Ultimate Protection Magic Masterpost; Part 1

Rosemary: Herb Associations and their Origins

Where do our herb associations come from?

In our little community we regard rosemary as an all purpose herb, a replacement for other herbs. Rosemary itself is used for a lot of things just in general, and according to pinecone.pub and onespiritx.tripod it can be used for Anointing, Blessing, Cleansing, Consecration, Defense, Determination, Divination, Exorcism, Healing, Inspiration, Love, Lust, Memory, Protection, Psychic Development, Purification, Sleep, Spiritual Healing, Spirituality, Warding, Willpower, Wisdom, Youth. 

however, i’ve also noticed a lot more people are asking why we use this herb for that, rallying against blindly following herb meanings and taking them for granted, so i’ve done some cursory research (x). it doesn’t cover everything, but here’s some to get the ball rolling:

cleansing/defense/protection/purification/warding - we tend to think of these in more magical/spiritual senses, of course, but originally it was brought to funerals to protect against infection (segways into next bullet)

memory - the herb took on another association, for memory, as funeral goers would start dropping the rosemary onto the coffin, symbolizing a promise to remember the deceased. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare writes, “Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary/ On this fair corse.” rosemary would also be used in bridal wreaths in tudor weddings to help the couple remember their vows. the memory association is again noted in shakespeare, as he says in Hamlet, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember.”  and he mentions rosemary again in The Winter Tale, “For you, there’s rosemary and rue; these keep/ Seeming and savour all the winter long…” referencing how distinctive the scent is all year round. 

Love/Lust - again, shakespeare references rosemary in Romeo and Juliet, though this relation seems a little weak, “Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with the same letter?“ 

Anointing/Blessing//Consecration/Exorcism/Protection/Purification/Spiritual Healing/Warding - rosemary became considered a “holy plant” through its association with sacred rites, became heavily used by the church for festivals and holidays, and was used as a ward against “black magic”. “Down with rosemary and so,/Down with the baies and mistletoe,/ Down with the holly, ivie all/ Wherewith ye deck the Christmas hall.”  -the poet Herrick

sleep/warding/protection/healing - in a letter from Queen Phillippa of England’s mother, “The leves layde under the heade whanne a man slepes, it doth away evell spirites and suffereth not to dreeme fowle dremes ne to be afeade. But he must be out of deedely synne for it is an holy tree.” [the leaves laid under the head when a man sleeps, sends away evil spirits and prevents nightmares]. It was also customary around this time to burn rosemary and juniper berries as a disinfectant. it was also made into teas to disinfect sore gums/throats

youth - “Make thee a box of the wood of rosemary, and smell to it and it shall preserve thy youth.” - Banckes Herbal, 1525. a possible indication of the cultural beliefs surrounding rosemary in this era. 

- - - - - - - - - - 

so with superstitions and traditions aside, rosemary itself does have its own medicinal uses. you often see it touted as useful for “muscle pain, improving memory, boost the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth”. 

however, before making a tincture for any of these uses i would recommend looking for medical studies to see how well/proven these uses are. 

🎀 Astro Placements with the most AURA 🎀

🎀 Scorpio/Capricorn/Sagittarius Mars

🎀 Pluto/Sun 1H

🎀 Mars conjuct Venus

🎀 Capricorn Saturn

🎀 12H Sun

🎀 Neptune aspecting Ascendant

🎀 Jupiter aspecting the Ascendant

🎀 Pluto aspecting Moon

🎀 12H Neptune or Uranus

🎀 Mercury 1H

🎀 8H Sun/Moon

🎀 4H Moon/Cancer Moon

🎀 Sun in Leo

🎀 6H Saturn

🎀 Gemini/Virgo Mercury

🎀 Venus in Pisces/12H

🎀 Moon in Sagittarius/Moon in the 9H

🎀 Mercury aspecting Pluto

🎀 Uranus in the 1H

🎀 Aquarius Venus/11H Venus

🎀 Scorpio Venus/8H Venus

Do you have any of these placements?

🌙 Unconventional Ideas to Include in a Book of Shadows ✒

Here are some of the more bohemian things that take up space in my Book of Shadows:

Warded Cover Page: every Book of Shadows I’ve ever owned has begun with a cover page that is warded out the ass. The style and technique of these wards has grown and evolved with my craft, but they always involved an invisibility spell tied to my name and bound with a blood taglock. The purpose is to make the book go unnoticed by everyone but me (and anyone who I allowed to read it)

The Headless Rite: a goetic invocation of your higher self/heavenly energies

Channeled Deity Artwork: Similar to spirit writing; I find that I create my best artwork when I’ve invoked a higher power, and I have currently created devotional portraits of Hekate, Lucifer, Demeter, Persephone, and several other deities by invoking the deity in question and then sketching whatever comes to me

