10 Terms Every New Witch Should Know

✨The Magic of Ostara✨

Ostara is a time for change. It’s a time for celebrating rebirth and renewal and it’s a time for thanking the universe for the magic that is earth. Sometimes you just need to switch things up and have fun with life. Luckily, I have put together the list to conquer all lists: How to Have Fun on Ostara.

• Bake food! Ostara is all about making new things and the coming of newness, so why not make some new things yourself? Honey cakes, soda bread, flowery teas, moon cookies, and other magical foods are sure to provide a fun and yummy Ostara. 🍵

• Watch nature documentaries. Binge watching movies and TV shows has always been a passion of mine. However, Ostara isn’t really the greatest time for staying inside and doing nothing all day. Don’t worry, cause boy do I have a solution for you! Nature documentaries celebrate Spring and just nature in general, and the amazingness of earth itself. Watch them and feel the magic of spring and nature. 📽

• Go outside. Ostara is 100% all about the outdoors and the changing of the seasons. Collect some type of water, go for a walk/hike, collect plants and “artifacts” for your witchy wonders, and just have fun. Try inviting some other friends to enjoy the outdoors with you, so you can be in the company of others. 🍃

• Gather some friends and have an Ostara ritual. Cook up some lavender + vanilla popcorn, wrap yourselves in some fluffy blankets, and sit around some tarot cards or a crystal altar and charge your minds with the energy of Spring. 🔮

• Just dance. Dancing is a great way to cleanse and renew yourself and what better day to cleanse things than on Ostara? Having a dance party, either alone or with friends is energizing, refreshing, fun, and most importantly, not harmful to the environment. 💃

• Make a fairy shrine. This one leads back to my childhood. If you are a supporter of the fae and love fairytales, then you will love this idea. Gather leaves, flowers, herbs, scraps of cloth, and so on in order to create your shrine. Little colorful beads, shards of glass, crystals, or even just some cute rocks are great starters! 🍄

• Ground yourself! By ground yourself, I mean really, physically ground yourself. Take off your shoes, go outside, and bury your feet in the dirt. Not only does this connect you with nature, it is also scientifically proven to rid your body of unnecessary electricity and it can prevent static electricity. ⚡️

• Open some windows! Letting the outside in is a great way to honor Ostara and invite the changing weather in without having to get all prepared for a nature walk or hike. Also, fresh air is a million times better for you than indoor air, as it is freshly cleaned by trees and it hasn’t been cycling around your house for hours. 🌬

• Write a love letter. Write a love letter to yourself, to the earth, to past witches or future witches, to fellow witches or your enemy witches, to your deities or the universe. Write a love letter to whomever you please, and don’t be shy about it. Spill out your thoughts and focus on every word. Slip it in a grimoire or notebook, maybe your diary or a special box. Honor this love letter, as it is a reminder of nature and Ostara. 💌

• Start a nature grimoire. If you already have a grimoire for spells, theories, magic, and mystery, then why not start one entirely dedicated to nature? Write about what you’ve observed in nature, your theories about nature, herbs, drying plants, and gardening. Have fun with it! 📖

• Do a seed-casting ritual. Simply put, gather all of your favorite plant seeds and combine them. Dig a small-ish hole in the ground and sprinkle the seeds into the hole while walking around the hole chanting, “I wish it be, I wish it may, grow in the ground fiercely today, have the strength to make it through, the evil and the twisted, so this chant shall do”. I came up with this as a personal way to encourage my plants to grow and flourish whenever I plant them. If you want more info, just message me! 🌹

• Play classical music for your plants! This has been proven to increase plant growth phenomenally, and there’s no doubt that you can sing to them too. Helping strengthen plants is a great way to celebrate Ostara. 🎼

• My nighttime Ostara ritual. As you can probably tell by now, my rituals and I are pretty tight-knit. I do this ritual to signify the leaving of an old life and the beginning of a new one. I also do this to cleanse my heart of any negativity. Getting rid of the sluggish feelings of Winter and bringing forth the new ones of Spring is really important. Simply light as many candles as you can and say, “This is my life, the life I give, to the air to the dirt to the sky to the night, this is the life I live. Twitching and twirling is the wand of my past, no longer it is mine. So I say goodbye to the wrinkled and old, and hello to the fresh and magical”. This chant simply states the purpose of the activity and has no real connection to Witchcraft other than to signify the official act of moving on. After reciting the passage, blow out each candle in quick succession! 🕯

I hope all of you enjoy my masterpost of Ostara activities! If you have any questions or suggestions, please message me anytime. Hope you all have a wonderful Ostara and happy bewitching 🌞

I hope everybody can enjoy the typical day at the Russian parliament

Excerpts from the Ben & Jerry’s erotica: “Interpersonal Creameries“

“Oh Ben, I’ve read the Karamel Sutra and thought I’d prepared for everything, but when you unzipped your pants and showed me that Chunky Monkey, I realized I’d never seen such a Vermonster!”

