#witchcraft spells

Magickal Herbs

Lunar Magic

Astrological Magickal Gifts

A handy little reference for those who wish to incorporate the ancient magick of the zodiac into their lives or spells.

Arranged into three images, the first being cardinal, the second fixed, and the third mutable signs.

Source : Three Moons House of Healing.

Crystals To ward Negativity

Crystals for Meditation Development

Kick start your spring season by getting some spiritual cleansing done! For more witchy content, tips on starting your practice and more >> follow or visit witchesbelike.com. 

Cleansing with the 4 elements is one of the first things I learned in Witchcraft and a really simple way to cleans tools, ritual items and even yourself. The process is really simple and involves passing each item through an elemental representation. The best part is that you can find things outside or use items you already have to represent each element in your cleansing. I still use this cleanse on the reg, especially with new items, tarot and just really anything that I feel like needs a good energy clearing. 

The first thing you need to do is find or acquire an item that represents each of the 4 elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Use 4 separate items. I’ve listed below my suggestions but feel free to use whatever representation makes sense and speaks to you. 

Element Representation

For Earth you can use small potted plants, dried herbs, leaves, small sticks, crystals or even smooth rocks. 

Air representations can include bird feathers (that have fallen off naturally), incense or dandelions. 

For fire you can use candles of any kind, incense or metal objects that have been welded like old keys and small trinkets like rings or pendants. 

Water is the easiest, use a small glass or bowl of water. (Bonus if it’s moon water.) You can also use sea shells, tea cups, or even brewed hot tea.

Don’t feel stuck to these items only. If something speaks to you and you feel like it represents an element for you, use that item instead. The best representations to elements are ones that have a personal connection to you. 

Cleansing 

After collecting your items, place them on your alter or on a flat surface where you will be doing your cleanse. Space out each elemental representation in a square starting with Earth. Light any incense or candles if you have them for your element representations. 

Now, take the object you are going to cleanse and ‘pass them through’ each element starting with Earth. For instance if you are cleansing a new ritual tool and are using crystals for your Earth representation simply pass the item over AND under the crystal to cleanse of the energy. When you’re done move onto the next element. Repeat until all 4 elements are used and your items is cleansed. 

Safe Keeping

Keep your element ritual items in a small box or drawstring bag until next time and leave them in a space where they won’t be disturbed. If you have items you can’t keep such as leaves from outside or water in a cup, you can bury the contents outside or use the water to water plants. 

* The graphic for this post was created by Obsidian Oddessy. Please check out her amazing painting for magical beings!  

Living With Intention

When I first heard of living with intention I thought it was just some girl boss energy that I didn’t really want to participate in. I’m not a hustle wake up at 5 am person, so that never really works for me. I’m more of a lay in bed until 11 and I’m hungry enough to get coffee gtype person. So I initially just brushed it off as another lazy way businessmen are trying to hype up manifesting money. (That never really works mind you,) But then I learned that living with intention isn’t goal setting, it’s a lifestyle that adheres to what you want and how you can live your life to make it happen, in any way that you want. And no, you don’t have to get up at 5 am everyday to make it happen. 

Intentions not goals

I HATE goals. Like deep hate for them. All that slander in the early days of hustle culture really hit a nerve because not everyone is built for that same energy. And I saw a lot of people feel really guilty when they failed simply because that system was not designed for them.

When I say we are all different, I mean it. Each member of my family has a different energy type. So when you have one recipe for goal getting, it’s not going to work for everyone in the room. And yes, some people will fail and it has nothing to do with how hard they tried or how much effort they put into it, despite what all the hustle gurus tell you. 

Because it’s all about intentions NOT goals. You see, goals are little demons that crawl around making you feel guilty for stepping outside of your dream and doing something different just because you feel like it. Example 1: Oh you overslept, you didn’t get up at 4:30am and you missed your workout class now you are a failure forever. How is that mindset even healthy?!

Intentions are more simple and have a slower pace. Intentionally I want to someday live in an old Victorian house that we can fix up and make beautiful again. So I look up how to fix things and practice in my current home. I also read blogs on fixer-uppers and DIY everything I can in my house. This helps prepare me for the big dream. Intentions are not goals, but small steps you take to move forward with what you want. Can intentions change? Sure, I may never even move (LOL) or I may fall in love with a different style home. But does that mean I’m a failure? No, it means my intentions have changed and there’s room for that flexibility. 

