Palace Personnel ~ The Commons

Fantasy Guide to Royal Households and How they Work

Fantasy Guide To Royal Households And How They Work

When I say Households, I mean the entourage that follows around the royal family. The household went everywhere with them to care for their needs from the people who would empty their chamber pots to their noble companions. Most royal households are basically the same as noble ones, only on grander scale. Every royal had a household and an entourage as well as every noble at court.

Palace Personnel ~ The Commons

Fantasy Guide To Royal Households And How They Work

The commons were an intregal part of every household. They made up perhaps 80% of the work force. Royal courts were often on the road and never spent more than a few months at every palace. The court was constantly moving. Some positions were not permanent, meaning certain servants did not travel with the court because they were employed at the palace only. They would be paid by the Monarch's paymaster.

Scullion: The scullion was a relatively easy position to fill so they were often changed as the court went from palace to palace. They would be responsible for scrubbing and cleaning the servants quarters and the kitchens. They would scrub floors with lye, scour pots with sand, sweep put the fireplace and clean up after the other servants. They were the first to rise in a castle and tasked to light all the fires in the kitchens. Scullions would just be employed to the palace and serve a multitude of chambers

Laundress: The laundress was responsible for the cleaning of anything made of fabric in the household. Since they are handling unmentionables, they knew what happened behind closed bedchamber doors. They knew when the King visited the Queen or hadn't, they knew when marriages were consummated or not and they knew when the Queen and royal women were not pregnant. They often sold secrets to pad their pockets. Laundresses might be permanent staff but sometimes not.

Minstrels: The minstrel was a commoner hired to play an instrument or sing for the entertainment of the royal. A royal might staff a few at a time but they would always have one on hand. The minstrel would likely come with their masters as they travelled. The minstrel might serve the main royal household but a royal might retain their own.

Cook: The cook was one of the most important servants in the household. They would have the task of overseeing the running of the kitchens and keeping supplies in order. They would likely be on call at all times. Henry VIII's cook was often woken in the night because his royal master wanted a midnight snack. The cook was a valued member of the household and would have been highly sought after if they were a very skilled cook. They would have travelled with the joint. Cooks were apart of the greater royal household but often royals retained private cooks for their own use.

Maidservant: The maidservant cleans the castle. She would sweep the floors, scrub them, empty the chamberpots, get rid of the ashes from the fire and ready the fire for later. She would make up the bed or strip it for the laundresses. She would wash anything that needed washing including furniture and ornaments. She was likely not a travelling servant and would be strictly employed at a single palace.

Jester: The jester was the hired entertainer. Working under the master of revels, the jester had the daunting task of making the monarch and their family laugh. They would tell jokes, tell stories, cause havoc in the court for laughs and lighten the mood. The most successful jester of all time was Will Somers, jester to Henry VIII. Will broke bad news to the infamously bad tempered monarch and got away with things that would have sent others to the block. Will survived most of Henry's reign, his head intact. Jesters would be apart of the main household though each royal might have one of their own.

Positions within the Royal Household ~ Noble

Fantasy Guide To Royal Households And How They Work
Fantasy Guide To Royal Households And How They Work

Nobility were always welcomed at court. They eat at court, slept at court and were cared for by the monarch. Some nobles had to sing for their supper and most were hired as royal servants. They weren't exactly scrubbing floors and would be paid handsomely with land that would generate wealth for them

The Steward/Seneschal: This person was the head of the royal's staff. They would have the task of running the lands and servants their master or mistress. The steward served as a backup and assistant in all the tasks even representing their master or mistress when they were unavailable. Would be a high ranking noble. Each royal household would have them.

Treasurer of the Household: The treasurer was the accountant and pay master. They would be in charge of ensuring debts were settled, wages were paid and the household was running within the budget. This was a coveted position because it gave the treasurer insight into the financial situations of the royals. Such info was wroth its weight in gold. Each royal would have one.

Usher: The Gentleman Usher would be in charge of escorting guests into the royal chambers and into the royal presence. They would act as a go between their royal master/mistress and the guest often going back and forth with messages. It was just as coveted as the position of chamberlain but with less responsibilities.

Master of Horse: The Master of Horse was in charge of seeing to the horses of their master. They would oversee the grooms or the stableboy/hands who were employed at the stables to actually care for the horses. The master of horse would ensure that the stables were in order and the horses were up to parr in order to bear royalty across the kingdom. Each royal would have one but there would a main one who acted as overseer.

Master of the Wardrobe/Mistress of the Robes: These are the nobility who are employed to look after the clothes of the royal they serve. This would mainly involve a managerial position, overseeing the inventory of the royal wardrobe (a warehouse like building that housed the clothing) and placing orders for new clothes. It was a tidy job that rarely involved getting the hands dirty. Each royal would have one.

