A Spell To Make A Home Cozier

Intro to Spirit Work

Throughout history those who practice magic have had a close connection to the spirit world, from fairy doctors who were said to learn their craft from the fae, to ceremonial magicians invoking angels and demons, to witches working with familiar spirits. To practice magic is to open yourself to this connection and to become aware of a whole new world of intelligent beings.

In modern Western culture, there’s a lot of fear around working with spirits. There are countless horror stories about malevolent hauntings, seances gone wrong, and violent possessions. It’s easy to see why many new witches are reluctant to work with spirits.

Ironically, in most other times and places, the spirit world was and is accepted as a normal part of life. All over the world, since before recorded history, people have honored their ancestors, left offerings for local land spirits, and built relationships with deities. We’re actually the weirdos for not having a healthy relationship with the spirits around us.

I personally have found working with spirits to be incredibly rewarding, and being aware of the spirits around me adds a lot of depth to my spiritual practice and my witchcraft. As long as you do your research, keep your wits about you, and are polite, you have nothing to fear and everything to gain from working with spirits.

Some Philosophy Terms

Animism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects.” An animist believes that all things have a spirit, from animals and plants to rocks and even man-made objects. Animism is a big part of many magical practices, especially in folk magic. It’s also a part of several modern religions, including Shinto and Anito. I personally am an animist, and my magic includes connecting with the spirits of the plants, crystals, and objects I work with.

Pantheism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.” A pantheist believes that the physical world is the Divine. Whereas an animist believes that all things have their own spirit, a pantheist believes that the entire world shares a single, divine spirit. Many Wiccans are pantheists, and in some cases pantheism can coexist with animism (all things are both individual spirits and part of the divine whole).

Panentheism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “the doctrine that God includes the world as a part though not the whole of his being.” A panentheist believes that the world is a part of the divine, but that there is also a part of the divine that exists beyond the physical world. Some Christian groups are panentheists. Another example of panentheism is ancient Egyptian religion, where natural objects like the sky and the sun were seen as the bodies (but not the souls) of the gods.

Which of these philosophies you resonate with will shape how you interact with spirits and the spirit world.

Types of Spirits

This is not by any means an exhaustive list, but here are some of the types of spirits witches commonly encounter or work with:

Ancestors: deceased human spirits, especially those with a familial link to you. Ancestor veneration is a huge part of some magic systems, as well as many religions. Some witches ask their ancestors for help in every single spell or ritual, while others honor their ancestors on certain days, like on Samhain or on a deceased loved one’s birthday. Honoring the ancestors is a good place to start with spirit work because they already have a connection to you and are more likely to be willing to help you. However, working with ancestors can be difficult if you don’t know your family’s history or if you don’t feel close to your family. As author Aaron Oberon says, “Sometimes ancestor work is undoing the blocks our ancestors have built.”

To begin connecting with your ancestors, start by researching your family history. Ask your living relatives about their parents and grandparents. Try your hand at genealogy research and see how far back you can trace your family. If you feel called to do so, you can create a special altar to honor your ancestors. Light candles and leave out offerings of food that your ancestors enjoyed while they were alive.

Land Spirits: spirits that embody and are connected to a natural object or landmark. There are many, many types of land spirits, from individual tree and plant spirits to the spirits of great mountains and rivers. Some land spirits are even worshiped as gods – like Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile. Some modern witches even choose to recognize cryptids like Mothman or the Jersey Devil as land spirits! Working with your local land spirits can help you develop a deeper connection to your environment and can make your magic feel more localized and personal.

To begin connecting with land spirits, start by learning about the biology and folklore of your local area. Offerings for land spirits are usually left outside, so be sure to offer things that won’t harm local wildlife. Wild bird seed, fresh fruit, and unsalted peanuts are a few examples of safe offerings.

Spirits of Place: spirits tied to a specific building or location. Unlike land spirits, these beings aren’t always connected to a natural feature. Houses and other buildings can have their own spirits that embody the energy of that place. In Germanic folklore, these spirits are called house wights or husvaettir, and in English folklore they’re called brownies. For people who grew up in non-animist cultures, it can feel strange to leave offerings for the spirit of a man-made building, but there’s a long history of these types of spirits being honored all over the world. I personally see house wights as being similar to land spirits.

