I Embrace The Idea Of Life And Death For I Am Not The One In Charge Of My Fate. The Gods Have Already

Introduction to Shielding

If you haven’t already, check out my lessons on visualisation for the basic knowledge you’ll need to begin practicing shielding.

So what is shielding?

Shielding is a manipulation of energy, used to create a barrier between yourself and unwanted, usually negative or malicious energies. It’s a basic aspect of spellwork that everyone, beginner or experienced, should use to keep themselves safe.

What can I use shielding for?

Some beginner-level uses for shielding are drawing a circle, or casting a spell. A more experienced individual might use shielding in astral travel or spirit work, where there are a lot more malicious energies involved. Personally, I use shielding as often as possible, for instance when I do tarot readings, spells, spirit work, shadow work, and especially cursing. It gives that extra guarantee that you won't flood your personal space with unwanted energies.

Other uses include shielding against real-life dangers, to a certain degree. I often shield when I am walking through town at night for extra protection. But please remember to take other measures too! Call someone, pretend to be on the phone, plan your route, and even carry pepper spray if it's legal where you are.

An easy shielding method:

The easiest way to explain this is to think of your energy as a physical manifestation. Think how power attacks are shown in anime or cartoons - a streak of colour or light, or an element. Make it personable to you: fire signs (Leo/Aries/Sagittarius) might visualise fire, or a red energy or light etc.

Firstly, some people prefer to cleanse before shielding. I don't think its all that necessary but the choice is yours.

Begin by easing yourself into meditation. Get comfortable, and use whichever technique works for you. I have various methods for this in my visualisation lessons if you are struggling.

Attempt to visualise the energies surrounding you in your mind. It might be a swirling colour of light, almost like a cloud of dust. It could be flames, it could be water. Maybe try to see it held within your hand.

Now, attempt to shape this energy around your entire body. You might want to start with a bubble or a cube surrounding you. Feel this shape surrounding and protecting you. Visualise negative and unwanted energies being held back by it.

You can also layer shields, so if you are working with a particularly malicious energy you might want to have multiple shapes surrounding you, all within each other. You can also work with deities or spirits to ask them to shield you too.

Shielding Incantation

When I am shielding, I recite a spell as well as using visualisation techniques.

The shield of protection, I carry it strong, No ill wishes or trouble shall come along, You cannot harm me, or weaken my soul, My light is my weapon, and peace is my goal.

Try it out for yourself and let me know in the comments how it went! Thank you as always for reading. Please message for requests.

Timing: Sabbats

Yuletide:

Beverages: Ale, Eggnog, Spiced Ginger, & Wine. Creatures: Donkey, Doves, Goats, Robins, & Turkey. Deities: Artemis, Brigid, Holly King, Morrigan, & Odin. Flowers: Chamomile, Comfrey, Fir, Holly, & Mistletoe. Herbs: Cinnamon, Frankincense, Myrrh, & Sandalwood. Minerals: Diamond, Garnet, Gold, Pearls, Quartz, & Ruby. Nutrients: Berries, Fruits, Nuts, Pastries, & Poultry. Practices: Hanged Yule Balls, Yule Tree, & Yule Log. Saplings: Birch, Evergreen, Oak, Pine, & Yew. Shades: Gold, Red, Green, Silver, Yellow, & White. Symbols: Candles, Holly, Mistletoe, & Yule-Logs. Timing: December Twenty First till January First.

Imbolc:

Beverages: Cream, Herbal Teas, Milk, & Spiced Wines. Creatures: Cattle, Dragons, Lambs, Phoenix, & Sheep. Deities: Aphrodite, Bastet, Brigid, & Cerridwen. Flowers: Carnation, Chamomile, Iris, Pansy, & Poppy. Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Bay-laurel, Heather, & Myrrh. Minerals: Amethyst, Calcite, Carnelian, & Malachite. Nutrients: Grain, Poppy, Raisins, Seeds, & Tomatoes. Practices: Making Brigid’s Cross or Doll & Feasts. Saplings: Birch, Blackthorn, Rowan, and Sycamore. Shades: Browns, Greens, Whites, and Yellows. Symbols: Candles, Brideogs, Brigid’s Cross, Bonfires. Timing: First through the Second of February.

