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Latest Posts by grimoire-archives - Page 3
A Bit Bout Yule
Hey lovely witches, Yule is almost upon us so here are just a few things about Yule that I would consider useful for everyone
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Also known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun’s “rebirth” was celebrated with much joy. On this night, our ancestors celebrated the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth. From this day forward, the days would become longer.
Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.
Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.
Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).
Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.
Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.
Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.
Activities of Yule:
Caroling, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe
Best spells during Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.
Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.
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To The Witch Who Doesn’t Feel “Witchy” Enough:
✨You are divine.
✨Witchcraft isn’t a competition.
✨Differences should be celebrated, not lamented.
✨You contain multitudes. Your feelings and perceptions may fluctuate, but you will always be you.
✨What another witch says about you says more about the witch than it does about you.
✨Taking a break from practicing witchcraft doesn’t mean you are taking a break from being a witch.
✨You are what you are, and that is pure magic.
End of the Year Spell
As Yule passes and the new year is beginning, I have a spell I enjoy using this time of year as it brings good things to come whilst helping to remember and learn from the past.
1) Think of what you want to manifest in your life, and the hardships that you have endured to make it as far as you have. Be proud, you’ve made it so far and will go much further.
2) Say the following:
As the sun warms my skin,
May it heal me within.
As the dark slowly leaves,
May I remember the night’s mysteries
As the wheel turns once more,
May happiness find me evermore.
Yule Logs
The Yule Log is a long-standing Yule tradition. This tradition has evolved over time and has been represented in many ways, including the traditional French and Dutch desert cake (“bûche de Noël” or Kerststronk). In this entry, I will cover different traditions, the history of the Yule Log, and ideas so you can make your own this holiday season!
A. HISTORY
The Yule Log has its roots in the Nordic tradition, where Yule was celebrated as one of the two solstice festivals. It was originally an entire tree! The tree would be carefully chosen for the ceremony and taken into the home. Then, the thickest end of the tree would be placed into the hearth while, quite comically, the rest of the tree stuck out into the living room. The Yule Log would then be lit with the remains of the previous year’s Yule Log, which had been carefully stored in the home during the year. It was strictly stated that the person relighting the fire must have clean hands. The old Yule Log was then slowly fed into the hearth fire over the 12 Days of Christmas (Christmas Day – 5th of January). The Norse believed that the sun was in fact a massive fiery wheel that rolled away from the earth and began its journey back to earth at the winter solstice.
The French Yule Log tradition stipulates that the whole family must help cut the Yule Log. They would burn a little bit of the log each night, and if there was any log left after the 12th night, they would store it in the house because it was said to protect the home from
lightning. The Netherlandish tradition said that the log must instead be stored under the bed to bring protection. Other Eastern European countries waited and cut down a tree on the morning of Christmas Eve. The people of Cornwall, United Kingdom called the Yule Log “The Mock”, and the bark is taken off before it enters the home.
As Christianity became more of a presence, the tradition of the Yule Log melded with the Christmas Eve traditions. The log was sprinkled with libations of mead, oil, and salt by the head of the household. The ashes of the Yule Log would then be tossed into corners of the house to protect it from evil spirits.
As for the kind of wood used for the Yule Log, different countries have different traditions. The English use Oak, the Scottish use Birch, and the French use Cherry. Some traditions say to use Ash twigs instead of a log! This comes from the Christian tale of Christ’s birth, where the shepherds gave Mary and Joseph twigs of Ash to burn so they could keep baby Jesus Warm.
B. BUCHE DE NOEL
This take on the Yule Log tradition is a cake that is made up of sponge cake and chocolate buttercream covered in wonderful little sugar decorations. When I talked to my mom about baking one this year, she told me I was on my own because they are very hard to make! I guess one too many of her Yuletide bakes went terribly wrong…
The Tradition of the Yule Log cake stretches back to the Iron Age. After the Christian religion took over, it was becoming more and more impractical to have large trees in one’s home, especially when the hearths were also getting smaller and smaller. Because of this, it seems, the advent of a cake version of a Yule Log was created. This fit much more nicely into the hearth of Iron Age Europeans, and was also very delicious. Sponge cake, the base of the Yule Log, is one of the oldest forms of cake! The first appearance of sponge cake is in
1615 in a tome called “The English Huswife”. It wasn’t until the 19th century when Parisian bakers popularized the Yule Log, and used it as a vehicle to show off their decorating skills.
I don’t have a reliable Yule Log recipe because this is the first year I will be attempting to make one! There are plenty of recipes online, so make sure to share which ones work for you!
C. WHY A YULE LOG?
Yule or The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and therefore the darkest day of the year. If we look at other traditions, we see many of them bringing forth light in the darkness. The Jewish tradition lights the Menorah, Kwanza is celebrated with the lighting of candles, and the Christian tradition as well as secular traditions see the lighting of a Christmas Tree. Yule is a celebration of the death and rebirth of the God and the return of his light as the days get longer once more. The Yule Log has become a very easy way to celebrate this return of the light.
D. CELEBRATING WITH YOUR YULE LOG
There are a few different ways of celebrating with a Yule Log, and all of them are entirely up to you! For a Kitchen Witch, you can use your Yule Log as a centerpiece for your Yuletide feast. This can be especially effective when surrounded by candles and in dim lighting.
One Yule Log ritual I came across in my research very meaningfully connects us to our ancestors. Write a few wishes or resolutions for the next year on a piece of paper and attach them to the Yule Log. Place the Log into the fire and meditate on all those who have come before you who followed this tradition. Ask them to aid you in fulfilling your wishes and resolutions during the next year.
E. IDEAS
Wood Correspondences: make your Yule Log from wood that corresponds with your intent! Aspen may be used for spiritual understanding and Oak may be used to symbolize the strength of the God. These are only a few suggestions, and I would recommend taking the Correspondences Series where you will learn more about Tree Magick! We also have a Tree Magick series at the school.