Intentions can be other things, like career choices, what you want to study in school or how you visualize your life. Let’s say you want to someday be a salon owner. You can start living intentionally by researching salon ownerships, studying business or researching where you can get your cosmetology license. All of these things have the intention of someday being a salon owner. You can also do other things like enjoy your life, go out with your friends and work on your mental health. None of the other things take away from living with your intentions. It just means you are experiencing a full life. 

Intentions are moving forward daily and taking small steps towards how you want to build your life, without all the drama that comes with goal setting. With intentions there’s room for failure, flexibility, and changing your mind all while still manifesting the life you want.   

How I live intentionally

Journaling

Journaling has always been a big way for me to sort out my feelings and I incorporate that into my intentional living. I know goal setting is all about writing your goals, and setting time frames but we are setting intentions here so let’s scrap that. If you want to set intentions and use your journals, write how you feel. How you would feel walking into your salon (if that’s your goal) or what you feel like researching or doing in the next month to live in your intention. If you manifested life includes owning a salon, maybe you want to look up cosmetology schools in your area, or maybe you want to do something fun like practice doing your own hair. Either Way make sure it’s bringing you energy and lots of happiness when you’re doing it. Intentions should never feel like work or a chore, they should feel fun and full of invigorating energy.

Making a mood board or collage

Start by clipping images, having a dedicated Pinterest board or just using Tumblr to get an aesthetic of how you see yourself in the future. If you’re owning a salon in your future you can imagine how it would look on the inside, maybe pick a logo or color palette or make business cards for fun on Canva. Remember it doesn’t have to be stressful or complete. Just fun ways you envision yourself living the life you want. 

I like to  categorize everything to make it easier for me, so I might have several folders on my laptop with pictures of things I’ve gathered over the years. My folders are categorized in things like, family, home, career, money etc. That way I can see each board individually and play around with the images I find online. Sometimes I print them out, sometimes I don’t. 

The important part of making a board or collage is to help visualize how you see yourself in the future. If you want to go to a specific school or live in a certain state, start compiling images in that space and picture yourself there. Use full sensory visualization. How does it feel? What is your day like? Remember visualization makes reality because our thoughts are things. 

Using spells

Spellwork is a great way to move forward with your intentions and can be the magical boost you need. Want to get a certain job? Maybe as your first step towards a new career? Before you interview, do a spell to set up that energy up for success. You can continue to use spellwork throughout your life to manifest your needs step-by-step and create a mindset where you are attracting what you want. 

It helps to break down your intentions into digestible parts and start with the first step. Each time you move towards another step in your journey see if you can incorporate spellwork into your manifestation. Each little jump forward is you moving closer to the life you want and more importantly living your truth.

Art on this post was created by Obsidian Odyssey! Thank you 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!

There are probably a million reasons why sometimes spells just don’t work. Most of the time it comes down to needing to do the inner work or just waiting a little longer than you thought necessary for the magic to happen. Just like anything else, witchcraft is a practice and spell work takes time. So if you’ve been feeling out of focus with your casting there’s probably a reason why your spells aren’t checking out. 

Read below for my top ten reasons why sometimes spells just don’t budge. 

1 You didn’t do the inner work

The number one reason why magical intention doesn’t move the energy you wanted it to is because there are blocks, energy blocks. All these blocks are blocking up your ability to push forward to what you really want. Want to focus on more of your magic? Do the work to remove the blocks so you can forge ahead. 

2 Your spell doesn’t align with your highest intention 

Yes we all have the greatest potential, but what if what you’re asking for isn’t really aligning with that? Maybe you’re destined for bigger things…like owning that big company but you’re asking for a small fry raise at a place that drives you crazy with a toxic boss instead? If you have a calling go for it, don’t settle for second best. Your magic will help you more when you’re aligned with what you’re supposed to do. 

3 You don’t have enough focus

Spells are hard to perform. They’re even harder with kids, siblings, noisey housemates or any other interruptions bargingin in during your ritual work. If you really think you weren’t focusing enough, don’t force it. Just try the spell again when you can get a little quiet time instead. 

4 It just didn’t work

For reasons beyond understanding it just wasn’t meant for you (or me). I like to think of cases like this where my spirits are looking down the tunnel of my future and saving me from some really horrible outcome. So I say in instances like these, don’t force it, just go with the flow. 

5 You’re meant to focus your energy elsewhere

Just like the spell not aligning with your highest intention, it could be that your energy is needed elsewhere. Pay attention to where you are being drawn to. Something better could be waiting around the corner. 

6 You just need to practice

Pushing your magical energy out there to attract what you want in your life is not an easy task. It takes many years of dedication and practice to get it right. No one is perfect at it, and especially if you’re just starting out you may just need to practice. Don’t get frustrated, just like anything else, practice makes spells perfect.

