Carol Duvall

Grounding & Centering

In my practice grounding and centering have been valuable tools to working magic and managing my energy and emotions. Centering is important to put you in the correct mind frame to perform spells and grounding aligns your energy with that of the Earth. 

For some, grounding and centering may be separate practices. However, in my practice they are one combined process. Some form of grounding and centering is often present in meditation, martial arts, and psychology. I personally use it to bring my awareness back to reality when I am feeling anxious or dissociating. 

The technique I use to ground and center is visualization. This involves using your mind to imagine things that are not normally visible. If you feel this process worsens your distress from psychosis, this method may not be for you. 

To begin grounding and centering, you can sit, stand, or lay, however feels comfortable to you. Some of the resting yoga positions can be beneficial for this. I recommend closing your eyes but it is not necessary if that feels uncomfortable for you. 

First, we center. Visualize your energy pooling within your body. What color is it? Pay attention to how far your energy extends. Is it within your body or does it radiate outwards? Extend your awareness to the bounds of your energy. Imagine that energy contracting and forming a sphere within your body.

Next, to ground, extend your awareness to the energy of the Earth. It can help if you are outside or on a ground floor but you can just as easily ground in an apartment building or high rise. Visualize waves of energy radiating from the center of the Earth. Allow them to pass through you. Begin shaping that energy towards you. Visualize your energy and the Earth’s energy combining. Maybe a beam of light connects your orb to the Earth. 

While doing all of this you should focus on breathing. If breathing deeply is uncomfortable for you, just breathe normally. But it is important to stay aware of your breath. This can also keep you focused.

If you find your attention drifting, just guide it back gently. The first handful of times you ground and center you may have difficulty keeping your attention. This is okay, it will get easier the more your practice. Forgive yourself for getting distracted and bring yourself back to the task at hand. 

After this process, you may feel more connected to the Earth or you may feel energy surging within you. You might feel a bit warm. Or maybe you will feel none of these things. It can be a different process for everyone. We all respond to magical energy differently. Note how you feel. 

You should now be prepared to do spellwork. Remember, that this can take practice.

Let me know about your experience or if you have any other tips for beginners!

(image from pixabay)

~witch tip!~

do you knit or crochet? great! here are some things you could make to incorporate it in your craft

a small pouch to keep crystals in

a bag to keep your vials and bottles in

a small spell bag (fill with herbs, crystals, salt, etc to help with sleep, protection, luck, etc)

a blanket to sit on when you meditate

a cosy cover for your tea cup to keep your tea warm

a handmade poppet

a bag for your pendulum/runes/tarots

a little basket to put your crystals in while they charge outside

scarves with constellations stitched onto them

socks with sigils stitched on the bottom to help you move silently

a cover for your grimoire to help disguise it

a pillow for your furry friends to sleep on

a cover to place over your altar when you aren’t using it

a hat with sigils stitched in to help bring mental clarity

a cosy plant pot cover to keep plants warm during the cold months

and since you’re spending your own time and energy making these things, your power goes into them! 

These are absolutely lovely! 🌱💌💝

Source: 🌱

Mushroom Rules and Taboos

Mushroom season is in full swing! There are a few topics one should always avoid when talking with mushroom hunters. I’m a moderator on a mushroom identification group of about 30,000 people, and if you start talking about one of these topics, your post or comment will be deleted! Here are a few rules one should follow when talking with fellow mushroom hunters (and yes, I know these sound like a cross between Karen complaints and fae rules). 

1. Never ask for someone’s mushrooms spot. Asking for someone’s mushroom spot is tantamount to declaring you’re going to steal all of their mushrooms and leave them with nothing but severed stipes! This is very rude and hurtful. If you really need a hint as to where to find certain species, instead ask something like, “at what elevation in what mountain range did you find these?” That will allow the forager to give you a general answer, and won’t force them to give up their secrets. A kind forager will respond to, “Where is your mushroom spot?” with something like, “400m, Cascade foothills.” A less forgiving forager might stuff a wad of moss down your throat.

