Latest Posts by multi-genrewitch - Page 2

Hera by Eduard Niczky (German painter, 1850-1919)

In ancient Greek religion, Hera is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she is queen of the twelve Olympians and Mount Olympus, sister and wife of Zeus, and daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. ~ Wikipedia

small things you can add to your worship/work with lady hestia

try to look through your wardrobe pretty often, take out the pieces you don't love, free up the space for things that actually make you feel good, cozy & comfortable

protect your hair when outside, i know when talking about lady hestia it's usually about veiling and covering, but veiling is also a protection for you hair, from wind & sun damage, if not veiling, protective hairstyles,

don't do your hair in a bad mood, doing your hair can be stressful even without additional factors, taking care of yourself is a necessity, but it can be a pleasant necessity

if you find yourself being bored, instead of being on your phone, try to find a comfortable position, with you back & neck supported, and simply relax, let yourself be bored, cause most of the time it's not boredom, you're just overwhelmed,

keep a journal dedicated for her, digital or physical, make moodboards, write prayers and poetry, write your questions and write about your day

think of your space as yours, don't think of the future tenants. decorate, furnish, put this painting on the wall, both you and lady hestia want this place to be yours

have more dimmed, warm lights around you, they are far more relaxing. at night they ease you for sleep, and in the morning they help you ease in the day, also they feel far more cozy than overhead lights

dedicate some space on your desk to her, even if it's going to be just a candle, she is here to remind you about rest and ease your work

find a special nook in your space that will be dedicated to your time with lady hestia, somewhere you can sit and have a nice warm cup of tea, where you can have a snack while watching a cozy movie, where you can comfortably lounge

This is probably related to my personality, state of mind and core values, but I view Lord Ares' energy a bit different than what I see here.

To me, Lord Ares is calm. He is the motto "It is scary because it's unfamiliar, not because you're incapable." He reminds me that I can do it scared. That I can be scared, be anxious, that I can tremble from fear and still do something. That courage is born when you are scared, and still make a step forward.

He is not my shield - He lets me face my challenges face-on, but He's always got my back. Maybe that's a reflection of myself, my life story and shit I've been through: I am scared of having my back turned to someone, but with Him having my back, I am safe. I can do it, no matter how scared I am.

He is also the reminder that sometimes acting will only hurt me. That there are situations where all I can do is wait. He pats my back and says "I know it's hard, but you will make it," while I shed my tears of helplessness and longing.

He is calm, and firm. He teaches me when to say "I see you, I see your feelings, but I won't let you treat me like this." He teaches me that anger is good. Anger is often self-love. But being angry does not entitle me to act in ways I do not like. He is the hand on my shoulder, the silent "Stop, breathe, and then act."

He is gentle. He is calm. But He takes no shit from me. He understands how I feel. He understands that some things are better to leave alone for a while. He understands that sometimes the best thing I can do is not to fight. To wait things through.

He pushes me forward. He shows me I can do more. When I think I can't do any more reps of some exercise, He tells me "Just 10 more. I know you can." When I think I can't keep going, He is there to tell me I can.

I am grateful to worship Lord Ares.

Magical Powder Recipes

A collection of some of my original magical powder recipes.

All-Purpose Cursing Powder

Bree's Banishing Powder

Clean House Powder

Come Hither Powder

Dead Man's Dust

Dream Dust

“Eye of Sauron” Revelation Powder

Get Thee Hence Powder

Ghost-Be-Gone Powder

Heal Thy Heart Powder

Hexbreaker Powder

Inspiration Salt

Lucky Day Powder

“Outta My Way” Powder

Peacekeeper Powder

Persuasion Powder

STFU Powder

Traveler’s Luck Powder

Truthfinder Powder

For those of you who may not be able to find herbs locally, here are some online suppliers who consistently have affordable and high-quality products.

Penn Herb Co. - Bulk herbs, spices, and botanicals - including over 400 wildcrafted herbs, gathered from the United States and worldwide. Single ounce packages are available. Excellent source for powders.

Starwest Botanicals - Bulk herbs, spices, oils, and teas. Good amount of organic and Fair Trade products, as well as supplies for holistic medicine and tea-making.

Mountain Rose Herbs - Bulk herbs, spices, and sundries. Also carries organic products and essential oils, and has link to schools that offer courses in herbalism and herbology.

Bulk Apothecary - Bulk herbs, spices, and oils, in addition to materials for the home production of soap, candles, wine, and beer.

For more recipes to fill out your potion kit, you can check out Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. (Available on Amazon and in my shop!)

If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

Apollon is the warmth you feel when you wake up in the mornings.

Apollon is the sound of birds chirping on a sunny morning.