Channeled Spirit Writing: Attuning to the energy of a spirit, ancestor, or guide and writing whatever comes to me

Magickal practices and techniques of various cultures in my heritage

Pieces of advice I’ve learned from various witches throughout the years

Manifestation Page: Similar to a mood board or an intention board; fill the page with words and pictures of your goals and desires 

Deity Sigils: I do find that some deities prefer to be evoked/invoked without the use of sigils, but for those that do have their own specific sigil, I record them here

Journals of instances where I have witnessed manifestation first-hand

Encounters I have had with spirits or other supernatural phenomena

Personal associations for herbs, crystals, colors, etc., and not just the ones you can find on Google

Spell Ideas that I find particularly intricate, beautiful, or devilishly enticing, but don’t quite have use for or the time to execute yet

Lists of names of my ancestors and of historical witches

Recurring symbols that appear repeatedly in dreams, tarot readings, or in the physical world

Omens that appear to me, such as wild animals or strange weather

Record of spells that I’ve performed: I long ago gave up on the pretty idea of recording every single act of witchcraft I performed in great length, detailing the position of the sun and moon, the exact procedure, and any and all outcomes. Instead, I just try to keep a bullet list of every spell I perform with a very brief description. It shouldn’t take me longer than 60 seconds to write max; very useful to reference, especially if a spell goes wrong and you don’t notice its negative impact until much later 

Brightest blessings, and best of luck 🕉

The Schrödinger’s Cat Tarot Spread

1. The Cat: The Situation   What is the situation? 2. The Poison: The Obstacle   What is the problem? 3. Limbo: Advice   What else do I need to know? 4. Alive: Best Outcome   What is the best outcome? 5. Dead: Worst Outcome   What is the worst outcome?

[x]

[The “Spooky Action At A Distance” Tarot Spread]

im a third-generation italian-american looking to get into traditional italian magic. my family are devout catholic, so i wouldn't be able to ask them. where do you recommend i start?

Hello love thank you for the question. I think its great that you want to begin this journey, it will be a bit challenging if your parents are not a fan of witchcraft/magic so here are ways to delve into this subject on your own. Here are some steps to get you started:

How to begin your journey into learning about traditional italian magick

Research Italian Folklore and Folk Magic: Familiarize yourself with the rich folklore and magical traditions of Italy. Look for books, online resources, and academic studies that delve into the topic. Some key areas to explore include the Benandanti, Stregoneria, and the practices of the Mezzadria.

Connect with Italian Folk Magic Communities: Seek out online communities, forums, or social media groups focused on Italian folk magic. Engaging with like-minded individuals who share a passion for Italian traditions can provide valuable insights, resources, and guidance.

Study Italian Catholicism: As your family follows Catholicism, understanding the religious and spiritual practices within this tradition can offer a foundation for exploring Italian magic. Look into saints, rituals, and devotions that are specific to Italy, as they often have intertwining elements with folk magic.

Learn about Saints and Folk Traditions: Italian folk magic often incorporates the veneration of saints and the belief in their intercession. Research saints that are particularly revered in Italian culture, such as Saint Anthony, Saint Lucy, or Saint Joseph. Learn about their stories, symbols, and associated rituals or prayers.

Explore Magical Objects and Practices: Italian folk magic involves the use of certain objects and practices. Look into items like the cornicello (horn-shaped amulet), malocchio (evil eye), or charms known as "cimaruta." Additionally, explore divination practices like reading coffee grounds (tasseography) or playing cards (cartomancy).

Experiment with Kitchen Witchery: Traditional Italian magic often involves practices related to the home and kitchen. Explore herbalism, folk remedies, and the magical properties of Italian culinary ingredients. Experiment with making your own herbal preparations or creating talismans related to food and household items.

Consider Seeking a Mentor: If possible, try to find an experienced practitioner of Italian folk magic who can serve as a mentor. They can provide guidance, teach you specific practices, and help you deepen your understanding of the tradition.

Remember, it's important to approach these practices with respect and a genuine desire to learn. Take your time, be open to new experiences, and trust your intuition as you explore the magical traditions of your Italian heritage.

“my dear, we are all made of water. it’s okay to rage. sometimes it’s okay to rest. to recede.”

— Sanober Khan  (via wordsnquotes)

BoS:Grimoire Flip Through! | I’m a Witch???

Tarot & Oracle Spread Masterpost

This is a masterpost of tarot & oracle card spreads. None of them are mine; this is solely a compilation of various spreads found on tumblr. I’ve broken them down into sections to sort through them with ease. This is not a full list, but do enjoy the spreads listed below. Note: Witchcraft is NOT a replacement for medical care. Seek the services in your area if you need help.

Enjoy!