Decorations: this is up to you and your own correspondences! Traditionally, pine cones, mistletoe, holly , pine, and cinnamon are used. It is also traditional to decorate with candles to represent the return of the God. You can easily attach these with a glue gun, or by melting some of the candle wax on the log and sticking the end of the candle to the wax until it hardens. You can also tie a festive colored ribbon on your log to complete the look!
Location: sure, you can burn your Yule Log inside, but it would also be fun to burn outside! If you have a fire pit it might be fun to bundle up, bring a few cups of hot chocolate, and watch your Yule Log burn in the fire pit while surrounded by your friends and family.
Colored Flames: certain chemicals, when sprinkled on wood, will cause the fire to turn different colors! Perhaps you could correspond the flame color with a ritual or spell intention on the night of Yule. Make sure to take proper precautions and be careful!
Barium Nitrate: Apple Green Borax: Vivid Green Copper Sulphate: Blue Potassium Nitrate: Violet Table Salt: Bright Red
Disposal: you can follow any of the traditions stated above or make your own! It is important to also note that ashes from a Yule Log are also wonderful fertilizer for plants, so keep that in mind if you have a garden.
! Be very careful when disposing of the ashes of a Yule Log. It is considered very unlucky to throw the ashes out on Christmas Day, so wait before disposal.
F. WORKS CITED
James Cooper (2000-2019), T he H istory of the Y ule Log, Why Christmas?, https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/yulelog.shtml
Patti Wigington (October 14th 2019), Make a Yule Log, Learn Religions, https://www.learnreligions.com/make-a-yule-log-2563006
Stephanie Butler (August 31st 2018), T he Delicious H istory of the Y ule Log, History Channel,https://www.history.com/news/the-delicious-history-of-the-yule-log
Catherine Boeckmann (December 12th 2018), What is a Yule Log?, The Old Farmer’s Almanac,https://www.almanac.com/content/what-yule-log-christmas-traditions
Dried orange slices = Mini Solstice Suns The perfect decoration for a Yule Log. Here’s a way to dry some for our event this Saturday! https://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/diy-dried-orange-slices/ Event invite: https://facebook.com/events/2455125771377780/ #InnerCircleSanctuary #ICSEvent #Wicca #witchcraft #Yule #YuleLogs #crafting #solstice #WinterSolstice https://www.instagram.com/p/B5q1ArGndfb/?igshid=utay482dm2zp
Ways you can celebrate Yule that aren’t just Christmas.
Celebrate on the correct days!: Yule is a solstice sabbat, which means it’s on the day before, of, and after the winter solstice*. It’s NOT December 25th.
Hang all kinds of evergreens everywhere: Do you know why? Because while snow is very pretty at first after a while the never ending blinding white and brown and black starts to drive you slowly insane. Holly and Mistletoe are the two brightest green plants you could get your hands on during winter so of course they were everywhere!
Light a massive bonfire**: It’s dark and cold and everyone is miserable. Burn some shit! If you aren’t a heathen then Yule is about the rebirth of the sun god(dess?). Welcome that guy back with the best sun imitation you could get!
Leave feed out for Odin’s Horse: Kids would leave out hay or treats for Odin’s Horse(Sleipnir) to eat while he road in the wild hunt. A gift given means a gift must be returned and so Odin(also known as the parents) would leave treats for the kids. Yes this is where Santa came from.
Make winter clothes: Winter was the time when all the housework was done because, well, you can’t plant when the field is under five feet of snow. Clothes were often made during this time and given to the family.
Welcome guests into your home: If there was one thing the Germanic people valued it was hospitality. Friend who has no were to go? Come on over! Your kid’s friend who comes from a tricky home? Why don’t they stay a night or two. Everyone is invited!
Anything that still has Yule in the name probably comes from the original: Yule log, Yule boar, Yule goat. These are all from the original feast day.
Yule is a feast to celebrate the wild hunt: So make a feast!
And finally, throw one hell of a party***: Yule is a Norse holiday guys. There was no such thing as a low-key party in that culture. The majority of their myths can be summed up thusly; partying, beating up someone who ruined the partying, partying because they beat someone up. Have fun!
*These are the days I do it because celebrating for 12 days - 2 months is impractical.
**Don’t be dumb with fire.
***Don’t do anything illegal.
I’m not a heathen, and also observe Yule very low-key because I still live in my parents house. If there is anything I missed or got wrong please add onto this!
My Yule Traditions:
Warding The Home
On the shortest day and the longest night of the year, the veil between the spirit world and ours becomes thin. This allows wandering spirits the cause mischief and possibly invade your home. Unfortunately, if you live in an apartment as i do, or just don’t have a chimney to burn the infamous Yule Log, you’ll need to resort to other measures to protect your humble abode through the long night. What I do is place one seven-day candle with a protective sigil drawn on it in every window of the house. Placing snowflake obsidian or black tourmaline stone in the corners of the window can add an extra boost of protection, sealing your house up good and tight.
Offerings for Wondering Spirits
This year, instead of just shutting out spirits, I want to provide them with some goodies while they’re on their journey. Currently, I’m planning on baking yummy Yule cookies and placing a good travels charm on them for any spirits who find themselves at my front door.
Spiked Spiced Apple Cider
Sorry baby witches, this one isn’t for you. However, the recipe can be used without alcohol. This year, I’m placing a protection charm over the cider while it simmers, protecting anyone who indulges in this yummy sweet nectar. Later on, I’ll be posting a recipe for the cider as well as the spell.
