Master Post For Secret Witches

*magical girl transformation but i turn into this*

Exploring Aphrodite Kataskepis: The Grieving Goddess of Love

When we think of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, and desire, we often envision romantic pursuits and joyous celebrations. However, there exists a less explored aspect of her divine persona that delves into the depths of grief and loss: Aphrodite Kataskepis. This epithet of Aphrodite highlights the nuanced interplay between love and sorrow, illuminating the goddess's connection to mourning and the complexities of human emotions.

Who is Aphrodite Kataskepis?

Aphrodite Kataskepis is often translated as "Aphrodite of the Underworld." This title signifies the goddess's role in the realm of grief, death, and the mourning of lost love. While traditionally associated with passions and romantic encounters, this aspect of Aphrodite serves as a reminder that love does not exist in a vacuum; it is intricately woven with the experiences of loss and heartache.

The Dual Nature of Love

The presence of Aphrodite Kataskepis speaks to the duality of love. Love can bring immense joy, but it is also susceptible to pain and sorrow. The essence of Aphrodite in this context acknowledges that loss is an inevitable part of the love experience. In embracing grief as part of love's continuum, Aphrodite embodies the understanding that the bonds we form are often shadowed by the potential for heartbreak.

The Myth of Adonis

One of the most poignant narratives illustrating Aphrodite Kataskepis is the myth of Adonis. Adonis, beloved by Aphrodite, represents the beauty and fleeting nature of life. His tragic death and subsequent descent into the underworld deeply affect Aphrodite, plunging her into a profound grief. Her sorrow over Adonis serves not only as a personal loss but also as a reminder of the impermanence of beauty and love.

As Aphrodite mourns, she captures the essence of human experience—a deep connection to those we love, coupled with the pain of their absence. This myth underscores the notion that love extends beyond the boundaries of life and death, establishing a bridge between the living and the departed.

The Role of Ritual and Mourning

In ancient rituals, Aphrodite Kataskepis was invoked in contexts of mourning and remembrance. Offerings to the goddess were made to seek her favor and comfort during times of grief. By calling upon her during funerals or memorials, people sought solace in the understanding that love persists, even in the face of loss.

Aphrodite's presence in such rituals highlights the belief that love continues to influence our lives, even when intertwined with sorrow. Her association with the grieving process encourages the acknowledgment of emotions we often try to suppress—allowing space for healing through remembrance and connection.

Embracing Loss and Healing

Aphrodite Kataskepis invites us to embrace the full spectrum of love, including its capacity for grief. When we experience loss, it's essential to honor our feelings and understand that mourning is a natural part of the love experience. By acknowledging the connection between love and sorrow, we can find a path toward healing.

In reflecting on the depth of our connections, Aphrodite Kataskepis teaches us that love is both a source of joy and a reminder of what we hold dear. Grieving does not diminish the significance of love; instead, it enriches our understanding of its power.

Aphrodite Kataskepis stands as a poignant reminder of the complexities of love and the inevitability of loss. Through her association with grief, she encourages us to honor the depth of our emotions and embrace the full range of human experience. As we navigate the intertwining pathways of love and sorrow, let us remember Aphrodite as a guiding force—celebrating the beauty of love while acknowledging the heartache that often accompanies it. In doing so, we pay tribute not only to our loved ones but also to the enduring legacy of love that transcends even the darkest of times.

I'm a guy and I had really cystic acne when I was 16 (now 18). I'm on my second treatment of acutane right now. The first was for 8 months and my current treat is on its 5th month. I just feel like shit all the time. I feel bad about myself. I can't look into the mirror and like what I see. I've already seen a therapist about this problem but it didn't really help much. I've learned to deal with it better, but I still struggle. Any advice?

