Everyday Magic For The Sea Witch

myth moodboards: cernunnos

celtic god of animals, fertility, and vegetation

requested by @barecontact

Add Some Oomph to Your Spells with Magical Timing

Like herbs, oils, and crystals, you don’t need to work with magical timing for your spell to be successful. You can cast a spell at any time, no matter your intention, and get your desired results. However, working with the energy of the sun, moon, and days of the week can add an extra power boost to your magic.

Think of it this way: certain energies are dominant at certain times. Those energies are easier to connect with because they are closer at hand, so to speak, so you can bring them into your life and your spells more easily and in a more powerful way. That doesn’t mean you can’t call on other energies during these times — it just means that you may not connect to them quite so easily.

If you choose to work with magical timing in your spells, there are several yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily cycles you can align your spells with.

The Cycle of the Sun: Solstices and Equinoxes

These are the turning points that mark the solar year, and are associated with the relationships between day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. Each solstice or equinox marks the end of one season and the beginning for the next. Because they are so rare and so potent, these days are a great time for your “big picture” spells or for spells that need a big power boost.

Winter Solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, and falls between December 20 and December 23, depending on the year. In some pagan traditions the winter solstice, or Yule, marks the beginning of the new year — you may choose to set intentions for the coming year on this solstice. After the winter solstice, the nights start getting shorter and the days start getting longer — so spells related to healing and bringing things into the light are especially effective at this time of year. The winter solstice marks the end of the “dark half” of the year and beginning of the “light half” of the year; at this point, our focus turns from inward reflection to outward manifestation. You may choose to think of the time between the winter solstice and spring equinox as a “planning phase,” where you examine yourself and your desires, decide what you want to work on in the next year, and make plans for manifesting what you want.

Spring Equinox. An equinox occurs when the day and the night are exactly the same length, representing a perfect balance between light and dark. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and occurs between March 19 and March 22. The Christian holiday of Easter and the pagan holiday of Ostara are both related to the energy of this equinox. At this time of year, the natural world is coming back to life as winter begins to fade. Plants are beginning to grow, and baby animals are being born. This is a powerful time of year for fertility magic and any magic related to new beginnings. You may choose to think of the time between the spring equinox and the summer solstice as a “planting phase,” where you “plant the seed” of the things you want to manifest and begin doing the work to make it happen.

Summer Solstice. This solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. It occurs between June 19 and June 23. As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the summer solstice (June 20, 2020). Life, fertility, and growth are at their peak during this time of year, which makes this solstice a perfect time for big manifestation spells. At the same time, this marks the end of the “light half” and beginning of the “dark half” of the year, so after the summer solstice our energy shifts from outward manifestation to inward contemplation. You may choose to think of the time between the summer solstice and fall equinox as the “harvest phase,” where you reap the results of your hard work and manifest your desires in the physical world.

Autumn Equinox. This is the other time of year when the day and night are perfectly balanced. The autumn equinox occurs between September 19 and September 23 and marks the beginning of autumn. This is traditionally the time of year when crops are harvested, and many pagan groups celebrate harvest festivals around this time. Nature is beginning to die or go into hibernation in preparation for the coming winter. This is an especially powerful time of year for shadow work or for magic related to endings and transitions. You may choose to think of the time between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice as the “reflection phase,” when you retreat from the outside world to rest, focus on yourself, and do your inner work and self-healing.

Important Note: This post lists dates for the solstices and equinoxes in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. If you live in the Southern hemisphere, you would observe the winter solstice in June, the spring equinox in September, the summer solstice in December, and the fall equinox in March.

The Cycle of the Moon: Lunar Phases

If you don’t have time to wait for the appropriate solstice or equinox, you can still connect with the cosmos in your magic. One of the biggest pros of the lunar cycle is that it happens roughly every month — so you never have to wait very long for the next full moon. The moon is also associated with magic and spirituality in several traditions, which makes it an especially powerful astral ally for witches.

New Moon. The new moon is when the moon is completely invisible in the night sky, and is the phase opposite the full moon. The new moon is a powerful time for shadow work (because it deals with things that are hidden) and for magic related to new beginnings.

Waxing Moon. The moon is waxing when it appears to be growing in the night sky; this is the phase between the new moon and full moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with drawing something in, building something up, or strengthening something that already exists.

Full Moon. Many witches believe that the full moon is the most powerful time of month for any kind of magic. This is a good time to cast any spell that needs a serious power boost. The full moon is also an especially powerful time to release what no longer serves you or to work healing magic.

Waning Moon. The moon is waning when it appears to be shrinking in the night sky; this is the phase between the full moon and new moon. This is a powerful time for any magic that deals with sending something away, banishing negative energy, or bringing something to an end.