2. Do not argue about or even mention “cut versus pluck.” Whether you cut a mushroom from the ground with a knife or pluck it with your fingers has no significant effect whatsoever on the health of the mushroom population or how many mushrooms will come up the next year. There is a common misconception that cutting mushrooms with a knife is less damaging, but this is untrue. Cutting and plucking both don’t cause any harm! You’re just removing a fruiting body, and the real body of the mushroom is formed by mycelia underground. People feel really strongly about cut versus pluck, even if they know the different methods have no real effect on the fungi. Some people prefer to cut so others know they were there, or to keep their baskets clean, while others prefer to pluck to leave less visible debris in the forest, or to take more edible fungus. Either way: it should never be brought up. It’s a bannable offense in some groups - think, “We! Do not! Talk! About! The! Orangutan!”

3. Do not scold people for picking mushrooms they do not know the species of. This is called “pick shaming” in mushroom hunter communities. Sometimes, well-meaning folks will scold people for picking mushrooms they don’t know because they think it’s “wasteful” to pick a mushroom if they do not intend to eat it. This comes from a good place, since they’re obviously environmentally-conscious, but it also shows that they don’t know much about fungi. They are not plants! Revisit point 2: picking or cutting mushrooms has no effect whatsoever on the health of the fungus. More importantly, a lot of mushrooms need spore prints and a view of the entire specimen, from the base to the top of the pileus, to properly identify. In fact, to identify many toxic Amanita species, you must look at the volva at the base of the stipe, which requires pulling out the entire specimen. New foragers should indeed pick mushrooms to identify them - this is how they should learn. 

4. This is more of a pet peeve, but: do not ask “is this edible?”  or  “is this magic?” before you know what mushroom species you’re working with. Few things irritate me and other mushroom experts as much as seeing a picture of a toxic mushroom with the question, “Edible?” but no request for id. There are three reasons for this: First, I don’t want to be responsible for whether you eat a mushroom and get sick from it. I can tell you what I think it is, and there’s a 99.99% chance I’m correct, but if I’m either wrong or you have a particular sensitivity to that species (and many people do to common species like Laetiporus conifericola), I don’t want to get the blame for “telling you it was fine to eat.” Many mushroom hunters make a point of giving only the identification and letting the requester research edibility on their own for this reason. Second, me telling you if something is edible is not helping you learn to identify or hunt mushrooms, it’s just giving you a cheap way to repeatedly stick Agaricus foundinmyyardicus  on the forum and have someone else id it for you. Third, and more importantly, why are you putting things in your mouth if you don’t know what they are?  WHY?! What is wrong with you?! Mushroom maggots are also edible, but you would not eat them! 

5. Do not make unverified claims of mushroom medicinal use or, worse, offer medical advice unless you’re a trained and licensed professional. You can say, “There are some studies I found in this peer reviewed journal that indicate Trametes versicolor might be promising for such-and-such use,” but do not say stuff like, “Turkey tails cure cancer!” or, “Susan, I hear you had the flu. You should drink Ganoderma oregonense tea to boost your immune system!” Don’t risk poisoning someone, messing with their medication, or spreading pseudoscience by suggesting they use a mushroom for medicinal purposes unless you’re a trained medical professional. A forager who has casually read some journal articles is not a trained medical professional!  

6. Don’t mock folks for asking for confirmation of an “easy to identify” mushroom species. You’d be surprised by how many people misidentify species that are as “easy” to identify as Cantharellus formosus. I would much rather forty people post chanterelles and one accidentally post Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca while asking for confirmation than forty one people blindly eat their mushroom haul, thinking they’re chanterelles, only for one to get sick on Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca. Be responsible, and remember you were a beginner once, too. 

