This weekend I was blessed, I got to go to Salem, Massachusetts the witch city capital of the world. My only friend who is a practicing witch @eclectic-earth and I stayed the historical Hawethorne Hotel.
I spent close to $300 . So worth every penny I got the Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly De Angeles, Angelite Pendant, Chalice, ENDLESS amounts or herbs, Protection oil, Archangel Gabriel Oil, and @eclectic-earth got a beautiful piece of moldavite.
Such a blessed weekend full of the energy I needed to feel. I love Salem it will always be my home.
*Smudging is a ritual from a closed practice, please research this before buying that shell, feather, and sage bundle from 5below… stay aware!
Alternatives to smudging: smoke cleansing (literally just get incense cones or sticks!), sound cleansing (get a bell or play cleansing frequencies), deep cleaning (vacuum, open the windows, wipe everything down), and your words (declaring your space sacred & protected)!
*Support your local crystal shops, farmers markets (if the season permits), and don’t be afraid to askquestions: such as, where items are sourced!
*Now is the time to for introspection, grounding, cleansing, spending time outdoors, home cooking, self care (beyond that face mask), meditation, decluttering, reorganizing, andgrowth!
A cauldron is a metal or ceramic pot that can be used to burn herbs, make teas, petitions, making potions, and cooking. They’re usually made out of cast iron, alloys, or ceramics. If you’re a Wiccan they can represent the womb of the Goddess or the womb of mother earth.
Uses and Ideas: Burn incense and herbs — Make tea/coffee and use it for cooking—Burn petitions — Use it as a candle holder, —Make black salt —Make/collect moon water, sun water, snow/ice water, rainwater, etc.— Place it on your altar to represent all of the elements.—Use it to scry.
Athame, Wand, Book of Shadows, Candle/incense holders, Playing or Tarot Cards, Cauldron, Small Jars. Ribbons, Bones (don’t kill anything and make sure it’s ok to pick them up though), Chalice, Boline, Altar Cloths, and Bessom.
The Elements:
Air:Feathers, Smoke, Wand, Symbols, Candles, A Hand Fan, Bells, Pictures, of the Sky, Streamers, Spoons, and Art of Birds, Angels, and Faeries.
Fire:Lighters, Matches, Candles, Incense, Cauldron, Athame, Symbols, and Fire Opal.
Water:A Chalice, A Bowl of Water (it can be sun water, seawater, rainwater, etc), Seashells, A Mirror, Mermaid or Fish Statues, Symbols, and Blue Candles.
Earth:Salt, Crystals, Herbs, Flowers, Dirt, Wood, Green Candles, Bones, Leaves, and Pictures of Trees and Nature in General.
Gods and Goddesses:
Have colors/animals/flowers/herbs that they’re connected to on your altar, leave them offerings, have a picture or a statue of them, have 2 sides of your altar (one for the god and one for the goddess), have prayer beads, and a god and goddess candle.
Advice:
Do what works for you, if you can’t have a huge altar with a lot of tools, thats fine. You make an altar out of an Altoids tin or a shoebox.
You can make altars for sabots, the fae, your deities, or the elements. You can also decorate your altar for the seasons or the sabots too.
If you don’t believe in any gods or goddesses, you don’t have to believe in them or put representations of them on your altar to be a witch. Personally, I’m secular and I don’t work with any deities/spirits.
Take my advice with a pinch of salt. You don’t have to follow exactly what I say, these are just ideas. This is your practice and you can do whatever you want to. Don’t be pressured to do something just because someone told you to, this is your practice; not theirs.
Thank you for reading this and have a magickal day! ❤❤❤
I was busy doing a protection spell in my room when my mother and father walked in. Normally, I’m not shy about talking about my hobbies to people close to me.
However, witchcraft is something very personal to me and I know my parents would never support my hobby, even if I tried to convince them. My dad asked me what I was doing out of curiosity. When I refused to tell him, he got angry at me and tried to guilt trip me into telling him.
“Why don’t you tell us anything anymore?”
Because everytime I do, you get angry at me or disappointed in me.
“We tell you everything, why can’t you do the same for us?”
Parental relations is a huge difference of power. So even if you do tell me something (which you usually don’t anyways, each time you talk to me you just point out my flaws), I can never have a negative reaction to it, unlike you to me.
“You ask us for something, and we agree right away without asking anything else. Do you think it’s fair that you don’t do the same? I don’t.”