Dark Moon. The dark moon is the three day period immediately before the new moon. In some traditions, it is believed to be bad luck to cast spells during the dark moon. Other traditions hold that the dark moon is the best point in the lunar cycle for destructive magic, such as curses and hexes. Many modern witches don’t recognize the dark moon as a separate moon phase at all. I personally like to use the dark moon as a time for self reflection, and may focus on shadow work during this time.

Magical Correspondences for the Days of the Week

The days of the week also have their own unique magical energies, and each day is linked to a certain planet and to certain deities.

Sunday. Sunday is, of course, connected to the Sun and solar deities. Sunday is the best day of the week for any manifestation magic that needs an extra boost. Its energy is also associated with healing, personal growth, power, and success.

Monday. Monday is associated with the Moon and lunar deities. Monday is a quiet, introspective day, and can feel very ethereal. It’s the best day for magic related to intuition, nurturing, and shadow work.

Tuesday. Tuesday is associated with Mars and with gods and goddesses of war and action. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Tyr/Tiw.) Tuesday is a very “active” day, and is good for magic related to action, activism, victory, or finding courage.

Wednesday. Wednesday is associated with Mercury and with gods and goddesses of wisdom, learning, and communication. (It is named for the Norse/Germanic god Odin/Wodan.) Wednesday is all about mental activity. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to thought, travel, communication (written, spoken, or digital), and learning/study.

Thursday. Thursday is associated with Jupiter and with gods and goddesses of prosperity, wealth, and protection. (It is named after the Norse/Germanic god Thor.) Thursday, like Jupiter in astrology, is all about outward expansion. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to career, prosperity, and wealth.

Friday. Friday is associated with Venus and with gods and goddesses of love, fertility, and sensuality. (It is named after the Norse goddess Freyja, or perhaps the goddess Frigg.) The energy of Friday is fun, lighthearted, and sexy. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to love, beauty, and sex/sexuality.

Saturday. Saturday is associated with Saturn and with time and wisdom. (The day and the planet are both named after the Roman god Saturn.) Saturday is practical and wise, but it does have a little bit of a dark side. It’s the best day of the week for magic related to banishing and protection.

Magical Times of Day

Okay, so you’d like to start working with magical timing, but what about emergency magic and last-minute spells? What if you don’t have time to wait for the next full moon, or even the next Sunday? You can still align your spell with magical timing! There are several moments of power each day, and each has its own magical associations.

Sunrise. Sunrise is, of course, the birth of the new day. This makes it the perfect time for spells related to new beginnings or expanded possibilities.

Noon. This is the peak or high point of the day. This is a powerful time for healing magic.

Sunset. Sunset is the end of the day, and forms a gateway between light and dark. This is a great time for spells related to accepting endings, releasing that which does not serve, and moving on from the past.

Midnight. If noon is the peak of the day, then midnight is the peak of the night. Midnight has a very ethereal, transformational energy. Like with the full moon, some witches believe that any spell will be more powerful if cast at midnight. This is a powerful time for both banishing and attraction magic.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin [specifically the chapter on the sabbats]

Qabalah Made Easy by David Wells [Note: Qabalah is based on an appropriation of Jewish mysticism, and I am NOT endorsing its practice. However, much of the magical timing associations used in modern witchcraft is shared with Qabalah and other forms of ceremonial magic, which is why it’s referenced here.]

Regardless if you are a writer, artist, musician, or even just a web developer, losing your muse and finding yourself in a creative flunk just sucks. It’s frustrating and can bring some of us to pull our hair out. For some of us, it can mean the difference of having a job and not. So, here’s a little something to help us out during those times.

Spell to Bring Creativity Back to Your Life

Ingredients

1 yellow candle

1 purple candle

1 blue candle

Rose Quartz

A sample of your medium of your craft (For example, a pencil for writing or sketching, a paintbrush for painting, etc)

(Optional) A mint or citrus scented incense or candle

Steps

Cleanse yourself before starting the spell as well as your magickal and creative work spaces

Being mindful of any rules against burning stuff as well as common sense candle safety, light the blue candle. Then, light the purple candle to the right of it and then light the yellow candle in-between them. They should be arranged in the shape of a triangle. See the diagram below.

Place the scented candle (optional) and rose quartz in the center of the triangle and light the scented candle

If you are able, sit comfortably in front of the candles and meditate. Relax. Think about a past project. Remember the process of starting it, working on it, and completing it. Now, think of your present projects and where you are with them. Visualize yourself physically finishing them. Think about your future projects. Visualize yourself starting, working on, and finishing them.

Pick up the rose quartz and hold it over your naval and recite the following with confidence: Just as past, present, and future gods, I am a creator. Nothing else can create what I create just as I do. The fruits of my labor manifest at my will, and just like those gods, nothing can nor will prevent me from loving my creations or my love to create and, by my word, I will keep creating

Meditate for as long as you feel necessary then blow out the candles and clean up your ritual. 