Yule Logs
Despite much uncertainty surrounding the initial beginnings of the Yule Log tradition, today, the Yule Log is a way for witches, pagans, and non-practitioners alike to celebrate the winter solstice. What we do know about the traditional Yule Log is that it was a piece of wood burned, at least, for the day/night of the solstice itself (though perhaps for the entirety of Yule, which originally lasted many days) and part of the log was always kept unburned so that it could light next year’s Yule Log, passing the light from one log to another throughout the years. This unburned part was said to bring luck and protection to the home it was kept in throughout the year. These days, we use the Yule Log to light and warm the home, ward off dark and danger, and remind us of both the darkness of the solstice and the soon-coming light.
Here are a few ways to bring a Yule Log into your solstice celebration this year.
For a sweeter option you can always bake a Chocolate Yule Log - time consuming, but not overly difficult, a dessert Yule Log can be a fun way to bake alongside family and friends while you warm your home and fill your stomachs.
If you do happen to have a fireplace then choosing, buying, finding, or chopping your own large wooden log or bundle of logs (usually Oak, but many sources vary) is certainly an option if you want the more traditional experience of tending a fire throughout the longest night of the year.
My favorite option for adopting the tradition of the Yule Log, however, is to decorate a log with ribbons and foraged items and drill holes for candles to burn throughout the night, lighting your home without the need for a small blaze. Here are two sources on how to make one and what they can look like when finished.
Happy Yule!
Simple ways of turning any recipe witchy ✨
🌰 Bless the salt before using it for a protection spell
🌰 Stir clock wise for cleansing, and counter clock wise for banishing
🌰 Rosemary in a stew is yummy and also works great for protection or self love
🌰 Add hot spices to attract love, and warm spices for hearthy spells
🌰 When you bake a cake, when your greasing the tin, draw a sigil in the butter and then cover up with flour. Blessed be!
🌰 Use a toothpick to draw protective rhunes on your biscuits
🌰 Black pepper for hexing! (even on baked goods)
🌰 Use a strong liquor to ward off evil spirits (and have a sip while you cook, we can never be too careful 😉)
A Brief Guide to Yuletide Plants & Herbs
MISTLETOE: love, protection, luck, reconciliation, banishing.
SNOWDROP: hope, cleansing, beauty.
LEMONGRASS: banishing negativity, attraction, purification.
CINNAMON: love, happiness, money.
SAGE: longevity, wisdom, protection, wishes. aiding in grief.
ROSEMARY: purification, dreams, healing.
GINGER: power, manifestation.
ORANGE: divination, fortune, health, love, good luck, money.
BAY LEAVES: cleansing, psychic abilities, wishes, dreams. banishing, protection.
ASH: prophetic dreams, luck, attraction, energy channelling.
THISTLE: vitality, cleansing, purification, uncrossing.
CEDAR: protection, attraction, healing, invocation.
PINE: positivity, protection, fertility, warding.
FRANKINCENSE: cleansing, consecration, banishing.
CHESTNUT: longevity, intuition, grounding, focus, success.
IVY: fertility, protection, healing.
HOllY: prosperity, protection, luck, dreams, rebirth, banishing.
JUNIPER: protection, warding, divination, secrecy, love.
OAK: money, success, strength, fertility, stability, health, healing, luck.
SANDALWOOD: healing, purification, consecration.
YEW: necromancy, astral travel, death.
CYPRESS: purification, stability, focus.
MYRRH: purification, banishing, protection, healing.
Disclaimer: do your research before using or handling any plant or herb. Some herbs are dangerous when burned or ingested.
Relationships with the Gods
There are a lot of posts on Tumblr along the lines of ‘How do I know if X god accepts me/my offering etc’. And for someone starting out in worship I suppose that desire to have an instant gratification for your effort/actions is understandable.
But in my experience, it doesn’t work like that. You don’t get a divine voice in your ear, or a symbol magically appearing in front of you. (It can happen, (unpopular opinion >>) I just side eye those things because it sounds a lot like self-fulfilment fantasy.)
More commonly, I would liken the experience to planting a seed.
You prepare the ground for the seed by tilling and caring for the soil. You water the seed, give it light, perhaps even give it plant food, and then you wait.
And you hope that it grows.
You don’t stop giving these things, because if you do, the plant might wither and even die.
You can talk to your plant, but you don’t expect the plant to talk back to you in human language. But the plant sprouts, and grows, and you feel damn good because you helped nurture this plant. It could have grown fine on its own somewhere in the countryside because in the nature of these things, wild versions of plants don’t need us to flourish.
And then, because of all your devotion and hard work to this plant. It gives you flowers, fruit, vegetables, something that benefits you, and the reciprocity relationship feels good. You got something back for all your hard work. Nature benefited you.
And not to simplify the Gods into one plant metaphor, but rather than our BFFs, they are something vastly greater than ourselves that we nurture a relationship with for our benefit, because without it, life is just that little less nice.
This is probably the witch advice you didn’t ask for, but I’ve found it’s much easier to remember to do general periodic maintenance that’s otherwise easily forgotten or put off when tied to milestones such as solstices, equinox, new, or full moons.
For example: Stow your winter blankets or clothes on the Vernal Equinox and take them out again on the Autumnal Equinox. Replace your air and water filters on solstices and equinoxes (every 90 days). Begin new 30-day challenges or do reset/cleaning of your living space on the new moon (every month).
Living cyclically breaks life down into manageable little blocks of time and helps us live in the moment by paying attention to the ebb and flow of the Earth.
Khaire 💫💀🖤
Pronunciation Of The Wiccan Holidays
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The names that are generally used to denote the Wiccan sabbats (as well as festivals of many pagan traditions) come from Gaelic (both Scots and Irish), Welsh, Norse, and Anglo-Saxon. There are variations of pronunciations for each one.
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Samhain (31 Oct)
Irish Gaelic for "summer's end." The standard Irish pronunciation is "sow-in" with the "ow" like in "cow." Other pronunciations that follow with the many Gaelic dialects include "sow-een" "shahvin" "sowin" (with "ow" like in "glow").
