Latest Posts by fangs-and-potions - Page 2

A momentous occasion

Witchcraft Basics: Glamours

What is a Glamour?

A glamour is a kind of spell you cast on yourself to change how people perceive you. Glamours aren’t like the kind of magic you see in the movies--the same goes for all the witchcraft we talk about here. It’s not flashy. You can’t use a glamour to change your eye or hair color. You can, however, use them to be perceived as more beautiful, more confident, tougher, smarter, more delicate, the list goes on. I’ve written a couple of glamour spells before--mostly beauty spells like my spritzer or beauty oil. But there are other kinds of glamours and other ways to achieve them.

Oftentimes, glamours are performed along with your getting ready ritual. It’s a kind of magic that lends itself well to the mundane things we do everyday, and to the science of our world as well. You’ve probably heard of the placebo effect. The simple version of it is: if you believe something is happening to you, you’ll begin to feel the effects--it becomes real. The intersection of witchcraft and science is fascinating to me, and glamours in particular are where I see it overlapping the most! You’ve got magic and science working on your side with these, and the end result is often that you feel more secure in yourself, which is something we should all strive for.

How to Cast a Glamour

So you’ve crawled out of bed, or off of the couch, and you’re about to get ready to go out. You want to look a certain way--be perceived a certain way, and you want some magical help with that. This is where casting a glamour comes in, and there are a ton of ways to do it. The simplest way, with no outside preparation or ingredients, is to manifest your intent while getting ready for the day, however it is you do that. Wash away the worries and debris of the day before when you shower and wash your hair. Focus on whatever quality you desire sinking into your skin as your wash your face, moisturize, shave, etc.

Choose your outfit according to what you’re trying to manifest--color associations work well for this, as does jewelry, especially if you’ve enchanted it. If you wear makeup, it’s tailor made for casting glamours. Use color associations on your eyeshadow and lipstick--pink for beauty, red for confidence, a nude if you’re trying to go unnoticed. Think of your foundation as well, the foundation of your spell. Whatever perception you’re going for, infuse the foundation with it and put it on. If you use concealer, use it to “conceal” any faults, or whatever it is about yourself you’d like to downplay today. Weave magic and intention into your hair as your pick, comb or brush it out for the day. Do you have a favorite perfume or cologne? Use it to cover yourself in your intention. And the best part is, after the day is over, you can end the spell by washing it all away!

Of course, you can do a glamour via more hands-on means as well. Potions, salves, baths, charms, enchanted meals, the list goes on. Tea, coffee and smoothies lend themselves well to glamours, as you can take them on the go and let the magic flow through you on your way to your destination. You can create a spray for your skin or hair, an oil to anoint yourself with, or even create a satchel to carry on your person in order to exude whatever quality you’re seeking. As you may have noticed, a lot of these glamours are reusable, as opposed to the cosmetic type glamours listed above. Both have their uses, and you can layer these methods as well to achieve what you desire!

Types of Glamours

What kind of glamour might you want to cast, though? Well, here are a few examples!

-beauty/attractiveness

Probably the most common type of glamour, these are used to make you appear more attractive to people you may interact with.

-confidence

To look more confident, even when you’re not particularly feeling that way. These are good for job interviews, meetings, presentations, etc.!

-toughness

If you’re trying to look stronger or more intimidating than you are, for safety or otherwise, this might be the kind of glamour you’re looking for.

-intelligence

Need to come off as more eloquent and intelligent? Well I’m sure you’re plenty smart, but if people have been doubting you, a magical boost might give them a nudge in the right direction.

There are plenty more, and these can overlap and combine to achieve what you’re looking for! Magic is malleable like that. Just be clear about what you need, or you might get mixed results. This goes for any spell, however. ;)

Tools/Ingredients for Glamours

Not sure what to gather beforehand? Here are a couple of ideas!