I’m so sorry!! It’s really unfair just how much acne can affect ones self image. I had a really hard time with mine when it was bad, and I don’t think I can say that I know how you feel, but I went through a long period of self hatred just because of my skin. I definitely understand that it can take a toll on you and your happiness. I think the best advice I have is that in the long run, dealing with something like this can make you a much better person. It makes you understanding of others, less judge mental, and more accepting. That’s mostly how I got through dealing with my skin, but I know it’s not as simple as that. Just know that we are all here for you and you are so so so much more than your skin. Don’t forget that you have a personality and all the potential in the world to do what you want. And honestly, when I see someone dealing with acne it makes me relate to them more and have respect for them. When mine was at its worst I really reached to people that had similar problems and t made me feel better to have an unspoken similarity. It helped a lot to not feel judged because who I surrounded myself with understood what was happening. Another thing is that when accutane comes up with people I know, the people can’t seem to remember what my skin used to look like, because when it isn’t your skin it isn’t a big deal. Don’t worry, you’ll get through it and you’ll come out on top. If you ever need anything I’m here, and I’m sure tons of other people apart of this community and your life are there for you too :)

Four shells protection spell

Hellooo everyone! I did a lil something to celebrate summer since I’m finally officially on holiday! ♡

Materials:

• salt

•black pepper

•rose thorns (pins will work as well)

•sea water (you’ll need just a few drops)

•rosemary

•sage

•lavender

•seaglass

•basil

•4 candles (one for each element- I used blue for water, red for fire, black for earth and white for air.)

•marker

•4 sea shells (like these ☟)

☾1☽ Draw on the inside of the shells the symbols of the elements (one on each)

☾2☽ Light the candles, then place the herbs, salt and seaglass inside of each shell (the order does not matter). Sprinkle the sea water on the shells; while you do so visualize your goal, for example protecting your house from thunderstorms, from burglars… whatever you need

☾3☽ When you’re done, pour the wax of each candle on the corresponding shell to seal it.

☾4☽ Once the wax has cooled down, place the water seashell west, the air one east, the earth one north and the fire one south. 

You can bury them in the garden or if you don’t have one you can bury them in small jars. You can also keep them on the floor or forniture inside your house! ♡

∼Blue

witchcraft and the law

as we approach the anniversary of “the bone incident” i thought this was important. not an expert in law, but throughout my practice this is a list i have gathered of things that may conflict with things you may want to do in your craft

there are just some things that are straight up against the law. this isn’t aimed at your religious freedoms, this is about following the laws of the land you live in. while your religion/spiritual beliefs may allow and encourage it, that may not be coincide with what is legal in your area.  

bird feathers - some species of birds and animals are endangered and collecting their feathers or remains is against the law. this varies from state to state, so you should check the laws of your area before collecting things you find in the wild. (x)

plants/animal parts in the mail - there are a number of restrictions on what can and cannot be safely mailed in a sanitary method, and they need to be followed. (x)

teaching witchcraft to minors - in many places, it is the parents who get first and only say in what religion is taught to their child, until they reach the age of majority. legal action can often be brought against those who teach a minor witchcraft without the parent’s consent. (x)

digging up bones - just no. collecting bones that somehow come out of the graves is off the table too. the selling and buying and overall collection of human bones is often illegal, if not entirely. (x)

littering - spells that tell you to bury a glass jar somewhere, or to throw it in the ocean are not only harmful to the environment, they’re illegal, and subject to fines and prison time. you need to find a decompose-able method or a different spell (x)

tampering with someone’s food or drink - no matter what your intentions are, giving someone a love potion or something for their benefit, this is illegal in every state. not to mention, you don’t know if they’re allergic to what you put in. (x)

improper disposal of spell remains - be very careful on how you dispose of a spell, and make sure you aren’t introducing mercury or other toxic chemicals into the ecosystem. it’s bad for your surroundings, and it’s illegal (x)

animal abuse - it does not matter how sacred animal sacrifice and abuse it to your craft, if it breaks the laws, you should rethink it. (x)

trespassing - no matter how much you may want to pick some herbs that grow on someone else’s property, doing so without permission is trespassing and stealing. not to mention dangerous, as there are states with laws that allow the owner to bare arms against trespassers. (x)

