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Making an Altar Master Post

Considering making an altar but don’t know where to start? This long-ass post should cover all the bases of altar building for those of you who are interested but stuck. This post is pretty vague on purpose, altars are an interesting grey area of this practice. When you build an altar you can’t really go wrong, it’s something for you to take control of and decide for yourself.

📖This is all taken from my grimoire so feel free to add any info of your own in a rb or in the comments.📖

🌻What is an altar?🌻

Altars are a magical work space for any witch/pagan/wiccan/other. 

Historically altars and shrines were built all over the world in different cultures to house offerings and worship the gods/spirits/ancestors.

The difference between an altar and shrine can depend on the culture you’re looking at but generally an altar is both a work space and a place of worship and a shrine is solely a place of worship (the Theatron of Athens was an altar as it served as a place to house offerings and a communal performance space).

Modern day altars however are more private and unique to the practitioner/s. Altars and shrines can now be created using anything and include many different types.

There are many ways to think outside the box with altar building but don’t think you have to make one just because every other witch does.

🌻Types of altars🌻 (not an inclusive list)

- Home/family altar🏠: This serves as the energy centre of the home that is shared by the entire family. It can be simplistic, change with the seasons, and feature something representing each family member. (this is one that my dad built that lives in our kitchen). 

- Personal altar: This altar is usually only connected to 1 or 2 people and kept separate from the rest of the family in a bedroom/box/draw. It can be put anywhere and be of any size (mine used to be on a shelf in my wardrobe and now it sits on the window) This altar is very personal to the practitioner often representing their passions and/or their patron. (this is my own to Dionysus and Apollo but it also includes my desk and bookshelf next to it since the window is so small).

- Working Altar: This altar is very practical. It’s only taken out when it’s needed for spells/rituals and is unique to the spell and it’s intention. If you want this type of altar then when you build it think carefully of what corresponds to the outcome you wish for.

- Shrine: (a form of altar to some, completely separate to other but I’m including it just in case). Created to honour a specific deity/creature/spirit. This is used to house offerings and pray.

-Travel/mini altar: Often stored away in a box/tin. Travel/mini altars can consist of small trinkets to carry around when you’re away from your larger altar or have to conceal your magic (it’s great for witches in the broom closet but depending on the size it could go missing).

- Image altar📷: Less traditional but very creative. An image altar could be a collection of images on Photoshop (for techies), a collage of pictures on a wall or board, or even a drawing of an altar (It’s personal, inconspicuous and it doesn’t matter if you can draw or not). I made this one in my sketchbook using pencil, ink and watercolour.

- Love/self care altar❤: This altar is fully dedicated to self care, loving yourself, or introspection. It includes things that have a lot of meaning to you and make you happy when you’re down (I have one by my bedside and use it when I feel shitty, I also use this space to contact my spirit guide).

🌻Supplies🌻 (again not an inclusive list)

These are some general supplies to have for an altar but this doesn’t mean that anything is 100% necessary.

- A flat surface: This can be anywhere with enough space to display everything.

- A cloth: Not just to protect the surface or fragile objects, it can be a sign of respect to your patron.

- Incense/oil diffuser: To smell nice and can be used to cleanse the space.

- Candles: Decoration, to represent fire or your patron, for candle magic, and meditation.

- Bowl/dish: To hold any offerings.

- Cup/chalice/bottles: For drink offerings, to represent water, to hold water for a spell.

- Matches/lighters: If you include candles.

- Crystals/stones: Decoration, could also be elemental/seasonal/represent the chakra.

- Wand/athame: Can be used to direct energy in a spell.

- Bell: To represent air, to call spirits/your patron.

- Mortar & Pestle: To grind up any ingredients in a spell.

🌻Building an Altar🌻

This is part is going to be a simple guide to building a personal altar (I will be using my own preference for deities as an example but you don’t have to).

1- Find a space: Think about where you want to work and consider the energy you get from different spaces (also consider any pets and fragile objects).