7 You really don’t want it

Did someone beg you to perform the spell (the worst). Or is it something you really don’t want to do or happen? Dig deep and really ask yourself those hard questions. Are you manifesting what you truly want for yourself? 

8 The spell you used was off

Spells are weird. And there are a LOT of bad spells. Sometimes it’s hard to see which spells are not it and maybe the one you’re using just isn’t vibing with your energy. If it’s something you really want, switch up the spell and try again. 

9 You don’t believe

Belief is the number one drive in your magical force. If you don’t believe it’s like driving a car with no gas in the tank. Believe, believe, believe. 

10 You’re just having an off day

Maybe you’re just having an off day. It could be the planetary alignment, some funky person bothering your vibe at the gym, or a multitude of reasons why your energy was off. Even the best witches have off days. Dust off your spell and try again. 

I know the saying is spirituality isn’t cheap, but it doesn’t mean it has to be inaccessible. I remember how difficult it was starting my practice and wanting to get all the things that cost all the money and having neither. One of my favorite go-to places from way back then (and still is)  was the dollar store. If you really look up and down the isles, you’ll find so many things you can use in your practice on the cheap.

My advice to baby witches just starting their collection of craft items is be patient. Set a budget of a few things and make sure they are the items you need to use on the reg. Once you’ve picked up your first couple of things, plan out the next few pieces you will need to help expand your craft. Don’t worry about getting everything you need at once. More than likely you won’t need everything you think you do in the beginning anyway. 

Make sure you are purchasing à la carte items one at a time as needed, and stay away from Etsy and spiritual shops that tend to overcharge. Instead, use them to pick up special items like crystals or blended oils that you can’t get at a discount store. And always keep your eyes open at garage sales, thrift shops and your grandmas house.

*Each local dollar store will have different inventory, so your dollar store might vary in what they have available. Take note of what they have but check back every few months when they rotate their stock. 

Notebooks, Pens/Pencils - Note books, pens and pencils will be at every dollar store. You can even pick up markets or colored pencils. 

Journals - Journals are sometimes stocked with the book isle. So I usually check that area to see if there are any blank journals I want to use for spell books or craft journals. 

Candles - Dollar stores are the jackpot for candles. You can get pillar candles, tea lights or votives in glass.

Offering Plates - They typically have clear glass bowls you can use for offering plates or even small dishes. 

Bottles (Glass or plastic) - I’ve found colorful glass bottles with cork tops at one time or another, this might be a seasonal item. 

Mirrors - Mirrors are always good for reflecting spells so pick up a few for protection/reflection magic. 

Olive Oil - You can use olive oil to anoint and bless. Grab a bottle if they have it in stock. 

Essential Oil - Your dollar store may carry a limited amount of essential oils, if they do you know you’ve scored big. No doubt these aren’t real essential oils and probably more like fragrance oil, so I wouldn’t put directly on my skin, but you can still use them in candles and just in general. 

Boxes/Bins/Storage - Any dollar store will have loads of bins, and storage to hold all your witch crafty items in. 

Incense/Incense holders - My dollar store always stocks incense cones, so I know they will be there, but I’ve seen sticks and some too. 

Jars - Grab some canning jars! You will definitely need them to make spell jars and hold items in. 

Yardley Soap - In my opinion, this soup is so overlooked. This original recipe dates back to the 1700s and is made in London. Use it for cleansing and ritual work. 

Clay - Clay can be used to make small pentacles and even painted with paint from the dollar store. You can use clay to create other alter items as well like candleholders, beads and jewelry. 

Calendars/Planners - Most calendars and planners will have the moon phases written on them, and if not you can always go in month to month and write it in yourself. Planners are a great way to track moon phases and spells that are coming up.

Drawstring Bags - Perfect to house herbs, crystals or anything you want to carry around with you in a little pouch. 

Chalk - Chalk can be used to draw on doors, windows and porches for protection symbols. You can also use it to draw your circle around you when you cast spells. 

String - String can be bought for tying up bags, knot spells or cord spells so definitely something handy to have around. 

Felt - Not every dollar store will have felt, but it’s worth a mention. Use for making poppets and dolls. If your dollar store doesn’t carry felt, craft stores usually carry it for a dollar a sheet.

A small stool or shelf - If you’re looking for a small alter space you might be able t find a shelf or small stool/table. 

Table cloth - Dollar stores will generally have this item either in the party section or in the household items. Typically they come in white but if you go during Halloween season you might be able to score a black one. 

