Throwin’ The Bones

Sour Jars

So I usually post works and spells that would generally be considered “light” and positive but it is worth noting that Hoodoo is definitely not always these things. So today I am posting how to perform a sour jar. This is 100% a curse friendly blog and I will not tolerate any curse shaming in the notes. There are a million reasons people may feel the need to curse and it is not my place to judge. This is a defensive and potent work and it will fuck someone up so make sure this is what you want. The only rule to cursing and my personal advice on it is to feel NO guilt and be absolutely certain you justify your own actions. From my perspective, the universe grants us what we ask for and the concept of “deserve” does not exist. There are plenty of truly vile pieces of shit who will never be punished for the things they do and have done. There are just as many wonderful and amazing people who suffer for no good reason. The world is an unfair place, and as witches, conjure wo/men, brujas, magicians, etc in some form we seek to make it a bit sweeter for ourselves, our clients, and those we love. Cursing sometimes is a part of that.

A little history:

Sour jars are used to literally sour someone’s life. Sour jars can be used on one single person but are also often used to sour and break up relationships be it romantic, familial, or otherwise. Sour jars are considered defensive magic and aim to make the targets life miserable, sour, and otherwise destroyed. In my experience, most sour jars I have come across have bases of vinegar (*four thieves, white, and apple cider, all depends on the preference of the person). The great thing about sour jars is that they are highly customizable and like most folk practices, cheap. All you actually need is a jar, vinegar of your choice, a petition with the targets name, and your intention. In place of a petition, some people opt to use dolls but that’s up to you. Of course, there are tons of other things you can put in sour jars that make them even more potent but it is your intention and energy that make your works manifest.

Things you can use

 *some of these items I highly recommend using gloves to handle. Also, some of these are not for the faint of heart. Hoodoo uses animal products so please don’t come at me in the comments. I always recommend obtaining animal products ethically.*

Hot peppers/Hot sauce- you can use whole chilis, chili flakes, Tapatio, literally anything spicy. You want this person to be burning and irritated. Spicy stuff adds great oomph to defensive works

Urine- take this one as you are literally pissing all over this person’s life.

Cat and Dog hair- This one would be specifically if you were making a jar to break up a couple because you want them to fight like cats and dogs.

Nails- in Hoodoo coffin nails are often used in defensive work and you can get these from your local or online botanica or hoodoo shop. If you don’t have any way of getting coffin nails you can use regular ones. In the vinegar, they will rust and give more power to the jar.

Spiders/Insects- These are often used in darker works for added negativity. You can imagine spiders and insects covering this persons life as it decomposes and falls apart.

Mustard seeds-excellent for making couples or people fight and also causing fights and misunderstandings in the persons life.

Poppy seeds-causes confusion and chaos in the mind of the target and can also cause nightmares.

Sulfur- be extremely careful with sulfur and I always recommend using gloves when handling it. You only need a little bit as this stuff is POTENT. It will cause a bubbling reaction in the vinegar and this is why a lot of people use it. It makes it look like there is literally a fight in the jar. Sulfur is also just traditionally used in a lot of hoodoo defensive work like hot foot powder.

You can use 1, 2, or all of these. I have had a lot of personal success with many of these ingredients. When I am working my jars I work them for 7 or 9 days and burn candles on the top of the jar. I usually use black if it is a revenge or curse jar like I’ve described. I burn a candle each day and let them burn out. I also shake the jar every day to keep the energy moving. I also usually wrap my jars in aluminum foil so no light gets in. You want the targets life to be dark and despairing and for them to have to look at all the destruction with no way out in sight. After my 7 or 9 days, I discard the jar. This is traditionally done by leaving it in a river or a body of still water. I have in the past just thrown the jar in the trash because that’s what the person is to me: garbage. Some people interpret this as “throwing the magic away” and I get that but living in a city now nature is hard to come by and folk practice is about making things work for you so to each their own. While I am performing the spell I make sure to cleanse myself before and after with cleansing baths or showers. I also do a cleansing and protection work after the 7 or 9 days. Happy cursing!