7. In identification groups, don’t give a definite identification unless you’re 100% sure of the mushroom someone is asking for an id of. If you’re unsure, say something like, “Looks like Laccaria bicolor,” or, “Compare to Amanita augusta.” Don’t say, “That’s Xerocomellus zelleri” with certainty unless you’re willing to bet on your mother’s life it’s Xerocomellus zelleri. This usually isn’t a big deal, but there was a bit of a kerfuffle on one of the mushroom forums a few years back when someone said, “That’s a matsutake!” about a deadly Amanita smithiana, and then proceeded to argue with David Arora, a legend among mycologists and the author of identification books like Mushrooms Demystified and All that the Rain Promises and More, upon being corrected. 

8. When identifying mushrooms, always use scientific names. Common names are colorful and easy to remember, but different species might have the same common name, or other people might be unfamiliar with the common name you’re using. Some species don’t even have common names! It’s totally okay to give both a scientific name and a common name, though, if the common name exists. 

Minor Arcana (Part 2)

Elemental Dignities 

If same suit, they Strengthen each other

Fire and Air are active, they support each other

Water and Earth are passive, they support each other

Fire and Water are enemies, they weaken each other

Air and Earth are enemies, they weaken each other

Fire and Earth are neutral, to each other

Water and Air are neutral to each other

Strengthen: Increases the intensity of the elements. Amplifies both positive and negative. 

Support: Build one another up

Weaken: Cancel each other out. Decrease each element. 

Neutral: Don’t affect one another

Fire Element Combinations

Fire/Fire - Strengthens 

Fire/Water - Weakens

Fire/Air - Supports 

Fire/ Earth - Neutral

Water Element Combinations

Water/Fire - Weakens 

Water/Water - Strengthens 

Water/Air - Neutral 

Water/Earth - Supports

Air Element Combinations

Air/Fire- Supports

Air/Water - Neutral 

Air/Air - Strengthens 

Air/Earth - Weakens

Earth Element Combinations

Earth/Fire - Neutral 

Earth/Water - Supports 

Earth/Air - Weakens 

Earth/Earth - Strengthens 

Court Cards

Pages: As people, they often represent young, energetic people who are at the very beginning of their personal journey. They are still developing a sense of self but they approach new challenges with fervent energy and with excitement. Look forward to learning new skills. On a physical level, they represent those who are young at heart or those who are discovering a new aspect of themselves. Often seen as messengers and come to you with a new opportunity. Symbolize new stages in life.

Knights: As people, Knights are highly action-oriented. Slightly more mature, have enough experience to know what they are doing, but not the full experience; prone to being extremists. Such behavior can be either positive or negative. Always consider both sides of a knight- helpful or harmful - what is excess, what needs moderation. On a physical level, adults aged 20 and 35. Knights reflect change, movement and action. Never still but constantly on the move.

Queens: Someone who has matured and who has a deeper understanding of self and others. Tap into feminine energy - nurturing, caring for others. Provides nourishment to keep her ideas and actions going. They mastered the power of gentle persuasion; influence without anyone really knowing. People aged 30 and 50 who have a good amount of life experience. Represent creativity and ideas coming into place. Taking care of others; feminine qualities.

Kings: Considered most mature. represent the fully developed personalities of each suit. As people, Kings have full control over feelings, thoughts and actions that form part of his personality. Stable and solid, highly capable of their goals and visions. Older males, ages 40+ or dominate masculine energy. Act upon ideas; Growth and maturity. 

Flowers Masterpost A - Z

Arisaema triphyllum Senecio vulgaris

A personal list of correspondences, as well as health facts and other names.

Arum - immortality, vitality (don’t take while pregnant/breastfeeding)

Angelica (archangel) - wards, banishments, protection, purity. Soothes cough/cold, reduces fever. (Don’t take w diabetic meds)

Arnica Montana (mountain daisy, mountain tobacco) - health, protection. Anti-inflammatory, oil eases muscle pain. ( poisonous in large amounts - severe gastrointestinal fever, nausea, fever, dizziness, diarrhea, internal bleeding)

Agrimony (rats tail) - reversal spells, protection, divination, sleep, revealed lies/secrets. Oil relieves muscle/nerve pain. Cream helps circulation, arthritis, and colds.

