orange, pomegranate, willow</li>
<li>Ma’at – papyrus</li>
<li>Medea – aconite, hemlock, nightshade</li>
<li>Morgan Le Fay – apple, blackthorn, herbs, lily of the valley, oak, willow</li>
<li>The Morrigan – blackthorn, Belladonna, Juniper berries, Nightshade, Dragon’s blood, Mugwart, Yew</li>
<li>Nerthus – beech, blackthorn, elder, elm, ivy, juniper, mullein, thistle, willow, yew</li>
<li>Oya – anise, aspen, cinnamon, carnation, calamus, clove, dragon’s blood, dittany of crete, hibiscus, lemon, myrrh, nutmeg, oak moss, star anise, sandalwood, tangerine</li>
<li>Persephone – asphodel, crocus, iris, larkspur, lily, pomegranate</li>
<li>Rhiannon – bayberry, cedar, daffodils, forsythia, leeks, pansies, pine, rosemary and sage</li>
<li>White Buffalo Woman – tobacco</li>
</ul>
<h2><span style="font-size:14pt;">Gods and Magic Plant Associations</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Aries – ash</li>
<li>Baron Samedi – Tobacco, Sugar Cane</li>
<li>Buddha – rice, lotus</li>
<li>Cernunnos – oak, ivy, grain</li>
<li>Dagda – grains, oats</li>
<li>Dionysus – bindweed, elm, fennel, fig, fir, grapes, ivy, walnut</li>
<li>Elegba – Bitter melon</li>
<li>Hades – asphodel, elm</li>
<li>Hermes – crocus</li>
<li>Jesus – aspen, cedar, grapes, oak, olive, palm</li>
<li>Jupiter – acorn, agrimony, almond, aloe, aspen, beech, cassia, carnation, cedar, cypress, daisy, fig, gorse, hyssop, leek, mullein, oak, olive, orange, palm, pine, sage, vervain, violate</li>
<li>Krishna – acacia, bay, frankincense, vine</li>
<li>Loki – beech, blackthorn, elder, elm, ivy, juniper, mullein, thistle, willow, yew</li>
<li>Mabon – apple, berries, grains</li>
<li>Manannan Mac Lir – aquatic plants, seaweed</li>
<li>Mars – bay laurel, dogwood, fig, oak</li>
<li>Odin – amanita muscaria, elecampane, juniper, monkshood, Wotan’s Herb</li>
<li>Osiris – acacia, benzoin, cedar, clove, dittany of crete, grains, ivy, orris, palm date, tamarisk, vine, willow</li>
<li>Pan – grapes, pine, reeds</li>
<li>Poseidon – aquatic plants, kelp, seaweeds, wild celery</li>
<li>Ra – acacia, bay, cinnamon, frankincense, heliotrope, myrrh, olive, sunflower, vine</li>
<li>Set – myrrh, patchouli, thistle</li>
<li>Thor – acorns, avens, dragon’s blood, juniper, oak, oak moss, pine, thistle</li>
<li>Thoth – bamboo, papyrus</li>
<li>Tyr – blackthorn, juniper, oak, thistle, vervain</li>
<li>Zeus – ash, crocus, wild celery</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://otherworldlyoracle.com/gods-goddesses-plant-associations/" target="_blank">https://otherworldlyoracle.com/gods-goddesses-plant-associations/</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Full Moon of Charms! Tonight!https://witches-moon.ning.com/forum/full-moon-of-charms-tonight2022-02-16T07:11:42.000Z2022-02-16T07:11:42.000ZDancingfingershttps://witches-moon.ning.com/members/Dancingfingers<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10110043266,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10110043266,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10110043266?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="554" /></a></p><h4>February 16:<em> Full Moon of Charms</em></h4><p>The Full Moon in Leo may be one of the most magical nights. As Leo is extremely attractive and magical, is also governed by the Sun. Let me remind you that <strong>Apollo</strong> – god of the Sun is twin brother of Artemis – goddess of the Moon. This is also the first Full Moon of the Year with NO RETROGRADE PLANETS! This means that from this day forth, advances will come fast in most parts of your life!</p><ul><li>Hence, all charms are empowered. Magic is really powerful. You can even smell it!</li><li>Use a Red Candle. Carve your wish on it. Light it at midnight.</li></ul><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10110040488,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}">https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com</a></p></div>