🌙 A Simple Hearth And Home Protection Salt Bowl.🌙

mentally foggy today . moving slowly

All About: House Spirits

Well, it's about time I brought them up once again, in their own post. This guide may be on the lengthy side, but it's here to explain what they are and how to begin working with them.

What the hell is a house spirit?

House spirits come from all different cultures and folklore. Known as, you guessed it, guardians of the home. They protect the house itself, the land around it (they get along with the land spirit(s) most of the time), and they also protect the family if treated right. A home certainly doesn't feel like one without these presiding spirits helping. In fact it gives the home a life of it's own.

What do they look like? Are there types?

Across many cultures, there are these spirits and the folklore varies for each. In my tribe, we consider them to usually be little dwarves or goblins that must be appeased, otherwise they will cause bad luck or even resort to curses. Regular offerings are required. Then there are the land spirits, which is a whole other topic. If given regular offerings and respect, we believe that they will not only generate good luck and events for us, but protect us and help with our daily lives. For the witches of the tribe, they will often assist in rituals and spells. That all being said, this has carried over into my personal beliefs. Many cultures describe house spirits assisting with the same things and if they are displeased, bad occurrences following. As far as looks go, it depends on the folklore surrounding your area and your cultural background(s). You may believe in one or two types or an entire spectrum of house spirits from the realm of the fair folk. You could have one house spirit or twelve. It's entirely up to your home. In some cultures, there are door spirits (yes, that guard the doors) and ones that work in the kitchen, among others for different functions of the home.

Okay so, I live in an apartment building. Can I still work with them?

Yes. When I used to live in apartments, I found it was an either/or situation regarding how many were there. Some buildings have only a few that roam around, sometimes only one that protects the entire building, or there may be multiple hanging out in one apartment. Most complexes have multiple however. And then for the lucky buildings that have one for each apartment...those are nice. I've included a short offering ritual at the end of this post, which you can use to ask questions about whatever you wish to know, including how many there are in the building.

What kind of offerings do they like?

Milk, honey, bread, and herbs are a safe bet. They especially like bread baked by you, as they see it as a labor of love and that your energy is in there. Taking time to tend to the garden and taking care of your property & home in general are things they like to see. Don't leave the house a huge mess, as many prefer a tidy atmosphere. Not an offering per say, but important to mention nonetheless.

What should I put on their altar?

I keep my altar for them in the kitchen, as it is in a place that is undisturbed and can't be torn up by my land shark (aka, my dog). I also feel that most of the house spirits I have worked with in my life enjoy hanging out in this area of the home. They seem to like assisting in kitchen magic and cooking in general and the warmth of the stove. You may also want to include a small area near the front door if you believe that there are separate spirits for there. I'd recommend a shelf, as it won't take up as much space in the entryway.

Okay, back on track. Plants (if the space gets enough light), a cauldron, candles, offering bowls, a chalice, glass, or mug of some sort. A special spoon to stir the drinks or potions with. Decorative pieces from nature. Things you craft by hand.

How can I begin working with them?

Anytime, in reality. However, you do have to develop an actual relationship with them. This can take time and the more you speak to them, give offerings, and invite them in as you cook or clean, the more they will be willing to help with your spellwork, wards, and healing. Try the introduction ritual I've included. See what happens. Document it. Try again another time the following week. And just...keep going. Make sure that they know you haven't forgotten about them by leaving a small nightly glass of milk out before you head to bed. It doesn't have to be filled to the rim (hey, cost of living is ridiculous right now). It can be a splash with a squirt of honey added. Or a sprinkle of herbs on their bowl. Or maybe a small helping of what you whipped up for dinner. Point is to show them that you acknowledge and respect their presence. That will be the biggest component. Do the ritual once a week until you start seeing signs of contact. Once you do, make your own ritual with them. Incorporate them into your daily life. Ask them to help with blessing your cooking. Ask them to make sure your wards are in tact. Ask the door spirit to purify the energy of anyone that walks in & make bad people resist coming by. Start seeing if they'd like to sit in on a ritual, if you feel comfortable with that idea. Ask for a blessing when you clean the house & to assist you in removing all the bad energy.

Brief introductory ritual

To introduce yourself to your house spirits, I recommend sitting in your kitchen. If you consider your hearth to be the living room, you can choose to do it there. Make sure to bring offerings with that you feel will be applicable. Freshly baked bread (from your own hands) and some milk with honey stirred in would make a wonderful first treat. I usually introduce myself in a new home by bringing these treats to the location of choice, and start by speaking my intention aloud which goes something like:

"Spirits of the home,

Guardians and Protectors of this dwelling,

Please come sit with me and enjoy these offerings.