Apollon is the breeze on a hot day.

Hermes is the feeling of happiness when you randomly find money in your pocket.

Hermes is the feeling of excitement when you win a board game.

Hermes is the laughter after you make a joke.

hey if you're running low on your meds and you've been putting off booking a Dr's appointment or calling your pharmacy, you should go do that right now.

To the Gods lost to time

We may have no way of knowing your name, but we do know you. We know you existed.

We may have no way of knowing what purpose you served in your pantheon, but we appreciate the work that you did, and the work you continue to do.

You may be older than what we think of as the first civilizations, you may be older than evolution, but thank you for being with our ancestors.

Thank you for holding their hands, teaching them how to hunt, which plants were edible, how to walk, how to develop.

It's because of you that humanity exists in the way we know today.

I'm sorry you've been lost to time.

The difference between baneful and beneficial magic is like the difference between teal and turquoise. Lots of people get it wrong, folks often times can't agree on which is which, and they can look the same depending on the lighting.

I need you to understand and to really listen when I tell you that the land knows you.

If you have spent months, years, decades living in the same place and exploring the same land I can promise you that the trees, the plants, the lakes and rivers, and the spirits will know and remember you.

You can call out to them and they will call out to you because they know you - they have for so so long, my love, and they love you, so much.

Trust me.

Some knot-knickered traditionalist shrieking in my inbox: YOU CAN'T JUST THROW SPELLS TOGETHER OUT OF NOTHING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMPONENTS ARE CLEANSED AND PREPARED PROPERLY, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE A RITUAL SPACE AND TIME IT JUST RIGHT AND USE VERY SPECIFIC HERBS TO-....

Me: -emptying the contents of storebought teabags into a recycled jam jar- Fascinating.

When I say "connect with nature" I don't just mean the aesthetic forests with deer and beautiful flowers.

I mean the weeds growing through concrete, the fungus that grows on the rotten shed, the nettles that always seem to return and the scary, spindly cellar spider in the corner of the bathroom.

Nature is not always pretty or magical - the pigeons and seagulls you swat at are nature too, the wasps and flies that hover by your meals are animals too, store-bought strawberries and the leaves that fall from your neighbour's tree are not all that different from the Giant Sequoias and it's seeds.

If you want to connect and understand nature, I mean *really* connect to it, in it's entirety, you have to seek out and learn about the ugly, scary and mundane things as well. You don't have to like it, just don't forget that it's there.

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

There are two elements in the magical act - the Spell and the Rite. The spell is the uttering of words according to a formula; the rite is the accompanying set of actions by which the spell is conveyed to the object it is desired to affect. The sprinkling of water on the ground, for instance, is the rite for rain, and the leaping of the dancers in a field is the rite for making the corn grow high. The spell, which is of major importance, was known only to the esoteric circle of practitioners; the rite was public.

F. Marian McNeill, The Silver Bough, Vol. 1

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

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

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

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.

Devotional art of grand Lady Leto and Her blessed twins (inspired by Her statue)

some elements of spellwork distinguishing animist or spirit-based approaches from the energetic and psychological – a laughably basic and woefully incomplete list:

waking: most especially relevant for dried herbs or other preserved material. rouse what lies dormant with breath and touch and whisper.

speaking (or writing, etc): ask for assistance, don’t demand it. give praise, throw in some epithets. make deals, discuss terms and conditions. say thank you. say what you mean.

listening: now shut up for a bit. anticipate communication. words, song snippets, images, colours, feelings, whatever. look out for a “no” and be ready to honour it–it may hit hard in the chest or the guts. we have two-way streets here.

giving: praise, prayers, food, drink, candles, incense, crafts, all the usual suspects and more… reciprocity is key, no one likes a perpetual taker. some situations call for altruism, others for hard-nosed contracts, others for a secret third thing.

feeding: giving again, but specifically to maintain or revive longer workings. remember what the dormouse said…

sourcing: the perfect is the enemy of the good, but it makes a difference. grow, make, forage (responsibly) as much as possible. listen & give when sourcing things from the earth. shop ethically, re-use, thrift.

paring down: if it seems like a lot to go through for everything you want to include in your spell, then good. depth before breadth. use fewer herbs/stones/whatever that you know well, and that really need to be there. god i hate 12-ingredient spell jar recipes with #babywitch stuck on them. yes i will probably stick #babywitch on this. sue me.

to me these follow logically from the premise that plants, stones, bones, bits & bobs have spirit, not just energy. because that implies that their power must be given, it isn’t just there to be channelled (energetic model) or derived from the practitioner’s mental associations (psychological model). i claim nothing of reality and little of truth, but this premise has served me well.

just in case: the writing style is a little conceit that i use in many of my personal notes, which this was originally. obviously “in my opinion/experience/practice” etc.