Azalea (Rhod odlendron) - happiness, spirit work, burial ritual offerings (poisonous - nausea, vomiting, coma, deep depression, difficulty breathing, fever, internal bleeding, abnormal heart rate)

African violet (saint paulia) - protection, spirit work

Althea (Hibiscus syriacus)  - purity, prosperity, anger, protection

Aster - love, offerings, protection, wishes

Astilbe (False goatsbeard)  - purity, prosperity, anger, protection

Avens (Geum) - exorcisms, purification, love

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides) - encouragement, subsequent danger, fields of them = fae are near, death omens (bulb is poisonous)

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) - an ill omen, warfare, death, secrets, murder, protection from fae, fertility, bad luck (poisonous in large amounts)

Bachelors Button (Centaurea, cornflower) love, death, offerings

Balm of Gilead (Ceclronella) - spirit work, love, secrets, beauty, confidence (skin irritation, severe stomach ache, don’t take if pregnant/breastfeeding)

Belladonna (nightshade, Atropa belladonna, death herb, devil’s cherries, devil’s herb) - death, dream magic, transformation, divination, astral projection, visions, curses (deadly poisonous - blurred vision, hallucinations, red skin, fever, dry mouth, loss of balance, coma, can be absorbed through skin)

Bryony (Bryonia diocia) - luck, money, life 

Burdock (Arctium Minus, fox dote)  - displeasure. Reduces throat infections, minor rashes and boils.

Buttercup (frog’s foot, Ranuculus areis) love, madness (poisonous - rash, blisters)

Bleeding heart (lamprocapnos spectabilis) - expression, love, passion, death, luck, bad omens, tragedy (poisonous in large amounts - convulsions, rashes)

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - empowerment, purification, money, love breaking, protection (Don’t take if pregnant - miscarriages)

Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, cat’s foot, snakeroot)  - courage, power, love, potency, protection, happiness (don’t take if pregnant - miscarriages, nausea, rash, headache)

Betony (Stachys Officinalis, common hedge nettle, bishop wort) - purification, protection, cleansing, devotion

Bindweed (Convoluos arvensi, devel vine, devil guys) - humility, curses

Black - eye - Susan (rudbeckia hirta, brown betty, gloriosa, daisy, golden Jerusalem, English bullseye, yellow oxe eye) - transformation, life, healing, soul, love. Soothes swelling, back pain, earache, immune booster

Blue flag (Iris Versicolor, poisonous flag, chagon flower, dagger flower, dragon flower) - sorrow, hex breaking, don’t trust fae holding this, (poisonous - nausea, vomiting, irritation of mouth, skin, throat and digestion track, headache, watery eyes)

Bromeliad (chameleon star) - invisibility, stealth, remourse

Blue vervain (Verbena hastata, enchanters plant) - enchantment, protection, wards, celebration, sacred, marriage, love. relaxes the nervous system, pain relief for rheumatism, joint pain, and neuralgia (don’t take if pregnant/ breastfeeding)

Camellia (Taponica) - wealth, luxury. Oil treats burns

Calla (water arum) - death, curses. Treats cold/flu and snakebites. (poisonous in large amounts - tingly tongue)

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus, Alli flower) - strength, healing, death, love, bad omen for talents, agony. Aids sleep

yellow - disdain, contempt, rejection

white - offerings for funeral rituals, intuition

Calendula (bride of the sun, marigold, tagetes) - legal matters, rejection, Samhain, grief, vulgar, youth, jealousy, despair, joy. Energizer.

