Intent: The goal or desire; the will for something to come into being.
Visualisation: A technique used in magical workings in which the witch pictures the desired effect within their mind’s eye.
Manifestation: The process of a desired intent being brought into reality.
Charging: The act of filling an object with energy.
Cleansing: A magical working with the intent of removing all lingering energies from an object, place or person, be those energies negative or positive.
Grounding: A magical technique in which the individual removes excess unwanted energy (often by ‘pushing’ it into the ground while sitting down) and aligns themselves with the energy of the earth.
Banishing: A magical working with the intent of sending something away, removing an individual from your life or cutting out negative acts and behaviours.
Warding: A magical working in which the individual creates ‘Wards’. Wards are barriers of energy which deny any unwanted entity entrance to the place warded. Wards can also be placed upon oneself to prevent a magical attack.
Deity: A supreme being. Often represented by Gods and Goddesses though not limited to these terms.
Grimoire: A personal magical inventory of beliefs, spells, ingredients and anything else deemed essential to a witches path.
Altar: A sacred space in which to enact magical workings, meditation and worship.
Wand: A pointed object used to direct energy.
Priapic Wand: A phallus-shaped wand.
Athame: A knife used in ritual to cut out a sacred space and to direct energy. Typically you will never use this to cut solid objects.
Book Of Shadows: A personal magical inventory of beliefs, spells, ingredients and anything else deemed essential to a Wiccan’s path.
Boline: A knife, often but not always a sickle, used for the cutting of ingredients, inscribing of candles and carving of wood.
Besom: A broomstick used to cleanse an area.
Cauldron: A metal pot used for spellwork. (Boiling, mixing, stirring).
Chalice: A goblet, cup or class containing ritual drink. Typically containing offerings.
Dark Mirror: A black piece of glass or reflective material used for scrying.
Pentagram: A five-pointed star widely used amongst many Pagan religions.
Pentacle: A pentagram with a circle around it, typically worn as a necklace for protection.
Inversed Pentagram: A symbol relating to Satanic practises and beliefs.
Septagram: A seven-sided star, usually used in reference to workings with the Fae.
Triquetra: An ancient Celtic symbol which has lost its initial meanings which is today adopted by Pagans of varying paths to mean different things. In Christianity referred to as the trinity knot and believed to represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. A secular way of viewing this is that it represents life, death and rebirth. In Wicca believed to represent the triple Goddess.
Amulet: An object that has innate magical properties used as a necklace.
Charm: An object that has been given magical properties.
Talisman: An object that has been created with the intention of having a specific magical property
Hag Stone: A stone with a hole worn naturally worn through it in which the other side is visible. Thought to be used to see the ‘unseen’ and often the Fae.
Poppet: An object designed to take on the likeness of an individual upon which spells are used. A taglock is used to bind the person to the poppet.
Taglock: The personal effect of an individual that can be used in spellwork as a link to that target.
Wheel Of The Year: A name used to refer to the cycle of the eight holidays observed in Wicca; synonymously used to describe the turn of the seasons.
Solstice: Two points in the year in which the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky. The longest and shortest days of the year.
Esbat: A meeting upon the full moon.
Sabbat: Used to refer to any of the eight holidays observed by Wiccans and others.
Skyclad: To be naked. Believed to promote a greater connection to nature during ritual and worship.
Equinox: The time in which day and night are of equal length as the sun crosses the celestial equator.
Coven: A meeting of witches with the intent to perform magic or worship as a group.
Circle: A temporary space marked out by a magical practitioner that is capable of containing, enhancing and binding magical energy.
Mage: Another term for a magical practitioner.
Aether: The fifth element after Earth, Air, Fire and Water meaning Spirit, Energy, Life Essense & Soul.
Abjuration: Practices of magic relating to the protection of oneself through the suppression of spells cast by other magic practitioners.
Conjuration: Practices of magic relating to bringing desired effects into reality.
Divination: Practices of magic relating to gathering further insight on desired topics, including knowledge of the past and the future.
Enchantment: Practices of magic relating to enacting influence over the minds and decisions of others.
Evocation: Practices of magic relating to working with raw, sometimes uncontrollable forces of power.