The Scots Gaelic spelling is "Samhuin" or "Samhuinn." There is no linguistic foundation for saying this word "samhane" the way it might look if it were English. When in doubt, just say "Hallows" or even "Hallowe'en."
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Yule (21 Dec)
Norse for "wheel." It's pretty much pronounced just like it looks, although if you want to make a stab at a Scandinavian sound, it'll be more like "yool" and less like "yewl." This is the winter solstice.
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Imbolg/Imbolc (1 Feb)
Irish Gaelic for "in the belly." Pronounce this one "IM-bullug" or "IM-bulk" with a guttural "k" on the end. Other names include Candlemas; Brighid (pronounced "breed"), who is the Irish goddess whose festival this is; and Oimelc (pronounced EE-mulk), which means "ewe's milk" in Scots Gaelic.
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Ostara (21 Mar)
Saxon name for a maiden goddess of spring, loosely connected to Astarte and Ishtar. This one's easy -- "o-STAHR-uh." Other names include Eostre (say "OHS-truh" or "EST-truh"). This is the spring equinox.
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Beltane/Bealtaine (30 April)
Irish Gaelic for either "fires of Bel" or "bright fires." If you want to try it in Gaelic, you can say "bee-YAWL-tinnuh" or "BELL-tinnuh." Unlike Samhain, this word can within the linguistic structure of its language of origin be pronounced like it looks -- "BELL-tane" -- without totally abandoning its original construction. Other names are Walpurgisnacht (vawl-PUR-gis-nahkt) and May Day.
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Litha (21 Jun)
Norse or Anglo-Saxon for "longest day." You can say this one just like it looks, or you can try for a Scandinavian sound and say "leetha" with the "th" more like a "t." This is the summer solstice.
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Lughnasadh/Lunasa or Lammas (1 Aug)
The first is Irish Gaelic for "festival of Lugh" (a major Irish deity); the second is Anglo-Saxon for "festival of the loaves" ("hlaf-mass"). Don't panic at that spelling; the second (which is modern Irish as opposed to old Irish) tells you all you need to know.
Say "LOO-nah-sah." (Some people maintain that the Scots dialect says it "LOO-nah-soo.") Lammas is just like it looks, "LAH-mus."
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Mabon (21 Sep)
This is believed to be a form of the Welsh word for "son." Therefore, it would probably be pronounced "MA-bon" with the "a" like in "mass." However, most Wiccans and pagans say "MAY-bon." This is the autumn equinox.
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Article Source : https://clubs.ncsu.edu/spm/FAQ/11pronounce.html
Image Source : https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aX5vVHBX_/?igshid=llpzumjzbbcb
I found out Odin & Hœnir & Loki shares a common theme: birds! Odin is raven(or eagle), Hœnir is water bird(either crane, heron, or swan), Loki is falcon/hawk.
Oh that’s true! They are all associated with a specific kind of bird at some point in the myths. Odin and his ravens are sort of recurring because they’re his familiars, so to speak; Hoenir’s relation with swans/water birds comes from Lokka Tattur if I’m not mistaken, when he hides the boy in a single bird’s feather; and Loki being a falcon/hawk comes from the Skaldskaparmal, when he borrows Freyja’s falcon feather cloak in order to rescue Idunn
What are the best sources for giving offerings to ancestors, gods, & local wights? What are the sources & what do you do exactly when giving offerings, like you specifically, give us an example pls?
This is a great question but I really have no hope of answering it adequately, this is such a complicated subject that it would take several doctoral dissertations.
There are basically four subcategories of sources for this sort of discussion which are: accounts by contemporary non-pagans, archaeology, Old Norse literature, and folk tradition. Some contemporary accounts of pagan worship include Tacitus’ Germania, The Life of Saint Ansgar by Rimbert (which among other things refers to deification of a dead king), Ahmad ibn Fadlan’s Risala, Ahmad ibn Rustah’s Book of Precious Records, the account by Ibrahim al-Tartushi, De Administrando Imperio by Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Thietmar of Murseburg’s account in his Chronicon, Adam of Bremen’s Gesta Hammaburgensis (part way down the page in the link ; mentions animal and human sacrifice as well as pouring libations, and I’m sure others that have slipped my mind. I’m not sure if it’s contemporary or not but the Life of Saint Columbanus also refers to Suebians gathering to sacrifice a cauldron full of beer to Wodan.
Sacrifice is an extremely common reoccurring feature of the Icelandic sagas. Scholars have been studying the instances in the sagas for literally centuries trying to determine what elements are The best source on representations of blót in Old Norse literature is unfortunately, as far as I know, only available in Icelandic, which is Blót í Norrænum Sið by Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson. Some of what he discusses also appears as a chapter in the book A Piece of Horse Liver. The most important sources to his study are Landnámabók, Íslendingabók, Hákons saga góða (part of Heimskringla), and Eyrbyggja saga. These accounts typically deal either with legal proceedings, major holidays like Jól or Winternights, or attempts to gain something by supernatural intervention (such as settlers sacrificing to gods to guide them safely to Iceland). It can be very difficult to tell which elements are genuinely preserved from pre-Christian times and what is post-Christian speculation. Also in many of these instances the actual proceedings of the sacrifice are not described, it’s only said that there was a blót. In many cases there is a reference to wooden idols and especially to blood being poured over them; there is also reference to worship of trees (esp. Heiðreks saga where a tree is called blóttré and reddened with blood), forests, rivers, and lakes. A few times animals are worshiped such as when Flóki Vilgerðarson blóts to three ravens which eventually guided him to Iceland. In Kormáks saga a figure who is directed toward a hill where álfar live and told to redden it with bull’s blood and make a meal of the meat for them and leave it on the hill. Eiríks saga rauða also features a figure, Þorhallr, who sneaks off from the settlement and recites poetry for Thor. Saxo Grammaticus can also fall under this heading. The poem Hyndluljóð also refers to Óttarr sacrificing to the ásynjur although the details of what Freyja is saying about it is a little obscure.