Ostara:

Beverages: Eggnog, Juices, Lemonade, & Wines. Creatures: Chicks, Dragons, Lambs, Rabbits, & Robins. Deities: Demeter, Eostre, Persephone, & Prosperina. Flowers: Daffodils, Honeysuckle, Lilacs, & Tansies. Herbs: Lavender, Marjoram, Meadowsweet, & Wheat. Minerals: Amazonite, Amethyst, Aquamarine, & Rose Quartz. Nutrients: Beans, Eggs, Grain, Ham, Nuts, & Seeds. Practices: Bake, Cleanse, Feast, Forage, & Manifest. Saplings: Acorn, Dogwood, Elder, Olive, Pine, & Willow. Shades: Pastel Blues, Greens, Pinks, Purples, & Yellows. Symbols: Butterflies, Chicks, Clovers, Eggs, & Hares. Timing: The First and Second of March.

Beltaine:

Beverages: Ales, Honeyed Teas, May Wine, & Meads. Creatures: Bees, Doves, Hares, Lambs, Swallows, & Swans. Deities: Apollo, Bacchus, Cernunnos, Freya, & Odin. Flowers: Daffodils, Lilacs, Lilly of the Valley, & Violets. Herbs: Honeysuckle, Lavender, Meadowsweet, & Mint. Minerals: Bloodstone, Emerald, Rose Quartz, & Sapphire. Nutrients: Aphrodisiacs, Grains, Honey-Cakes, & Poultry. Practices: Bonfires, Visiting Holy Wells, & the May-Pole Ritual. Saplings: Hawthorn, Holly, Rowan, and Sycamore. Shades: Pastel Blues, Greens, Pinks, Whites, & Yellows. Symbols: Bonfires, Faeries, Garlands, Maypoles, & Rabbits. Timing: The First Day through the Second Of May.

Litha:

Beverages: Juices, Lemonade, Nectars, & Sun-Tea. Creatures: Cattle, Eagles, Hares, Hawks, & Horses. Deities: Demeter, Freya, Juno, Lugh, Ra, & Vesta. Flowers: Calendulas, Lavender, Roses, & Sunflowers. Herbs: Meadowsweet, Mint, Mugwort, & Yarrow. Minerals: Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, & Tigers Eye. Nutrients: Apricots, Grapefruit, Lemons, & Oranges. Practices: Baking, Bonfires, Foraging, & Picnics. Saplings: Fir, Elder, Holly, Laurel, Oak, & Rowan. Shades: Browns, Gold, Oranges, Reds, and Yellows. Symbols: Bonfires, The Fae, Oak Trees, & The Sun. Timing: June Nineteenth through the Twenty-Third.

Lughnasadh:

Beverages: Ciders, Meads, Sun-Tea, & Sun-Water. Creatures: Boars, Calves, Corvids, & Roosters. Deities: Ceres, Cernunnos, Cerriddwen, & Lugh. Flowers: Acacia, Honeysuckle, Myrtle, & Sunflower. Herbs: Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, & Wheat. Minerals: Amber, Carnelian, Citrine, & Tiger’s Eye. Nutrients: Berries, Breads, Corn, Grains, & Poultry. Practices: Baking, Bonfires, Gardening, & Harvesting. Saplings: Apple, Hawthorn, Heather, Myrtle, and Oak. Shades: Bronze, Gold, Oranges, Reds, & Yellows. Symbols: Bonfires, Cornhusks, Cornucopias, & The Sun. Timing: The First of Every August or February annually.

Mabon:

Beverages: Apple Cider, Ginger Tea, or Mulled Wine. Creatures: Blackbirds, Deer, Owls, Salmon, & Wolves. Deities: Cernunnos, Demeter, Persephone, & The Morrigan. Flowers: Chamomile, Marigolds, Rosehips, & Sunflowers. Herbs: Cinnamon, Frankincense, Ginger, Sage, & Thistle. Minerals: Amber, Citrine, Jasper, Obsidian, & Tiger’s Eye. Nutrients: Corn, Gourds, Grains, Pumpkins, & Squash. Practices: Apple Picking, Bonfires, & Dumb Suppers. Saplings: Aspen, Cedar, Maple, Oak, Pine, & Rue. Shades: Browns, Copper, Oranges, Reds, & Yellows. Symbols: Cornucopia, Leaves, Pinecones, & Seeds. Timing: The annual occurrence of the Autumnal Equinox.