Chamberlain/Valet: The chamberlain is employed to look after the Lord's bedchamber. This was the most sought out position as they effectively were the gateway into the royal presence. Their main task was making sure their boss was comfortable and happy. Could be a well born commoner or a noble. Each royal would have one.

The Page: All royal households had pages. They would be a young noble boy about seven years old sent to their royal master. He would be in charge of tidying up after the lord, carrying messages to other servants and occupants of the castle and serving him at meals. Unlike others on the list, the page would not be paid. His experience was his payment as he would learn the running of a court and how to be courtier. Each royal would have one.

Squires: Squires were like pages though they only served the men. They would accompany their royal master to battle, look after his armour and mail, ensure that his lord's horse was saddled, caring for their master's weapons. The squire would always be a young nobleman on the cusp of becoming a knight.

Governess: The governess is a noblewoman woman employed to oversee the Monarch's children's household. She would be the first teacher a royal child would have and would oversee the nursemaids who would have care of the physical person of the child. She would be appointed when the child was four or five. Notable governesses include Katherine Swynford (wife of John of Gaunt and mother to the Beaufort line), Margaret Pole (wife of Tudor Loyal Sir Richard Pole, sister of the last York heir Edward of Warwick, daughter of George Duke of Clarence and niece to King Edward VI and Richard III), Kat Ashley, Margaret Bryan, Madame de Maintenon and Baroness Lehzen. Most unmarried Princesses retained their governesses while Princes generally outgrew their governesses after they were breeched.

Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber: They were the male companions of a King or Prince, sort of like ladies in waiting but manly. They would accompany the King or Prince everywhere they would go and shared duties with Groom of the Stool (royal toilet paper dispenser) and the Chief Gentleman of the Chamber (overseeing the staff and maintaining the chamber). They would help their master get ready, serve him at the table and organize hunting and games to keep him entertained. Gentlemen and companions where often chosen for their connections as well as their master's own opinion. Henry VIII's gentlemen included: Sir William Compton (ward of Henry VII and heir to rich lands), Sir Henry Norris (the grandson of William Norris who fought with Henry's father at Stroke and a relation to the Yorkists Lovells), Sir Anthony Denny (son of Sir Edmund Denny Baron of the Exchequer) Sir Michael Stanhope (brother in law to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset), Charles Brandon (ward of Henry VII and son of Tudor Loyalists)

Ladies in Waiting and Maids in Waiting or Maids of Honour: These are the female attendants to the Queen or Princess. Ladies in Waiting were married while the Maids were unmarried. They would have to attend their mistress wherever she went, help her get ready, keep her chambers in order, write letters for the Queen and maintaining her honour. They were chosen for their connections. Using Katherine of Aragon as an example, her Ladies in Waiting included: Maria de Salinas (daughter of Juan Sancriz de Salinas secretary to Isabella, Princess of Portugal and a Spanish courtier in the service to Katherine's parents, wife of Baron Willoughby de Ersby), Elizabeth Howard (the daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, sister to Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and wife to Thomas Boleyn, ambassador to France), Anne Hastings (daughter of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, wife to George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Steward.), Agnes Tilney (wife to Thomas Howard, Earl of and 2nd Duke of Norfolk.), Elizabeth Scrope (wife of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a loyal Tudor lord), Margaret Scrope (wife of Sir Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk cousin to the King), Anne Stafford (sister of the Duke of Buckingham, married Sir George Hastings, Earl of Huntington and daughter of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (cousin to the King) and Lady Katherine Woodville (sister of King Henry VIII's grandmother and his great aunt by her marriage), Elizabeth Stafford (sister to Anne Stafford wife Robert Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter and Earl of Sussex around). Their connections are what got them their places and you can see why they were chosen.

Accommodation

Fantasy Guide To Royal Households And How They Work

Accommodation can be a difficult thing to sort both as a writer and a steward. You might have a palace of 200+ bedchambers in which you must house a staff of 500-/+, a varying amount of nobles, the royal family (of a varying amount) and their own households. When assigning rooms it is best to think of a Russian nesting doll. Start from the inside and work your way to the outside.

The best rooms go to the monarch, their consort and their children/siblings/parent(s). These chambers would include the bedroom, a drawing room/ common area, a privy, a closet (a small chamber that can be used for prayer or work). They would be furnished with the best cloth, the best candles and whatever furniture brought by the resident since most royal courts travelled from palace to palace. They will also have chambers for their personal servants such as ladies in waiting and grooms.

The second best set of rooms would go to the highest ranking nobles/people in the court. These rooms would be less fancy and a little smaller. These would be given to from titled nobility descending from those of Ducal rank (Dukes/Duchesses) or even members of the council such as Thomas Cromwell in Tudor times.

The next set would be considerably smaller, perhaps minus a closet or a drawing room. Given to lower nobility.