In the archaeological record sacrifice varies wildly over time even in the same places. I’m not sure what your upper or lower limit on time is here, but sacrifice changed so radically over time from the stone age through to the end of the Viking age that it would take a shelf of books to describe each. A book that I read (well, part of) for things that go that far back was Scandinavian Archaeology by Håkon Shetelig and Hjalmar Falk, although it is quite old now and you can probably find something better. Although it specifically concerns Denmark, I also recommend The Prehistory of Denmark by Jørgen Jensen. Around the turn of the century bog deposits of weapons, jewelry, and other equipment are common. As time goes on, gold seems to increase in importance, with Gullgubber coming into play at the end of the Migration age. Glass beads were found among the remains of what’s believed to be a hǫrgr (stone alter) in Norway and were interpreted as having been offerings left on it. Also within this category are grave goods – since burials make up a huge amount of Scandinavian archaeology they are usually discussed in terms of more general studies of material culture rather than directly from a religious/votive perspective.
As far as folkloric tradition goes I am mostly familiar with Icelandic folklore although I understand that bowls of porridge with butter were left out for house- and homestead wights in mainland Scandinavia. In Iceland around Christmas it was believed that it was the designated time for the elves to move (that is, change residences); they left the lights on for them and sometimes left out something for them to drink. There are recordings on http://www.ismus.is/ of interviews with Old Icelanders who had heard stories of people sacrificing a bundle of hay to a bog in order to get better weather. There was a part of a sheep’s heart called Ullareyru ‘Ullur’s ears’ which into modern times in Iceland was cut off the heart when the sheep was slaughtered and buried deep in the earth (I can’t find a source for this, but I was taught this in class).
Here is some further reading:
Terry Gunnell, “Hof, Halls, Goðar and Dwarves: An Examination of Ritual Space in the Pagan Icelandic Hall.”
Preben Rønne, “Horg, hov and ve” (a description of the Norwegian hǫrg and vé complex mentioned above)
Jakob Orri Jónsson, “Food, blood and little white stones: A study of ritual in the Icelandic Viking Age hall”, a master’s thesis on ritual space in saga-age Iceland.
Lilla Ullevi, a pagan cult site that has been the subject of archaeological investigation
As far as what I personally do, it depends entirely on the situation (I have not lived in the same place for more than a year since I became heathen so I’ve had to adapt frequently). If I’m not indoors I try to be near a body of water, at an elevated place, or near a tree. I don’t really worship indoors if I’m alone. When I lived on the east coast of the US I would try to be at the beach either when the sun rises or after it’s set (depending on the situation) and recite the “Heill Dagr…” verses from Sigrdrífumál or something else if it seems more appropriate. At one place there was a rock that looked like a huge Mjölnir sticking out of the sand and I would pour libations over it. When I am with one of my friends we pass a bottle back and forth and toast to gods and/or ancestors and/or whatever until the bottle is empty. There is a certain rock where we have left lamb meat for ravens; we’ve also left meat offerings in the jetty. She has a small bookcase alter with objects relating to Freyja and Thor on it where we leave offerings, especially if we are drinking we pour some of whatever we’re drinking into a small glass and leave it there. I go especially off the rails at Þorrablót and last year actually did the Þorri-welcoming ritual (that I highly doubt has anything to do with pre-Chrisian paganism, btw). I have frequently participated in group settings. It’s my opinion that ritual should really never not be accompanied by music, but that’s just me. If I have something to say I always do actually say it, even if it’s only a whisper (this is inspired by Eiríks saga rauða).
I think that in the sources one can discern two distinct threads, one that emphasizes reuse and reaffirmation of the ritual landscape in which you’re permanently situated, and the other which emphasizes transforming your current setting into one that is relateable to the mythological cosmology (see the Gunnell paper). For better or worse I’ve been stuck with the latter. That means hunting for bodies of water or auspicious-looking trees where I hopefully won’t be seen. Some day when I’m not moving so frequently and maybe even have some actual money I’d like to work out something more consistent that involves permanent structures or landscape elements.
I am still very much still in the process of formulating some kind of praxis and I highly doubt I will approach it for years. At least for now it’s more about experimentation than repetition. We do not have a “right way” and getting comfortable with ambiguity is a necessity.
The Light.
a tarot spread for litha.
1. The Heart.
The heart of the sun is your center. This is where you hold all your truths. Do not live in fear any longer. Let this card be your constant reminder that the time has come to be the person you truly are.
2. The Air.
The rays of the sun can be felt all around you within the warm summer air. Let this card be your constant reminder that you have been reborn as a being of strength and unwavering positivity. When you feel the warmth of summer, remember you are a new creation.
3. The Light.
Let the light of this new day chase the shadows of doubt far away. Know that there is nothing you cannot obtain. Let this card be your constant reminder that you have the ability to achieve your goals.
They certainly are!
I hope it’s ok to ask, if not feel free to just delete, lol, but I was wondering how do you motivate yourself to do things with your craft? I’ve just lately felt comfortable calling myself a witch, but right now it seems like it’s in name only. It’s like I want to do things, but I’m just so tired after work I just sit and watch netflix. :/ Right now isn’t the best time, everyone who can work is over worked, but if you have any tips I’d appreciate it. Thank you for your time! :)
Keep in mind we live exceptional dire times, and cut yourself some slack. I don’t know what it is you are doing, but if you are one of these workers who are forced to be, as they call it, on the front line - whether you are a doctor, a postman, a driver, a cashier, a nurse... - then your mundane life sure must be hectic right now. That being said, if you are a proficient magical practionner as you claim to be, then I suppose you already know separating the mundane and magical parts of yourself and your life is delusional. They will, and they shall, overlap.
When you wake up in the morning, what offerings do you put out for your spirits - be it house spirits, land spirits, gods and allies ? What prayer and hymn do you whisper, what bond do you acknowledge and strengthen ?