Cowslip (Primula Veris) - discoveries, treasure, youth, beauty, fae magic (Allergic - hypotension, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal irritation)

Chrysanthemum (mumindictum, mums) - fae magic, youth, fire, used in burial rituals, ancestry, blessings, bad luck on love, clairvoyance. Tea treats migraine, anti-bacterial.

Celandine (Chelidonium majus, devil’s milk, pilewort, fig buttercup) - protection, business, law, confusion (nausea, dizziness, fatigue, fever, liver damage)

Centaury (Centaurium erythraea, christ ladder, feverwort) - Luck, sun, ancestry. Aromatic, bitter, tonic, aids rheumatism, soothes, snake bites

Chamomile (from the loins, blood of Hestia) - fortune, protection, curses, fae magic, love, purification. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, calming, sleep (don’t take with blood thinners)

Colt’s foot (Tussilago, winter heliotrope, clay weed, fieldhore, British tobacco) - love, speed. treats cough, bronchitis, clogged nose, poultice. Don’t take if pregnant/breastfeeding, on blood pressure meds, if allergic to ragweed, don’t take with alcohol)

Columbine (aqaliqua) - foolishness, innocence, protection, love, courage

Crocus Sativvs - love, strength

Carlina acaulis - health, sex, fertility, protection. Anti-viral, helps cold/flu

Daffodil (Narcissus) - love, luck, fertility, innocense, water, fae realm, youth (poisonous - staggering, numbness, paralysis)

Daisy (Bellis perennis, Soapwort, little star, oxe eye) - good and bad luck, growth, water, returning innocence, cleansing burdens, love, youth, reincarnation. aids diahrea, anti-inflammatory, helps cough and sore throat.

Dittany of crete (origanum dictamnus) - fertility

Daphne (laurel, Daphne odora) - hex breaking, darkness, fear, ill omens, dream magic (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rarely but can be deadly)

Datura (Datura stramonium, angel’s trumpet, moonflower, devil’s apple, witchweed, jimson weed, Devil’s snare) - visions, divination, spirit work, love, charms, insomnia (deadly poisonous, don’t inhale or consume - dry mouth, vision problems, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fast heart rate, hallucinations, high temperature, breathing problems, confusion, death, seizures, convulsions)

Dahlia - Beauty, tragedy, bad luck, eloquence

Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale) - invisibility

Eyebright - mental clarity

Eryngo (sea holly) - luck to travel, peace, luck, love, exorcism

Echinacea - power, strength, invisibility, love. reduces cold/flu, anti-bacterial, (don’t take if you have tuberculosis, have HIV/AID’s, any auto-immune diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or are allergic to ragweed)

Forget me not (Myosotis) - bad luck, love, earth, prosperity, hidden wealth, unlucky to lovers, don’t trust fae holding this

Foxglove (digitalis, bloody fingers, dead man’s bells, fairy fingers, lady gloves) - fae magic, offerings, wards, immortality. (poisonous, toxic - upset stomach, blurred vision, slow pulse, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, tremors, confusion, convulsions, abnormal heart rate)

fleabane (Erigeron, colt’s tail, semen of Nepriesos) - exorcism, protection

Gardenia Japsminordes - love, harmony, healing, peace, purity, innocence, hope, trust, protection, breakups, steal love, spirit work

Goldenrod (Solidago, Aaron’s rod) - treasure, wealth. Relieves gout and cramps, aids digestion eases cold and hay fever) (don’t take with liver medications)

Geranium (pelargonium, chocolate flower, crane’s bill, crow/dove’s foot, old maid nightcap, shame face) - fertility, health, love, protection, death, weddings, friendship, wishes. Relieves stress and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skin.