If you want to begin connecting with the spirits of your home, start by greeting them by name and leaving out an offering for them. Establishing a relationship with the spirits of your living space can help you create a more harmonious and productive home. Traditional offerings for house wights include dishes of cream, grain-based porridge (like oatmeal or grits), and clean water.

Animal Spirits: the spirit of a specific animal, the archetypal Spirit (with a capital “S”) of an entire species of animal, or an individual spirit that appears as an animal. The concept of animal spirits that act as protectors and guides is found in many cultures, especially those with shamanic traditions. In Norse mythology, fylgjur were protector spirits who often appeared as animals. In British Traditional Witchcraft, witches work with familiar spirits that often take on animal forms. It’s worth noting that the terms “spirit animal” and “totem animal” come from Native American spiritual traditions and should not be used by people who don’t belong to those cultures. The concept of animal guides exists in other cultures, so there’s no reason to appropriate indigenous words and ideas. In my experience, animal spirits are often friendly and easy to connect with, so this is a good place to start for witches who are new to spirit work.

If you’d like to work with animal spirits, you can begin by connecting to the animals that are local to your area. You may feel called to bring a part of the animal you’re connecting with into your sacred space – for example, I keep crow feathers on my altar. Offerings depend on the type of animal spirit you’re connecting to – some require only fresh water, while some traditions state that familiars should be fed with blood (not human). Use your intuition to choose what works for you.

Fairies: fairies are a specific kind of land spirit, and most fairy lore is based on mythology and folklore from the British Isles. Fairies have a reputation in modern pop culture as being sweet, friendly creatures – some authors even compare them to angels! However, I think it’s important to remember that historically, fairies were known for being mischievous and sometimes dangerous. In folklore, fairies are less Tinkerbell and more Spiderwick Chronicles. As author Morgan Daimler says, “They can be cruel and vicious, or generous and kind. Some of them are helpful. Some are indifferent. And some of them think we make a very tasty meal indeed.” For this reason, fairies should be approached with caution.

If you want to honor the fairies in your practice, I recommend checking out Morgan Daimler’s books – they have several on this subject that are both easy to read and well-researched. There are a lot of rules for working with fairies, such as not telling them your full name and not saying “thank you” to a fairy, so this is one type of spirit that you should definitely research before beginning to work with them.

Angels: divine messengers; spirits of love and light that come from the Divine and have no physical form. Strictly speaking, “angel” refers to a messenger of the Abrahamic God, but there are other spirits from other religious traditions that fill a similar role. Angels and similar spirits embody divine love, and as such they are both incredibly powerful and incredibly supportive. Because of their loving nature, working with angels is a good place to start spirit work. Some witches who have had negative experiences with Christianity, Judaism, or Islam may feel uncomfortable working with angels. I have personally found that angels don’t really care how you identify in terms of religion, and have had good experiences with Christian angels even though I identify as pagan. However, your experiences may be different, so please don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable!

There are a lot of bad resources floating around the Internet when it comes to angels. If you’re interested in working with them, I recommend Chantel Lysette’s books Azrael Loves Chocolate and The Angel Code. There’s also a YouTube channel called Ask Angels with Melanie Beckler – I don’t agree with 100% of her ideas, but it’s a decent free resource. Offerings to angels are typically non-physical, like the light from a candle or the smoke from incense.

Demons: spirits of mischief, strife, and/or evil with no physical form. In Western culture, we associate the word “demon” with Christianity, but demons appear in many other religions, including Hinduism and Kemetic paganism. I personally define “demon” as a spirit who: 1.) is not and never was human, and 2.) is antagonistic towards humans. Most witches only deal with demons when they’re trying to get rid of one. However, there are some magic traditions, such as Goetic Magic, that call on demons in magical rituals. Let me just say this: in my experience, there are very few reasons why someone would want to work with a demon, and doing so is as dangerous for the person doing the summoning as it is for the intended victim. I definitely recommend that new witches stay away from these spirits. (But it should be noted that demons are not the same thing as dark deities!)