What talisman, what jewelry, what oil or what charm do you carry into your purse, pocket, or about your persona ? What for ?
What blessings, what protections, what blastings and curses do you bestow upon yourself, your loved ones, your enemies, when the night is dark and the moon hiding ?
How do you keep your magical hygiene going, how do you keep your senses sharp ? How do you train your eyes to see beyond, in smoke, cards, dreams, bones or mirrors ?
What do you read in your downtime, what podcast do you listen to in the subway, on your way to and back from work, on your lunch break, and before going to bed ? Do you follow any course ? Do you look for the ciphers in the stars, the glyphs in the ground ? What omens do they portent ?
How often do you take a walk in nature, when is the last time a plant or animal taught you something ? When is the last miracle you performed just for the sake of it, just because it’s fun and exhilarating ?
Are you good with your hands, do you craft or create, do you brew, cook, weave, all in attunement with your practice ?
It is about making the time, not because this is something you should do, but because this is something you are. Magic is not always rituals and fireworks, no, it is about constance, it is about kindling and tending an inner Fire. So make sure those embers don’t die out, amidst the ebbs and flows, growths and recessions of power. There is a fine line between laziness and indulgence that we all must learn to walk, so do not coddle your weaknesses. Respect your tides, for we all wane and waxe, but ride them.
hmmm feeling the need to get lost and goat herd in some unknown alps and live in a little cottage drawing and writing books, picking mushrooms in a small woven basket, planting lots of herbs and bathing in cold rivers when the full moon is up.
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Welcome to Witchcraft - A Post for Beginners
Witchcraft is a practice or a skill. It is not, in and of itself, a religion. It is not a faith (although some people may practice witchcraft in a religious sense). Anyone, of any religion, can be a witch. A witch does not have to be a Wiccan or even a Pagan. Though many Wiccans and Pagans are part of the witchcraft community, there are also many Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, and more.
A person’s personal craft is any collection of practices that they utilize to change their fate, see the future, get revenge, speak to the dead, heal the sick, and/or any number of other things that can be done through witchcraft. Witchcraft can (but doesn’t necessarily need to) include divination, herbalism/wortcunning, blessing, banishing, kitchen witchery, spirit work, cursing, gardening, spell work, ritual, worship, astral travel, trance, and much more.
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How Do You Become a Witch?
There is only one way to become a witch. Luckily, it’s very simple.
Step One: Take an interest in witchcraft.
Step Two: Start practicing witchcraft.
Step Three: Call yourself a witch.
Please Note: Steps two and three are interchangeable.
The great thing about witchcraft is that there are no rules. There is no big, white-robed Council to tell you what you can and cannot do. There are no punishments (beyond the legal consequences of outrageous things like human sacrifice; which is obviously not a good idea). Since witchcraft is not a religion there are no religious codes to tell you right from wrong. You don’t have to work with gods (though, you can if you want to).
Witchcraft is a practice. Therefore, the only laws and codes you have to abide by are the laws set down by your government, your individual religion (if any), and your personal code of ethics and morals.
Lots of things bring people to witchcraft. Sometimes it’s a book, a movie, or a television show. Sometimes it’s a childhood dream that they decide to go after. Sometimes it’s music. Sometimes it’s family members or a friend. I, myself, was introduced to witchcraft by my family. My grandparents on my mother’s side of the family (and some of their children) practiced witchcraft. My father, who had been a friend of the family since grade school, was also introduced to the occult through my grandparents.
In the witchcraft community, I have encountered people who were drawn to witchcraft through popular movies and books. I’ve met people who came to witchcraft because they dated a witch. I’ve even come into contact with a few people who accidentally discovered witchcraft while doing research for their own fiction novels.
In the end, it doesn’t matter how or when you started practicing witchcraft. What matters is that you did.
A Note About Communities
During your journey through the wonderful world of witchcraft, you will probably stumble into a community (if you haven’t already). Communities can be a great way to meet other people of a similar mindset, give and receive support, and bounce ideas around to help your craft keep moving and growing. And there are lots of ways to find community. There are websites specific to witchcraft and the communities that embrace it. There are corners of large blog sites where witches have made their online homes. There are forums, online groups, in-person groups, and countless other ways to meet other witches who may be experienced practitioners or just starting out. If you’re feeling a little insecure, a little uncertain, or a little alone, a peek into a witch-filled community is a good way to connect and perk up—but be careful.
With the sweet comes the sour. While witchcraft communities may be full of wonderful, experienced witches who can help and support you in your path, you may also happen upon the occasional Big Bad Wolf. Every community has its predators, and witchcraft communities are certainly no exception to that rule. I’ve been a member of witchy communities (both in person and online) for almost as long as I’ve been practicing; and I’ve come into contact with more predators and prey than anyone would ever imagine were lurking in the aisles between the spellbooks and Tarot cards. The types of predatory behavior can range from moderately manipulative to sexually sinister; so always be aware of the possible dangers involved in putting yourself out there.
How to Stay Safe In a Community
If you’re new to witchcraft or new to the idea of the community, I’m sure you’re feeling a little nervous now—but I don’t want you to feel that way! In fact, I wanted to put this note early in this post so that you, the reader, would be armed from day one with the some common sense ways to stay safe in a community setting. Here are just a few starting points:
Be skeptical. Skepticism is healthy in a setting that is based on the extraordinary. You don’t have to believe everything a person tells you. There’s nothing wrong with double-checking or doing your own research if you feel that something is just not right.
Beware of manipulative witches. Be careful around people who will use things like alleged past lives, divination, or grand claims to get what they want from you, or to get you to stick around.
Again, watch out for mentions of fate or destiny. As nice as it is to think that everything is planned for us, there are people who will use this against you.
