The "true" Things You Need To Read About If You Want To Start Practicing Witchcraft

Witch Tip: Get to Know Your Spell Ingredients

Get to know your spell ingredients. Just because one ingredient is good for money doesn't mean it's a good fit for you.

There are a lot of parts to getting to know an ingredient.

You can research its functionality if it has an herbal use whether medicinal or culinary - the classifications of herbals help a lot in understanding a component's working in your spell, ie - how it will do what you want it to do. A warming herb has a different effect than a cooling herb, for example. An herb that drys out the body can also be used to dry out a situation. A purgative can be used to clear things.

You can research the historic uses of the spell ingredients - I would look at both medical and magical uses here. Though we have debunked a lot of old medicinal uses and I by no means mean to suggest that you use herbs by their old medical uses, these practices give an idea of the nature of the plant. Over time, particular cultures develop an understanding of specific planets and if you are respectful, you may be able to tap into this shared knowledge.

You can hold and interact with the ingredient. This is a must for me before I will use anything in my spell work. I am an animist - I believe that all objects (both inanimate and animate) have a spirit - both their own individual spirit and a connection to the great over-arching spirit of their class. For instance, the basil plants in my garden are three things: each is its own individual basil plant, also a combined Basil spirit that is growing in my garden, and a piece of the spirit of Sweet Basil as a whole. When learning to work with the energy of a spell ingredient, I need to know how it feels. How it interacts with my energy. Is it calming? Does touching it make me go buzz buzz. How does it smell? How does it taste (if its safe to consume, of course)?

You can grow/harvest/gather/mine that ingredient yourself. This only furthers your knowledge of this ingredient. Did you see it when it was a tiny seedling? Did you plant it in the ground? Did you spend hours in the woods looking for the perfect specimen or find a field full on your walk home from work one day? Sure, the seashell you picked up on the beach may not be as perfect as the one you can buy online but you have already established a personal connection with that shell by choosing to take it home.

There are so many more ways. You can write/photograph/draw your object. You can meditate with it. You can potentially communicate with it through dreams or other means of divination. You can experiment with using this spell ingredient by doing your usual spell work with it in addition or substitution to something that you normally use - did it make a difference? How did working with that ingredient change your magic?

Take notes on the different ingredients you use and become the scientist in your own witchy life.

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✨ Some Herbs, Flowers and Plants in Witchcraft✨

ALLSPICE: increase energy, love, healing, luck

ANGELICA: protection, purification

Benefits for health: improve digestion

ARTEMISA: dream divination, clairvoyance

AZUCENA: sentimental improvement, progress, peace  

BASIL: economic success, money, prosperity, peace, protection, happiness, purification, tranquillity, love

BAY: fosters loving vibrations, protection, wards off negativities in a home, success, wisdom, divination

BAY LEAF: protection, purification, healing, strength, good fortune, money and success

BIRCH: protection, purification

BLACK PEPPER: protection, courage  

CALENDULA: happiness, prosperity, love, psychic power, harmony

Benefits for health: treat skin irritation (like eczema, bruises, scars, scrapes)

CARAWAY: protection against negativity, health, mental abilities, fidelity

Benefits for health: antitheft

CARDAMOM: passion, sex, intimacy  

CARNATION: cosmic energy, magic, disease, protection, strength energy, luck, healing

 White: peace, healing

Red: sex, love, passion

Yellow intellectual movement

Rose: disappearance of disagreements  

CHAMOMILE: brings love, healing, relieves stressful situations, prosperity, peace, healing, harmony, happiness

Benefits for health: sooth stomach problems, calm headache, calm nerves

CHICHWEED:

Benefits for health: astringent,  cooling (topically), demulcent, relieves itchiness

CINNAMON: aphrodisiac, passion, love, luck, prosperity, success, raises spiritual vibrations, purification, energy, healing, protection

Benefits for health: antimicrobial, aromatic, astringent, mild stimulant, relieves wind

CLOVE: protection, purification, mental ability, healing

COFFEE: intellect awakening  

COMFREY: health, healing, protection during travel, prosperity

CUMIN: protection spell

DAFFOIL: luck, fertility, love

DAISY: love, flirtation, hope, innocence

DANDELION: divination, interaction with the spirit world, wishes

Benefits for health: bitter tonic, diuretic, liver cleanser,  mild laxative

DILL: good fortune, tranquillity, prosperity, lust, protection

ELACAMPANE: protection, luck, dispels negative vibration, plant spirit communication

