My Hellenic Polytheism Recommended Reading List

CORRESPONDENCES BY NEED (PART 1)

Action: jasper, carnelian; cinnamon, clove, allspice, ginger

Anger management: amethyst, sodalite; catnip, vervain, lavender, chamomile

Animals: turquoise, pearl; catnip, chickweed; Bast, Diana, Artemis, Cernunnos, Herne, Rhiannon

Beauty: amber, opal, rose quartz; rose, elderflower; Aphrodite

Career: aventurine, jade; basil, bayberry; Athena, Jupiter

Children: moonstone, malachite, turquoise, coral; catnip, chamomile, lavender; Brighid, Demeter, Hera, Horus

Communication: lapis lazuli; Brighid, Mercury, Sarasvati

Courage: agate, amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, hematite, jasper, tiger’s eye; ginger, bay, thyme; Mars, Artemis, Athena

Creativity: amber, citrine, lapis lazuli, carnelian; vervain, vanilla; Apollo, Athena, Brighid, Odhinn

Defense (see also Protection): hematite, obsidian, onyx; Brighid

Depression management: rose quartz, sodalite; catnip, rose, St. John’s Wort

Family: malachite, moonstone; Demeter, Horus, Frigga Fertility: malachite, moonstone; motherwort, nuts, seeds; Hera, Inanna, Demeter, Isis

Happiness: aquamarine, garnet; rose, lemon, orange; Amaterasu, Bast

Health and Healing: amber, green agate, aventurine, bloodstone, hematite, carnelian, lapis lazuli, jasper, citrine; apple, bay, cinnamon, comfrey, feverfew, eucalyptus, echinacea, ginger, garlic, hyssop, mint, rosemary, thyme, willow; Apollo, Mercury, Brighid, Hygeia, Isis, Sulis

Hearth and Home: fire, earth; Hestia, Brighid, Vesta, Frigga

(from "Spellcrafting")

I finally finished reading all the books I had to for my college session! I also found a signed copy of A day of fallen night by Samantha Shannon!! I was so excited I got it immediately!!

please never stop talking passionately about the things you love

Rahdue’s Wheel, a 78-card spread.

Holy poot….

How do I know which deity I’m talking to, or if it’s just my own inner voice?

Silas’s guide to Deity Communication 101:

Okay, so the absolute first step is to get to know yourself. You need to be able to identify what it feels like to be alone in your head/body, in order to identify when something else is there with you. So step away from your altar, don’t call upon any deities, and just spend a few days alone. Things to pay attention to:

what does your inner voice sound like? does it change or is it always the same?

do you think in a monologue, or have conversations with yourself? do you play different voices?

have some imaginary conversations, with your mom or best friend or a celebrity even. what does that feel like, sound like, etc?

how often do you hear your own voice? are you monologuing constantly? do you have to convert your thoughts into words?

is it usually quiet in your head, or pretty loud with lots happening? what do each feel like to you?

how often do you visualize? what does that look like? do you pick what you’re seeing or does it pop up randomly?

Talk to yourself out loud. does your inner voice respond?

Talk to someone else out loud. what happens in your head during that conversation?

Really pay attention to these things and getting a solid grasp on how your own brain works and responds to all sorts of situations.

Ready to move on? Now you can start learning to identify your deities. Depending on how your brain works and how your relationship with each specific deity works, communication could look any number of ways. Be open to learning what that is, rather than trying to force a certain communication style!

Start out by just trying to get time with your deity:

pray or talk to them, out loud or in your head!

spend time at your altar, gather things that remind you of them or that are associated with them.

write them letters

meditate while focusing on them & your connection to them

Hold crystals you associate with them, light them a candle, so a spell for them with herbs they like, etc

give an offering, invite them to join you for a meal

read their stories and myths, get to know them, learn how their worshipers usually get in touch with them

go out in nature, find a spot that reminds you of them. Could be a tree, a body of water, a clearing in the woods, a patch of wildflowers or mushrooms, a big rock, etc. Make that your place, meditate there and invite them to join you.

use tarot, a pendulum, etc. (pay attention to the energy you feel, if the same cards come up frequently, etc.)

Look for art, music, etc that reminds you of them. or make some!

Now WHILE you are doing all of the above, pay very close attention: does it ever feel different than when you’re alone? what does it feel like? Pay attention to all your senses!

How does it sound in your head? is it louder or quieter? does your inner voice respond the same as usual? does it take on a different tone or pace sometimes? do you hear a different voice altogether?

do certain things pop into your head, like you don’t hear a voice but knowledge or answers are just kinda… air-dropped to your brain?

