I Can Feel…the Serotonin And Dopamine Dropping…i Need To Make…Crafts

MAGICK 101: The Principles of Magick

I see very few blogs out here teaching the basic principles of magic, so I wanted to provide a guide to what I’ve found are the important principles. (with gifs!) I divided things that I think will be helpful when creating or altering spells and things that are helpful when figuring out if a spell will succeed or why it failed.

SPELL CREATING PRINCIPLES

Law of Similarity

These first two principles are from James Frazer’s The Golden Bough and are fundamental to all of magic. Frazer describes this law as “like produces like.” This law says that manipulation of an image or likeness yields manipulation of the thing itself. Here’s some examples of the Law of Similarity in Graeco-Egyptian magic:

Stabbing a human figure with nails to cause pain to the person

Drawing the caster holding their love interest on a leash in a “love leash” spell

Writing a spell in a circle around someone’s name to encircle them and restrain them

Putting a love spell that aims to have the target “burn with love” into a lit oil lamp

Walking on a written spell to have the target “underfoot” and under your control

Similarity isn’t restricted by literal similarity, it extends to metaphorical similarity as well. Idioms and puns were widely used in Egyptian myth and magic

Law of Contagion

Frazer puts this one quite well: things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other. I will extend this law to say that magical energy can be transferred or shared between objects by contact and that transferal is strongest if they are in contact or very close. Examples in Graeco-Egyptian magic include:

Using the hair of the target of a love spell in an oil lamp

Writing a spell to Seth on a donkey hide (an animal of Seth)

Burying a separation spell at the home of the couple to affect them

Hair is super useful (and sometimes required) for any spell targeted at someone. I know people who keep or trade hair as collateral.

MAGIC TIP: If you need to perform substitutions in a spell, use the Law of Similarity and Law of Contagion for selecting the substitution (ex: use red wine mixed with an animal’s hair instead of blood from that animal)

Law of Durability

This law basically is covered by the Law of Similarity, but, because it’s so important for picking items, I’m including it separately. Magic done with more durable items will yield a longer lasting effect. For example, a spoken spell will be weaker than a spell written on paper. A written spell will be weaker than a spell carved into stone. This law applies to enchanting as well: more durable items will stay enchanted for long.

Law of Layering

The law of layering must be applied carefully because it is about complementary layers, not throwing as many things at a wall as possible. 

The principle is the more layers that are used in magic, the stronger the magic will be. More layers build more power. Some ways to add layers are:

Have a pre-spell ritual, like bathing and meditating

Cast spells in a designated space for casting with items designated for magic

Make motions that mirror the words you’re saying

Add objects to a spell via the Law of Similarity, the Law of Contagion, or objects along your correspondence

Perform a spell in a group instead of solo

Reinforce a spell by doing it for multiple days in a row or once every week, month, etc.

These are examples to give you an idea of what I mean by “layers”. All of these actions work to build or reinforce the energy of a spell.

SPELL SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

Law of Likeliness

My mentor compares magic to stacking a deck: you’re manipulating chance to get circumstances in your favor. This means two things. The first is magic cannot make the impossible happen. Magic will not cause things to levitate, or conjure fire from nowhere, or anything else that is not possible in our universe. The second is if an outcome is less likely, stronger magic will be required to achieve it. Some decks are easier to stack. Take a money-drawing spell used on someone who makes commission versus a salary worker. The same spell will be far more effective for the salesperson, whose income is highly dependent on chance, than the salary worker.

Law of Agency

No magic short of possession can rob a human of their free will. For example, if you do a love spell on someone whose sexuality doesn’t align with yours, it will have no effect. If a person is resistant to a certain energy in their day-to-day life, they will similarly be resistant to that energy when sent via magic.

I hope these principles are informative and help you with your magic!