EUCALYPTUS: health, healing  

FENNEL: longevity, protection,  healing,  purification  

GARDENIA: harmony, healing, love, peace

GARLIC: protection against evil eye  

GERANIUM: protection, happiness, mental clean up, fertility, love, healing, courage

GINGER:

Benefits for health: fight cold, calm stomach, suppress nausea

HAWTHORN:

Benefits for health:  antioxidant, heart  tonic,  lowers  blood  pressure, relaxes blood vessel

HIBISCUS: divination, dreams, love and lust

HERBABUENA: money, prosperity  

HYACINTH: love, happiness, protection

INCENSE: Spirituality

IRIS: wisdom, valour, peace, harmony, love

IVY: protection, healing

JACINTO: overcoming old pains of love  

JASMINE: divinatory dreams, sexuality, moon, feminine energy, seduction, sensuality, love, meditation, spirituality, harmony, prosperity

LAUREL: success, glory  

LAVENDER: love, peace, restful sleep, clairvoyance, happiness, healing, money, passion, protection, relief from grief, longevity, meditation, harmony, tranquillity, purification

LEMON: happiness, love

LEMON BALM: love, success, healing

Benefits for health: antidepressant, antispasmodic, insect repellent, relaxant, relieves  wind, topical  anti-viral

LEMON VERBENA: love, purification

LILAC: protection, banishing negative energy

LILAS: purification, love  

LILY: helps memory, love, protection, elimination of hexes, rebirth

LILLY OF THE VALLEY: enhances concentration, mental ability, encourage happiness    

MADRESELVA: helps remove the vices and addictions

MAGNOLIA: love

MANZANO: love, happiness  

MARJORAM: happiness, protection, love, joy, courage, health, money

MIMOSA: divinatory dreams, love

MINT: avoid jealousy, dreams, protection, prosperity, joy, fertility, purification, love, success, lust, travel

Benefits for health: calm headache, stimulate appetite, aid digestion, antiseptic,  antispasmodic,  diaphoretic, mild analgesic, mild bitter, mild sedative, relives wind

MEADOWSWEET:

Benefits for health: antacid, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, astringent

MUGWORT: psychic powers, protection, increases lust and fertility, prophetic dreams, divination, relaxation, tranquillity, banishing, consecration (*Do not ingest, and do not even handle if pregnant*)

NAIL: Protection spells  

NARCISO: Love

NARDO: Love

NETTLE: protection, healing, lust

NUTMEG: Money, prosperity, good luck, protection, psychic abilities, happiness, love, health

PANSY: divination, communication, happiness, love

PARSLEY: Protection in general, power, strength, lust, purification, prosperity  

PATCHOULI: Money, sex  

PEPPERMINT: Purification

PINE: Health, Healing  

POPPY: tranquillity, fertility, prosperity love, sleep, invisibility, money, luck

ROMERO: Longevity, purification, prosperity

ROSE: Love, encourages closeness with nature, healing, divination, tranquillity, harmony, psychic ability, spirituality, protection, luck

Red: passion, peace, welfare  

Yellow: commitments  

White: spiritual love

ROSEMARY: love, lust, promote healthy rest, protection, improving memory, wisdom, health, healing, mental power, purification

Benefits for health: calm headache, stimulate circulatory, nerve and digestive tonic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic

SAFFRON: money, physical movement  

SAGE: longevity, wisdom, protection, dispels negative energy, purification, health, immortality,               wishes

Benefits for health: calm anxiety,  antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent,         digestive tonic, oestrogenic, general  tonic,reduces sweating

SALVIA: money

SANDALWOOD: spirituality, healing, tranquillity, sexuality, desire.  

