M A G I C • H E R B S

Go outside and see the beautiful moon while you do a quick spell for your positive intentions for this next month!

Remember you can add your own spin to spells to make them more unique to you and what you want to manifest.

✨Crystals Masterpost ✨

I have had this saved on my phone forever and do not know of any specific source but it makes a great reference for crystals. I hope you all enjoy ~

ABDOMEN -gamet, agate, smoky quartz

ABSENT - MINDEDNESS - carnelian

ACHES - agate , charoite

ACNE - amethyst

ADDICTIONS - amethyst, fluorite, labradorite, lepidolite, quartz, ruby, tourmaline

ADD - ADHD - lepidolite, rutilated quartz

ALLERGIES - carnelian, lepidolite

ALTITUDE SICKNESS - jet

ALZHEIMER`S - chalcedony, rose quartz

AIR PURIFIER - quartz crystal

AIR TRAVEL STRESS - hematite

ANEMIA - bloodstone, gamet, ruby in zoisite, hematite, tiger eye

ANOREXIA - gamet, lepidolite, rhodochrosite, rose quartz

ANXIETY - howlite

ARTHRITIS - amber, agate, carnelian, charoite, fluorite, gamet, malachite, moonstone, pyrite, rhodonite, ruby, tourmaline

ASTHMA - agate, amber, carnelian, lapis lazuli, malachite, tiger eye

ASTRAL PROJECTION - hematite

AURA CLEANSER - lapis lazuli

AUTISM - moldavite, sugilite

BACK - carnelian, hematite, lapis lazuli

BIRTHING -lapis lazuli, malachite, moonstone, onyx, opal, peridot

BLADDER TROUBLE - amber, jade, jasper, rhodochrosite

BLEEDING - bloodstone, ruby

BLOOD CIRCULATION - bloodstone, citrine, gamet, moonstone, rhodochrosite, ruby

BLOOD CLEANSER - amethyst, bloodstone, gamet, ruby, sodalite

BLOOD PRESSURE - aventurine, charoite, tourmaline

BODY ACHES (general) - dolomite, quartz

BONES - apatite, dolomite, fluorite, howlite, lapis lazuli, zoisite

BONE MARROW - amber, onyx

BRAIN - amber, amethyst, aventurine, agate, labradorite, lapis lazuli, pyrite, ruby, sodalite, tourmaline

BRUISES - agate, hematite, rose quartz

BULIMIA - gamet, rose quartz

BURNS - agate, quartz crystal, rose quartz

CALMS BODY - agate

CALMS MIND - agate, amethyst

CANCER - amethyst, aventurine, bloodstone, jade, malachite, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, smoky quartz, sugilite, tourmaline

CERVIX - zoisite

CHAKRAS BALANCED - quartz crystal

CHAKRAS OPENED - fluorite, quartz crystal

CHEMOTHERAPY - smoky quartz

CIRCULATION - bloodstone, blue tiger eye, citrine, gamet, moonstone, rhodochrosite, ruby

CLEANSING - dolomite, malachite, sodalite, smoky quartz

COMMUNICATION - lapis, aquamarine

COLDS & FLU - amber, agate, carnelian, fluorite, jet

COLON - bloodstone, carnelian, gamet, rhodochrosite

COMA - lapis lazuli, moldavite

CONCENTRATION - fluorite, hematite, onyx, tourmaline

CONFIDENCE, SELF - aventurine, tiger eye

CONVULSIONS - amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli, quartz crystal

COUGH - amber, aquamarine

CREATIVITY - amethyst, aventurine, howlite, ruby

DEMENTIA - rose quartz, rutilated quartz

DENTAL PROBLEMS - agate, fluorite

DEPRESSION - carnelian, citrine, smoky quartz, garnet, howlite, jasper, lapis lazuli

DETOXIFICATION - amber, amethyst, bloodstone, carnelian, charoite, jade, lapis lazuli (etheric, spiritual), malachite, peridot