Depression Support Jar Spell

If you/a loved one are in a slump and need a little extra push getting out of it, this spell is for you!

materials:

jar

lemon (for happiness, purification, beauty and longevity) and/or orange peel (for confidence and creativity)

rose quartz, for love, inner beauty and empathy

black tourmaline, for absorbing negative energies

black tea, for courage and stimulation

cinnamon, for purification and strengthening love

clove, for attracting prosperity and love

elderberry, for healing and banishing negative thoughts/energies

mustard seed, to promote courage, faith, and endurance

pink/Himalayan salt, for purification, cleansing and self-love

catnip, for love, happiness and beauty

a rosebud, for love and beauty

black and pink candle (optional)

taglock, if you’re doing the spell for a loved one (hair, nail clippings, a photograph, or simply a piece of paper with their name written on it)

in my experience, when you’re doing the spell to support a loved one, it works best if the person (1) knows that you’re doing the spell, and (2) is receptive to the help. if they aren’t willing to accept the help, or don’t know that you’re doing the spell, the spell will be much less effective.

Please note that this jar spell is not a substitute for real medical advice/attention. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming yourself/others, please seek professional help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-273-8255, English and Spanish available), making an appointment with a therapist, or checking yourself into the closest emergency room.

instructions:

Tip: before adding each ingredient to your jar, hold each ingredient in your hand and visualize its properties and intentions. This will make a world of difference!

Cleanse your jar and your space as you normally would. Prep your space for spellwork by casting a circle, or however you would typically prep your space. I like to take this time to meditate on my intentions, and clear everything out of my head before starting my spellwork.

If you have black and pink candles, go ahead and light them now.

Add your salt to the bottom of your jar. Next, your stones. Then, add your tea, cinnamon, mustard seed and catnip. Then, your clove, elderberry, lemon/orange peel, and rosebud. Lastly, you’ll add your taglock. As you add your taglock, visualize yourself (or, the person you’re doing the spell for) happy, confident, and fearless. Visualize the depression and self-doubt melting away. You may choose to meditate at this step.

Finally, cork your bottle, and (optional) drip the melted candle wax of your black/pink candles on top of the cork, sealing the jar shut. If you plan on giving this jar to a loved one, you may wish to gift it to them.

Carry the jar with you/your loved one, or place it under your pillow/on your nightstand. If the jar begins to feel dull, or if the depressive thoughts continue, sit out in the sun with your jar and allow it to recharge.

Blessed be, witches! <3

Support me and my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thevirginwitch

Ways To Use Sigils Masterpost

Incorporating the elements

Air

Draw the sigil in the air using incense

Draw the sigil on your body and go for a walk

Energetically trace sigils in the air and let the wind carry and charge them

Draw the sigil on paper, rip it up, and let the wind blow it away

Draw the sigil onto a flag, let it blow in the wind

Trace the sigil in the air with your hand, push it away

Draw or attach the sigil to a windchime

Leave the sigil outside during a windstorm

Water

Draw the sigil on your body and take a shower

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper, submerge the paper in water, let the water evaporate

Carve the sigil into a bar of soap and wash yourself with it

When taking a bath, draw the sigil in the bottom of the tub with soap/bath salts/baking soda

Draw the sigil on a stone with water and wait for it to evaporate

Draw the sigil on you hand, then wash it away

Breathe on your window so that it fogs up, then draw the sigil on it

Draw the sigil on any surface using water

Sew the sigil into your clothes, wash them

Draw the sigil on paper and put it under running water

Draw the sigil on a beach, let the ocean wash it away

Draw the sigil on a rock and throw it in a river/ocean

Flush the sigil down the toilet (make sure it’s on biodegradable paper)

Draw the sigil on paper and place in in a jar, add salt and water, then shake it up (Optional: add a drop or two of essential oil matching intent)

Leave the sigil outside during a rainstorm

Put the sigil in a pot of boiling water

Draw the sigil onto a coin and toss it into a fountain

Earth

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and surround it with crystals that match the intent