Yule blessings and Happy Winter Solstice everyone ❤️

A Big Witchy Guide on Palmistry

Palmistry shows how your entire life is mapped out in the palm of your hands. Even Julius Caesar used palmistry to help him make decisions. The future is read in your right hand and the past in your left hand. The hand revealing your past gives information about the inner you and the influences in your life when you were growing up.

The history of palmistry dates back thousands of years and has been spoken of in the Hindu scriptures and the old testament. Palmistry most likely originated in China or India and was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Philosophers astrologers, alchemists and theologians studied the art of palmistry. The Romani also adopted palmistry and it was used in fortune telling.  Palmistry became a serious study for scientists and scholars who considered palmistry to be a valid and accurate science. Palmistry is also known as Chiromancy.

Your entire life and can be read with incredible accuracy, all information about you is contained in your palm such as your strengths and weaknesses as well as your past, present and future. Each person  has a unique palm, no two are the same, according to palm readers, the shape, texture and lines contain everything about the person’s life. A palm reader will examine the entire hand, including fingers, nails and back of the hand. Police will often use fingerprinting in their work and this could be seen as a practical use of palmistry.

Your hand has four dominant lines, fate, head, heart and life lines. The size of your hands, the length of your fingers and thumb, is taken into consideration. If one of your lines is missing, your fate line for instance, this is not a sign of foreboding, it actually means that you will have many changes in life and adapt well to them, you will be one on your own, you will be unique. Whether your fingers are close together or spread apart reveals what kind of employee you will be, those with fingers close together tend to be more stable in work than those with splayed fingers. Although do not be alarmed if you have splayed fingers it just means that during your life you may well find it worthwhile to consider carefully before making any changes in your work environment.

LIFE LINE

The life line is the curved line around the padded area located at the base of the thumb, do not be perturbed if there is a  short or broken line as it doesn’t mean an early death. The life line actually reveals the quality and the vitality of your life. A life line that is deep denotes  fewer problems than a line that is fine and difficult to see, the difficulties of life are easier for the person with a deep set line to cope with and they are usually more resilient mentally, emotionally, and physically. If the life line is deep and red is shows a more aggressive personality. The life line is often joined to the head line which runs parallel. The point of separation between the heart line and  head line reveals when you became independent from your childhood home. If there is a faint line within the life line this is called the line of protection. Breaks in the life line show times where there are challenges.

FATE LINE

Fate Line Missing

The fate line runs vertically up the middle of the palm. Sometimes the fate line runs from the bracelet lines on the writs to the mounts of the fingers thus revealing influences in your life. Don’t worry about a missing fate line as this means you have control of your destiny.

Extra Long Fate Line

An extra long fate line means it goes past the heart line. This denotes a very, very long and active life and you will find success early in life by being ambitious with a will to succeed. The difference between your active and passive hand is how you have developed your natural potential. A strong fate line means you have taken charge of your life and learnt how to maintain balance. A weak fate line shows there may be a lack of control and you need more balance in your life.

Fate Line Beginning On Your Life Line

If your fate line begins on your life line it reveals a close bond to your family in your childhood. You will have influence over others if your fate line ends on the mount of Jupiter. The mount of Jupiter is located at the base of your index finger.

Fate Line Beginning On The Mount Of Jupiter

You will be a formidable person of great influence if your fate line ends on the mount of Jupiter.

Strong Fate Line

With a strong fate line you know early your rhythms and settle into a pattern of life.

Fate Line Ending On The Mount Of Apollo

If you fate line ends on the mount of Apollo you will be drawn to the arts and achieve success in this field.  The mount of Apollo is located at the base of the ring finger.

Fate Line Ending On The Mount Of Mercury

If the fate line ends on the mount of Mercury you will have a good head for business, you will also have an eye for the stock market. The mount of Mercury is found at the base of the little finger.

Fate Line Branching To More Than One Of The Mounts

When the fate line branches to more than one of the mounts it is a very auspicious sign and reveals you will be successful in life.

Breaks In The Fate Line

If there is a break in the fate line it means that a career choice will be interrupted for some reason, if parts of the line overlap there will be a straightforward transition from one thing to another.

Weak Fate Line

A weak fate line can reveal some instability in life and work, and difficulty settling into a suitable work environment, there may be several career changes.

Fate Line Starting From Bottom Of Palm

A fate line starting from the bottom of the palm denotes someone who matures early and settles into their life path easily.

Fate Line Ending At The Head Line

If the fate line ends at the head line it means there is a stumbling block, a challenge that needs to be met and overcome, it can denote those who experience emotional difficulties, approximately between their late twenties and their early forties.

Fate Line Tied To Heart Line

If your fate line is tied to your heart line it can mean that during your early childhood there were certain tensions or restrictions placed on you.

Two Fate Lines

Two fate lines means some duality regarding career choice as though a choice has to be made between one direction or another alternatively, you manage to balance two careers at once, this will all depend on your personality.