fire safety - so you go out into the woods to set up a ritual, cool. but not paying attention to the fire alert that day, and how likely a stray spark from your ritual candles could start a forest fire and endanger countless people. it does not matter what stars are in position, is smokey the bear says no, do it a different day. (x)

this is not about dictating your beliefs or repressing your religious freedom. this is about public safety and respecting other people’s rights. practicing magic does not put you above the law, and it does not make your whims more important than the safety and rights of other people. if you do any of these, you’re not expressing your beliefs, you’re putting those around you in danger.

this is based on my experience in america and in reference to american law. if you have any more to add or other countries’ law restrictions, feel free to add. 

now that i’ve begun working more with energy, i wanted to share my methods of casting circles! when i first started working with energy, it was really hard to find references for casting circles, especially ones not dealing with the traditional Wiccan god/goddess. here are some methods and uses of casting circles!

Why Cast a Circle?

the primary reason i cast circles is to protect me from outside energy influences. most people associate circles to protection from ‘malevolent’ spirits, however, it’s just a great barrier in general!

here are some following scenarios i cast circles:

divination- to protect me from energies that might influence my cards or my interpretation o the cards

spellwork- pretty self-explanatory. i cast circles to protect from energies i don’t want in my spells, or from potential spirit attraction.

meditation- again, for energy use and to also not be disturbed from anything spiritual.

Methods of Casting

1 - Invoking Elements

a very basic way, if not the go-to way, of casting is to place each of the four elements at each of the cardinal directions. Earth at the north, Air in the east, Fire at the south, and Water in the west.

fire

Candles (color them for intent if used in a spell! alternatively, electric tea lights work fine.)

here is a post about color associations for candles!

Anything symbolic of fire colors (red or warm-colored cloth, figures/statues,etc.)

water

moon/sun water (in a jar works really well, or in an open container if being used for blessing anything)

blessed water, or water related to whatever you’re working with (storm water, diluted essential oils, etc).

here is a good source of different kinds of water and how to cleanse them!

blue or purple colored items

earth

stones or crystals (this is what i love to use! just be wary that some stones are aligned with other elements. clear quartz is a go-to.)

salt

dirt (from your backyard or specific, such as hospital or graveyard. make sure to cleanse it.)

herbs (especially roots)

brown or black colored items

air

incense (different scents have uses as well!)

here is a post with scent correspondences!

steam

yellow or white colored items

alternatively, any of these could be replaced with a tarot card of the corresponding suit! (wands for fire, cups for water, pentacles for earth, and swords for air).

to close the circle, walk clockwise starting in the east (air) and complete a full walk around the circle. do this as many times as you feel needed to envision a complete circle! after your use for it is done, unwind it by walking the same number of times counter-clockwise.

note: if you live in the southern hemisphere, you may want to reverse fire and earth in your directions and walk counter-clockwise to close the circle, and clockwise to end it.

2 - Envisioning

this is a very, very simple way to cast a circle! if you have very little time, simply imagine a ring of light around your workspace. you could align color to purpose as well.

the only downsides to this method include the fact that it may not be as strong as a physical circle for beginners especially, as i have learned many times over as i find energy that i don’t want in the circle. on top of this, to make it very successful, you may have to keep this image in your head throughout your spell or energy work, which may distract or hurt your concentration.

however, like i said before, it’s very easy, discreet, and requires no clean up! with practice, it could be very easy to maintain.

3 - Salt Circle

by simply spreading salt in a circle clockwise (or counter-clockwise depending on your location), you can create a strong barrier. as you walk around, envision your purpose of protection and safety.

if you are working outside, do not use salt. it will kill plant life! instead, consider alternatives such as: egg shells, diluted salt water, crushed herbs, flower petals, etc.

if working inside, consider setting out foil, cloth, or a tarp for easy cleanup. 