Seasonal decorations - Always head over to the dollar store for any seasonal items. Think Yule décor, Halloween decorations and so much more. 

Lighter/Matches - A regular find at any dollar store and super useful. 

Paper - Loose leaf lined paper or computer paper is always good to have on hand aside from notebooks.

Spices (Garlic/Salt/Cinnamon) - They won’t carry all the spices, but a dollar store will have a small selection. Look for cinnamon, garlic, salt and sugar. 

Honey - Perfect for making honey jars and sweetening up spells. 

Candles are of course a witches go to. Almost every spell, ritual or cleanse calls for at least a candle or two to help elevate the energy. It’s something about even lighting the candle in the first place that starts setting the mood. Think about a birthday cake, you light the number of candles according to how old you’re turning, make a wish, then blow them all out. I don’t care what anyone says, that’s totally a spell. 

If you’re new to Witchcraft and want to sort it all out, follow the guide below. I didn’t really intend on writing this much on candles, selling as there is already so much information available on the subject, but I just started to roll with whatever I was thinking. 

Types of Candles

Pillar Candles - These are thick round candles that can usually stand on their own. They come in any range of colors and sometimes scents. Pillar candles in my experience are used as a sort of decoration or just an altar candle. I’ve seen altars or spaces decorated with lots of different height pillar candles dripping everywhere. It makes for an amazing aesthetic. If you are using Pillar Candles, place a coaster or heatproof glass on the bottom of your candle to protect the surface you are burning the candle on. 

Mini Spell Candles - These candles you’ve probably seen at any local mystical or witch shop. They come in a range of rainbow colors and are larger than a birthday candle but smaller much smaller than a Pillar Candle. Mini Spell Candles are definitely a staple in many witches’ cabinets, and oftentimes witches (like myself) keep several in every color just in case. When a spell asks for a certain color of candle, they are usually referring to these. The best thing about these candles is that they are pretty inexpensive, and you can grab a bunch in any color for all your spell casting needs.

Candles in Shapes (like a man or woman or skull) - These candles are more specific. They are sometimes used to target a specific person or even just yourself. The shape or figure of the candle can represent your target in a more personal way. These candles can be used for a wide range of reasons and come in a variety of colors to suit any spell working. 

Tea Lights - I’m a Tea Light advocate. I know they’re not very witchy, but you can grab a bag at any dollar store and use them for everything. I like to use them to line the bathtub for any ritual baths, decorate my altar, and even carve intentions on them or symbols and burn them for small spells. I also use Tea Lights for tarot readings and any sort of Divination. The versatility of these little guys is what makes me a Tea Light fan. 

Votive Candles - Votive candles to me are glorified Tea Lights. They are small sort of fat Pillars and need to be encased in a glass votive. Hence, the name. I haven’t seen too many of these in very specific colors but I do have a bunch on hand in case. Just like the Tea Lights, you can purchase these at a discount store and are generally not very expensive.

Knob Candles - I’ve only used knob candles a couple of times. You can recognize them by their specific look, they literally have seven or so knobs on them. The intention for this is that you cast the spell and burn one knob a day. Be warned the knobs take forever to burn, so make sure you have enough time to babysit this guy each day. 

7 Day Candles - 7 Day Candles are sort of like the knob candle, however they are tall candles that come in a glass vase. These candles are generally poured, and sometimes the glass has decoration on it according to it’s intention. You can purchase these ‘fixed’ or charged with intentions like luck or money, and they come in a variety of colors. You can also purchase these white and create your own intentions by decorating the glass vase yourself and adding your own oils and herbs to the candle. 

Dipped Candles - These are what I think of when I think of original old school candles. They sometimes come in a pair with the wick connecting the two candles. Dipped candles are usually crafted by a candle maker, and if you find a witch who dips and sells her own candles you’re in luck!

Tall Candles - Tall candles are your basic candles that people used to have out on their dining room table in brass or metal candleholders. I think most people use them for decoration, but you could add them to your alter or spells. I don’t typically use them for whatever reason.

Candle Color Meanings

White - White is used for cleansing, new beginnings and fresh starts. White can also be used for clarity and divination.

Black - Black absorbs negativity, so I’ve always used it to get rid of negativity, protection, or banishing. 

Blue - Blue is tranquil. Use blue candles in your spell work for focus, peace and wisdom. 

Orange - Orange is a bright and happy color. It brings out joy, stimulates energy and attraction. (The manifesting kind, not the lover kind.)

Yellow - Yellow is more of a breaking blocks kind of color. It also brings confidence and new ideas to the table. 

Pink - Pink is all the things like love, passion, self-love, happiness and even romance. 

