Common Outdoor Items & Their Uses

Water Energies

Moon Water

It could energize crystals

Perfect for a magical bath

For bless yourself, your home or magical tools

Spring Water

Good for Fae work

Excellent for abundance

Used in love or fertility spell

Used in subtle magick

Snow Water

Recommended for spells that focus on purity endings and change

For slow working spells

Rain Water

Multi-purpose

Excellent for growth and rebirth spells

Good for spells that you want to keep gaining power over time

River Water

Recommended for rituals and spells that has to do with moving on.

Focusing energy

Breaking through rough times

Warding

Good for activating tools

Ocean Water

Good for cleansing

Healing

Banishing

Used for protection rituals and spells

Cleansing crystals

Thunderstorm Water

Add a magical boost to any work

Good for spells and rituals that has to do with emotional strengthening, confidence and motivation

Virtuous for hexes and curses

Tarot - Minor Arcana Suits ✨

in a reading, if you have mostly…

…WANDS 🔥

conditions are primarily in the realm of thought

situation is in the very early stages of development 

you are being provided insight into the core of who you are 

they represent intention and consciousness 

you are being inspired to take action 

element: fire 

key words: ideas, growth, ambition, expansion

…CUPS 🌊

conditions are primarily felt in the realm of emotion or spirit 

you need to pay attention to your intuition for this situation 

thoughts and feelings are blending together 

things may not be manifesting outwardly yet 

element: water 

key words: emotion, desire, inner experience, spirit

…SWORDS ⚔️

conditions are in the realm of action 

there is a lot of activity, acceleration, and/or agitation 

associated with power and conflict 

you’re in the last stages of effort and/or difficulty before the final result 

swords do have a double edge - be cognizant of your thoughts/ambitions/actions 

element: air 

key words: action, movement, struggle, keenness 

…PENTACLES 🏅

conditions are taking form, you’re in the realm of manifestation 

dealing with the physical plane of life 

situations surrounding work, health, finances, material possessions 

you are being presented with the end result - what’s come to fruition 

element: earth 

key words: manifestation, realization, proof, prosperity 

Hi, I’ve been wanting to study greek religion for quite a time now. Even considering worshipping deities but I don't want to disrespect anyone. What can you suggest to where I can start? If there are reading the most accurate materials, please do tell.

Χαίρε, anon :) Thank you so much for your question!

I actually do have a RECOMMENDED READING FOLDER

If you're only just getting into the study of ancient Greek religion, I would suggest reading the following books/articles:

Jon D. Mikalson's "Ancient Greek Religion"

K.A. Rask's "Devotionalism, Material Culture, and the Personal in Greek Religion"

Mary Depew's "Reading Greek Prayers"

Jennifer Larson's "Ancient Greek Cults: A Guide"

I also suggest reading the following primary texts:

Apostolos N. Athanassakis' translations of "The Homeric Hymns," and Hesiod’s "Theogony, Works and Days, Shield"

And Richmond Lattimore's translations of the Iliad and Odyssey :)

If you have any questions, please feel free to message me!

Reblog to give your mutuals one of each 

What is Paganism?

The term Paganism has been evolving for almost two millennia, so there is understandable confusion about what Paganism means. It has always been an umbrella term that includes within it many different faiths and practices. In this post, we are going to talk about what Paganism is (and isn’t) and explore some of the most important branches of modern Paganism (also known as Neopaganism).

Origins of the Term Paganism

The term Paganism was coined in the fourth century by Christians living in the Roman Empire for anyone who did not follow Christianity or Judaism. It comes from the Latin word paganus, which means country dweller. The implication was that these were “country bumpkins” stuck in old ways and not yet “wise” to the modern religion of Christianity. The Roman Empire officially converted to Christianity in 313 CE.

In the Middle Ages, while Islam was also viewed as a non-Pagan religion, the term Paganism continued to be used to refer to anyone who did not follow a religion based on a biblical god. It carried the derogatory connotation that Pagans worship false gods and are barbarians.

But in the 20th century, the term Paganism was reclaimed by various groups that follow religious beliefs or practices associated with pre-Christian religions. The group includes polytheists that continue to worship non-biblical pantheons, animists, magical practitioners, nature worshippers, and more.