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and bury it in the ground

Place the sigil with a plant

Draw the sigil on the ground

Draw the sigil on a rock and leave it somewhere that makes you happy

Draw the sigil on paper and put it in a jar of salt

Put a crystal that matches the intent on top of the sigil 

Trace the sigil with a crystal matching the intent

Tape the sigil onto a window during a full moon

Trace the sigil in dust/dirt, then blow it away

Use herbs matching the intent of the sigil, draw the sigil on paper and mix everything together, paper included

Burn herbs matching the sigils intent, pass the sigil through the smoke

Fire

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and burn it 

Carve the sigil into a candle and burn with intent

Draw the sigil on the bottom of a tea light candle, let it burn out

Pass the sigil through smoke (any smoke works, but incense is best)

Draw the sigil on paper, leave it in sunlight

Carve the sigil into a candle, let it melt away

Sigils In everyday life

Eating and Drinking

Carve the sigil into your food before eating it

Draw the sigil under your kitchen table

When drinking tea, draw the sigil in the bottom of your mug with honey

Trace the sigil on the bottom of a pot before cooking with it

Draw the sigil on the bottom of your favorite cup

If you’re at a bonfire/cooking over a flame, carve the sigil into your food with a toothpick before you roast it (Hotdog, mashmallow, etc.)

Draw the sigil on a piece of bread, toast it

Draw the sigil in a pan with cooking oil, then cook

Draw the sigil out of ketchup on your food

Put pancake batter in a squeeze bottle, draw your sigil in the frying pan with the batter

In Art and Music

Incorporate the sigil into an art piece that has to do with the intent

Paint the sigil over a picture that didn’t turn out the way you wanted

Draw the sigil anywhere on your body and draw a pattern around it, don’t wash it off, let it fade on its own

Trace the sigil onto a pair of headphones/speaker with your finger, listen to music that matches your intent

Draw the sigil on the inside of your sketchbook cover

Draw the sigil and scribble it out

Draw the sigil on paper and tape it to the bottom of your laptop/tablet/phone if you write, draw, or make music digitally

Place the sigil in front of music speakers

Draw the sigil onto a CD that you love, and play it

Imagine the sigil in your mind while dancing

Draw the sigil on a dry erase board and erase it

Draw your sigil on the ground with chalk 

To Keep it With You

Draw the sigil on a piece of paper and put it in your purse

Draw the sigil on the bottom of your shoe

Sew the sigil into your clothing

Draw the sigil on paper and keep it in your wallet

Draw the sigil on your skin with water/oil/marker/etc. depending on intent

Tattoo the sigil onto your body (This only applies to certain sigils)

Draw the sigil on the back of a necklace you always wear

Draw the sigil on your nail, then paint over it with nail polish

Draw the sigil on your car steering wheel

Draw the sigil on your face with concealer, then blend it in

Put the sigil in a locket and wear it

Technology

Take a photo of your sigil, then delete the picture

Draw the sigil on paper and place it under a charging device

Draw the sigil inside your phone case

Set the sigil as your phone lockscreen, charge the phone

Draw the sigil on paper and tape it to the bottom of your laptop/tablet/phone

Download a sigil app

Directing Your Own Energy

Body Energy and Visualization

Visualize the sigil in your mind, think about the intent of your sigil

Draw the sigil on the ground/write it on a piece of paper and sit on it while meditating

Exercise while visualizing the sigil and your intent

Leave the sigil under your pillow during acts of passion

Masturbate while thinking about the sigil

Draw the sigil on a vein (wrist works well)

Recite a chant that goes with the sigil’s intent

Draw the sigil on paper and rub it between your hands

Draw the sigil somewhere on your body, tap it when you think about it

Draw the sigil on paper and stab it

Draw the sigil with blood as ink (controversial, not recommended)

Draw the sigil on your palm and clap your hands

Other

Draw a sigil on the corner of your homework assignments

Gather static electricity and touch the sigil

Actually useful shit to have as a witch

You really don't need all the fancy bullshit every tumblr influencer will ever tell you to use. Here's my countdown ofaxtually useful shit.

