TO BIND- wrap in black thread, drip wax over, or seal in a jar and hide it in the dark.
TO BANISH- burn an effect to ash and sweep off the back door step, cast it out a window, or bury in the ground and spit on it
TO ENCOURAGE- plant it by the front door/steps, bury by a window, or place it on a windowsill
TO HIDE- place in a jar painted black, cover with cloth and bury, or wrap with a ribbon
TO CLEANSE- bury it in a bowl of salt, burn herbs and pass through the smoke, or lay it in a moonwater bath
TO GLAMOUR- leave under the full moon, hold its reflection over a mirror with herbs, or
TO WISH- place before a candle and blow it out, drown a coin in water, or let seeds blow into the wind
TO COMMUNICATE- (with a spirit or deity) - anoint a candle, leave out offerings, or open the front doors and windows
TO WARD- leave part of the spell in four corners, draw lines around the protected area, or plant an object of projection in the north, east, south, and west edges
TO CURSE- spit on it, drag your nails down it, or stick sharp things in it
TO DISCOURAGE - plant or bury by the back door, or burn to ash
TO JINX- say it three times out loud, or say a word the same time as someone else
TO MANIPULATE - use wax, use poppets, or tie several strings to pieces of an effect
TO BENEFIT - light a candle, charge a crystal, or create a talisman
I adore fall over any season, something just feels different inside of me and i just feel more spiritually aware, fall is also the time of my favourite Sabbat Samhain so i thought I’d share some ideas on what you can do for this Sabbat and just for the season in general.
This is gonna be kinda lengthy!
But first, what exactly is samhain?
The fields are bare, the leaves have fallen from the trees, and the skies are going grey and cold. It is the time of year when the earth has died and gone dormant. Every year on October 31 (or May 1, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere) the Sabbat we call Samhain presents us with the opportunity to once more celebrate the cycle of death and rebirth. For many Pagan traditions, Samhain is a time to reconnect with our ancestors, and honour those who have died.
This is the time when the veil between our world and the spirit realm is thin, so it’s the perfect time of year to make contact with the dead.
Samhain activity ideas.
Take a walk in the park with a loved one or a pet
Collect leaves to press
Enjoy some of the pumpkin spiced joy that comes around
Reflect on the year
Remember those who have passed on to the other side and set up your altar with pictures of your loved ones who have passed.
Listen to stories about you ancestors, learn some stuff you maybe didn’t know.
Prepare a Samhain dinner. Include a place setting at your table or at a nearby altar for the Dead. Add an offering of a bit of each beverage being consumed to the cup at that place setting, and to the plate, add a bit of each food served. Invite your ancestors and other deceased loved ones to come and dine with you. (you could also consider dining in silence however this isn’t necessary.)
Divination and Guidance. Using Tarot, Runes, Scrying, or some other method of divination, seek and reflect on guidance for the year to come. Write a summary of your process and messages. Select something appropriate to act upon and do it.
Divine Invocations. Honour and call upon the Divine in one or more Sacred Forms associated with Samhain, such as the Crone Goddess and Horned God of Nature. Invite Them to aid you in your remembrance of the Dead and in your understanding of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. If you have lost loved ones in the past year, ask these Divine Ones to comfort and support you.
Transforming Expressions. If you encounter distortions, misinformation, and/or false, negative stereotypes about Paganism and Samhain in the media, contact the source, express your concerns, and share accurate information. Help eradicate derogatory stereotyping with courteous, concise, and intelligent communications.
Seasonal Imagery. Decorate your home with Samhain seasonal symbols and the colours of orange and black. Place an Autumnal wreath on your front door. Create displays with pumpkins, cornstalks, gourds, acorns, and apples. Set candles in cauldrons.
Carve a pumpkin or a turnip.
Bury an apple on samhain night as a snack to offer those passing on
go shopping for seasonal home decorations, and even Halloween decorations if you’re like me and keep some of them up all year round!
Take a sibling or cousin trick-or-treating.
Sit around a fire and toast marshmallows and tell stories.
Go out and collect acorns and conkers.
Go apple picking or do some apple bobbing.
Watch a horror movie.
If there’s a corn maze near you, go have some fun getting lost with your friends and family.
Sit up late in the crisp autumn air and reflect.
Go for a hayride or for a hike.
And that’s it! That’s all i have for you this time round my loves, blessings and may the divine be with you,
First off, this is not a cursing or hexing spell like thing. Black, as a color, means more than just evil or darkness or negative intent. According to this chart, the color black means “safety, protection, banish negativity, pride and shape shifting”. In this case, I’m focusing on the first 3 meanings and this is really simple for anyone to do if you’re feeling overwhelmed with negative energy, want to protect yourself from someone possibly sending negativity your way or just want to give an extra layer of protection when working your craft.
What you’ll need:
1 black candle (I bought this votive when I couldn’t find black candles in the regular store off the Halloween season)
Sandalwood oil or any anointing oil (one that can represent protection would be best)
a few strands of hair and/ or nail clippings of the intended (yourself or the one you feel will benefit from this)
a place to leave all this undisturbed (altar, shelf or anywhere candle safe)
a spell or series of spells you wrote yourself or you found that feel in tuned with you.
What I did:
Take the candle and use your finger to anoint the candle, top to bottom and under and over, with the oil. You can do this ahead of time as the oil can make the outside a little soft so use just a small enough to cover and let sit so the oil’s essence is taken in.
I use a tea cup to hold my candles in, but any holder is fine. Take that and place a few strand of hair or the clippings on the bottom. I use both and the hair you can take from your brush. You could use trimmings, but I feel whole strands (including the root) are more potent. the clippings I used are from that day and freshest, but a couple days old isn’t too bad either as long as you know they’re from the same source (especially if you’re doing this for someone else)
Place the anointed candle on top of these items. They don’t all have to be under the candle but as long as the majority are, you’re fine.
It might take a bit, but you should feel lighter, emotionally, and feel your energy lift and brighten. Let the candle burn until it melts and covers what you placed in the cup.
If there’s still some wick left, you can just use this and repeat the spells you spoke without having to place new strands or clippings as this now ties you or the intended with this candle until it can no longer be lit. Repeat the entire thing as needed.
For added effect, do this on the new, full and half moons. Each phase will emphasis your new beginnings and growth as you do your best to disconnect and remove any and all negative effects upon yourself and your home.
Can be used for self love or finding true love. You don’t need anything to cast, but you can use white, pink or red candles or incense/ oils related to love. Or, as the title suggests, use this as a mantra and repeat it as often as desired.
Love is true Love is real Love is joy and never hate Fill me light Fill me with hope Never to doubt what’s in my heart Always sure of my intent.With highest hopes And shadows gone,I cast out doubt And fill with life.
Flooded Cromlech at Parc Glynllifon, North Wales, 16.2.18.
It is uncertain whether this cromlech was displaced to suit the requirements of the nearby estate and large house. The area is littered with similar dolmens and we know only a little of the history of this particular site.
Mmmm, cake! I wanted to make a cake inspired by Spring’s ethereal purple blossoms and made things up as I went along… The finished result: poppy seed cake with pomegranate white tea frosting & candied wild violets. The second photo is from when they were freshly picked.