If you need to get rid of a demon, sulfur is used in American traditions to banish them. (It may also banish helpful spirits, so keep that in mind.) Blessed water is used to repel demons in several cultures. You can also call on an angel or deity for protection.

Deities: powerful, divine spirits who are worshiped as gods. Deities vary a lot from culture to culture, and each deity has their own personality, moral code, and mannerisms. I have found working with deities to be very fulfilling, as deities allow us to put a human face on the Divine. It’s much easier to form a relationship with, say, Odin than it is with an abstract divine force, at least in my experience. Aside from spiritually fulfilling relationships, deities can also be powerful allies in magic. It’s worth noting that very few deities are 100% good or 100% bad – they’re more nuanced than that. Just like anyone else, deities have strengths and weaknesses. (Yes, even the Abrahamic God. Read the Old Testament sometime and tell me God doesn’t have flaws.)

If you are interested in working with deities, start by doing research into the pantheons you feel drawn to. Were you obsessed with Greek mythology as a kid? (Or Norse? Or Egyptian? Or any other culture?) Read up on it! Find out how those deities were worshiped historically, and use that as a starting point for building your own practice. Offerings for deities vary from culture to culture, but I’ve found that fresh, clean water seems to be pretty much universally accepted.

This post ended up just being a whole lot of vocab, but I wanted to get some definitions straight before I start writing about how to connect with the spirit world. In my next post, I’ll talk about how to introduce yourself to different types of spirits and etiquette for maintaining a healthy relationship!

Resources:

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve

Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

Temple of the Cosmos by Jeremy Naydler

Azrael Loves Chocolate, Michael’s A Jock: An Insider’s Guide to What Your Angels Are Really Like by Chantel Lysette

British case law from the 1800s

*poses like malacath shrine* *poses like malacath shrine* *poses like malacath shrine*

| 100+ Grimoire Prompts/Ideas |

To see any updates to this post, click [here]. I’ll likely update it. 

Disclaimer No single witch knows about all these things or has answers to all these prompts. This is just a reference list. Don’t get overwhelmed and focus on what interests you and relates to your path when making a grimoire or book of shadows. 

The Essentials:

Does your grimoire have an index for organization? Make one! 

Write about the history of witches, the occult, Paganism, ect. 

What is witchcraft?

What is intent? What is your will? How do they work? 

What types of spells are there?

What are some methods for spells? 

What types of witches are there? 

What is cleansing? Why is it important? How is it done? 

What is charging? Why is it important? How is it done? 

What is grounding? Why is it important? How is it done? 

What is shielding & warding? Why is it important? How is it done? 

What are circles? Why are they important? How is it done? 

What is visualization? Why is it important? How is it done? 

What methods are there for divination? How can it be used?

What is consecration? How do you consecrate tools? 

Write about energy, energy work basics, how is energy used? 

What methods of meditation are there? Have any favorites?  

Write about any tips for meditation you know of! 

Other Useful Stuff:

Make a list of terms commonly used in reference to witchcraft

How to write your own spells 

How to make moon water

How to make sigils 

How to dress candles

The wheel of the year. What is it? How do you celebrate it? 

Make a pendulum board

Write the entire Theban Alphabet 

Taglocks. What are they? How do you use them?

The Correspondences of:

The Elements 

The directions - North, South, East, & West 

Moon phases 

Zodiac signs 

Planets 

Days 

Times of day 

Numbers 

Colors

Tarot cards 

Runes 

Herbs & Spices 

Flowers 

Trees/Wood 

Other plants 

Essential Oils 

Incense 

Teas 

Seashells & other things from the sea 

Crystals & Metals 

Gods & goddesses 

Spirits 

Angels 

Fae

Entities:

List pantheons/deities 

Basic spirit work 

How to protect yourself from spirits

How to bind and banish spirits if something goes wrong 

Fae etiquette 

Types of Fae

List ways to communicate with deities/spirits/Fae 

Information on constructs, servitors, tulpas, ect.