A pocket knife, preferably with a wood handle. Use that bitch for everything, enchant it, carve symbols in it. It will absolutely be your best friend.

A good bag or backpack with a couple of plastic or ziploc bags in it. If you ever run off into the woods to find minerals, bones, plants, etc. A set aside bag and some things to store your treasures in becomes a necessity.

Basic divinatory sets. You don't have to buy fancy shit, learn to divine with playing cards and dice, or learn geomancy, lithomancy, or rune casting with homemade sets. A tarot deck is nice, but it isn't necessary when you've got so many other divinatory aids available.

A nice sized chunk of scrap cloth. When you process dried plants or sort new ones, that shit can and will get everywhere. A scrap piece of muslin or linen can help contain all of that mess and make clean up way easier.

A stash of good rocks. Draw sigils or symbols on those babies and leave them in the garden, the windowsill,property boundaries, under the stoop, etc. You can never have too many good rocks.

A pendulum, for fucks sake. The cards are going to be vague as hell when you're trying to figure out yes or no questions, and using a candle to communicate with spirits is really fucking hard outside. If you can't afford one, find a nice chunk of pointy quartz and learn to macrame.

A workspace. Everyone talks about having big fancy altars, but no one mentions that you need a good surface to do all your work on.

Storage, so much storage. I'm not talking about mason jars and pill bottles, I'm talking about where you put all the things you put in those jars. Having a workspace with drawers is immeasurably helpful.

A broom and water source. You're going to be cleaning up after yourself a lot, it's helpful to have a jug of water and a broom that stays by your workspace.

A mode of cleansing. I make a salt concoction to scatter around my workspace on short notice and store it close by.

On that note: SOMETHING TO CANCEL SPELLS WITH. Eventually, something will go wrong. You'll want to end that spell immediately. Have something to do it with.

A strainer. If you don't have a blender, rub dried plants across it to get a powder. If you do have a blender, you can strain that powder with it. Either way, if you intend to powder shit, get a strainer.

Small trays. It makes drying flowers so much easier if you have a small metal surface to contain them with- then just stick those suckers in a southern window and let em go.

Yarn/string scraps. Having a box or drawer of scraps makes trying this up to dry easier and a bit less wasteful.

A stash of offerings for whatever you work with. Honey for fae, coins for graveyard gatekeepers, alcohol for ancestors, etc.

Protective talismans or charms. Once you're into all of this stuff, you'll likely stick your nose in something you shouldn't. Having basic protection with you or in your workspace is incredibly important. A key and hagstone with red string is simple and effective.

A lighter- so many people forget the most basic shit. You're going to want to light shit on fire if you're a witch.

And a last tip- if something is too hard for a mortar and pestle, a plastic bag and hammer works too.

A little witchy stuff

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Kitchen Witch Masterpost

- General Posts: [The Basics Of Kitchen & Cottage Witchcraft] [Infusing and Charging your Drink] [Basic Ideas For Kitchen Witchery]  [Bedridden Witchcraft: Kitchen Witch Edition] [A Guide (Of Sorts) To Kitchen Witchcraft]  [Ethics of Enchantment of Food and Drink] [Mini Herb Packets] [On Kitchen Magic]

