#learn witchcraft

Self Protection Jar

This is a throwback to an old spell that uses a lot of sharp items to create a protection jar. Using sharp objects like thumbtacks, pins or broken pieces of glass is a way to create a ‘psychic fence’ so to speak. That way anything negativity coming towards you will be pushed back or deflected by all the sharp objects surrounding your energy field. 

What you’ll need

• 1 clean and cleansed jar (see note on this post on how to cleanse your jar)
• Sharp items (Thumbtacks, pins, opened safety pins, needles. If you’re going to use broke glass PLEASE BE CAREFUL)
• Add in any protection herbs or crystals if you choose to but I usually skip this step. 
• Something that binds you to the jar such as fingernail filings or a lock of hair. The original spell asked for drops of blood but that’s a whole different thing if you want to do that. I recommend just using hair because of the risk of infection by cutting yourself.

Cleansing your jar

It’s important to cleanse your jar first and foremost. You can use any jar (Hello salsa and sauce jars!) Clean them out super well. If you are stuck with a smelly jar that has retained a strong odor even after washing out thoroughly you can rinse the jar with vinegar or let it sit overnight. That will usually get rid of any smell. 

Once you have cleaned your jar, I simply cleanse it by using incense. Light your incense and let the smoke thoroughly fill up your jar before releasing it into the air.

What to do

Set up your spell with any provisions you would normally use. Light candles, incense, and have any crystals out that you feel connect you to your magic. Protect your space by imagining a white light in a circle around you encasing the jar and sharp objects inside. 

Place each object inside until your jar is at least ¼ to ½ of the way full. Last, add a lock of hair or item that you chose to bind this jar to you. 

Once everything is inside, close the jar. If you want to seal the jar with wax you can take a candle and drip wax on top of the jar or on the sides letting the wax drop down into the seal. 

Close your spell and release your circle. 

Take your jar and hide it in a dark place where no one will find it. 

SPECIAL SHOT OUT to Obsidian Odyssey for collabing with me and creating the art for this post. Check out her witchy blog! Also she’s an AMAZING artist and has a free coven you can join! 

Sleeping is hard. Especially if you have anxiety about something going on, or just plain stressed out. Our modern lives are not built to include a lot of rest and relaxation, and this can really play on how we fall asleep. If you’re like me, you make an attempt to go to bed at a decent hour, but after trying some downtime, like reading, you’re left tossing and turning for hours just to go to bed at the super late time you were trying to avoid in the first place. Next night, rinse and repeat. If you’re struggling with a decent night’s rest, try these five stones to help you get those much-needed Zzz’s.

Moonstone

Of course, the stone of the moon would help you get some sleep. This iridescent stone is absolutely one of my favorites. It almost glows from the inside. Moonstone promotes our biological clock to engage with the moons’ energy thus promoting a restful night’s sleep, and falling asleep when one intends to. 

Howlite

Covered in black streaks, Howlite is the stone of relaxing energy. Although not necessarily linked to the moon, Howlite’s relaxing energy can help calm down any nervousness and get you the nights rest you deserve. 

Amethyst

Another favorite of mine. Besides offering all around protection to the wearer, it also soothes energy. Perfect for a nightstand, choose a chunky Amethyst for both it’s beauty and peaceful energy.

Lepidolite

Like Amethyst, Lepidolite is another soothing purple stone. This stone is almost exclusively used for it’s relaxing energy. Set it up next to your Amethyst, and you’re ready for 

Rose Quartz

The stone of self-love is said to indirectly sooth your energy, promoting restful vibes. This pink stone filters out the negativity, self-destructive talk and promotes positive energy. Mix and match your perfect bedtime crystals and find the combination that works best for you. Another idea is to acquire all smaller sized crystals and place them in a drawstring bag and either place it under your pillow at night, or on your nightstand next to you. 

Sweet dreams!

*Warning if you suffer from depression, insomnia or anxiety, please seek out the advice of a medical doctor. Crystals can help the vibe, but they can not cure any serious ailments.

November is a time of reflection and relaxation, as it heralds in “blank slate” weekends, restful time alone, and the joyous return to honoring life inside the home. For many, October is so much fun there is barely space for peace and quiet. But now that the wild action of October is over, and you can pause to savor the crisp air and quietness of the November sky, I suggest you ponder the opportunistic question of “now what?”

The weather is colder and the atmosphere is darker in November – while the view from your bedroom window can be romantic and beautiful, the feeling outside is cold, damp, and sometimes gloomy. Just this morning we experienced our first freezing fog this season. It is this kind of weather that makes us crave coziness, warmth, and comfort. November allows you the opportunity to lean into the temptation to relax, recuperate, and maintain your health and spiritual wellness.

A List of Chill Magic and Practical Rituals for November
November can be a time when you can create a sacred space inside your home. While indoors, it is a great time to take up hobbies and activities that allow you the opportunity to spend time with the most important person in your life: yourself. Contemplate what aspects of yourself you have been neglecting and use the downtime of the indoor months accordingly. My hope is that this list below honors the magic of being chill and the comforting energy of November.