Always think for yourself. In communities, we tend to desire a certain level of peace and harmony. All too often, this results in the community asking the individual to change their way of thinking to a non-confrontational, passive thought pattern. While that may not sound so bad, this leads to a think called group think or hive mind. Not only does this result in a lack of individual creativity, it also opens the door for Bigger and Badder Wolves (like shared delusions and cult mind).
Don’t let anyone force you into anything. It doesn’t matter how much more experienced they are. Again, always think for yourself. Make your own choices. Don’t let anyone pressure you into anything you don’t want.
There are bullies, monsters, and predators in the world, but arming yourself with your individual thought and a strong resolve will help to protect you against them.
Hey! You!
When was the last time you cleansed your home?
When was the last time you checked your wards?
When was the last time you made sure your space was clear of bad energy, bad spirits, and other nasty things?
When was the last time you did that saltwater-incense-bell ringing thing you do?
When was the last time you did a banishing ritual?
If you feel your space is funky, here’s your reminder. Here’s your great cosmic sign. Fix that shit.
Following witchcraft blogs is an absolute roulette wheel on whether you're following a TERF or not and I can't stand how many times it's happened to me. Reblog this if you're a witchcraft blog and aren't a TERF and I'll give you a follow! On this blog we love and respect trans women!
The Wheel of The Year
I’ve been meaning to make this post so get your pencil, BoS, and get ready to learn cause this gonna be a long one! This is very important for any beginner witch to learn if you intend to celebrate the holidays Wheel of The Year This is the turning of the seasons based on the sun rather than the moon. There are eight holidays or Sabbats that are traditionally recognized. These sabbats represents birth, death, and rebirth, and are usually associated with The Lord/God but nothing is preventing you from honoring The Lady/Goddess or your own deities as well!
When it comes to celebrating these holidays, there is no set defined way to do it. Do whatever feels natural and fits into your practice best. Here’s some more traditional information though to get you going in a good direction. And when it comes to the decor, decorate however you see fit and don’t feel obligated to use real plants because faux flowers are just a good.
Yule About: Yule lands on the days of 20-21 December, and is traditionally celebrated with fire and family. In some traditions this is the time when the death aspect of The Lord/God is overtaken by by the rebirth aspect (sometimes referred to as the Divine Child.) This is the holiday where many of our christmas traditions come from and are based on, so this is a relatively easy holiday to celebrate! Colors: Red and Green Incense: Frankincense, Myrrh Decor options: Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Pine/Pinecones Herbs: Bayberry, Chamomile, Rosemary, Sage Traditions: Yule Log, this is a log to be decorated and burned at the end of the holiday. Instead of cutting down a tree, find an old log that’s been laying in the woods and take it home with you! It doesn’t have to be very big. When the holiday is over, you can dispose of this log however you feel fit, but make sure to keep a piece of the log for the new year as a good luck and protection charm! Yule Tree, essentially just a christmas tree! Traditionally this tree is real, but a faux tree works just as well.
Imbolc/Candlemas About: This is actually a holiday that most seem to ignore or forget about, but it’s just as important as the rest! Celebrated on the days of 1-2 February, this is typically a holiday to celebrate The Lady/Goddess in all her forms, Maiden, Matron, and Crone. This is the holiday to banish the winter season and welcome in spring. Imbolc is a good time to delve into fertility magick if that’s something you’re interesting in. Colors: White, Light Blue, Lavender, Silver Incense: Lavender, Vanilla, and any floral scents. Decor options: Flowers, and Angelica Herbs: Basil, Bay Traditions: Burning Lavender or White candles, and the best way to celebrate this holiday is spring cleaning! Clean the house, rearrange things, make a new altar set up, and take a nice warm bath to cleanse yourself. This is the time for you to be reborn into something new.
Ostara About: Falling on the days of 20-21 March, this is a holiday that represents the warrior aspect of The Lord/God, and it’s also the Spring Equinox. This is a holiday of balance, and fertility. Colors: Any Pastels Incense: Jasmine, Rose Decor Options: Wild Flowers, Acorns, Daffodils, Honeysuckle, Lily Herbs: Jasmine, Rose, Tansy, Violet Traditions: This is the best time to buy (or even make) yourself a new broom, or go out into nature to find a staff. Now is also a really good time to start a garden if that interests you.
Beltane About: This holiday falls on 5 May and is the last of the spring and fertility festivals. This is when The Lord/God and The Lady/Goddess join together to become whole, making this a good time for any workings in love or family. Colors: Dark Green, Light Blue, Lavender, Pink, Yellow, and White Incense: Frankincense Decor Options: Angelica, Bluebells, Daisies, Ivy, Rose Herbs: Almond, Angelica, Rose Traditions: The Maypole, a tall pole decorated with flowers or ribbons that is danced around during the festival. This is a little less likely for people to do (though i have a friend who does), so an easier way to celebrate this holiday is to make your space green, flowery and inviting!
Midsummer Night/Litha About:This is the summer solstice, and is usually celebrated on the days 20-21 of June. This holiday is a very powerful one and represents The Lord/God in his entirety. During this holiday, people celebrate success, drive, and passion. Colors: Dark Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Gold Incense: Lavender, Sandalwood Decor Options: Fruits, Pines, Roses (feel free to use a bowl of fake fruit!) Herbs: Chamomile, Lavender, Fennel, Thyme, Hemp Traditions: This is the best time to do magick dealing with business or financial affairs. But being that this is the summer solstice, honestly any spell will be exceptionally powerful so save your big ritual of the year for this day! Lammas/ Lughnassadh About: The first of the harvest holidays, this is usually when the prep for winter begins and the fall seasons really takes off. Colors: Yellow, Cream, Brown Incense: Frankincense, Sandalwood Decor: Grain, Corn, and Fallen Leaves Herbs: Heather, Wheat Traditions: If you have a garden, this is a good day to check and harvest what foods are ready. It’s also tradition to start stocking you magickal pantry for the cold months to come. Stock up while resources are a plenty. And one last tradition is the baking of bread, a good time to have some fun in the kitchen and get crafty.