4 - Cleansing the Room Itself

if you find that you for some reason cannot cast a circle, or maybe are just starting out, consider cleansing the entire room instead!

some methods include:

smoke cleansing (NOT smudging. please do not call this action smudging unless it is part of YOUR culture.)

salt or protective mixture

dance/song

salt/water spray

incense and candles

for smoke cleansing, light your bundle and start facing eastward, spreading the smoke and asking for protection from either the corresponding element or any deities/spirits/etc. you worship. move clockwise or counterclockwise.

for salt or protection mixtures, simply place a small pile in each corner of the room or at the cardinal directions.

dance and song can celanse the room when accompanied with smoke especially. 

the salt water spray can be used similar to the protection mixture – spray a little in each corner or at the cardinal directions.

incense and candles can be placed in corners, the directions, or just throughout the room to act as protective energy.

Final Notes

make sure to remove your circle after you’re done!! leaving it up isn’t safe and could be draining on your energy or health.

try not to leave the circle in the middle of your work, if it can be avoided. ive had to do it before and nothing bad happened, but sometimes it ocould break the circle, or bring unwanted energy or precense in.

do your absolute best to have all your materials in the circle before you cast it. bringing items that were not in the circle before could carry energy that you just do not want in your circle. i’ve messed up plenty spells because of it already. if it is really necessary, cleanse the item as thoroughly as you can (quickly if you need to), and enter the circle from the east.

if these methods don’t work right away, don’t worry! these take lots of practice. some easy ways to try casting daily include:

cast a circle before you meditate

cleanse your room before you do homework for a safe space to work

if you have a form of divination, cast a circle before drawing a daily reading (i do this in the morning to see how the day will go or seek advice for the day!).

good luck!

I accidentally created the most soothing drink in the world after trying to recreate the hot honey drink in Ponyo! I guarantee it will remove all stress and troubles, I’ve had like 3 today because it makes me so happy

Ten Mistakes New Herb Gardeners Make (and How to Avoid Them!)

Mistake 1: Growing from seed. When you first start out trying to grow fresh herbs, I recommend you begin by trying to grow from seedlings rather than planting your own seeds. These great little starter plants are widely available in grocery stores in the late spring. For the same price as a packet of fresh herbs from the produce section, you can buy your own little starter plant. Lots can go wrong in the seed to seedling transition (including not thinning out plants properly), so its probably best to begin by skipping that complicated task or you are in danger of washing out before you really begin.

Mistake 2: Starting with the wrong varieties. I recommend you start by trying to grow fresh basil. It is the perfect trainer herb. First, basil grows quickly, allowing you to observe the effects of your care more easily. Second, basil leaves wilt visibly when not watered enough, but recovers well if you water the wilted plant. This makes basil a great ‘canary in the mineshaft’ to help you figure out how much water is enough.

Mistake 3: Watering herbs like houseplants. Instead, water herbs a moderate amount every day. While some houseplants flourish with one solid watering per week, most delicate herbs require moderate and regular watering. This is particularly true during hot summer months. If you have good drainage at the bottom of your pot (at least a drainage hole, possibly rocks beneath the soil), it will be difficult to water herbs too much.

Mistake 4: Not cutting early and often. As a novice gardener, it may seem like your puny little plant just isn’t ready for a trip to the barber, but then you will find yourself sitting there wishing for leaves without much success. Again, basil is a great herb to practice pruning. As with all herbs, you want to cut the herb just above a set of growing leaves. With basil, when you cut the plant that way, the originally trimmed stem will no longer grow. However, two new stems will grow around the original cutting, creating a “V” shape (see the photo above, can you spot the Vs?). If you don’t trim basil aggressively, it will continue to grow straight up, and become too tall and top-heavy. Making your first trim approximately 3-4” above the soil produces a nice sturdy plant. Of course you want to be sure you are always leaving a few good sturdy leaves on the plant (see below). As it continues to grow, continue to prune it approximately every 3-4" for a nice solid plant. I like to let it grow for some time and then cut back to within 2-3 inches of the original cut. After only a few early trial cuts, this usually makes for a nice clipping with plenty of basil to use for a pizza.