The term Neopaganism is often used to distinguish these modern Pagans from our ancestors, who would have never referred to themselves as Pagans. Christians created the term Pagan to create “us” (biblical religions) and “them” (non-biblical religions) categories. This would not have been meaningful to our pre-Christian ancestors or to Norse warriors and Egyptian priests for whom Christianity was just one more religion.

It is worth noting that while Medieval Christians would have referred to religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism as Pagan, they aren’t included in the modern definition. These organized religions, which are dominant in many countries, fall into a class of their own.

Definition of Neopaganism

It is difficult to define Neopaganism because so many different people today identify with the term Paganism. It is possible to identify some characteristics that are common to most Neopagans, but don’t necessarily apply universally.

Pagan religions tend to be non-organized in that they are followed by an individual practitioner or small community rather than being a hierarchical institution like the Catholic church. But there are exceptions; for example, Hermetic orders tend to be small but very hierarchical organizations.

Pagan religions are often polytheistic, either drawing on ancient divine pantheons or following an animistic approach, which recognizes divinity in action within the world without necessarily naming it. Pagans can believe in these gods in a literal sense or as a metaphorical tool for relating to powers that are beyond our comprehension.

Pagans tend to believe that everything is sacred, especially nature, and that we can tap into the spiritual energy of the universe through meditation, invocation, rituals, witchcraft, and various other practices.

In most cases, it is an individualistic path. You choose which deities and beliefs speak to you personally, and you are responsible for creating and following your spiritual path. This very often links to a strong moral code, as you are responsible for your actions and their consequences. Pagans often identify with the idea that you can feed the universe with positive energy or diminish it with negative energy. You attract the kind of energy that you project, and what you receive mirrors what you give.

As we have already said, these characteristics do not hold true for all Pagans, but they are ideas that most Neopagans will identify with.

Branches of Neopaganism

So, if there are various branches of Neopaganism, what are they?

It is impossible to provide a complete and comprehensive list, first because we would be here forever, and second, since it is a personal and individualistic belief system, there is no limit to the number of variations that can exist.

But below, we will look at some of the most popular forms of Paganism that are most widely recognized in the Neopagan community today.

Reconstructionist Religions

Reconstructionist religions attempt to reconstruct ancient religions in the modern world. Pagans of this brand might choose to worship the Greek gods, follow the ritual practices of Egyptian priests, or walk in the footsteps of Druids.

Probably the most well-known reconstruction religion is Norse paganism, also known as Heathenry, which is the belief in the old Norse gods, including Odin, Thor, and Freyja. While exactly how this is done is individualistic, enough people identified with this type of Paganism that Asatru was created in Iceland in the 1970s to provide a common banner under which they could identify as an interest group. It is now recognized around the world.

Magic working is not a necessary part of modern Norse paganism, just as it was not in ancient times when only a few people were Volva (Seidr witches) or runemasters (workers of rune magic). But runic divination is a popular practice in modern Heathenry.

Wicca

Wicca is probably the type of Paganism most represented in pop culture (think The Craft and Charmed). It is a modern witchcraft practice, often but not always associated with the veneration of a great mother goddess and her consort, often but not always portrayed as a horned god. It can be followed by sole practitioners or coven groups led by a high priest or priestess.

Modern Wicca is credited as being founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1930s, and followers of his teachings are known as Gardnerian Wiccans. But today there are many different branches, both formal and informal.

Modern Wicca draws on what is known from historic witchcraft and magic rituals. But it is a thriving and evolving practice in which invention and following your intuition are encouraged.

Non-Wiccan Witchcraft

Not all Pagans who identify themselves as practitioners of witchcraft consider themselves Wiccan. Many follow a more shamanistic or nature-based approach to witchcraft without reference to organized elements such as covens or priests. These, usually sole practitioners, are often referred to as hedge witches.

These practitioners have a lot in common with Wiccans in their use of certain symbols and elements and closely following the cycle of the year and the phases of the moon. Grimoires and Books and Shadows are often used to record knowledge.

Hermeticism

The term Hermeticism originally referred to a religio-philosophical system based on a small number of writings known as Hermetica which gave birth to scientific approaches to magic in the form of practices such as alchemy. But Hermeticism has since become a term for those who engage in “high magic” or ritual magic, usually within a body or organization with specific teaching and hierarchies.