The next level of chambers would be smaller perhaps only the bedroom and a common area given to minor nobles.

The last set of rooms would be small and only hold enough room for a bedroom. Servants would have to sleep on the ground on pallets beside their masters.

Any other guests at court would have to stay at off-site locations around the palace in the city. Some nobles at houses around major palaces just in case they arrived late or were kicked out of court.

More Posts from Multi-genrewitch and Others

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6 months ago

Todays witchcraft is realizing that my body is a temple so taking care of it is actually sacred work✨

When I brush my teeth it’s like intention setting and cleansing of my mouth and all the bad things I’ve said about me

2 years ago

Witchcraft for Beginners: Lesson 2

There are so many different paths and different practices you can take as a witch. When starting off, don’t stress about the labels too much. Take a moment to read through some of the different potential paths you could take and see which ones sound the most interesting to you!

Air Witch: Witches who work with the element of air, and the energies thereof. They may work with things such as feathers, movement, incense, breath, and other air-based magick.

Ancestral Witch: Witches who focus their craft on connecting to and working with one’s ancestors.

Animal/Creature Witch: Witches that work with animals or creatures. They may use their energies within the craft for attunement, aid, or protection. Considered a branch of the green witch path, these witches may work with either spiritual or physical forms of animals/creatures.

Artistic Witch: A witch who is artistically inclined within their craft. They typically have a strong desire to create and work with colours. Art witches tend to draw, paint, sculpt, act, dance, sing, (etc.) within their practice.

Astro/Space Witch: Considered a branch of the cosmic witch path. An Astro/ space witch may be adept at cosmic magick as well as astral travel, astrology and science-based magick.

Atheist Witch: Simply witches who do not believe in any form of deity. Also called Secular Witch.

Blood Witch: Witches who practice blood magick, and use the energy and power of blood within their practice. Considered a branch of the chaos witch path.

Bone Witch: Witches who use bones in their practice, and can typically tap into the energy of or communicate with the spirits who used to own the bones. This may allow their assistance to the witch within their practice. Could be considered a form of animal or ancestral magick. May also incorporate components of death magick and/or necromancy practices.

Ceremonial Witch: Witches who practice a great deal of ceremonial magick in their practice. They may focus on rituals and formal practices of casting of magick as well.

Chaos Witch/Chaote: (difficult to define) Some may also call this ‘result-based’ or ‘success’ magick. A chaos witch usually focuses on the attainment of specific results, typically emphasizing will and intention in their practice. They tend to advocate and pioneer diverse approaches to magick. Some feel that through experimentation, it does not matter what one believes so long as their tools or system of magick were implemented effectively. Therefore, belief may be considered a tool in and of itself. On the same note, they tend to feel intentions/will are key above all else, and the tools will not make or break the practice. They may have a more scientific or experimental approach in their practice.

Closeted Witch/Subtle Witch: Witches who are not open about their practice. They tend to practice in secrecy, for a variety of reasons. These witches are not quite ready, or may simply not wish to share their practice with the general public or friends/family.

Colour Witch/Color Witch: Considered a branch of the art witch path. These are witches who specifically use and revolve their practice around the metaphysical properties of colours within their magick.

Cottage/Hearth Witch: Witches who specialize in magick surrounding the home. Similar to the kitchen witch, but less emphasis on food or cooking. They tend to consider their home a sacred place, and their magick usually focuses on the home, and their families. They will make the place they live comfortable and protected.

Cosmic Witch: Considered an umbrella term for witches who use cosmic, or astrological bodies in their crafts and practice such things as astrology and/or astronomy. They tend to work with the energies of the stars, moon, sun, and planets among many other celestial bodies.

Coven Witch/Circle Witch: Witches who practice within a group of witches. They typically practise and learn with others in their group.

Crystal Witch: Witches who primarily use crystals, stones, gems, or rocks in their practice. Considered a branch of the green witch path, they will practice such things as crystal meditation, protection, and crystal grids, among many other things. They tend to have in-depth knowledge of different crystals/stones/ (etc.) and are able to identify them based on their properties.

Death Witch: Witches who practice death magick. These practitioners typically work with and honour the dead, along with the power of death itself. Death witches tend to advocate death as a new beginning, and an essential part of the life cycle. They may or may not incorporate necromancy in their practice (divination through the dead). They may also integrate ancestral and/or bone magick in their craft as well.

Demonic Witch: These witches work heavily with demons. They differ from Exorcists in that they typically summon demons and get them to do their bidding, rather than casting them out.

Desert Witch/Witch of the Waste: Witches who focus on desert magick. Working with things of and from the desert such as desert sand, cacti, or spirits/animals of the desert. They may, or may not live in/near a desert.

Divination/Oracle Witch: Witches who emphasize on divination practices such as tarot, pendulum, ouija, runes, or any other form of divination.