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.

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

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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Baneful Magic Masterpost

***I understand that cursing is a controversial topic for some people. I don't believe in the threefold's law or whatnot, so such things aren't a concern for me. I do, however, advise you to only curse someone who truly deserves it. Curses are meant to be permanent and difficult to break, while hexes aren't nearly as potent. Do with that knowledge what you will. Intense spells will be marked with "***".***

Curses (long-term, usually permanent)

"Supernatural Soul Eater" curse***

"Red Heart" curse

"Gentle Curse" curse

"Hekatean Witchcraft Curse" curse

"From This Pain, I Will Rise" curse

"Blood Rain" tied with protection↓***

"Curse For Protection" tied with blood rain↑***

"Drown In Your Horrors" curse

"To Sink A Sailor" curse

"Curses For Empathy" curse

"My Pain To Yours" curse

"Beauty & The Beast" curse

"Your Joy Will Turn To Ashes" curse***

"Your True Nature Revealed" curse

"Releasing The Hounds" curse***

"The Curse Of Arrows" curse

"Lollipop Curse" curse

"Anon Hate" curse

"Sickness Killer" curse

"A Bellyful Of Stones" curse

"Bind & Break" curse***

"Forget Me Not" curse

"Did You Miss Me?" curse***

"Dragon Fire" curse

"Headless Horseman" curse

"Only A Memory" curse

"Hurricane Curse" curse***

"Let Loose Your Crimson Arrow" curse

"Hypnotic Flame" curse

"Drown In Your Guilt" curse***

"Stomp Out The Bastard" curse

"Duress" curse

"Essence Extraction" curse

"Red In Your Ledger" curse

"Sin Collector" curse

"The Ferryman's Curse" curse

"An Ancient Greek Curse" curse

"Knitting Curse" curse

Hexes (short-term, usually temporary)

"The Seven Stings" hex

"The Lemon Hex" hex

"Coffin Hex" hex***

"Curse Alternative" hex

"Hex Bramble" hex

"Black-Out" hex

"Burse Your Bubble" hex

"Year Long" hex***

"Ants Nest" hex

"By All Means, Panty Away" hex

"Hazy Smog" hex

"Hexing In A Pinch" hex

"Hexball" hex

"Revenge On Cheaters" hex

"The Singularity" hex

"Frostburn" hex

"Mess With A Witch" hex***

"Bring About Consequences" hex

"Riddle Of Lightning" hex

Jars, Charms, & Pouches

"Jar Of Consequences" jar hex

"Feel The Pain You've Caused Me" sigil

"To Banish & Bind: For Abusers" jar curse

"Wither & Rot" jar curse***

"Your Hatred Is Your Own" jar curse

"Revenge Curse Cage" jar curse***

"Box Of Terror" box curse***

"Catcall Hex Stone" hex charm

"Begone Neighbors" jar hex

"All Purpose Curse Powder" curse powder

Removals, Reversals, & Protection

"Curse Removal & Reversal" spell

"The Healing Pool: Cursebreaker" spell

"Mild & Spicy Cursebreaker Powders" powder

"To Stop Someone From Casting On You" spell

"Return To Sender Spells" spell

"Curse Removing Wash" spell

"To Reverse A Spell" spell

"Curse Removal/Protection" spell

"Decoy For Protection Purposes" spell

"Protection From Curses" spell

"Curse Decoy" spell

"Substitute Spell" spell

"Witch Bottle" jar spell

"Blackthorn Reversing Spell" spell

"Break A Curse Candle Spell" spell

"Curse-breaking, Purifying, Protective Witch Jar" jar spell

"To Destroy A Curse" spell

"Hex & Curse-breaking" info

"Hex-breaker Candle" spell

Information

"Curses vs. Hexes: What's The Difference?" info

"So You Think You've Been Cursed" info

"Signs You May Have Been Cursed/Hexed" info

"Object Cursing" info

"Ways To Protect Yourself While Casting" info

"Jinxes, Hexes, & Curses" info & spells

"Lessons Learnt From A Hex" info

"Curse Correspondences UPG" info

"Cursing101" info

"So You Just Did A Big Curse...Now What?" info

"Foxen's List Of Baneful Ingredients" info

"Nasty Shit To Put In Curse Jars" info

"Something To Consider Before You Curse" info

"Taglocks" info

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!

a couple new enamel pins! really excited about this series - eda, raine and more to come soon!

Ok but Camila’s talk with Luz in For the Future, and Eda’s talk with her in Separate Tides?