Your Path:

Page of tips/reminders

List practices, topics, deities/spirits of interest

How did you discover witchcraft?

What kind of witch are you, if any labels apply besides witch? 

Why do you do witchcraft?

What inspires your practice?

Is your practice based on any certain culture, religion, ect?

Is witchcraft spiritual for you? How so? Are you Pagan, Wiccan, ect? 

What is special about your practice? Do you have any unique methods, ideas, systems? 

How do you believe magic works?

What has being a witch taught you? 

Do you have any rules for your path? What are they? Why do you have them? 

Write about your goals relating to witchcraft. 

Do you have any familiars, deities or spirits you work with? Write about them. 

Are there many witches, occultists, Pagans, ect that inspire you? Who? What about them is inspiring? 

Make a correspondence page for you. Your natal chart, birth tarot card, numerology, elements or signature ingredients you connect to, ect. 

Draw a chart of symbols you use in your practice. This could be alchemical symbols, sigils, runes, ect. 

Offering ideas for your deities/spirits

Plants you have and how to care for them 

Do you have any witchy drawings or doodles? Add them! Make some! 

Write about folklore, especially personally significant or local folklore

Write about any myths or folk tales you like 

Write about local animals, plants, in your area

Make lists of:

Witchy recipes, crafts, projects, ect that you wanna do

Tarot spreads you like

Other spreads you like, oracle, runes, ect

A section or separate book for readings/spells/rituals you do

Witchy places you like, that be it woods, cemeteries, shops, ect

A witchy wishlist, tools, ingredients, ect that you want

Witchy books you have and witchy books you want 

Random topics:

Astrology

Astral projection

Auras

Crystal grids

Dream interpretation

Familiars

Herbalism 

Lenormand 

Runes 

Sacred geometry

Scrying 

Symbols 

Tarot cards

Oracle cards 

Palmistry

Pendulums

🔥Fiery Souls: Salamanders🔥

🔥 Have you ever watched a fire burn and noticed strange shapes curling in the flames? These are magical salamanders dancing for you. Small and dragon-like, these beings breathe flames from their tiny mouths.

🔥 Salamanders also live in the glow of a candle, the spark in hot coals, lightening bolts, sunsets and rays of sunlight. Kitchens are also sacred to them.

🔥 They have a high energy and are spontaneous creatures. Unable to be tamed, salamanders are courageous, fierce and loyal to those who call on them. If you want to feel their presence nearby, try cooking. Ask them to bless your dinner or offer them a piece of coal at your next barbecue.

🔥 When you need a pick-me-up invoke their power by visualising a warming flame coursing through your body. You can also work with them when you need to reignite your sense of passion, vitality, joy or community spirit. They’re useful guides to help bring families closer together, and can offer comfort whenever you are feeling lonely.

🔥 FIRE FAIRIES 🔥

☀️ Fire fairies ride on the sunbeams, and you may glimpse them wherever a ray pierces through the clouds. They absorb solar energy, which sustains them through winter. However, the best way to meet the fire spirits is to kindle and tend a fire.

☀️ If you have an open hearth, you need look no further, for deep within the glowing embers you will see “fire pictures” that will tell you about the salamanders. Sit before the flames and let yourself feel drowsy and relaxed. Soon you will be aware of the fire spirits coiling within the glow or dancing in the sparks. If a spark jumps out at toward you, that is a fire spirit making its presence felt.

☀️ Outside, bonfires are fantastic fire spirit haunts. Chimeneas (Mexican pottery hearths) and fire bowls are readily available, and make the creation of fire easy in any garden. Fireworks are the very essence of salamanders, which flock around and within them. Remember to take care when looking for them though.

☀️ To make friend with salamanders, show respect for their Element. Avoid using a microwave- it is an insult! Cook with gas, at the very least, and wherever possible with live coal. Fire sprites appreciate a hearty barbecue ! Learn to make fire the old way, by striking wood or using a tinder box, so that you tease the fire from the interior of the wood and the salamanders flash into being. Fire spirits are also attracted by wild and sensuous music. A simple candle, is an invitation to them, and tiny sprites dance in each candle flame.

