Daily Oracle Reading For 6-6-16!

What to use when in Witchcraft -

Ok so I am gonna say this is my personal reference, its mainly through associations. You might TOTALLY disagree and thats chill!

Its more something to think about and a guideline of what I use myself…

Candle Magic:

Carve a candle when…. the candle represents the target, in sympathetic magic. When, essentially, the candle is a poppet and lighting it is a symbol of destruction or empowerment to the target.

Place something under the candle or before it when… you are doing general candle magic, when the candle represents empowering a wish, idea or concept.

Anoint the candle when… doing work with spirits and gods, when you mark the candle for a special purpose, when doing high magic.

Herbs and plant work:

Use dry herbs when… it is convienent to do so, when the herbs are out of season or when you need to store them in a jar or bottle for a long time.

Use fresh herbs when… the spell is very earth orientated, when doing magic on behalf of another or when the magic is sympathetic so that the herbs represent the target, within kitchen witchery.

Use flowers when… when the spell concerns love and sex, or perhaps fertility and attraction, due to flowers being the reproductive parts of the plant.

Use fruit when when… working with children as a target, or with children practising. When you work with fertility and abundance spells.

Use wood and twigs when… when the spell is for protection or binding, for hardiness.

Burn herbs (recaning/incense) when… you wish to cleanse or banish, or invoke an atmosphere - that being, for divination using herbs that are said to open up your perceptions, when banishing, burning acrid or pungent herbs.

Use oil infusions when… you wish to anoint something, when you wish to mark something permanently.

Use floral waters (rose water etc) when… dealing with spirits and gods, for glamour as it has a long history of being used to beautify.

Crystals:

Use metals (haematite, copper, ores etc..) when… you work in protection, when you do energy work due to the conductive properties of metal.

Use shell, pearl, coral and such when… you work in sea magic, when you work within emotional magic due to the element of water.

Use points when… you wish to direct magic to a target.

Use tumble stones when… you wish the magic to be gentle or manifest at a certain place on the body on a target.

Use geodes when… you work in protection, when you work with glamour aimed to obscure and hide.

Knot magic:

Use cotton when… it is convenient.

Use silk when… doing spells that benefit the target.

Use ribbons when… love spells and wealth spells, as well as confidence and beauty spells. Spells to ensure victory.

Use rope when… doing spells that aim to hurt or weaken the target, binding especially.

Poppets:

Use cloth when… the spell aims to benefit who the poppet represents, use particular care when sewing or cutting, choose colours that are appropriate to them.

Use wax when… you wish to manipulate the target.

Use clay when… wish to create fetches or servitors, when you wish to create permanency.

Use twigs when… you wish to bury or throw the poppet out, when you want the poppet to be easily destroyed by breaking or setting on fire.

Sigils:

Use an alphabet grid or circle when… you wish the sigil to be more random and less attached to you.

Combine the shapes of letters from a sentence… when your sigil is very specific and a short term goal.

Use your own personal symbols when… you want the magic to be connected to you, when it is personal.

What’s Wrong with my Circle?, or, Circle Casting Clinic 101

You’ve probably heard of how to cast a circle, and of many methods to do so, a dozen times in the course of studying magic or Witchcraft. But have you ever felt your circle waver, your boundary un-drawn, or your sacred space distinctly not sacred? Here are some common problems with drawing and casting a circle of (most) any type, and some possible solutions.

Cleansing and Prepping: Is the space around you ready for a circle to be cast? Many casters find it helpful to sweep the area with a besom, or broom, beforehand. If you’re not the broom type, you can cleanse an area by walking the circle’s area clockwise sprinkling saltwater. (Don’t use salt outside - or your grass will be sorely upset).

Cleansing and Prepping Yourself: If you’re stressed out, you’re in no shape to cast anything! A ritual bath is the best way to ready yourself for magic, but in a pinch, asperging yourself with incense smoke (best blends for purification include sage, pine, rosemary, and cypress) will do just fine. If smoke is out of the question, a good grounding and centering, imaging the negative energies drawing out through your feet and drawing in the earth’s solid energies, will do the trick. You could also try a ritual tea to get your mind and body in the right mood (try something with rose or calendula), and to flush out previous energies.