SNAPDRAGON: protection from illusion or deception, reflect negative energy

STAR ANISE: peace, tranquillity, awakening of psychic awareness , Luck, spiritual connection, psychic and magical power  

SUNFLOWER: sun, sun energy, happiness, success, health, associated with welcome and family, fertility

THYME : health courage. Eliminates nightmares, Attracts loyalty, affection, psychic abilities  

TULIP: prosperity, abundance, protections, love, happiness

VANILLA: sex

VALERIAN: protection, drives away negativity, purifies sacred space

VERBENA: calm headaches, eases stress, divination, prosperity, reversal of negative activity

VIOLET: peace, hope, harmony, protection, luck, love, sleep, tranquillity, encourage peace among people, calm nightmares, fertility, abundance

WATER LILY: happiness

YARROW: healing, divination, love, promotes courage and confidence

Resources: 

Wicca Herbal Magic by Lisa Chamberlain

Charms, Spells and Herbs by Esteban Portela

The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch by Rachel Patterson

Retrograde Placements

A Retrograde means that a planet begins to move very slowly that it looks as if it’s going backwards in our point of view, from the Earth. But it is, in fact, just a very slow motion.

It is believed that the number of Retrogrades you have on your chart is the number of lives you have lived in this Earth. You are likely to have more de ja vu’s, because you are gifted in your senses. If you do not have any retrogrades on your chart, you are believed to be a fresh soul who is prone to making mistakes and can be considered as “naive.”

When you have Mercury in Retrograde, it is believed that you have been silenced in your previous life, the ideas and the words couldnt come out of your mouth -which might lead you to speak your mind freely in this life. Your sisters/brothers are believed to cause you problems in your previous life, also. That is why you might treat them differently in this lifetime, you might even be obsessed with them as if something might happen to them. If you dont have any siblings, this applies to the people you consider as your sister/brother. Your technologic devices might cause problems to you, the help you need from other people might not occur up until the last minute. You might pronounce some words differently and communication is very important to you. Hands might also cause problems, you could break some stuff and hurt your hands in your childhood. Writing can also be a great way of learning for you. You are prone to be misunderstood very much in your daily life, travelling is also very important to you. Subconsciously, you might try to to find and search for your “previous homeland” by travelling.

When you have Venus in Retrograde, it is likely that in your previous life, you have found your soulmate, however, you lost your partner too soon or you had a restriction with them, which might lead you to search for your missing soulmate in this life. Relationships might be the main focus of your problems in this life time. You might not choose to have casual relationships, even if you have your Venus in air or fire signs. Previous lovers and ex’s might always be in the agenda. The idea for searching for your true match is reflected to all your personal relationships, you might treat your loved ones as if you’re gonna lose them -because you have, in your previous life. You might turn down nice people romantically, feeling they dont have the traits of your previous lovers and the term of “karmic” is basically your approach to all close relationships. These people are prone to have more than one marriages, due to this endless search. Subconsciously, the last marriage they have, is the one with their missing soulmate. 

When you have Mars in Retrograde, you are believed to be associated with “war” in your previous life. In a woman’s chart, it is believed that a soldier was very imporant to you as a lover and you lost him to war. In a man’s chart, it indicates you were, indeed, the soldier. If your Mars is placed in Aries, Scorpio or Capricorn, it is believed that you had a very important role in war, meaning you might have been a colonel, a general, etc. Your aggressiveness is likely to be unstable, your reactions might be unpredictable. Health might be the main problem in your life, this retrograde also indicates surgeries (look up to the sign to see which body parts). Sexual unfulfillment can cause psychological problems and you might attract/be attracted to people who might not suit you and can cause you personal problems. Accidents may occur a lot, both as a child and as an individual. You might be ambitious, you might order people around a lot.

When you have Jupiter in Retrograde, you are believed to have a different religion than you have in this life, which makes you a very tolerant and kind people who does not classify people with their religion, race and sexuality. You are very giving, optimist and generous, which might cause some problems in this life as you might attract ungrateful people. You might be high on senses, you might “sense” things before they happen. You might be anxious, as if things are going too fast and you are not gonna catch up to them. With this retrograde, you can make things happen with deep thinking and mediation as you can channel your positive energy very well. You can always find a help, even if it is in the last minute, whenever you need. Spirituality is very important to you and you might try to find meaning in everything in that sense sunconsciously.

When you have Saturn in Retrograde, it is believed that you have been restricted by your parents and/or your spouses in your previous life, you might also be physically obstructed. You might have a repressed feeling as if you are not enough for things. You might be anxious about future, you might be pessimistic and you might try to secure yourself with materiality. And the reason for all this might be caused by a parental figure who had been very tough with you, very disciplined and way too firm; or the loss of this parental figure might also be effective. Family and divorces might be the main focus in this life. With this retrograde, it is adviced to never leave things unfinished in your life as it is believed that these matters will come back to you in the future. You might dislike/be scared of closed places and you might have claustrophobia as it represents a restriction.