First of all, you never agree to me automatically whenever I do ask you something. In fact, mom usually is the one who tries to help me. Second, don’t you dare talk to me about “fair”. You’re so hypocritical, you never stop to think about what others feel. Third, I didn’t ask for your opinion. If I don’t wanna tell you something, I’m not obligated to tell you. Every single time you don’t get your way, you throw a fit. Grow some understanding of boundaries.
(Sorry for ranting, I just get riled up whenever a negative situation happens out of witchcraft, because I really love magick. I don’t want any bad feelings coming from it.)
The Pentagram(s) are very important in witchcraft as it represents many things, however, it’s also equally as important to recognize what they mean and the differences between them.
The Pentagram
In the late 1800’s Eliphas Levi wrote: The Pentagram signifies the dominion of the mind over the elements, and the demons of air, the spirits of fire, the phantoms of water, and the ghosts of earth are enchained by this sign. Equipped therewith, and suitably disposed, you may behold the infinite through the medium of that faculty which is like the soul’s eye, and you will be ministered by legions of angels and hosts of fiends. The Pentagram represents the 5 elements: Earth, Air, Wind, Fire, and Spirit. The way you draw the Pentagram can either invoke or banish whatever element in question. Each element has a different way to invoke or banish
The Inverted Pentagram
The Inverted Pentagram is still connected to the elements, but now spirit is always at the bottom, showing the material world ruling over spirit. It is meant to show the power of the individual, and not the powers of a divine, or dogmatic system. This symbol is generally thought of as satanic, but it has been used in other forms of magick, and is not always satanic, or inherently evil.
The Pentacle
The Pentacle embodies all of the previously mentioned powers of the pentagram, but it is now unified, and protected by a circle. Allowing the elements to work together to focus their energy in a more harmonious way. This symbol is used to represent Wicca, and other Pagan faiths. The pentacle can also represent male, and female energy mixing together in a symbiotic relationship. The pentacle being the male energy, and the circle being the female energy.
The Inverted Pentacle
The inverted pentacle shows the unity of the elements inside the individual power, and it’s still a powerful protection talisman. The rest of its meaning, and energies are pretty much a mixture between the inverted pentagram, and the pentacle.
The Chaos Pentagram
The chaos pentagram is a pentagram with its main head pointing to the right. I believe it originates from the Liber AOM a chaos magick manuscript though it is quite hard to find information about. It’s used in this freestyle non-dogmatic results based magical path which is ideal for practitioners to base their arts upon, along with excellent speculations concerning magic, science and nature of universe/reality.
The Goat of Mendes
The Goat of Mendes is an inverted pentacle esque symbol that is trademarked, copyrighted, and used by the Church of Satan. It depicts five Hebrew letters that spell out the word leviathan on the outside of each point of the inverted pentacle, then encircled by another circle. This is one of the main symbols of satanism. The Goat of Mendes is also called Sigil of Baphomet, Sabbatic Goat, and Mendes Pentacle. The meaning is the same as the inverted pentacle, but this one is more for Satanists, because it takes on certain energies of entities Satanists work with.
Just about every religion incorporates sacred objects into its observance and practice. Whether it’s special vestments worn by religious officiants, statues of deities honored at shrines, candles, amulets, chalices or other symbolic items, people have been creating and utilizing physical artifacts—or “tools”—in order to create and maintain spiritual energy and focus in their ritual practices.
Athame: Used for directing energy and casting rituals
Wand: Used to direct energy and casting circles
Chalice: Used to hold ceremonial drink
Boline: Used for rituals and harvesting/cutting herbs
Incense: Used to cleanse
Censer: Used to burn incense pods
Scourge: Was used to whip witches as initiation into covens but now is used in some ritual poses by the Priestess and Priest when they do the “Osiris” pose with their arms crossed in front of their chests holding the athame and the scourge.
Cingulum: Used like a belt, can symbolize ranking via color, but is mainly used to measure the circle for casting
Besom: Used to sweep negative energies
Cauldron: Used to burns herbs and incense, can be used to make spells
Jewelry: Used upon intention, ex. pentacles on necklaces for protection and ring magick.