Purple - Purple is more of a regal color and with it comes meditation, connecting to your spirits, and intuition. 

Green - Green is all about money, success and prosperity. It attracts wealth and abundance. 

Red - While pink is the color of romantic love, red is straight up passion and power. Increased energy and courage. 

Gold - Gold is the masculine color and can bring about success and abundance. I like to use gold for money too.

Silver - Silver is the feminine version and is more about connecting to the goddess. Silver is used for deepening your spiritual connection and developing psychic abilities. 

I’m not always the greatest at clearing my tarot decks. Usually I start out with really great intentions to keep my tarot decks squeaky clean by cleansing during EVERY full moon. Every full moon usually becomes every other full moon until it’s been several months and I’m going bananas wondering why my tarot deck is giving me the most random cards ever. 

Don’t be like me, cleanse your tarot decks! I recommend doing a small clearing in between every reading, and then a big cleansing monthly. This will keep the energy of your decks neat and tidy and ultimately connect to you better during your readings. 

1 Selenite

This spiritual stone usually comes in a cylinder or cone shape. It naturally connects to the higher realm so therefore is the perfect stone to clear energy with. Place one on top of a freshly shuffled deck overnight for a good clean clearing. 

2 Smoke Cleanse

I use this one a lot, just because I like the way the smoke cleanses the cards. Fan out your tarot deck in front of you and use loose or stick incense to waft the smoke around the cards. Use your intuition and pick up cards you think need a little extra and wave them around the smoke. 

3 Use a salt bowl

You don’t need a ton of salt, but a good amount. Fill up a bowl (clear glass is my preference but use whatever you have). Place your tarot deck standing up right in the bowl overnight for a salt cleanse. 

4 New moon 

During the new moon, take your tarot decks outside and let the moonlight shine on it for a few hours. The new moon’s energy will dip down and cleanse out any stagnant energy.

5 Black Tourmaline 

I use this stone when I need a deep cleanse. Just like the Selenite method, place the stone onto or around your tarot deck for a few hours to absorb any lingering energy. 

6 Meditation

Another way to cleanse your tarot decks is by simple meditation. Hold your tarot cards in your hands or set them in front of you. Picture a white light filling the cards and clearing them of any energy.  

7 Tapping

This is more of a quick clearing for back to back readings. If I’m doing a lot of tarot-ing I will usually tap the cards three times in between just to knock out any energy left over from the last reading. 

8 Sunlight

Like the moon method but using the sun. The sun has a more masculine energy so if I’m wanting to connect to that side of energy then I’ll leave my cards outside in the daylight instead. 

9 Reorder 

Another way to cleanse is to put the cards back in their order starting with the Major Arcana and going through all the suits. This method aligns the cards back to with their original energy ultimately cleansing the deck.

This is a fairly easy spell that can be performed without much prep time or ingredients. (My favorite!) It’s also just super useful to help manifest what you want while visualizing your goals each month. 

If you have a side hustle or small business then you know how much effort and energy it is to grow. You’re working all hours of the night, posting on social media, coming up with a strategy and even paying for ads to help bring in new sales. With that being said it’s always a good idea to back up so much mundane work with the energy of a spell for your business. 

This is a working spell, meaning it’s never really ‘complete’. You can continue to add components to it and keep the energy active as you grow your business with the spell. It also works really well for online shops and e-commerce businesses as you don’t really need a physical location to perform the spell successfully. 

What you need

• A small box (decorated however you want)
• A print out of your products 
• Cinnamon oil
• One green candle
• 4 coins

What you’ll do

Print out your products on one piece of paper. You can make them small if you have several products, or just print out your best sellers. Anoint your candle and coins in cinnamon oil. Light the candle and place the coins around the candle. Visualize your business growth with whatever that means to you. Either acquiring more sales, clients, or shop visits. Let the candle burn down all the way. Fold up your piece of paper and place it in the box. Place the coins and any wax remnants on top of the paper, in your box. 

Keep your box on display on your altar, or in a prominent place. Add items to it as you see fit, and light a green candle next to it anointed in cinnamon oil to repeat the spell every waxing moon. 

I’ve only ever really had to use this spell once a long time ago. A family member had recently gotten into a bad marriage. It wasn’t physically abusive, but it was mentally and emotionally manipulating. The spouse was pulling apart relationships and isolating in typical narcissistic fashion. He was controlling and all around a really bad guy. I usually like to stay out of other people’s affairs, but in this case they had stopped by and I did not have a positive experience with them. It wasn’t that they did anything horribly wrong, I just didn’t like what they said or their vibe and I felt like they wanted to drag my immediate family into their rabbit hole-hot mess of a situation. So once they were gone I immediately went to work on this super simple but effective spell. 

