Binding Someone’s Mouth.

Spirit Work 101:

I wanted to do a quick safety guide to spirit work (been wanting to do this for a long time, tb). 

Around Halloween, it becomes a favorite hobby of everyone, and while I think spirit work is an awesome way to enhance your craft, I also think you need to take it incredibly slow. Here’s some tips that I use, and I would advise for those of you who’re delving into spirit work to use as well:

-Protection: This applies to yourself and your space. Often I wear protective jewelry and meditate before I begin spirit work. I put myself in a mindset where I’m in control of what’s going on, so that I know who I’m talking to or who I want to talk to.

-Be specific: Don’t just call out to random spirits. If you don’t have a name in mind—that’s find. But specify that you want good spirits entering your space—and only good spirits. If you’re not used to spirit work, asking for any spirit to come through the veil can attract negative spirits.

-Say goodbye: You must say goodbye to the spirits. This is something I practice daily, because they do and will linger around if you don’t! even if they are good, maybe it’s not something you want. Good can also be scary.  And thank them for their time as well.

-Banishment: This is essentially telling a clingy spirit to leave if they haven’t already.  There is a variety of different ways to tell a spirit

-Cleanse: Cleanse your space afterwards just to ward off any remaining energy. This isn’t quite the same concept as banishment, as with banishment you’re dealing with an entire entity. But, with every ritual you do and every entity you invite into your space, left over energy can stay and build up. So, you’ll want to cleanse it. this too can be done a variety of ways (I have cleansing crystals with me, so I usually skip this step).

-Choose a safe means of communication: Basically, if you are a beginner DO NOT use the Ouija board. I might be biased against it, but I also know that the tool can be used correctly and yield amazing results. However, because many beginners using it don’t do so correctly (and there’s a terrible culture attached to it), I advise you to try safer methods. Consider a pendulum, dice, and automatic writing. Or even the safest form (imo), mediation.

any means of communication can turn out badly if you don’t know what you’re doing though. 

-Ask for the intercession of other spirits: In general, before you begin spirit work, look for a spirit that might help you. this can be your guide, your ancestors, or a religious deity. Now if you’re all trying to do spirit work on Halloween, you probably going to skip this part because it can take a very long time. but perhaps instead of reaching out to random spirits on Halloween, use it as a time to find a spirit companion.

-Use things to safely enhance your experience: My go to is selenite! Others have different things, just stay safe and healthy!

Also just do your research! Feel free to ask around. Tumblr is one of the largest collections of witches I’ve ever seen on the internet so please, please take advantage of that!

If I have anything else to add, I’ll do so later on! These—again—are all based on personal experience, but if you have any questions about anything ask me. I also invite others to add their own opinions and suggestions! Being rude won’t be tolerated!

A Deep Room Cleanse

The state of my room is extremely important to me. It’s a direct reflection of my mental health, so when it’s messy, my energy levels are low and I just feel yucky. There’s no way I’m getting any kind of work done, magical or mundane. When it feels good and clean to be in, it’s a lot easier to deal with my symptoms and be productive. You don’t have to do every step every time of course, but each step has helped me so I figured a list like this might help someone. 

Change the lighting. Use natural sources of light (like pulling back the curtains and letting the sun in) over artificial ones. If you have salt lamps to turn on, those are still very nice. If you need artificial light to keep it from being too dark, try to prioritize light bulbs you like the color of, and ones that don’t whistle quietly when they’re on.

Change the airflow. Open a window, if you can. Often our rooms feel yucky because the air is stale. Get some fresh air moving. If it’s too cold, it’s okay to only keep it open for a few minutes or put on a coat while you work because you’re stubborn like me.

Change the sound. Put on your favorite cleansing music. Let it soak into the room. I tend to go or ambient spa stuff, or playlists that sound built for a rainy day. (Note: the music that helps you cleanse the best may not be the same as what you like the most. The playlist should keep you focused/uplifted while you work and reflect the vibes you want your room to have.)

Change the smell. Take out the trash, maybe refresh the sheets on your bed. Light a scented candle, some incense, heat up some oil, something to make your room smell distinctly different from the mucky-feeling room from before. (If your method of choice is something short like a room spray, I actually like doing it at the very end.)