Spear: Used as a ritual tool for Odin
Stang: Used for directing energy and assistance on spiritual path
Bell: To stop and start a ritual
Offering Dish: Used to offer our offering to our deities
Hat: Symbolizes the witch herself and her knowledge, fedora like hats are used more often to give off the same look
Crystals: Can be used for healing and magick, each crystal has a different property
Oils: Used for spells and baths
Resin: (Pine) used to wake the circle
Mortar and Pestle: Used to grind up herbs
Rune Sticks: Used by oracles, usually thrown and read
White Stick: Grants invisibility and protection
Silver Spoon: Used to dig up dirt
Scrying Mirror/Bowl: Used to receive visions and messages
Gazing Ball: Used to scry as well
Hollow Glass Orbs: Used to ward off the home of witches spells, evil spirits, and ill fortune
Pendulum: Used for divination
Witches Spoon: Special spoon used for tea
The Garter: Used by high priestess to symbolize the head of the coven and her level
Skull: Used for protection and used to call the ancestor of which the skull belonged to (can be replaced with a handful of soil)
Talismans: Used to symbolize what we want to push towards, also protection
EDIT:@twilightmagick said this and i completely forgot to add it in at the bottom YOU DONT NEED TOOLS AS A WITCH you are the magick, tools only serve to help you out and please don’t buy new tools they can be expensive go to your local thrift or you can make your own tools if you so please but yeah thank you to the person that pointed this out
I am a powerful being I am at one with the Earth, the Universe and the Divine I am on the path to connect with my highest self My former selves are letting go I am a model of greatness
Here’s a list of different types of witches, this is a pretty chunky list but it’s not all and as I remember more and more and learn about more of them, I’ll add more of them onto the list but for now, here ya go:
There are many types of witches, many of which can change throughout one’s journey, it’s important to know which path is which and how that affects us and others.
Atheist/Laveyan Satanic: Witchcraft worked with the idea that satan is a concept, rather than a real person or entity (loosely put; it’s a very detailed concept). Also known as Satanic witches who fit the secular description.
Alexandrian: holds that all participants are priests and priestesses; everyone is able to commune with the Divine, therefore there is no laity.
Augury:Divine omens, signs and symbols
Celtic: Studies and worships Celtic deities and magick
Cosmic: Looks to the stars, moon, and astrology
Christian: Witchcraft that is performed to honor / or is performed in conjunction with the Christian God as the primary and only deity
Correllian: practices based on the idea that inner truth is universal in nature. Since Corellian Witchcraft teaches that Deity enters the life of the seeker in a way that can be best understood by them, Deity is key to the beneficial magic of this tradition.
Crystal: Uses crystals and their properties
Dianic: Offshoot of Wicca focused on female deities
Divination: Used tarot cards, I Ching tools, etc for divination
Druids: promotes harmony, connection, and reverence for the natural world.
Eclectic: Embraces any and all magick and magickal work
Elemental: Works with fire, water, air, earth, and spirit
Faery: Based on British folklore and works with the Fae
Gardenian: based on the polarity of a male and a female, which are represented in covens by the High Priestess and High Priest. The values being: the value of life, the inevitability of death, and the reincarnation after this life ends.
Green:Magic based on gardening and herbalism
Hearth: Practices magick focused on the home
Hedge: Solitary practitioner, a herbalist
Hellenic: Worships Greek gods and goddesses
Hereditary: Handed down a bloodline of witches
Kitchen: Likes to mix food and cooking with magick
Lunar: Works with the lunar cycles
Norse: Based on the religion of Scandinavia
(Theistic) Satanic: Witchcraft that is often centered around honoring and/or working with satan in spellwork and prayer
Science: A form of magick in which both metaphysical ideas and scientific facts/theories are mixed in together by the individual practicer
Sea:Practices water based magick
Secular: Does not worship deities
Shaman:Enters altered state of consciousness
Solitary: Practicing by ones’ self; not included in a group
Traditional: One who practices witchcraft by honoring and using old and ‘traditional’ ways of magick; this type of witch might be one to practice modern methods of magick, but they might also stick to traditional concepts or techniques
Casting Circles is very important for baby-witches to learn for protection and in general for spells, but before preforming any spells please make sure you know how to cast a circle.
What is a circle, and why does it matter?
A circle is often a barrier that houses your spells and rituals. By casting a circle, you’re allocating energy to protect you from any unwanted or negative outside influences. There are a lot of formal ways to begin a circle and some informal.
It’s important to note that there are many ways to cast a circle.
In traditional witchcraft, you might call upon a god or goddess, while if you’re a secular witch, you might call upon the elements, or create a wall of your own energy. A circle isn’t mandatory, but it can significantly assist with protection and energy.
How to cast a circle
Always begin by cleansing your space. You can either use your mind to mentally push out, use incense to burn away or use a broom or besom to sweep away. Once you have your method for cleansing your space, it’s time to define your circle. To define your sacred circle, it’s important to take your space and location into consideration. Are you in your bedroom? Bathroom? Or outside? You can make your intended circle as large or as small as you’d like. You can mentally define your circle or mark the directions or elements with candles or crystals. If you’re using the four elements, you can create a cross shape. If you’re using the five elements, you can create a pentacle shape.