Mistake 5: Taking the leaves from the wrong place. When you are just starting out it seems to make so much sense to pick off a few big leaves around the bottom of the plant, and let those tender little guys at the top keep growing. Wrong. Leave those large tough old guys at the bottom alone. They are the solar panels that power your herb’s growth. Once your plant is big enough to sustain a decent harvest, keep on taking from the top, as you have been when you were pruning. That way you get all those tender new herbs that are so tasty, and your plant gets to keep its well developed solar power system in place. Plus, if you pluck from the base and leave the top intact, you get a tall skinny plant that will flop over from its own weight (and yes, I know this from experience). When you pluck from the top, instead of clipping off just below a pair of leaves, you want to clip off just above a pair of leaves. It is a bit counter-intuitive as a novice, but trust me it works. The place where the leaf joins the stem is where new growth will occur when your plant sends off new stems in a V.

Mistake 6: Letting your plants get too randy. If you are pruning regularly, this may never become an issue, but unless you are growing something for its edible flowers, be sure to cut back herbs before they start growing flowers. My friend once brought me to her backyard garden and pointed, frustrated, at her wimpy, small basil plants. “I just keep tending them, but they don’t even produce enough leaves to put on a salad!” she lamented. I pointed to the glorious stalk of flowers at the top of each plant, “That’s your problem” I explained. Because herbs are kind of like college boys: if you give them half a chance, they will focus all their energy on procreation and neglect growth. If you want leaves, keep cutting off the little flower buds whenever you find them (see photo above), and it will encourage your plant to focus on growing more leaves.

Mistake 7: Using tired soil with no nutrients. Tired soil that has been sitting in your garden or lawn for ages often looks grey and a little depressing. Would you want to grow in that stuff? Give your plants a dose of the good stuff and they’ll thank you for it. I grow my herbs in a combination of potting soil, used coffee grounds (with a near-neutral PH, available for free at Starbucks), and organic compost. If I have some on hand, I also throw in crushed egg shells. Those without access to compost (and no deep commitment to organic growing) may find Miracle grow useful. My momma swears by it for tomatoes. A diluted solution of Miracle grow occasionally can help many herbs flourish.

Mistake 8: Getting in a rut. There is an element to passion about herb gardening. In order to be good at it, you need to feel rewarded. So don’t stick too long with one or two herbs just because they work. Branch out to a few other basic herbs that you will use regularly in your kitchen. There are few things more rewarding as an urban foodie than being able to pop out to the fire escape to clip fresh herbs to use in my cooking. Once you have become comfortable with basil, I recommend moving on to try growing oregano, mint, rosemary and thyme. All are regularly useful herbs in the kitchen, and all are relatively easy to grow. You will notice that rosemary cleaves after cutting in a somewhat similar way to basil, but grows much more slowly, so the effect is difficult to notice. Some plants also respond to clipping by throwing out more full leaves at their base. I have long wanted to grow cilantro but have not had much luck with it.

Mistake 9: You mean there’s more than one kind of mint?When choosing herbs, read the label carefully. For example, there are two main varieties of oregano: Mediterranean and Mexican. Mediterranean oregano is the more common variety, and what you likely own if you have conventional dried oregano in your cupboard. I have Mexican oregano growing on my back fire escape. I love Mexican oregano in spicy dishes, for making beans from scratch, and often use it in tomato dishes where I don’t want the flavor to seem too much like marinara. Similarly, there are many different kinds of mint. You don’t want to be thinking of the pungent spearmint plant and accidentally take home the much more subtle (and not mojito savvy) applemint by mistake.

