The Magick Of Coffee

Building a Magical Home

One of my favorite quotes about the magic of homemaking comes from Cory Hutcheson, host of the New World Witchery podcast. He says, “Home is a transformational act. It is the thing you do to turn a space into a space… that is full of ritual and significance and meaning. So there is sort of this ongoing relationship you have with the space that makes it a home.”

The act of creating a home, of making a space your own, is inherently magical. But if you want to make your space feel a little more witchy, here are some ideas to get you started.

Charms and Talismans

Making your own magical objects can be a powerful way to bring magic into your space. The best thing about making your own charms is that you can make them look however you want, so it’s easy to disguise them as ordinary household objects. You can make a charm for any intention by combining objects based on their magical correspondences.

I’ve talked about protective charms in previous posts, so I’m not gonna spend a lot of time on it here. The simplest protective charm is keeping a large piece of iron under your bed to keep away nightmares, evil spirits, and negative energy. You could also make your own protection charm, like a witch bottle.

You can create a “happy home” charm to bring peace, harmony, and happiness into your home. This charm could include herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, and/or bay leaves, as well as other items that you associate with peace and good fortune, like lucky coins, crystals, or black cat fur. Write your desires for a harmonious and happy home on a piece of paper, fold it up, and add it to the charm. You could store these items in a green bag, bury them in your backyard (in this case, make sure you’re only using biodegradable plant matter — leave out the coins and crystals), or place it inside a household object like a lamp or an end table.

If you suffer from insomnia or other sleep issues, try making a dream charm to help you sleep well and have sweet dreams. To make a simple dream charm, fill a blue or purple bag with lavender, chamomile, peppermint, and any other objects that you associate with peace, restfulness, and sleep. If you want to have lucid dreams or receive psychic messages in your dreams, include a bit of mugwort. Place the charm in your pillow or under your mattress. (I personally swear by this one, as it’s helped a lot with my insomnia.)

Charms are great for homemaking magic because you’re actually creating a magical object, which can then become a permanent fixture of the space.

Magical Decor

You can use magical items to decorate your home to bring certain qualities into that space.

Hanging or displaying a broom is said to bring good fortune, protection from evil, and good hospitality. Cauldrons are used to represent the Goddess, rebirth, and raw potential. Horseshoes hung above door frames bring safety and luck to all who cross under them, and keep unwanted guests away. If you can get them legally and ethically, animal bones, teeth, claws, and feathers can represent the spirit and energy of that animal. You can also put up images of spiritual and occult symbols — I have an image of the Sun tarot card hanging in my bedroom to promote positivity and growth.

If you need to be a little more subtle with your witchy decorations, working with the magic of color is a great way to do that. Gathering a lot of items of a single color in one room changes the energy of that room. Here’s a quick guide to give you some ideas:

Yellow is associated with divination, mental clarity, the element of air, success, communication, and inspiration.

Purple is associated with divine power, spiritual awareness, mystery, astral travel, magic, and authority.

Blue is associated with healing, psychic abilities, the element of water, peace, truth, and patience.

Red is associated with protection, the fire element, sex, power, vitality, and love.

Orange is associated with ambition, creativity, breaking through blockages, and career success.

Pink is associated with romantic love, friendship, self love, compassion, and emotional well-being.

Green is associated with nature, herbalism, the earth element, money, wealth, prosperity, and luck.

Brown is associated with grounding, animal magic, stability, and balance.

White is associated with purification, cleansing, the full moon, new beginnings, healing, and spiritual growth.

Black is associated with protection, truth, outer space, banishing, and transition.

Decorating your home with colors that are meaningful to you can create a powerful magical space. You may also have your own color associations (for example, yellow is a very “happy” color for me), so feel free to incorporate those into your decor as well!

Growing Magical Houseplants

Most witches feel a very deep connection to nature and draw power from the natural world, but we can’t all live in a cottage in the heart of the forest. Even if you live in a tiny apartment in the city, you can still bring nature into your space by keeping houseplants. Many popular houseplants have magical uses, and many popular magic herbs can be grown inside. Here are a few to get you started.