When you have Uranus in Retrograde, you are likely to be a fighter for freedom in your previous life. Words, ideas and freedom was very imporant to you, you might have been even punished for speaking your mind freely. You might not act the way you feel like up until you are at a certain age. You might be prone to ban yourself or restrict yourself from specific subjects such as sex, up until certain age and you might have an explotion then. You might want to live differently than the society and the theme of freedom is very important to you. You might be restless for a long time in your life, without an actual reason. You might have different kind of friendships. If you have your Venus and Mars in aspect to this retrograde, you might want to try things that no one dares to try sexually. If your Retrograde Uranus is afflicted and/or has a lot of aspects to many planets, you might be in search for your sexuality. You might have an unusual way of “loving”, meaning that you might be hot and cold at the same time and this might confuse the people around you.

When you have Neptune in Retrograde, it is believed that you had a problem regarding anesthesia and drugs, you were dead by poisoning and/or your death was in the sea/ocean. Your behavior towards people is like a mirror, it depends on the way people treat you. You might miss and want the love back in the different times, history might have a lot of meaning for you. Addiction might be the main problem in this life, you might be addicted to people or materials. You might be afraid of water, doctors, hospitals or drugs. Chaos might have taken place in your childhood. Dreams might be important, you might sense things and you might have a strong 6th sense. Alcohol and drugs might be a way of relieving anxiety.

When you have Pluto in Retrograde, it is believed that you had serious problems regarding sex, that you want to erase from your mind, in your previous life. You might have an anxiety regarding the people you love in this life time. You might have a problem or restriction with sexuality up until certain age and problems with sexuality might cause psychological problems. You might have an obsessive, intense and different kind of approach towards sexuality. You might appear though and strong but deep down, you might be anxious about sexuality, death and the afterlife. Generally, the sexual affairs you have may be problematic until a certain age, but eventually retrograde Pluto rests and begins to forget previous-life traumas.

When you have Chiron in Retrograde, it indicates a healing persona. You might have been an healer, you might be a doctor in your previous life. Some believe that this placement also indicates an association with witchcraft in the previous life, resulting in being scared of fire in this life. You might have strange birthmarks on your body. Also you might want to try spiritual things in this life, such as reiki.

When you have Nodes in Retrograde, it is associated with our past lives. If your North Node is in aspect to your natal planets more than the South Node, it is believed that you came as a wise soul who learned from your past lives and you will use the traits you learned from those lives in a good way, positively. If your South Node is in aspect to your natal planets more than the North, it indicates that you failed to learn from your past lives and you will have problems regarding that in this lifetime. The houses in which the Nodes are placed in will be the main focus in your life.

Common Witch Misconceptions Pt. 1

Here are some common misconceptions I see both in and out of our witchy community.

We are all pagan.

This is very common, even in witch circles. There are many witches that aren't religious, many witches that follow religions that are not pagan (such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Shinto, etc.), and many witches that are atheists or agnostic.

We are all Wiccan.

Just... nope. Wicca is a religion, it does incorporate witchcraft, but witchcraft has been around a lot longer than Wicca has.

We all believe in the Three-Fold Law.

Again, nope. This is a Wiccan rule. It's a doctrine that Wiccans follow, not witches.

We all worship the Devil/Lucifer/Satan.

I'd say most of us don't even believe that the Devil exists. However, to those who do, most of them don't worship him. And to those who do worship him, they are not bad people and often see Lucifer in a different light than how Christians see him.

We aren't critical thinkers.

Hey, hi, hello, this one really bothers me. I understand thinking that we might be a little odd, but we aren't dumb or idiots for having a different spirituality than you. Many of us (at the least 4,000 on tumblr) are actually very into skepticism for witchcraft and believe that it is important to have!

Our magic is like the movies.

Nope. Not even close. All of the magic that I have experienced has been purely spiritual. I have never been able to summon fire, or move something telekinetically, or have those sorts of physical results.