Actually clean and organize. Nothing junks up the energy of a room more quicker than actual junk. Organize everything as much as you can (this might mean finally gutting your closet, even if you can close the door and hide it.) Wipe down any surfaces that need it, get everything fresh and functional again. Do some laundry while you work. If you have clothes or trinkets that are just collecting dust, extra points for purging them! 

 Cleanse any sacred spaces by themselves. A lot of us have altars or shrines in our rooms. A sacred space can also be just an extra important area of your room, like a reading nook.  Make sure to give them extra attention! You don’t need to wipe the board energetically (and probably shouldn’t), but taking a little extra time to clean surfaces, straighten up, and make sure everything feels okay on them goes a long way.

Cleanse in your regular way. Bust out the herb bundles, the bells, the ribbons, the broom, whatever you usually do to cleanse a space! The room is SUPER primed for it now, most of the negative energy probably already feels removed if not broken down. A good once-over with your favorite cleansing method should finish it off nicely. 

Refresh any wards or protections. Self explanatory. If you maintain energy borders in your room, now is a good time to check in on them and zhoosh them if needed. Keep the space clean for longer! 

Practice self-care. Take a shower, a nap, eat some food, whatever you need. You’ve put in a lot of work and you deserve it. 

Purity in witchcraft is overrated in my opinion.

"Make sure you're in a good state of mind" this, and "Don't be afraid" that.

Anger, fear, grief, exhaustion... are all emotions that can be used in witchcraft. Learn how to wield them properly, and see just how much power they hold in your craft. Just like a weapon.

Ritual To Invite Spirit Contact

This spell is designed to let a specific spirit know that you are open to communication. It includes protective elements to avoid attracting negative entities.

*It is important to research the side effects of herbs before coming into contact with them. One should also keep in mind their personal allergies and medications taken when ingesting herbs. Your safety is more important than an ingredient.*

Ingredients

Dried Rose Hip (2 or more)

Clove incense

Dandelion (one stem and flower)

Mint leaf or scent, in any natural form

An item that relates to the spirit you wish to contact

A Brown or White candle

Directions

Light your Clove incense and your candle.

Sit with your item in your hand. Rub it clockwise.

Picture the spirit as you know it in your mind. Verbalize your openness to receiving communications (if you are unable to verbalize this or do not feel comfortable you can think it instead).

Take your rose hip and dandelion. Wrap them together (with string or cloth). Bury them under your doorstep (if you do not have a traditional doorstep you can put it on your porch, hang it in your doorway, or bury it by an entrance).

Leave a window or door open (it could be slightly open or fully open) for one hour.

Be sure to pay attention to little signs and happenings after performing this ritual and be sure to try and remember your dreams!

This spell is dedicated to my Grandmother, Marie, who I never had the chance to meet during her short time on earth. I hope to see you someday.

Some topics + prompts for your grimoire or book of shadows

books you want to read

local folklore / mythology / legends

the wheel of the year

plants you have in your house or garden (their care, properties, uses, draw them etc)

theban alphabet

days of the week and their correspondences

write about a deity you worship / are drawn to

draw art for / of a deity you worship or are drawn to

colour magic

the elements

write about the crystals you own (draw them, write their properties, correspondences, uses, how it makes you feel etc)

how to make your own crystals

your birth chart

your sun, moon and rising sign

natural medicine (as a chronically ill witch I love natural medicine NOT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PRESCRIPTIONS! for example I take all my prescription meds and then if I'm having period pain I might drink some raspberry leaf tea)

positive affirmations / mantras that you connect with

how to manifest

history of witches

deities in a certain pantheon you're interested in or drawn to

write about a spell you've done (how you did it, why you did it, how you felt, the results of it, what you would change if you did the spell again etc)

chakras

write about a dream you've had

tarot reading tricks and tips

moon phases

sabbats

zodiac signs

family tree

poetry / songs / quotes you connect to (i like to find ones that make me feel powerful or witchy, or remind me of certain aspects of my practice. a song i like for this is rhiannon by fleetwood mac and i'm going to post more things like this regularly on my page)

