A Herbalist's Glossary: Herb Actions

Days of the Week and Witchcraft ✨

A good way to plan when to do your spells

Sunday - The Sun - Solar power, success, personal empowerment, material wealth, health, beginning anew. 

Monday - The Moon - Lunar power, purity, spiritual cleansing, astral work, divination, psychic ability.

Tuesday - Mars - Physical power, passion, sexuality, drive, ambition, achievement, masculine power, activate protective talismans, reverse hexes and psychic attacks.

Wednesday - Mercury - Knowledge, money, communication, the arts, change, acceptance, adaptability.

Thursday - Jupiter - Luck, growth, fulfillment, worldly power, justice, authority, health, and prosperity. (Mercury brings quick cash, but Jupiter governs the long term accumulation and preservation of wealth.)

Friday - Venus - Fertility, love, money, prosperity, healing, charm, goodness, blocking, glamour, self-care, feminine power.

Saturday - Saturn - Binding, banishing, stopping, ending, loss, renewing, transforming, protection.

— Just a thing from my grimoire

Tarot Reading Tips 💖

🔮 Learn the classic definitions of the cards - you don’t need to memorize every card’s meaning, I still use my book, but knowing a general meaning of cards will help

🔮 Wands- fire, Cups- water, Swords- air, Pentacles- earth

🔮 Using the elements helps me understand the cards and give them meaning

🔮 You can connect with a card by envisioning it and placing yourself inside of it- Stand in it and think of what you feel, see, smell, hear. I think this is a fun little exercise, though I don’t do it frequently.

🔮 Incorporate lucky numbers, personal habits and preferences into the way you shuffle, pull cards and organize spreads

🔮 I cut the deck and deal cards with my left hand (I’m right handed), but that’s just me

🔮 If you want more information on a card, pull another one and place it on top of the first.

🔮 Don’t pull too many cards or do too many readings- If you overwhelm yourself with information or deal half the deck, the cards tend to lose meaning and you learn very little from the reading.

🔮 Practice on yourself, family and friends- the more you practice the better you’ll know the cards and be able to create a story, which brings me to…

🔮 Connect the cards to make a story- this is how my mom reads cards and it always blew me away how she could just create this little story from a few cards and really give them life. Connecting the cards makes it easier to understand and less like random tid-bits of information.

🔮 Thank your cards when you’re done

🔮 Try meditating before a big reading- this doesn’t have to be classic meditation where you clear your mind, it can be very personal and whatever you feel like connects you to your cards, the person you’re reading and any deity or spirit you might be asking for help.

🔮 You don’t need to call on Gods or spirits while reading. If you’re not into that, don’t mess with it. And if you do practice this, please do it responsibly.

🔮 When I meditate I see vines, water, energy and spirits- I know that when these all come together I’m calm and focused. Your meditation will probably be nothing like mine and that’s perfectly normal.

🔮 Not a tip, but now that I’m thinking about it, is there a name for what I’m doing besides ‘meditating’ because I don’t find that fitting? 🧐

🔮 Never stop learning (exhibit A ⬆️) and don’t be afraid to ask possibly silly questions (see: exhibit A)

✨My pages on casting runes in my book of shadows/grimoire✨

I’m trying to figure out which deity I connect with the most and so I made this spread! Just focus on a deity of your choice and ask these questions!

1. What do you think of me?

2. What are the pros of our potential relationship?

3. What are the cons of our potential relationship?

4. How would we benefit each other?

5. Is this a good match?

Let me know how it goes if you use it! So far, I’ve used it for Artemis, Hades, Hecate, and Selene and it’s been really interesting. Also, sometimes they will have more than one card for the first question. Just follow your intuition and good luck!

-Kalli 🌙

🌷All About Rose Quartz🌷

Rose quartz is the stone of the Goddess. It not only activates and balances the Heart Chakra, it also links with the heart of the Earth and the heart of the Universe. rose quartz is a beautiful pale pink stone that has been a favorite among witches and mystics alike for hundreds of years. Not only being a perfect stone for enhancing romance and attracting love, rose quartz is a mothering crystal; inspiring nurture to one’s self if one has lost their own mother or has not had a strong mother figure. It promotes bonding and is a good stone to place on the stomach during pregnancy to give your baby extra loving vibes.