Draconian/Draconic Witch: Witches who work with dragons, and draconic magick. Fueled by the symbolism and energies of dragons, these witches will typically embrace balance and wisdom within their craft. Many of them will consider dragons to be higher beings, or even deities themselves, and work with them as such.

Dream Witch: Witches who work on, and in their dreams, and may practice lucid dreaming along with other dreaming techniques. They may cast magick, work with deities, access other realities, among numerous other things in their dreams. Dream witches may also be known as dream walkers. Some may use the dreamscape as a home away from home. They tend to be influenced by the moon and spirituality and may incorporate many practices of lunar magick, hedge magick, or practice psychic abilities within their craft as well.

Earth Witch: Witches who work with the element of earth, and the energies thereof. They may work with things such as crystals, herbs, rocks, dirt, the spirit of the land, and other earth-based magick.

Eclectic Witch: Witches who have an eclectic practice. This means that they will work with, and learn from many different types of paths, practices, philosophies, traditions, knowledge, and sources. They typically will end up knowing about all of them and will choose to incorporate whatever suits them within their craft. They may tend to specialize in a handful of paths which fit them best.

Elemental Witch: Witches who work with all of the classic elements; fire, water, earth, air, and spirit. Although, some elemental witches choose not to incorporate the element of spirit.

Fire Witch: Witches who work with the element of fire, and the energies thereof. They may work with things such as candle magick, bonfire rituals, and fire scrying among other fire-based magick.

Flora Witch: Witches who emphasize the use of flowers in their practice, and may use them just like herbs. Considered a branch of the green witch path.

Forest Witch: Witches who focus on working with things from the forest such as the trees, forest spirits, and forest animals. They may or may not live in/ near a forest.

Garden Witch: Witches who emphasize working with plants, herbs, and the earth. Much like a green witch, or earth witch, but are focused on their garden, and how to incorporate the garden within their craft.

Green Witch: Witches who use nature-based items in their practice such as herbs, trees, stones, animals, and other natural elements (can be considered an umbrella term for many nature-based paths). These witches tend to focus on holistic medicine and may, be learned, healers. They are usually very familiar with their local region, having much knowledge of different species of plants, trees, insects, wildlife and flowers.

Hedge Witch: Witches that use magick that is oriented around the spiritual world. They would practice such things as astral travel, astral projection, lucid dreaming, spirit-work, and journeying. These witches are able to walk between worlds and explore alternative realities. Many hedge witches are known for working with herbs and divination as well and tend to live very mindfully.

Herbal Witch: Witches who mainly use herbs in their practice. As another type of natural magick, they will usually grow herbs and will use these herbs in many different ways in order to produce magickal effects such as burning them, turning them into tea, or sprinkling them around places.

Hereditary Witch: Witches who are usually born into a family of practising witches. They get their tradition passed down to them by their family. They also usually have their family to practice with, and assist in their development. However, not everyone born into witchcraft or raised by a family of witches choose to practice or become a witch.

Kitchen Witch: Witches who work magick in their cooking and/or baking. Focusing on the magickal properties that they can obtain from many different ingredients. They may also to be drawn to arts and crafts, sewing, cleaning, and gardening as well. Many of these witches are typically skilled in potions and/or herbology.

Lunar Witch: Witches who focus their work with the energies of the moon, and the moon’s cycles. They will typically time their rituals and spell work in correspondence to lunar phases. They may also incorporate certain items or other things in their craft that correspond with the moon such as minerals, crystals, herbs, animals, deities, (etc).

Metal Witch: Witches who work specifically with metal and using the magickal properties of different metals within their craft. These witches may be found creating their own jewellery, talismans, amulets, wands, (etc.) incorporating a base metal and/or combinations of metals.

Necromantic/Necromancy Witch: Considered a branch of Chaos magick, these witches take spirit working a step further and are adept at communicating with and controlling the dead. Their practice typically involves communication with the deceased,  either by summoning their spirit as an apparition or raising them bodily. They may do this for the purpose of divination, imparting the means to foretell future events, obtaining hidden knowledge, to bring someone back from the dead, or to use the dead to do their bidding.

Practical Witch: Considered a branch of the kitchen witch path. These witches are adept at spellwork and use their magick for everyday, mundane things. They are typically found experimenting with ways to use magick in order to make their daily life easier and more enjoyable.

Religious Witch: Witches who hold some form of religion. These are going to be such witches as Christian witches, Luciferian witches, Pagan witches, Wiccan witches, Buddhist witches, Muslim witches, Jewish witches, Hindu Witches, along with any other type of religious witch.

Science Witch: Witches who have a higher focus on science, and will use their understanding of science in practice. These witches usually do not portray scientism and may emphasize a higher connection between science and magick.