Galega officinalis (goats rue, French lilac, Italian fitch, professor weed) - health, healing. Ant-bacterial, mild diuretic (don’t take if pregnant/breastfeeding)

Gorse (ullex, prickly broom, furze) - protection, fertility, restores faith, sun, Lammas, encouragement, good omen

Groundsel (  Senecio vulgaris, old man in the spring) - Health, healing

Gelsemium sempervirens - tradition, curses, death, ill omens (extremely poisonous - headache, vision problems, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, muscle problems, seizures, breathing problems, shallow heartrate)

Heather (Calluna Vulgaris) - health, luck, durietic, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, aids cold and cough

Hawthorn (crataegus, bread and cheese, hagthorn, mayblossom)- fertility, chastity, happiness, water, luck, protection, wealth, beauty, don’t trust fae holding this, associated with fae underworld Berries - anti-spasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, tonic and vasodilator.

Heliotrope (turnsole, valerian tagara) - protection, dream magic, luck, deception, visions, astral projection. Calms, aids IBS and high blood pressure.

purple - new love

white - innocence

imperial - majesty

Hellebore (Helleborus, semen of helios, Christmas rose) - water, protection, invisibility, nature, banishments, intellect. (don’t eat - stomach ache, burning mouth, eyes and throat, vomiting. If applied to the skin - irritation of the mouth and throat lining, vomiting, diarrhea, nerve problems, blindness)

Hemlock (tsuga Canadensis, devil’s oatmeal/porridge) - power, astral projection, death, bad omens, destroys love, fertility (stomach ache, vomiting, progressive paralysis to the nerve system, neuromuscular block, can be fatal)

Henbane (hyoscyamus higer, devils eye, stinking nightshade) - love, reversal magic, shapeshifting, invisibility, binding, protection (dilated pupils, hallucinations, increased heart rate, convulsions, vomiting, hypertension, ataxia, delirium, mania, dry mouth, death)

honeysuckle (ionicera, woodbine, goat’s leaf) - protection, money, dream magic, luck, affection, weddings. Relieves gout, anti-inflammatory

Hyacinthus (old man’s bells) - peace, sleep, love, luck, grief, pain (nausea, vomiting, can be fatal)

Hibiscus (bats wing) - lust, love, divination, passion, independence, confidence

Holly - protection, luck, prophetic dreams, money (berries are poisonous)

Hydrangea - hex breaking

Iris Croatia - wisdom, beauty, purification, protection from fae, fae offerings (severe digestion problems)

Jasminum - love, meditation, harmony, sleep, moon magic. aromatherapy, Calms, regulates blood pressure

Juniper - protection, love, bad luck, dreams, exorcism, health

Jack-in-the-pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum) - tragedy, ill omen, death, love, revenge (skin and mouth irritation, swelling, burning, difficulties breathing, upset stomach)

Lily (Lilium) - strength, success, faith, ill omen, death, bad luck, vitality, rebirth, beauty

water lily - purity

lily of the valley - happiness, sweetness, divination, bad omens, indoor protection, death

yellow - falsehood, happiness

white - purity, sweetness

tiger lily (figridia pavonia) friendship, pride

Lilac (syringa Vulgaris) - protection, banishment, rain, mourning, spirit work

Lotus (nelumbo Nucifera, sacred lotus) - eloquence, love, recantation

Lavender (Lavendula, elf leaf, nardus) protection, healing, beauty, air, attracts good and bad entities when worn, longevity, fertility. Reduces anxiety, tension, headache, stress, indigestion, low blood pressure, anti-bacterial, antiseptic, disinfectant (causes drowsiness, don’t take w sedatives/lithium)

Lobelia (Indian tobacco) - love, longevity, elegance, peace (toxic - dizziness, intense nausea, and vomiting, don’t take if under 18, if pregnant/breastfeeding, or have any heart conditions)

lovage - love

Life everlasting (Helichrysum arenarium) - longevity, health

Masterwort ( Peucedanum ostruthium) - Strength, protection, courage

Magnolia (cucumber tree) - love, persistence, death, wisdom, insight. Aids high blood pressure, dysentery, diarrhea, fidelity