2- Find a surface: This can be as big as you like. I’ll be using my art desk as an example, I took everything off it and cleaned it before I did anything else.

3- Get a cloth: Fabric from a craft shop or an old scarf/veil are perfect and come in any available colour and size. In terms of colour you can chose one of your favourites, something seasonal or something to represent your patron. 

4- Set your intention: Now this is the time to decide what your altar is going to be used for. You can pick a centre piece that reflects this. 

I wanted to connect with the gods so I made the centre of the altar about myself and my deities go on either side. The centre piece I chose is a picture of a fairy scene I’ve had for a very long time.

5- Candles: The next thing to put down are candles (or any source of light). The light acts as the switch to turn on your altar and give light to any patron for when you want to communicate.

6- Tools: If you want to include any tools from the previous list then now is the time to chose where you want to put them (I included a cup of water, an incense holder, a bell, and a wand).

7- Decoration: Next is to add any personal decoration that can go wherever you like. I put mine in the centre piece.

8- (OPTIONAL) Representing patrons: This step is optional because it isn’t necessary to have a patron in your practice.

Because of the intention I decided on in step 4, I places the decoration representing my patrons on either side of my altar (btw these photos were before I switched from Aphrodite to Apollo so I apologies for the inconsistency).

I left a large space empty to use for when i’m writing in my grimoire, performing a spell or doing a tarot reading. I didn’t include this in my real altar because it’s a decorative section.

🌻Tips🌻 

- There are templates that you can follow if you really want to. They’re usually for a large traditional elemental altar though (I personally don’t recommend them because it’s boring and not very creative).

- An altar can be as big or as small as you like and you have no rules or expectations and it doesn’t have to be just one surface.

- If you want an altar for a spirit/deity/fae as well as their respective candle, you could include a candle for yourself to represent your own spirit to stay connected with them.

- An altar is a very subjective thing, if it’s personal it should change with your interests (like from light and fire the first year to sea and sand the next year).

-There are hundreds of videos on altars here’s a few I recommend you look at: 

The Witch Of Wonderlust- All About Altars:  https://youtu.be/p3ysPbvQa7c

Molly Roberts- Sacred Spaces and Kick Ass Altar Crafts: https://youtu.be/_kcki25BY6o

Harmony Nice- My Wiccan Altar II And how to set up yours: https://youtu.be/tGWkNeoE6RY

Green Witch Glamour- How to Build an Altar: https://youtu.be/v3s_etlsUE0

Zodiac Correspondences

/ˈzōdēˌak/ noun ; astrology

1. a belt of the heavens within about 8° either side of the ecliptic, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and most familiar planets.

*On the bottom of the post we have included some vocabulary.*

1. Aries ♈

The Ram. March 21st-April 19th. The House of Self. Begins at the Vernal Equinox. A sign of a new beginning. The Aries moon is a good time to work on charging yourself or a loved one with courage and positivity.

Anatomy: Head

Animal: Ram

Astrological Fall: Saturn

Brightest Star in Constellation: Hamal 

Celestial Body/Domicile: Mars

Color(s): Dark Red

Crystals: Bloodstone & Garnet

Detriment: Venus

Element: Fire

Herbs: Allspice, Cinnamon, Cloves, & Sage

Incense: Dragon’s Blood

Quality: Cardinal

Symbol(s): Horns

2. Taurus ♉

The Bull. April 19th-May 21st. The House of Possession. The Taurus moon is a good time to work on love-related and healing-related magick, general material gain, and stability.

Anatomy: Neck & Throat

Animal: Bull

Astrological Fall: Uranus

Brightest Star in Constellation: Aldebaran

Celestial Body/Domicile: Venus

Color(s): Green & Yellow

Crystals: Emerald, Jade, & Malachite

Detriment: Mars

Element: Earth

Herbs: Honeysuckle, Patchouli, & Thyme

Incense: Storax

Quality: Fixed

Symbol(s): Bull & Crown

3. Gemini ♊ 

The Twins. May 21st-June 19th. The House of Communication. The Gemini moon is a good time to work on divination and prophecy wishing spells, luck, communication, and success.