DIABETES - citrine, jade

DIGESTION - citrine, dolomite, howlite, sunstone

DIRECTION IN LIFE - citrine

DIZZINESS - quartz crystal

DNA REPAIR - pyrite

DREAM INDUCER - citrine, garnet

DREAMS, INTUITIVE - amethyst, jade

DRUNKENNESS - amethyst

EARACHE - amber

EDEMA - aqua aura, aquamarine, carnelian, jade, moonstone

ELOQUENCE - agate, turquoise

EMF POLLUTION - aventurine, lepidolite, tourmaline

EMOTIONS (calms) - rose quartz

EMPHYSEMA - amber, amethyst, aqua aura, aquamarine, rose quartz, tiger eye

ENDURANCE - sodalite

ENERGY - garnet, hematite, ruby

EPILEPSY - jasper, jet, lapis lazuli, onyx, tourmaline

EXHAUSTION - garnet

EYES - amethyst, aqua aura, aquamarine, fluorite, jade, jet, labradorite, lapis lazuli, nuummite, opal, rhodonite, turquoise

EYESIGHT - aventurine, bloodstone, citrine, peridot, tiger eye

FAINTING - lapis lazuli

FATIGUE - garnet, rose quartz, rutilated quartz, tiger iron

FEAR (banishes) - agate

FEET - onyx, smoky quartz

FERTILITY - carnelian, jade, moonstone, rose quartz, zoisite

FEVER - agate, jet, opal, ruby, quartz crystal

FRACTURES - fluorite, onyx

FRIENDSHIP - lapis lazuli, rose quartz, turquoise

FRUSTRATION - howlite

GALLBLADDER - carnelian, citrine, dolomite, fluorite, tiger eye

GLANDS - agate, aquamarine, sodalite

GOUT - charoite, tourmaline

GRIEF - amethyst

GROUNDING - carnelian, fluorite, hematite, obsidian snowflake, smoky quartz

HAPPINESS - citrine, howlite

HEADACHES - agate, amber, amethyst, charoite, citrine, fluorite, hematite, jet, lapis lazuli (prevention), moonstone, nuummite (relief), quartz crystal, rose quartz, sugilite, turquoise

HEALING (general) - agate, amethyst, aquamarine, fluorite, jade, moonstone, quartz crystal, turquoise

HEALING EARTH - amber, smoky quartz

HEARING - amethyst, onyx, rhodonite, tourmaline

HEART - amber (strengthens), aqua aura, aquamarine, aventurine, dolomite, garnet, hematite, lapis lazuli, rhodonite, tourmaline, zoisite

HEARTBURN - carnelian, dolomite, peridot, quartz crystal

HIP PAIN - petrified wood

HYPERACTIVITY - garnet

HYPOCHONDRIA - quartz crystal, tiger eye

IMAGINATION - rose quartz

IMMUNE SYSTEM - amethyst, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, quartz crystal, rhodonite, tourmaline

IMPOTENCE - carnelian

INDIGESTION - agate, jasper, peridot, tourmaline

INFECTION - agate, carnelian, fluorite, opal, rhodochrosite

INFERTILITY - carnelian, jade, malachite, moonstone, rhodonite, rose quartz, rubelite tourmaline, smoky quartz, tiger eye, zoisite

INSIGHT INTO SELF - tiger eye

INSOMNIA - amethyst, aventurine, hematite, jade, lapis lazuli, lepidolite, moonstone, sodalite, zoisite

INTESTINES - amber, carnelian, fluorite, garnet, jasper, ruby

INTUITIVE AWARENESS - amethyst, ruby, turquoise

JOINTS (INFLAMMATION) - hematite, rhodonite

KIDNEYS - amber, carnelian, charoite, citrine, fluorite, garnet, jade, nuummite, quartz crystal, rose quartz, smoky quartz, ruby zoisite

KNOWLEDGE OF SELF - citrine

LARYNGITIS - agate, amber, lapis lazuli, sodalite, turquoise

LEGS - aquamarine, garnet, hematite, jasper, ruby, smoky quartz

LIVER - aquamarine, carnelian, charoite, garnet, jade, sodalite

LOGIC - sodalite

LOVE - garnet (passion), rose quartz

LUCK - smoky quartz, tiger eye

LUNGS - amber, dolomite, fluorite, pyrite, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rose quartz, rutilated quartz, tiger eye

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM - amber, sodalite, tourmaline

MEDITATION - amethyst, quartz crystal, turquoise

MEMORY - carnelian, fluorite, howlite, pyrite, quartz crystal, rhodochrosite, rhodonite

MENOPAUSE - garnet, lapis lazuli, lepidolite, moonstone, ruby

MENSTRUATION - jet, carnelian, lapis lazuli, moonstone, rose quartz, ruby

MENTAL CLEANSER - lapis azuli

MENTAL DISORDERS - beryl

METABOLISM - labradorite, rhodonite

MIGRAINE- amber, amethyst, aventurine, fluorite, lapis lazuli, nuummite (relieves), rhodochrosite, rose quartz, smoky quartz, sugilite, turquoise