Daily Spreads:

Good Morning Spread

Harmonious Day Spread

Daily Brew

Morning Mug

One Day At A Time

Love/Luck/Truth:

Soulmate Spread

Relationship Insight

how to make friends

Luck Ducky

Illuminate the Truth

Bat Tarot Spread

two halves of the same heart

confusion in a relationship

Love Tarot Spread

Single and Looking

A Way Back into Love

Where is my love life going?

Self Love/Self Care/Spirituality:

The New You

What’s Up My Dude?

The Unicorn Spread

Mirrored Heart Spread

Breathe Deeply

Inner Empress Spread

Shine Like a Star

Self-Love Spread

Self-Exploration Spread

May Your Self-Confidence Rise Like the Moon

Self-Care Spread

A spread for healing from hurtful words

Forgiveness Spread

For Gaining Closure & Letting Go

Let Your Soul Shine

calm the f@%k down

hierarchy of needs

Pyramid of Present Introspection

Unlock yourself

Walking Away

Stop Being Bad To Yourself

For Empaths

I Can’t F@%king Sleep

Up All Night

Reprogram your Subconscious

Higher Self & Purpose Spread

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual Check-up

Spiritual Progress

connecting with the gods/goddesses

The Baking Sun

Enlightened Perspective

Temper Temper

Loneliness Spread

Self Love Spread

Personal Protection Spread

Self Image Spread

Wholeness Spread

Aphrodite’s Pearl

Hidden Self

Change/Fear:

The New Adventure Spread

Evolve Your Blog

The Tree of Life & The Sprout of Fear

Go With the Flow: A Guide for Change

Keys to Courage

Terrified

Classic Tarot Spreads/Based on Tarot:

Classic Tarot Spreads

Star Spread

100 Variations of the 3-Card Spread

Simple and classic spreads

The Empress

The Fool

The Tower

Eviction Notice

The World

Connect with your Tarot Deck:

Bond with Your Tarot Deck

Hello New Friend (Tarot Deck)

Get to Know Your Deck

Pop Culture: 

Harry Potter Hogwarts Houses

Rapunzel Spread

Happy Little Trees

The Princess and the Pea

The Princess Bride

Brainstorming/Productiveness/Success:

Achieve Your Dreams

Plan Your Goals

Job Search

Solution Spread

The Right Choice

for busy motherf@%kers

Busy Bee

Toxic Workplace Spread

Quick Coffee Break

growth and goals

Problem Solving Spread

Focus Spread

Holiday/Specific Time Period/Date:

August 2017 Solar Eclipse

New Year’s Spread

Imbolc Spread of Growth

Imbolc Spread for Goal Setting

Valentine’s Day Spread

Valentine’s Day Self-Love Spread

Be Your Own Damn Valentine

Galentine’s Day Spread

Ostara Tarot Spread

For Beltane

Lammas Spread

Back to School Bag

Holiday Survival Spread

Tarot Spread for Yule

Neptune Retrograde

Embracing Mercury Retrograde Part 1 & Part 2

How to Survive Mercury Retrograde

Beginning, Middle, & End of the Month

New Moon Reflection Spread

New Moon Spread

New Moon New Start Spread

Full Moon Spread

Near to Distant future Spread

Creativity:

Paint Palette Tarot Spread

Protagonist Spread

Sunny Creativity

Storytelling through Tarot

The Artist Spread

Find Your Muse

writing tip

Realize Special Talents

Quick Tarot Fixes/Tricks:

Fix My Wifi

Goals & Desires

Stalker Stand Still

Spiderweb Spread

for when you’re stuck between two choices

Easy Tarot Tricks

The Hermit

doing the right thing?

fix a f@%k up

Wheel of Fortune

goals and desires

41 Quick Spreads for any situation

For When You’re Lost/Going through a Hard Time:

Putting the Faith in the Universe

Well, Now What?

Finding Balance

A Light In the Dark

Radical Acceptance

Fork In the Road

When You’re Laying On Your Bed Wondering Where the F@%K You’re Going In Life

What are my next steps?

Self-Discovery

When the World is Cruel

This Too Will Pass

Bottled Up

“Strongest Person I Know”

Difficult Conversation Spread

What the Actual F@%K?!

Past-Lives:

Pyramid of a Past Life

Past Life Spread

A Glimpse into Past Lives

Miscellaneous:

RGB Spread

Conquering a Bad Habit

12 Olympians Spread

Spread for Hobbies

Zodiac

Planetary Tarot Spread

Seven Sisters

Setting Intentions

The Lessons

How to Handle a Situation Getting Out of Hand

Remove the Blinders

I Want to Know You

Chakra Spread

What You’re Attracting in Life

Mending the Communication Gap

Crystals: Card Reading Aids

Found these simple, easy to understand Tarot card cheat sheets 💫