HEART LINE

Curved Heart Line

A curved heart line reveals a sensitive and demonstrative person, very romantic and forthright in love, the curved heart line starts under your little finger and curves up to between your middle and index finger.

Strong Heart Line

A strong heart line reveals confidence and emotional stability, someone who is self possessed and able to make astute emotional decisions with clarity.

Weak Heart Line

A weak heart line reveals someone is likely to have difficulty in relationships due to insecurity, if revealed early in life they are able to work on self worth issues to foster self confidence.

Straight Heart Line

A straight heart line reveals someone who is more reticent to show emotion, a passive romantic who needs the other person to make the first move.

Heart Line

The heart line can reveal not only what has or is happening in your life, it can also reveal why things happen the way they do.

Heart Line Steep Curve

If your heart line curves steeply and dramatically ending in between your middle and index finger, you will have an active libido. If the line curves up towards the index finger you will choose a partner very carefully.

Heart Line Curves up to the middle finger

If your heart line curves up to the middle finger you may be quite needy and insecure in love relationships and by knowing this about yourself you are able to work on and through your anxieties.

Heart Line Straight And Short

When the heart line is straight and short the person will have a rampant sex drive and be short on romance.

Heart Line ending On The Mount Of Jupiter

The heart line ending on the mount of Jupiter belongs to someone caring, a humanitarian who will pursue this end, some with this line step away from society at some point in their life and lead an alternate lifestyle.

Heart Line Meeting Life Line

Those with a heart line that meets the life line can be fragile in love and they are easily hurt by others, they are sensitive souls.

Two Branches Of The Heart Line

Two or more branches of the heart line reveal a changeable emotional nature.

Similar Lines As Your Partner

A relationship where both partners have similar lines often works very well.

HEAD LINE

Short Head Line

The head line is located in the upper part of the palm, it reveals your intelligence and gives an indication of your approach to problems. A short head line denotes a no nonsense thinker who comes straight to the point and they don’t bear fools lightly.

Long Head Line

A long head line reveals that you are a deep thinker with a rational approach to problem solving.

Straight Head Line

A straight headline denotes a deep and thoughtful thinker.

Curved Head Line

A curved head line belongs to a person who is imaginative and has an intuitive approach to problem solving, this line belongs to a creative person.

A Sloping Head Line

If you have a sloping head line you will be artistic and creative and will be less practical in your approach to problem solving, writers often have this line

Horizontal Head Line

If you have a horizontal head line you will possess a straightforward no nonsense manner.

Forked Head Line

If you have a forked headline you will be full of ideas possibly with entrepreneurial abilities, also an excellent mediator.

Floating Head line

If you have a floating head line which is not anchored to any other line you possess a carefree attitude towards life and are always ready to help those with a less than relaxed approach.

Head Line That Starts Under The Index Finger

If you have a head line that starts under the index finger you possess a quick mind and are extremely intelligent, you love to read and are always ready to learn something new.

APOLLO LINE

The Apollo line runs vertically from the bottom of the palm around one centimeter in from the edge of the palm up to just below the ring finger, it indicates fulfillment and success, possibly acclaim for something you do in life.

SIMIAN LINE

The simian line is a line that runs straight across the hand replacing the heart and head line, it is very rare, people with this line are often found to be extreme in their thoughts and ideas. Those with a simian line are proactive and determined. No challenge is too daunting for them. The learning curve for those with this rare line is to learn to be flexible as it isn’t always necessary to do things your way.

WHAT A STAR DENOTES

If you have a star on the mount of Jupiter, Mercury or Apollo, or at the top of your fate line, you can expect serendipitous happenings in your life, you will also find success, those drawn to the theatre often have the star. Correctly placed the star is a money magnet, abundance is associated with this mark.

MEDICAL LINE

Medical line is the name given to fine lines underneath the little finger, these are so named as it is usually the hand of a doctor or medical person such as a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or counselor. Those drawn to healing and massage therapy also have these markings.

MARKINGS ON THE WORRY LINE

Fork At The End Of The Worry Line Crossing The Heart

The worry lines are the fine lines radiating from the base of the thumb. If there is a fork line at the end of the worry line that crosses the heart it reveals some tension that needs to be worked on in a relationship or marriage.

Worry Line From A Star On A Mount Of Venus

This sign is indicative of tension with relatives and diplomacy may be needed especially regarding in-laws.

Island Worry Line

Extreme difficulty within a relationship is revealed when there is an island on the worry line. 

LINES OF INFLUENCE

Line Of Influence Crossing The Life Or Head Line And A Red Dot

With this sign you are urged to pay attention to your health and to be sure you are taking care of yourself.

Worry Line From A Star

If a worry line starts from a  star on line of influence and crosses the life line it reveals health concerns within the family.

