How To: Make Ink From Flowers

online grimoire.

credit goes to all the original blogs who made these posts. i just want to organize all my reblogs for myself <3 blessed be

[crystals]

essentials

what harms which crystal

[curses]

red heart

masterlist

[deities]

asatru

contact

devotional tips

norse small devotional acts

-> Artemis

period dedication for artemis

-> Loki

loki masterpost

-> Rán

bedridden witch: ocean

rán devotional acts

rán prayer

rán // rán

ráns runes

[divination]

runes study

scrying mirrors

[misc]

alternatives for lavender

BOS tips

colours

depression

dictionary

herbs and oils substitutes

housewarming

jar alternatives

masterlist

mentally ill

substitutes

water types

[potions]

beauty

glamour

rose water

self love

[pouches]

anxiety relief

money

panic attack relief

[recipes]

poppy seed tea bread

orange honey cake

honey lavender bread

lemon lavender cookies

[sabbats]

-> imbolc

info

-> ostara

-> beltane

prepare

info

-> litha

-> lammas

-> mabon

-> samhain

fall decorations

info

[spell jars]

anti depression

attracting positive things

attract love

confidence/good luck

curse jar

good outcome

honesty

kindness

luck and fortune

luck and protection

manifestation

masterlist

positive energy

protection

self love/happiness

[spells]

anger masterlist

anger

cramming for a test

depression and anxiety

depression and anxiety masterlist

love removal

health/wellness spells

self love and healing

sickness

[tarot]

compass spread

deity identification

inverted heart

mind body spirit self care

planets spreads

samhain

self care tarot spread

tarot timing

the sun trick

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“If someone does not want me it is not the end of the world. But if I do not want me, the world is nothing but endings.”

—  Nayyirah Waheed

Holiday Witch Ball Ornaments 

What’s a more inconspicuous way to add witchcraft to the holiday season than by combining the well-known concept of Witch Balls with widely used ornaments? Add the following ingredients to either clear, glass ornaments (so they can be charged by compliments) or to solid ornaments (to be even more unnoticeable) for the desired effects.

Family Peace:

lavender buds

two sprigs of thyme

dried cilantro

rose buds

Festivity:

three vanilla bean pods

whole allspice

dried tangerine or orange peels

sprig of pine

Love Drawing:

crushed rose petals

dried jasmine

dried lime peels

granulated sugar

glitter

New Year Prosperity:

whole chamomile flowers

one cinnamon stick

pine needles

juniper berries

Counting Crows

As far as symbolism goes crows are a pretty mixed bag. To some they are the sacred messengers of spirits or deities and signs of good fortune, to others, they are an omen of bad luck, sorrow, and death. Witches have been divinating the crow's message, through various methods, for centuries and perhaps the most notable of these is the practice of counting crows. Granted, there are several variations of this, handed down through poems and literature, but what about counting crows as an in depth divination method? Next time you see crows flying around, consider the following:

1 Crow:

• Spiritual/divine messenger

• Transformation

• Sudden change

• Death and rebirth

• Pay attention to your intuition

• Upcoming difficulties or misfortune

• Fears and anxiety

• Our shadow

2 Crows:

• Good luck and good news

• Positive events

• Love and harmony

• Partnership

• Joy

• Success is just around the corner

• Creativity and the arts

• Protection and guidance

• Confidence in your decisions

• Be honest and open with your emotions

• Symbolic of Odin

3 Crows:

• Possible warning of misfortune or negative events coming

• Secrets and intuition

• Wedding or celebration

• Birth of a girl

• Balance and unity

• The Otherworld and Underworld

• Curiosity, intelligence, higher perspectives

• Mind, body, spirit (connection to the Ether)