Probably the most famous example of these is the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an organization dedicated to the study of the occult, metaphysical, and paranormal. It is a spin-off of Freemasonry and incorporates the hierarchies and secrecy of that order. There are tests to enter new parts of the order and learn new secrets. For a number of years, the famous occultist Aleister Crowley was associated with the order.

Animism

Animism differs from other types of polytheistic paganism in that it does not necessarily feel the need to name or identify deities. Animism accepts that there is a divine or spiritual force at work in the world and it can be seen in aspects of life. But they can appreciate and be thankful for these forces without anthropomorphizing them into deities.

Animists often believe that the gods of polytheistic religions are cultural constructions designed to help humans better understand and engage with these forces. They may choose to engage with certain traditional polytheistic gods as a way of engaging with the elements of the world they consider most important.

Secular Paganism

Secular paganism could also be called a nature-based religion. Secular pagans do not necessarily believe in certain deities and could be Polytheists, Christians, Atheists, or anything in between. The core belief is that we are part of nature, rather than masters of it, and that we should live our lives with an abiding love and respect for nature.

Secular Paganism often mixes meditative and ritual practices designed to better understand and control the self with a world view based on science.

Eclectic Paganism

Eclectic Paganism is kind of a “catch-all” term for those who don’t fit into other types of Paganism. This is for people who identify with the general principles of Paganism but haven’t tied themselves to a single belief system or set or practices.

For example, they might believe in the mother goddess, but not practice witchcraft. They may feel a deep spiritual connection with the universe, witch manifests in practices such as reading Tarot cards, and cleansing spaces with incense and herbs, but may not necessarily consider these practices linked with any kind of divinity.

Eclectic Pagans often have broad interests in terms of researching different new age practices and approaches. They may also identify with Paganism aesthetically through gothic-style fashion.

Meso-Paganism

Meso-Paganism is a term used for practices that are a result of mixing non-Christian religions with Christianity imposed by conquerors, missionaries, or both. Haitian Voodoo and Candomblé in Brazil are probably the best examples, in which African deities are syncretized with Christian Saints and elements of Christian religion are incorporated into traditional rituals.

While many of the characteristics of Neopaganism apply to Meso-Paganism, followers and practitioners are less likely to identify with the broader Pagan community. These are traditional religions passed down through communities, rather than sought out by individuals. So, while they may not be the dominant religion in a certain place, they have this in common with religions such as Hinduism.

What kind of Pagan are You?

While this whole post has been dedicated to trying to define and categorize Paganism, what it really equates to is following your own spiritual path outside of the biblical context. There are no rules about what you have to believe and practices that you have to engage in. It is all about finding your own spirituality and expressing it in a way that works for you.

But we would still love to know what Paganism means to you! Let us know in the comments section below.

[Full blog post here]

PROTECTION WORK

protection magick - we’ve all heard of it, and if you haven’t, then welcome to a very important post. generally, protection magick is a great place to start for beginners, but its always super important to incorporate it into your craft even as an 'advanced' practitioner (I really don't like that term, because no matter how long you've been practicing for or how much magick is in your family there is always something new to learn!). protection magick is important to implement when doing spirit work, doing any type of offensive/return to sender magick, or honestly most magick in general - i will almost always draw up some kind of protection during ANY magick working, from big rituals to my meditation practice.

Protection work can vary a lot, from simple incantations, to candle magick, to full-blown protection rituals that are perfectly coordinated. personally, I like to practice an in-between - I'll do small acts regularly, then bigger practices if a situation calls for it.

Now onto the fun stuff; if you're a little short on time, then the following are some great ideas for small protection workings:

drawing a pentacle into your food/drink

visualising a protective light surrounding you/your space

burning a black spell candle* (can take this further, see below!)

sprinkling salt around your home

burning a protection incense (dragons blood or sandalwood are my current faves; you can even just place an incense stick on your altar if you can't have it burning)

calling on your spirit guides/guardian angels/ancestors/whatever term you prefer for protection

just mentally or aloud setting an intention for protection for yourself and your loved ones

If you have a little more time for a larger ritual, then these are some great options:

* burning a candle on its own is great, however you can up the oomph by anointing it with a protection oil (there's a simple recipe below, or you can use a bought one!) and herbs, and carving runes or sigils into it

you can do a 'home-protection' ritual by walking the perimeter of your property or around your home, and either visualise a protective barrier forming around your designated space and setting the intention to protect your home and those within it. this can also be done with a candle or incense in hand to provide some extra protection

Herbs are a great addition to your protective practice, and can be used as the raw herb or in essential oil form. These herbs can be used together, or alone, in an oil or spray or just around the home in a small bowl. I love to leave some salt on my altar for quick use.

sage - i personally grow my own, you can get it from most garden stores and will grow nicely inside or in a windowsill!

rosemary - a great protective herb, and can be used as a stand in for most other herbs!

mint

lemon - great for cleansing negative energies

tea-tree

nettle - great for protection and defensive magick, as you can imagine

eucalyptus

juniper

chili - anything spicy is good for protection and defensive magick

SALT - can come in many forms, i've found that sea salt is great, however you can mix the ash of a protective incense like dragons blood with salt to make an extra-powerful blend!

pepper - good for banishing

cinnamon

cloves

dill

garlic - cliché, but it works

hawthorne

rose - the thorns especially are great for protection

I am leaving a method to crafting an oil that can be used for protection work under the cut! sending protection energies your way, have a blessed day xx

making a protection oil to anoint candles, doorways, window sills, your body, etc. is a really great way to provide yourself with something that will last, and is quick to use once made. Start by selecting any oil of your choosing, I personally don't like the smell of olive oil and have found it leaves my skin kinda greasy, so I generally opt for a grapeseed oil, almond oil, or a fractionated coconut oil. Place your chosen oil into a container, preferably the container you will be storing it in once finished (you can get small dropper bottles from most craft stores or online relatively cheap!). From there, add in any essential oils and/or herbs you like (I've included a list of herbs/oils that are great for protection above!) whilst setting the intention for protection of your person/space. Lighting a black candle is also a great addition to this ritual if it suits you. Once you have added your oils and/or herbs, you can visualise or infuse the oil with your intention and your magick, calling upon any spiritual guides, ancestors, deities etc., then place it on your altar. I like to surround it with cleansing and protective herbs and salt, as well as crystals like black obsidian, tourmaline, and selenite. I have a personal preference of leaving something on my altar for 3 days (often around a corresponding moon cycle; almost any moon cycle can be used for protection, I have a few posts about moon cycles so check that out!), before using it however you need to.

Evil spells this, good spells that! Where are the petty inconvenience spells?!

Enchant a pebble to always end up in your target's shoe.

Socks that can't have shoes put over them until they step in at least one (1) liquid.

Curse that prevents hot food and drinks cooling until your target has taken a sip.

Disappearing ink that only appears when the person it's on is looking away.

Also this one-

Say Hello to the Tens in Tarot

Their Differences

The number 10 is the biggest in the Minor Arcana. Therefore:

The Ten of Wands is the biggest burden you can have.

The Ten of Cups is the biggest happiness you can feel.

The Ten of Swords is the biggest pain you can endure.

The Ten of Pentacles is the biggest abundance you can enjoy.

Ten of Wands

Main Meaning: Burden. Either in the sense of having too many tasks to accomplish for the day, or too many problems in life to deal with.

Positive Meaning: Being burdened by a harvest. First-world problems. Like having too much money that you do not know where to put it all.

Ten of Cups

Main Meaning: Happiness. The kind you get from knowing there is a special someone or an entire loving family you can share your joys and sorrows with.

Negative Meaning: Nothing. The Ten of Cups at its worst only means that your fairy tale ending is delayed. In divine timing, it will arrive.

Ten of Swords

Main Meaning: Pain. Physical or emotional. Feeling like you cannot take it anymore. As if death would be a sweet relief to your current ordeal.

Positive Meaning: The worst is over. You have experienced the peak of agony. From here on out, whatever follows will be tolerable.

Ten of Pentacles

Main Meaning: Abundance. Usually material. Not the kind that lasts for just a few minutes, but one that will stay for the rest of your life.

Negative Meaning: Nothing. Like the Ten of Cups, the Ten of Pentacles at its worst only means your stability is delayed but still promised.

I made this tarot cheat sheet after being inspired on tiktok <3 I hope this can help anyone who needs it!