Consecrating Yourself within the Circle: Feel like you drew the circle just fine, but you’re not exactly connected within it? Consider consecrating yourself within the circle, if you haven’t done so already. An easy and common means to do this is to dip your finger into the oil you are using for the circle, or, sans oil, the sacred water or regular water, and drawing a sigil representative of your circle on your forehead after your circle is drawn, in order to vow your connection to the circle (if it helps, say “I am now consecrated within this Circle.” as you do so). An all-purpose sigil would be a simple circle, but a cosmic lemniscate, or solar and lunar sigils, may be appropriate, depending on the circle.

Ritual Consciousness: Your circle seems to be drawn right, you feel pretty okay, but why aren’t things “lifting” to that magickal place? If you’re finding it hard to bring your circle to the otherworldly realm, take a second to breathe deeply. This is a broad question with lots of potential solutions: Strewing herbs associated with the moon phase and hour around the circle, matching your incense to the time or deity called, ensuring your lights are turned off, and making sure music doesn’t reach over a threshold where it can steal your attention. There are so many fixes - the main thing is to try and see what works by practicality! A surefire way for me has been to ensure the appropriate scent, whether it be through oils or incenses.

“Is My Circle Working?” and Circle Doubt: This one is an easy fix. Using an athame or other tool (if you drew a circle using natural power, use two fingers set together in an athame point) and cut a doorway in your circle. Step outside your circle, and back in, seeing if you can sense a difference in energy (and what that difference is). If it helps, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in and out of the circle, feeling the ways of each. If your circle lacks staying power, close your circle and try again, seeing where you went wrong. But remember - the power is in you. There’s no “Wrong” way to cast a circle, but you can trip yourself up sometimes!

Hope that covers some of it - I know there’s endless ways. If I’m missing any major or common problems, let me know and I’d be glad to cover it!

Blessed Be,

Ash

witches cat aesthetic

(more here)

“Motivation” sigil as requested, using my own alphabet. Sigil requests are open :)

Fishtail Selenite 🔮🕉 #crystals #selenite #crystalporn #metaphysical #healing

Saying Hello to the Dragon.

so you wanna pendule...um?

(aka the biwitched guide to using a pendulum)

What is a pendulum? most of the pictures you’ll see on tumblr show pointy crystals on a chain. but any weighted object with a string can turn into a pendulum! my broke self uses a metal ring on a string! 

Pendulums can be used for divination, and/or connecting with spirits, entities, deities etc. 

How does it work? (this is pretty much just my theory but hey) a pendulum works by tapping into your energy, and consequently the energy of the world around us! when you ask a question, it will give you an answer based on which way the energy is headed at that specific moment (which means it’s not always right, our world is so changeable) 

When you’re doing readings for yourself, I find at least, it taps into your subconscious, it can be very enlightening! 

I’ve also heard when you’re doing readings for yourself, it moves from micro-pulses in your fingers so if someone has a source on that, cool. 

If you are using a pendulum to contact another entity, that entity’s energy will be influencing the pendulum’s swing. 

How do I use one?

1. Before I do any divination or energy work - I get into the zone by opening my chakras, you can just meditate if you prefer !

2. Hold the end up the pendulum’s string or chain in between your thumb and forefinger

3. If this is your first time using your pendulum, you will have to program it:

ask a series of simple yes or no questions to which you know the answer (e.g. are my eyes brown, do i like cats, am i eighty years old) 

pay attention to what the pendulum does for yes questions and no questions

try the same thing with true/false statements

now you have a sense of how your pendulum answers questions (e.g. my pendulum swings away from me for a no, and side to side for a yes. some people’s pendulums swing clockwise/counter clockwise!)

4. You’re ready to pendule! (making that the official verb)

If you want, you can use a pendulum board! It is a small board with letters and/or numbers. You may be able to spell out a word! (works best with pointy pendants.)