Samhain:

Beverages: Apple Cider, Cranberry Juice, & Mulled Wine. Creatures: Bats, Cattle, Crows, Felines, & Ravens. Deities: Hades, Hecate, Hel, The Morrigan, & Rhiannon. Flowers: Chamomile, Marigolds, Rosehips, & Sunflowers. Herbs: Cinnamon, Frankincense, Mugwort, & Valerian. Minerals: Amber, Citrine, Jasper, Obsidian, & Tiger’s Eye. Nutrients: Gourds, Grains, Pumpkins, Poultry, & Squash. Practices: Apple Picking, Bonfires, & Dumb Suppers. Saplings: Aspen, Cedar, Maple, Oak, Pine, & Rue. Shades: Blacks, Browns, Oranges, Purples, & Reds. Symbols: Bats, Coffins , Jack o’ Lanterns, & Ghosts. Timing: October Thirty First.

30 Day Devotional For Your Deity.

Create a secret language with your deity and write a dedication as your introduction in your new language.

Use a song to connect and write down images, feelings, ect you saw/felt.

Write a poem about their correspondences.

Write a devotional hymn of praise.

Have a cup of tea (or tea party) and write down the conversation.

Create affirmations with your deity so that you know you're loved.

Shadow work: Focus on your shadow self and write down what your deity wants you to work on.

Write a hymn of gratitude.

Use a card spread to connect with your deity and write down the interpretation.

Bake with you deity and write down the recipe and why They chose it.

Write a chant or two that you can use to magically connect with said deity.

Write a haiku or a few of the simple mundane aspects of your relationship.

Create a dance or stretch with a deity and write down the steps as well as how you feel connected to your deity while performing.

Create a playlist then listen to it while writing about your favorite things about your deity.

Write about why your favorite myth about your deity is your favorite.

Are there any pop culture references to your deity? If so write about why you like/dislike their portrayal.

Are there historical characters that interacted with your deity? How do you feel about them?

Who is your deity to you? Matron? Patron? Grandfather like? Write about how you met your deity and your first impressions.

Middle ground. Write about the first time you felt comfortable with your deity.

How is your relationship now and what you hope for the future?

Write a poem about how They recently made you feel.

Give three examples of Them being benevolent.

Give three examples of when They had to give you a wake up call.

Write an informative paragraph about your deity as if you were writing to a completely unknowing novice.

Create a spell together that only works if both of you do it together.

Allow your deity to make a protection contract with you.

Special bonds. Write a bonding devotional where you dedicate yourself to Them (as a devotee, priestess, fan, ect ).

Create a picture that represents Them with devotional poetry.

Go on a walk and talk with your deity. Record the conversation.

Ask for wisdom and guidance and what They expect from you. Write down their answer.

Start this whenever with your deity and let me know how it's going! Hope you're having a blessed and serendipitous day. Happy witching!

Edited to add original source, with additional photos: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/first-female-bodybuilders-1900s/

Rare Historical Photos

The first female bodybuilders and strongwomen showing off their gains, 1900s

The first “strongwomen” appeared in the 19th century, but were almost unheard of until much later. The appearance of strong women became mor

A Witch’s Ingredients: Sand

Sand is an abundant resource that can be found across the world including along the coasts, through deserts and even in many people’s yards and gardens. Sand is rather easy to obtain and natural making it ideal for witchcraft. Though some types of sand may be harder to obtain, and more costly, than others, let this post be a guide on how to utilize it for its magical properties.

Types of Sand & Their Correspondences

Beach/Coastal Sand: calming, grounding, cleansing, connecting to the sea, self-love, protection and warding, motivation, memory, spiritual clarity, purification of the heart, easing pain, physical and spiritual strength, can represent both the elements of earth and water

Ocean Sand (from the ocean floor/deep sea): primordial energy, banishing negative emotions and energy, grounding, mental clarity, psychic clarity and strengthening, divination, guidance, ancient wisdom and power, connections to the sea and primordial waters, birth, creation, can represent both the elements of earth and water

Desert Sand: curses and removing energy from others, weakening, draining, banishing, grounding, mental clarity, physical health, enduring hardships, “drying up” love and past emotions, healing heartbreak, burying the past, often related to burial ceremonies

Volcanic Sand: destruction, intense energy, strength, death, rebirth, banishing, secrets or hidden messages, warding, baneful magic, offensive magic, often represents both earth and fire at once

River Sand/Silt: fertility, procreation, movement, flowing energy, travels, change

Lake/Pond Sand: the present, calmness, serenity, inner focus, self-reflection and meditation

Swamp/Wetland Sand: mystery, secret keeping, silencing lies and rumors, binding, curses related to becoming lost or emotional heaviness, often represents both water and earth at once, often related to animal magic specifically those that live in swamp land