feathers and their meanings

simple everyday magic

recipes

some ideas for the next sabbat you plan to celebrate

tarot spreads you like

write about a tarot reading you've done (any prep you did, the deck you used, the cards you pulled, your personal interpretation of the cards based on the art and how you feel, the meaning of the cards, how the cards relate to the questions you asked, final reflection on how you feel the reading went)

interesting mythology

tree of life

glamour magic

money bowls

crystal shapes and their meanings

grounding techniques

cleansing

protection

banishing

cord cutting spells

essential oils

types of divination

planets and their correspondences

angel numbers

witchy wishlist

go to supplies and ingredients (herbs and things that you use regularly)

favourite crystals

working with your inner child

if you've had a really good or particularly insightful meditation session it can be nice to either draw or write what happened and how you felt during it

witchy arts and crafts and diys you want to do

altar ideas

read a witchy book / watch a witchy video and take notes

write about your ancestors

witchy things to incorporate into your daily routine

what is a tower moment

witchy reset / self care days

the history of the area you live in

veiling

how to make your own incense sticks

shadow work

shadow work prompts

ok, that's all the ideas I have for now and I hope that helps someone! I'll be posting some pages from my grimoire and some more prompt / topic ideas in the near future which I'm really excited for.

P.S. please remember that everyone's practice is their own and you should do what feels right to you while respecting that other people have their own beliefs (as long as they're not hateful).

Rainwater 

Rain from a lightening storm

this has the greatest energy

used in a bath to re-energize your being and aid in a ritual of clearing and cleansing your energies of negativity by soaking in it

used to clear and cleanse an object or area 

store in a white glass bottle

Rain from thunderstorms, tornadoes or hurricanes

Used to empower spells for moving things forward such as letting go of the past and moving forward in life

used to help move a project forward and get beyond current blocks in life

used to change a pattern or habit you don’t like

store in a blue glass bottle

Sun and Rain

Used to balance energies when feeling weighed down

helps gather your thoughts when they are flighty and scattered

store in a dark green bottle

Hail storm

collect in a metal bowl but dont let it sit in the bowl for more than 6 hours

allow the hail to melt before bottling it

store in a black or dark brown bottle

used to dispel psychic attacks or negative energies

best used for black magic to get rid of your enemies or negative forces that stand in your way

Spring Rain

used to empower new ventures such as new relationships, new business ventures, a new job

rain collected on the spring equinox or the first rain after the spring equinox is good for empowering spells for relationships

stored in a light green bottle

Summer Rain

used to encourage growth whether it be personal, spiritual growth or growth of a business venture or relationship

used to break bad habits

great to water indoor plants

rain collected on mid-summers eve and day is especially mystical

store in a sky blue bottle

Fall Rain

used for giving thanks and showing gratitude for the abundance the year has given you

store in an orange or fall colored bottle

Winter Rain

can be used for blessing a person, relationship, family or object

can be used to bless an event such as a birth, wedding or new business venture

to be able to survive the hardships of winter one is able to survive the hardships of life

Full Moon Rain

Used to honor the Goddess

a small glass can be added to a cleansing bath

add a couple of drops to your bath before an important event or ritual

used for a blessing during a full moon ritual

used for blessing a child or pet 

rain collected during the full moon according to that season will have the energies of that moon according to month and season

clean altar spaces and other things by putting an ounce of rain water into your cleaning products

also very good for divination

Waning Moon Rain

good for getting rid of things, banishings, and purging negative energies

used like a banishing oil

also can be added to your bath for relaxation, clarity or promoting self love

use to prepare for lunar rituals

anoint your money with it to increase your wealth 

anoint yourself to increase your psychic awareness

New Moon Rain

good for workings in which something needs to be brought in 

used when starting a new project

Waxing Moon Rain

used to bring in good energies and blessing

used at the start of a new project or a new beginning

Rain collected from trees or roses will have different energies depending on the type of tree or color of the rose you collect it from

Use 1 cup of rain water to 1 tub size of water

For rituals use 1oz of rain water in a glass bowl or cauldron, to add effects to the water pour over crystals energized with your intent

For a spell place all your spell items in your bowl or cauldron and add 1tablespoon of rainwater

For cleansing or anointing ritual take 1/2oz of rainwater into a glass bowl and as you recite your incantation dip your fingers or wand/athame into the water then mark your physical body, the mark can be any spiritual symbol that has meaning to you

To anoint a tool, pout 1oz of rainwater onto the tool as you state your incantation to empower the tool for its intended purpose.