How do you feel emotionally? is there a sense of calm/peace? is there a rush of excitement? does your energy feel different?

what do you see visually? is anything different about your visualizations? do you picture certain animals, imagery of your deity or things associated with them (plants, the sun/moon, water, etc)?

do you taste or smell anything specific?

do you have any bodily sensations, like butterflies in your stomach, a tingle down your spine, hair standing on end, goosebumps, a warm feeling in your chest, a sudden burst of energy, or a suddenly so calm you’re almost sleepy?

does music play in your head?

do you recognize an energy or “vibe” when you’re interacting with them? what does it feel like?

Be patient with yourself, it may take time to really tune into these things and feel the connection. But eventually you might see a pattern of how you feel when you interact with your deity. I recommend trying to start with just one, and really master how it feels when you’re together.

Once you know what they sounds like or feel like to you, it will be easier to tell when they’re around or communicating with you. You’ll learn to recognize them even when you’re not at your “spot” or specifically praying to them.

Hi! I don’t know who this’ll reach, but I’m just trying to dive back into dark/light academia and all to escape from reality in these trying times

Enjoy these doodles I did during class :))

Grimoire - For Witches to Beware of

Witchcraft, Pagan, & Occult Author Red Flags Please read this if you practice witchcraft The Dangers of the Perception of Witchcraft Why the “Law of Attraction” is actually a toxic mindset The Law of Attraction, Prosperity Gospel, and Other Ways of Controlling How People Think You Don’t Need to do Shadow Work Witchy Mistakes to Avoid SPIRITUAL TRAPS Why Witchcraft Might Not Be Working For You practicing safe witchcraft Safety 101 in witchcraft Covens vs Cults: How to tell if its a harmful cult or a helpful coven! Cults? In my life? It’s more likely than you think. “Hey. Don’t join cults.” Example red flags. Witch Red Flags "New Age Things That Bother Me, A Witch” Things Toxic Spiritualists Say “You are right to be suspicious of the ‘starseeds and lightworkers’ alien BS” “Things I think are red flags in the spiritualist community and why” Craft Poison Toxic Covens Watch Out For Online Cults Toxic Positivity Spiritual Bypassing & Why It’s Harmful Toxic positivity and spiritual bypassing in the witch and spiritual communities

✨ Types of magick ✨

Elemental: This magick is practiced by honouring/acknowledging the elements: Water, Earth, Air, Fire and Spirit, and incorporating them into your spellwork. Those who practice elemental magick usually dedicate different areas of the altar to each element, and call upon them during spells and rituals.

Lunar: This type of magick honours the moon and it’s energy and phases. When practicing kind of magick most people prefer to work during the night hours rather than during the day.

Green: This is the practice of gathering plants, herbs and flowers and using them in herbal magick, this can be done by creating mixes/blends of different plants or primally using plants, herbs and flowers in spellwork.

Hedge: A type of magick oriented around more spiritual practice like astral projection, lucid dreaming, spiritwork and healing.

Kitchen: Magick that is worked specifically through kitchen tasks, such as herbal mixtures, brewing, baking, and cooking. This practice honours many aspects of the natural world; including herbs, flowers, crystals, fey, and the elements.

Cottage: Taking a step further from kitchen magick, this way of working is weaved into every day tasks around the house, including tasks for loved ones, such as cooking, cleaning etc.

Garden: Magick that is mostly, if not all herbal and botanical-related. A witch that practices garden magick will feel closely connected to earth and could be considered a green witch.

Crystal: Magick that works with stones and crystals. Many witches use this form of practice as it’s so reliable, as well as having a vast range of crystals with even wider range of properties to choose from, wether it’s using crystals in healing techniques or chakra balance and crystal meditation, they have so many magickal uses to try!

Faery/Fey: ! DO NOT TRY THIS AS A BABY WITCH ! This Magick is based around the fae and faeries, and the communication with them during spells and rituals.

Chaos: A form of magick using new, non-traditional methods, in which the practitioner push their will and intention through the universe. It’s a very new and individualistic practice, with may fragments from other common forms of magick. Sigils would fall under this category.

Bone: This magick involves collecting and use animal bones in practice.

Grey: A neutral practice, witches that work with grey magick neither benefits or harms others. Grey magick may also both harm and benefit at the same time, balancing and neutralizing.

Space: Magick that involves working with the planets and stars, by focusing their magick and incorporating properties of each/ planet(s).

Divination: This magickal practice involves using tools to be able to predict the future, ask questions and receive guidance. Tools incude: tarot, pendulum, wax readings etc.

Dream work: This magick involves keeping a ‘dream diary’, in which you can study your dreams to gain better perspective, not only in a psychological sense but in a psychic one too.