• Destiny

• Magick, witchcraft, and alchemy

• Symbolic of Hekate and Morrigan

4 Crows:

• Great news

• Abundance

• Job opportunity or marriage

• New direction in life

• Fresh start

• Excitement

• The start of a journey

• Fertility

• New projects

• Birth of a boy

• New beginnings

5 Crows:

• Good fortune

• Money is coming

• Prosperity, abundance, and growth

• Wealth

• Promotions, awards, recognition

• Winning

• Beware of accidents, mishaps, and dangers

6 Crows:

• Significant life event

• Karma

• Start of a spiritual journey or awakening

• Difficulty

• Metamorphosis

• Winning a prize, or receiving an inheritance

• Loss or gain

• Thresholds

7 Crows:

• The Universe is aligned

• Peace, harmony, tranquility

• Balance

• Collective wisdom

• Strength

• Protection from negativity

• Pause and reflect

• Awareness

• Insights

• Meditation

• The truth

• Mystery solved

8 Crows:

• Manifestation

• Seize the day

• Auspicious omen

• Windfalls

• Good luck

• Mind over matter

• Golden opportunities

• Focus

• Dedication

• Wishes granted

• A positive, life-altering experience

9 Crows:

• Romantic love

• New love or strengthening current relationships

• Deep emotional connections

• Positive recognition and regard

• Answered prayers

• Impending danger

• Caution and common sense

• Judgement

• Divine authority and higher powers

10 Crows:

• Spiritual epiphany

• Channel for higher realms

• Reset, reevaluate

• Insights into the future

• Otherworldly intuition

• Psychic ability

• The end of one phase and beginning of another

• Complete turn around in luck

• The Universe is talking to you

Larger Flocks:

• Great spritual power

• A higher purpose

• The big picture

• You are seen and acknowledged

• The Universe has your back

✨ cleansing spray ✨

yesterday i was feeling way too icky and after tidying my room, a nice cleansing shower i decided to cleanse my room as well.

✨ what you’ll need ✨

— water (i personally used sun water)

- two pinches of rosemary for healing and purification.

- two pinches of basil for love and protection.

- two pinches of sage for cleansing and healing.

- two pinches of salt for cleansing and protection.

- empty spray bottle

- 10 drops of lavender essential oil to combat anxiety and depression

- 10 drops of ylang-ylang essential oil to combat anxiety, depression and to ease the mind.

✨ what to do ✨

- put two pinches of rosemary, basil, salt, and sage into a mortar and grind with with pestle into a course powder.

- will spray bottle with water.

- pour herbs into bottle.

- add 10 drops of lavender and ylang ylang essential oil.

- shake bottle and spray in four corners of your room and door way.

blessed be!

GRIMOIRE TIPS&IDEAS

I’ve heard from quite a few of you that you don’t know what to put in your grimoire, or that you were having a hard time filling it! Here is a jumble of Lapis Cat’s tips & ideas for your grimoire!

Getting started can be hard, for a lot of reasons! I think it took me so incredibly long to do mine because i was so nervous about messing it up.

Different ways to keep your grimoire

- Spiral notebooks

- Composition books

- Binders

- Flash drive/SD card

- In google drive, notes on your phone/computer, online

- I’ve seen a $5 hardback sketchbook from michaels used

I will add, Don’t go off and buy a $65 grimoire that is beautiful for your first one, unless you really just must. You will have many grimoires after this one, and they will get more organized and beautiful as you establish your style over time.

Once you’ve selected your personal book, Its time to gather information to put in it! This is the part i’m often asked about. Nothing is mandatory in a grimoire, and you should add only information that is important to you. The one thing i will suggest you add is a blessing as one of your first pages. I’ve posted a book of shadows blessing in the past <3 Everything listed under this are just ideas for things you can add in! 

Witches Rune

Sacred Traditions

Blessing

Salt Blessing

Water blessing

Cleansing methods

Sabbats

All about your goddess(es) and god(s)

Grounding

Alphabets

Runes

Symbols 

Circle Casting

Songs for the goddess 

Songs and methods to raise power within a circle

Elemental Powers

Moon Phases/Correspondences

Hour correspondences

Celestial Bodies & Correspondences

Color Correspondences

Herb Correspondences

Crystal Correspondences

Daily Influences

Planetary Influences

Incense correspondences

Astrology/Planetary Spirits

Numbers & their correspondences

Names of power

One word spells

Spell crafting table

Consecration methods for your sacred items

Crystal Cleansing & Programming

Meditations

Teas and associations with magick

Kitchen witchery 

Divination

Your personal spells

Sigils

Your rituals

Reactions & Experiences

I hope this helps you get started on your grimoire and gives you plenty of ideas on how to fill the pages!!