Sea Witch: Witches who work with things from the sea such as seawater, sea glass, beach sand, seashells, and other things that are associated with the sea. They may, or may not live near the sea.

Seasonal Witch: Witches who work with the energies of the season. They may incorporate weather/ storm magick within their craft. They tend to be adept with knowing what energies each season may hold and may time their rituals and spell work accordingly.

Secular Witch: Witches who are not religious, or do not incorporate religion in their craft. They typically do not subscribe to religious dogma. Most of these witches usually stay away from deities, but they do not have to in order to remain secular.

Sigil Witch: Witches who have in-depth knowledge of sigils, and focus on using sigils in their practice. Sigils are symbols drawn for specific magickal purposes. These witches may be adept in using their emotions or energy within their craft to charge sigils as well.

Solar Witch: Witches who focus their work with the energies of the sun, and the sun’s cycles. They tend to time their rituals and spells in correspondence to the suns position. They may incorporate fire magick within their craft, or anything relating to the sun such as minerals, crystals, herbs, animals, deities, (etc.).

Solitary Witch: Witches who practice their craft alone, or without a personal group such as a coven, or circle of other practitioners. These types of practitioners are going to practice primarily alone but still can have access to communication, and resources from other witches.

Spirit/Medium Witch: Witches who communicate with the dead spirits of humans, animals, and other entities. Some can even communicate with the spirits of trees, rocks, and man-made items. They tend to use spirit boards and pendulums, among many other tools.

Stitch witch: Witches who work with thread, yarn, or other fibres for their work. Considered to be a branch of both the kitchen and cottage witch paths, they hold magickal fabric work in high regard. They tend to focus primarily on the knot and stitch magick.

Storm Witch/Weather Witch: Witches that work with the weather, and the energies thereof in the same way other witches may work with elements. They may be found doing things such as charging magickal tools with the use of storm energy, or certain weather (warm, cold, etc.).

Swamp Witch: Witches who mainly work with things from the swamp such as the swamp water, swamp spirits, and swamp animals. They may, or may not live in/near a Swamp.

Tea Witch: Considered a branch of the herbal witch path. These are witches who focus on the use of tea in their practice in order to facilitate certain effects through the act of drinking certain teas. They may also be drawn to tasseography or reading tea leaves as a means of divination.

Tech/Techno/Cyber Witch: Considered a branch of the urban witch path, and may be able to use or direct electrical energy. These witches work with modern technology in their practice and may integrate all forms of computers, and electronics within with their magick. They may be adept at coding and/or creating emoji spells, along with other things related to electronics.

Theistic Witch: Witches who believe in a form of deity, or many deities.

Traditional Witch: Witches who practice forms of traditional witchcraft, claiming older or more “traditional,” roots.

Urban Witch: Witches who practice their magick in urban environments. They may be found graffitiing or painting sigils on abandoned buildings, growing herbs in pots in their apartments, dancing on the roads late at night, and tend to be adept in using technology.

Water Witch: Witches that work with the element of water, and the energies thereof. They typically work with things such as different types of water, water elementals, and water scrying among other water-based magick.

Winter Witch: Witches who reside in the colder climates of the world and draw their power from the snow and clouds (rather than the sun or moon) They may be found casting snowstorms, collecting hail and/or making poppets from the snow.

I know this may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, you do not need to memorise these! Just understand that there are many different paths and practices in the community, and these are the vast majority of them.

2 years ago

Fuck Off Oil (Banishing  Oil)

Sometimes, just saying “fuck off” doesn’t quite do the trick. Whether it’s unsatisfying or doesn’t repel the asshole you’re trying to get rid of, it might be time to pull out the big guns.

This banishing oil is a revamped version of an oil I made for an old friend many years ago. The original purpose was to rid her home of a nasty invasive spirit and then keep it away, since it had already been banished and returned a few times. She used it to anoint her mirrors, windows, doors, and even herself, followed by a large black pillar candle coated in more of the oil and burned every day until it was just a lump of wax.

It worked perfectly for her purposes, so I have taken that old recipe and recreated it in my current style for my current needs. If you saw my earlier rant post, then you know what this is for. If not, that’s okay - just know that someone has tested my patience and taken advantage of my kindness, and now they should kindly fuck off forever.

Like most of my spells and spell ingredients, this oil is 100% edible… and pretty tasty! See my notes below for ideas on how to use it.

Ingredients:

Oil of Your Choice (I used olive oil because it’s what was in my cabinet)

Salt

Pepper

Red Chili Flakes

Smoked Paprika

Garlic, minced

Onion Powder

Oregano, dried

Caraway Seeds

Coriander

Bay Leaf

A Jar or Bottle

Instructions:

Measure how much oil you will need to fill your jar or bottle of choice. You can pour the oil into a bowl or use a measuring cup to both measure and mix your oil, which is what I did. Fewer dishes to wash at the end!

