I get a lot of asks about how I started my notebook whenever I post pictures of it! I do have a background in scrapbooking/collage/art, which is reflected in my witchy notebook. I’ve been a self-identified practicing witch for about a year now, but many of the practices in my craft have been in my life for years.
Some people call them Book of Shadows, grimoire, or simply just a “witchy notebook.” Here are some tips that helped me when I was beginning my notebook. Lengthy post with pictures!
Notebook? Binder? E-grimoire?
There are lots of ways to keep all your witchy information together. You can keep your grimoire on the notes of your phone, documents on your laptop, Canva/other graphic design website, loose leaf papers or in a binder, or a regular bound notebook. Don’t place too much pressure on yourself! Whatever feels right is right.
Start with what you like (but stay open to what you don’t know!)
Your notebook won’t have the same authentic magic if you fill it with things that you don’t actually care about! While my first notebook contains some aspects of witchcraft that I don’t practice now, they were still important to me at the time. Your notebook is a visual representation of your journey, so don’t be afraid to fill it with your current obsession with crystals or a one specific tarot card.
These are some really great tags for exploring topics when you don’t know where to start!
witch tips
baby witch
witchy 101
And some simple ideas for your first entries:
your birth chart
what you want to use magic for
a collage page of your witch aesthetic (or ideal aesthetic)
a wish list
your favorite crystals
a simple moon calendar (full/new moons of the year, month, or just information about the phases)
your favorite colors, seasons, places in nature etc
record information about the chakras/energy points in the body
list of your favorite witchy movies and tv shows
draw teacups and fill them with drawings of your favorite blends
drawings of your ideal familiars (animal companions)
A couple witchy things that you may not have heard about but are super cool to incorporate into your craft:
sigils (visual symbols charged with an intent)
incantations (short spells that sometimes rhyme)
Don’t knock Pinterest.
I personally like to have very organized and planned out pages. I’ve resorted to Pinterest *many* times to get graphic ideas for lunar calendars, zodiac wheels and other witchy things that require a lot of information in a condensed graphic. Pinterest has great inspiration for those special, planed out spreads.
Separate or keep it altogether.
Some people like to keep everything in one notebook/binder, others like to separate their topics or layouts into different notebooks. I started a bullet journal for more planned out pages, but my general notebook is a leuchtturm1917 with dotted grids where I have reference pages and personal entries.
Here are some pages of my notebook that I’m especially proud of.
Ultimately, your notebook is a reflection of YOU. It doesn’t have to be super witchy, covered in cobwebs with etched pentagrams. It can be a simple composition notebook or a super frilly lace journal. Be true to yourself and your notebook will never lead you astray. Best of luck and feel free to message me!
Can I please request for an easy obsession spell? I've been in a relationship with a guy for 5 years and he seems very uninterested in me lately. I don't want to give up on a guy i love for the past 5 years and simply move on. I hope you could help me out
An obsession spell sounds a bit dangerous to me, darling. Perhaps you could explain your situation a bit more and we’ll find a better type of spell for you.
For now, something softer perhaps?
First find a box of matches that you’ll use. Put a rose petal in the box, or some rose quartz, and leave it overnight under the moonlight to charge with loving energy. If you need to use a lighter instead, leave it in a jacket or pants pocket with the rose petals or quartz, same deal with the moonlight.
Find moment to light a literal fire between you, whether it is a campfire, or maybe you sit down to dinner and decide to have a candlelit meal for once. You can sit across or next to him, as long as you’re generally pointed to the candle.
Use the prepared matches/lighter to light the fire. Have a friendly conversation over the fire. Feel the fire’s energy filling up your relationship.
Drop the word “spark” into the conversation casually. This is the only word you will need for the incantation, and you only need to say it once. Let the conversation last as long as it can.
Put the fire/candle out safely, but try to keep the fire’s energy in mind. It does not go out with the flame if you don’t let it.
You can do this spell more than once if you like, but try to space it out.
As requested by @birdsofthestrangestfeather, here’s my own little pendulums 101! 🌙✨
In short, it can really be anything, as long as something is hanging from a chain or string and is able to swing. It can be a fancy crystal pendulum from Etsy or a local witchy shop, a necklace you already own, a pocket watch, or even something as minimalist as a string and bead/needle! Get creative; it doesn’t have to be fancy, any particular material, or bought, just as long as it works as a pendulum.