Protection/Warding Black Salt

Not to be confused with volcanic salt/Himalayan black salt/kala namak. Black salt has strong protective properties, especially when combined with other protective/uncrossing herbs (herbs meant to undo a curse or hex). It’s used to absorb negative energy, create wards, and undo curses. It’s also good for banishing and binding. Here’s my recipe: 

What you’ll need: 

Cleansing items, such as smoke, bells, spray, whichever you personally use. 

Sea Salt 

Charcoal Disk (or charcoal powder) 

Black Candle

Rosemary 

Garlic Powder

Chili Powder 

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes 

Paprika 

Black Pepper 

Black Candle 

Bowl 

Mortar & Pestle 

Black stones/crystals 

Any additional protective items you may have. (Here I gathered dried red peppers, dried chili peppers, lemon, sage, and ashed from a Litha bonfire.) These items are for You to draw some extra energy from, and won’t be directly added to the salt.

Frankincense and/or Dragon’s Blood incense. 

Instructions: 

First, cleanse your space using whatever best works for you. 

After cleansing, start your frankincense and/or dragon’s blood incense, this will be going for the duration of the spell. 

Light your black candle. 

Gather your supplies as seen in the picture. 

As always, make sure your intention is strong, and continuously draw from it. Return to your intent no matter how often your mind wanders (which it will, that’s ok). 

In a bowl, mix the salt with the herbs first. 

Remember your other protective items are there for you to use. If needed, refocus on their protective energies and draw from that. 

Use a mortar and pestle to crush the charcoal disk separately. This takes a lot of physical energy, and it is very messy. If you prefer to use charcoal powder, that’s ok, though charcoal disks will be cheaper. I like charcoal disks because I feel more energetically involved in/connected to the process. 

Mixing counterclockwise, mix the very finely crushed charcoal into the salt. Mix. Use as many charcoal disks needed to get to the level of darkness you want. 

Mind wandering? Remember your intent! Refocus! 

When you’re done, transfer the black salt into a jar and set the crystals around it in a circle. Let it continue to build and charge this way, until you feel it is ready. If you’re not sure, it can also be until the candle or incense goes out. 

Done! Sprinkle this around the parameter of your wards, such as along doorways and windows. It can also be used during unhexing/curse breaking spells, general protection spells, banishing, and binding. 

This is NOT FOR CONSUMPTION. 

Even if you used edible activated charcoal, know that 1. charcoal interacts with many medications by basically absorbing them and rendering them useless, including birth control, diabetes medications, cancer drugs, and more. and 2. I’m not sure this would taste great? 

Tools of the Craft: The Book of Shadows

Oh, the beautiful working altar! It is a place of magic, with lots of shiny and smelly things on it which make me feel at home. But to the new witch, it can sometimes seem daunting, and even downright scary to look at - almost as if it came right out of some dark fantasy story.

But there’s nothing to be afraid of. Each object on the altar is merely a tool to help visually direct energy. In witchcraft, every tool has its significance and its own symbolism, and it often helps to understand what makes these tools so important. In this series of articles, I will endeavor to lift the shroud of mystery from these tools and assist in helping you understand what each tool is used for, where it comes from, and why we use it.

The Book of Shadows

We’ve all seen various shows that portray witches with various spell books, from the massive tome in Sabrina, The Teenage Witch to the living spell book in Hocus Pocus. It sometimes seems as if the book is as inseparable from witchcraft as the broom, pointed hat, and black cat! However, unlike how they’re portrayed in media, spell books, or Books of Shadows, are unique to each individual, and may have spells, correspondences, references, or may simply be a journal.

Ultimately, the Book of Shadows (hereafter, “BoS”) is a repository of knowledge pertinent to your practice. It’s your reference guide and a measure of your growth as you progress and learn more.

As many experienced witches who teach can attest to, one of the most frequent questions we get is “How to I make a BoS?” or “What do I need to do to get a spell book?” And this question is tricky not because of complexity, but because of its simplicity. So let’s take a look at the different types of BoS, and what could go into them!

Hard Copies, Media Files, and Oral Tradition

Every witch has his or her own aesthetic, preferred method of going about things, and pocketbook. As such, the types of BoS out there vary depending upon the witch! The most stereotypical BoS is the hard copy book. Durable, long lasting, and with a rather gorgeous look, it’s no surprise that from the get go, many of us will reach out to take hold of one of those faux-leather-bound blank journals lining the back wall of Barnes & Noble. 