Add each of your ingredients, one at a time, to the oil. Leave the bay leaf for last, and see step 3. I added the ingredients in the order that they are listed, but you can do them in whatever order suits you best. Be sure to give each a purpose tied back to the person, spirit, or other bothersome creature you are banishing (some ingredients have protective properties; see my note below for how I assigned a purpose to each).

Stir your mixture well. Really whip it. Beat the hell out of it. Etc.

Bay leaves are often used in wish magic or as vehicles for sigils. For our purposes, hold the leaf with both hands and stare at it hard. Think of the person, spirit, or thing you are banishing. Whisper or shout your desire to keep them away from you, adding any specifics you like. Stuff the leaf into your jar or bottle whole.

Pour your mixture into the jar or bottle over the bay leaf. Be sure to get all of the bits of garlic in there.

Cap the jar or bottle and give it a good shake. I recommend letting it sit and infuse for a few days to get a really good flavor going, but you can use it immediately if you want. Just be sure to shake it well to charge it before use.

This oil is good for up to six months, though it may last longer. Keep an eye on it; if it forms mold, throw it away immediately. Keep your jar or bottle in a cool, dark space. Refrigeration is optional, but it’ll last longer if you keep it in the fridge.

Notes:

As with most oils, there are many uses for this recipe. It can be either a spell on its own, or you can create it to be a component in another spell. Or both! Both is good.

I like to use this to cook vegetables like brussels sprouts, asparagus, and potatoes, but you could also use it in a stir fry or to cook meats. This oil also makes for a very pleasant salad dressing when mixed with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. It would be both funny and effective to feed a Fuck Off Salad to your target. If you want to do this, I recommend making it extra spicy, especially if they hate spice and you’re feeling especially vindictive.

If you’re not looking to eat this oil in some way, you can also use it to anoint candles for a banishing spell. Or, if you want to get a little more involved, you can submerge a taglock or poppet in the oil to symbolize the person you are repelling. This would be a great way to continuously banish someone or something if they keep trying to return. Plus, it can have the added benefit of being… uncomfortable for the target.

Here are the purposes I assigned to each ingredient; feel free to use these or come up with your own based off your own experiences:

Salt - Protect the caster during the creation and use of the oil, repel bad vibes and start the process of cleansing

Pepper - First line of fuck off; give a reason or a particular attribute that you want gone, such as “aggression” and “lying”

Chili flakes - Second line of fuck off, this time with ✨spice✨; I assigned “threats” and “rancid vibes” to this ingredient

Garlic - Third line of fuck off; protection against further nonsense, repelling them from contacting me

Onion - Keeping away pests; I use the layers of the onion to symbolize the layers of “fuck off” in the oil and reinforce each one

Oregano - Now comes the part where we protect ourselves from the offending party’s possible retaliation! This is protection from backlash and luck for the success of the spell. This has extra power for me, since my mom grew this oregano and is superbly pissed about someone threatening her kids!

Caraway seeds - Boosting my convictions and inner power, preventing the spell from backfiring on me (the target(s) are also witches, so this was very important to include!)

Coriander - Personal protection against further nonsense, cementing this oil as a line of self-defense

If you use this oil in a spell, let me know how you liked it, if you made any substitutions, and/or how it worked for you!

Happy Banishing, Witches!

image
2 years ago

being a witch and feeling the pain of a dying earth is terrifying

2 years ago

A Witch’s Ingredients: Sand

Sand is an abundant resource that can be found across the world including along the coasts, through deserts and even in many people’s yards and gardens. Sand is rather easy to obtain and natural making it ideal for witchcraft. Though some types of sand may be harder to obtain, and more costly, than others, let this post be a guide on how to utilize it for its magical properties.

A Witch’s Ingredients: Sand

Types of Sand & Their Correspondences

Beach/Coastal Sand: calming, grounding, cleansing, connecting to the sea, self-love, protection and warding, motivation, memory, spiritual clarity, purification of the heart, easing pain, physical and spiritual strength, can represent both the elements of earth and water

Ocean Sand (from the ocean floor/deep sea): primordial energy, banishing negative emotions and energy, grounding, mental clarity, psychic clarity and strengthening, divination, guidance, ancient wisdom and power, connections to the sea and primordial waters, birth, creation, can represent both the elements of earth and water

Desert Sand: curses and removing energy from others, weakening, draining, banishing, grounding, mental clarity, physical health, enduring hardships, “drying up” love and past emotions, healing heartbreak, burying the past, often related to burial ceremonies

Volcanic Sand: destruction, intense energy, strength, death, rebirth, banishing, secrets or hidden messages, warding, baneful magic, offensive magic, often represents both earth and fire at once

River Sand/Silt: fertility, procreation, movement, flowing energy, travels, change