🌷Rose quartz symbolism🌷

💛Goddess: Aphrodite - Astarte - Turan

💙Element: Water/Earth

💚Chakra: Heart

🖤Numerology number: 9

🤎Astrology: Taurus/Scorpio

🧡Planet: Venus

🤍Tarot: The Empress

🌷What is rose quartz used for?🌷

Rose quartz is used whenever you want to bring loving energy into your life. You can infuse water with rose quartz, sleep with rose quartz, carry it, put it on your altar…

🌷What is “charging”?🌷

To charge a crystal is to place your intention into it. Many hold their quartz and tell it what you want it to do. You can also generally charge it without a specific intention with earth energy or moon energy.

🌷How do I cleanse rose quartz?🌷

✨-There are a few methods you can try.

One is putting it outside in a bowl of salt water under the full moon all night.

✨-You can bury your rose quartz in the earth to cleanse it. I like to leave it in the earth for three days to ensure it is fully cleansed and charged.

✨-Sage is an easy way to cleanse stones, though it isn’t as potent as if you did what was listed above. Mostly because sage is a much quicker process than dedicating hours or days to cleansing and charging.

🌷Why do my crystals disappear?🌷

Crystals can have a lot of energy stored into them after charging. They can disappear and reappear at will, depending on the energy of the crystal. It doesn’t mean it is “angry” or anything if you used it for magick and it disappeared for awhile.

🌷What if I don’t have a spiritual connection to my rose quartz?🌷

Sometimes crystals choose the people. It doesn’t mean you can’t connect with a different rose quartz. It might be best to give it to a friend or to put it on display.

I hope this was helpful! Have fun with your rose quartz!

Taking Care of Your Crystals

It’s important to cleanse new crystals and stones as you obtain them. Cleansing removes the energy that crystals naturally pick up along the way before reaching you. This better attunes them to your personal health and well-being, which makes them more useful for metaphysical and healing purposes. It’s also important to cleanse crystals after they’ve been used for meditation, stress relief, healing, emotional distress, and so on.  

Methods for Cleansing Crystals

A very common method for cleansing and charging crystals is placing them in sunlight or moonlight for a set amount of time. Moonlight is generally the more gentle option, as sunlight can cause discoloring and fading in many types of crystals. This includes amethyst, turquoise, fluorite, rose quartz, opal, ametrine, aquamarine, celestite, prasiolite, kunzite, danburite, and dyed stones. Exposure to sunlight for these crystals should be kept to a minimum, ideally in indirect sunlight.

Water is another common method for cleansing. Cool water should always be used, never warm or hot. Tap water is fine, though many people prefer to use pure spring water. Rain water, moon water and salt water may also be used. A gentle rinsing is best. Submerging crystals in water should be avoided unless it’s a hard mineral.

Soft or porous minerals can be damaged or destroyed from water exposure, especially from salt water. Some examples are hematite, selenite, malachite, lapis lazuli, calcite, and halite. Click here for a chart that displays the Mohs’ Hardness for common minerals. Anything below 6.0 on the Mohs’ scale would best be kept away from water or moisture. Refer to this list for water soluble minerals.

Other methods of cleansing involve burying crystals in the earth for a few days to a week (very effective method), smoke cleansing with incense or an herbal stick, steam cleansing, sound cleansing (chanting, tuning forks), burying in dry sea salt (do not do this with soft minerals), and burying in dried herbs. Certain crystals and stones – such as hematite, citrine and clear quartz – may be used to cleanse other specimens.

Recharging Crystals

The purpose of recharging crystals is to replenish energy that may be lost when using them for healing, meditation or even just from sitting in a room. Again, sunlight and moonlight are common ways to do this. Other methods involve meditating with the crystal and using your own energy to charge the crystal, burying crystals in the earth, placing crystals next to a lit candle (but not too close), and placing them near thriving plants/trees/etc.