Unearthed/Buried Sand: grounding, hidden power, addressing past issues and mistakes, overcoming controversy, self-discovery, introspection, emotional healing, moving on from past scars

Biogenic Sand/Bone Sand/Shell Sand: healing, moving on emotionally, remembrance but letting go of the pain and loss, honoring those lost (often at or to the sea), close connections to necromancy

Black Sand: protection, warding, banishing, relates to necromancy and spirit work

Pink Sand: love, beauty, youth, harmony, adjusting to change, remembering the past and lost loved ones, rebirth, emotional and mental healing, forgiveness of self and others

Red Sand: strength, courage, valor, relates to fire rather than earth

Yellow Sand: divination, focus, improving memory and skills, mental health, grounding and centering, represents both earth and air elements sometimes both at once

White Sand: purity, cleansing, protection, wisdom, preparing for change, physical and emotional balance, harmonizes all aspects of oneself

Combinations of Sand and Other Ingredients

Sand and Soil: grounding, balance, cleansing, protection of loved ones and family

Sand and Salt: change, growing power, dreams, purification, warding, protection, longevity

Sand and Ash: remembrance, the past, divination

Sand and Clay: change, mental fortitude

Sand and Kelp/Seaweed: beauty, youth, birth, fertility, the ocean

The History

Not much history on the use of sand in magic from what I can find that is a reliable source, but I was able to find some bits about its use.

Sand has been used in connections to rituals for the dead and in burial practices in many different cultures to a varying degree. In some sand was used for burying the deceased such as very early Ancient Egypt for its mummification properties before better mummification methods were invented and utilized. Placing sand into graves or coffins of the deceased somethings as a means to connect them to their homelands if that person was traveling into foreign lands or countries. Some stories speak about mixing the ashes of the dead with sand to be kept in the home. Other stories tell of people mixes ashes from fires or the hearth with sand and casting it out into the sea for lost sailors who could not be brought home. 

Sand was also used historical in some types of spell jars and vessels. In some places sand was put into jars and bottles and given to sailors to keep them connected to home even when sailing. Others said carrying sand could protect one from being lost at sea or from disaster, likely where the history of sand being used for protection properties came from. It has also been used in witch’s bottles and for burying spells for varying purposes. Some cultures would bury offerings to deities into the sand of beaches or deserts.

Modern Use

Sand is still a common ingredient for many sea witches and worshipers of ocean related deities to utilize in their craft and in their altars. Deities commonly related to sand are Poseidon, Aphrodite, Psamathe, Thalassa, Aegir, Neptune and Veles. Sand is also often used in altars to represent either earth or water when representing the cardinal directions or the 4 elements. Some will use sand to represent both in cases of smaller altars.

Modernly, sand is often used in spell jars and bottles when used in spellwork or as a vessel to charge, cleanse and bury objects or tools such as crystals, poppets, amulets and trinkets. Sea witches or witches with accesses to large amount of sand will often use it for grounding and circle casting. Some will use it for runes and sigils as well.

Storing Sand

For those wishing to store and use collected sand ensure that there is nothing undesirable in it - garbage, sharp bits of glass, decomposing fish or animals, insects etc. Shift it thoroughly to ensure anything that could be potentially dangerous is removed and if needed properly disposed of. Once the sand has been shifted ensure it is dry before you seal it into anything.

Wet sand can house bacteria and mold - which can also smell quite foul when the container is opened again. You can use the sun to dry it or indoor heaters at a safe distance. Spread it out thin and flat to help ensure it is thoroughly dried if it is damp or wet.

Once dried the best way to store sand is inside of glass or ceramic vessels. Jars and bottles are the most ideal. Ensure that they are sealed tightly to ensure no spillage or condensation can get inside.

**this post was personally researched, compiled and directly from my personal grimoire. Please do not repost**

Like my blog and posts? Feel free to support continued content on this blog by donating to my Ko-Fi page! Or ask me for my paypal!

Solar Charged Heat Ward

an old spell of mine i had posted on an old side account before deleting the blog, but i’m reposting it here on my new witchcraft side blog. a jar spell that charges in the sun to keep your space protected. this ward is strongest in late spring and summer.

