Setting Up An Ancestor Altar

Blooming Flowers near the glacial ice toe (2013) Located: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Cartomancy

The firstmost rule is easily had: Red cards are good and black cards are bad. The secondmost rule shall bring greater fruits: It deals with the meanings of each of the suits. The Hearts count as love, family, and friends. Diamonds are money, wealth, means, and ends. Clubs shall mean work, callings, and plans, And Spades are the troubles that plague every man. The thirdmost rule toward number inclines; Just note the card’s pip and read here their signs: An Ace brings beginnings, And Two gives exchange, Three shows things growing, But Four does not change. Five is the body, Its health and its stead, Six shows a path that the Seeker shall tread. Seven brings troubles that Fate has assigned, While Eight shows ideas and thoughts in the mind. Nine heralds changes, And Ten is the end, While Kings are the symbols of power and men. Queens are the emblems of women and truth, A Knave is a message, a girl, or a youth.

Source: http://web.archive.org/web/20070825141732/http://www.hedgewytchery.com/indexb.html 

This site is “captured” so get in there while it’s still around.

Everyday Magic 🌻✨

Witchcraft comes in all shapes and sizes, and so do us witches. We can’t all always afford the same items, time, energy, spaces to practice larger bouts of magic, and that can leave us feeling a little lost or sad that we haven’t practiced or performed anything.

But, don’t fear, little birds, because I have a whole list of different types of tiny magic practices and there’s definitely something here for everyone! Whether you don’t have many spoons or can’t scrape much cash together, there’s every day magic for you.

Kitchen Craft:

Sprinkle some dried herbs into your smoothies, pasta sauces, or dips to invoke their correspondences and intents

Stir clockwise to manifest intentions or anticlockwise to banish/let go of thoughts

Drink different herbal teas for different intents, like ginger tea for clarity and grounding

Coloured utensils! Keep different coloured pots, cups, or spoons to use in baking. Pink cups for love drinks, green spoons for money magic, and so on

Keep store bought dried herbs for spells if you struggle with/cannot have real plants

Draw sigils with the sauces you apply to your food

Make your own breads and sauces and turn the recipes into different spells

Home Craft:

Sprinkle a herb onto the floor and leave to sit for a few minutes before you vacuum to bless your home with that intent

Let a black candle burn by the front door to cleanse off negative energies which may have come through it

Light basil incense around the house for new beginnings and cleansing

Keep a money jar, and each time you add to it, make a wish for future prosperity. When you break it, spend the money you need to or give it away to the less fortune/charities to spread the fortune it brought you

Make essential oil sprays to spruce up a room with your intent easily, but be sure to do your research (here’s two to start you off)

Play calming playlists to re-energise your home, I personally like to use forest sounds

Hang herb bundles on doors to invite their intents in, like a bundle of basil and lavender for prosperous and positive new beginnings

Set out diffusers and match the number of sticks to an angel number you wish to invoke, such as four for support and family

Bathroom Craft:

Soaps and shampoos with scents/ingredients/colours matching what you wish to invoke

Add petals or herbs to your bath to bless yourself in their intents

Sing chants, songs and poems in the shower about how you want your day to go

Carve sigils and runes into your bars of soaps

Draw sigils into the smoked up glass and mirrors

Keep a white flannel for cleaning the bathroom, and could even put herbs or magic water onto whilst doing so

Sleep Craft:

You can put any manner of things under your pillow to invoke their intents, from sigils to leaves to crystals to money

Read a story before bed similar to what you want to manifest into your own life, such as a love story or a poem about being courageous

Sleep with a playlist with calms you to ease yourself into rest when you’re struggling

Say goodnight to your guides or ancestors!