When to Cleanse and Charge Crystals

Once a week is best for most crystals that are used regularly in some way. If crystals are not used particularly often or at all, you can cleanse them every few months or not at all. It’s up to you. If a crystal feels “off” or its energy seems weaker or less vibrant, it’s a good indication that it needs to be cleansed and charged.

Storing Crystals

Crystals should be kept in an area that’s dry, clean and out of direct sunlight. Keep them away from heat sources, such as heaters, radiators, stoves, and vents. If you have a large collection, keep soft minerals separated from hard minerals to avoid chipping and scratching. Exposure to dust, moisture and salty air (common in coastal areas) may cause damage to certain minerals, so care should be taken in that respect. If possible, use boxes made of plastic or acid-free materials to prevent chemical reactions between the specimen and its container. Use soft fabrics to line boxes or containers that hold your crystals, to avoid surface damage.

CIRCLE CASTING 101

A magickal circle is an energetic construct that you build or envision around yourself before working magick, doing a ritual, some like to cast a circle before meditating or reading tarots. For a solitary practitioner the circle is typically 5-6 ft in diameter, but the size expands based on the size of the group. It can be defined physically, energetically, or both.

Circles provide protection and serves as a container for your personal energy as well as the energy you conjure.

Please remember that this is just what i personally like to do when casting a circle, but that there are many methods.

Preparation for circle casting

1. Determine how much space you will need.

2. Cleanse your area. Vacuum, sweep, throw away any trash in the area.

3.Make sure you have everything you need for your ritual! Theres nothing more frustrating than having your circle casted and realizing you’ve forgotten an herb or any supplies you need for the work you’re about to do.

4. Purify your area. Light purifying incense, sage, sprinkle salt and holy 💧. Most importantly, Visualize the negative energy dispersing. If you don’t focus & visualize, your physical actions will have little effect. Visualization is hands down one of the most important things in any and all magickal workings!

5. Now its time to cast your circle!

Visualize protective energy coming from within you and direct it towards your casting arm. Focus it through a casting tool (Athame, wand, or ✋)  and visualize a beam of energy coming from it and settling on the ground. Trace your circle with this energy, 3 times in a clockwise direction. Once for protection, once for focus, and once for power.

Call the 4 quarters

Face North and say “I call to the North, to the element of Earth. Grant me (us if not practicing alone) your endurance, your strength.”                                  Sprinkle salt onto your altar or crumble soil into a bowl on your altar.

Face East and say “I call to the East, to the element of Air. Grant me your creativity and your intuition.”                                                                             Light incense, wave a fan,or drop feathers onto your altar.

Face south and say “I call to the South, to the element of Fire. Grant me your passion and your energy.”                                                                                 Light candles.

Face west and say “I call to the West, to the element of Water. Grant me your empathy and your emotion.”                                                                              Pour blessed/storm/moon/natural water into a bowl or into your chalice.

Now would be the time to call on any deities you’d wish to work with. You can call any Goddess or Angel by personalizing this to them. I typically do not personally work with deities, but if you were to want to, Call to them similar to how the Elements are called. Ex. “I call to Gaia, Mother Goddess, Spirit of Earth.” and then place an offering symbolizing them, so for Gaia you might place  grain on your altar as an offering.

If not solitary, now would be the time to invite others to the circle. The group leader typically invites others in by a series of phrases, although i know every coven has their own method fine tuned for themselves, This is just the method i’ve seen used and am familiar with.                                                                    Group leader:”Children of the Goddess, I now invite you to enter our circle.” Each member will be asked “How do you enter this circle?” The response should be “In perfect love and perfect trust.”

Now its time to raise energy. This is the most important part of this process. It is so important because when you open your circle at the end of spellwork, You release all of your energy you have filled with intent out into the universe to go manifest whatever it may be you have called to. You want as much energy as possible to be released carrying your intent!