Makeup (especially eyeshadow and lipstick)

Perfume

Cologne

Lotions

Jewelry

Pins

Moisturizers/Skin care products

Roses (beauty)

Garlic

Hot Sauce/Hot Peppers

Dill

Banana (Success)

Avocado (Beauty, love)

Apple (Beauty, love)

Strawberries (Love, happiness)

Peaches (youth, happiness)

Cherries, pitted (beauty)

Vanilla

Bay leaf (love, passion, harmony)

Basil (wealth,love, faithfulness)

Oregano (ward against negative energy, happiness, peaceful energy)

Thyme (positivity, prosperity)

Parsley (happiness, passion, protection)

Sage (prosperity, mental clarity)

Rosemary (beauty, love, general magical boost)

Marjoram (happiness, love, money)

Sea Salt (purity, protection)

Pepper (passion)

Crushed red pepper (passion, a spell booster)

This is just a list to start with! You can use the edible ingredients to make teas, baths, smoothies, soups, etc., and infuse other ingredients with your intent. Glamours are versatile, and the way you cast them can be, too! The only real limit is your imagination!

(I'm cleaning up my blog and reposting some of my spells/etc that were once hosted on my website.💕)

Nonverbal Witchcraft

For my witches who cannot speak, struggle to speak, or choose to remain quiet.

This post is a compilation of ideas and personal methods from fellow nonverbal witches. Not everything may fit for you, but hopefully it will give you a starting point!

Spells:

Write the words and focus your energy on bringing them into being. You could burn the piece of paper to finish off the spell. One contributor also mentions burying the paper. 

Our thoughts are powerful. Focus, and say the words in your mind.

You can also mouth the words without speaking them, if that helps you.

Whispering is also great if that works for you!

Find power in silence, use it as its own tool.

Use instruments to create certain rhythms for different spells, instead of chanting. 

If sound is helpful, play music that you feel relates/connects you to the spell.

Cast circles and finalize spells by snapping.

Sigils are concentrated intention–use that to your advantage. They can absolutely be a base for spellwork. 

Use a power source; the elements (candles, soil, the air around you, a bowl of water, etc.), crystals, burning herbs, etc.

To feel energy without using words to confirm: use tools that have stronger energy that you can physically feel.  

Make spell candles, jars or sachets. 

Use sign language! I’m of the opinion that everyone should at least learn the basics, and there are plenty of free resources out there!

Specific spells:

Casting a circle: “You can cast a circle by walking in a circle and visualizing your footsteps imprinting on the earth below, creating a barrier of light (color chosen to correspond to intention at the time), walk the circle 3 times and see the barrier in your mind forming a perfect sphere around your work space, becoming brighter and stronger each step you take.”*

To banish: write the things you wish to banish on a piece of paper, light them on fire with a black candle and place in a burn bowl. 

To release and invite: use two pieces of paper. On one, write down everything you’d like to release from your life. On the other, write down everything you’d like to invite into your life. Burn the release paper and dispose of the ashes, keep the invite paper. (Optional: I like to do this on the new moon, and have a black candle above the release paper and a white candle above the invite paper).

Protective charm: (click here)

To raise you out of a dark place: (click here)

Spell of destruction: (click here)

Energy work:

Use a cajon, bells, singing bowl, steel tongue drum/moondrum, or other instruments to raise energy!

“I have a specific snapping rhythm that is ‘magic time’. When I snap the rhythm once or three times it’s go time and I fall into the zone.”*

“For energy work and to raise energy I dance and as my heartbeat gets louder in my ears I mentally chant with it, focusing on a short phrase, intention, or incantation with the energy I physically raised and the meditative repetition of my mind.”*

Use a power source; the elements, crystals, burning herbs, etc.

Most energy work involves movement, rather than words (click here for energy work with restricted movement).

Other ideas:

Worship: write letters, devote your actions, decorate an altar. Prayers don’t need to be spoken! Or write your prayers and place them on an altar, burn them, or keep them. (Bedridden worship)

Divination doesn’t require spoken word, especially once you have a bond with your tools. You can always use writing, sigils, or your thoughts to channel your intent/question. (Bedridden divination)

Charge crystals with your intent and wear them/carry them in a pouch. 

Kitchen witchcraft, garden magic, tea magic, etc. etc. 

Utilize the correspondences of the items in your life. 

You may also like:

Bedridden witch series

Bedridden witch: Discreet edition

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft

Spoonie witch masterpost

Sigils: (pain + symptoms) (mental illness + energy) (healing + misc.) 

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

With suggestions and contributions from: 

@mynameisvernal, @melinoealtar, @steffithesciencewitch​, @the-corset-witch​*, @healing-sun-witch​ and anonymous. Thank you!