Lake/Pond Sand: the present, calmness, serenity, inner focus, self-reflection and meditation

Swamp/Wetland Sand: mystery, secret keeping, silencing lies and rumors, binding, curses related to becoming lost or emotional heaviness, often represents both water and earth at once, often related to animal magic specifically those that live in swamp land

Unearthed/Buried Sand: grounding, hidden power, addressing past issues and mistakes, overcoming controversy, self-discovery, introspection, emotional healing, moving on from past scars

Biogenic Sand/Bone Sand/Shell Sand: healing, moving on emotionally, remembrance but letting go of the pain and loss, honoring those lost (often at or to the sea), close connections to necromancy

Black Sand: protection, warding, banishing, relates to necromancy and spirit work

Pink Sand: love, beauty, youth, harmony, adjusting to change, remembering the past and lost loved ones, rebirth, emotional and mental healing, forgiveness of self and others

Red Sand: strength, courage, valor, relates to fire rather than earth

Yellow Sand: divination, focus, improving memory and skills, mental health, grounding and centering, represents both earth and air elements sometimes both at once

White Sand: purity, cleansing, protection, wisdom, preparing for change, physical and emotional balance, harmonizes all aspects of oneself

Combinations of Sand and Other Ingredients

Sand and Soil: grounding, balance, cleansing, protection of loved ones and family

Sand and Salt: change, growing power, dreams, purification, warding, protection, longevity

Sand and Ash: remembrance, the past, divination

Sand and Clay: change, mental fortitude

Sand and Kelp/Seaweed: beauty, youth, birth, fertility, the ocean

A Witch’s Ingredients: Sand

The History

Not much history on the use of sand in magic from what I can find that is a reliable source, but I was able to find some bits about its use.

Sand has been used in connections to rituals for the dead and in burial practices in many different cultures to a varying degree. In some sand was used for burying the deceased such as very early Ancient Egypt for its mummification properties before better mummification methods were invented and utilized. Placing sand into graves or coffins of the deceased somethings as a means to connect them to their homelands if that person was traveling into foreign lands or countries. Some stories speak about mixing the ashes of the dead with sand to be kept in the home. Other stories tell of people mixes ashes from fires or the hearth with sand and casting it out into the sea for lost sailors who could not be brought home. 

Sand was also used historical in some types of spell jars and vessels. In some places sand was put into jars and bottles and given to sailors to keep them connected to home even when sailing. Others said carrying sand could protect one from being lost at sea or from disaster, likely where the history of sand being used for protection properties came from. It has also been used in witch’s bottles and for burying spells for varying purposes. Some cultures would bury offerings to deities into the sand of beaches or deserts.

Modern Use

Sand is still a common ingredient for many sea witches and worshipers of ocean related deities to utilize in their craft and in their altars. Deities commonly related to sand are Poseidon, Aphrodite, Psamathe, Thalassa, Aegir, Neptune and Veles. Sand is also often used in altars to represent either earth or water when representing the cardinal directions or the 4 elements. Some will use sand to represent both in cases of smaller altars.

Modernly, sand is often used in spell jars and bottles when used in spellwork or as a vessel to charge, cleanse and bury objects or tools such as crystals, poppets, amulets and trinkets. Sea witches or witches with accesses to large amount of sand will often use it for grounding and circle casting. Some will use it for runes and sigils as well.

Storing Sand

For those wishing to store and use collected sand ensure that there is nothing undesirable in it - garbage, sharp bits of glass, decomposing fish or animals, insects etc. Shift it thoroughly to ensure anything that could be potentially dangerous is removed and if needed properly disposed of. Once the sand has been shifted ensure it is dry before you seal it into anything.

Wet sand can house bacteria and mold - which can also smell quite foul when the container is opened again. You can use the sun to dry it or indoor heaters at a safe distance. Spread it out thin and flat to help ensure it is thoroughly dried if it is damp or wet.

Once dried the best way to store sand is inside of glass or ceramic vessels. Jars and bottles are the most ideal. Ensure that they are sealed tightly to ensure no spillage or condensation can get inside.

**this post was personally researched, compiled and directly from my personal grimoire. Please do not repost**

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2 years ago

I'm just thinkin' about how Eda pushed Raine away because of the curse.

I'm Just Thinkin' About How Eda Pushed Raine Away Because Of The Curse.

She was afraid to let them in. She was afraid to ask them for help, or share how she was feeling...she was scared to show the side of herself that was messy and dangerous and painful and (in her mind) unlovable.

I'm Just Thinkin' About How Eda Pushed Raine Away Because Of The Curse.

But when she finally let Raine see who she actually was...

I'm Just Thinkin' About How Eda Pushed Raine Away Because Of The Curse.

...this was their reaction.