Aloe. This is one of my favorite plants. Aloe brings luck and protection, especially protection on an energetic/spiritual level. I like to keep aloe in my bedroom to protect me while I sleep, as well as to bring luck and inspiration while I’m working at my desk.

Basil. Basil is very popular in money spells, and will attract prosperity and luck to your home. However, it also has protective properties — both spiritual protection and protection from bugs, since basil is a natural insect repellent! Basil can also be used in love spells, and is just generally a good plant to have around for good vibes.

African Violet. This flowering plant attracts positive spiritual energy into your space. It has associations with the moon and the water element, and is very good for promoting spirituality and psychic power.

Rosemary. Rosemary is one of those herbs that every witch should have on hand. It’s so darn versatile, it can be used as a substitute for virtually any other herb, and can be used for almost any intention. Some of the most common magical associations for rosemary include: cleansing, purification, protection, healing, mental activity, and enhancing memory. According to author Deborah J. Martin, there’s an old English saying that, “Where rosemary grows, the woman rules the house.” Like basil, rosemary is a natural insect repellent.

Lavender. Lavender brings peace, love, and gentleness, which makes it a perfect addition to any home. It can be used in spells for cleansing and purification, enhancing psychic abilities, and stress relief. Lavender is also a powerful addition to love spells. Keeping lavender in the bedroom can aid in restful sleep, while lavender in the kitchen will bring harmony to the home.

Sage. Sage is the most talked about cleansing herb, and with good reason. Unfortunately, a lot of the sage bundles you can buy at metaphysical stores are made with white sage (Salvia apiana), which is sacred to Native American peoples and is endangered due to overharvesting. Instead of buying those, why not grow your own garden sage (Salvia officinalis), which has a lot of the same magical properties? Growing sage in your home will purify the space and protect those who live there. Sage also has an association with wisdom and mental prowess.

Hoya. Hoya is a common houseplant that you’ve probably seen even if you don’t know it by name. It has a distinctive appearance with waxy, dark green leaves and clusters of white, star-shaped flowers. Hoya aligns and balances the energy centers within your body, as well as in the surrounding space. It’s associated both with grounding and with spiritual openness, so it can be great for balancing the two.

Peppermint. Peppermint has a variety of magical uses, but my favorite way to use it is for gently opening up blockages and getting things moving. It’s great for cleansing, but is more gentle than rosemary or sage. Place it in any room where you tend to do a lot of healing work, or where you could use some peace and love. Peppermint is also used in dream magic, so growing it in the bedroom may bring on vivid or lucid dreams.

Orchid. Orchids are used in magic for love and lust. Historically, orchid has been used in folk medicine to promote male virility and “Jezebel root,” used in American folk magic to attract wealthy male lovers, is a type of orchid root. If you live with a significant other, try growing an orchid in the bedroom to promote passion in your sex life. Otherwise, grow orchids in your home to promote love or to attract romance.

Catnip. If you have cats, they’ll love this one. Catnip is actually a type of mint, and has strong lunar associations. It’s said to make one more charming and attractive, and is especially useful for attracting women. At the same time, catnip promotes courage and fierceness. It is also, of course, associated with cats and feline deities, so this is definitely a plant you’ll want to keep around if the cat is one of your animal guides.

If you have a yard space that you can turn into an outdoor garden, your magical plant options are limited only by your local ecosystem. Some outdoor plants that have magical uses include roses, sunflowers, rue, lemon balm, and strawberries.

Creating an Altar

Altars are focal points of magical and spiritual energy. Many people, both witches and non-witches, find that having a designated space for their spiritual practice creates a deeper sense of sacredness and purpose.

An altar can serve lots of different purposes. Many witches use their altar as a magical work space to prepare spells, meditate, and do divination. You may choose to dedicate your altar to a deity, your ancestors, or some other spirit(s) you work with. You can also build altars for specific intentions, such as a money altar or a love altar — performing rituals at this altar everyday is a powerful method for manifestation. You altar may be some or all of these things, or it may just be a place to sit and connect with the spiritual.

You can set up an altar on any flat surface, like a shelf or table, or inside a container like a jewelry box. Your setup can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. An altar can be huge and complex, with statues and candles and flowers, or it can be as simple as a tealight and an incense burner. It’s all about what appeals to you.