**Do not repost or share on other platforms - reblogging is okay!**

2023 is in three months

currently going through all my servers and contacts to inform them about the Queen's passing like a frantic newspaper boy

Dr. Abraham ‘100% knows it is a vampire causing Lucy’s illness but knows better than to immediately say that out loud to anyone let alone someone who runs an asylum’ Van Helsing

🖤.

the new pool boy position just opened at the vampire mansion (previous employee disappeared under mysterious circumstances)

nothing better than watching a classic slasher movie on an autumn night

Creature of the night

Unconventional Witchcraft Tools:

🦴 Bones:

It is essential to find animal bones in an ethically sourced manner. Bones have been apart of us and magic itself always. These rigid organs are used in forms of offerings, animism, grounding, cleromancy, and osteomancy.

💍 Charms:

Very dependent on the shape of the charm, many practitioners adorn their magical possessions with charms. (I.e a heart charm in a sachet representing romance.) From ancient Europe to Asia, jewelry and charms were tossed from baskets onto a soft surface for divination. There is also a process called charming, which is imbuing an object with a particular energy.

⚰️ Coffin Nails:

Coffin Nails are utilized in witchcraft for warding, mourning, baneful magic, and death work in general. Coffin Nails represent the security of one’s physical body, as it seals us off from danger.

🪙 Coins:

Coins are utilized as offerings, charms, runes, and ways to honor deities and ancestors. Coins are also added to money bowls. Coins represent Fortune and Wealth.

🪶 Feathers:

Each Bird has a different magical significance, so the magical properties of a bird can be both interpreted from that as well as Color Magic. Feathers themselves embody the element of Air and are great for Cleansing.

🐴 Horseshoes:

Horseshoes have been hung over doorways for at least a few centuries. This tradition not only attracts luck and fortune, but wards your space from negative energy.

🔨 Iron Pikes:

Iron Pikes come from the railroads that trains run across. These Iron Pikes are often already rusted, and imbued with the intentions of protection and warding.

🗝 Keys:

Old keys have been used by many and have unlocked doors many times. Each time you use a key, visualize you unlocking and harnessing potential opportunity, closure, openings, journeys, protection, safety, warding, and security.

🍁 Leaves:

Leaves magically represent growth, transformation, nourishment, change, development, and can be used to draw sigils upon.

🪴 Seeds:

Seeds not only magically symbolize fertility, but potential, growth, wealth transformation, and fortune. One can use Nuts, Seeds, or Acorns in wealth, luck, and growth spells, or as a charm.

🐚 Shells:

Cowrie shells were once one of the most common forms of global currency. African traditions use Cowrie Shells for Divinatory purposes since Ancient times. Shells embody fertility, sensuality, wealth, life, and spirit.

🪵 Sticks:

Sticks not only embody the Earth, but can be used for Wands, Besoms, Crafts, or in place of bones in Osteomancy. You can use any kind of wood you like including cinnamon and driftwood.

🪨 Stones:

The gorgeous and delicate simplicity of one of the Earth’s greatest forms of matter not only provides grounding energy, but can be used and imbued for many other purposes as well.

Figures at work in a winter landscape, an approaching storm beyond (1859) by Fredrik Marinus Kruseman (1816-1882)

BABY WITCH FAQ

a masterpost by noonymoon

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sigils and runes – what are they?

sigils – what are they and how to do them?

crystals – a list of pastel aesthetic stones!

spells – i have a hard time with words…

astrology – what’s ASC, lilith and node?

astrology – natal chart ? birth chart ??

spells – tips for crafting your own spells

spells – spells can be anything

crystals – charging methods

where to begin with your research 1

where to begin with your research 2

spells – really simple spell for rebirth

crystals – which stone for meditation?

crystals – your first crystal selection!

spells – glamour idea: piercings

spells – tattoos and witchcraft

divination – which medium to start with?

crystals – how to do easy crystal grids

what do to when you don’t like tea!

spells – what’s important when enchanting

how to incorporate magic subtly into school

divination – what the fuck is .. tarot ??

water magic – some thoughts on magical water

crystals – can i use regular stone pebbles?

spells – put a hiding glamour on your grimoire!