☀️ As with all fairies, fire spirits reward interest, respect and genuine attempt to tune into their way of being. Look for a glint, a flash, a patch of bright color. Maybe a firefly will pass or, at night, your path will be blessed with enchanting glow-worms. Fire spirits may also leave gold- anything red, orange, or yellow, or arrow shaped. Treasure it, and it will light your days.

What are Magical Names?

If you’re new to witchcraft or magic, you might have noticed the colorful and ethereal names that some of us use when writing or interacting in the Pagan/Witchcraft community. 

Magical names aren’t new. They’re not a result of the internet or witches seeking to mirror modern fantasy. Most are actually spiritual in nature. 

At first glance, they may seem silly, but this is a tradition that is found in mainstream religions as well. Catholics also give themselves a spiritual name at their coming of age. 

For Witches and Pagans, it’s served 2 purposes: 

It provides us anonymity in an era where it isn’t always safe or socially acceptable for people to go by their legal name when discussing and practicing magic.

It gives us a descriptive and meaningful link to our practice. For some, they may describe staples of faith, deity devotion, or a name given to the practitioner by a Coven, Deity, or Guiding Spirit.

Do I have to have a magical name? 

No, having a magical name is a personal choice by the practitioner, it’s not a requirement and no one should judge you for choosing to use your legal name. 

How do I pick a magical name? 

It’s really up to you. It may have special meaning to you or remind you of why you practice. Common naming conventions can include adjectives and nouns. To avoid appropriation be sure to steer clear of verb+noun phrases as it can be akin to stereotypes for Native Names. 

Some things to consider:

Is it easy for others to use/pronounce? (if using it in the community). 

Is it respectful? Would you be comfortable giving it to a deity or clergy for use? 

Is it likely to be commonly used? 

Avoid requiring people to call you a title (King, Queen, Lord) or a Deity name that others may not feel comfortable calling you as this has connotations with Spiritual Abuse. 

Are you ready to adopt a magical name? If you are just learning about your practice and your path, you may not feel like you’re prepared to come up with a name that defines you yet. That’s okay. 

Please these are so precious

✨aube.blue on Instagram and aube_blue on Twitter✨

I love their style so much, it’s so sweet

☀️Spells For Every Day☀️

A spell is a prayer of sorts- a wish sent out with great intention, in harmony with the universe. Why are spells performed on a certain day, with a specific herb and just the right color candle? This is how practical witches synchronize with the greater good and harmonize with the cycles of nature. Each day of the week has specific correspondences and meanings.

YOUR WEEK AT-A-GLANCE:

☀️ SUNDAY IS A DAY FOR HEALING AND VITALITY, AS WELL AS CREATIVITY AND NEW HOPE. THE COLORS FOR THIS DAY ARE GOLD, ORANGE, AND YELLOW, AND THE SCARED STONES FOR THIS THEY ARE ALSO IN THOSE COLORS: AMBER, CITRINE, CARNELIAN, AND TOPAZ. SUNDAY’S HERBS AND INCENSES ARE CLOVES, CEDAR, CHAMOMILE, FRANKINCENSE, AMBER, SUNFLOWER AND HELIOTROPE.

☀️MONDAY, OR MOON DAY, IS A DREAMY DAY FOR INTUITION , BEAUTY, WOMEN’S RITUALS, AND YOUR HOME. THE COLORS ARE SHINY SILVERS, PEARL, PALE ROSE, WHITE AND LAVENDAR, REFLECTIVE LIKE THE MOON. THE GEMS AND STONES ARE SIMILARLY SHADED MOONSTONE, PEARL, QUARTZ CRYSTAL, FLUORITE, AND AQUAMARINE. THE HERBS AND INCENSE ARE NIGHT-BLOOMING JASMINE, MYRTLE, MOONWORT, VERVAIN, WHITE ROSE, POPPY AND CAMPHOR.