Explain the basic: shielding and banishing

Shielding and banishing are two of the most important things you have to learn before you start your journey as a witch. Both practices are essential for maintaining energetic boundaries and ensuring a safe environment for magical or spiritual work. used to protect oneself from negative energies, entities, or influences and to remove unwanted energies or entities from a space. Here's a breakdown of shielding and banishing in witchcraft:

Shielding: Shielding involves creating a protective barrier around oneself, which acts as a defense against negative energies or influences. It helps maintain personal boundaries and prevents unwanted energies from affecting one's well-being. Common methods of shielding include:

Visualization: Visualizing a shield of white light, a protective bubble, or an impenetrable barrier around your body. This visualization can be accompanied by the intention of repelling negativity while allowing positive energies to flow.

Energy Manipulation: Drawing upon personal energy or universal energy to create a protective shield. This can involve using hand movements, gestures, or energy manipulation techniques to form and maintain the shield.

Use of Objects or Symbols: Carrying protective talismans, amulets, or symbols such as pentagrams, runes, or protective sigils that represent personal protection. These items can aid in maintaining the shield's strength.

Banishing: Banishing refers to the act of removing negative energies, entities, or influences from a person, place, or space. It's a method used to cleanse and purify an area or oneself from unwanted energies. Common practices for banishing include:

Smudging or Cleansing: Burning herbs like sage, palo santo, or cedar to clear a space of negative energies. Using the smoke to cleanse and purify the environment.

Salt or Protective Circles: Sprinkling salt around a space or creating a protective circle by physically drawing or visualizing it to keep unwanted energies out or to contain them within the circle for removal.

Rituals and Spells: Performing rituals or casting spells specifically designed for banishing. This involves using candles, herbs, oils, and specific incantations to remove negative influences or energies.

Invocation of Higher Powers: Calling upon higher spiritual entities, deities, or guides associated with protection or cleansing to aid in banishing unwanted energies or entities.

As always, I will love to hear your thoughts! and if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them! If you liked it, leave a comment or reblog (that is always appreciated!). and have a wonderful day or night!

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 

Basic Offering Ideas for Spirits

Hello! I will be making a recipe list sometime soon for those of you who want to spice up your offerings or routine, but for now, here are some easy daily offerings with a little correspondence with them, based on my personal experiences.

Apples: Apples represent a full harvest, abundance, and time spent with the ones you love. Perfect for those times when you want to recall memories you’ve had with the spirit.

Oranges: Their vibrancy, attraction, and the smell all come together to represent a life lived to the fullest. I like to think of oranges as an innocent guilty pleasure, and something easy to obtain.

Grapes: elegance, refinement, perfection. I also tend to think of being waited on and treated like royalty. Definitely good for a spirit who needs some extra attention.

Fruit in General: great for sweetening up a spirit, or showing that you find them vibrant and kind. I like to give fruit and eat another piece of fruit with them, make it a little date of sorts.

Honey: another sweetening agent. Good for spirits who are feeling low on energy, as it lasts a while and holds lots of sugar, which I often associate with energy.

Bread: fun to make, and good to customize. Have a spirit who likes a bit of savoury element to their offerings? Try adding spices, maybe make garlic bread. Alternatively, you can bake sourdough, brioche, or even some sort of sweet bread. It’s a fabulous offering for family and household spirits.

Milk and Honey: Definitely something I would offer nature spirits. It’s wholesome, sweet, and very natural. Great for those moments when you want to indulge on them.

Chocolate Milk: An alternative to milk and honey. Something I think children spirits would enjoy.

Milks in General: This includes soy milk, almond milk, etc. I find these to be good offerings you don’t leave out, for obvious reasons. Nice for rituals and for those moments when you want to be able to take it away after a little bit. Very filling and delicious.

Cookies, Cakes, and Sweet treats:

Water: I see this most often with ancestral spirits, or spirits you make offerings to on a daily basis. You can enchant it, charge it, make gem elixir with it. There’s a lot of magic in water anyway, though.

Wine/Alcohol: I find a lot of spirits request this, even though I can’t give it to them. Maybe it’s because it’s a ‘spirit’? *badum tssss* Seriously though, this is a fairly generic offering I see a lot.