Correspondences:  [Fruit & Veggie Correspondences] [Useful Spices] [Taste Correspondences] [Onions In Witchcraft] [Grocery Store Alternatives for Magical Ingredients] [Food Correspondences]  [Witchcraft For The Home: Herbs & Spices] [Herbs & Witchcraft] [Herbs, Incense, Oils]  [Food Magic Correspondences]  [Magic Pies] [Herbal Correspondences] [Kitchen Magic Altar Herbs] [Cucumbers] [Magical Uses for Kitchen Tool] [Teas For Witches: The Basics] Spells:  [Charmain’s Self Love Mug] [Kitchen Charm Magnet for Fresher Food Longer] [Kitchen Cabnet Abundance Jar] [Protection Powder] [Rotten Apple Banishing]  [Abitwitchy’s Bath Bag] Recipes:  [Soups! Kitchen Witch Masterpost] [3 Spring Witchy Recipes] [Warming Autumn Soup] [Family Good Health Soup] [Honey Lavender Bread] [Pumpkin Pie Happiness Spell] [Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread] [Imbolc Poppy Seed Tea Bread] [Edible Wealth Spell] [Luck & Love Bread]  [Peace Spell] [Feel Better Charmed Soup] [Give Me Sunshine Potion for Happiness] [Healing Tea Recipe] [Soups & Broths In Magick] [Happiness & Luck Smoothie] Tips/Random: [Kitchen Witchcraft Baking Tips]  [Kitchen Witch (#10)] [Honey for sigils] [Storage tip] [Lemon Juice For Invisible Sigils] [Kitchen Witchery Tips] [Cinnamon Stick Runes] [Baby Kitchen Witch Tip]  Thank you for the suggestion @choijiae1893!  I hope this helped you! Enjoy! Have a lovely day 💖

Witchcraft for the grieving

To anyone who needs this post, I am sending gentle and loving energy your way. Know that grief is meant to hurt, and with time it WILL get easier (but may not go away, and that’s okay). Please utilize this post only as a supplement, and talk to a therapist or loved ones if you need to.

Spells/Rituals:

Grief powder

Sage drops spell

Relieving grief

Jar of grief spell

Ease the grief spell jar

Honoring the dead

Ritual of grief

A remembrance spell

Remembrance spell/ritual

A spell for grief and moving on

A spell for passing and mourning

“Grief seed” pop culture spell

Sigils:

Grief over death is easier for me and effects me less

My grief does not control me

I grieve in peace

To bring aid in times of crisis and grief

Loss of pets:

Funerary spell

Animal Release Spell

Pet Farewell Ritual

Pet Funerary Spell

Other:

Emoji spell to bring comfort to those who are grieving

Tarot spread to ease grief

Norse spells/prayers for grief and death

Crystals in death magic (includes some for grief)

Crystals for PTSD (includes some for grief)

Helpful posts:

Masterpost for overcoming heartbreak

Rejuvenating witchcraft

Magic to replenish energy

Recommended tags to utilize when you’re ready:

#Moving on spell + #Moving forward spell + #Letting go spell

#Mental health sigils + #Mental health spell

#Self love magic + #Self care magic

#Release spell

Witchcraft is to be used in addition to proper medical care, treatment and medication, not as a sole alternative.

Links updated May of 2020, please inform me of broken links via askbox!

Energy Work 101: Basic Shielding

"Shielding" is an energy work technique that puts a protective sphere of energy around you. This technique is basic at its core, but can be continually evolved and upgraded to become very advanced and powerful indeed.

Concepts & Theory

Most all shields are spherical or egg-shaped.

Shields are often sized to be an outstretched arm's length away from your body, plus a foot (30cm) or so extra all around. You can make them any size you like. Because they are made of energy, the bigger they are, the more energy they take.

Shields fade away. Depending on how stable they are when you make them, they may fade within hours or days.

Shields can and will affect your mood and how people perceive you.

It is a good idea to practice dismantling/undoing shields as often as you practice creating them.

While the most basic shield is a bubble of white light, they can be endlessly modified.

You can have more than one shield at once. They can be stacked concentrically. Think about which shields you want to be closer to you and which you want on the outside next to others.

One of the most useful ways to modify a shield is to specifically choose what kinds of energies you want to bet let in, and what kinds you want to keep out.

The basic technique used for energy shielding can also be used for other techniques such as glamours, energy cleansing, object charging, and some forms self-care. Because of this, shielding is a good place to start practicing practical energy work.

Shielding is a cousin of aura-imprinting. The technique I am talking about here puts a bubble of energy on the outside of your aura. Aura-imprinting/strengthening techniques refer to changing your aura itself.