Mabon About: This is the Autumn Equinox and the time when harvesting really gets going. This holiday is on the days 20-21 of September, meaning if you live in a more rural area you’ll start seeing the farmers out and about and the leaves have really started changing and falling. The year is close to its end! Colors: Red, Orange, Brown Incense: Myrrh, Pine, Sage Decor Options: Fallen Leaves, Vines, Acorns, Corn Herbs: Marigold, Sage, Rose Traditions: Collect, press, and save fallen leaves to use in protection spells!
Samhain About: Ahh, the witches favorite holiday and the holiday that signals a new solar year! This holiday falls on the same day as Halloween, 31 October. This is a time to celebrate, honor, and communicate with passed loved ones. This is another very powerful day in the craft, so save any big spells or rituals for this day! Colors: Orange, Green, Black, Purple Incense: Patchouli, Myrrh Decor Options: Pumpkings/Jack-O-Lanterns, Corn, Gourds, Leaves Herbs: Heather, Sage Traditions: Alot of the tradtions we have with Halloween actually have their origins based in the craft so feel free to celebrate normally! If you’re looking to communicate with the dead, this would be the night to do it (but be careful, spirits have heightened strength and negative entities/energies like to take advantage of those who are inexperienced.) And of course, if you have a big ritual or spell that you want to cast, this is a really good day to do so.
I know this was a long reply, but a really necessary one. Hopefully this helps!
The gods see you. They hear you. You are not forgotten. Your prayers have not been ignored. What you need will come soon. The gods see you, even if you don’t see them.
Fighting Consumerism in Magic
aka, little things to distance your craft from capitalism
Let’s all just admit that buying stuff is fun. That said, there’s a big issue of consumerism within the witchy/pagan scene. As magic work and the pagan “aesthetic” becomes more of a commodity in the mainstream, there’s a mounting attitude of needing All The Items in the highest quality (even if we’re not certain we’ll use them,) and big corporations mass-producing cheap stuff to make a buck off of a growing trend. Here’s some things you can do to help detach your practice from that and support other people in the craft:
Go outside. Check your backyard or local park for local plant life, waters, roots, etc. If your work involves things from nature at all, you can probably find a lot of your supplies… in nature. It takes a little more time, but it’s free and then you’ve gathered stuff yourself!
Make stuff. This one is pretty straightforward. There may be key items to your practice that you can make yourself instead of buying it! That said, I know sometimes spending money is inevitable so I won’t dwell too much on this… let’s talk more about shopping:
Shop mindfully. The price of a lot of items will skyrocket once it has a pentacle or other symbol engraved on it. For example, little mortars and pestles can be very pricey in witchy shops, but you could probably get a bigger one that’s actually food safe for less at a nice grocery store. Antique stores and international markets are now your new best friends.
Support small businesses! Things are cheaper on Amazon, but the extra money goes to support real people, likely other practitioners. If you can, supporting small, local, independent shopkeepers and crafters does a ton of good. It also helps build and sustain a local community.
Shop based on need. Don’t get something “just in case” (unless it’s banishing or hex breaking stuff; those are decent to have on hand.) It’s tempting to impulse-buy a ton of niche items and ingredients, but unless you have a reasonable idea what you’re going to use them for in the near future, it’ll probably just create clutter for you to deal with later.
Prioritize effectiveness over aesthetic. Ultimately your practice has to work for you, not just look good. I think making your work aesthetically pleasing to yourself can be an important part of really connecting with what you’re doing, but don’t make that desire burn a hole in your wallet and distract you from what brought you to this path in the first place. Altar envy is a real thing.
Recycle/Upcycle. Use old clothing fabric for an altar cloth. That old trinket dish makes a great offering dish. Enchant jewelry you already own. That jar of strawberry jelly you just finished off will work just fine for that spell. Things can be re-purposed and made into new things.
Analyze your offerings. Special occasion wine isn’t a special occasion if you do it every time. Not every offering needs to be a grand gesture, regular maintenance is more important generally.
Organize trades. Have any pals that also practice? See if you can help each other! You could trade different goods (that old mini cauldron you bought and never used for that abandoned tarot deck, maybe?) but also services. A protection spell for a luck charm. A reading for a reading. You help them with the laundry and they cook you a meal one day.
As always, the goal is to foster a local community of individuals doing honest work, and shedding the consumerist mindset society taught us to make us spend more money. Take up the idea that you can do magic completely on your own with what you already around you, and if you do want to spend money, see if you can do it in a way that helps the world a tiny bit. :)
Sharehouse Peace Witch's Ladder
This one's been in the works for me for a week or so but I finally had enough peace in my busy moving schedule to sit down and make a pair - one for the front door and one for the back.
Use 9 silver [coloured] bells in place of knots or feathers so that these double as a door protection Witch Bell/s. Their peal as the door is opened wards off dark energies and brings in positive energy.
Use 3 threads:
Blue - for peace, calm, healing and protection
Yellow - for clear communication (So important in a share house)
Black- to absorb negative energy
I used embroidery thread but strips of fabric or anything you have around will do fine, as long as your bells can thread on.
Tie a loop large enough to slip on to your door handle, and then thread on your first bell. I always thread my bells onto the black thread so that they will reinforce each others ability to repel and control dark energies.
Start plaiting! Each time you cross a thread over repeat to yourself its purpose: "peace and calm, clear communication absorb the negative, peace and calm, clear communication, absorb the negative-" I find this helps my intent stay focused for such long projects.
When you've plaited enough space that your bells won't touch, thread on another. Repeat this until the 9th bell. Tie this one on with a strong ending statement such as "In this Home!" Or "So mote it be!"
Trim your excess thread (unless you want straggly-chic). Plop it on your door and thank it in advance for its work. You're done!