MERCURY LINE

You will find a canny business person has a mount of Luna line branching from the mount of Luna, entrepreneurs often have this line.

Those with a mercury line across the Venus mount will often be drawn to something in the medical world, doctor, dentist, nurse, psychiatrist and psychotherapist.

MARS LINE

You will find the mars line runs inside the life line and offers protection throughout your life.

MOUNTS

Mount of Jupiter

The mount of Jupiter is located at the base of your index finger. If it is well rounded it denotes that you are an extremely gregarious, confident personality, the mount is to do with your self-worth.

If the mount covers a wide area it reveals you are a giving person with spontaneous acts of generosity, you give of your time also.

If the mount of Jupiter is high you are an organised person who always seems to be telling others what to do.

Mount of Saturn

The mount of Saturn is under the middle finger. A large mount suggests a somewhat serious and dour personality.

Mount of Venus

The mount of Venus is found at the base of the thumb, if it is well developed (fuller mount) you possess an extremely healthy libido.

An underdeveloped (flatter) mount of Venus means it is necessary to look after your health as you may be prone to ailments.

Mount of Neptune

The mount of Neptune sits in the middle at the base of the palm, if is well developed you are a charismatic and charming entity, drawing people from all walks of life to you. If the mount of Neptune is undeveloped a person can often have difficulties expressing feelings.

Mount of Apollo

The mount of Apollo is located at the base of the ring finger, if well developed it reveals a very artistic and creative nature. A person with an undeveloped mount of Apollo is usually down to earth.

Mount of Mercury

The mount of Mercury is found at the base of the little finger. A well developed mount of Mercury denotes a very gentle, sensitive and giving nature, someone who bruises emotionally very easily, they need to surround themselves with like minded souls.

An underdeveloped mount of Mercury reveals someone who would rather keep to themselves, the loner.

Mount of Luna

You will find the mount of Luna in the bottom corner of the hand under Mars negative.

Well developed mount of Luna reveals someone who is spiritual and very likely psychic, they often become involved in all manner of esoteric practices.

PLAIN OF MARS

The plain of Mars lies in the center of the nine mounts, if overdeveloped it is necessary for you to watch your temper as you may have a short fuse.

If you have an underdeveloped plain of Mars you are not particularly at ease with others and may be quite shy.

Mars Positive

Mars positive is inside the thumb crease. If your Mars positive is well developed you have a get on with it manner and show courage in the face of adversity, others look to you for guidance.

If your Mars positive is underdeveloped you may be very judgemental towards others and be a harsh taskmaster.

Mars Negative

Mars negative is found on the outside edge between Luna and Mercury.

A well developed Mars negative means you never give up and never give in, you always follow something through to the end, any blocks in your life you view as challenges to be overcome, you are also a very good motivator.

FINGERS

THUMB

A persons attitude , their determination , their focus, their ambition  is shown by the shape of the thumb as it reveals how they will approach things. The top of your thumb reveals your willpower and the bottom of your thumb tells you how much effort you will put in to attain what you want.

Large thumb

If your thumb is large this denotes a dominant personality, if this is you, you know what you want and will put any amount of effort to reach this end.

Small thumb

Small thumbs show a gentle sensitive personality.

Long wide thick thumbs

Long wide thick thumbs show drive, motivation and ambition.

Small wide thumb

A small wide thumb belongs to a person who lacks drive and motivation.

Long narrow thumb

A long narrow thumb belongs to someone who wants to succeed, and who needs encouragement along the way as they may lack the follow through.

Thumb with a very wide top

An aggressive person has a thumb with a very wide top.

Very narrow thumb tip

A very narrow thumb tip shows a person who doesn’t like to push, and they may have a tendency to hold back.

Thick top thumb joint

The person with a thick top thumb joint, is straight to the point and doesn’t spare anybody’s feelings.

Slim top thumb joint

A slim fine top thumb joint reveals the absolute diplomat.

Thumb close to hand

A thumb that stays very close to the hand indicates that the person may need to learn generosity.

Thumb not close to hand

A thumb not close to the hand that sticks out away from the hand reveals a light-hearted gregarious soul.

LITTLE FINGER

Small little finger

Those will small little fingers have likely been told on more than one occasion they are immature, if this is you, take heed.

Long little finger

A long little finger denotes the writer, the creator, they have a healthy libido and are very intelligent.

Low set little finger

A low set little finger may denote some difficulty communicating with one parent.

Little finger sticks out

If the little finger sticks out you may be in a relationship that needs some work to allow better interaction, alternatively you may not want to be in the relationship at all.

FINGER SIZE

Long middle finger

The person with a long middle finger values life and all it has to offer they take a serious approach to most everything and usually succeed as they are not easily deterred.

Short middle finger

A short middle finger denotes someone who needs to learn the lesson of self-motivation.