Look out for part two! Hope this helps to dispell some misconceptions!

reblog this if your blog is a safe space on april fools and won’t have any jumpers, screamers, or anything scary or anxiety inducing

Book of Shadows Ideas that Aren’t Basic

sacred geometry

what damages crystals

what is a crystal grid and how do i make one?

candle flame reading

bone correspondences

what is a poppet? how do i use it?

basic alchemical symbols

ways to break a hex

favorite cryptids and their lore

what is your philosophy on witchcraft?

what is a liminal space?

scrying

how to trap a spirit in a jar or mirror

ghost hunting

species of demons

witchy books you’ve read, and a review or rating of the book (go to archive.org for free pdfs for books)

Shadow Work Journaling Prompts #6

Good Morning Tumblr Family! I hope you are having a great start to the weekend. I wanted to drop another segment of Journal Prompts for you to work on during the week. If you are just now tuning in, no worries, take your time with the previous prompts and use the upcoming prompts when you are ready to.

These prompts are more reflecting where your anger is stemming from. It could be family, friends, past experiences, etc. Lets take a look!

- What makes you really angry? Why? What gets under your skin or bothers you completely to your core? Do you know why this is?

- Did your parents provide you with everything you needed? Did they provide you with emotional support? Did they validate your feelings? Did they provide a safe place for you?

- Do you hold grudges against others that could be let go? What is your motive for holding onto them? These grudges could be anyone in your life that you feel that you are holding a grudge with. (Family, old friends, new friends, coworkers, etc) What was the incident(s) that caused you to feel this way? Are they unhealthy?

- What are your bad habits? Why don’t you break them? We all have at least one bad habit, it could be spending too much time on social media, not taking care of yourself, chewing on your fingernails, etc. How can you break these habits? Why or why don’t you?

I hope you are all doing well during this Shadow Work Journey. This is a reminder that it’s okay to cry and be angry during this process. Make sure you journal why you are upset and how you can work through those emotions. Your journey is YOUR JOURNEY. As always, if you are having a difficult time please reach out for support. I am not a licensed professional however my inbox is open for questions and/or support.

You got this!! Keep going!!

beginner’s guide to astrology

Hiiii, it’s werelivingarts. I’m back with another beginner’s guide to astrology! ☺️ 

Astrology is not 100% scientific but it is an art of interpretation on movement of celestial bodies when you were born. You may not fit in well in your sun sign because you have so many other signs that also may affect your personality! 🌌

More resources if you are interested: Creating Birth Charts with Astro Seek App - Co-Star

What’s your sun, moon and rising sign?  I’m Libra 🌞with a soul of Gemini 🌚 and put the mask of Scorpio ⬆!

Gentle Reminders for the fellow healing individuals

Hello my dear friends!

Today is a hard topic but I wanted to talk about the importance of taking care of yourself during the days when we aren’t feeling our best. Perhaps there’s a specific day or days that are hard for you each year, or random days when we have symptoms of helplessness from mental illnesses or trauma that are hard to shake.

I’m here to tell you that you are NOT alone! My trauma dates are slowly creeping up, I remember during these days I am not well. I have stomach issues, and various mental health issues and it’s hard for me to communicate my needs during these times. I made a little reminder list for this year that I wanted to share with whoever else may need it in their time of difficulty.

1. I need to remember to breathe. I am safe and I am not alone in this journey.

2. It’s OK to cry and feel scared during this time.

3. I need to remember that I don’t need to prove my trauma to anyone. I am believed by those who matter the most.

4. Do NOT neglect yourself, this is a trap to make you feel more horrid than what you already do. Eat something healthy and delicious and drink plenty of water. Shower even. You deserve it.

5. I must remember that I am a strong individual who didn’t deserve to endure the traumas that I have, but I can help others with the same unfortunate situations.

6. If I am having a really hard time, reach out to a trusted friend or family member and express my feelings the best way I can. Don’t bottle it up.

This year is different, I am evaluating where I need to make improvements and work on not neglecting my basic care needs. It’s not easy but necessary. I believe in all of you, I believe in myself most importantly. I hope whoever needs this gains clarity and comfort in knowing that they aren’t alone.

I am not a licensed professional. But I am a friend. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need support.

“A witch does not need to fix problems. She fixes the energy AROUND problems. Then the problems fix themselves…”

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