Animism: The belief that all things are alive or have a soul.
Glamour: Practices of magic pertaining to achieving desired intent via altering, enhancing or changing one’s appearance.
Blasting: A magical working with the intent of causing infertility and ill health, in both people and crops.
Sigil: A magical symbol created by the individual, usually constructed by breaking down a word or sentence and using the letters.
Seal: A magical symbol. Often used to finalise a working.
Elemental (Noun): A force, being, entity or representation of an element given form and sometimes rudimentary conscious thought, though not in a way thought to be understood correctly by humankind.
Elemental (Adjective): Pertaining to any workings regarding the elements
Secular: The practice of witchcraft at its core. Devoid of any influence from religion or spirituality.
Atheistic: The practice of witchcraft from an Athiest perspective.
Elemental: The practice of witchcraft in which the individual utilises the power of the Elements as their primary source of energy and spell structure. E.g Water Witch, Fire Witch, etc.
Wiccan: Belonging to Wicca, a relatively new nature-based religion born in the 1940′s/50′s in which Witchcraft is expressed as the main form of worship for the God and Goddess.
Traditional: Witchcraft that predates the rebirth in popularity of Witchcraft during the 20th Century.
Hedge: A solitary practitioner who utilises herbs in their practice. Once used exclusively for witches who follow the practice of ‘Hedge Riding’ this term has opened out to encompass those following the archetype of the ‘village witch’ providing salves and potions.
Stregheria: A form of Italian witchcraft, often centred around the worship of Leyland’s version of Aradia and Diana (though the term can also be used for other forms of Italian witchcraft).
Christian: The practice of witchcraft from a Christian perspective.
Witchling / Baby Witch: Terms used to describe new practitioners.
There’s so many different reasons a spell or ritual might not be working for you. So I thought I’d share some common reasons why some new witches might be struggling with witchcraft.
✨ You’re not connecting to the ingredients, tools or supplies needed for the spell
What works for me, might not work for you, and that’s okay. This doesn’t mean the spell you’re using is a dud or that you’re not doing it right. It just means that you haven’t formed those connections with the ingredients or tools yet, or your connection with them is different.
A great example is blueberries lol. In witchcraft blueberries are most commonly associated with protection BUT for me I associate them with creativity and astral travel. There’s a personal reason for this and through out my many many years practicing and studying witchcraft I’ve come to build this relationship with blueberries.
✨ You’re energy is too low
I know the feeling of just really really wanting to get into the magick of it all. But witchcraft is energy draining. If you’re low on energy (edited) then you’re gonna be putting out low energy and that can affect the effectiveness of your spells.
Give yourself time and practice low energy magick like smoke cleansing your space, charging your crystals under the full moon or rearranging your altar (or creating an altar).
✨ You have been given a false idea of what witchcraft is and how it should feel or how it should work
Real witchcraft isn’t measurable nor is it able to be defined in one true way. Witchcraft is different for every single witch. Even witches in covens have given different descriptions of the feelings they’ve had while performing the same spell or ritual. That’s because we all experience magick a different way.
Don’t be too hard on yourself because you didn’t feel a hot light burning inside of you, like one witch may describe. And don’t feel bad if you don’t literally see colors radiating from your spell jar like another witch described. Personally I’ve never experienced either of those things but that doesn’t mean that what I was doing wasn’t working, it just worked differently and felt differently for me. I may not have had those exact same experiences but I had my own, and they were/are just as special.
Next time you do a spell or ritual, write how it made you feel in your journal. Don’t just write the spell down but write all the things you felt, saw, smelled, heard and even tasted. This way you can get a better understand of how magick works and feels for you.
✨ Your space, body, mind or spirit needs to be cleansed
The biggest reason I’ve found for my spells just completely flopping is I didn’t bother cleansing before doing it. Negative energy is like white cat hair stuck to your favorite black leggings, it ain’t going nowhere until you clean it lol.
The great thing about cleansing is it can be done with just your hands! Yeah, bet a witch has never told you that before LOL. Sound is a great way to cleanse a space. Snapping, clapping and rubbing our hands together makes sounds. You can tab on a table, or use EFT (usually done as a meditative practice but could be utilized in cleansing the mind, body and spirit as well).