Long index finger

If the index finger is long it shows someone who will work hard to succeed in everything they do, they are self-starters full of confidence. They are ambitious and like to do things their way, they make excellent business heads.

Short index finger

A short index finger reveals someone who may need to work on their self-confidence and may consult with someone to help them to be more outgoing.

Curved index finger

People with a curved index finger have a tendency to try many things in their life, every time you see them they have started something new, it can be anything from fly-fishing to cartomancy, to interior design, to gardening.

FINGER SETTINGS

Arched Setting

Those with an arched setting practice what they preach they are the deciders and the doers they have a pleasant calm demeanor.

Fingers Evenly Set

People with evenly set fingers are very confident and find success in most everything they tackle, they are often independent business entities.

Uneven Setting

If someone has uneven set fingers they may be shy or lack confidence they need to work on what they are good at to help them believe in themselves, they like to be around sensitive people.

Teacher Setting

If you have a square under the index finger you will be involved in teaching of some kind, it can be in any field. You will find there is a need to help others to learn.

FINGERPRINTS

Whorl fingerprints

Whorls on your fingerprints reveal someone who is charming, charismatic and talented they often specialise in something creative.

Arch fingerprints

Arch fingerprints these people are not afraid of hard work, they are determined they roll up their sleeves and get on with it. They can also be quite sceptical.

Composite print

A composite print denotes someone who is not easy to get along with and has the tendency to be argumentative, but of course if you know this about yourself you will be able to temper this trait, this is a rare fingerprint.

Tented arch

A Tented arch belongs to those who throw themselves into life, anything they do they give it their full attention. People with loop fingerprints are fantastic communicators and are very social.

NAILS

Half moon overlarge

Half moon overlarge indicative possibly of thyroid problems.

Pale Nails

Pale nails can mean you have an iron deficiency.

Almond Shaped Nails

Those with almond shaped nails have an active imagination, the dreamy poet.

Fan Shape Nails

Fan shaped nails reveal that you may be suffering from stress, look at what in your life is causing this and endeavour to do something about it.

Broad Nails

Broad nails denote a fiery temper and a larger than life personality.

Narrow Nails

Narrow nails reveal an egocentric person.

Square Nails

Square nails mean you are someone who is easygoing and social, liking harmony in all situations.

Red Nail

A person with red nails wants things to happen quickly and can be quite impatient if they don’t.

Wrap-around Nails

Wrap-around nails may reveal a smoker or someone who is prone to respiratory problems.

JOINTS AND KNUCKLES

Those with smooth knuckles rely very much on their instincts and are sensitive and highly intuitive, they have empathy and are genuinely interested in the wellbeing of others.

People who have uneven knuckles are easy going and have a calm approach to life, they like to maintain balance in all things and you will find they are extremely organised.

Those with pronounced top and bottom knuckles are deep thinkers they take their time making decisions and have a philosophical approach to life. They are astute managers with money and possess the ability to invest successfully.

ELEMENT HANDS

Fire Hand

The Fire hand has a long palm and short fingers, this hand belongs to the extroverts of the world, often found on the hand of someone who talks a lot and is always the life and soul of the party. Those with fire hands are creative, enthusiastic and need to be busy, they often go from one project to another and their learning curve is to complete what they start.

Earth Hand

If you have an earth hand you will be very creative, someone with an earth hand has square palms and small fingers. They like to establish themselves and security is extremely important to them, they are organised and may be carpenters, also artists and  photographers possess these hands. Someone with an earth hand is likely to be reserved in demeanor.

Air Hand

The person with an air hand has a square palm and long fingers the lines are thin and the prints are loops. They are the orators and writers of the world and they are optimists. You will always feel uplifted spending time with a person who has an air hand. This person loves to learn and is likely a traveler. Those with an air hand have a quick active mind and some are positively eccentric but always entertaining to be around, they are warm  hearted and generous with their time.

Water Hand

Water hands are rectangular with long fingers, they are highly intuitive and very sensitive. They usually follow a creative career path they are the writers, artists and designers of the world. They are highly emotional and empathic and have a colorful imagination, when in a relationship they are loyal and loving and always feel at their best with an honest and trustworthy partner.

HAND FLEXIBILITY

Flexible hand

A flexible hand means  you are open-minded and will always listen to the point of view of others. Someone with this hand adapts well to new situations they are the ones who learn how to dance on a shifting carpet. They are very intelligent and usually well read, they are self possessed and know what they want out of life.

Firm Hand

This hand belongs to someone who likes their own way and usually gets it, they are strong-minded and very sure of themselves.

Stiff Hand

A stiff hand reveals someone who is more rigid in their thinking and it is difficult to change their mind. Someone with a stiff hand doesn’t like change and has difficulty adapting if it is thrust upon them.

PSYCHIC HAND

Crescent Of Intuition

The crescent of intuition lies in the center between the head and heart line this is indicative of an evolved psychic, those with this line have a heightened sense of intuition.