Resources:

New World Witchery pocast, “Episode 143 — The Magical Home”

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

“Candle colors and their meanings” by Michelle Gruben on the Grove and Grotto blog

Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

A Green Witch’s Cupboard by Deborah J. Martin

“The Magic of Orchids in Wiccan Love Spells & Rituals” on the Art of the Root blog

Liminal Spaces:

Places where the veil is thin due to reality feeling distorted. These are usually spaces of transitional energy and are excellent for meditation, divination, astral work, etc.

Examples of Liminal Spaces:

the beach at night

any time after midnight but before sunrise

abandoned places

cemeteries

tunnels

underneath bridges

convenience stores after midnight

empty parking lots at night

airport terminals

waiting rooms

laundromats

empty classrooms/schools

*Reminder*: if you choose to visit any of these places please remember to make your safety your top priority. Liminal spaces are meant to feel like reality is distorted, but if you have any actual bad feelings or fears about a place, listen to them.

keeping clutter-free

[ID: an animated gif of grandma Sophie from the movie Howl’s Moving castle sweeping a broom around a dirty and dusty room, with dust clouds filling the air]

some tips from a neatfreak autistic for anyone who might find this helpful :o)

🧹 first things first, if you find cleaning or decluttering overwhelming, try to break it up into small steps for yourself, like cleaning a single surface or drawer a day - and if you find yourself struggling beyond that with issues such as executive dysfunction, don’t be scared to seek help or search for more specific tips

🧺 i like to designate a specific place for everything, without it neccessarily being a filing cabinet or something really strict - a simple system like socks in the bottom drawer, shirts in the top, fictional books on the left side of a shelf, etc, can make a big difference in helping you find stuff and feel more organised

🧹 keep a bin in most rooms, even if it’s just a waste paper basket, it’s easier to be motivated to throw things away if the trash is closer

🧺 you might have a lot of things you don’t use, but don’t want to get rid of in case you need them someday in the future - try stowing these away in a ‘backup’ drawer or suitcase, or hidden on a top shelf somewhere; so they won’t get in the way of things you frequently use, but they’re there if you need them

🧹 when you do get rid of something, be sure to donate or pass it on it if you can, unless it’s completely unsalvageable, chances are someone could make use of it

🧺 personally i like to declutter once a year, but you could spread this out over a few months, or longer - just be sure to do it somewhat regularly, it can help you find missing things, or clear out space

🧹 i ask a few questions with each item as i go through my clutter -

do i ever use this?

do i need it?

will i need it in the future?

does it make me happy to have around?

do i want to keep it for sentimental value?

if i answer ‘no’ to all of these, away to the donation box it goes!

🧺 and i think my most important tip is to not let yourself feel pressured into getting rid of things that you have a lot of or don’t use, especially if they make you happy - minimalist interiors can be nice, but it’s lovely to fill your space with things you love, even if they don’t have a use! if it makes you happy, it stays

🕯☽☾🔮🖤 looking for active witchblrs! 🕯☽☾🔮🖤

A little bit worried that witchtok sucked up the life of witch tumblr, so please reblog if you’re an active/practicing witch on tumblr as of July 12, 2021! 

Please be POC/LBGT inclusive!!!

Sidenote: I am a beginner closet witch looking to find my path, interested in norse/celtic/hellenic pantheons. But all are welcome and the more folks I can follow, the more knowledge I can gain, and the more people I can meet! 

☽☾ Thanks in advance, Blessed Be! ☽☾

synths and effects cross-stitch by @stitchy.nati on ig

Loving yourself is not (necessarily):

Thinking you’re gorgeous

Not wanting to change anything about your body, personality, or life

Loving yourself is:

Knowing you have inherent worth regardless of your physical appearance or life circumstance

Knowing you deserve good things

Wanting to take care of yourself because you deserve good things

Baby witch master-post

I know a lot of baby witches have trouble with finding where to start out so I complied a list of good resources for the absolute beginner witch!! Hope this helps ❤️🌿

Witchy starter terms

Witch terms pt.2

Witchcraft symbols

Tree magick

Herb master post

(smudging is a term from Native American that is not an open practice, smoke cleansing is called Smoke Cleansing, smudging is closed as well as white sage and san palo, important Native American herbs)

I would definitely look into what are closed practices, as to avoid any cultural appropriation as many things like ‘honey jars’ or hoodoo powders are actually from closed or semi closed practices. It is important to know where these come from and it’s cultures as to avoid closed practices appropriation and to use some things like Nazar or chakras to know the significance and actual history and if you can work with them or not. Especially with spells or Deities or anything new.