@autumnwitchesx i hope this helps you some!!!

also the bottles you store in dont have to be a specific color unless you want them to be, im all for using what you have first and foremost 

shadow work prompts that have left me crying (i felt good after though)

- letter to a parent (hurts so good when you have mommy/daddy issues)

- letter to your younger self (bonus points for pre transition self if that applies to you)

- letter to your childhood pet/pets

- letter to your childhood best friend

- listing out your insecurities and then complimenting said insecurities

- listing everything you’re grateful for,, even if it’s just a few things

- letter to your ancestors or just all ancestors in general (i like doing it for all ancestors that way no one feels left out)

)O( WITCH TIP )O(

Hello my fellow witchlings! I just wanted to shout a reminder about mortars and pestles and spell work! Note: mortar and pestles are usually made of stone or wood. WOOD IS ONLY FOR HERBS. Stone ones–soap stone or otherwise–is use for crushing resins and even fresh garlic! I would recommend having one stone one for your kitchen for kitchen magic, and one stone one exclusively for resins. You’ll see why in a moment. If you’re a witch who likes grinding things into powder (oh hi!) please remember the following: - Use 2 separate mortars and pestles, one for resins and one for herbs. - Resins get gummy the more you pulverize them and it’s been my experience that myrrh in particular is sticky/gummy and WILL leave a bit of a sticky residue in the mortar. There will always be a bit of resin stuck in the rougher mortars. It’s life. But it’s also why you should keep it separate from herbs. Too sticky. - Use wooden mortars and pestles for crushing and mixing herbs and oils. Always crush herbs before adding oil (or essential oils). Wood is used because oil doesn’t soak into it like it will in stone. - Remember that churning your pestle in a clockwise direction stirs IN magic and positivity. Counter clock wise banishes negative energy. A mortar and pestle is a great way to practice focusing and raising your energy if you’re new to spell work! Find an incense recipe you want to make, ground and center, then get comfy in your magic kitchen or in a space you’ve deemed magical (or sacred). put on music that’s calming or upbeat (but no words), whatever your preference! I usually listen to Gaelic or even Hawaiian music when I do this!  Take each plant and hold it for a moment. Feel it’s energy. What does it feel like? Thank the herb and put it in your mortar and begin to crush it, focusing on putting your energy into each crush and turn, on the reason why you’re making this incense (protection? Luck? Love? Happy home?). Do the same for each herb (and then oil) you use. Feel the energy raising and flowing from your hand to the plants, from the plants to your hand, building energy in the mortar.  When you feel its done/ready say “so mot it be”. Your incense is ready to use!

basic herb associations

Agrimony: Protection, sleep aid, banishing negative energies.

Basil: Love, wealth, protection, purification.

Bay Laurel: Psychic abilities, purification, success.

Cinnamon: Prosperity, success, protection, love.

Dandelion: Divination, wishes, psychic abilities.

Elder: Protection, healing, prosperity.

Frankincense: Spirituality, protection, purification.

Garlic: Protection, healing, banishing.

Hawthorn: Fertility, protection, love.

Ivy: Protection, fidelity, healing.

Juniper: Purification, protection, healing.

Lavender: Relaxation, love, purification.

Mugwort: Divination, psychic abilities, protection.

Nettle: Protection, healing, curse-breaking.

Oregano: Joy, strength, vitality.

Patchouli: Prosperity, love, grounding.

Quince: Love, happiness, protection.

Rosemary: Memory, protection, purification.

Sage: Wisdom, purification, healing.

Thyme: Courage, purification, psychic abilities.

Uva Ursi (Bearberry): Psychic abilities, protection, healing.

Valerian: Love, purification, sleep aid.

Willow: Divination, healing, love.

Xanadu Plant: Protection, purification, love.

Yarrow: Psychic abilities, love, courage.

Zinnia: Healing, friendship, focus.

Properties of Plants

I have condensed some info I’ve gathered to put into my grimoire. Below is from multiple posts that I organized for my own personal use. I’m uploading it since I already typed it and might as well. I hope this comes in handy for someone!

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