However, when first starting out, jumping straight to these often expensive books is not necessarily practical. The reason for this is that like our practice, our book will likely change and evolve over time to reflect our growth. As such, it isn’t uncommon early on to tear pages out, reorganize, and add pages to incorporate what suits you.

That said, it’s often recommended for the new witch to start simple. And for that there are a couple of options! First is for those who prefer hard copies. In the .gif above, the keen eye might notice that the BoS shown is a simple graph paper notebook. This is not uncommon, and while some may initially fear having a BoS that looks “tacky,” remember that the book will change over time, and as you practice more and find aspects that you know will not be going away anytime soon, you can incorporate them into another more aesthetically pleasing BoS (there’s no rule that says you can’t have more than one! I have several, and for different aspects of my practice). 

Far less expensive is the digital BoS. Earlier on, I addressed Technopaganism and how it relates to paganism and witchcraft. In it, I acknowledged that one rather practical aspect to technopaganism is that witches who adopt this philosophy will often set aside files on their devices specifically for witchcraft. For instance, on my computer, I have a folder dedicated to witchcraft, with subfolders that have word files for notes, rites and spells, my blog articles (yes, my articles go in my BoS!) pictures, and correspondences. Though many witches prefer to cast spells and blessings on their BoS and may scoff at the thought of having a digital BoS, remember that in technopaganism, it is not uncommon to bless and cast spells on the device or drive that has the files in question, just as one would bless and cast a spell on a physical book.

Some witches who like the digital aspect even create public BoS’s here on Tumblr! Blogs are often a great repository for spells and notes regarding witchcraft, so it’s good to keep your eyes peeled for a good BoS page!

Lastly, there is another type of BoS that often goes unrecognized and treated less carefully because it’s not a physical object, and that’s oral tradition. Many of our ancient ancestors who did not have a written language passed their traditions, spells, and rites down to one another through strictly oral means. And some who had a written system maintained a mostly oral tradition as well (take, for instance, the Celts and Norse - both had written systems but maintained their traditions orally). The message here is that if you don’t feel that having a BoS is necessary or desired, you are not a lesser witch for it. Even today, some families maintain an oral system, passing their faith and traditions down from one generation to the next with the spoken word. 

Compilations, Dreams, and Magic

So we’ve seen the different formats used for a BoS. But… what goes into it? Well, the simple answer is anything you want! And much to the frustration of many new witches, that’s exactly the answer they get. So let’s take a look at what commonly goes into a BoS, and how it can be varied.

Spells: This one’s the most common subject. After all, many witches prefer a repository of their successful spells for future reference. So many include a section in their books dedicated specifically to spells. (If the book were dedicated solely to spells and rites, it is often referred to as a grimoire instead of a BoS, though this is mostly a matter of preference).

Rites: This varies from tradition to tradition, as some partake in full rites whereas others don’t. But a section devoted to rites will likely include rituals for the Wheel of the Year, other holidays and sabbats, esbat (lunar) rites, and even initiation and dedication rites for covens.

Correspondences: If you rely heavily on correspondences, be they for astrology, color, runes, plants, or otherwise, it is often recommended to have a reference or resource where you can look up the proper correspondences for your tradition. As such, many witches who work with such correspondences will have a section dedicated appropriately.

Recipes: Giggle as you may, but kitchen witches often joke about their BoS being a cookbook. And some legitimately have a cookbook as a BoS. Regardless, those who work magic into their cooking may prefer to have some good go-to recipes on hand! Need an example? One of my books is dedicated solely to Foodie Friday recipes, and I do consider it to be a BoS!

Journals: Whether it be a dream journal, or a diary, there are many witches out there who incorporate their journals into their BoS. This has a couple of benefits: the first is that it is an excellent way of tracking growth; the second is that it provides a cross reference, so if you forget something in another section of your BoS, you could have it in your journal. It is also an excellent way of providing a personal narrative regarding your development and relationship to the gods, if that is part of your path.

Notes: Let’s face it, as a new witch (or even an experienced witch), you probably do a lot of note-taking, jotting down new information or spells or philosophies for your craft. The BoS is an excellent repository for these scribbles!