color magic – different candle color hues .. ?

cleansing – low effort techniques

crystals – do cracks lessen their powers?

energy work – why grounding is important

grimoire – some pointers on usability

grimoire – some more pointers

grimoire – a lil guide by me, an adhd kid

astrology – what are the houses ???

divination – how to create your own tarot deck

spells – the difference: curses, hexes and jinxes

spells – what’s a binding spell ..?

spells – dumb question: can i hex myself ?!

energy work – overcoming an abusive mentor

spirit work – a few words on the Fae

spells – can i use a different language?

altars – what is possible ..?

does a witch have to like being outside in nature?

a few words on omens and signs

grimoire – what’s a book of shadows?

voodoo and cultural appropriation

what do i need to do for being a witch ???

how do i start being a witch ???

how to be part of the witchy community !

how to start being a witch, an example

spells – a ritual for getting rid of fear in the dark

divination – can i have more than one tarot deck?

can i be more than one type of witch?

divination – what’s the difference: tarot + oracle cards

divination – the difference: tarot + oracle cards

cleansing – cleaning and cleansing your apartment

energy work – enchanting an item with energy

altars – what’s that and why ??

crystals – stones for protecting your energy

herbs – what to do with them anyway ..?!

crystals – do i need to activate my crystal …?

grimoire – do i have to be artsy to have a grimoire?

how to explain witchcraft to your parents ..

crystals – stuff to know when purchasing stones

spells – some thoughts on the elements

crystals – healing your third eye chakra

spells – do i need a magical wand ?

water magic – storm water vs. rain water

spells – a few words on the beautiful rose

herbs – how to dry flowers and herbs

herbs – a few words on st. john’s wort

spells – can i make my own correspondences?

crystals and herbs for mental health and stomach

crystals – a few words on quality and prices

am i too young for beginning my studies?

how to be a cute magical girl witch

herbs – what can i gather outside in nature?

sigils – gym witch: does sweat work for charging?

don’t let anyone tell you who you are

some important tips and tricks

energy work – is feeling others pain possible?

divination – how to trust in yourself more

familiars – my cat did a thing: is it magic ?

familiars – some thoughts on magical pets

synchronicity – why you see your birthday on the clock

angel signs – asking for guidance

angel signs – the complete guide

don’t fear to begin.. all you can do is start

some witchy thoughts on the cold season

crystals – how to get rid of dirt on tumbled stones

smells and scents in witchcraft

witchy holidays – samhain and beltane

crystals and herbs for more energy and balance

energy work – my third eye hurts!

crystals – all about rose quartz

divination – my pendulum isn’t working well

crystals – an overview of some crystals

divination – which crystal for a pendulum?

uhh.. lucid dreaming vs. astral travel ???

some thoughts on dream walking

divination – how to attune your pendulum!

spells – how to enchant without many tools

crystals – for sex, libido and intimacy

do it yourself – all that glitters is gold box

do it yourself – pocket sigil wax seals  // updated on dec 9th 2018

altars – how to create a pocket altar

divination – some tarot decks for beginners

sigils – my sigils don’t really work

spells – some important views on witchcraft

meditation – i get sick while meditation!

deities – i feel my offering is not good enough?

divination – can i buy decks online?

energy work – cleansing yourself is important

herbs – some herbs for motivation and willpower

deities – i think a deity is reaching out to me?

divination – the strongest card in a tarot deck?

crystals – i’m a secret witch and i want crystals

astrology – some thoughts on what astrology does

herbs – a pointer for growing your own stuff

astral travel – some pointers to get started

meditation – it helps with focus and memory

astrology – how to easily read your natal chart  

spells – when it comes to replacing ingredients

sigils – how i create digitalized sigil artwork

i want to start witchcraft but i don’t know where

divination – noony’s favourite tarot decks

divination – can i only use the major arcana?

crystals – can i buy crystal jewelry online?

spells – is it morally okay to enchant gifts?

deities – how do i know that a deity reaches out?

personal growth – how to not be angry at people

moon phases - everything about the dark moon

personal growth – how to attract positivity and goodness

divination – can i use a spread multiple times?