Fall Cleaning: For me an organized house is a creative house. I don’t know if this is something that everyone feels, but I function better in an orderly environment. If you are like me use the first couple of weeks in November to clean and clear your home of clutter. Consider donating clothes, books, and food.

Bring in the Green: Try bringing some green into your home to liven the indoors. Herbs that do well indoors are basil, bay, chives, cilantro, lemongrass, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme. If you need some easy plants to work with try aloe, calathea, Christmas cactus, English ivy, jade, peperomia, philodendron, snake plant, and spider plant.

Warm Lighting: Try the warm and soothing glow Himalayan rock salt lamps and candle holders.

Purifying Incense: Burn a blend of frankincense, rosemary, and sage to purify your home. Allow the smoke to escape the home through cracked windows. 

Protection Spell Bottle: Put together a spell bottle to create a protective boundary around your home. Some suggested items to add to a protection spell bottle include rosemary, rose thorns, needles, nails, dimes, vinegar, garlic, obsidian, black salt, sea salt, tourmaline, black pepper, hyssop, rue, and dragon’s blood. Seal it with black wax and bury it in the front yard of your property.

❤️Blessed and Loving Home Simmering Potpourri: This is an inviting simmering potpourri to bless a home with loving energies. Slice an apple and place in a saucepan. Add four cups of water. Add in a couple cinnamon sticks, three star anise seed pods, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a teaspoon of cloves, and a small piece of ginger root. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Allow the mixture to slowly cook and spread it’s inviting and loving fragrance through your home. Stir clockwise occasionally, and replacing more water if necessary. 

Relaxing Aromatherapy Oils: Use a relaxing oil blend in an oil diffuser to create a calming space. Essential oils that can help calm moods include lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, bergamot, ylang ylang, vanilla, patchouli, Roman chamomile, clary sage, and marjoram. 

Prosperity Spell for Holiday Funds: For this spell you will work with the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. Find a glass jar or container and adhere a picture of Lakshmi on it. In the bottom of the container place a piece of green jade, aventurine, or other crystal associated with money. The first money to place in the jar should be four new quarters, which you can anoint with patchouli or money-attracting oil. Place money into the jar each day, no matter how large or small the amount is. When it is time to empty the jar and access the holiday funds, be sure to put aside a small amount of the wealth you’ve attracted to donate to charity.

Blanket Magic: Here’s a sweet little enchantment for the throw blankets in your house. Hold a blanket and visualize it being imbued with pink and gold light. Say to yourself the following incantation: “Wrapped in love, this blanket glows, with care and healing for those it holds.” 

‍♀️Homeopathic Remedies: We are blessed to live in a time where we can both take care of ourselves with modern medicine like flu shots and antibiotics, but we can also keep homeopathic remedies in stock to support our daily health routines. Try and create Fire Cider or Elderberry Syrup – they are said to help the body fend off colds.

Basil Rinse: Boil a pot of water and stir in a handful of basil and a couple bags of chamomile tea. Use this as a cleaning rinse to welcome in prosperous and loving energies.

Divination:November is a fantastic month to work through divination. Treat yourself to a new tarot deck, practice a new tarot spread, or try a form of divination that you’ve always been curious about.

November Correspondences

• Astronomical Dates for 2019: Taurid Meteor Shower (11/5-6), Beaver Full Moon (11/12), Leonids Meteor Shower (11/17-18), New Moon (11/26)
• Crystals: Amber, Citrine, Obsidian, Onyx, Tiger’s Eye, Topaz
• Food in Season: Apples, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cranberries, horseradish, leeks, mushrooms, parsnips, persimmons, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkin, turnip, winter squash
• Herbs, Plants, and Incense: Blackthorn, Cedarwood, Cypress, Dragon’s Blood, Elder, Mugwort, Nutmeg, Pine, Rosemary, Star Anise, Thyme, Wormwood, Yew
• Magical Work: Beginnings, Divination and Spirit Communication, Prosperity, Release, Removal of Obstacles, Transformation
• Meditation Work and Reflective Topics: Charity, Comfort, Gratitude, Self-Love

The Magic of Samhain Isn’t Gone (Where to Look Next)

While many will celebrate Samhain through October 31st and November 1st, there are those who chose to observe Samhain at the exact midpoint between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. For 2019 that happens to land on November 7th. So, if you are enjoying the work with ancestors, divination, spirit communication, and banishment magic, don’t let it disappear now that it’s November. And, just because Samhain has passed doesn’t mean that the energy and magic of Samhain will instantaneously drop off. If you are new to witchcraft I recommend reading The Door to Witchcraft by Tonya Brown to help you continue your interest and magical pursuits. If you are fascinated by the idea of a Veil marking a boundary between our world and the Otherworld, I recommend visiting John Beckett’s blog Under the Ancient Oaks where he frequently discusses his impression of the Veil in modern times. And, hopefully the list above gave you some inspiration for November as well. The dark side of the year is an excellent time to go inwards and do deep, reflective, and personal magical work. The magic of pause and rest can be very powerful.