Spirit work: Those who practice spirit work talk to spirits to help find guidance, usually though tools. This can be partially helpful for those who work with Deities.

Shadow work: Shadow work is the magickal process of exploring your inner darkness, or ‘shadow self’. This practice uncovers all the repressed traumas, and helps you find a brighter path to enlightenment.

Why are ‘witch tips’ always like “use quartz as a substitute for any crystal!” and not the good stuff like “River spirits are almost always looking to fuck shit up, so if you rile em up and then feed them a name, they’ll lay someone tf out.”

Write your Witchcraft

The thing is, we change. We are not the same person we were five years ago. Hel, a lot of us are not even the same people we were last week. We change, and our beliefs, favourites, thoughts and the way we see ourselves changes with it. 

The same is true for our witchraft, religion and spiritual beliefs. This is why I have a list of question that I like to answer for myself every couple of years. I first started this when I came across a list of questions by Juniper from Walking the Hedge (site no longer in use) in 2008, yes, over ten years ago. Every few years I filled in the questions and looked back at the answers I gave before. Some never changed, some changed quite a lot. 

When our coven started a new lesson plan, I gave out the list of questions as well. We sealed our answers in envelopes and plan to fill them in again, once we finish our lessons. Then open the envelopes and look at the answers side by side. To see how we have changed. 

I looked at the list last week and found it actually lacking a bit. The questions were very deity- and spiritual based, so I was missing some more questions about my personality and witchcraft. So I decided to make my own list of questions! 

Since I wanted to make this more a weekly journaling/grimoire prompt for myself I put together 52 questions. These can be answered weekly (maybe every year) or you can work through the list in one go and repeat that every few years or so. 

Some notes on the wording: I consider myself both a witch and a pagan, but to keep it easier to read I only used wording like “witch” and “witchcraft”, they can however be substituted for “pagan”, “paganism” or even “my path”, should that fit you better. When I talk about “sacred space” this can both mean a ritual space like a temple or casting of a circle, but also just your home or outdoors witchy environment.

I’d love it if you would tag anything you feel comfortable with posting online with the tag #writeyourwitchcraft!

What draws me to witchcraft?

How do I see the divine?

What in witchcraft makes me happy?

Do I want to follow a path that has to do with a little nature, or a lot of nature?

What areas of witchcraft would I like to learn more about?

Where do my witchy talents lie?

What kind of deities, if any, do I want to honor?

How do I believe magic works?

Simple or elaborate spells/rituals? Why?

What are my views on cursing/hexing?

Do I want to practice something similar to my ancestors?

What are the basic morals and ethics I feel I should live by?

What in nature am I drawn to; the ocean, animals, the trees, etc?

Which (witchy) holidays, if any, would I like to celebrate and how?

How do I believe divination works?

Would I like to work with a group some of the time, all of the time or not at all?

Which aspects of witchcraft appeal to me most, which the least?

What do I believe happens to us when we die?

How do I see mythological creatures?

When do I feel most magical?

How much is witchcraft woven into my daily life; is this too much, too little or just enough?

What kind of witch do I feel I am?

Which texts/quotes best describe my current path?

Do I like research and gathering info, or do I like things handed to me?

Which things about witchcraft worry or scare me?

What is my favourite element?

How do I see gender (roles) in witchcraft?

Am I interested more in magic, or spirituality?

Do I like to be told how to do things, or would I rather figure it out on my own?

What rules, if any, do I live by when it comes to witchcraft and magic?

What do I gain from witchcraft and magic?

Formal or informal rituals/spells? Why?

What subject do I love to study?

What is my favourite type of magic; candle, sympathetic, sigils, etc?

What would my perfect witchy day be like?

Would I want to be dedicated/initiated?

Who do I honor (ex: deities, ancestors, myself, etc), and how do I, or would I like to, honor them?

How do I create a sacred/witchy space?

What do I believe is needed for a succesful spell/ritual?

Which cultures do I draw from in my witchcraft?

What is my learning style; books, websites, videos, more hands-on?

What, if anything, in my mundane life influences my witchcraft?

What are my hobbys, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft?

Where do my non-witchy talents lie, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft?

What would my dream witchy life look like? What steps can I take to work towards it?

What would my dream sacred space/witchy home look like? What steps can I take to work towards it?

What symbols correspond with me; runes, animals, flowers, gemstones, etc?

Am I an open and proud witch, or do I (need to) hide my craft?

What are my favourite witchy items/tools; divination tool, ritual tool, décor, clothing, etc?

What is holding me back in my craft?

What is my pre-spell/ritual routine?

What are my ultimate witchy goals and how can I work towards them?