If possible and healthy, wake up to an alarm at an angel number to ‘fit’ your day to that energy, for instance, if you have to get up at 6am, try 5:55 instead

Travel Craft:

Pack yourself a mini witch kit if you don’t have access to your things. You can include mini herb hard, micro crystals, a small pen and paper, string, and a small birthday candle, for instance

Talk to your guides and beings in this time in your mind to wish them well and ask them for advice or to accompany you if you wish

Take a moment to listen to the natural bustling world around you between having your headphones on

Say any prayers you wish to give in your mind at this time

Trace sigils on the windows or surfaces around you

Write sigils into your shoes for safe travel and unsore feet

Wear crystal pendants associated with safe travel

You can learn on the go! Whether it’s books, blogs, or podcasts, this would be a good time to dedicate to learning new craft

Work Craft:

A desk plant is still a plant, and you can use it as a spell of growth in your career

Bring lunch with you that you’ve magically prepared at home (kitchen magic above!)

If you’re someone who doodles as they work, but you don’t want to be told off or caught, keep an empty pen for drawing out invisible sigils (but make sure it’s really empty)

Keep spell sachets for success at the bottom of your work bag

Garden/Nature Craft:

Collecting ethically and sustainably can take a lot of research, so when you’re unsure, simply use the ‘discards’ rule. Take only what you see is discarded by nature, such as broken off stems or fallen wilted flower heads, sticks from the ground, or leaves also. Be sure you know if they’re safe to use, touch, or eat though

In your own garden, plant all year round and native plants if you don’t have much time for upkeep

Use food waste as compost for your plants! This is an easy way to recycle otherwise landfilled food waste whilst also giving your plants a nutritional meal for them. Take a read here about composting.

Keep window boxes for your plants if space is an issue, or even a vertical plant holder

Strolling/being in nature, parks, and gardens is a brilliantly way to recharge you and your tools

Art Craft:

Paint your dreams and what you wish to manifest

Sing songs about your desires and wishes

Work with colours reflecting the intentions you wish to invoke

Before using a canvas, lightly wash it down in magic water with any herbs or spices which reflect your intent for the piece you’re making

Weave your crystals into pendulums and jewellery to bond with them

Sew sigils into the inside of your clothing or bags

Sew a dried herb pouch into the inside of a bag or coat to bless it with these things (but be sure to do so properly and not let it get wet to avoid mould)

Write letters and poems to the universe thanking it or asking for blessings

Divination Craft:

A pendulum can be made out of anything and string. Whilst crystals and pure metals and such are nice, don’t overlook a metal key or a beach stone

You can make your own deck, tarot or oracle, and it can be as detailed or not detailed as you like

Homemade runes can be made in an oven! Hunt around for people’s various different methods of home cast runes

Your own body can be a pendulum if you concentrate on the question and allow your sway to take you

If you’re a scryer, you don’t need a crystal ball, a regular mirror can work with your technique, but always do your research on the method nonetheless

Keeping PDFs on meanings is 100% valid, okay, and actually a really wise thing to do! They can help look at your spreads in a way you didn’t initially see

You can pull a card a day without having a set question

Sunlight and moonlight can charge your decks

Selenite is known to be a good charger for any and all tools

🎀 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?

BABY WITCH FAQ

a masterpost by noonymoon

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sigils and runes – what are they?

sigils – what are they and how to do them?

crystals – a list of pastel aesthetic stones!

spells – i have a hard time with words…

astrology – what’s ASC, lilith and node?

astrology – natal chart ? birth chart ??

spells – tips for crafting your own spells

spells – spells can be anything

crystals – charging methods

where to begin with your research 1

where to begin with your research 2

spells – really simple spell for rebirth

crystals – which stone for meditation?

crystals – your first crystal selection!

spells – glamour idea: piercings

spells – tattoos and witchcraft

divination – which medium to start with?

crystals – how to do easy crystal grids

what do to when you don’t like tea!

spells – what’s important when enchanting

how to incorporate magic subtly into school

divination – what the fuck is .. tarot ??

water magic – some thoughts on magical water

crystals – can i use regular stone pebbles?

spells – put a hiding glamour on your grimoire!

color magic – different candle color hues .. ?

cleansing – low effort techniques

crystals – do cracks lessen their powers?