I wish to have a working relationship where we can honor, respect, and help each other."

I usually spend about ten-twenty minutes meditating after this is spoken aloud. Sometimes you will feel a strong presence. This is the time I take to set up my kitchen altar as well. If there is a place that I am able to create a mini-altar by the front door, I do so there for the door spirits. The land spirits get their own little thing out in the backyard. I've found in the many places I've lived, they almost always work together and some house spirits spend quite some time out there too!

From here on out, you'll develop your relationship with regular offerings and take it from there!

// hiking and getting lost in the neverending glory of the Universe 🙏🏼

Protection Charm (In a Locket)

To ward off off negative emotions and to help create a barrier 🕯🍃🌑

Ingredients: - 1 medium sized locket - Lavender essential oil (happiness, love, peace, protection, purification) - Tea Tree essential oil (Strength) - Rose Petals (love, beauty, calm) - Mint (energy, alertness, healing) - Rosemary (memory, clarity, vitality,) - Piece of paper and pen - Small spoon - Mortar and Pestle, Cauldron, or bowl

Instructions: 1. Begin by lighting any alter candles or incense you might want to add. 2. Ground yourself and feel the energy begin to flow through your veins. 3. Draw out your sigil on a piece of paper for your barrier (you’re welcome to use mine above). 4. Tear out paper and fold small enough to fit into locket. 5. Add a pinch of each herb to cauldron, bowl, or mortar. 6. Add one drop of each essential oil. 7. Mix and grind together with pestle or spoon. 8. When finished mixing, take your spoon and scoop up enough oil soaked herbs that will fit into your locket. 9. Seal with a kiss 💋While doing so, envision an orb of light coming from your locket and growing to surround your body.

And you’re finished! Blow out your candles to symbolize the end of your process 🕯

I hope this keeps you all safe 💕 Sometimes we just need a little space to ourselves! This spell is straight out of my own grimoire so please message me results! I’d love feedback ☺

Cleansing Techniques for Low Spoon Days

I’m really glad this was requested because it’s an issue a lot of people face and one I’ve run into a lot during my studies. I totally understand why people say that everything should be clean and organized for a good, thorough cleanse, but that just isn’t realistic or possible for everyone. Some days you can do it, other days it feels like you’re staring down Mount Everest.

So I’m gonna share some of the cleansing methods I use that help on low spoon days.

Music - There’s no catch-all for this one. Everyone will have a different type of music that does the trick, and that genre will change depending on what you need in that moment. Sometimes I blast Icon for Hire, other times I’ll go with Cirque Du Soleil or Kevin Kern. It doesn’t matter what you listen to so long as it makes your space and you feel better.

Open Up a Window - I’m not a huge nature witch, but I’ve found it very helpful to have fresh air blowing into my home, especially when there’s a lot of negative crap circling around me. Sometimes on bad depression days I’ll just stand in front of the window and let the air wash over me. I combine this one a lot with the first method.

Scented Candles 1 - If you have the ability to light candles choose a scent that makes you feel good and light ‘em up. Sit close to a lit candle for added bonus of aiding in mental cleansing.

Scented Candles 2 - This is gonna sound weird, mostly because it is. If you have floor/rug space enough to vacuum, take a scented candle that you like, carve it so that you’re left with a bunch of shavings, and sprinkle them all over your rug/floor. Depending on your preferences you may want to vacuum them up after an hour or two. But if you want to leave them, less work for you and easier on the spoons. You can sprinkle them under rugs or welcome mats for the same effect and no one will know they’re there. I’ve done this a few times and as weird as it seems, I’ve found it very helpful.

Tea - If you’re not too worried about potentially attracting little bug friends, you can do the fourth method with tea leaves instead of candle shavings. Some people might find this more effective because of the cleansing properties of many herbal teas.

Air Fresheners - Find an air freshener that really leaves your space smelling fresh and clean. Inscribe the bottom or side of the container with a sigil designed for cleansing.

Boil Water - I do this a lot when my house is too dry, so why not when it needs a cleanse, too? You can add things to the water to aid in cleansing. I usually do crisp apples, orange peels, cinnamon, anything that I personally associate with cleansing. Find out what works for you, load it up, and leave the sucker there to boil.