You can cleanse with incense, candles, oils, and water too.
✨ Your spells have too many ingredients
I find the more stuff you use for a spell the more unpredictable the outcome is, this is because each ingredient can have multiple properties. Even if you have personal correspondences with them they still usually have multiple uses. Like the blueberry example I gave, for me I associate blueberries more with astral travel and creativity but I also associate it with platonic relationships, happiness and protection. Even though I still associate it with protection it wouldn’t be necessary for me to use it in a protection spell if I’m already using something else that I more strongly associate with protection.
In witchcraft, often times, less really is more. I’ve created the 5 elements “rule” for myself and it’s worked out really well for me. I use 1 ingredient to represent each of the 5 different elements (earth, air, fire, water and spirit) in most of my spells and rituals. If it’s a spell jar, pouch, tea. elixr (or something like that) I like to try and keep my ingredients to a 3 - 5 limit. It prevents me from using up my stash so quickly and prevents my ingredients from completely canceling each other out.
✨ You’re scared
This is sooooooooo normal, don’t even think you’re weird or something because you’ve got some fears or concerns about practicing witchcraft. It’s common for someone from a religious (especially an abrahamic one) background to hold onto the teachings of their religion and to be fearful of the unknown. Especially if it’s been drilled into your head that it’s evil and you’ll burn in an eternity of fire for burning a sage bundle lol.
If this is you, ease into witchcraft. Learn more about the different traditions and take your time studying. This isn’t a race. Witchcraft ain’t going nowhere lol. You’re not obligated to just dive in head first. It’s okay to take your time and really get comfortable.
✨ Lastly, you’re taking on too much at once
You ever see those witch blogs that seem to pop up out of nowhere and they’re just blasted into popularity, only for the witch to later denounce their practice in the craft claiming that it wasn’t really working for them or that it all turned out to be bs? This is usually because they watched 1 or 2 youtube videos about witchcraft and decided to buy a $300 witch starter kit, 10 books about witchcraft and 3 tarot decks all before even doing any research into witchcraft at all.
They took on too much, too fast. They’ve also taken on things they lack an understanding of and because of this lack of understanding (and a natural desire to want to be good at something instantly), when it doesn’t work for them they claim it’s bullshit and fake.
You need to be patient. Just like any skill or talent, it takes time to master and to see the results we want. So if you’re someone whose invested a lot of money upfront into your craft and now it just doesn’t seem to be working for you, take your time. You’re not going to learn everything about witchcraft overnight (chances are you’ll never learn everything about witchcraft lol). The amount of money you spend won’t make you a better witch or make you better at witchcraft. So don’t fall for those beginner witch starter kits that start at $100.
You don’t need to do everything at once.
I hope this is helpful. If you have anything to add to this list please do so. And remember, witchcraft is a craft. Crafts take time, patiences and skill. These are not things that you just develop overnight. Take your time, cleanse your space, grow relationships with your ingredients, tools and supplies, and allow yourself to experience your magick and don’t try to replicate someone else’s.
You have full creative freedom and are free to interpret the prompts as you will. You can make a spell as specific or as vague as you like.