energy work – why grounding is important

grimoire – some pointers on usability

grimoire – some more pointers

grimoire – a lil guide by me, an adhd kid

astrology – what are the houses ???

divination – how to create your own tarot deck

spells – the difference: curses, hexes and jinxes

spells – what’s a binding spell ..?

spells – dumb question: can i hex myself ?!

energy work – overcoming an abusive mentor

spirit work – a few words on the Fae

spells – can i use a different language?

altars – what is possible ..?

does a witch have to like being outside in nature?

a few words on omens and signs

grimoire – what’s a book of shadows?

voodoo and cultural appropriation

what do i need to do for being a witch ???

how do i start being a witch ???

how to be part of the witchy community !

how to start being a witch, an example

spells – a ritual for getting rid of fear in the dark

divination – can i have more than one tarot deck?

can i be more than one type of witch?

divination – what’s the difference: tarot + oracle cards

divination – the difference: tarot + oracle cards

cleansing – cleaning and cleansing your apartment

energy work – enchanting an item with energy

altars – what’s that and why ??

crystals – stones for protecting your energy

herbs – what to do with them anyway ..?!

crystals – do i need to activate my crystal …?

grimoire – do i have to be artsy to have a grimoire?

how to explain witchcraft to your parents ..

crystals – stuff to know when purchasing stones

spells – some thoughts on the elements

crystals – healing your third eye chakra

spells – do i need a magical wand ?

water magic – storm water vs. rain water

spells – a few words on the beautiful rose

herbs – how to dry flowers and herbs

herbs – a few words on st. john’s wort

spells – can i make my own correspondences?

crystals and herbs for mental health and stomach

crystals – a few words on quality and prices

am i too young for beginning my studies?

how to be a cute magical girl witch

herbs – what can i gather outside in nature?

sigils – gym witch: does sweat work for charging?

don’t let anyone tell you who you are

some important tips and tricks

energy work – is feeling others pain possible?

divination – how to trust in yourself more

familiars – my cat did a thing: is it magic ?

familiars – some thoughts on magical pets

synchronicity – why you see your birthday on the clock

angel signs – asking for guidance

angel signs – the complete guide

don’t fear to begin.. all you can do is start

some witchy thoughts on the cold season

crystals – how to get rid of dirt on tumbled stones

smells and scents in witchcraft

witchy holidays – samhain and beltane

crystals and herbs for more energy and balance

energy work – my third eye hurts!

crystals – all about rose quartz

divination – my pendulum isn’t working well

crystals – an overview of some crystals

divination – which crystal for a pendulum?

uhh.. lucid dreaming vs. astral travel ???

some thoughts on dream walking

divination – how to attune your pendulum!

spells – how to enchant without many tools

crystals – for sex, libido and intimacy

do it yourself – all that glitters is gold box

do it yourself – pocket sigil wax seals  // updated on dec 9th 2018

altars – how to create a pocket altar

divination – some tarot decks for beginners

sigils – my sigils don’t really work

spells – some important views on witchcraft

meditation – i get sick while meditation!

deities – i feel my offering is not good enough?

divination – can i buy decks online?

energy work – cleansing yourself is important

herbs – some herbs for motivation and willpower

deities – i think a deity is reaching out to me?

divination – the strongest card in a tarot deck?

crystals – i’m a secret witch and i want crystals

astrology – some thoughts on what astrology does

herbs – a pointer for growing your own stuff

astral travel – some pointers to get started

meditation – it helps with focus and memory

astrology – how to easily read your natal chart  

spells – when it comes to replacing ingredients

sigils – how i create digitalized sigil artwork

i want to start witchcraft but i don’t know where

divination – noony’s favourite tarot decks

divination – can i only use the major arcana?

crystals – can i buy crystal jewelry online?

spells – is it morally okay to enchant gifts?

deities – how do i know that a deity reaches out?

personal growth – how to not be angry at people

moon phases - everything about the dark moon

personal growth – how to attract positivity and goodness

divination – can i use a spread multiple times?