MIND (troubled) - jasper

MUSCLE ACHES - dolomite, jadeite, quartz

MUSCULAR/SKELETON - aventurine, dolomite, hematite (heal fractures), lepidolite, malachite (breaks/tears), moonstone, tiger iron (aligns spine, heals breaks), tourmaline

NAUSEA - jasper

NEGATIVE VIBRATIONS - amethyst, dolomite, fluorite,

obsidian (snowflake), quartz crystal, smoky quartz

NERVOUSNESS - turquoise

NERVOUS SYSTEM - amber, aquamarine, jasper

NEURALGIA - amethyst, aquamarine, carnelian

NIGHTMARES - amethyst, chalcedony, hematite, jasper, lepidolite, ruby, smoky quartz, turquoise

OSTEOPOROSIS - howlite, malachite

OVARIES - amber, carnelian, onyx, smoky quartz

PAIN - amber, amethyst, carnelian, jade, lapis lazuli, quartz crystal, ruby, rose quartz, sodalite, turquoise

PANCREAS - agate, amber, bloodstone, carnelian, charoite, citrine, garnet, jasper, moonstone, smoky quartz

PANIC ATTACKS - lapis lazuli, rhodonite

PAST-LIFE RECALL - garnet, quartz crystal

PEACE - rose quartz

PMS - moonstone

PNEUMONIA - fluorite

PREGNANCY - amber, lapis lazuli, moonstone

PROTECTION - obsidian, tourmaline, turquoise

PSORIASIS - agate, labradorite

PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT - amethyst, howlite, lapis lazuli

PULSE (rapid) - hematite

PULSE (steady) - jasper

PURIFIER - smoky quartz

RADIATION - malachite, sodalite, tourmaline, turquoise

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS - carnelian, ruby zoisite

RHEUMATISM - amber, carnelian, fluorite, ruby

RIGID MIND - sodalite

SCIATICA - malachite, tourmaline

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD) - citrine

SEXUAL ABUSE - rhodochrosite, ruby zoisite

SELF-CONFIDENCE - ruby, carnelian

SELF-LOVE - rose quartz

SEX IMPROVED - garnet, smoky quartz

SHINGLES - agate, lapis lazuli, rose quartz

SINUS - agate, aquamarine

SKIN - aventurine, dolomite, garnet, jade, rose quartz, ruby zoisite

SLEEP - amethyst, lapis lazuli, lepidolite

SMOKING - labradorite

SOBRIETY - amethyst

SPASMS - labradorite, ruby

SPIRITUAL CLEANSER - amethyst, lapis lazuli, quartz crystal

SPIRITUAL GIFTS - amethyst, lapis lazuli, quartz crystal

SPLEEN - citrine, fluorite, sodalite

STOMACH - amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, fluorite, garnet, jet, labradorite, lepidolite, moonstone, sunstone

STRESS - amethyst

STROKE - lapis lazuli

TEETH - aquamarine, dolomite, fluorite, howlite, rutilated quartz

TENSION (emotional) - amethyst, tiger eye

TESTICLES - smoky quartz, zoisite

THINKING (improve) - tiger eye

THOUGHT (clear) - aquamarine, carnelian

THROAT - amber, aquamarine, fluorite, lapis lazuli, nuummite

THYROID - aquamarine, citrine, quartz crystal, garnet, hematite, rhodochrosite, sodalite

TOOTHACHE - amber, aquamarine, jet, lapis lazuli

TOXINS - amber, bloodstone

TRAVEL SICKNESS - aquamarine, jasper

TRAUMA - amber, aventurine, hematite, rose quartz

TUMORS - amethyst, bloodstone, smoky quartz

ULCERS - agate

URINARY - agate, amber, carnelian, jasper, ruby

VERTIGO - lapis lazuli, quartz crystal

WOUNDS - agate, carnelian, ruby

VIRAL INFECTIONS - fluorite

VITALITY (improving) - agate, aventurine, garnet, ruby

VOICE STRENGTHENED - aquamarine, carnelian, lapis lazuli

WARTS - agate, smoky quartz

WEAKNESS - carnelian, hematite

WILL POWER - citrine, tiger eye

WISDOM - jade, lapis lazuli, ruby, turquoise

Imbolc Spell

°˖✧ Welcome Spring and wake up from the Winter rest ✧˖°

Imbolc is a time for cleansing and planning, knowing that spring and more energy is on its way ❁*✲ﾟ*

Go on a stroll in nature, it could be a park or some woods near your house and gather some small rocks or maybe some birch from there, think about the things that you want to accomplish in this year and know that they will come true if your intention is true <3

Focus on that and with it in mind go to make this little spell.