Crosses On The Hand

Crosses on the hand reveal psychic ability.

Triangle Mount Of Saturn

A triangle on the mount of Saturn reveals psychic ability and often those with these markings work using their abilities.

Spidery Lines On Hand

Those with spidery lines on their hands are often psychic and form businesses along these lines.

INHERITED MONEY

The inherited money line  is a curved line that runs from the base of Apollo on the side of the mercury finger, it indicates you will come into money via a windfall or inheritance although no time frame is given.

PALM READERS

Palm reading in this century seems to be more scientific with rules and guidelines, it is certainly an intriguing and engaging way to learn more about yourself, your friends and loved ones.

I hope this helped you, my Witchy Darlings! Sorry it’s a little long, I wanted to make sure I got EVERYTHING in there. Please let me know if I may have missed anything! :)

What other Witchy Guides would you like me to do? Let me know! :D

Brightest Blessings to you all! )0(

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Spell jar for health and anxiety

Lavender: anti anxiety

Chamomile: peace

Cloves: peace

Eucalyptus: health

Wormwood: health

White wax: anti anxiety

The Great Handfasting Project: Secular Wedding Planning Books

While historical sources about pre-Christian weddings and books written by modern pagans can give you a lot of good ideas for your ceremony, many of them don't cover the most stressful part of getting married: planning, budgeting, scheduling, and managing a modern wedding.

My fiance and I decided in December to move our wedding date up from August of 2024 to August of 2023 -- cutting our planning time from nineteen months to just over seven months. This meant we had a lot less time than intended to make a guest list, make a budget, book a venue, send out invitations, buy our outfits, arrange catering for the reception, and all the other things you have to do to make a wedding happen. It also meant that our timeline was a little more rushed than we'd originally intended.

Because our timeline had suddenly shrunk, we decided to prioritize planning the reception first, then start writing a script for our ceremony after we'd nailed down reception details. We did this because we knew our reception was going to have more than three times as many guests as our ceremony and would be what we spent most of our budget on. Our reception is also going to be 100% secular out of consideration for guests who may not be comfortable attending a pagan ceremony but who still want to support us.

I cope with new and stressful situations by reading about them. Research is the balm that soothes my worries and the foundation that lets me build my own kickass plans. When we decided to move up our wedding date, I immediately went out and bought a couple of books to help me navigate the many big and small decisions I'd have to make in the coming months.

The Everything Guide to Micro Weddings by Katie Martin

When I first started looking into planning my own wedding, I quickly learned that what my fiance and I wanted to do is called a "micro wedding." According to Katie Martin, a micro wedding is any wedding or commitment ceremony with fewer than 50 guests. I feel like most pagan weddings end up falling into this category. (Something about pagans makes us prefer small, intimate gatherings, I guess?)

Pros

Katie Martin is actually a professional wedding planner, so this book very much comes across as expert advice from an industry professional.

There's lots of good, practical advice about logistics, which is exactly what I wanted. This book taught me how to make a wedding planning spreadsheet, and I love that.

I like that the author includes advice for dealing with family members' expectations for your wedding day, especially when they would have liked to see you do things differently. I think a lot of this advice is relevant to pagans whose family doesn't understand why they want a handfasting, or anyone else who has to gently break it to their grandmother that they aren't having a church wedding. I felt like these sections did help prepare me to defend our decision to do a small, casual wedding and my decision not to have my biological father present even though several of my siblings are still close to him.

This book is LGBTQ+ inclusive!

I also love that the author gives practical advice for interfaith and multicultural weddings, including alternatives for when one or both religions doesn't allow interfaith ceremonies.

I like that the author addresses guest dietary needs in the sections on planning the menu. For example, she recommends asking guests about food allergies before finalizing the menu, making sure to have vegan/vegetarian options, and offering non-alcoholic drinks for toasts. As a vegetarian with Celiac Disease, I appreciate this and can testify that it's unfortunately not something every wedding planner thinks about.

This book was written after the pandemic and includes tips and ideas for celebrating during quarantine, which is really helpful.

The appendix has literal checklists you can use to plan different parts of your wedding.

Cons

Katie Martin is a professional wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings, and it shows. She discusses destination weddings a lot in this book. Maybe it's just because I'm not planning a destination wedding, but I felt like that topic could have been its own book instead of being lumped into this one.

The "environmentalist" politics of this book are inconsistent. At one point, Martin says that one of the main draws of micro weddings is that they have a smaller carbon footprint than bigger weddings, which I'm sure is true. But just a few chapters later, she gives a list of potential locations for destination weddings that includes Hawaii and other places where both the environment and Native people are seriously harmed by tourism. This is a very minor gripe, but it annoyed me and felt a little bit like greenwashing.