Some closed practices info (not all of the closed practices in the world)

Moon phases and witchcraft

Moon grimore

Astrology symbols

Chakras (The actual history) (includes Yoga)

Chakras pt 2

112 ways of enlightenment through mediation (Hinduism)

Yoga history in India

Origin of Yoga with The God Lord Shiva

Beginner crystals

Origins of crystal healing

Crystal care

Crystals and the environmental impact

Lapis lazuli (ethical issues of some crystals)

Crystal master post

Beginner master post

Includes: magick theory, magickal tools, Beliefs and UPG, centering and grounding, Magick names, Visualisation, Circle casting, Warding and cleansing, Taglocks, Symbols, Curse info, Planes of existence, Laws of magick and spirit guides.

History of Astrology used in the Western world

Celtic Tree astrology

Witch tips

Spiritual protection

Herbs!!!!

AMAZING BEGINNER MASTER POST

Includes: Moon info and astrology, Herbs, Lots of spells, Astral Projection, Blood magick, Elements, enchanting items, Runes, Knot magick, Salt, insence, Plants, spirits, DIY recipes.

Auras

Astrology

Candle magick

Beginner witch advice

Sigils

Tarot

Celebrating sabbats

Sabbat info

Water magick

Master post all thingy witchy

Empaths

Types of witches

( I would lay off deity work at the beginning, you might never work with any, but it can be extremely dangerous even lethal and some dieties are from closed religions)

Home magick

Protection magick

Protection magick pt2

I would wait to do spells until you have all your information and research and do protection spells for your first spells. Also I wouldn’t do blood magick, as it is very powerful and can have major consequences if you don’t know what your doing, and spirit work or any work with deities.

Pagan vs Wiccan

Circle casting

Book of shadows prompts

Familiars

Familiars in animals

Familiar info and summoning

Energy work terms

Cleansing

Charging

Enhancing psychic abilites

BOS prompts galore

Witches tools

Charging vs activating

Witchy apps

Elements

13 goals of a witch

Resources

Famous occultists

I would definitely also look into some history of witchcraft and paganism (not just Wicca to the 1960’s history, but of the growth of witchcraft in the Renaissance era as well as traditional magic with the Greeks, to Celtic etc, as the impacts of those occultists, as some are very problematic like Crowley), as well as the impacts of other cultures and practices like Hinduism, Native American, Jewish Mysticism etc on modern western spirituality and giving that homage back to those cultures e.g chakras, yoga, spirit animals (closed practice), smudging, dream catchers, Kabbalah etc

Books!!

Spiritual burn out

Energy cycles in spirit working

Master post for beginners

Angel numbers

Fae info and resources

Banishing spirits

Love magick

Potions

Travel witchcraft

Tea reading

Energy lessons

Sigil magick

Spells galore

Spells prt2

Umbra magick - don’t need to know for absolute beginners, I just found it interesting.

Energy protection magick

Spirit work

Spirits house rules

Planetary hours

Deities

Pantheons

Amazing deity info!

Ancestor work types

Ancestor work

DIVINATION MASTER-POST

Shadow work

For any witches interested in anything demonology I highly recommend these blogs!:

Legions of demons

Uncultlike

Satanic sigil master

Randopus of hell

Balthasar 666

Summoning darker spirits

The grand book of Satan

Occultist romantic

What are some daily witchcraft things you don't personally do anymore, but would recommend to new witches?

I'm gonna go a little off the rails from your question, hope you don't mind. I do some of this stuff and I've maintained most of my witchy habits throughout my practice.