Salt - I can already imagine the eye rolls, but it helps. I keep a bottle of sea salt next to my bed so when I’m just fed up with my environment and feel like I need something fast to push away heavy, negative shit  I’ll grab a handful and just throw it. It also feels good to throw stuff across my room *shrug*

That’s all I’ve got for the moment, but I’m sure there are eight million other methods to cleansing that are easier on the spoons than a full house cleaning session. If anyone has methods of their own to add to this, please do! I’ll probably reblog as I see them :)

Today I ground too much coffee at work and they let me take the grounds home. Knowing that Mabon is soon approaching on the 21st, I decided to do some easy magic in preparation! I unfortunately will be very busy that week house and babysitting so celebrating/participating may be very minimal, with my extra coffee I decided it's only natural to make some coffee sugar scrubs so I can banish unwanted energy and invigorate my week with cozy fall energy!

I will be listing below two seperate recipes I made. One is a Mabon corresponding sugar coffee scrub. The second is a Psychic Protection sugar coffee scrub, best for protecting yourself from unwanted energy.

These scrubs are great for Mabon or Samhain! The ingredients are safe for the skin during any bath or shower ritual, you can even slice apples crosswise to reveal their hidden pentacle and add to your baths as well to enhance your experience and add a witchy mood!

MABON SUGAR COFFEE SCRUB

1 1/2 cups of sugar- to attract sweet things to you

1/2 cup of olive oil- to ensure your Mabon and Autumn Equinox is blessed with good intent

1 tbs of ground coffee (you can use dry or wet, I used dry dark roast coffee)- to break curses and ground you.

Small handful of ground whole cloves- for friendship

1 tsp of Honey- for beauty and self love

1 Ground whole cinnamon stick- corresponding with Wednesday, and to represent bonfires of fall.

10 drops of skin and body safe pumpkin spice essential oil (I was heavy handed because who doesn't love pumpkin?)- for wishes being granted

10 drops of skin and body safe orange essential oil- for prosperity

A sprinkle of sea salt - for protection

PSYCHIC PROTECTION SUGAR COFFEE SCRUB

1 1/2 cups of sugar- to attract sweet things to you

3/4 cup of olive oil- to anoint/and bless yourself.

3/4 cup of liquid coconut oil- corresponding to the moon and purification.

1 tbs of ground coffee (you can use dry or wet, I used dry dark roast coffee)- to break curses and ground you, also aids in divination.

Small handful of ground whole cloves- for friendship

1 tsp of Honey- for beauty and self love

1 Ground whole cinnamon stick- corresponding with Wednesday, and to represent bonfires of fall.

1 tbs of lavender buds- divination clarity, protection, and cleansing

1 tbs of dried rose petals- psychic power and divination

10 drops of rosemary essential oil that's safe for skin and body- healing, power, and protection.

10 drops of rose essential oil that's safe for skin and body

A sprinkle of sea salt- for protection

Crush the whole cloves/cinnamon in a mortar pedestal until fine, combine with all dry ingredients in a medium to large bowl and give a good stir. Stir with your intent in mind. You can transform these into very protective or courage invoking scrubs.

Next add in your oil and honey, stir in slowly, making sure to scrape the sides and get all the sugar mixture well incorporated. Stir counter clockwise to banish evil spirits or negativity, stir clockwise to draw in good energy and happiness toward you. Invision it and see it happening in real time.

As Aggie Cromwell in Halloweentown says, "Magic is really very simple, all you've got to do is want something and then let yourself have it!"

Spoon into a mason jar and seal the lid tight. This also makes great gifts for others, I'm giving one to my mother as her birthday ends on Mabon and she loves PSL/Fall.

Hope you all enjoy it! You can also use the coffee, oil, sugar base for any type of scrub. 🔮💖

☾ Rose Salt ☽

One of my personal favorite things to make, Rose Salt has a variety of uses. Whether you use it as a scrub in the shower to cleanse yourself and your energies, as a relaxing soak in a warm bath to relax in, or sprinkle it in doorways and on windowsills as a form of protection, it’s multipurpose and very easy to make! What You’ll Need: - Dried Roses - Salt - A Vessel With a Lid to Keep It In - A Mortar & Pestle Optional: - Rose Essential Oil Steps:

Take the petals and buds of your Roses, save the stems and thorns for other spells, and grind them finely with your Mortar & Pestle.

Add Salt.

Mix both well until they are combined well.

Add the mixture into the vessel you chose.

Add the essential oil, seal the vessel, and gently shake to combine everything together more easily.

One of the many properties of Roses is Protection as is with Salt so combining the two gives you a simple, fragrant protective material to keep around your home.