I wish Martin gave price estimates for the things she suggests. I understand that she probably didn't want to date her book by including exact numbers, but a rough estimate would have been helpful. There are almost no numbers given, and when the author says that Option X is cheaper than Option Y, she doesn't say how much cheaper it is. This makes it hard to think about budgeting while reading.

It really rubbed me the wrong way that this author subscribes to the outdated etiquette of referring to married women as "Mrs. [husband's name]" in invitations and programs. Martin even says divorced women should be addressed as "Mrs. [ex-husband's name]" if they haven't remarried! This is based on the incredibly patriarchal idea that women's identities are defined by their husbands, and if I received a wedding invite that addressed me this way, I wouldn't go. There are also no alternatives given for addressing same-gender couples. This just feels like an incredibly old-fashioned and misogynist inclusion in a book that is otherwise very modern.

Overall rating: 4/5 stars

Would I recommend it? Yes, especially if you're doing most of the planning for your wedding yourself.

Offbeat Bride by Ariel Meadow Stallings

When my fiance and I first decided to (literally) tie the knot, Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) was an incredibly helpful source of inspiration. It was the first time I'd ever seen photos of polyamorous weddings, which I immediately sent to all of my partners with lots of hearts and crying emojis. It's also a goldmine of inspiration for queer weddings, nonbinary/genderqueer weddings, disabled weddings, and so much more. So when I learned that the site's founder had written a wedding planning book, I knew it would be an invaluable resource.

(Note: This book has been revised twice since it was originally published. The version I read is the third edition, which is the most recent version.)

Pros

This book addresses things I've never seen talked about in other wedding planning resources, like the conflict of hating the beauty industrial complex for making money off insecurities they created vs. wanting to look nice for your wedding photos. (Because even if you don't hire a photographer, someone is gonna take photos.) I loved this book's "do what you gotta do" approach and the emphasis on feeling comfortable and beautiful on your special day.

I cannot stress enough how much I appreciate the section titled "A Big-Bride Survival Guide." As a fat girl, lemme tell you: as stressful as shopping for wedding outfits already is, it's more stressful with a bigger body. And don't even get me started on the subtle (and not-so-subtle) weight loss comments from relatives. I loved that this book includes practical advice for how to navigate the entire process as a fat bride (or groom, or spouse).

This is by far the most LGBTQ+ affirming wedding planning book I've read so far. There's an entire chapter dedicated to queer weddings, but advice for queering your wedding is sprinkled throughout the rest of the book as well. "Queer wedding" also isn't only defined as two men or two women getting married. There's advice for bisexual and pansexual weddings (and the author identifies as bisexual!), asexual weddings, transgender weddings, and nonbinary/genderqueer weddings. There's even a short but sweet section on polyamorous commitment ceremonies, both for groups of more than two people who are "getting weddinged" and for polyamorous couples who may not be out to all their guests but still want to find subtle ways to include their other partners. I also really liked that the author acknowledges the struggles and hardships faced by queer couples (and throuples and more) and the importance of celebrating queer community, resilience, and chosen-family.

I really appreciate the warning about the pitfalls of wedding planning apps, magazines, and social media. The author warns readers about the risk of having so much inspiration you fall into the hole of choice paralysis or keep redoing things you already finished. She also warns about the temptation to compare your wedding to someone else's. I loved this gentle reminder to be mindful in how we engage with the wedding planning industry. Here's a wonderful direct quote: "Remember, the wedding tech is here to serve you. You are not here to serve it."

There's an entire chapter on disabilities and accessibility! I really appreciated this inclusion, and I found the advice genuinely helpful as I plan a wedding that accommodates my own chronic illnesses, my fiance's and my ADHD, several guests with mobility issues, and other guests with various other health conditions and invisible disabilities.

I loved the chapter on self-care and navigating wedding planning anxiety. Planning any big event, but especially one as legally, ideologically, and culturally loaded as a wedding, is really stressful, even if you're doing a small celebration with just close friends and family. I appreciated the acknowledgement that feeling stressed or anxious is both normal and common, and I loved that the author talked about the ways this stress can affect your physical body as well.

Overall, this is a really great book with excellent advice, and it really does cover every single aspect of wedding planning.

Cons

It's actually really hard for me to think of stuff I dislike about this book, if I'm being honest. There were a few typos, but nothing atrocious.

This book is written from the bride's perspective. The author includes lots of stories about her own wedding, and she is a woman who married a man, which definitely shaped her experience. Like I mentioned, there's a lot of good advice here for grooms and other-gendered people having weddings, and there's a lot of advice and suggestions for queer weddings. But if it's important to you to read a book about someone's firsthand experience of having a same-gender wedding, or of being a transgender bride/groom, or of navigating the wedding industry when you don't identify with a binary gender, this book isn't that.

Overall rating: 5/5 stars

Would I recommend it? Yes!!! Especially if you're having a "nontraditional" wedding.