“In a frenzy of ecstasy, Ben shouted ‘Jamaican Me Crazy’ as he climaxed. Jerry sighed with satisfaction at the feeling of fullness from his Late Night Snack. They lay there for a while, just breathing. Then, some time later, Ben grunted and reluctantly withdrew his Berried Treasure from his Chubby Hubby.”

“’…maybe I can have S’mores?’ Jerry’s pleading always helped Ben’s Cannoli swell with ruthless turgidity. ‘Maybe,’ teased Ben. ‘But only after you’ve had a go at these Schweddy Balls.’”

“Ben was poised over Jerry’s Cinnamon Buns as his lover whimpered and wiggled. ‘Please,’ he begged. Ben oozed a dollop of Vanilla on Jerry’s back. ‘Do you want it all?,’ whispered Ben. Jerry smiled. ‘Everything But The…’”

hi ^__^ the san-x website has a lot of cute wallpapers i thought you guys might appreciate them

Understanding Shadow Work: Pt. III

How Does One Prepare for Shadow Work?

Before we get into the different methods in which we can practice shadow work, it is essential to determine how we can (or should, rather) prepare to do so. Be aware that shadow work is not an easy or comfortable process. On the contrary, it tends to be discouragingly difficult and extremely uncomfortable at best and downright horrifying and sometimes even further damaging at worst. 

The Importance of Perspective

With that being said, it is of utmost importance to first evaluate and transform how you perceive the negative aspects of existence– primarily in regards to your own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states of being. If you believe the negative aspects of existence (and the Self) are only meant to cause harm, to hinder and debilitate you, or are “evil” in any sense, you are going to run into some serious resistance issues– possibly even strengthening and perpetuating your Shadow. Simultaneously, the holding of this view is a tell-tale sign that you are most definitely in need of shadow work. Do not feel compelled to rush into it, however. 

If you do find that you seem to maintain an unhealthy perspective of the negative, start by contemplating duality. Try meditating on the concept of day and night. The sun (our physical source of light) is always ‘there’– burning, casting light in all directions; it is our world, our point of perspective, that rotates and creates a mirage which suggests that it is not. It is always something that stands in the way of the light which casts a shadow and creates the illusion of darkness. Essentially, darkness is an aspect of light. 

Also keep in mind that without darkness, light would not possess the same quality. Without death, [physical] life would have no real meaning. The negative, in part, serves to allow for the positive to be perceived. 

This shifting of perception may take some time and may prove exceedingly difficult for some. But if you cannot understand, accept and embrace the truth and purpose of duality, you will find it even more difficult to face your Shadow. This is when shadow work can be seen as counterproductive and even dangerous. 

The Importance of Knowing Your Limits

Additionally, it is important to know your boundaries, to be in tune with yourself. I feel you should be fairly familiar with grounding exercises, meditation and energy work in general before pursuing shadow work. You should be able to discern when you need to rest or when your state of being is too weak to handle any additional stress. If you are suffering from severe depression, PTSD or other adverse mental conditions, you should proceed with extreme care and discretion. Though, again, if you are experiencing such conditions it is a tell-tale sign that you would certainly benefit from shadow work. Such conditions are very much created and perpetuated by those experiences we have trouble facing– whether it simply be uncontrollable, undesirable emotions or severely traumatic events. By virtue, shadow work is practiced because we are sick and broken; so it is silly to assume we need to be in some sort of perfectly stable, elevated state before pursuing such an endeavor. 

That does not mean, however, that you should rush into it in effort to ‘fix’ yourself. You should be able to become fairly acquainted with and accepting of whatever condition you may find yourself in– again, this has a lot to do with perspective. Also, don’t feel it necessary to do all on your own. Though a large part of shadow work must be done alone, always feel free to reach out for support from others, especially those who have already consciously engaged in shadow work. Don’t feel hesitant or ashamed to share your experiences with others either. Sharing is an integral part of the healing process for most people; not only can it help you, it can help others as well. 

The Importance of Patience

As I previously emphasized, don’t rush. Try not to have any expectations or set forth with the desire to 'conquer’ this entity, the Shadow; this will not serve you. The purpose of shadow work is to befriend and reintegrate the Shadow, not to challenge it– doing so will only strengthen its influences. This requires a great degree of patience. Understand the importance of working slowly and earnestly, heeding to your limitations as necessary. This also means not jumping into shadow work before preparing yourself. It can be tempting to rush into it headstrong and determined to mend your wounds so that other aspects of your life might improve. Again, you are defeating the purpose by having this attitude; in essence, you are still resisting your Shadow because your aim is to use it to incite positive effects rather than to simply understand and accept the negative. Also be aware that shadow work is an ongoing practice; once you begin, you will realize there is no real end to true shadow work. 