Ideas for your Witchcraft Routine

Daily:

Meditate

Pull a tarot card

Ask the pendulum a question or two

Interpret or at least journal your dreams

Pick some witchy items to carry on you for the day

Pray to any deities (if you have them)

Weekly/monthly:

Cleanse your tools

Cleanse your space

Charge your tools/crystals

Add energy to/add new layers to/redo your wards

Give offerings to your deities

Make moon water

Take note of current/oncoming moon phases & what you want to do for them

Take note of any supplies you need more of

Look at your notes, is there anything you want to start researching or work on?

Reflect on previous tarot readings

In Irish mythology, Brigid is the daughter of the Dagda and had two sisters also named Brigid and is part of the Tuatha de Danann, the supernatural Irish race. The three sisters made up the triple aspect of the one goddess: Brigid of the hearth, Brigid of the forge and Brigid of Inspiration. She is a goddess of spring, fertility, family, the hearth, childbirth, fire, blacksmiths, scholars, physicians, prophets, healing, poetry, occult knowledge, and justice. She was said to be born at sunrise and is often depicted with solar rays coming out of her head, making her one of the Irish solar deities alongside Lugh. It is said that wherever she walks four leaf clovers and flowers will grow. She also created the tradition of “keening” when her son Ruadan died in battle, a song-like wail used by women at funerals. In some cases she is also the goddess of sacred wells, springs and healing waters.  

History

Her name comes in different spellings like Brig, Brighid, Brigit, or Brigid but it means “Exalted one” or “Fiery arrows”. She is a goddess of Pre-christian Ireland but versions of her are found all over Europe; she has ties to Brigantia, a warrior goddess of the Brigantes tribe of Britain. She was a beloved goddess of the Celts and has survived through centuries including the Christianization of Ireland and the rest of Europe where most traces of Druidism and Paganism were forgotten. The people of Ireland loved her so much and refused to let her be demonized by the church -like the rest of the gods- that they converted her into a saint known as St. Brigid of Kildare. There are also three rivers named after her one in Ireland, Wales and England: Brigit, Braint and Brent.The river that runs through Wales is known to have healing properties.

Imbolc

Also known as Brigid’s day, Candlemas or St. Brigid’s feast, Imbolc is one of the four fire festivals in Celtic paganism and celebrates the return of spring. Since Brigid is the goddess of spring and was said to go away during the winter, people would light a candle in honor of her return. Offerings of milk, bread, and corn cakes were set out and a seat at the dinner table was left open for her presence.  Cows and sheep were seen as sacred to the goddess because they would provide milk for the town during the cold months and they would give birth around Imbolc. This festival celebrated the Maiden aspect of Brigid and young women would carry corn dollies dressed in white which represented the goddess. The women would also dress in white and attend a special feast for Imbolc where young suitors could mingle with the ladies. Imbolc is a time of fertility, cleansing and the light returning after a long winter.

Correspondences

Elements- Water & Fire

Animals- snakes, ewes, cows, bees, oxen, owls and hibernating animals. Vultures

Plants- blackberry, hawthorn, basil, mugwort, apple, heather, dandelion, snowdrop, willow, oak, shamrock, crocus, trillium, corn, lavender and sage. Personal one is cinnamon and chamomile.

Crystals- amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, garnet, moonstone, clear quartz, and peridot.

Symbols- Brigid’s cross, candles, triquetra, faeries, four leaf clover, cauldron, chalice, corn dolly, anvil or hammer, poetry, forges, hearths, wells, rock formations.

Colours- green, red, white, gold and blue

Devotional Acts

offer her blackberries, baked goods, milk and honey or beer

dedicate a piece of your art to her like painting, knitting, singing, etc.

meditate with fire

savour the warmth of the sun or fire

incorporate the elements of water and fire into your craft

write her a poem

watch the sun rise

say hi to cows and sheep :)

hang a Brigid’s cross above your doorway for protection and blessings 

study healing magick, reiki, herbalism and faeries

wear the colours of fire or white

plant a bee garden

-rising signs as I know them🌿

Aries rising: That type who says things, offensive lot of time, without realising it. Their words cut. The fighter. The one who fights for whatever feels worth it. The one who will cry when no-one sees. Tries to catch attention, sometimes they are not trying at all. They are the people who laugh at silly jokes or laugh at literally everything. Hot headed tho. Ready to smass anyone if it's needed. Sadly people may hate on them without reason. But they're one of the most loyal and reliable creatures out there.