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// updated on jan 16th 2019

gay people see the word vampire and just hit reblog

I love the smell of autumn rain…

Witch Positivity Culture is Toxic

A wild unscheduled post appears. I’ve just been seeing a lot of something lately that’s been bugging me and I wanted to put it into words, mostly for my own sake. Though my frustration here is rooted in my path as a shadow worker which is the topic I’m writing about this month so maybe it’s more of a prelude.

It’s really just a riff on what plenty of other people have put more eloquently – positivity culture is toxic – but with regards to the witchcraft community in particular. I see so many feel good posts about “When you don’t feel witchy enough…” followed by a list of affirmations. I watch people get responded to blithely when they ask questions about witchcraft with “everyone’s path is valid.” 

This, quite frankly, is incredibly shallow.

Feeling bad isn’t a bad thing. It’s positivity culture adding pressure to feel good about yourself and your practice all the time that makes these totally normal and helpful feelings into things that need to be soothed away, into feelings to reject. Feelings – even bad ones – exist to try to help us. This is more complicated in cases of mental illness but, for the most part, feelings exist to help you.

Your bad feelings about your practice help highlight an area that isn’t working for you. If you just try to affirm the feelings away, you’ll never figure out why the practice isn’t working for you in the first place. What I wish those posts would say instead is to look at why you don’t feel witchy enough and be honest with yourself. Are you actually doing the work of studying and practicing witchcraft? If not, then what could you do to improve it? If you’re not in a place to work on it right now, how can you practice acceptance for the season of life that you’re in?

That takes work and a willingness to reflect and change, but it does begin to actually resolve the underlying issue at hand. I find it preferable to having to reapply affirmations ad infinitum.

And I would chalk this up to a difference in taste if it weren’t how it works its way into all aspects of the witchcraft community. I have frequently been greeted with hostility and “all paths are valid” when I ask questions about how other people think through their witchcraft. The very act of asking questions – especially ones that are beyond a beginner’s level – gets treated as if people are invalidating whatever it is they’re seeking to understand. I’ve watched as some communities take a more aggressive stance with practical questions about intermediate witchcraft than they do actual racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Validation, like affirmation, is the easy and temporary way to cope with discomfort. “All paths are valid” is absolutely meaningless. It is a non-answer in almost every case I’ve seen it used. It’s also untrue. Paths that appropriate closed practices, have misogyny and racism imbedded in them or as part of the goal of their craft, that are used to justify and further transphobia – not fucking valid. The fixation on not invalidating anyone is wild to me. Why is it that in so many spaces that is valued over open discussion what our personal values and paths actually are?

One of the reasons it took me so long to call myself a witch and to practice more regularly is how this sheen of validity covered up everything useful from any sort of scrutiny to figure out whether it would work for me. It wasn’t until I finally found people who could be comfortable with their practice, did not seek my validation, and could answer my questions freely that I ever got anywhere.

I can’t control what other people do, but I since I’ve gotten a flurry of new followers I thought it might be good to restate one of my main principles with my work here on this blog – I will never make you comfortable with my materials at the expense of your well being. I will never affirm you staying the same when change is absolutely necessary.

This community wide discomfort with discomfort is toxic, stunts people trying to be become more skilled, and creates a haven for people reproducing systemic oppression in the community. If we don’t accept discomfort as a natural part of learning and growing, we run the risk of creating a space that is more focused on feeling like witch than actually being one.*

TL;DR – Feeling bad isn’t a bad thing, stop trying to affirm it away. Saying “every path is valid” gives racists, sexists, homophobes, and transphobes a pass and keeps people looking to learn in the dark. Discomfort with discomfort is toxic.

*I want to be clear that my definition of a witch in this case is someone who studies and uses witchcraft and isn’t tradition or skill dependent.

He wears the smell of blood and death like perfume.

vampire mood board

By  verbluten (on Instagram)

Vampire look book

*making a reference sheet for a character*

*redesigning them literally right after*

*repeat*

I'm not saying it would be the best part of being a vampire, but it's a nice perk that you would no longer have to do dishes all the time.

𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖎𝖌𝖍 ; 𝖉𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖚𝖗𝖆 ⚰️🦇

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𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖎𝖌𝖍 ; 𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖗𝖆 𝖛𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖌𝖊𝖎𝖘𝖙 👻📷

[please reblog or like if you saved]

black stilettos are my fav // ig @ mikaylajade444