Here are a few ways! There is no wrong way to do this part, and there are SO MANY ways. You can fine tune this all to you. Remember that this is your ritual, and you want your energy fully behind everything you are doing. This is all customizable, most of all the energy raising.

-Witches Rune Chant

“Darksome night and shining Moon,

East, then South, then West, then North,

Hearken to the witches’ rune;

Here i come to call thee forth.

Earth and Water, Air and Fire.

Wand and pentacle and sword,

Work ye unto my desire,

Hearken ye into my word.

Cords and censer, scourge and knife,

Power of the witches blade waken all ye unto life,

Come ye as the charm is made.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell, Lend your power unto my spell,

and work my will by magic rite.

By all the power of Land and Sea, By all the might of Moon and Sun,

As I do will, So mote it be;

Chant the spell, and be it done.

Eko, Eko Azarak

Eko, Eko Zamilak

Eko, Eko Karnayna

Eko, Eko Aradia”

-Meditating to raise energy. Visualize energy building and building by visualizing warm, yellow light fill your body until its expanding out of your body and filling the dome above your circle. visualize it filling with energy until you are content.

-Music or Drumming, Dancing and Chanting.

Once you reach your desired energy level, it is time to get into whatever spellwork or ritual you desire to preform!

After your spellwork, its time for Cakes and Ale. I like to make little spirit cakes and have some red wine after a ritual. Expelling all of that energy from your body is draining, and you should take your time to enjoy this part of the ritual. Set a cake and some wine aside for the entities who have lent you their energy as thanks. Cakes can be anything, from saltine crackers to cupcakes. Ale can be water. Anything that works for you is ok. For my cakes, i bake a shortbread and mix whatever ingredients i want into the dough. This way, I can craft them with the intent for whatever ritual i may be doing.

ONCE YOU FINISH YOUR WORK SAY GOODBYE TO THE ELEMENTS AND THANK THEM FOR THE POWER THEY BROUGHT. ALWAYS SAY GOODBYE AND THANK ANY DEITIES CALLED ON. 

HERE IS HOW I DO IT:

-Farewell to Goddess. ex. “I thank you, Gaia, for gracing me with your glory. Farewell and Merry met.”

-Farewell to Quarters (Counterclockwise). 

“My thanks to the element of Water, Your compassion was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Now cover your dish of water or pour it out, Physically say goodbye as well.

“My thanks to the element of Fire, Your fierceness was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Douse your candle. 

“My thanks to the element of Air, Your wisdom was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Douse incense/flip fan/turn over feather.

“My thanks to the element of Earth, Your protection was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Cover earth with a cloth, or return it to ground.

I like to walk the circle the opposite way of its casting three times, and voila!

Keep in mind that this is just my method! There are many methods and this is just one of them.

I hope this is helpful to you! 

-Love and light, @lapiscat

✨🍁Trees in Magic: Masterpost🌿✨

Alder- balance between the emotions and actions, Water and Fire elements, Ostara, Mars and the Moon, amethyst, ravens & hawks, purple, Fae, Apollo, Aphrodite; used to help face what you’ve been avoiding lately

Ash- feminine in nature, Fire element, energy conductor; new growth, good wood to use for wands, staves & besom handles; one of the three sacred trees (Oak, Ash, & Hawhorn); (known as to be the World Tree or Yaggdrisal in Norse/Celtic)

Aspen- protection, overcoming fear, ascent, Air element, Persephone, Hades, ancestry, heritage, cleansing, healing, family and community, Mabon, the planet Mercury

Birch-  purification, protection, exorcism; represents renewal, Thor, rebirth and beginnings as it is the first tree after Winter to leaf; great in protection spells; (to ward off Evil Eye, tie a red string to branch)

Chestnut Tree- fertility, grounding and centering energy, healing, love, prosperity, abundance, attracting animals, relieving worry, transforming karma, Artemis, the planets Jupiter & the Sun, masculine

Fir- immortality, seeing situations clearly, planet Jupiter, Earth element, birth, used in blessing mothers and babies, shadow work, Artemis, Frigg, 

