Witchy Vibes 🌛🌟🔮

A year ago, in February, I was fresh out of university, fresh out of a relationship, feeling lost in the world and disconnected from myself. In need of a path back to myself I devised a challenge, much like something I would now call shadow work.

Here are the questions I asked myself throughout the month of February 2020:

What are my current biggest problems?

What do I already do well?

What things in my life make me feel good and fulfilled?

What do I expect from a romantic relationship?

What would I really want to know that would improve my life?

What do I expect of therapy?

How does laziness affect my job?

What kind of people do I not trust?

Is my sense of self worth dependent on my productivity?

Why am I so interested in sexuality?

What kind of people inspire me?

What have I found out during this challenge already?

What about this challenge is the most difficult for me?

What are all the feelings I have towards my mother?

What are all the feelings I have towards my father?

What is in my power to improve my life?

In what ways do I relax? Do these ways of relaxing actually help?

How can I personally contribute to this world?

Revisited question: What do I expect of a romantic relationship? How do I picture my ideal partner?

Revisited question: What are my current biggest problems?

What is my relationship to the feeling of envy?

What changes am I going through in this time?

What is my goal for this year? Looking back at the end of the year, what would make me say – wow, I’m really proud of myself and my progress?

My strategy was successful and I learned a lot, as well as set a good course for the whole year ahead. In all likelihood I will revisit some of these questions now but since I have achieved a firmer grasp on the concept of shadow work, I know that some things need to be done differently.

I’m excited to walk this path again.

Will you join me?

ameliorate 🌱 (stickers)

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Smile for the clown

What I would put in a grimore

I would start with:

1. *Herbs*,how I should use them,their meaning,how I should take care of them

2.*Divination* , I think every with was a way of using tarot cards so I would write my way and I would perfectionate it until is complete my way

3.*Candles* In my opinion candles are a huge help ,any magic you do it makes it easier (or so is for me)

4.*Meeting/Sensing* I would write any meetings I would have with spirits,faes etc. So I can avoid or not that place .

5.*Oils* I know they might be in the category of herbs, but for me oils are really important. First I can take them everywhere,I can hide them if I need too and aren’t that suspicious in case I need to keep my craft a secret for my safety. Also they ease our work , just like candles but in others ways .

6.*All my dreams* no matter they are nightmares or sweet dreams, I strongly believe that dreams are a way of divination and shouldn’t be ignored.

7.*BOOKS* Any book I’ve read or I should read about witchcraft . Not all information is useful but it will keep you in the witchy atmosphere.

8.*Believes* the way I see magic,how I should practice my craft, any information that was passed to you from a credible witch (No matter you are hereditary or not,write every piece of information ,you don’t know when you’ll need it )

Well I’m not the biggest fan of the next things I think someone could write,but I’m not alone in this world:

9.*Sigils*

10.*Runes*

11.*Astrology*

12.*Moon phases* ( I don’t know if this is useful for someone or that is world known ,but my family taught me the most important full moon is in August, for the biggest spells)

13.*Astronomy*

broke witch hacks 🍄

🌙 use old socks to make spell satchets! these are also great because theyve spent a lot of time with you, so the spell will have an enhanced effect :))

🌙 buy your herbs in bulk!!!!!!!!! never pay more than a dollar for a lil bag of herbs! buy huge bags of them, you wont regret this! i recently bought a huge container of cinnamon sticks, i absolutely love it.

🌙 if you simply cannot get a physical copy of a book, download a pdf of old grimoires and spellbooks! theres so much knowledge out there, you just have to go find it!

🌙 cant afford fancy herbs? thats okay! table salt can be used in almost every recipe, (savory) and has cleansing properties. it can also protect against misfortune. pepper is also good for banishing negativity, and if you can get your hands on some cinnamon or sage those are wonderful for drawing love and happiness, and sage is perfect for cleansing.

🌙 if you cant afford a big fancy leather vintage whatever book for your bos, its okay! a composition book is fine. better yet, you can use the notes app on your phone! this is great for if youre on the go.

🌙 not being able to afford fancy shiny gems and crystals is okay!!!!!! stones you find yourself have a much more sentimental value and can be used just as youd use any other rock.

🌙 you dont have to dress witchy!!!!!!!!! witches can wear whatever, they dont have to wear all black and crystal necklaces! although thats the aesthetic i hope to achieve

🌙 meditate. even if its the only magick you can do! try energy work!!!!