Taurus rising: They observe everything that happens. Notice every single detail but don't say anything. Also notice every difference at people character, acts, vibes. Fun to be around. Weird type of beauty. Realistic expectations but deep down inside they believe that magic always happens, they believe they can do the impossible. Appear as a cold person but they are not once you know them. They can't open up easily to others. Shy. Really calm and they can relax others too.

Gemini rising: Impulsive. Act before they think sometimes. Anxiety for everything. Knows everything for everyone. Cries a lot but they prefer to keep it for themselves. Talkative and usually smile a lot. Worries about every subject. Likes to be the center of attention. Looks like dolls, with cute characteristics. Dreamers. One of their dreams is to travel as much as they can. Can lie to get out of a trouble. Unfortunately they can lie about everything without reason. That's why people tend to not rely on them. Witty as well.

Cancer rising: They love to stay home. That's the aura and vibes they give tho, they feel like home. Likely to have one cozy place at their house only for them. They like blankets too. Warm hearths full of love. Motherly way of love. They love children and animals so much. But can be possessive with their loved ones, because of their fear if their loved ones find someone better. It's sad that they can't feel enough no matter what. Low self-esteem.

Leo rising: Act like lions. Not afraid to be alone and fight for everything they want. Ambitious but get frustrated easily. Enthusiasm. Can be selfish and self-centered. Looks royal. Fiery way of love. They give everything but rarely get back what they have given. Also they remind me of gold. Very beautiful, expensive and bright. But not all people gonna see their worth. Don't take it that personally. I have observed that usually are tall people.

Virgo rising: An extrovert introvert. Can communicate with the others, even if they met them two minutes like they know them all their life. Can be in every friend group but still be an introvert. They keep things for themselves and just listen the other during a discussion. As a Mercurian kid are very intelligent and curious to learn more. Can be freak about their health. Discretion, courtesy and modesty.

Libra rising: People who always have a smile at their face. Very protective especially with their friends or partner. Charming Venusian. Once they care about you never stop. They try to balance everything at their life, sometimes try to balance others life too. There are times when they are quite determined and dynamic and other times their insecurities bring them to the need for support from those close to them. They can be impulsive and unambitious as well.

Scorpio rising: Mysterious, dark aura above you. Really intense eyes. They have developed intuition and great magnetism. They have a rich imagination and they like that it has to do with mystery, metaphysics and spirituality. They are distinguished for their great endurance, determination and perseverance. Many difficulties through their life, especially at childhood. Can be clingy and possessive because of their super intense way to love.

Sagittarius rising: Childish humour. Generally they act like kids or teenagers. Carefree and lack of fear. Bold. They manage to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties of life simply with a smile and in a good mood. Very generous. They have open spiritual horizons and easily adapt to situations, changing perceptions and ideas when they discover the new that overthrows the old. They do not remain static and have no obsessions. But lack of patience does not allow them to reach their goals

Capricorn rising: Dominant personality. They are restrained in the manifestation of emotions, they express their feelings only when they feel intimacy, confidence and security. They are very critical of others but especially of themselves. Cold and distant around anyone who don't know. Warm hearted and giving around people they trust. They remind me of ice. Unbreakable if you don't know how to manage them and you don't have patience. They melt with everyone who finally got to know them and had the patience.

Aquarius rising: A popular loner. They belong everywhere and nowhere. Very different from the ordinary. They like it tho. Very beautiful and mysterious also. They are a spirit of contradiction and controversy, and a revolutionary many times for no reason. They are ready to offer their help and support to anyone who needs it. They support people even if they made mistakes, made bad choices. They try to change the society and make it with more justice, fun. Can be really egocentric and they have high standards, sometimes impossible.

Pisces rising: A psychic, a healer. They are a sensitive and compassionate people. They feel joy and satisfaction to offer their help generously to their fellow human beings and they can even sacrifice their personal desires to give support around them. They have a rich imagination, they are a dreamer and many times they create in their imagination a dream world of their own which is very far from reality. They give up their weapons easily, they do not have much self-confidence and they do not have the perseverance to fight to achieve what they want.