Hawthorn- masculine, Fire element, Fae/fairies, love, marriage, Beltane, health, fertility, chastity, protection and death; keep out unfriendly entities/spirits when placed around doors and windows, considered portal to fea realm (NOTE: tree is sacred to fairies, it is strongly recommended that one ask permission before taking the blooms or sprigs; leave an offering when cutting down a whole tree- offerings such as milk, honey, wine or cider poured into the ground, baked goods, crystals & gemstones)

Hazel- spirit contact, manifestation, protection, prosperity, wisdom, dreams, divination, dowsing, knowledge, marriage, inspiration, wrath, fertility, intelligence, reconciliation, poetic inspiration, anti-lightning charm; sacred to Fae; traditionally burned in Balefires during Beltane & Litha (it is also said that mistletoe that grows on Hazel protects you from being bewitched)

Hickory- childbirth support, land nourishment, protection from legal difficulties, transitions, 

Lemon Trees- longevity, the Moon, feminine, Water element, purification, refreshment, unity, uplifting, clarity, friendship, happiness, aura cleanse, rejuvenation, awareness, love, fidelity, lunar deities 

Maple- feminine, Water element, the Moon, the planet Jupiter, wisdom of balance, love, longevity, money, travel, spiritual healing, learning and decision-making (especially when bringing about or dealing with change), great horned owl, communication

Oak- money, success, strength, fertility, stability, health, healing, potency and good luck; known for attracting light; associated with the Sky Gods/Goddesses (especially White Oak) a holy tree; one of the three sacred trees (Oak, Ash & Thorn); (their acorns were carried in the pockets of Druids for good luck)

Olive Tree- masculine, prosperity, wisdom, abundance, peace, protection, console (a person), Athena, the Sun, Fire element, Mabon

Palm Tree- cleansing, feminine, transforming, transitions, divine, masculine, fertility, nourishment, peace, relaxation, victory,

Pine- rebirth, immortality, strength in adversity, overcoming hardships through optimism & inner strength; Pine cones are good for tips of wands or staffs; (use a pine branch like a broom to brush away negative energy from your home or from surfaces (like a altar))

Poplar- life cycles, Zeus, death and rebirth, Hades, the planet Jupiter, enhancing divination tools, love; good for all-purpose wands; leaves for altar decoration for Samhain, celebrations in honor of Hades, ancestral rites, funerals/any ceremony related to the underworld

Redwood (aka Sequoia)- Earth wisdom, protection, fire resistance, healing, abundance, Fire element, balance

Rowan- the Sun, tourmaline, protection, Imbolc, meditation, broadening perspectives, dowsing, divination, the Goddess Bridget

Spruce- ancient wisdom, Goddess energy, healing, protection, purification, spiritual refreshment, pure intentions

Willow-  divination, resonance, harmony, the Moon, moonstone, Water element, masculine, support, death, Hades, directing energy, ghosts/spirits, Hecate, Persephone, Lunar alignment, pain relief, personal empowerment, creativity, fertility, female rights of passage, inspiration, emotion, binding, love, protection, healing

 Witch Hazel- dowsing, the planet Saturn; can be burned to rid of negative emotions, hexes/curses, and general negative

Yew- associated with death and rebirth, witches, Yule, consecrated ground, divination, astral travel, the planets Jupiter & Saturn, the Goddess Hecate; good for runes, Ogham sticks, frames for scrying mirrors, talking boards (PLEASE NOTE: it should not be used for goblets or any dishes that will be eaten from!!! It will make you sick or even kill you)

As a baby (more like fetus) witch, I’ve learnt that taking your time in the craft is important and to not rush into it.

You have time to find what you are interested in and time to prepare yourself.

Personally I’m waiting a while before doing anything serious (even tho I’ve done 2 protection jars and sigils) and am going to work on meditation and shadow work.

It’s a lot and hopefully I’ll become the witch that I desire to be.

Reblog if you are aware you still have far to go in your craft.

Even after years of practicing, I still feel like I have only begun to scratch the surface. 

Credit:

ig: Mysticalmoon_lunemystique

-credit to the creator-