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// updated on jan 16th 2019

The Fields of Asphodel: The Afterlife from a Pagan Perspective

Originally posted on nightshadeandroses.wordpress.com.

Death is often a topic avoided by polite company. It is one of the most mundane taboos in American culture, something that is avoided and shunned at all cost. This is made apparent by the ways in which we treat the dead and dying, often opting to shunt the elderly and the terminally ill into medical facilities rather than allowing a home death. Oftentimes, we do not even discuss death unless someone is actively dying and we can no longer avoid it.

Much of why we avoid death is fear. And that fear is certainly valid since, despite how deeply we may believe in an afterlife, we can never know for certain if our view is correct. Or if there is an afterlife at all.

As a child, I was terrified of death. At night, I would spend hours staring up at the ceiling, scared that I would one day die unexpectedly in my sleep and that staying awake would somehow prevent Death from coming for me. That fear of death stayed with me throughout my childhood and into my young adulthood (though I stopped fearing that I would specifically die in my sleep, thankfully.)

Most of my fears stemmed from the various unknowns around death. Growing up in a not-totally-religious home but with a Christian father, most of my ideas about the afterlife were from a Protestant Christian perspective. I was taught that when I died, I would either go to Heaven or Hell, and that I needed to obey God and accept Jesus Christ as my savior in order to get into the “good” afterlife.

“But what if I’m not good enough?” I would often ask my Dad. Or “but what happens if someone is mostly good but isn’t Christian?” His answers, while meant to be comforting, often scared me more. They often boiled down to “don’t worry about it; just pray.” For someone like me who always struggled to connect to the Christian God, I found the silence during my prayers as confirmation that maybe I wouldn’t have access to the “good” afterlife.

Even after I officially converted to Hellenismos/Hellenic polytheism, my view of the afterlife and of death remained mostly unchanged: I was still afraid of dying and of what would happen after. But, as a devotee of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, death isn’t exactly something that I can wholly avoid. So, I was forced to confront my fears head-on, diving into the Hellenic myths surrounding death and the afterlife.

What I discovered of the Underworld was entirely unlike my conception of the Christian afterlife. In the Underworld, all souls except for those who are exceptionally great and influential are seen as equals and granted the same afterlife. The dead are able to wander throughout the Fields of Asphodel, great misty meadows filled with sweetly-scented flowers. Those who were exceptional in their lifetime are able to celebrate in the Elysian Fields, which is blissful and heavenly.

While the Underworld is a lot more somber than the idea of Heaven, I find solace in the fact that I won’t be condemned to burn for eternity regardless of what religious beliefs that I hold (as Tartarus, the closest equivalent to Hell, is reserved only for monsters and the truly wicked and irredeemable.) I also enjoy the concept of all people being equal in death. Not only that, but the afterlife is not necessarily eternal; the concept of reincarnation was present in various ancient Greek mystery cults like Orphism and the Eleusinian Mysteries. So while the afterlife may not be as exciting as Heaven, I won’t be trapped there forever. I will be able to be reborn and live a new, different life. So while I’ll no longer be “myself,” I will be able to forge a new life filled with experiences, opportunities, and growth to nourish the essential part of me that lives on between incarnations. Life is not seen as a preparation for Death in Hellenismos; life is meant to be lived fully, completely, piously, and beautifully. Life is meant to be lived for its own sake.

I won’t deny that all of my fears of death are gone. There is still that fear that there may be nothing after this life. It could be a void, like the emptiness of a dreamless sleep. Even though this may be the case, I am less afraid of that possibility. Because followers of Hellenismos are encouraged to live to their fullest potential rather than treating life as a dress rehearsal for what comes after, I am more content with the time that I have. With that, I know that when I am old and dying someday, I will be able to look back without regret or disappointment of what I may leave behind. But if there is an afterlife, I look forward to wandering the Fields of Asphodel, the domain of my Queen.