Casting Your First Spell: A Step-by-Step Guide

Casting your first spell is an enchanting and empowering moment on your witchcraft journey. It's an act of manifesting your intentions and connecting with the magic that resides within and around you. Whether you're a beginner or simply looking for a refresher, this step-by-step guide will help you cast your first spell with safety, intention, and ethical considerations in mind.

🕯️🌟✨

Step 1: Set Your Intention 🌌🔮

Begin by clarifying your intention. What do you wish to achieve with your spell? Be specific and ensure your intention aligns with your highest good and the greater good of all involved. Remember the ethical guideline: "An it harm none, do what ye will."

Step 2: Choose Your Tools 🌿🕯️

Select tools that correspond to your intention. For a simple spell, a colored candle, crystals, and herbs that match your purpose are often sufficient. For example, a green candle for prosperity or rose quartz for love.

Step 3: Create Sacred Space 🌟🏞️

Find a quiet and undisturbed space for your spell. You can cast your spell indoors or outdoors, but ensure you feel safe and comfortable. Light the candle and, if desired, cast a protective circle to create a sacred space.

Step 4: Ground and Center 🌳🌠

Ground yourself by visualizing roots extending from your body into the Earth. Center your energy by focusing on your breath and releasing any tension or distraction. Feel connected to the Earth and the universe.

Step 5: State Your Intention Aloud 🗣️📜

Speak your intention aloud with confidence and sincerity. You can use a chant, a rhyme, or simply state your intention clearly and concisely. This vocalization empowers your intention with your voice and energy.

Step 6: Visualization 🌈🌌

Close your eyes and visualize your intention manifesting. Feel the emotions associated with your desire as if it's happening right now. See it clearly in your mind's eye and believe that it's already on its way to you.

Step 7: Focus Your Energy 🧙‍♀️💫

Hold your chosen tools and focus your energy on your intention. Imagine the energy flowing from your body into the tools, charging them with your purpose. Feel the power within you.

Step 8: Release the Energy 🌬️🔥

When you sense that the energy is at its peak, release it into the universe. Blow out the candle if you've used one, or simply release your energy into the cosmos, trusting that it will work on your behalf.

Step 9: Express Gratitude 🙏🌸

Thank the universe, your deities, or any spiritual guides you work with for their assistance. Gratitude enhances the flow of positive energy in your life.

Step 10: Close the Circle (if applicable) 🌀🌕

If you cast a circle, release it by thanking the elements and spirits for their presence and assistance. Imagine the energy of the circle dissipating.

Step 11: Release Attachment and Trust 🕊️🌠

Release any attachment to the outcome of your spell. Trust that the universe is working to manifest your intention in the right way and at the right time.

🕯️🌟✨

Remember that spellwork is a practice, and like any skill, it improves with time and dedication. Approach your craft with respect for yourself and the world around you, and may your spells be a source of positive transformation in your life.

Casting your first spell is a beautiful milestone on your magical journey. Embrace the magic within you, and may it bring you growth, joy, and a deeper connection to the mysteries of the universe.

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Simple Coffee Spell

Hey all!  I’m still very much a newbie, but this has quickly become my fave to do and has helped me SO MUCH in this past month.  Careful not to overdo it- when I was perfecting it I did it three days in a row and had unusual amounts of energy for days!

What you’ll need:

- coffee cone and filter

- your favorite coffee

-hot water (just finished boiling)

- your favorite coffee mug

Prep your cone, filter, and coffee while the water comes to a boil.  I like to use ¼ cup grounds for two cups of coffee, but feel free to use it to taste.  This would also be the time to add any spices or herbs you want to the coffee grounds if you’re really needing some extra kick.  You should also be solidifying your goals for the day during this time.  One goal for mental energy, one goal for physical energy, and one for mental energy.  (This can be the same goal.)  The more specific the goal, the better the spell works.  Once the water has stopped boiling, pour it semi-slowly into your coffee grounds.  Think or say aloud “Give me the mental energy to complete (task.)  Give me the physical energy to complete (task.)  Give me the strength to complete (task.)”  Repeat this until you have filled the cone with water.  While the coffee drips into your mug, place your hands at the base of the cone (careful, it may be hot!) and repeat the above mantra a minimum of three times, until all the water has drained out of the cone and into your mug.  As you are doing this, notice the way the steam curls and smells and the way the grounds shrink as the coffee water drips into the mug.  For greatest effect, drink the coffee while you begin working on one of your goals.  Otherwise, consume as you usually would.

Happy productivity!