Troubleshooting:

pendulum is not moving?

sometimes movements are really subtle, don’t discount any slight movement!

you may have to wait longer, it could be mulling over an answer

there could be an energy blockage, try cleansing your pendulum (or yourself!)

your pendulum might not want to answer, best to move on to a different question, or a take a divination break!

inaccurate answers?

practice makes perfect, i’ve been doing this for 6 years! and i was pretty crap when i started

word your question differently or try wording it as a statement your pendulum can agree or disagree with

sometimes, you’re just wrong - it’s okay

hands shaky/worried you’re moving it yourself?

steady your arm on a table, chair, and just let the fingers holding your pendulum hang off the edge!

if you’re confident in your energy skillz you can try hanging it from an object, put your hands underneath or either side and focus your energy on it! 

trust yourself and your intuition friend

If nothing is working

“program” your pendulum again (some days I have to do this between every question

try a different pendulum! if it’s a crystal - maybe you aren’t connecting well! Maybe even make your own (like my circle on a string) you may connect better with it!

today just might not be the day, don’t fight it - your pendulum is your friend

and remember major life decisions are best made with careful thought, planning, and research, not pendulums!!!!

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The Four Elements

Fire, earth, air and water are fundamental energies that operate in the physical world. They are the building blocks of life. Rocks and soil, wind, the sun, lakes and streams. These are examples of the physical form in which we see the elements. Equally, if not more important are the vibrational qualities of these four elements.

Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, textures — pretty much everything — can be grouped into one of the elemental categories. When you begin to understand these connections you can learn to draw upon these elements to produce the results you desire. Part of your development as a witch involves using these elements to your advantage. You may use them singularly or combine two or more elements to create balance. Each element has its own properties, and it’s up to you to decide how to use them.

🔥  Fire

Physical energy: heat and light, also all kinds of activity, leadership, and power

Qualities: Warm and Dry

Astrological Signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius

Tarot Suit: Wands

Cardinal Direction: South

Vibration: masculine or yang

Color: red, orange

Substances: bay laurel, cedar, frankincense, red jasper, sage

Body Parts: energetic aspects, movement and body heat, the will and sense of sight

Animals: mammals, warm blooded

Season: Summer

Humor: Choleric

Elemental: Salamanders

💩  Earth

Solid physical matter: agriculture, mining, and the ground and what lies under it, also employment, money and physical property

Qualities: Cool and Dry

Astrological Signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn

Tarot Suit: Pentacle

Cardinal Direction: North

Vibration: feminine or yin

Color: brown, green

Substances: barley, coltsfoot, horsetail, mandrake, patchouli

Body Parts: solid parts, bones and muscles, and sense of touch

Animals: reptiles, insects, worms

Season: Autumn

Humor: Melancholic

Elemental: Gnomes

💨  Air

Gaseous physical matter: the atmosphere, the winds and weather, also communication and conflict, violence, pain and suffering

Qualities: Warm and Moist

Astrological Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius

Tarot Suit: Swords

Cardinal Direction: East

Vibration: masculine or yang

Color: purple, yellow

Substances: borage, elecampane, lapis lazuli, onion, valerian leaf

Body Parts: gaseous parts, air in the lungs, nervous system, intellect, sense of smell

Animals: birds, wings and hollow bones

Season: Spring

Humor: Sanguine

Elemental: Sylphs

💦  Water

Liquid physical matter: oceans, lakes, rivers and streams, also social and sexual interactions, and happiness

Qualities: Cool and Moist

Astrological Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces

Tarot Suit: Cups

Cardinal Direction: West

Vibration: feminine or yin

Color: blue, black

Substances: iron, green jasper, lily, seashells, turquoise

Body Parts: fertility and reproduction, liquid parts, such as blood and lymph, emotions, sense of taste

Animals: fish, cold blooded

Season: Winter

Humor: Phlegmatic

Elemental: Ondines

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