To cast a circle by calling upon the elements, begin facing the east. This is home to the element of air. When you move clockwise, you’ll end facing North where you can begin your ritual or spell work. Stand in your intended circle as you begin to relax and focus on your breathing. Take as long as you’d like at this step or until you feel calm, centered, and present.
What to Do/Say
Begin by envisioning the wind whipping around you and get really in tune with the element of air and say: “Element of air, I call on you.”
Moving clockwise, turn to the south. Envision crackling flames and the warmth of the sun. Once you are in tune with fire, say: “Element of fire, I call on you.”
Turn to the west. Envision flowing water in waves and waterfalls and streams, possibly moving around your body. When you feel attuned with water, say, “Element of water, I call on you.”
Turn to the North. Conjure up the scent of the earth after it rains. Imagine the silence and darkness of a cave and the rooted feeling of being barefoot on the earth. When you feel attuned, say, “Element of earth, I call on you.”
Still facing North, become aware of your feet and send a column or roots of light deep into the core of the earth. Bring this energy up from the center of the earth and into your body and visualize a white light flowing, creating the circle and say: “With these elements together under spirit, I cast a circle of protection above, below, within.”
This is where you perform your ritual, meditation, or spells.
You can also temporarily exit your circle without repeating the entire circle casting process. To do so, hold an athame or wand in your hand and make a cutting motion across the line of the circle and say: “I use this athame of crystal to open a door.” Your wand or athame will help you direct energy to make an incision in your circle of energy. When returning, you can simply reverse the process to close the door.
Opening a circle
Also called closing a circle is a way to release the energy you’ve built and is a way to thank the elements for their assistance.
The process of opening a circle begins with you facing north to release earth and saying: “Earth, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
Next, you’ll turn to the west to release water: “Water, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
Then, you’ll turn to the south to release fire: “Fire, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
After that, you’ll turn to the east to release air: “Air, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
Finally, you’ll return back north to release spirit and the circle by saying: “Spirit, I bid you farewell. I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
Other popular phrases for circle casting and opening:
“The circle is open, but never broken. The love of the deity name is forever in my heart.”
“Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.”
“I thank you, element of name for lending your energy tonight. I bid you farewell.”
“I call the Guardian of direction and the element of element to watch over this sacred circle.”
Shielding is a way of protecting yourself from psychic, mental, or magical attack—it’s a way of creating an energy barrier around yourself that other people can’t penetrate.
When you shield, you envelope yourself with your energy. Focus on your energy core, and expand it outward so that it covers your entire body. Ideally, you’ll want it to extend past the surface of your body so that it’s almost as though you’re walking around in a bubble.
When you’re forming your energy shield, it’s a good idea to visualize the surface of it as being reflective. This not only protects you from negative influences and energy, but it can also repel them back to the original sender. If you’re someone who is often affected by the emotions of others—if certain people make you feel drained and exhausted by their very presence—then you need to practice shielding techniques.
Nyx is the Greek Goddess of the night, and the daughter of Chaos. Her birthplace was not on Earth but in Gaia. She is Primordial God. It is said that she was created near the beginning of time. Her home is in the depths of Hades’ underworld. Nyx has a shadowy figure, which makes her the perfect personification of the night.
Nyx is a very unique goddess. She can impact mankind in a good or bad way. Her ability to bring sleep or death unto to the human race. Zeus even feared Nyx because she was older and stronger than him. That speaks volumes of her power. The moonstone is used to honor her to this day. It reflects it’s owner and should be used during the full moon.
Nyx lived in Tartarus. However, Nyx is not exactly the personification of evil in greek mythology. She’s never spoken of having done anything more ‘evil’ than Zeus himself does in any mythology. Yet, many see her as more of a villain figure than she ever appears to be.
Nyx married Erebus, the God of darkness. Nyx and Erebus produced Hemera (Day) and Aither (Light). Hemera is Nyx’s opposite. Nyx brought the dark veil over the night, while Hemera chased the dark mists away each morning. Interestingly so, Nyx was able to create her own dark spirits including Fates, Sleep, Death, Strife, and Pain. More of Nyx’s children include, Geras, Moros, Nemesis, the Keres, and the Oneiroi.
In witchcraft, certain colors have correspondences that you’ll notice throughout your craft. It’s important to remember these for things such as Candle Magick and reading auras.