They’re pretty similar. In that both mothers are telling Luz

“I don’t give a shit that you messed up, I love you a lot”

Hell, the scenes have similar lighting!

But then again, Camila’s talk also parallels the talk at the end of O Titan Where Art Thou, in that it also ends with the beginning of Stringbean’s creation.

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.

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

...this was their reaction.

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

BANEFUL INGREDIENTS AND USES

This is a list I have compiled and have created. With the herbs, they must be negatively charged, just like anything else. Tell them what to do and charge them with your intent. Herbs have polarity, they can heal but they can also hex.

BANEFUL HERBS

Angelica root - misery, strife, distress

Asafoetida - drives enemies away

Bayberry - depression

Blueberry - confusion, strife

Catnip - distraction, loss

Cayenne - anxiety 

Chickory - to sow discord 

Chili powder/flakes - discord, spicy misery

Clove - stop gossip

Dahlia - bad luck, loss

Foxglove - causes, nightmares, vanity

Gardenia - seal their love life

Ginger - bitterness

Hemlock - discord, misery 

Ivy - binding

Lavender - depression, insomnia

Lotus - depression

Mandrake - misery, strife

Mint - visions, nightmares

Mistletoe - serious harm, anxiety, confusion

Mugwort - nightmares, hallucinations, paranoia

Mullein - nightmares

Nightshade - nightmares, anxiety, sickness

Onion - strife

Poppy seeds - discord, nightmares

Rose - tempt into cheating

Rosemary - nightmares, insecurity

Rue - misery 

Spanish moss - bad luck, binding

Tobacco - substitute for (most) any baneful herb

Vetiver - silence

Wormwood - misery, strife

OTHER INGREDIENTS Glass shards - reflect transgressions, to cause harm

Sharp objects (pins, needles, thumb tacks, thorns, etc) - damage, cause harm

Rusty nails - cause harm

Glitter - make their problems stick to them

Price tags - Debt, financial troubles

Dead battery - drain their energy

Vinegar - to sour, to rid yourself of them

Charcoal - block their vision, lack of clarity

Hot sauce - spicy misery

Cover hex jar with tin foil - make victim feel isolated and alone

Googly eyes - evil eye, to make them always feel watched, paranoia

Agar or Pectin - stick their problems to them, cause them stagnation

dog/cat shit - to shit on their life (energetically sever the connection to your pet though)

Cigarette butts - to cause addiction and troubles

Salted earth (just combine hydrophobic soil and salt) - dry up their resources, cause infertility

Nasty bong water - it's gross, need I say more?

Dog hair - fear, anxiety

Urine - to sour

Citric Acid - to pucker, to get them to stfu.

Pro-tip: use ingredients your target is allergic to. This can really help make a powerful hex, especially if they are allergic to nuts and go into anaphylactic shock or have any other extreme adverse reaction.

Any herb CAN be used banefully. Any crystal CAN be used banefully. First see what the herb/crystal is used for and, well, reverse it. Love => loneliness/loss of love. Peace => paranoia. Dream work => nightmares. Mental Clarity => delusions. All you need to do is negatively charge them. Tell them what to do and focus your rage and hate into the herbs/crystals to charge them up.

For more information on baneful ingredients, spellwork, and other herbs' uses, check out The Cobalt Athenaeum discord server!

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

Baneful magic ingredients and their correspondences

I got a LOT of these from @afledglings-guideto-witchcraft when they answered an ask I sent in, that blog is a fantastic place for information whether you've been practicing a few days or a few years imo.

I've been posting a lot about trying to find information on this subject and now I've gotten a good list compiled in a google doc and figured I'd share it with y'all, feel free to add on your own notes or just any commentary you have or experiences you've had using certain ingredients. I'm using some of these to make a hex jar to try and help a friend out with a shitty abusive household, which I might post more about if y'all would be interested in it, or if I just feel up to it.

Black pepper: bad luck, punishing negative energies

Pickle juice: to bring sourness

Broken glass: cutting ties, warding off negative energies, pain

Black salt: banishment

Thumb tacks: pain and suffering

Rotten tea/anything moldy: for detriment on their life

Hot peppers: pain, irritation, burning, anger

Garlic: disgust and repulsion

Dead matches: to drain energy

Salt: to intensify wounds, to sting, to keep someone away

Mustard seed: strife and discord

Onion: breaking relationships/habits/etc, strife

Lemons: causing pain (think lemon juice on a cut), souring a relationship, or any good luck the target has been receiving lately.

Rusty Nails: can be stabbed into lemons, or added to sour jars/hex jars. Pins the hex/curse to the target.