Cleanse, cleanse and cleanse! Unless you made it yourself (which if you did, you don’t have to keep reading unless you want to!) your pendulum has probably been through a lot! I’d recommend leaving it out in the full moonlight for some hours or overnight, running your pendulum a few times through sage or incense or even visualizing a white, cleansing light around your pendulum! Other options include letting your pendulum cleanse in sunlight, dirt and water.
Do a little research if you have a crystal pendulum to see what would suit that crystal best and otherwise trust your intuition on what would be the best way to cleanse your new pendulum!
Just like people, pendulums have different ways of working. My pendulum swings back and forth for yes while yours may circle around! To figure out or establish how your pendulum says yes, no, maybe and unknown/I don’t know, you have to program your pendulum.
If you want your pendulum to show you, ask it basic, obvious to answer questions. I’ll ask, “Am I six foot tall?” and my pendulum swings no so hard it nearly breaks! But when I ask, “Am I five foot three?” it goes straight to yes. Repeat this sort of thing until you figure out how your pendulum works so you’ll know when asking questions how your pendulum is answering!
If you’re more comfortable telling your pendulum how it’s going to answer, then go right ahead! Tell your pendulum to swing a certain way for maybe and another way for no, etc, etc. Make sure to test out the way you programmed your pendulum afterwards with basic questions!
Also, there’s always the option of using a pendulum board, which is a visual yes/no/maybe/unknown guide for your pendulum, to help program. You can also use these boards later on, if it’s your preference. Even when using one, though, don’t forget to test your pendulum and make sure it’s answering correctly with obvious questions.
It’s quite simple and easy to use a pendulum! You simply hold the top of the pendulum between your fingers (I usually hold with my pointer finger and thumb) and keep a very steady hand. You don’t want to be shaky or moving it because this will obviously interfere with the actual answer. Once your hand and the pendulum is steady, keep it suspended above any surfaces and away from anything it would knock into. Then, go ahead and ask your question and wait to see!
Back to the programming of a pendulum, it depends on how you did that. Just be sure to give your pendulum plenty of time to settle into the answer and make sure it’s truly swinging or circling in the direction you think it is. If you’re not sure, you can always ask again!
Congrats!! If you’ve reached this point, you know a lot about pendulums! Buuut, I do have a few more points to make…
🌙 Start off with harmless questions. It’ll take some time for the pendulum to really be in sync with your energy, so gradually build up from things like, “should I eat this for breakfast?” or “would purple be a good color to wear today?” to the stuff that actually impacts your life.
🌙 Once you get in tune with your pendulum, you can expand your uses for it. You can ask for advice on things you’re indecisive about, talk to your spirit companions or guides, do readings for people and even talk to your gods. They’re very useful all the way around!
🌙 Again, always make sure to let your pendulum have enough time to answer you!
🌙 Whenever your pendulum is acting up, not answering like it usually would or the like, give it a good cleanse. Just like other witchy tools, pendulums like to be cleansed often, especially if you do readings with it!
I absolutely adore my pendulum and use it often, so I definitely recommend that every witch give it a go!
Also, thank you to @birdsofthestrangestfeather for asking me to put together this post! 🌙✨
I have been performing a bit of energy work+spell with an ailing plant this past week. I find this practice to be helpful at getting me to spiritually focus on my plant and its needs. I align myself with its experience and try to help it recover while lifting the spiritual morale. This is my personal method on how I work on a sick or injured plant. I sometimes just use my own energy, other times I call upon other energies for an added boost. 🌺🌸🌺 🌱First, I troubleshoot my plant and figure out what’s wrong with it. A google search is useful if I am dealing with something I am unfamiliar with, however typical problems could be overwatering, watering at the wrong time of day for certain plants in certain climates, not watering enough, wrong sunlight situation, infection, poor soil, or shock. I take the necessary steps to correct the issue first. The energy work is to help the plant recover, not to heal it without tending to its needs.
🌱Place plant in front of working space, or I sit near the plant (for the ones not potted). I also place any items corresponding with my intent on the soil before the plant (crystals, oracle cards, etc). Tip: I like to play plant favorite music during this energy work session.