Anatomy: Arms & Shoulders

Animal: Hybrids

Astrological Fall: Neptune

Brightest Star in Constellation: Pollux

Celestial Body/Domicile: Mercury

Color(s): Orange & Yellow

Crystals: Agate, Alexandrite, & Citrine

Detriment: Jupiter

Element: Air

Herbs: Lavender & Lily of the Valley

Incense: Lavender

Quality: Mutable

Symbol(s): Mirrors & Twins

4. Cancer ♋

The Crab. June 19th-July 21st. The House of Family and Home. The Cancer moon is a good time to work on domestic life, family, or hearth and home related magick, and supports comfort.

Anatomy: Chest & Stomach 

Animal: Crab

Astrological Fall: Mars

Brightest Star in Constellation: Al Tarf

Celestial Body/Domicile: Moon

Color(s): Blue & Silver

Crystals: Moonstone & Pearl

Detriment: Saturn

Element: Water

Herbs: Eucalyptus, Milkweed, & Lemon

Incense: Sandalwood

Quality: Cardinal

Symbol(s): Claws

5. Leo ♌

The Lion. July 21st-August 19th. The House of Pleasure. The Leo Moon is a good time to work on courage, creativity, confidence, success, overcoming obstacles, and fulfilling dreams.

Anatomy: Heart & Upper back

Animal: Lion

Astrological Fall: Mercury

Brightest Star in Constellation: Regulus

Celestial Body/Domicile: Sun

Color(s): Gold & Yellow

Crystals: Amber, Sunstone, & Tiger’s Eye

Detriment: Saturn

Element: Fire

Herbs: Heliotrope, Marigold, & Nutmeg

Incense: Frankincense

Quality: Fixed

Symbol(s): Belts & Tails

6. Virgo ♍

The Maiden. August 19th-September 21st. The House of Health. The Virgo moon is a good time to work on helpful energy for spells, organization, communication, financial planning, and to build networks, and overall health.

Anatomy: Intestines & Lower Digestive System

Animal: Rooster

Astrological Fall: Venus

Brightest Star in Constellation: Spica

Celestial Body/Domicile: Mercury

Color(s): Purple & White

Crystals: Amazonite, Amethyst, & Chariote

Detriment: Jupiter

Element: Earth

Herbs: Cypress, Moss, & Peppermint

Incense: Narcissus

Quality: Mutable

Symbol(s): Innocence & Virgins

7. Libra ♎

The Scales. September 21st-October 19th. The House of Partnerships. The Libra moon is a good time to work on artistic expression, partnerships, balance, and love-related magick.

Anatomy: Kidney & Lower Back

Animal: Elephant

Astrological Fall: Sun

Brightest Star in Constellation: Zubeneschamali

Celestial Body/Domicile: Venus

Color(s): White & Yellow

Crystals: Ametrine, Topaz, & Watermelon Tourmaline

Detriment: Mars

Element: Air

Herbs: Majoram & Sweet Pea

Incense: Galbanum

Quality: Cardinal

Symbol(s): Scales

8. Scorpio ♏

The Scorpion. October 19th-November 21st. The House of Sex. The Scorpio moon is a good time to work on psychic-related magick, including talking to other planes, merging with Deities, reincarnation, karma, cleansing, psychic healing, and spirituality.

Anatomy: Genitalia & Groin

Animal: Scorpion

Astrological Fall: Moon

Brightest Star in Constellation: Antares

Celestial Body/Domicile: Pluto

Color(s): Dark Red, Grey, & Black

Crystals: Apache’s Tear, Obsidian, & Serpentine

Detriment: Venus

Element: Water

Herbs: Cumin, Ginger Root, & Myrrh

Incense: Benzoin

Quality: Fixed

Symbol(s): Blood

9. Sagittarius ♐

The Centaur or The Archer. November 21st-December 19th. The House of Philosophy. The Sagittarius moon is a good time to work on travel-related magick, growth, spiritual relationships (including Deities), and change or transformation. 

