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Pumpkin Spice and Brown Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds for Samhain

Samhain is, among other things, the witches new year. We look back on the previous year, let go of what no longer serves us, let go of the phases in our lives/versions of ourselves that have reached their death, and look forward to/plan for what is to come. That's why I decided to make some roasted pumpkin seeds for the New Year aspect of Samhain!

Seeds carry so much potential. Potential for life, rebirth, and abundance. Seeds, to me, represent the natural cycles that we must connect with and live by. Seeds contain the life of next year's abundant spiritual harvest. And all of this potential is well protected inside the seed shell, waiting to sprout. These were made with seasonally corresponding spices that align with my intent.

On Samhain, I'll cast my intent on the seeds I eat, as I invision my goals for the coming year 🌙

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You'll need:

🎃 1 cup of pumpkin seeds- potential, prosperity, abundance, protection, manifestation and attraction of wishes, rebirth.

🎃 3 tablespoons of butter- fulfillment, emotional richness, happiness, nurturing energy.

🎃 2 tablespoons of brown sugar- sweetness in life, love, happiness.

🎃 Ground Cinnamon- protection, spiritual focus, psychic awareness, love, prosperity, money, health.

🎃 Nutmeg- prosperity, money, health, psychic awareness, love, happiness.

🎃 Ground Ginger- health, balance, grounding, love, money, success, clarity.

🎃 Allspice- health, luck, abundance, prosperity, money.

🎃 Salt- protection and purification.

🎃 Black Pepper- banish negativity, protection.

The spices don't have measurements because they're all to-taste :) add plenty!

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1. I washed the seeds after gutting the pumpkin and let them dry for a day. If you decide not to do that, make sure you wash off any pumpkin gunk and pat the seeds dry well.

2. Preheat the oven at 350°F. Cleanse your space as you choose.

3. Melt the butter, and add to it the sugar, salt, and spices. Keep in mind the magical properties of these ingredients as you add them, and how those properties will serve your intent for the year to come. Stir counterclockwise as you invision all that you'll be releasing from the past year, imagine it dissipating. Take a deep breath. Then stir clockwise as you focus on attracting all that you want for the coming year.

4. Pour the spiced melted butter over your seeds in a bowl. Mix the seeds to make sure they all get coated.

5. Place the seeds on a baking sheet or a nonstick baking pan, you want enough space for the seeds to be spaced out from each other. Doesn't have to be perfect, just make sure they're not all clumped together.

6. If you had let the seeds dry out, they will be done in about 10-15 minutes. Stir them every 5 minutes. If you didn't let them dry out, they'll be done in about 25 minutes, and still stir them every 5-10 minutes or so. They'll be done when they look caramelized and are slightly crispy.

i wanna find a cute little table or tray for these crystal jars and use them for moon water or oils.

Incense Meanings

African Violet

Burned for protection and to promote spirituality within the home.

Amber Love

comfort, happiness and healing.

Ambergris

Dreams, aphrodisiac

Angelica

Protection, harmony, integration, insight, understanding, stability and meditation.

Anise

Emotional balance.

Apple Blossom

Happiness, love and friendship.

Basil

for Concentration, assertiveness, decisiveness, trust, integrity, enthusiasm, mental clarity, cheerfulness, confidence, courage to attract fidelity, love, good luck, sympathy, and wealth.

Bay

to facilitate the psychic powers, and to induce prophetic dream visions.

Bayberry

Protection, prosperity, happiness, control and to attract money.

Benzoin

Astral projection, purification, clears negative energy, emotional balance, eases sadness, depression, weariness, grief, anger and anxiety.

Bergamot

for Money, prosperity, uplifting of spirits, joy, protection, concentration, alertness, confidence, balance, strength, courage, motivation and assertiveness

Blue Berry

to keep unwanted influences away from your home and property.

Cardamom

Mental clarity, concentration, confidence, courage, enthusiasm and motivation.

Carnation

Protection, strength, healing, love and lust, traditionally used for healing.

Cedar

Burned for purification, to stimulate or strengthen the psychic powers, attract love, prevent nightmares, healing, purification, protection, money, balance, grounding, clarity, insight and wisdom.

Chamomile

harmony, peace, calm, spiritual, and inner peace.

Cherry

to attract and stimulate love.

Cinnamon

Stimulation, wealth, prosperity, business success, strength, lust, healing, to attract money, stimulate and strengthen the psychic powers and to aid in healing. To gain wealth and success.