🌱Center and ground
🌱Optional for extra energy that is not my own: Visualize a large taproot extending from my tailbone and rooting deep into the earth.
🌱Call upon the earth to grant me extra energy that I can direct to the ailing plant. (If I work with any other spirit or energy, or call upon guardian spirits like spiders or bees, this would be the time).
🌱An earthly energy winds its way up through my roots and into my body. As it flows through me, it intermingles with my personal energy and I focus on charging it with an intent. For example, to heal or aid growth.
🌱I feel the energy being charged as it begins to flow up my spine, into my chest, through my arms and out my finger tips. At this point I place my fingers on the plant gently and visualize it receiving my energy.
🌱When it feels complete, I withdraw my roots and send the plant one last burst of my energy to seal the session.
🌱Leave an appropriate offering for the condition it is recovering from. If it needs fertilizer and water, consider offering banana eggshell water. (Obviously do not offer water if the plant is suffering from being overwatered). I also leave a strand of my hair with the plant as a protective token.
🌱Leave an offering for the earth for its assistance, and to any other spirits I called upon. 🌺🌸🌺 I repeat these sessions every day or every other day until my plant is beginning to show signs of improvement. Sometimes they don’t make it, and that’s ok. I bless the plant and return it to the earth (compost) so that it may be useful for future growth.
Agate - for use on a target who has entered a space uninvited, i.e. someone breaking into your home or vehicle
Alexandrite - causes obsession and delusions
Amethyst - causes sensitivity and self-destruction
Astrophyllite - causes those who have died at the hands of another to torment the target from the grave
Diamond - causes blindness, confusion, and disorientation
Diopside - lowers inhibitions and causes secrets to be revealed
Emerald - causes greed, selfishness, and isolation
Flint - causes conflicts
Garnet - leeches energy from a target
Kunzite - induces vulnerability
Kyanite - used to infiltrate a target’s mind
Meteorite - used as a catalyst in baneful magick
Obsidian - used for general aggressive magick
Onyx - causes nightmares and mental torment, and is used to break up relationships
Opal - used to store negative energy, and then to be given to a target
Ruby - used to focus your intent on a target
Black - law, justice, manifestation, sorrow
Red - force, energy, confrontation, jealousy, anger
Greenish Yellow - strife, discord, illness, conflict, jealousy, greed
Magenta - catalyst
Ague Weed - confusion
Angelica Root - misery, strife, distress, discord
Asafoetida - drives enemies away
Bayberry - depression
Bindweed - binding
Blackberry Root - distress
Black Salt - misery, strife, distress, discord
Bladderwrack - illness
Bloodroot - substitute for blood
Blueberry - confusion, strife
Boneset - distress, confusion
Cayenne Pepper - anxiety
Chicory - discord
Chili Powder - discord, misery, strife
Cinquefoil - discomfort
Clove - stopping gossip
Cramp Bark - pain, illness
Dogbane - deception
Dragon’s Blood - destruction, strife, misery
Hemlock - discord, sadness
Henbane - illness, discord, melancholy
Jezebel Root - wickedness, ending relationships, punishing unfaithful lovers
Knot Weed - binding
Lemon - sourness, bitterness
Lemon Verbena - a boost of power, ending relationships
Lime - sourness, bitterness
Lobelia - discord
Mace - misery, strife
Mandrake - misery, strife
Mistletoe - isolation, confusion
Mullein - spirit work, nightmares
Mustard Seed - strife, discord
Myrrh - a boost of power
Nightshade (Belladonna) - discord, illness
Onion - strife
Patchouli - illness
Poke Root - confusion, discord
Poppy Seed - discord
Rue - misery
Safflower - destruction
Spanish Moss - bad luck
Slippery Elm - ending relationships
Stinging Nettle - jealousy, envy, discomfort
Sumac - bad luck
Tobacco - a substitute for any baneful herb
Tormentil - distress, harm, discord
Vetiver - silence
Wormwood (Absinthe) - misery, strife
Yew - spirit work
Yohimbe Bark - impotency
Mars - power, force, energy, war, conflict, jealousy
Saturn - law, justice, chaos, revenge
Neptune - confusion, illusion, chaos
Pluto - death, mystery, crisis
Waning - binding
Dark - destruction, banishing, justice
Black - power, manifestation
DNA (saliva, nail clippings, hair, blood, etc.)