There is plenty more that can be added to a BoS, but these are the most common subjects. Is there a proper order to have in a BoS? Only if you feel you need one. However, for me, I have found that if I were to establish a table of contents in my BoS, it would be rendered null rather quickly as I add and remove subjects. Instead, sticky notes, tabs, bookmarks, or ribbons can be used to separate sections so that you can easily page through your book!

Custom Made!

Many new witches might see a lot of those rather gorgeous home-made books out there. Though your book need not be pretty to be functional, it is encouraged to make your book your own. If you’re artistically inclined, bend that toward your book and create a BoS that doubles as a masterpiece! Some will create wood bindings, while others may simply draw and decorate the edges of their pages. It can be as complicated as that, or as simple as adding a ribbon with a crystal on it. The book is yours, so do what you’d like with it!

So Josh, what kinds of BoS do you have?

Well, I have several. The first is my aforementioned digital BoS. Though I don’t use it for spellcasting, it is a backup repository of my notes and articles, as well as a place where I can write out new spells and rites as needed before printing them for coven work (because my handwriting isn’t exactly the easiest for others to read). The second is the aforementioned Foodie Friday Notebook. The notes and recipes that I write down are later shared with all of you, and I keep it all for future reference and for my own work! Third is my coven BoS. This is a hard cover blank journal in which I write down all of the rites and spells that we do together, as well as where I write down any notes that may be pertinent to our practice. Fourth is my personal BoS, which is a faux-leather-bound journal in which I write my finalized aspects to my practice.

It’s likely that I could end up with new books in the future, and my BoS’s will continue to change over time!

How can I make my own BoS?

Use everything we’ve covered above as a guideline in crafting your personal BoS. Remember that if affordability is an issue, you can always start small and later on build up to something you’d prefer. Whether it be a digital file, a spiral bound notebook, or a blank journal, remember that your BoS is your reflection and repository! Treat it with care and as much respect as you would any other tool for the craft!

And as always, Blessed Be! )O(

Mabon Pomegranate Wisdom Spell

To advance spiritual development and gain wisdom. This spell calls upon Inanna/ Persephone

Items needed:

Charcoal disc

Fireproof dish

Purple candle

Matches

Two tablespoons of dried dittany of crete (etsy, amazon, while foods)

1 pomegranate

Sharp knife

Instructions:

Light the charcoal dish, let burn down so it does not smoke to much. When it's ready light the candle then say "I call upon (diety of choice) queen of the land of the dead, wise beyond reckoning, to bless my spirit quest and guide my footsteps through the darkness"

Add the dittany to the disc

Slice open pomegranate, take out six seeds and eat them

Close your eyes, imagine yourself sinking into the darkness, going deeper where there is nothing but silence. Stay there in the silence for as long as needed, when ready, blow out the candle, then burn it for a hour at sunset till it's gone.

Bury the pomegranate in your yard/garden. Keep a dream diary throught the winter season

Change it up, make it your own if desired

Sourced: little book of spells

common spell components for glamours:

CRYSTALS — rose quartz / clear quartz / amethyst / selenite / tiffany stone / opal / kunzite / morganite

WATERS — full moon water / sun water / dew / melted snow / ocean water

TOOLS — candles (pink, white, blue) / brushes / mirrors / ribbons

ENCHANTED OBJECTS — jewelry / makeup / charms / clothes / other accessories

MISC — flowers / fruits / sugar / herbs

suggestions for various types of glamours:

BEAUTY - roses, catnip, dew, ginger, ginseng, heather, maidenhair, orange

COURAGE - basil, fluorite, mullein, sunstone, sweetpea, thyme, tiger eye, amatrine

FOCUS - amber, aquamarine, celery, celestite, ocean water, onyx, master root

TRUTH - bluebell, iron pyrite, moss agate, opal, selenite, yellow candles

STRENGTH - bay leaf, ebony, mulberry, pennyroyal, saffron, thistle, tourmaline, oak bark

WISDOM - almond, amethyst, bay leaf, coral, iris, sage, sunflower, skullcap

ATTRACTION - honey, cinnamon, cardamom, carnelian, patchouli, damiana, rosehips