Like I said this is a super simple spell. All you need is a lock of hair from the person you want to stay away (your target) and a broom. A kitchen broom will work fine, it’s just for metaphorical purposes. If you can’t get a lock of hair that’s ok, you can still perform this spell. 

Take your broom and start with where the person sat, sweep all around in that area. If you have carpet sweep above the carpet. You’re going for the energy here, not really any actual dirt. Sweep in really vigorous motion getting up all of their nasty energy and move in the direction of your door. Keep sweeping. When you get to your front door, open it. Drop the lock of hair on the floor outside your door and sweep it outside along with all the energy you have gathered. Make sure to say the person’s name and that they are not welcomed back. Slam the door and lock it. 

That’s it! 

As far as the couple I had originally performed the spell for I never saw the spouse ever again and they never came back.

WHAT IS YOUR SHADOW SELF AND HOW DO YOU WORK WITH IT

In a nutshell your shadow self is all the parts of your consciousness that you have rejected either because it’s not accepted in society, or because in some way you are embarrassed of that aspect being a part of you. (Think high school but in your brain. You want to fit in, be accepted but even within yourself.) Your shadow self doesn’t necessarily have to be dark and creepy - although it can be. Most of the time it’s just parts of us we didn’t integrate into our personality as a whole, so there’s a piece of us that is rejected or in the ‘shadows’.

When first realizing your shadow self you may experience some weirdness. You may realize you have rejected large parts of yourself in order to ‘stay safe’ or ‘fit in’. OR you might find it to be the opposite and you don’t have a whole lot of shadow self that was rejected and you feel pretty comfortable being who you are. There is no wrong way to have a shadow self; it is just a part of who you are. 

Why are some parts of us rejected? Mostly it’s because of society. Humans are social creatures and we want to fit it (albeit in some way) we want to have friends and partners. You or I may have rejected pieces of ourselves because we deemed them shameful and not wanting to admit that we may like certain things to society. 

What are some things that would be a part of your shadow self? That is unique to each of us. But some things may include the feeling of anger, hate, or jealousy. But they can also be ‘lighter’ feelings like liking something that is considered embarrassing such as an interest in something not common in ‘regular society.’ And that can mean different things for different groups of people. For instance if someone comes from a very toxic masculine family the thought of them liking cross stitch or knitting might be embarrassing to them, but not really to me or any number of people. But for this individual who feels like they are ‘supposed’ to be a certain way that interest is not an option and becomes shelved so to speak. 

How do we work with our shadow selves? Really for me it’s about getting to know yourself. You can sit down with a paper and something to write with and jot down all the ‘negative’ or ‘darker’ qualities you may have. Do you get too angry sometimes? Do you feel rage at your neighbor because they have nicer stuff? What do these emotions mean to you and most importantly how do they complete you? 

You can also do a tarot reading and ask questions like….

• What energy surrounds my shadow self? 
• What can I learn from my shadow self? 
• What is my shadow self trying to tell me? 

Write down your interpretations and keep a log of your answers. You can revisit them again and re-pull cards to see where you are at, at a later date. The tarot is probably my favorite tool when working with my shadow self because it’s all about self discovery.

Sometimes the concept of positivity is pushed too far. We like to think we are always happy creatures but when in reality we are full circle creatures that experience a full range of emotions including the light and darker sides. And this is all OK, it’s perfectly natural and apart of who we are. 

Working with your shadow self is just about accepting who you are, all parts of you, and realizing that you are the sum of all your parts, not just the ones you or anyone else finds acceptable. And once you open up to your shadow self, you can experience being closer to living your truth. 

MY LAZY WITCH CONFESSIONS

Being a practicing witch is no easy pursuit. From monthly full moon rituals, spells, and loads of inner work to create a better manifested life takes an endless amount of time. And sometimes life is messy, gets in the way, or damnit you just need to take a break from all of it. So sometimes I’m a lazy witch. (shrugs) Not that I can’t be bothered with proper ingredients of a spell, but just because sometimes it is so complicated I just need to move on. 

(Quick note, no-lazy witchcraft is not really a thing, mostly this post is just for fun.)

1 I don’t always charge my crystals 

In my defense my crystal collection has grown over the years and I don’t like to drag them all outside and let the full moon do it’s thing. I have done it. And yes I did get weird looks from my neighbors who were all watching me drag tons of Pyrex dishes outside with crystals on them. 