A spell to remember something
A spell to forget something
A spell to attract something
A spell to repel something
A spell to achieve a specific goal
A spell to heal
A spell that incorporates deities
A spell to create something
A spell for communication
A spell for money
A spell to be noticed
A spell to be hidden
A spell for creativity
A spell of safety
A good luck spell
A spell that involves alcohol
A spell that involves food
A spell to strengthen a relationship
A spell to destroy a relationship
A knowledge spell
A spell that incorporates technology
A spell that involves divination
A glamour
A spell that takes inspiration from your heritage
A spell jar
A spell that requires more than one caster
A self-care spell
A binding spell
A spell that breaks barriers down
A spell that you would never ever cast
i’ve made a list of all kinds of correspondences you can find in nature and in the supermarket, based on the book The Green Witch ☆
APPLE — life, longevity, fertility, fairies, the otherworld, afterlife, creativity, love, healing, harmony
ASH — water, strength, intellect, willpower, protection, justice, balance, harmony, skill, travel, weather, wisdom
BIRCH — cleansing, protection, purification, associated with children
CEDAR — healing, spirituality, purification, protection, prosperity, harmony
ELDER — protection, prosperity, healing
HAWTHORNE — fertility, harmony, happiness, the otherworld, fairies, protection
HAZEL — luck, fertility, protection, wishes
HONEYSUCKLE — psychic awareness, harmony, healing, prosperity, happiness
MAPLE — love, prosperity, life and health, abundance
OAK — defense, thunder, strength, courage, healing, longevity, protection, good fortune, fertility
PINE — cleansing, purification, healing, clarity of mind, prosperity, protection from evil
POPLAR — prosperity, communication, exorcism, purification
ROWAN — improving psychic powers, divination, healing, protection from evil, peace, creativity, success, change, transformation
WILLOW — moon, water, love, tranquility, harmony, protection, healing
WITCH HAZEL — protection, healing, peace
YEW — death, spirits, the otherworld
CARNATION — protection, strength, energy, luck, healing
DAFFODIL — love, fertility, luck
DAISY — love, hope, innocence, associated with children
GARDENIA — love, harmony, healing, peace
GERANIUM — protection, fertility, love, healing, courage
HYACINTH — love, happiness, protection
IRIS — purification, blessing, wisdom, peace, harmony, love
JASMINE — moon, feminine energy, love, meditation, spirituality, harmony, prosperity
LAVENDER — relaxation, sleep, peace, harmony, tranquility, love, purification, healing
LILAC — protection, banishing negative energy
LILY — protection, death and afterlife, rebirth, cycles
LILY OF THE VALLEY — concentration, mental ability, happiness
PANSY — divination, communication, happiness, love
POPPY — tranquility, fertility, prosperity, love, sleep, invisibility
ROSE — healing, divination, tranquility, harmony, love, psychic ability, spirituality, protection
SNAPDRAGON — protection, illusion, deception, reflect negative energy
SUNFLOWER — sun, happiness, success, health, abundance
TULIP — prosperity, abundance, protection, love, happiness
VIOLET — peace, hope, harmony, protection, luck, love, sleep, tranquility, fertility, abundance
ALLSPICE — prosperity, increasing energy, love, healing, luck
ANGELICA —protection, purification
BASIL — prosperity, success, peace, protection, happiness, purification, tranquility, love
BAY — success, wisdom, divination, making a wish
CHAMOMILE — prosperity, peace, healing, harmony, happiness
CALENDULA — happiness, prosperity, love, psychic powers, harmony
CINNAMON — energy (booster), money, success, action, healing, protection, love, prosperity, purification
CARAWAY — anti-theft, health, mental abilities, protection, fidelity
CLOVE — protection, purification, mental abilities, healing
COMFREY — health, healing, protection, travel, prosperity
DILL — good fortune, tranquility, prosperity, lust, protection
GINGER — energy (booster), kick-starter for love, finances, success
MAJORAM — happiness, protection, love, joy, family
MINT — prosperity, joy, fertility, purification, love, success
MUGWORT — prophetic dreams, divination, relaxation, tranquility, protection, banishing, consecration
NUTMEG —psychic abilities, happiness, love, money, health
OREGANO — love, courage, action
PARSLEY — power, strength, lust, purification, prosperity
ROSEMARY —protection, improving memory, wisdom, health, healing
SAGE —purification, protection, anxiety, wisdom, health, long life
VERBENA —divination, protection, inspiration, abundance, love, peace, tranquility, healing, prosperity, artistic skill, reversal of negativity
YARROW — courage, healing, love
APPLE — health, longevity, love
CHERRY — love
PEAR — health, properity, love
ORANGE — joy, health, purification
LEMON — purification, protection, health
LIME — happiness, purification, healing
GRAPE — properity, fertility
KIWI — fertility, love
BANANA — fertility, strength
MANGO — spirituality, happiness
PEACH — spirituality, fertility, love, harmony
PINEAPPLE — prosperity, luck, protection
PLUM — love, tranquility
MELONS — love, peace
STRAWBERRY — love, peace, happiness, luck
RASPBERRY — strength, courage, healing
BLUEBERRY — tranquility, peace, protection, prosperity
BLACKBERRY — prosperity, protection, abundance
CRANBERRY — protection, healing
GARLIC — healing, protection, banishing, purification
ONION — protection, exorcism, healing, prosperity
LETTUCE — fertility, peace, harmony, love, protection
CARROTS — fertility, health
PEAS — love, abundance
CUCUMBER — fertility, healing, harmony
POTATOES — fertility, protection, abundance
CELERY — love, tranquility, concentration
SQUASH — abundance, harmony
MUSHROOM — strength, courage, healing, protection
LEEK — protection, harmony
CAULIFLOWER — protection, prosperity
BROCCOLI — protection, abundance
BEANS — love, family, protection
CABBAGE — protection, prosperity
TOMATO — protection, love
2 ounces irish spirits (I used Jameson Whiskey)
6 ounces ginger beer (I used Unity Vibration Triple Goddess Kombucha Ginger Beer)
juice of half a lime about 1 ounce (use real limes taste so much better.)