🌙 collect rocks and sticks and stones and plants you find! go outside hunting for cool rocks! talk to the bugs! hug the trees!

🌙 hotels sometimes have tea in the lobby, steal a crap ton of teabags because fuck capitalism

the most magickal tool is yourself. you are divine 💘

Not everyone on tinder is a dick apparently

ghibli + nature scenarios (part 2).

Watch Out For Online Cults

A lot of talk about cults and manipulative people in the community is focused on an in-person level. Things that an in-person group will do, how their control extends into your offline life, but cult behaviors and mindsets can absolutely be used online and may not be as visible or as obvious. Here’s a small, incomplete checklist of things to watch out for, red flags and the like. (Note: I’m not talking about any specific group or individuals here. None of these on their own make a cult, but a lot of them together can potentially mark a toxic environment at least. This isn’t intended to be a diagnostic tool, just things to analyze and reflect on. Please always be safe and don’t let yourself stay in toxic environments whether they “count” as a cult or not.)  

The “leader” can do no wrong. They are not capable of truly making mistakes, or any misstep they do make is quickly explained away or defended by their followers. Any criticism is quickly punished, labeled as problematic, or otherwise shut down. Online, people will often sing the praises of or “lovebomb” the leader after these incidents.

It’s Us vs. Them. Anybody who criticizes the group is an enemy. Anybody who chooses not to be a member of the group must have something wrong with them. Critics/people on the outside just don’t “get it” like they do. The “outside” may be painted as threatening/the group as a safe haven, and opposing viewpoints should not be given any attention, even to consider them critically. You’re discouraged from joining other similar groups.

Using social justice lingo as a way to control people. Manipulators can speak the language too. They may bring up gaslighting, gatekeeping, policing, invalidation, and other things and accuse an individual or group in order to either guilt the person into acquiescing or vilify them to the other members. This is a really effective tactic for shutting someone down.

The leader is elevated or enlightened in some way. They claim to be a deity, or at least closer to the divine/enlightenment than you. They have a more effective/direct line of communication with spirits or entities.They have wisdom or knowledge you must stay with them to take part in. 

Dictating parts of your online life. Members must change their names, icons, speech/typing patterns, etc. to conform to the group. The rules for behavior in an online setting go beyond what is needed to maintain order. Members may be asked to do a lot to “prove” they deserve to be/stay in the group. 

You’re scared to leave. You can’t imagine your online life without this group. You feel like you need the community/resources it provides you. You’re worried members will turn against you if you leave. You’re worried that leaving or voicing concern about the group will have negative repercussions on other platforms. 

Why Your Spells Don’t Work

You set your intention. You had all the correct correspondences. You even timed your spell with the appropriate moon phase. And yet – no results. What gives? 

Failed spells happen to the best of us, and for a variety of reasons. But a spell gone wrong doesn’t necessarily mean that magic isn’t real or that you’re bad at witchcraft. Magic is complicated, and there are a lot of reasons it might not behave the way you want it to. Here are some of the most common causes of ineffective spells: 

1. Lack of real-world follow through

Magic is meant to be used as a tool to supplement your mundane efforts – not as a substitute for them. How can you expect your job hunting spell to bring in results if you aren’t applying for jobs? 

Magic does not exist in a vacuum, and it can’t make something out of nothing. If a spell doesn’t bring you the desired result, make sure that your non-magical actions are aligned with what you are trying to manifest. 

2. What you’re trying to manifest isn’t a realistic possibility

Wait, what? Isn’t magic supposed to be, well… magic? Shouldn’t you be able to ask for whatever you want and get it? Yes and no.

Magic is simply a way of directing energy. Magic can’t defy the natural laws of the universe. It can’t make something happen unless it was already a potential possibility.

If your intention is unrealistic for where you are right now, try splitting it up into a multi-step process. No spell is going to make you a billionaire overnight, but magic could help you get hired at a better paying job… and then get promoted… and then get offered a profitable side gig… etc. Starting small and working your way up is always going to produce stronger results, because you laid the foundation first.

3. Your intention was either too vague or too specific 

Whether you use written petitions or spoken incantations, clearly stating your intention is an important part (maybe THE most important part) of any spell or ritual. A good intention is specific enough to get you the results you want, but open enough to let those results manifest naturally.