Anatomy: Liver, Hips, & Thighs

Animal: Horse

Astrological Fall: Ceres

Brightest Star in Constellation: Kaus Australis

Celestial Body/Domicile: Jupiter

Color(s): Brown, Orange, & Gold

Crystals: Labradorite & Smokey Quartz

Detriment: Mercury

Element: Fire

Herbs: Anise, Juniper, & Sage

Incense: Cinnamon

Quality: Mutable

Symbol(s): Bow & Arrow

10. Capricorn ♑

The Goat. December 19th-January 21st. The House of Social Status. The Capricorn moon is a good time to work on spells related to making plans, clearing clutter and banishment, investment or business growth, organization, networking, and foundation security.

Anatomy: Joints, Teeth, & Bones

Animal: Goat

Astrological Fall: Neptune

Brightest Star in Constellation: Deneb Algedi

Celestial Body/Domicile: Saturn

Color(s): Black & Maroon

Crystals: Black Diamond & Onyx

Detriment: Moon

Element: Earth

Herbs: Cypress & Vervain

Incense: Musk

Quality: Cardinal

Symbol(s): Horns

11. Aquarius ♒ 

The Water-Bearer. January 21st-February 19th. The House of Friendships. The Aquarius moon is a good time to work on magick related to innovation, inspiration, inventions, and social and philanthropic causes.

Anatomy: Ankles & Circulation

Animal: Peacock

Astrological Fall: Pluto

Brightest Star in Constellation: Sadalsuud

Celestial Body/Domicile: Uranus

Color(s): Blue & Lavender

Crystals: Amethyst & Lapis Lazuli

Detriment: Sun

Element: Air

Herbs: Almond, Lavender, & Peppermint

Incense: Galbanum

Quality: Fixed

Symbol(s): Vase & Water

12. Pisces ♓

The Fish. February 19th-March 21st. The House of Subconscious. The Pisces moon is a good time to work on a journey to seek out wisdom and truth, psychic development, dream work, and your connection to your spirit. 

Anatomy: Feet & Immune System

Animal: Fish

Astrological Fall: Mercury

Brightest Star in Constellation: Eta Piscium

Celestial Body/Domicile: Neptune

Color(s): Pink, Blue, & Indigo

Crystals: Pearl & Aquamarine

Detriment: Ceres

Element: Water

Herbs: Catnip, Gardenia, Iris, & Jasmine

Incense: Cypress & Orris Root

Quality: Mutable

Symbol(s):  Water

Vocabulary:

1. Astrological Fall: The sign that is positioned directly opposite of a celestial bodies sign. The fall is a position of weakness concerning the functioning of the celestial body and what it represents.

2. Cardinal: Associated with being active, self-motivated, insightful, and ambitious. The Cardinal Houses are the First, Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth.

3. Detriment: When a celestial body is positioned in the zodiac sign opposite of which it is domicile. 

4. Domicile: A planet’s domicile is the zodiac sign over which it has rulership.

5. Fixed: Associated with stability, determination, depth, and perception. The Fixed Houses are the Second, Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh. 

6. Mutable: Associated with adaptability, flexibility, and sympathy. The Mutable Houses are the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Twelfth.  

7. Quality: Cardinal, Fixed, or Mutable. How the sign is.

*If there is anything we missed, incorrect information, or something you’d like to add, just let us know!*

xx ~ @chlovoyant

Treat!

Treat!

In honor of the full moon tonight- here are some witchy things to do!

Full Moon Witchy Activities:

Put out water, juice, or liquor to be charged (in sealed containers ideally). Moon charged juice and liquor is excellent for holiday cocktails!

Divination: Tarot, runes, scrying, shufflemancy, whatever you feel! It’s especially a good time to test out a new divination style you’ve been thinking about.

Bake full moon cookies! You can either focus on mixing and baking during the full moon (mix your dough near a window or outside) or bake before the sun goes down and leave the cookies to cool and charge near a window!