Vinegar: souring, dissolves relationships

Poppyseed: intoxication and confusion

Alum: stops communication/speech.

Small pickles: male impotency

Beet pickles: female hormonal problems

Thick mud: darkness, suffocation, feeling trapped

Feces/urine: to make their life nasty

Black candle wax or strings: binds the curse to the target

Coffee: insomnia

Tea: lethargy/oversleeping

Gravel: Being crushed and stepped on by life and the people around you

Don't ever let anyone tell you you are a bad person or you're going to get hurt if you practice baneful magic at all no matter what. The threefold law is a rule that Wiccans follow, no one else is obligated to believe in it, I respect people who believe in it and they should respect people who don't. Always make sure to judge a situation very carefully and use this magic appropriately.

And, very very important, research on how to protect yourself from a spell backfiring (because you can get hurt), make sure that your intention is very focused on your specific target(s), and, if you're doing something similar to what I'm doing, do something (protection jars, spells, etc) to protect other people around this person or people from the effects of the jinx, hex, or curse. Oh and if you're casting a spell on someone else who practices witchcraft, make sure you know the signs if they deflect the spell back onto you and try and do what you can to prevent that from happening.

“CONNECTING WITH THE LAND

Go somewhere you know well. Someplace that calls to your bones and stirs your blood, whether that's a forest clearing, a pasture, a churchyard, or a mountain trail. “Betwixt” places such as crossroads, the place where three creeks meet, a river between two mountains, the base of a tree grown into three, or a mountaintop are especially good spots to help bring you “between” times and places. Ponder what took place here. How many footprints do you now follow? How many forgotten graves lay beneath the red clay? How many bones has this soil devoured?

Feel the presence of the place. This is the spirit of the land. While few speak of the spirit as having form, it is likely to appear as an animal, a cluster of summer gnats in the sunlight, or a whisper on the breeze. Those with the sight are more inclined to see them; some have reported the spirit of the land lives in the trees themselves and is a simple voice that speaks from an unknown source, while others say it takes the form of giants that make their residence in the mountaintops or the rocks by the rivers. Many of them are left without a name because, much like this work, they're too old for those things or anyone living today.

When you find where your roots are nourished, give an offering to the land. The Cherokee gave corn, tobacco, and blood. The Irish gave bread, butter, and sweet things. Today's Appalachian workers give tobacco, food, hard candy, whiskey, coins, and old cheap jewelry. Sit with the land and feel your surroundings. Walk about and familiarize yourself with the hills and rocks and trees.

Don't expect them to be accepting of you right away, or at all, really. As with any other friendship, it takes time to become familiar with each other and sometimes it will never grow. Some of these land spirits simply wish to be left alone and unbothered by humans. Who could blame them, after the blooddrenched history they have witnessed in these hills? The spirit of a place is simply someone who has taken up residence on that land, meaning it could be a little person, or a haint, or it could simply be made up of the events that occurred there. For example, a bridge known for suicides wouldn't be a good place to start, as it would contain the spiritual traits of its distinguished events.

It will take many times of showing up, giving an offering, and simply presenting yourself before any presence will be shown. Because not all spirits have your best interest in mind, I'd reckon you ought to carry three used horseshoe nails on you: one around your neck and two under the soles of your shoes. It's quite an odd thing to try and do, but with a handy pocketknife you can pry the soles up just enough to slide a nail under it right at the heels. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but horses have always been regarded in Appalachia as being able to see and protect from haints.”

—

3: ‘Barefoot Wandering’

Backwoods Witchcraft:

Conjure & Folk Magic from Appalachia

by Jake Richards

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

You can call me Mae or Birdie. I’m 25+ witch with over 20 years of experience and research.

This is a side blog for: feartheactualgoat.

_

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If there’s something you want to see me discuss feel free to send me an ask!

~

Research Tips

Important notices

Original posts

Witchy 101

Red flags

Terminology

Symbols

Recommended reading

Being in the witch closet

Ceremonial witchcraft

Practical witchcraft

Folk witchcraft

Low Spoon / Chronically ill friendly witchcraft

Paths

Closed Practices

Craft Tools

Astrology

Zodiacs

Planets

Constellations

Birth charts

Moon magic

Solar Magic

Alchemy

Apothecary

Herbs & flowers

Trees

Foraging

Food Recipes

Tinctures

Oils

Teas

Salves

Baths

Sustainable Spellwork

Healing

Protection & Wards

Baneful Magic

Household Magic

Crystals

Divination

Tarot

Osteomancy

Runes

Ogham

Pendulums

Palmistry

Spell work

Rites

Incantations

Spell jars

Shadow work

Unfiled Posts