Let’s say you do a money spell, and your intention for the spell is simply, “I have more money.” If you find a penny on the ground the next day and pick it up, technically that is more money than you had before. A better alternative would be to use an intention like, “I have enough money to buy ___,” or “I have enough money for everything I need and want.”

Using an intention that is too specific creates the opposite problem. Let’s say you want to manifest a scholarship to a specific school. You do a candle spell with the intention, “I have been chosen for the John Smith Scholarship at Jane Doe University.” But maybe the John Smith scholarship had already been awarded by the time you did your spell. Maybe there’s another scholarship at the same school that would be a better fit for you, or maybe you’re eligible for a grant that would make tuition more affordable. A better intention for your spell would be “I have enough financial aid to easily and affordably attend Jane Doe University.”

Magic always follows the path of least resistance, so you want to make sure that your intention is specific enough to give your magic a clear direction, but open enough to allow it some flexibility. 

4. Lack of focus/concentration

We all know the struggle. You’ve been planning this ritual forever, and it’s finally the full moon, but you’ve got a really full schedule today. If you hurry, you can probably squeeze it into the thirty minute window between school and work, right? 

If you say a few quick words and burn some incense before you head out the door in the morning, that totally counts as a spell, right? 

Not so much. Rushed, lazy, and/or half-assed spells rarely, if ever, work. Spells revolve around the raising and direction of energy, and that requires two things: a clear intention (see above) and intense focus on that intention. If you don’t have the time/energy/mental capacity to focus, it’s best to take a break, have a self care day, and come back to your spell some other time. 

5. You’re subconsciously blocking your own results OR you did a spell for someone else who isn’t open to it

I decided to lump these two together, because they’re different variations of the same issue. 

Whenever you are doing magic on yourself, it’s important that your mindset is aligned with your intentions. You can do love spells all day long, but if deep down you don’t believe that you’re worthy of love, that belief is going to block your spells from working. This is why mindfulness, psychology, and self care are all such important parts of a successful witchcraft practice. It’s also why I recommend doing the mental work before you sit down to ritual. 

If you did a spell on yourself, or are trying to manifest something for yourself, and it just isn’t working, I highly recommend setting some time aside for journaling and meditation and asking yourself 1.) if this is really what you want, and 2.) if you truly believe that you can have it.

The whole mindset thing gets even more tricky when you’re doing magic on behalf of another person, because their energy is also at work in the situation and could be at odds with yours. For example, if you do a spell to help a friend land a job, but that friend believes that they’re totally underqualified and could never get it, they probably won’t get the job even if you did everything “right” in your spell. 

This should go without saying, but it is extremely unethical to use magic to mess around in someone else’s head. Even if you think you know what’s best for them, they need to be open to it. If someone is blocking the spells you do on their behalf, all you can do is try to be supportive and find other ways to help them out.

Other (Rare) Reasons for Failed Spells

If a spell goes wrong, it will almost always be for one of the above reasons. But maybe you did everything “right” – you did the mental work first, had a strong, realistic intention, put lots of focus into your spell, and followed through in real life – and you still aren’t seeing results. There are a couple of other things that could be blocking your spells, but they’re very uncommon so I’m not going to talk about them in as much detail. These may be things you want to look into if you really, genuinely can’t think of any other cause. 

It’s possible that another witch has done magic that cancels out or blocks yours. This is not common, and it does NOT mean that someone has cursed you. It could be as simple as two witches unknowingly casting spells with opposite intentions, which end up cancelling each other out. (For example, maybe two different people both cast a spell to get the same job. Obviously, they can’t both get that job.) This is why it’s never a bad idea to incorporate a protective element into your spells to block outside interference.

There is a very, very remote possibility that someone has placed a curse on you specifically to block your magic. However – and I cannot stress this enough – this is VERY uncommon. If you were cursed you would know it, or at least know that something was very wrong in your life. If you feel like you have been cursed or hexed, I recommend looking into uncrossing spells, which are specifically designed to undo negative magic.

It’s also possible that a higher power is intervening. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a deity, although it certainly could be. Most witches believe in some form of fate or destiny, and it’s possible that your spell didn’t work because what you asked for is not in alignment with your destiny. In these situations, really the only thing you can do is surrender to the bigger picture. 

Hi I hope you are doing well. Can I have a reading on my writing please? I’m an aspiring writer and in a process of writing a blog. I often feel incompetent and have difficulty to express myself. Thank you! M, Leo

Hi M !

Comet here ! I've responded in private!

Have a nice day/night!