If you enjoy my writing, please consider supporting me at patreon.com/nightshadeandroses orko-fi.com/nightshadeandroses!

50 Tips for Tarot Novices and Masters Alike!

Always make sure your deck is shuffled and cleansed.

There is no one way to shuffle, find what works for you.

Cards that fall out when you’re shuffling may hold extra important meaning.

Learning from books is good, but use your own intuition as well. 

Thank your deck after a reading.

Be sure to charge your cards and be nice to them.

Using a cheat sheet or a book is not a bad thing.

Biddytarot is great for learning basic card meanings.

If you don’t have a tarot deck, you can use regular cards or make your own.

Tarot and Oracle are NOT the same thing.

There are a few tarot apps to help you learn (golden threat, galaxy, etc)

Watch for multiple cards from one suit.

Pay attention when a card follows you through multiple readings, it is usually trying to tell you something.

Find the card that matches with your birth-date/you feel a significant connection to. Use it in personal readings to help strengthen them.

Always be sure you’re using a deck that works for you!

Pay attention to the symbolism and art of the cards.

Interview spreads are great for getting to know a new or old deck.

Divination is not specifically witchcraft and is not always tied to it.

Don’t let anyone but you touch your cards unless doing a reading and you want them to touch them- messes with energy.

If someone besides you does touch them, make sure to cleanse.

Decks have different personalities, don’t be bummed if one doesn’t work out for you.

Be prepared for a deck to get sarcastic and give out riddles.

Keep a journal/notebook/google doc of different spreads. You can even organise them by type. 

Daily draws are great, but don’t knock yourself if you can’t do them every day.

Meditating before a reading can help gain clarity. 

An easy way to cleanse your deck is to put them all in order then shuffle them again. 

Flash cards are good to memorise meanings.

Bonding with your deck can help readings be more accurate. An easy way to do this is sleep with them under your pillow.

Cleansing/charging your deck can be as easy as leaving them in a windowsill, or as intricate as a ritual.

You can have as many or as few decks as you want. 

Making your own cards does NOT make you less of a diviner.

Readings are not set in stone, take them with a grain of salt.

Reversals are not always bad.

Upright is not always good.

The death card does not mean death. 

Keep a journal to record your readings.

Try to remember one keyword/idea for each card to help you learn.

Make sure your deck fits in your hands comfortably.

If you’re just starting out, use simpler spreads. 

Past/present/future is great for beginners.

Amethyst is a good stone to have around.

But, letting your deck choose it’s favourite crystal is also important.

Using a tarot cloth can help keep unwanted energy off of your deck, especially if divining in a public place. 

Tarot bags are easy to make, just find a drawstring bag tutorial and edit the measurements to fit your deck. 

Playing music while doing readings can help you focus. 

It’s okay to redo a reading if you don’t feel it’s right, but keep the first one in mind. 

If you practice witchcraft, you can use tarot in various spells. 

You don’t have to read reversals!

If tarot doesn’t work out for you but you still want to use divination, try other forms such as oracle, scrying, pendulums, cartomancy, and more. 

Practice!!!

Ok guys! I’m rolling out something New! My herbal apprentice program!

So I am going to be doing a 1 on 1 personalized training program for only $20 a month. This is something new I’m trying out, so you will be my first apprentices! You will get assignments and a personalized experience. You can do this from anywhere.

I have my M.S. in therapeutic herbalism with a area of concentration in clinical studies. My undergrad is in Biology. I’m trained in both clinical and medicine making. I’m also a fun teacher!

Let me know if you’re interested or need special accommodations.

WWW.ATRIBEOF3SISTERS.COM

Knot magic and witches ladder

Tarot Spread - Were Your Ancestors Witches?

• 1 • Did My Ancestors Practice The Craft? • 2 • Where Were They From? • 3 • Who Were They? • 4 • How Can I Identify These Ancestors? • 5 • How Can I Learn About Their Practice? This is my personal spread I came up with myself. Enjoy! 💖