MANDRAGORA: To Sway Another To Your Will

Protective Storm Ward

A warding spell to protect an area against severe storm and weather

by Rainy-Day-Witchcraft

Materials

Storm water

Sea salt 

Heather

Black Pepper

Thistle

Ground wood charcoal

Oven mits / Heat handling tools

Disclaimer: Some may develop hives or experience itch when physically dealing with thistle - if you have never worked with it before, find out if it’s safe for you to handle, as you would any herb or plant.

Step 1. In a fire-safe pot or cauldron sitting over a stove or fire, pour in about two cups of storm or rain water and a few tablespoons of salt. One by one, add in the ingredients as the water warms, speaking aloud or thinking of the properties of each ~ Heather (linked to mists and rain), Black pepper (earthly protection), Thistle (protection and banishment), and wood charcoal ground to a chalky powder (protection and banishment). 

Allow your herbal water mixture to seep on a low temperature for a few minutes (if you’re using a non-stovetop fire, bring the water to an almost-boil and remove from heat source for a few minutes). 

After the mixture has seeped, turn the heat up to high or return to heat source and allow it to come to a rolling boil; our goal here is to produce steam, so be sure it’s at the boiling point where a good amount is evaporating! 

Step 2. Using heat handling tools or mits, carry the pot/cauldron to an area that is exposed to the outside air; you can choose to do this outside, or if the weather does not allow it, in front of an open window. If you are already working over an outdoor fire, staying where you are is fine! 

Place the pot in front of you and allow the steam from the boiled mixture to waft up into the sky or out the window. As you watch, envision that the essence and energy from the herbs traveling up into the sky with the steam; it eases the clouds, quiets the winds, and banishes the danger. Continue to watch the steam until it cools and no longer produces as much, visualizing the clouds relieving their tension and the wind blowing them away. During this time you can recite a chant, blow on the steam, etc! 

Step 3. When the above step is finished and the steam has diminished, it’s time to do away with the remaining watery plant pulp that did not evaporate. If the weather condones it, dig a small hole in the earth and pour the mixture into it; Mix it counter-clockwise three times with your finger, a wand, an athame, or a branch, and then proceed to cover the hole up with soil (feel free to once again chant or visualize). If the weather is still looking too severe to step outside, store the mixture in an air-tight jar and in a dark space (to prevent mold growth) until the storm subsides ~ It is then that you should bury the mixture. This protects the earth, and in turn the area you perform the spell around, from the damage of severe weather!

My ask and/or message box is open if you happen to have any questions or comments about the spell. Thank you!

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Studying Powder

What you need: ♢Lavander ( ease the mind, relieves anxiety) ♢Marjoram (wards of depression) ♢Ginger (success and power ) ♢Dill (mental strength ) ♢Mint (exorcism)

What you have to know: Except ginger all of this herbs are associated with Mercury, that represents the mind and plays an important role in the areas of cognition and wisdom.

Grind the herbs into a powder and sprinkle it on your books or light it up as an incense.

🌙

( ☮ )

What herbs would you suggest are most important when starting off with spells?

For me it would be:

mint (protection, luck,success)

basil (success, prosperity,protection against negatvie energies)

lavender (calm, peace, sleep,cleansing)

rose (love, emotions, glamour)

thyme (purification, protection)

rosemary (purification, protection, cleansing, luck)

sage (protection, purification, cleansing)

bay leaf (success, luck,prosperity, purification, protection)

(these are the main properties for me)

http://www.houseofwidow.com/

Tips for High School Witches

Hey guys! I’ve been a witch for about a year now, and being a high schooler in a conservative state has made it quite interesting, to say the least. So here are some things I’ve discovered that have made being a young, jobless witch AMAZINGLY easy!

The Library- if you are in High school, you undoubtedly have easy access to a library. This will contain information on mythology, religion, weather, astronomy, history, and just about any subject. Almost all of this knowledge (certainly all that I just listed) can be used in your craft. These are FREE BOOKS WHENEVER YOU NEED THEM. Take advantage!

The Art Room- weather you are in an art class or not, there is usually at least one art teacher in the school who has plenty of strange junk and materials that can be used for witchcraft. For instance, my teacher’s closet includes: bones, wax, wire, clay, wood, soapstone, beads, and all kinds of other brilliant components. These are FREE MATERIALS!!! As long as you have the teachers permission, GET WHATEVER YOU CAN!! You wouldn’t believe how many witchy items I’ve made in third period that cost me exactly $0.00.

The Thrift Store- I’ve seen other witches beat this one to death, but I must stress what a good resource thrift stores are for witchcraft. I’ve purchased brass candle holders, carved wooden boxes, stone incense burners, and more for less than $5. You can also find altar cloths, candles, picture frames, and more. The thrift stores of good for more than retro fashion!

Now, I also want to suggest some of the most useful spells and tricks to a high school witch (in my experience, of course.)

Anti Suspicion- wether your parents know or not (mine certainly don’t) you definitely don’t want your whole school to know that you’re a witch. Trust me. A simple sigil or spell to avert suspicion and ill intent will go MILES! My altar is the first thing you see in my room, I hoard bottles and jars, I use all the candles, and my parents suspect nothing. I’ve come to school with sigils all over my arm and no one so much as blinks an eye. I’ve also been able to get away with not wearing my school ID for a semester and a half, which was a nice side effect. Moon water is also great for making you less visible/noticeable.