Citron:

Burned in rituals to aid healing and also to strengthen psychic powers.

Citronella

Cleansing, warding off, healing.

Clove

Pain relief, intellectual stimulation, business success, wealth, prosperity, divination, exorcism, protection, eases fears, improves memory and focus.

Coconut

Burn for protection and purification.

Copal

for love, purification, uplifting spirits, protection, spirituality, and to attract love.

Cypress

strength, comfort, healing, eases anxiety and stress, self-assurance, confidence, physical vitality, willpower and concentration.

Damiana

Burned to facilitate psychic visions.

Dittany of Crete

astral projection and divination.

Dragon’s Blood

protection, purification, courage, dispel negativity, attract love, enhance psychic awareness.

Elecampane

Burned to strengthen the clairvoyant powers and scrying abilities.

Eucalyptus

Healing, purification and protection.

Frankincense

Spirituality, astral strength, protection, consecration courage, dispel negativity, aid to meditation, induce psychic visions and attract good luck.

Frangipani

Burn to brighten your home with friendship and love.

Gardenia

Peace, love and healing.

Ginger

Wealth, lust and love.

Hibiscus

Divination, love and lust to attract love.

Honeysuckle

money, happiness, friendship, healing, for good health, luck, and psychic power.

Hyacinth

Happiness and protection.

Jasmine

love, money, dreams, purification, wisdom, skills, astral projection, to attract love and money, for luck in general, especially in matters relating to love.

Juniper

calming, protection, healing, to increase psychic powers and to break the curses and hexes cast by evil.

Lavender

Cleansing, healing, love, happiness, relaxation, to induce rest and sleep, and to attract love.

Lemon

Healing, love and purification.

Lemongrass

mental clarity.

Lilac

soothing, increase psychic powers and to attract harmony into one’s life.

Lotus

elevates mood, protection, spirituality, healing, meditation for inner peace and outer harmony, to aid in meditation and open the mind’s eye.

Mace

to stimulate or increase psychic powers.

Mint

to increase sexual desire and attract money.

Musk

aphrodisiac, prosperity, courage, creates a sensual atmosphre. For courage and vitality, or to heighten sensual passion.

Myrrh

Spirituality, meditation, healing and consecration. An ancient incense for protection, healing, purification and spirituality.

Nutmeg

Burned to aid meditation, stimulate or increase the psychic powers and attract prosperity.

Oakmoss

To attract money.

Orange

Divination, love, luck, money.

Patchouli

money, growth, love, mastery, sensuality to attract money and love, and also to promote fertility.

Passionflower

For peace of mind, this sweet scent will soothe troubles and aid in sleep.

Peppermint

Energy, mental stimulant, healing.

Pine

grounding, strength, cleansing, healing and to attract money.

Poppy Seeds

Burned to promote female fertility, and to attract love, good luck, and money.

Rose

Love, house blessing, fertility, healing to increase courage, induce prophetic dreams, and attract love to return calm energies to the home.

Rose

Geranium courage and protection.

Rosemary

remembrance, memory, energy, healing to purify, aid in healing, prevent nightmares, preserve youthfulness, dispel depression.

Rue

Burned to help restore health.

Sage

wisdom, clarity and purification.

Sandalwood

Spirituality, healing, protection, astral projection to heal and protect, also for purification.

Strawberry

Love, luck and friendship.

Sweet Pea

Friendship, love and courage.

Tangerine

A solar aroma used to attract prosperity.

Vanilla

Lust, mental alterness, stimulate amorous appetites and enhance memory.

Vetivert

Money, peace and love.

Violet

Wisdom, luck, love, protection and healing.

Yarrow

For courage.

Ylang-Ylang

For love, harmony and euphoria.

-Sylvia Plath. (The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath)

I think my first goal of the second year of witchcraft is to get better at meditation. Ive been pushing it off and I know I can get away from it forever

Ares Offerings

"Ares is the Olympian God of war, battlelust, courage, and civil order."

Large Altars:

Strong, dark red wine

Strong whiskey

Pure water

Black coffee

Black tea

Olive oil

Beef

Red meats in general

Cooked fat from meats

Blood from cut meats

Heavy spices

Spicy foods

Garlic

Frankensince

Sandalwood incense

Red, black, and dark purple candles

Art or statues of Him

Statues of horses or dogs

Weapons, armor, and shields (art, statues, toys, handmade, etc.)