Mistake 10: Feed me Seymour! If you are planting in soil instead of pots, take care that your cute little herb seedling doesn’t become a giant plant that takes over your garden. A word of warning for oregano and mint: both can be voracious growers. If you are planting outside in a garden, rather than in pots, you may want to consider potting these herbs and then burying the pots in the ground. This will add a measure of control to the root systems of these herbs, which can otherwise take over a garden and strangle nearby neighbors. When in doubt, check out wikipedia, they usually are careful to point out which herbs are in danger of overwhelming your garden.

Some really useful info here if you’re new to herb gardening.

Basics of Astrology

Dates:

Aries: March 21—April 19

Taurus: April 20—May 20

Gemini: May 21—June 20

Cancer: June 21—July 22

Leo: July 23—August 22

Virgo: August 23—September 22

Libra: September 23—October 22

Scorpio: October 23—November 21

Sagittarius: November 22—December 21

Capricorn: December 22—January 19

Aquarius: January 20—February 18

Pisces: February 19—March 20

•

What These Signs Mean:

Aries - Active, Demanding, Determined, Effective, Ambitious

Taurus - Security, Subtle strength, Appreciation, Instruction, Patience

Gemini - Communication, Indecision, Inquisitive, Intelligent, Changeable

Cancer - Emotion, Diplomatic, Intensity, Impulsive, Selective

Leo - Ruling, Warmth, Generosity, Faithful, Initiative

Virgo - Analyzing, Practical, Reflective, Observation, Thoughtful

Libra - Balance, Justice, Truth, Beauty, Perfection

Scorpio - Transient, Self-Willed, Purposeful, Unyielding

Sagittarius - Philosophical, Motion, Experimentation, Optimism

Capricorn - Determination, Dominance, Perservering, Practical, Willful

Aquarius - Knowledge, Humanitarian, Serious, Insightful, Duplicitous

Pisces - Fluctuation, Depth, Imagination, Reactive, Indecisive

•

Your Signs:

- ________ Rising

- ________ Sun

- ________ Moon

- ________ Mercury

- ________ Venus

- ________ Mars

- ________ Jupiter

- ________ Saturn

- ________ Uranus

- ________ Neptune

- ________ Pluto

•

What Those Signs Mean:

Rising: Your rising sign, in short, is you're actual Zodiac. It is based off of time zones in which the day you are born. The names for them are Aries, Capricorn, Gemini, Taurus, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Aquarius, Virgo, Pisces, and Cancer. Your Rising sign might be found easily on first impressions you might give.

Sun: This is who you are in personality, your normal self. This is how you may act if alone, and is your inner traits. How you act can be described with this sign, also as to who you are.

Moon: You may call the moon sign you have your emotions. It influences your decisions. It is how you feel on the inside, whether everyone knows this or just you. It holds your loves and fears, hates and excitements. Anything, really.

Mercury: is how you may be like in time of communication, reasoning, intellect and awareness. It's known for it's power of the brain.

Venus: The sign of Venus is based upon the time you were born and can be called something of Love.

Mars: is in charge of attraction and raw energy for that matter.

Jupiter: The planet of Jupiter is responsible for luck and good fortune. Whether the optimization is for humor or good will, it's going to be a major apart of you no matter what. It's the happy part in your life. You need it there.

Saturn: This sign, Saturn, is here for the parts in life with things like restriction and limitations. Found as you get older, this is known for being you as you grow up.

Uranus: is here for the change in life. The sign can be for the worse or better at times, and it's a part of life you'll eventually come across. Take it, hit or miss, and in the end it might make you better than it seemed.

Neptune: can be called dreamy, for this matter. The sign for this works as great influence, fantasy, and imagination seen in your daily life, so to say. With this, you might find it almost as if a dream.

Pluto: Not the same change with Uranus, but Pluto is part of big change. It's more of transformation. Life challenges thrown your way will lead to this sign, Pluto.

•

I hope that helped! If you have any questions about your signs or how to find them, you can ask me @dxncingblxck or any other astrology blog basically. Have fun and happy astrology-ing!

Friend: so what type of witch are you?

Me: I kinda just light a bunch of candles put stuff in jars and hope for the best