Collect autumn leaves and seedlings under the full moon. Use for Samhain wishes.

Set crystals or tools out to charge on a windowsill or porch.

Bring your spirit working tools outside (skulls, bones, memento moris, powders/oils, pendulums, spirit boards, cards, etc.) and work on your spirit communication during the height of the full moon.

Tend to your garden area during the full moon (depending on the season; weeding, planting, harvesting, fertilizing, etc.)

Craft a new tool like a wand, broom, witch’s ladder, scrying mirror, etc.

Reinforce/renew your wards and property protections.

Channel full moon energy for writing, drawing, sculpting, sewing, knitting, composing, etc.

Make a cup of tea or hot chocolate and step outside or near a window with it while it cools. Offer it to the moon for charging with prosperity and health. Drink it slowly.

Enjoy the moon. Treasure the moon. Thank the moon. Love the moon. The moon knows you are a fantastic witch regardless of what others (even youself) think. The moon loves you.

⛤History of Mabon⛤

The Mabon or Autumn Equinox is a holiday that takes place from the 21st of September to the 24th of the same month.

⛤The autumn equinox divides day and night equally - here we should all take a moment to pay homage to the impending darkness.

We also thank the sunset light, as we store this year's crop of crops.

The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to the trees.

On this holiday it is appropriate to dress in elegant clothes and dine and celebrate in luxurious surroundings.

It is time to finish the old jobs and prepare for a period of rest, relaxation and reflection.

⛤ Pagans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort, the Lord, as she prepares for death and rebirth.

⛤The feast of the autumn equinox is also known by other names: Feast of the second harvest, Feast of Wine, Feast of Avalon, Autumn Equinox, or Cornucopia.

The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time between Mabon and October 15, which is the New Year in Old Norse.

The Romans celebrated a festival dedicated to Pomona, the goddess of fruit and growing things.

However, the most famous ancient myth comes from Greece. The autumn equinox marks Persephone's return to the underworld:

⛤In ancient Greek mythology, the beginning of the fall is closely linked to the story of the abduction of Persephone, also called Kore or Cora. Daughter of Demeter, goddess of earth and fertility, she was kidnapped and taken to the underworld to become the wife of Hades, the god-king of the underworld. After a period of mourning and struggle, Demeter eventually brought her daughter back from Hades to the light, but only for six months of the year. Each fall, Persephone must return to the underworld to spend six months with Hades. During these months, Nature withdraws.

⛤Mabon is a relatively modern neo-pagan celebration, which takes place around the September equinox.

⛤In the 1970s, the American author Aidan Kelley gave new names to the six pagan holidays rooted in the ancient Celtic tradition and added two new celebrations proper to the September and March equinox.

These holidays are celebrations based on the cycles of the sun.

⛤Inspired by a proper name derived from the Welsh word mab / map, meaning "son" or "boy", Kelly chose Mabon as the name for the autumn equinox celebration, and founded the ceremony he had composed for the festival in the Greek myth of Persephone.

⛤Mabon celebrates the second harvest and the start of winter preparations, and it's time to respect the impending darkness while giving thanks in the sunlight.

⛤Druids and pagans also flock to Stonehenge, the famous 5,000-year-old site in Wiltshire, and Castlerigg, another megalithic stone circle near Keswick, Cumbria, to watch the equinox dawn.

⛤The Christian church replaced many pagan celebrations with Christian observances. The most famous is Christmas, which replaced the ancient Yule festival around the December solstice.

⛤The closest Christian celebration to the September equinox is Michaelmas, also known as the feast of St. Michael and all angels, on September 29th. In this period, the feast of St. Michael is mainly observed in the Catholic church.

⛤Centuries ago in England, the time around the feast of St. Michael also had a commercial side: servants were paid wages after the harvest and workers looked for new jobs at job fairs that also became a place for celebrations.

⛤Mabon is a time full of magic, all connected to the changing seasons of the earth, this is the Second Harvest, the Fruit Harvest and the Great Thanksgiving.