Juice/Cider/Lemonade/etc: Similar to wine, but much more friendly to your wallet and to those of you who don’t drink for whatever reason. I associate this with friendship for some reason.

Platters: Grab a couple of items from your fridge or pantry, and offer it together. I most often go for grapes, cheese, crackers, and juice. I just find it to be an easy, hassle free offering that doesn’t cost much. Especially if you don’t give it in large quantities, which is totally okay with this, and any other offering really. I like this one in particular because it offers a variety of tastes and energy sources.

Drawings: Pictures, especially things you’ve made, are awesome offerings. It shows you care and are willing to spend time thinking about them. Just like any other relationship, meaningful gifts are awesome.

Photographs: Whether you see something cool outside or online, bringing them a picture that you think they would like is kind. It also shows that you know them pretty well, or are at least trying to.

Embroidery: I have a friend that makes beautiful embroidery pieces for the Hellenic Theoi, whom I worship in particular. They’re full of energy and patience and time, and I think that makes it a great offering. Not to mention they’re just nice to look at.

Sigils: Make sigils for those special spirits in your life! They can be to promote energy, happiness, peace, etc. Ask them what they would like, and make it for them. Add it to their vessel if they have one, and you got a good start.

Natural Objects: Crystals, flowers, pretty leaves, jars of sand. Glasses of water from a stream, rocks, pieces of wood that fall from trees (ask permission before taking any of these things); all are awesome ideas. They have energy, and make them lasting offerings that you can recharge and fill beck up.

Music or Sound: Play a song for them. Play your own musical instrument. Sing, ring bells, clap around. Sound is vibration, and it is energy. It is also something we like. So why wouldn’t most spirits? Ask them if they would like to hear music, or even a specific song.

Energy: Send them balls of energy, streams of it, etc. Help them connect to the moon or the Earth so they can use that as often as they need to. Basically, provide a source for them to live off of when not using your offerings. I do not recommend having them use you as an energy source, except on occasion and for a short period of time, because they can drain you, even without meaning to.

Trinkets: Find something cool at a store? Maybe you pick up a few bobbles at a thrift store. If you feel like they would want it, offer it! You never know what could make them smile, or keep them busy when you’re not home, and they’re not out and about.

Anything You Think They Would Enjoy: Literally anything could be an offering. Find what works for you and what they like. Make special offerings once in a while, too, if possible. And remember, this is a relationship, not a mandatory thing. You are doing this together, and you chose to be a friend of this spirit, most of the time.

I hope this list will help some of you get started! Feel free to add on to this list, share your experiences, etc. Happy offering!

Herb's Properties

Basil:  money, luck, prosperity, happiness

Bay Leaf: energy, cleansing, can be charged with almost any intention

Camomile: Caring, kindness, luck, growth, self-love growth, confidence, avoiding negativity, happiness

Cinnamon: passion, quick success, fire magick

Chia seeds: Growth, health, kindness, Property

Chilli flakes:  Pride, confidence, power, strength, Passion

Cumin: Courage, bravery, protection, loyalty

Dandelion: wishes, charisma, success, good luck

Dill: sexual love, luck, protection

Eucalyptus: cleansing, healing, purifying, relaxing, comfort

Fennel:  hate, anger

Flax seeds: Prosperity, growth, new beginnings

Ginger: fiery passion, success, and personal power

Jasmine: love, dreams, sensuality, luxury and kindness

Lavender: love and attraction, purification, relaxation, restful sleep

Nutmeg: luck, Health, Fidelity, Love, Prosperity, comfort, loyalty

Oregano:  comfort, love, warmth

Paprika:  Pride, confidence, power, strength

Parsley: Cleansing. purification

Peppermint: healing, purification, love and energy, cleansing, prosperity

Poppy seeds: protection, intuition, self-assurance, hexing and cursing

Rose: love, beauty, harmony, romance, attraction

Rosemary: cleansing, purification, wisdom, protection

Sesame seeds: Prosperity, growth, health, nurturing

Spearmint: love, cleansing, renewal, blessing

Sunflower seeds: happiness, growth, joy

Thyme: beauty, strength, courage

Turmeric: confidence, creativity, energy

Vanilla: love and sexuality

tip jar

Felix Felicis - A quick tea potion to improve your luck for 24 hours.