For Understanding Shadow Work: Part II, visit: http://unmaskingthedivine.tumblr.com/post/112889344340/understanding-shadow-work-pt-ii

1. Buckthorn: (Feminine, Saturn)

Exorcism, wishes, protection

2. Burdock: (Feminine, Venus)

Healing, protection

3. Carnation: (Masculine, Sun)

Strength, protection, healing

4. Arrow Root Powder:

Gambling, luck

5. Chamomile: (Masculine, Sun)

Sleep, love, purification

6. Elder flowers:

Protection, especially from burglars/criminals

7. Bachelor’s Buttons: (Feminine, Venus)

Love, attracting love

8. Marjoram:

Protection from jinxes

9. Poppy Flowers:

Psychic dreams, visions

10. Cedar: (Masculine, Sun)

Healing, money, protection, purification

11. Sweet Grass:

Great for smudging

12. Fennel Seeds:

prevent curses, protection

13. Clove: (Masculine, Jupiter)

exorcism, attraction, protection

14. Fern:

Prevent jinxes

15. Feverfew:

Protection

16. Gardenia:

Peace, love, spirituality

17. Foxglove: (Feminine, Venus)

Communication with the underworld

18. Catnip: (Feminine, Venus)

Capture someones heart

19. Angelica: (Masculine, Sun)

Visions, exorcism, healing

20. Hops Flower:

Peaceful sleep, rids of nightmares

21. Birch: 

Cleansing, protection 

22. Lemon Grass:

Psychic powers, mental Clarity

23. Nettles: 

Healing, protection, exorcisms

24. Rose Hips:

Love, healing, luck 

25. Rosemary: 

Memory, purification, sleep, mental clarity 

Regain & Maintain Your Self-Control (Spell)

A little bit of magick created for @jesycastarr.

Before I get started on the magicky hoo-hah, I’m just going to write you a thing: you can address self-control (or a lack thereof) by performing grounding.

Grounding Visualisations ✧ Grounding/Meditation Chant ✧ Grounding ✧ Grounding Techniques

Onward; to the magick!

This magick will come in the form of a talisman, as talismans can be concealed as everyday items, such as jewellery - discreet and easily carried.

You Will Need:

The item you wish to enchant and carry; a piece of jewellery you wear regularly would be a very good idea.

Black Salt - this is normal salt, mixed with the ashes of this sigil after it has been drawn on paper and burned.  **(Salt is cleansing, and can be used to charge your talisman, and it is imbued with the control-giving power of the sigil, which is activated upon burning.)

A Rhodonite crystal. **(A crystal associated with stability, self-control, calm, and growth.)

Pen & Paper - for the sigil.

A way to burn the sigil - however you choose to do this, be careful. Safety first.

A bowl.

What To Do:

Firstly, draw your sigil onto the paper and hold it in your hands for a little while. As you do this, focus on that which you wish to gain - in this case, focus on self-control; focus on gaining the ability to rein in your impulsiveness. 

Burn your sigil, this activates it.

Wait for the ashes of the sigil to cool, and then mix them into the salt. You can use table salt, sea salt or rock salt - any salt, really will work just as well. The salt will probably turn a bit of a strange colour - this is normal.

In a small dish/bowl place your Black Salt, your soon-to-be-talisman and your Rhodonite crystal. This will charge the object and imbue it with the energy of the crystal. 

To bolster the effectiveness of this talisman, leave it to charge under the Moon for 3 nights.

**Optional step: Each morning of the talisman’s charging process, speak or think these words as you stand before it:  “Within this object my control is lain, bestow unto my being that which shall be mine; control over body, over action, over mind. Et sic factum est, et semper erit.”

When you feel the talisman’s effects begin to wane, and it will, you need only perform this same ritual again.

I'm a guy and I had really cystic acne when I was 16 (now 18). I'm on my second treatment of acutane right now. The first was for 8 months and my current treat is on its 5th month. I just feel like shit all the time. I feel bad about myself. I can't look into the mirror and like what I see. I've already seen a therapist about this problem but it didn't really help much. I've learned to deal with it better, but I still struggle. Any advice?

I’m so sorry!! It’s really unfair just how much acne can affect ones self image. I had a really hard time with mine when it was bad, and I don’t think I can say that I know how you feel, but I went through a long period of self hatred just because of my skin. I definitely understand that it can take a toll on you and your happiness. I think the best advice I have is that in the long run, dealing with something like this can make you a much better person. It makes you understanding of others, less judge mental, and more accepting. That’s mostly how I got through dealing with my skin, but I know it’s not as simple as that. Just know that we are all here for you and you are so so so much more than your skin. Don’t forget that you have a personality and all the potential in the world to do what you want. And honestly, when I see someone dealing with acne it makes me relate to them more and have respect for them. When mine was at its worst I really reached to people that had similar problems and t made me feel better to have an unspoken similarity. It helped a lot to not feel judged because who I surrounded myself with understood what was happening. Another thing is that when accutane comes up with people I know, the people can’t seem to remember what my skin used to look like, because when it isn’t your skin it isn’t a big deal. Don’t worry, you’ll get through it and you’ll come out on top. If you ever need anything I’m here, and I’m sure tons of other people apart of this community and your life are there for you too :)