⛤The Goddess is radiant and the God eventually dies with her gift of pure love with the cutting of the last grain. As the grain is harvested in abundance during Lammas and reaches completion, we enjoy the abundance of fruits and vegetables at this time.

⛤It is time to thank the waning sun for the richness of the harvest that has been bestowed on us.

⛤Sometimes it seems like every Holiday calls for thanks, and it really is: every spin of the Wheel brings both inner and outer gifts and insights, so Mabon is a celebration and also a period of rest after harvest work.

⛤In terms of your life path, it is time to reap what you have sown, time to look at the hopes and aspirations of Imbolc and Ostara and reflect on how they have manifested.

⛤It is time to complete projects, to clear out and leave what is no longer wanted or needed as we prepare for the descent, so that winter can offer a time for reflection and peace.

⛤And it's time to plant seeds of new ideas and hopes that lie dormant but nurtured in the dark, until spring returns.

I'll be posting more Mabon related content during the week so stay tuned for spells, rituals, prayers, history and affirmations!

Hopefully, you'll have a great Celebration this year too!

⛤Isidora⛤

Secular Celebrations - Yule

At the very end of the Gregorian calendar comes the winter solstice and Yule. Technically, this is the FIRST holiday on the Wheel, since Samhain is the boundary between the old year and the new. But since most of us have to follow the January to December schedule in our day-to-day lives, we’ll end with Yule.

The winter solstice is a time when we focus on hunkering down and staying warm. We look to the homestead, we take care of our families, and we make sure our communities are surviving the winter as comfortably as possible. This is one of the times that the Wild Hunt was said to ride, their presence indicated by howling winds and stormy nights when it wasn’t safe to venture out. All manner of entities personifying hunger and cold and death stalk the landscapes of winter mythology, so we fortify our homes however we can and indulge in a little midwinter revelry to keep ourselves going until the spring.

Decorate with pine bunting, pine cones, holly, mistletoe, snow symbols, fairy lights, electric candles, ribbons, streamers, local fauna active during winter, whatever you like. There are plenty of Christmas wreaths out there, so don’t be afraid to make a witchy one with a big old star in the middle. Make sure that any ACTUAL foliage is kept away from the pets, and of course, observe fire safety for any lights you put up. Way too many house fires are caused by electrical shorts in holiday lights, so be extra careful. Do NOT plug an extension cord into a power strip. And go easy on the plastic glitter. Anathema to some, I know, but the more of that we can keep out of the waste cycle and the water system, the less will end up in the oceans.

If you have a fireplace, you can burn a symbolic log “to drive the cold winter away.” Or, if you only have a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can find an outdoor space to burn some twigs and incense for the same purpose. Or you can light some candles with appropriately wintry scents. Or, if you can’t burn anything at all, an LED candle left alight overnight on the altar should do the trick. The whole idea is to symbolize keeping warmth in the home, keeping the dark and the cold at bay, and keeping the home fires literally burning for those who must be elsewhere. However you manage this is fine.

Spend time with your near-and-dear, if you can. Eat good food, drink good wine, and do cozy things. Share treasured memories, and tell stories. Fun fact: Yule and Christmas are another traditional time of year for ghost stories, so feel free to pull those out again. If there’s a family tradition of feasting and gift-giving, lean into it. There are a lot of Christian traditions from Christmas that have made their way into the secular sphere. Sure, they still have some religious associations, but I know plenty of atheists who still exchange presents because it’s FUN. You can also give gifts to others by contributing to charitable organizations, donating to clothing drives and food pantries, or through random acts of kindness to those who need it.

Charity and compassion should be emphasized during this time of year. I mean, you should be charitable and compassionate ALL year when you can manage it, that’s just common decency. But especially when it’s cold and people are feeling that lack of money or resources and we’re surrounded by all these super-capitalistic ad campaigns telling us that our love for others is worth only as much as the kitchen appliances and diamond jewelry we put under the tree….yeah, maybe bring something a little more altruistic to the table. It doesn’t have to be huge, it doesn’t have to be performative. Just look for those opportunities to help someone out or make their life a little easier. You’ll know them when you see them.