2 Full moon rituals are a maybe

I love a full moon ritual bath. It’s cleansing and relaxing and I can decompress from the past month while preparing myself for the month ahead. Does that always happen? No. Usually if it doesn’t it’s because something got in the way like massive loads of laundry or some other mom-type crises that can’t be avoided. (Where are my other witchy moms at?)

3 Tarot readings on the fly

I LOVE getting out all the things to do a tarot reading. Candles, crystals, Hand Of Glory (kidding!) but for real getting prepped, it makes a big difference in how my connection is and ultimately how my reading goes. No matter how much I love this, most of the time my readings are done on the fly at my desk when I’m getting pissed off at someone. 

4 I don’t have a Book Of Shadows or Spellbook

I used to keep a better record, used to being the commemorative word here. After some time IDK what happened by my leather bound journals became Dollar Tree notebooks and then nothing at all. I should write everything down before I die, I know this but will I, IDK. 

5 Sabbath celebrations are a nope

I used to do these too but with Halloween and Christmas celebrations with the fam I don’t have any time to add an additional Sabbath so I flicked it off the calendar and never looked back. (Sorry ancestors) 

6 My witchy at home aesthetic pajamas

I’m completely jealous of the witches who have their look down with the black robes and completely decorated spaces to celebrate and work their magic in. I’m in the kitchen next to stacks of papers and a doggie chew toy.

7 Substitutions are a hit or miss

Spell substitutions, we all do it, the question is do they work? Sometimes they do, and sometimes the spell goes wonky. I’m just as guilty of subbing out things as the next witch but I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do!

8 Kitchen witch means making Uncrustables 

Cooking is the bane of my existence. I used to love it. But after making dinner for 4 millionth time in a row I can never make a meal again. So if I have to have an edible item in my spell you best believe it’s a frozen waffle or something on that same line. 

9 Cleansing before spells is just wiping Cheeto dust off my fingers

It just takes too long. There I said it. I try to meditate to make sure my mind is clear, and I swear I used to have this ‘witchy soap’ I would make for pre-ritual washing but I haven’t come across that recipe in years so here we are.

10 My ‘circles’ are all imaginary 

I’ve seen all the fancy circles laid out with crystals, flowers and candles and I LOVE them. But am I doing them at home? Nope. Mostly I’m just imagining a fiery white light around me because that’s all the time I’ve got. 

Do you have a funny or lazy witch tip you want to share? Comment below and let me know your go-to witchy time saver!

One of my favorite ways to spell cast is with a deck of tarot cards. It’s so simple and effective, and you can literally use this basic spell for anything you want to draw in or release from your life. You can use any tarot deck for this spell technique, but I keep an older deck that I don’t use for readings anymore and use that. 

What you need:

You can improvise in any way, but I usually have incense burning, a few white candles out (tea lights are my fave) and whatever crystals I feel are appropriate for the issue at hand. You can always use a general white quartz if you’re unsure. 

I always include a physical portion of whatever I’m spell casting for. If it’s a job I want, I might print out my resume and have it laying on the bottom, or collect a some dirt from around the building. If the spell is about me, I might cut a lock of my hair. Just so there is something to anchor the spell to. 

I will usually add whatever other elements I might need for visualization or to set the tone. Some things I have used was ribbons for school colors, pictures, herbs that have relevant properties and things like that. 

What you’ll do:

Start out by predetermining which three tarot cards you want to use. If I am looking for a job for instance I might choose the 10 of pentacles to represent money, judgement to represent the decision of me working and a third card that closely represents the work I will be doing. 

Begin your spell by casting a circle or simply visualizing a bright white light around you, protecting you and your space. Light your candles and incense. Set out your physical items leaving space for your cards. 

Set out the first one and visualize in your minds eye the intention of your spell. Then lay out the second one and visualize you getting what you want or the decision being made in your favor. Set out your third card and visualize you in the position of where you want to be. 

Meditate on this for a few minutes, making sure you are releasing your intention out into the world and knowing that if there is any mundane work to be done that you are committed to your part. (Mundane work would be working on your resume, brushing up on any skills, and submitting for the job…basically doing your best effort to get where you want to be.)

When you feel like you have released your intention, blow out the candles (or let them burn up to you) and ignite your incense. Thank the energies and release your circle however you want to. 

Collect all the items and place them in a small bag and carry them with you. Leave your tarot cards out (if you can) and revisit that energy as many times as you want until your spell is successful. Happy casting!