Mallow (Malva) - protection, exorcisms, love

Morning glory (pomoea, devil’s gut, goats foot) - binding, banishments, attraction (toxic - diarrhea, gastrointestinal pain, anorexia, hallucinations)

Myrtus (myrtle, periwinkle, viena minor, devil’s eye) - love, fertility, peace, money, beauty (poisonous - should not be consumed, nausea, vomiting, hearing and hair loss, dizziness, seizures,low blood pressure, death )

Orchid (Orchidaceae) concentration, memory, focus

Oleander Nirium - sickness, bad luck, protection, transformation

Pansey (throla tricolor, var hortensis, love of idleness) thoughts, love, marriage, disappointment, divination, rain

Pennyroyal (mentha puleqiuem, stinking balm) - luck, resolution (severe kidney,, liver, and brain damage, stomach pain, nausea, burning of the throat, fever, vomiting, confusion, restlessness, dizziness, don’t take if pregnant - miscarriage)

peony (Paeonia) - shame, beauty, luck, charms (don’t take while pregnant/breastfeeding)

Pimpernell (angellis arvensis) - change, protection from deception, melancholy, sleep, banishment

petunia - relaxation

Plumeria - love

pipsissewa - money, spirit work

poppy (blind eye, papauer somni ferum) - luck, happiness, dream magic

red - consolation

white - dreams

scarlet - extravagance

primrose (password, butter rose, pimula Vulgaris) - youth, sadness, inconsistency, merit, healing, fae offering, bad omens

Rose - love, beauty, happiness, tranquility, curses, glamours, pride, grace, charms. Anti-bacterial, astringent, tonic, aids cold and flu and digestion pain.

white - worth, unity, purity

red - love, courage, respect, passion

yellow - jealousy, friendship, joy, creativity

white and red - unity

yellow and red - new love

peach - gratitude 

coral - desire

orange - desire, enthusiasm

light pink - sympathy, admiration, grace

lavender - love at first sight, enchantment

blue - unattainable, impossible

Burgandy- unconcious beauty

Senna- love, faith (irritable bowel lining, laxative)

snapdragon (calf’s snout, antirrhinum) - protection

Spiderwort ( Tradescantia) - love

sunflower (helianthus annaus) happiness, optimism, health, luck, confidence. Diuretic and expectorant, aids fever, reduces swelling, aids an upset stomach

trillium - love, luck

Tulipa - love, beauty, glamours, grounding, protection

Valerian (bloody butcher, capon’s tail, cat’s herb, Ram’s horn) - nightmares, anxiety, sleep, purity, 

Veronica officinalis (birds-eye) - fidelity, trust

Violet - death, rebirth, love, luck, nervousness, anxiety, paranoia

wolfsbane (aconitum) protection, invisibility (disables nerves, lowers blood pressure, avoid skin contact, stops the heart)

Wisteria - enchantments, fae magic, longevity, adventure, purity. (poisonous - severe stomach pain)

Zephyr flower - expectation

treacherous / gold rush

𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒏-𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕. 🍄

Sources: 🍁 🍁

🕯☽☾🔮🖤 looking for active witchblrs! 🕯☽☾🔮🖤

A little bit worried that witchtok sucked up the life of witch tumblr, so please reblog if you’re an active/practicing witch on tumblr as of July 12, 2021! 

Please be POC/LBGT inclusive!!!

Sidenote: I am a beginner closet witch looking to find my path, interested in norse/celtic/hellenic pantheons. But all are welcome and the more folks I can follow, the more knowledge I can gain, and the more people I can meet! 

☽☾ Thanks in advance, Blessed Be! ☽☾

Basics of Kitchen and Cottage Witchcraft

Kitchen witches believe that the kitchen is a sacred place where all of the magick happens. They focus on the use of edible ingredients and kitchen tools.  A cottage witch is a witch that brings magick into the house and are protectors of the hearth and home. They bring cheer and warmth to every room they enter. Their focuses are on the family, home, and daily needs. Both the cottage and Kitchen witch believe that by honoring the home it honors the Gods and Goddesses. They bring magick into everyday life and daily chores.