I'm Just Thinkin' About How Eda Pushed Raine Away Because Of The Curse.

...they love all of her. Including those messy and dangerous and painful parts.

2 years ago

Baneful Ingredients

Part 1

Ague Weed- causes confusion

Balmony/White Turtlehead - overall hexes

Black peppercorn- make the unwanted/unwelcome flee

Foxglove- use ashes in curses/hexes (associated with time, love, and money aka the planets of Saturn and Venus )

Hemlock- destructive work (pair with olive leaves for peaceful disposal of an enemy)

Mustard Seed- sew discord and strife (disconnections and misunderstandings)

Patchouli- bring medical sickness

Poppy seed- couples will argue

Red pepper- banish people from your life with bad intentions

Spanish moss- used for cursing, can be put in war water, jinxes and brings bad luck

Vetivert- silences those that speak ill of you

Wormwood- use to send harmful black magic back on its sender, good for vengeance

Yew- associated with death and necromancy; commune with the dead or seek prophecy; curse enemies and bring bad luck and illness

1 year ago

Daimones Part 2: Children of Nyx

In Greek mythology, there are various personified spirits called daimones. Eventually this word evolved into what we now know as “demon” (a word with negative connotations), but daimones weren’t necessarily “evil” spirits. Most of these daimones are the children of Nyx, Eris, or Zeus. In general, the daimon children of Zeus are personifications of morally good concepts, while the children of Nyx and Eris represent the malevolent forces which plague humans. Some daimones (like Hebe, the goddess of youth, or even Eris herself) were full fledged gods, while others were mere personifications with no mythology or cult.

According to Hesiod

Moros: the personification of doom (the force which drive humans toward inevitable death). Prometheus saved mankind from misery by taking away the foresight of our own doom (Moros) and replacing it with Elpis (hope).

Keres: female spirits of violent or cruel death. One of the Keres, Akhlys, was the goddess of deadly poisons and the death-mist which clouds the eyes of mortals before death.

Hypnos: god of sleep, husband of Pasithea (relaxation)

Thanatos: god of peaceful or non-violent death. As the twin brother of Hypnos, he represented the eternal slumber of death.

Oneroi: spirits of dreams, they were sometimes considered the children of Hypnos rather than Nyx. Their leader was said to be Morpheus, a man who appeared in the dreams of kings bringing messages from the gods.

Nemesis: goddess of righteous indignation and deserved retribution against those with too much good fortune. She represented the balance of good and bad fortune.

Hesperides: spirits of the evening sunset. They were sometimes called the daughters of Atlas.

Momos: mockery, blame, complaint, and harsh criticism. Zeus expelled him from heaven for criticizing the gods.

Oizys: female spirit of misery, woe, distress, and suffering

Apate: female spirit of deceit, guile, and fraud

Philotes: friendship and affection. She may have also been the spirit of sexual intercourse.

Geras: male spirit of old age

Eris: goddess of strife. She is the mother of a host of malevolent spirits of war.

Moirai: the fates were sometimes called daughters of Nyx, although more often they were the daughters of Zeus and Themis.

Likely Children of Nyx

Anaideia: ruthlessness and unforgiveness

Adikia: injustice and wrong-doing

Adephegia: gluttony

Aergia: idleness, laziness, and sloth

Alastor: counterpart of the Erinyes who punished the family of murderers

Aporia: powerlessness

Lyssa: mad rage, fury, rabies

Epiales: nightmares

Dolos: trickery, cunning deception, and craftiness

Koalemos: stupidity and foolishness

Kakia: vice and immorality

Epiphron: prudence, shrewdness, and careful consideration

Phyge: flight, escape, retreat, and exile

Phrice: horror, she is a more severe counterpart of Deimos and Phobos.

Phthisis: wasting away, perishing, and decay

Hubris: insolence, violence, reckless pride, arrogance, and outrage. Her son, Koros, represented insolence and disdain

Dyssebia: impiety, sometimes called the mother of Hubris.

Amekhania: helplessness and want, sister of Penia and Ptokheia

Ptokheia: beggary, sister of Amekhania and Penia

Penia: poverty and need, sister of Amekhania and Ptokheia

Eleos: mercy, pity, compassion

Sophia: wisdom

Elpis: hope. She was the last spirit that remained in Pandora’s box, representing humanity’s hold on hope in the face of all of these terrors. Her daughter, Pheme, was the personification of rumor, report, and gossip.

Sophrosyne: moderation, self-control, temperance, and restraint

Phthonos: jealousy and envy, especially in the context of love

Nosoi: male spirits of plague, sickness, and disease

Maniai: spirits of madness, insanity, and crazed frenzy

Arai: female spirits of curses (this is where I got my URL)

Poinai: spirits of vengeance and punishment

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multi-genrewitch - multi genre witchcraft
multi genre witchcraft

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