Some people think that you find witchcraft when you’re looking for something that you don’t have in your life. That thing you can’t describe but fits you perfectly once you seek it out. But I think witchcraft finds you. It puts things in place, runs books or titles across your phone, haunts you in your sleep and finally when you’ve had all you can take, you open the door. And it’s not scary, or strange, it just feels like it was right there the whole time. 

If you’ve been called to practice magic, then chances are there were signs and signals long before you realized what the heck was even going on. Maybe you’ve dreamed about things before they happened, or maybe your empathic abilities were shining bright as a kid, bringing your moods up and down. We’ve probably all had one or more of these experiences. So read on to see, were you born a witch? 

[This post is mostly just for fun… because we are really all natural witches]

You heard people talk in your head before they spoke aloud

Ever hear someone say something before they say it, just to announce the answer out loud and have them look at you like you shocked the Hell out of them? Then they swear they didn’t say it out loud. It’s because you heard it in your head first. 

You knew something was going to happen just before it happened

Maybe it was just a gut feeling, or a heightened intuition, either way you called it, and it happened. 

You got a sick or gross feeling around someone and later learned that person was trash

Everyone LOVES person X, but you always got a horrible vibe around them. Later on you hear that they did this really nasty thing, and you’re all like, I told you so. Boom. 

You had dreams about things that didn’t happen yet

Dreamed of the house before you moved in, of a visit that didn’t happen yet, or a trip in the making. You are basically a walking psychic. 

You had imaginary friends (ghosts) and talked to them as a child

You had all the friends. Only all the friends were dead. But that either didn’t bother you, OR you didn’t realize you were the only one playing dress up and tea with your dolls. 

You could step into a room, and it could really bring you down if it was depressing or lift you up if the mood was right

Hop into a room or space, and you immediately pick up the vibe, good or bad, and it can really affect your mood. Sometimes for a while too. 

When a song plays you really feel the lyrics

Maybe it’s not a pop song, but when the lyrics play the notes speak directly to your soul. 

You are well liked by animals

Go to a friend’s house and her cats are all over you. Even your neighbor iguana sits on your lap. Animals know a witch when they see one. 

You were drawn to natural things as a child like being outside, playing with rocks or bugs

You liked to play outside but it was overkill. Not only that, but you walked around barefoot, collected rocks or just felt the Earth over being inside anyway.

You never really felt like you belonged

There was always this eerie feeling that you didn’t belong. Now I know we all kinda feel that way but you’re particular, like something was missing…

You lived in your imagination and made up stories and could visualize them as a kid

Imagination was your jam. You always made up wild stories with vivid imagination and could see every single detail in all its glory.

You liked to read and could see the images play in your mind like a TV show

Reading is still your favorite hobby. And you can still play out every scene from all your favorite books in your head. 

You said things about dead relatives to your family members that you have never met 

You knew Great-Grandma had dark brown eyes and wore a pink cardigan to church even though you never met her, and she died 8 years before you were born.

You talked to trees and plants

Trees seem alive to you. You can feel their spirits and sometimes like to walk up to them and give them a high five. 

You feel called to the ocean, rain or a specific element

The ocean is a special place for you. Its mystic energy pulls you in, and you can’t ever get enough. 

You have a natural aversion to helping people

You always volunteered to babysit the class pet, help your friend move, or just be an ear when someone needed a cry. 

People seem to tell you their darkest secrets for no reason

The grocery store checkout lady spills the tea on her divorce, or the lady you babysit for vents to you about a long stressful day at work. People seem to open up to you, and you don’t really know why. 

Graveyards never bothered you

Maybe it just seemed more like a natural ending to things than a big scary end all. Either way even when you were a kid, visiting the cemetery was never even a thrill. 

The moon has always been a big deal

Were you fascinated with the moon as a child? Spend nights staring at the stars? Or was astronomy your favorite subject?  

Have you had an unusual experience that happened to you before you discovered witchcraft? Drop a line below and share your experience…! 

Someone once told me that I was a collector of energy. That I walked around  picking up everyone else’s shit garbage vibes and let it effect me. And afterwards I would need so much time to decompress from even the smallest ‘peopley’ interaction. I would lay in bed and not want to get up for dayyyyyys. Of course I had to. I had to work and do all the things. But it was so overwhelming and exhausting that sometimes I felt myself dragging through the minutes just waiting to get back home. 

Then someone told me I was a collector of energy and that I needed to be a curator instead. Keep the good things, the positive feelings and interactions but trash the rest. 

That small tiny crumb of advice changed my life. Shitty things will always happen and there’s nothing you can do to change that. But don’t collect other people’s shit energy. Don’t bring it into you space and most importantly don’t let it effect you.