Ways a Kitchen and Cottage witch can bring magick into a home:

Create a kitchen altar

Stock your shelves with herbs and spices

Bring maximum feng-shui to your home

Keep the home physically and spiritually clean

Paint the house walls in colours that bring happiness, warmth, and coziness

When making a sandwich put mustard or mayo sigils on it

When making meals add herbs that correspond to your magickal needs

Decorate the home according to the sabbats

Brew some special teas

Make your own candles, salves, and tinctures.

Make offerings to Gods and Goddesses of hearth and home.  

Ask your deities to keep your house safe and healthy.

Create your own recipes and add your own touch of magick to them

Put intent into everything you cook and clean

Make an incantation or short song to sing while you stir.

Inscribe your wooden spoons with sigils  

Carve your wooden shelves with sigils - carve them at the bottom of the cupboard to remain discreet

Craft oils, incense, soaps, potions, and salves.

Make herbal remedies

Chant while cleaning or preparing a meal

Use numerology in their practices by the number of times they stir or the number of times they knead dough.

During the mead moon, brew mead with magickal intent.

Decorate the home with your own art or art done by your children, poems, knits, woodcraft’s, paintings, quilts, diy’s, or tapestries.

Enchant your crafts.

Use weather magick, candle magick, ribbon charms, and anything else used to add magick to your home.

Honour the ancestors.

Bless the home.

Start a garden and will it with organic and in season fruits and vegetables.

Charge herbal oils by moonlight or candlelight to heal, bless the home or to clean and protect the woodwork she polishes with it.

Scatter charm bags, witches ladders, chimes, and bells around the home.

Grow an indoor jungle

Learn herbal remedies to treat MINOR injuries

If you work with meat make sure to thank and honour the animal it came from.

Sing or play music to raise good vibrations

Bake and cut cookies in shapes to match your intentions

Provide someone in need with a free meal

Volunteer at a local soup kitchen to bring magick into it

What their altar may display:

Candles

Tools used for sacred use

Four elements

Statues of the honoured deities

A doll weaved of corn

A kitchen witch’s altar is often displayed in the corner of the kitchen and is not permanent

Food made by the witch left as an offering

Some beliefs followed:

Magick is not used to inflict pain on others or block anyone’s free will

Believe in living simple lives

Believe in using organic items, products that aren’t animal tested, recycling, and composting.

Creativity is a form of devotion

Keep peace in the household

May the home always contain good food, good talk, and good company

Welcome guests into the home with open arms

Cottage and Kitchen witch superstitions/wives tales:

Stir clockwise to bring good luck

Never stir with a knife as it is considered bad luck

Place a piece of amethyst near the stove top to make the food cooked there tastes better

If an apple bursts in the oven while baking it means good luck is on its way for the cook

Eggs that are cracked while they boil is a sign that visitors are on their way

Dropping silverware means that company is coming

Spilling water on the table cloth means that rain is on its way

Seeing a spider in the house is good luck, killing it is bad luck

Wild animal tracks in the snow encircling your house is a sign of good luck and protection

When your cupboard doors are left opens it means that people are gossiping about you

If a broom drops across the doorway it means that you will soon head off on a journey

If you spill salt throw it over your left shoulder to undo any bad luck

To keep evil spirits away chop an onion in half and place it on the window sill

Chosen tools:

Wooden spoons

Knife

Bowls

Cooking pot or cauldron

A ritual knife used to only cut spiritual ties

A Fire place

Broom

Mortar and pestle

Kettle

Jars and bottles

Sewing kit

Cook books

Spells are cast to bring:

Healing

Prosperity

Protection

Abundance

Happiness

Fertility

Harmony

Peace

Deities worked with:

Hestia

Frigga

Brighid

Demeter

May your house stay warm and full of magick!

==Moonlight Academy==