☀️ TUESDAY IS THE DAY FOR ACTION, “MARS’S DAY” IS THE TIME FOR HIGH ENERGY IN YOUR CAREER, FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FOR AGGRESSION IN MEETINGS, AND FOR STRONG SENSUALITY. RED IS THE DAY’S COLOR, AND THE CORRESPONDING GEMS AND CRYSTALS ARE RUBY,GARNET,CARNELIAN,BLOODSTONE, AND PINK TOURMALINE. INCENSES AND HERBS FOR MARS’S DAY ARE RED ROSES, PINE, CARNATION, NETTLE, PATCHOULI,PEPPER AND GARLIC.

☀️ WEDNESDAY, OR WODEN’S DAY, IS WHEN THE PLANETS OF COMMUNICATION MERCURY AND CHIRON- RULE. THIS IS THE OPTIMUM TIME FOR WRITING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS, MEMORY AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION. COLORS FOR THIS DAY ARE LIGHT BLUE, GRAY, GREEN, ORANGE AND YELLOW. THE CRYSTALS ARE SODALITE, MOSS AGATE, OPAL AND AVENTURINE. THE HERBS AND INCENSE ARE CINNAMON, PERIWINKLE,DILL,SWEET PEA,CINQUEFOIL, AND FERN.

☀️ THURSDAY , OR THOR’S DAY, IS THE DAY FOR BUSINESS, POLITICS, LEGALITIES, BARGAINING, GOOD FORTUNE, AND MATERIAL AND FISCAL WEALTH. THE COLORS ARE BLUE, PURPLE, AND TURQUOISE. AS YOU MIGHT SUSPECT, THE CRYSTALS ARE TURQUOISE, SAPPHIRE, AMETHYST, AND LAPIS LAZULI, SO FAVORED BY THE EGYPTIANS. THE HERBS AND INCENSES FOR THE DAY ARE SAFFRON, CEDAR, NUTMEG,PINE, OAK, AND CINNAMON.

☀️ FRIDAY IS RULED BY FREYA, THE NORDIC VENUS, GODDESS OF LOVE. FRIDAY IS ALL ABOUT BEAUTY, LOVE, SEX, FERTILITY, FRIENDSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS, THE ARTS, HARMONY AND MUSIC, AND BRINGING THE NEW INTO YOUR LIFE. THE COLORS ARE PALE GREEN AND DEEP GREEN, ROBIN’S EGG BLUE, PINK, AND VIOLET, AND THE CRYSTALS ARE EMERALD, PINK TOURMALINE, AND ROSE QUARTZ, AS WELL AS JADE, MALACHITE, AND PERIDOT. THE HERBS AND INCENSE FOR FRIDAY ARE APPLE, LILY,BIRCH,PINK ROSE,VERBENA,IVY,ROSE AND SAGE.

☀️ SATURDAY IS A TIME FOR PROTECTION,DISCIPLINE,DUTY, BINDING, FAMILY, MANIFESTATION, AND COMPLETION. SATURDAY’S CRYSTALS ARE AMETHYST, SMOKY QUARTZ, JET, BLACK ONYX, OBSIDIAN, AND DARKEST GARNET. THE INCENSE, PLANTS, AND HERBS FOR THIS DAY ARE IVY,OAK,RUE,MOSS,MYRRH, DEADLY NIGHTSHADE, MANDRAKE, HEMLOCK, AND WOLFSBANE. (MANY SATURNIAN HERBS ARE TOXIC, BE SURE TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN USING THEM).

So my petty ex, who I left for being a rapist and sexually assaulting me in my sleep, is pathetically spreading dumbass little rumors about me on world of Warcraft of all things. I’m a bit annoyed, but it isn’t like it’s hard to change servers so I guess that’s what I’ll be working on tomorrow. I don’t even want to be bothered by it but I guess I can’t even do pet battles in peace on my server now. Sucks that I have too many characters to transfer so I’ll only take one and start from the beginning, but still. I think I have the right to be irritated. It is amazing how people who are abusers act like they are the ones who are hurt when you finally leave after being abused for two years. Oh, and when I did finally leave and did finally get all my things, I found in with my clothes the clothes of the girl he was cheating on me with before covid. Can’t be happier to have cut these ties.