lime slices for garnish
mint sprig for garnish
ice
Copper Mug
In a cooper mug add ice, (always use a cooper mug no other glass will suffice). Next we will let the Irish spirits pour gently over the ice, coating each one in its nectar. Then we mix the lime juice, slowly, let the juice mingle with the spirits, before the final touch; topping with ginger beer. Now one mustn't simple stir such a delicate concoction, it must be done in counter clockwise motions. A powerful chant can be said here, one of affirmation, while stirring your potion. "I am passionate, I am proud, I am beautiful." Repeat as many times as needed, garnish with lime slices and mint. DRINK AND ENJOY.
*Ginger beer is to taste. If you like more of a whiskey taste, add less ginger beer. If you like a sweeter drink, add more! I usually just top the glass off with ginger beer.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving: 1Mule | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 12mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin C: 8.5mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Here are the witchy apps I use (Android)
📆 Wicca Calendar (for Sabbaths)
✋Palmistry (it helps when combined with books for more visual)
📖 Black Grimoire (I use it for ideas I have on the go and for planning what I'm gonna put in my actual BOS)
🧪 My EO (essential oils guide)
✨ Nebula (astrology)
💎 Crystals guide (very complete crystal guide)
🌙 Deluxe Moon Premium (moon phases, astrology, wallpaper, etc.)
💤 Dreamboard (to track dreams)
🌸 Wicca oils (essential oils guide)
🧿 Chakras (meditation app)
♐ Upastro (natal chart, astrology, etc.)
🖋️ Runes and runic formulas (readings and guide)
💡Are you Psychic (intuition app)
🔋Crystal Charger (when I feel like they could use a boost but I am unable to charge them properly, you have sun, moon and quartz grid)
🧭 Compass (for casting circles)
🪔 The Aroma App (essential oils guide)
🌿 Herbalist Grimoire (herbs guide)
🕯️Wiccan and witchcraft spells (when inspiration is low)
🎴 Labyrinthos (Golden Thread Tarot Guide)
🌕 Moon (another solar phases app)
🤸 Fitify Yoga ( i like doing yoga for meditation and grounding purposes)
So a lot of us are out of the broom closet so to speak, but many of have to be careful of being public because of the views of the communities we live in. What I propose is a symbol we can put on flyers or in shop windows that means “You’re safe here.”
I don’t believe that a pentagram would work because it’s got so much stigma attached and it’s really easily identifiable. Ideally, we can find something that is not tradition specific. I don’t know. I just want us to be able to put feelers out into the community without painting a target on ourselves for intolerant jerk faces, and I want witchlings that are seeking guidance to be able to do so in a safe environment. I mean, how badass would it be to find a little symbol of solidarity in your favorite coffee shop or bookstore??
Reblog with suggestions!
Found on Digital Smoke Signals’ Facebook Page
This blog is for roleplaying purposes only. All contents are fiction or for the purpose of sparking the muse of the writer. Thank you. Sincerely, the writer behind KD.
86 posts