Trophies

Small/Hidden Altars:

Spicy jerky

Sport drinks / protein shakes

Hand drawn or printed art of Him

Art or images of dogs, horses, and vultures

Feathers from vultures, woodpeckers, or barn owls

Red crystals such as garnets, rubies, bloodstone, etc.

Iron or steel jewelry

Red flowers, like roses

Thorns

Miniature or toy weapons and armor, especially helmets

Snake skin

Animal teeth

Write down your fears or successes and give them to Him

Medals and ribbons you've earned

Antiques

Photos of riots or past wars

Devotional Acts:

Create a playlist and listen to music that makes you feel brave/empowered

Donate to the Rape Crisis Center or other similar programs

Donate and support victims of war

Cook with garlic or heavy spices that you haven't tried before

Try new things and don't feel ashamed about doing so

Tell Him about your accomplishments

Tell Him about your fears

Learn about shadow work and try it for yourself

Learn about history, past wars, and past riots. Learn what they accomplished or failed to accomplish

Learn and educate yourself about the downsides of war and what can happen to the people affected by wars

Take care of your mental health by going to therapy, eating, drinking enough water, and remembering to take your medication

Partake in combat sports like martial arts, fencing, etc.

Exercise, find some fun workouts to do!

Play some strategy games like chess, Risk, Civilization, etc.

Stand up for yourself and what you believe in, write to your governor/mayor for things you want to see changed, attend riots, etc.

At the same time, don't push yourself if your physical or mental health isn't well, He doesn't want His devotees injured

A good place for His altar would be at the front door of your house or bedroom as He was considered to be the frontline of protection.

Pray to Him for strength, ability to fight and defeat enemies, courage, to keep others safe, and help in a battle.

Sources:

Artwork from the game Hades by Supergiant Games

https://occult-world.com/ares/

https://vocal.media/futurism/ways-of-worship-ares

https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Ares.html

Hey Witchblr, let’s take a minute to ground ourselves

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

If you can, create a relaxing environment for yourself. Light a candle, shift position, stretch, get in some pajamas, set yourself up to relax.

Feel your energy pool with each exhale. Let it graze the surface of your skin. Let it accumulate.

Feel the ground beneath you. Where are you? Are you sitting with your legs crossed on a grassy hill? Are you stretched out in an armchair? Are you lying in bed? Are you on a train or in a car?

Wherever you are, beneath the floor is soil. There are roots clinging to the earth, there are plants finding peace and solace beneath the ground. Picture a plant you love sprouting in the very place you sit. Is it a flower? An herb? A tree?

Take another deep breath, keep going, feel the air in your lungs.

You are surrounded by the atmosphere. A whole bunch of gases are protecting you from anything spooky that might be out in space. You are safe here. You are safe.

Remember that wherever you are, you are on the Earth. You are a part of the world. Life thrives above, beneath, and all around you. You are alive.

You are here, wherever you are. You are not in any imminent danger. Maybe you’re not okay right now, maybe you don’t feel relaxed and safe, but you are alive. Despite everything, you exist, you are here with everybody else.

Everything will be okay.

Take a few more deep breaths.

Keep going until you feel a bit better. Go get a glass of cold water, if you can. Try to grab a snack if you’re hungry. Take a shower, even. Whatever you need to do to take care of yourself.

I hope you feel at least a little better. Have a lovely day, fellow magical people.

I’ve been enjoying a day full of projections after the first day of samhaim! Still working on more

A lovely little Tarot Cheat Sheet I put together.

"Small" Ways to Incorporate/honor Lady Artemis in everyday life

Say a prayer to her when you enter nature/ the woods

If you have pets, care for them as a devotional act

Talk to the moon, she will hear you

Defend those who cannot/struggle to defend themselves

Promote individuality

Wear clothes that you feel confident in

Volunteer at women's or animal shelters

Dance around to your favorite songs (especially if it's putside or under the moon)

Watch wildlife/nature/animal documentaries

Stick stars to your bedroom ceiling

Practice self care (DO YOUR SHADOW WORK)

Donate to those who are vulnerable

Create a devotional playlist to her

Go hiking

Veil

Learn to respect the animals around you

Research how to respectfully give offerings back to nature

Track constillations

Wear silver jewelry

Keep moonstone, Amethyst, tree/moss agate around you or wear them as jewelry

Write her poems/prayers

Do your meditations outside (especially under the moon)

Read poems/literature about "wild women"

Wear levender/woodsy perfumes

Take time to thank her for what she does for you