Focus/success- when you’re about halfway through a semester of homework and studying, you’re gonna want some help. Spells for focus, knowledge, brain power, and success at schoolwork should not be underestimated. I’ve also found that wearing carnelian and aventurine Jewellry does wonders. I also rub safely diluted Rosemary oil on the back of my hand, and smell it whenever I’m struggling on tests and quizzes, as it aids in memory.

Luck, Prosperity, & health- you are a high schooler. You probably stay up way too late, forget a ton of assignments, spill things constantly, trip, lose socks, lose your wallet, and run into all kinds of awkward, dumb situations. A blend of safely diluted orange, lemon, Rosemary, and lavender oil will provide health, prosperity, positivity, happiness, protection, and psychic power. Aventurine, citrine, and rise Quartz are also some good crystals to keep you focused, happy, and protected.

If you have any more questions for me, want to talk, or want to add to the list, feel free to do so! Love you guys, and good luck!!!

How to Harvest your Magical Herbs

Most plants used for cooking can be harvested at any time of day but if a herb is being harvested for medicinal use there are certain times of the day and certain weather conditions that are best for capturing the strength of the most active ingredients.  Also if herbs are being used for magikal works there are times that the plants energy is at its optimum and therefore aids the work being undertaken. The perfect conditions for gathering leaves flowers and fruit for drying and storing is a very dry day probably around mid to late morning as any moisture on the surface from rain, mist or dew can cause the plant material to degrade quickly and can induce fungal and bacterial growth.  Harvesting should also be avoided when the sun is high and hot as the essential elements of the active ingredients can be evaporated or lose strength.

Having said all this there are times that you may stumble on a particular plant that has been eluding you and you are totally unprepared for collecting it in the perfect weather conditions, moon phases or with the correct tools and in these situations it comes down to the two choices

come back when the conditions are right which I have done and then been unable to find the plant again

pick it anyway and hope that the active ingredients are not too diminished (I have been in this situation and have had good results anyway)

It is best not to harvest any herbs that have been growing close to the road as the leaves take in the carbon monoxide and poisonous fumes given out by the traffic and take it down into the plant to the root where it becomes stored.  Do not pick wild herbs and plants from verges or throughfares as this contravenes several laws and also the fact that most areas like these are open to our friendly dog and cat population.

If harvesting wild plants leave a large amount of flowers, seed and root as the plant population of that area will very quickly die out if you go in mob-handed and wrench up the only two plants for miles around.  Make sure you know what you’re picking this is very important when harvesting in the wild there are many pocket spotter books available that are invaluable when identifying plants, I try to carry one with photographs rather than drawings as sometimes they can be a little misleading.

When to harvest

Most herbs are harvested in the summer either before or during flowering.  Seeds and most types of bark are collected in early autumn and roots in early autumn and spring.  The leaves of evergreens are collected throughout the year but don’t collect large amounts before or during a heavy front as this will leave the plant vulnerable.

Early Spring: Collect Dandelion roots

Late Spring: Arial parts during flowering; Lungwort, Sweet Violet, Flowers: coltsfoot, cowslip, elder

Early to Mid-Summer: Arial parts/leaves before flowering; Agrimony, Angellica, Catmint, Cleavers, Dandelion, Dill, Fennel, Feverfew, Garlic, Hysop, Ladys Mantle, Lemonbalm, Motherwort, Parsley, Peppermint, Plantain, Sage, Stinging Nettles, White horehound, Yellow Dock.  Bark while flowering: Rose.  Flowers; Borage, Camomile, Honeeysuckle, Linden, Pot Marigold, St Johns Wort

Mid to Late Summer: Arial parts whilst flowering; Californian Poppy, Heartsease, Marjoram, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Mugwort, Shepherds Purse, Skullcap Thyme, Vervain, Wild Lettuce, Wood Bettony, Wormwood, Yarrow.  Flowers: Hops, Lavender, Mullain.     Leaves After Flowering: Borage, Colsfoot, Cowslip, Fenugreek, Lungwort, Sweet Violet.

Autumn: Roots/ bulbs when leaves have wilted: Angellica, Black Cohosh, Burdock, Comfrey, Cowslip, Elecanpane, Garlic, Goldenseal, Lovage, marshmallow, Soapwort, Valerian.  Seeds/ fruit: Celery, Elder, Howthrorn, Dill, Fennel, Lovage

N.B. When getting plants from the wild, respect the area and plant you are harvesting, never strip a plant bare, never pull it out by the roots to get a few leaves and always check if there are other plants of the same species around. Also be very sure that the plant you are about to pick is what you think it is, Mother Nature can be very tricky sometimes, and 2 seemingly identical plants can have very different effects when ingested. 

It is best to ask permission of the plant before taking it’s bounty, and remember, respect, respect, respect !

Transporting your herbs must be done carefully to retain their valuable powers. It’s best to take an open-topped basket or cotton bag with you and some layers of tissue so that herbs can be transported dry and safe back to home, it is pointless seeking out a special plant, than sticking it into a carrier bag in your pocket so it sweats, bruises and it unidentifiable mush by the time you get home.