Drawings
Photos
The target’s name written on paper
The target’s signature
An item that belongs to the target
Cigarette butts
Broken glass
Razorblades
Vinegar
Lemon/lime juice
Alcohol
Bones
Needles
Nails
Thorns
Blood
Urine
Saliva
Shark teeth
Catfish spines
Murex seashells
Flying Devil Oil
Dead insects
Black sand
Charcoal
Disclaimer: I do not condone the unethical practice of collecting or harvesting animal parts, or forcefully obtaining certain biological taglocks. These are just ideas, and I am not responsible for anything you choose to do with them.
Updated: 3-9-2017
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).
1. What is the energy currently surrounding this relationship?
2. How do I truly feel about this person?
3. How does this person truly feel about me?
4. Where is this relationship headed?
5. Advice on how best to proceed for the highest possible good of both involved?
updated 10/4/2017 - a masterpost of several smaller masterposts, of nearly 300 different spells organized by type / intent / occasion, plus other resources
all links under the cut because holy fuck this post is still very long
Keep reading
For my witches who cannot speak, struggle to speak, or choose to remain quiet.
This post is a compilation of ideas and personal methods from fellow nonverbal witches. Not everything may fit for you, but hopefully it will give you a starting point!
Write the words and focus your energy on bringing them into being. You could burn the piece of paper to finish off the spell. One contributor also mentions burying the paper.
Our thoughts are powerful. Focus, and say the words in your mind.
You can also mouth the words without speaking them, if that helps you.
Whispering is also great if that works for you!
Find power in silence, use it as its own tool.
Use instruments to create certain rhythms for different spells, instead of chanting.
If sound is helpful, play music that you feel relates/connects you to the spell.
Cast circles and finalize spells by snapping.
Sigils are concentrated intention–use that to your advantage. They can absolutely be a base for spellwork.
Use a power source; the elements (candles, soil, the air around you, a bowl of water, etc.), crystals, burning herbs, etc.
To feel energy without using words to confirm: use tools that have stronger energy that you can physically feel.
Make spell candles, jars or sachets.
Use sign language! I’m of the opinion that everyone should at least learn the basics, and there are plenty of free resources out there!
Casting a circle: “You can cast a circle by walking in a circle and visualizing your footsteps imprinting on the earth below, creating a barrier of light (color chosen to correspond to intention at the time), walk the circle 3 times and see the barrier in your mind forming a perfect sphere around your work space, becoming brighter and stronger each step you take.”*
To banish: write the things you wish to banish on a piece of paper, light them on fire with a black candle and place in a burn bowl.
To release and invite: use two pieces of paper. On one, write down everything you’d like to release from your life. On the other, write down everything you’d like to invite into your life. Burn the release paper and dispose of the ashes, keep the invite paper. (Optional: I like to do this on the new moon, and have a black candle above the release paper and a white candle above the invite paper).
Protective charm: (click here)
To raise you out of a dark place: (click here)
Spell of destruction: (click here)
Use a cajon, bells, singing bowl, steel tongue drum/moondrum, or other instruments to raise energy!
“I have a specific snapping rhythm that is ‘magic time’. When I snap the rhythm once or three times it’s go time and I fall into the zone.”*
“For energy work and to raise energy I dance and as my heartbeat gets louder in my ears I mentally chant with it, focusing on a short phrase, intention, or incantation with the energy I physically raised and the meditative repetition of my mind.”*
Use a power source; the elements, crystals, burning herbs, etc.
Most energy work involves movement, rather than words (click here for energy work with restricted movement).
Worship: write letters, devote your actions, decorate an altar. Prayers don’t need to be spoken! Or write your prayers and place them on an altar, burn them, or keep them. (Bedridden worship)
Divination doesn’t require spoken word, especially once you have a bond with your tools. You can always use writing, sigils, or your thoughts to channel your intent/question. (Bedridden divination)
Charge crystals with your intent and wear them/carry them in a pouch.
Kitchen witchcraft, garden magic, tea magic, etc. etc.
Utilize the correspondences of the items in your life.
Bedridden witch series
Bedridden witch: Discreet edition
Limited hand mobility + witchcraft
Spoonie witch masterpost
Sigils: (pain + symptoms) (mental illness + energy) (healing + misc.)
Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms
Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms
@mynameisvernal, @melinoealtar, @steffithesciencewitch, @the-corset-witch*, @healing-sun-witch and anonymous. Thank you!
**Do not repost or share on other platforms - reblogging is okay!**
I want to teach you all how I make my fabric poppets, and how you can make your own too. Here is my post detailing all of what I do to make my adorable plush fabric poppets.
I also sell them if making them yourself is too much fuss for any reason. Here are details.
——Supplies——
- Fabric of your choice- My fabric of choice is fleece. The fabric should be a color you can match with your intent, personality, etc.
- Person-shaped pattern to trace- You can use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to make your paper pattern, free hand, or if you like you can use mine which I will gladly sell you a copy of- message me for details.
- Needle and thread- You can use different thread colors for different intentions.
- Stuffing and any extras- herbs, objects, etc.
- A marker of a similar but darker color than the fabric
- Scissors
-Step 1-
Lay out your fabric. Lay down the poppet pattern on the fabric. I prefer to weight them down with rocks so they don’t shift. (You can of course choose rocks that match your intent.)
-Step 1.5-
I then trace the patter with a maker that is of a similar color to the fabric, but off enough that I can see it. Don’t worry about being super clean with your lines because they will be hidden in the inside seams.
-Step 2-
Next, to sew the pieces together. Place them together so that the side with the marker line faces out.
Then, grab your needle and thread. Thread your needle.
Be sure to have a piece of thread to work with that is about as long as your arm. This should be enough for the whole poppet, but make sure to have more on hand just in case.
-Step 3-
Start your sewing in the place where the opening will end later. I typically choose the “armpit” of the poppet because then the opening gives me great access to all of its insides for later.
I use a kind of slip stitch for sewing. Really any stitch will do, but I will show you mine. I put the needle all the way through both pieces of fabric to make a loop, and before tightening I stick the needle through the loop, then tighten. This makes a kind of knot that is durable and nice looking. Here’s a picture:
Aside- Why I hand sew- I find the process of hand sewing to be not only relaxing but also more magical. I can focus on my intentions while I sew, and with each stitch I’m fastening my energy into it. This is by no means the only way you can sew them together, but it is my personal preferred way.
Continue sewing around to join the two pieces of fabric. **Remember to leave a 1.5in opening! Also leave your thread attached!** This is the only way to turn it inside out and hide the seams.
- Step 4-
Turn it inside-out. Reach inside and grab the top of the poppet’s head and pull it through the hole like shown. You may need to poke around a bit to make sure everything is fully turned right-side-out.
-Step 5- Once right-side-out, your poppet is ready for stuffing. Start with the appendages first, that way you can make sure they are well-fluffed. After that, if you want add in balls of stuffing in the places of major organs to make it more human. (A ball for a brain, a ball for a stomach, that kind of thing)
If you like, add in herbs or objects for your intent, or keys to link the poppet with the person that you’re targeting. Consider positions of the objects and herbs inside the poppet and the significance. I added rose petals in the head and heart of this one, and mint and rosemary in the stomach. That gives it some symbolism, and what witch doesn’t enjoy symbolism?
-Step 6- When it is stuffed to satisfaction, sew up the opening with the same stitch we sewed with before flipping it. This leaves a rough edge, and I actually like it that way. It makes it easier to cut open the stitching if you ever wanted to for any reason. I can’t be the only person that’s wanted to rip someone’s stuffing out (there’s a curse idea) so I hope you find it useful too.
Do a couple more stitches to assure your thread isn’t going anywhere and then cut it off.
Ta-da! A perfect poppet for all of your witchcraft needs.
Happy crafting!
- Max the Death Witch
candle intention ideas
here are some ways to infuse intention into your candle spell work that aren’t carving, oils, & herbs:
• wrap string around the candle with colors that align with your intention (ex: black string for protection)
• anoint the candle with a certain element if it is prominent in the spell (ex: water for a dream spell, dirt for grounding, etc)
• wrap a taglock hair around it
• write your intentions on a piece of paper or bay leaf and tie it around the candle
• tie a printed paper photo around the candle (taglock) could also be a piece of paper with their handwriting on it
i store all the witchy things i find here
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