I know everyone and their mother has done a Felix Felicis Spell, but screw it, its St. Patrick’s Day and everyone needs a little luck.  * Inspired by the potion from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series.* Needed:  - A Tea of your choice! ( I recommend Green, Black, or something with Orange, pineapple or pomegranate in it) - Honey - Cinnamon - A bit of sugar - A spoon

Steps:  - Brew your tea as you like it and let it cool just a bit.  - Add a spoonful of honey, a pinch of cinnamon, and a spoonful of sugar.  - First, stir your potion counter clockwise and say/think: “ Bad luck begone, From me and all I own, your affects are well-known,  and now you will leave me alone.” - Now, stir clockwise, and say/think: “Good luck I invite, to free me of this blight,  and give me the insight,  to bring about my own delight!”  - Drink your tea and go about a luckier person for the day!

- Aesa <3 This is my original Spell, please do not repost on any platform without my explicit permission. Reblogging is okay, Reposting is not. 

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.

Candle Color Correspondence 🕯🔮

🕯RED: Binding, Courage, Strength, Lust, Magnetism, Competitiveness, Fertility, Health, Attraction, Protection Magick, Conflict, Dispelling Anger & Hate.

🕯PINK: Emotional Healing, Spiritual Healing, Love, Friendship, Compassion, Protection if Children, Affection.

🕯ORANGE: Luck, Strength, Power, Attracting Luck, Creativity, Success, Professional Growth, Justice, Energy, Happiness, Ambition.

🕯YELLOW: Clairvoyance, Communication, Action, Inspiration, Psychic Power, Memory, Divination, Confidence, Imagination, Wisdom, The Sun.

🕯GREEN: Mother Earth, Balance, Growth, Wealth, Money, Health, Dispelling Envy & Jealously, Dispelling Greed, Beauty, Abundance, Luck, Harmony, Fertility.

🕯BLUE: Communication, Inspiration, Harmony, Occult Wisdom, Forgiveness, Fidelity, Focus, Protection, Truth, Loyalty, Banishing Anger.

🕯PURPLE: 3rd Eye, Psychic Power, Spirituality, Confidence, Success, Divination, Contacting Spirits, Increase of Willpower & Inner Strength, Independence, Spiritual Guidance, Protection.

🕯WHITE: Peace, Truth, Purification, Protection, Spirituality, Positive Outcome, Happiness, Moon Magick, Cleansing, Balance.

WHITE CAN BE USED IN PLACE OF ALL COLORS DURING SPELLS AND RITUALS

🕯BLACK: Binding, Dispelling, Reversing of Spells Hexes and Curses, Destruction of Evil & Negative, Habit Breaking, Grounding & Protecting, Repelling Spells.

🕯BROWN: Friendship & Balance, Intuition, Concentration, Animal & Earth Magick, Healing, Locating lost objects, Blessing of a Home.

🕯INDIGO: Balance restoring, Spell Blocking, Creating Balance, Karma.

🕯GOLD: Divination, Luck, Money, Success, Wealth, Sun Worship

Hey I was wondering if you had any advice/resources on beginning/using osteomancy?

sure!resources:

- this site gives a pretty good overview of bone throwing and even gives some ideas on bone types

- this site is also good for info on how to interact with your bone set

- this video is also a good source of information

- this book was my go to when starting out in bone throwing. it has a lot of information and ideas and can really give you a good idea of where to start

tips:

- this type of divination is very personal and super intuitive. there’s no right or wrong way to read the bones. you assign each bone their meaning and so the interpretations are always solely on you.

-anything can be used in osteomancy, but it’ll still generally be called a “bone.” for example, i used a bullet shell, and a bottle cap and various other oddities. i still call them bones

-this may not be up your alley, but i’ve found that talking to my bones and “feeding” them has only made my intuition with them stronger. don’t worry about looking silly, it’s fairly traditional to do.

that’s really all i can think of. you can find more articles and such by googling “bone throwing” instead of osteomancy. if you have any more questions about it, feel free to ask me. good luck!!