☀️ gather: jar, black tea leaves, green tea leaves, cayenne pepper, apple seed, black candle

☀️ light your black candle

☀️ layer the ingredients one by one into your jar. black tea grounds to expel negative energy and entities, green tea leaves to amplify energy and behave as a catalyst, cayenne pepper for offensive magic/quick results/heat, then one by one place a desired amount of apple seed*

☀️ as you drop your apple seed, affirm “for every attack on this ward, it is reflected to the attacker ten times the amount for every apple seed in this jar”

☀️ spit inside the jar and seal with candle wax

☀️ place in a section of your home where it can be in direct sunlight and recharge (or reheat) as needed.

*while apple seed may be used as a love spell ingredient, due to the resin properties within it can also be used for curses*

Missionaries are inherently xenophobic.

Missionaries to Jews are inherently antisemitic.

There is no debate here - the above statements are inescapable true. Intentions do not matter. It LITERALLY DOES NOT MATTER that Christian missionaries BELIEVE they are doing something good by saving other people from hell. IT. DOES. NOT. MATTER.

Because the people you're missionizing ALSO have beliefs, that are part of their own religions and cultures and histories and ethnicities. And your assumption that only YOUR beliefs are correct and must be spread is the LITERAL definition of xenophobia.

Missionaries and bigotry are not seperable.

If you proselytize in your personal life (congratulations, you are also a model of xenophobia and bigotry), or if you support missionaries or missionary activity (ideologically or financially), you are now being instructed to unfollow me, because I don't like you as a person, and I can't respect you while you willfully disrespect others. In either case, you are also now being instructed to cut that shit the fuck out. No one wants to hear about the love of Jesus from you, and if they do, they will ask you DIRECTLY and EXPLICITLY. Literally no one else gives a fuck.

I will be accepting apologies in writing and reparations via venmo.

Shoutout to the breakers of generational curses.

UPDATE: Patches are up for grabs now! Limited run!

https://tagtaylorsit.bigcartel.com/product/the-cycle-ends-here-patch-preorder

__________________

Update: 11/23 WOW. Firstly, I’m totally overwhelmed and honored by the response this piece has gotten. Seeing it resonate with so many people has sincerely moved me. I’m so incredibly happy that it means different things to different people.

A couple people have sent me messages asking if they could have my blessing to get the Ouroboros tattoo’d on them.

The short answer to that is- absolutely. I would be honored. If you do so please tag me! I would love to see the final product=^} this is a very personal piece to me and I hope to get it on myself soon.

However; I am apprenticing to become a tattoo artist myself and while there is absolutely no pressure, I would greatly appreciate anyone using the design as a tattoo to consider donating to my donate links any small tip they could spare to help support my art as I pursue this career. It’s really tough now doing unpaid work during the pandemic and It would really help me since I can’t afford to currently reproduce any designs. (Donate: www.paypal.com/paypalme/Tagtaylorsit) again, absolutely no pressure. I know times are tough.

If you feel inspired by the Ouroboros and would like to do your own artwork that is totally fine, who am I to stop another artist from expressing themselves? If you would like to draw this particular design on something (someone talked about painting it on their jacket, which I thought was really cool) I am cool with that as well. However; I would like to produce a small run of patches or pins of this design so I do ask that you refrain from selling products using my art.

If everyone who got this tattoo’d on them gave me 10 bucks, I’d be able for afford a proper tattoo machine, which would greatly help me during this apprenticeship.

=^) I love reading everyone’s stories about how they are ending toxic cycles in different forms in their lives and support all of you in your battles. Thank you all so much.

Wards to hand by doorways, windows or above your bed. I really love these and never make replicas so even if two look similar, they will never be the exact same<3

Help me. I made more. How did this AU come about again? I basically spent way too much time being interested in all things mythological when I was younger so it was inevitable that this happened I guess?

I’m tagging everyone that was involved in the other post as well @vikingstrash @quantumlocked310 @ritual-unions-gotme @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @kataphine and the person that gave me the idea to begin with @ofmanderley 😊

Merman Ragnar. The idea of Lagertha catching him in a net still cracks me up.

Valkyrie Lagertha. Given her fighting nature, this was the only choice.

Witch/Siren Aslaugh. Like @quantumlocked310 I couldn’t decide which of these two she should be, but both options work for me.

Dryad Floki. A tree spirit! It makes total sense!

Minotaur Rollo. I don’t why, but it works for me.

Phoenix Siggy. Because she comes back stronger every single time. Apart from that one time that will not be mentioned.

Werebear Bjorn. He got attacked by a bear in the show so it’s basically canon.

Siren Sigurd (which has been written into existence quite excellently by @vikingstrash ❤️)