If you’re crafty, pull out those projects you’ve been saving for a rainy day. We often spend a lot of time cooped up in the house during cold weather, the more so in 2020 with the various lockdowns, so why not turn it into something productive? Fix something, create something new, work on that scarf you’ve been meaning to finish since last winter. Make a pinecone feeder for the local birds, or scatter some nuts and dried berries for any critters that happen to be out and about. Do winter crafts with your kids to keep them occupied, if they happen to get bored of watching Frozen 2 for the hundredth time this week. (Hey, I only have nieces and a nephew, but I’ve still heard the horror stories.)

Let me pause a moment to address the proverbial elephant in the room. And this MIGHT be dipping a toe into the religion pool, but it’s an issue that a lot of us face. Late December can be a tough time for witches who were raised Christian but are, for one reason or another, disconnected from the faith or the Church at present. There’s the constant symbolism in music and decorations all around, pressure from our friends and families, people gnashing their teeth about red coffee cups, and so on. And we’re not even going to talk about the annual arguments over who stole whose holidays. If you know me, you know exactly how salty I can get on the topic, and we don’t have time for that today. This is about finding ways to celebrate, not my personal rage over people who don’t understand the difference between conflation and syncretism, and can’t be arsed to read history that doesn’t come from-...

Ooooo deep cleansing breath. Come on, Bree, you promised. (-hiss- I LIED.)

ANYWAY. Yule is a time when it might be worth remembering literally anything positive that came out of your experience with Christianity. Some of us have it, some of us don’t, that’s purely a personal matter. Some of us miss the carols, okay? There can be a lot of nostalgia involved in the season that’s disconnected from whatever trauma or differences in belief led to that split. And if you want to pause and remember that fondly, that’s okay. I will fully confess to singing along to Christmas hymns on the radio in my car at top volume because that’s a big part of the season for me and always has been. Heck, I might even attend a service at the local Unitarian church. They’re nice and non-denominational and they focus much more on the meaning behind the season than any particular holiday. So if you feel the need for that fellowship, see if there’s a UU church near you, or a virtual service online. There’s nothing wrong with revisiting your roots.

Moving back into witchcraft territory, you can collect clean snow and icicles to melt for winter moon water. This isn’t really much different from moon water you’d make at any other time of year, but it’s another method of gathering the base material. Also, icicles are great for any water you’re setting aside for more aggressive or protective purposes. The fact that they look like hanging spears isn’t lost on me.

Check your household protections and see if anything needs shoring up. Like I said, I cast my wards every year at Samhain, but they always seem to need a bit of detail work by the time Yule rolls around. Or heck, you might find Yule a more appropriate time to perform that casting, or maybe you refresh your wards at every holiday, who knows. Whatever works for you, as long as you remember to do it at some point. Cleanse your thresholds and the corners of your home, at the very least, just for good measure. But don’t go sweeping anything out the door. That’s sweeping away your good luck for next year.

And speaking of New Year’s, if the year you’ve had has been particularly….well, like the year we’ve had, you can also burn the year in effigy and cleanse with incense for a fresh start. Just write it on a piece of paper and burn that S.O.B. in the cauldron. While you’re at it, you can symbolically burn lingering worries, bad habits, bad memories, and regrets with either candle flame or a burning bowl. And yes, that includes all those negative things you think about yourself that you wish would go away.

And finally, reflect on the year as a whole, with all the joys and lessons it’s brought you. What memories have you made? What has brought you joy? What do you regret? What have you learned? What skills have you developed and how will you use them? What improvements do you still wish to make? And what do you want to do with the coming year?

And around and around it goes….

Like I said at the beginning, this is by no means exhaustive. These are just some basic ideas to get you started. You can make your own celebrations and your own traditions as you, either by building off of existing ones or by creating something new. As long as it has meaning to you and marks the occasions you deem important in ways that are fun and festive, it’s all good. This is something I’d love to see more often as a discussion - personal traditions, things that are unique to families or particular regions or individual witches, all the places they intersect, and all the various ways that we celebrate ourselves and each other and our craft.

- Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (November 1, 2020)

Other Posts In This Series:

Imbolc

Spring Equinox

Beltane

Midsummer

Lughnasadh

Autumn Equinox

Samhain

Yule

wish fulfillment spell for the full moon

the Hunter's Moon is coming on October 9th, and I just found a cool spell online to do on that night! As always, you can tweak things around according to your circumstances.

Take a glass of any juice you like

Go outside in a moonlit spot

Gaze at the moon while you tell her all your wishes, detailing them as much as you can. When you're done, raise your glass for her and say the following words:

"Mother Goddess, look and see

this chalice I'm offering you.

It's yours for everything you've done,

graceful silver Goddess."

4. Spill the drink on the ground and be sure that your wishes will be fulfilled.

Psychic Protection Herb Satchel

🔮Protect yourself while enhancing your psychic abilities🔮

🔮Things needed

1. A purple bag

2. Herbs

    🌿Dried Lavender

   🌿Dried Mugwort

   🌿Dried Anise

   🌿Dried Bay

   🌿Dried Rosemary 

   🌿Dandelion 

   🌿Dried Sage

3. Amethyst 

🔮Instructions

🌙Add a few pinches of the above herbs into the bag (you can add as much or little of a herb as you want. Make sure you enjoy the smell)

🌙Add the amethyst 

🌙Before bed rub the bag on your forehead and inhale the scent

🌙Keep the bag by your bed at night 

🔧 Tools of Witchcraft  🔨

as you go along your path, you’ll find there are many tools used in witchcraft, and they all have different purposes. not all witches use the same tools, some use unconventional ones, some don’t use any. here are some that are well known 

wand  -  for directing energy in rituals and spells. represents energy, power, and fertility, used as both air and fire element. this can be anything, from a stick, to a pencil, to a spoon.

broom / besom  -  air element, for cleansing negative energy out of a space, or to clear the way for a different type of energy. there are many different ways to make a besom, or any old broom will do

chalice  -  for a mixture that does not need heat applied, for offerings of drinks, or a spell you intend to drink. it’s a water element that can be any type of cup.

crystals  -  earth elementals, often used for conducting and charging and storing specific types of energy. sometimes the shape can influence how the energy is used 

candles  -  fire elements good for color magic, also good for applying a fire element. can be carved, anointed with oils or herbs. they come in a variety of shapes: tea lights, votive, pillar, taper and jar candles. some scented candles can be used instead of incense

cauldron  -  water elements for mixing, cooking, and burning things. heat resistant. does not need to be the typical idea of a cauldron, it can be any fire/heatproof pot or kettle.

athame  -  though often characterized as a “black blade”, and an athame can be any knife you set aside for cutting up plants, or harvesting herbs. like a wand, it can be used in rituals to direct energy in a more hostile manner. considered a fire element

bell - earth element, for cleansing and clearing out, and bringing new energies in, very similar to a broom. for calling and dispelling spirits

jars  -  good for containing ingredients, potions (assuming properly kept and sanitized), and herbs, and especially jar spells. sometimes a jar is the only tool you need in a spell

Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius

🌙 4th December 2021

The upcoming Sagittarius New Moon is also a Solar Eclipse. This makes it much more powerful but also more volatile than usual.

We might feel pressured to change ourselves in some way. If you feel guided to transform any areas of your life, go for it. But only after you are sure you know what you want.

The New Moon will conjunct Mercury. This puts focus on communication, mental activities, technology and travel. Be clear on what you want and write it down or speak it out loud!

With Mercury affecting the Eclipse, you want to be as precise as you can and write things down. This strenghtens your intentions.

Just like with any Eclipse, be careful what you wish for.

I wish you a lovely new moon✨

“Lol” hasn’t meant “laughing out loud” in like 15 years… it’s just a word now and more importantly it’s the perfect way to end a sentence lol