Methods of Shield-Raising

There are as many methods to accomplish shielding as there are people. Here are a couple:

1. Make one hand into a fist and place it over your heart. Place your other palm on top of it. Gently push down on your chest to create pressure - not so much that it hurts. Imagine, feel, believe, or know that within your chest is a wellspring of energy. This energy pools around your fist as you create pressure there. When you are ready, move your fist away from your body (experiment with both fast and slow motions). Imagine, feel, believe, or know that an energy sphere grows from that place in your chest and expands until it surrounds you. It stops expanding about a foot away from your outstretched arms.

2. Breathe in. As you breathe in, consider that you are pulling pure energy out of the air and into your body. Hold your breath for a beat and decide that when you exhale, that pure energy is going to start forming a sphere around your body. As you exhale, imagine, feel, believe, intend, or know that this energy flows around you to start forming an energy shell. Continue breathing in and out with intent until you can easily imagine, feel, or believe that the shell has become solid and complete.

3. Consider a pop-culture method that a character uses to shield themselves. Steven Universe can do that rose quartz thing, for example. Or, imagine Captain Picard of Star Trek saying, "shields up!" and the Enterprise being surrounded by powerful protective energy. Copying a pop-culture technique can be extremely effective for shielding. Put your intent towards causing real power to flow, and let culture be your guide.

4. Consider that your body is permanently connected to your environment and there is always free energy exchange passing between you and the world around you. This process is automatic, but like your breath, you have the ability to take control of this process if you so choose. Feel the parts of you making contact with the world below (your feet, or bottoms of your legs if you are sitting). Decide, intend, choose, or will that the energy passing into your body at those points will instead rise up and surround you in a shield. You may need to actively stay with this process and continually will it to occur; with practice you may need to only check in every now and then.

A Method of Shield-Dissolving

1. Consider that you have placed energy around yourself which exists there whether or not you can feel it. Decide, intend, choose, or will that this energy breaks up and dissolves. You get to choose what to do with the energy. Options include:

Drawing it back into yourself

Pushing it down into the earth

Releasing it into the air around you

Would you like to do a fun experiment? Release the energy into the air around you in a closed room with no open doors or windows :)

Consider drawing energy back into yourself until you feel your storage containers are full, then pushing the rest of it downwards and into the earth.

Basic Shield Programming

For practice in raising and putting down energy, the form or shape your shield takes doesn't really matter. If you need to know what form it will take in order to complete the exercise, the most basic shield is considered to be a smooth bubble of white light; you can choose to practice with any form you like.

Programming a shield basically means to choose its effects. Common effects include limiting emotional intake from others, and blocking out environmental energy.

Form should follow function. If you want an energy shield to totally completely block out 100 of environmental energies, its form may take an opaque, solid black orb. If you want the shield to limit some energies but not others, it may take the form of a chain-link fence, be semi-opaque, or be like vines with gaps-inbetween them.

Experimenting with what forms work best for you is worthwhile. You do not necessarily need to choose a specific form: simply putting willpower behind your intent will also suffice.

Two Methods of Programming

I recommend trying the first technique for initially creating the shield, and the second technique for making adjustments once it exists.

1. Choose the intent of your shield before you even begin making it. As you begin gathering power, hold your intent in the forefront of your mind. Understand, believe, or know that the shield will not be created in general, but that it will be created within the specifications of your intent, like pancake batter poured into a cookie cutter mold. Hold your intent at the forefront of your mind while energy is gathered and released into the shield. (This is what you're doing automatically if you choose a pop culture technique with specific shield purpose and form)

2. Create a general/basic shield in any way you prefer. Observe, believe, feel, understand, or know that this basic shield is under your control and will respond to your intent. Select an intent. Pour your intent into the existing shield. This may be done through the vehicle of the breath, hand symbols, eye gazes, chanting, or any desired method. Observe, believe, feel, understand, or know that the shield responds to your will like a pond rippling when a rock is thrown in. Maintain your focus until you sense the work is complete, or until you're tired or bored.

May Money Find You. Like to charge, reblog to cast!