Put the rocks inside the jar which are the stepping stones for your goals, one for every big goal you have, then add 3 little seeds inside it, representing all the growth you are gonna make.

Then write in a piece of paper your intention, or maybe use a sygil to represent it or both.

Lit your candles (2 or more) around your jar and in this moment try to bring all your energy to the positive things that will come with spring.

Close the jar and put it in your altar as an intention for the upcoming months.

*In this imbolc time you can also clean your altar and set it for new intentions and take away what does not serve you anymore either by burning or proper discard.

**If you can, plant another 3 seeds outside or in pots, whichever is best for that particular plant

Above all enjoy this time, have a meal and relax, with your coven or solo❁*✲ﾟ*

🐚Seashell Correspondence (Masterpost)🐚

🍓🌼🌷 UPDATE 2021 More shells added! (Shells marked with***) Thanks for the likes/reblogs everyone! 🍓🌼🌷

Disclaimer: This list is of associations collected from various sources around the internet and a mix of my personal ones!

👒 How i assign correspondences to shells 👒

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧      ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿      ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Abalone: love, healing, prosperity, luck, wealth, balance, peace, cleansing, meditation, psychic abilities, self-love, feminine energies, earth + water element

Angel’s Wing: determination, freedom, angelic energies, positive spiritual guidance, protection, aid in receiving and sending energies, air element

Auger: fertility, strength, courage, power, masculine energies, fire element

Argonaut Shell: protection,transparency, fertility, clear thoughts, home, water element + feminine energies ***

Ark Shell: safety, protection, finding strength in the outer world 

Bear’s paw: power, strength, vitality, nurturing, protection, warmth, feminine + masculine energies, earth + fire element 

Baby’s Ear shell: purity, grace, innocence, ear health, aggression, warding/shielding, protection, masculine energies + air element ***

Babylonia shell: peace, scavenging, protection, aggression, masculine energies + earth element (not to be confused with junonia shells) ***

Bailer shell /Melo-Melo: beauty, purity, prosperity, aggression, can be used as a water vessel, feminine energies + water element ***

Banded Tulip Shell: binding, friendships, relationships, social life, water element

Bonnet Shell: secrecy, the unknown, protection, mystery, trust, beauty, air element

Button Shell: connections, gatherings, friendships, spirituality, divination, air element

Bubble Shell: inspiration, creativity, happiness, curiosity, wished, intuitions, cleansing, hope, faith, psychic abilities, divination, air element 

Carrier Shell: overcoming shyness, helps getting out of your shell, courage, protection, strength, escaping from negative thoughts, attraction, wealth, love, peace, luck, friendships, good health, can be used to attract anything, femmine + masculine energies, earth element ***

Cat’s eye Shell:  protection against jealousy, gossips and negative energies

Cerith Shell: sexuality, fertility, masculine energies, fire element

Clam: purification, love, friendships, abundance, communication, healing, stability, vitality, protection, protecting emotions, truth, balance, peace, grounding, feminine energies, water element

Cockle: love, friendship, relationships, emotions, centering, gateway to a new life, new beginnings, feminine energies, water element

Conch: love, beauty, friendship, communication, feminine energies, truth, art , beauty, clarity, freedom grace, movement, speech, spirituality, strength summoning, trust, truth , vanity, feminine energies, air + water element

Cone Shell: protection, control, motivation

Cowrie: abundance, prosperity, fertility, love, wealth, pregnancy, growth, divination, sexuality, protection, beauty, menstruation problems, feminine energies, water element

Crown Conch: associated with crown chakra, meditation, divinity, intention, confidence, intuition

Delphinula/Dolphin shell: loyalty, weatlh, abundance, wisdom, playfulness, protection, gentleness, feminine + masculine energies, air + water element ***

Drupe Shell: reflecting oneself, discover and being comfortable of who you are, self trust, confidence, bravery

Elegant Venus Clam: fertility, love, pregnancy, growth, cycles, female sexuality, protection, beauty, menstruation problems, feminine energies + water element (actually looks like a lady’s privates) ***

Fig Shell: wisdom, creativity, peace, love, luck, fertility, divination, fortune, water + air element

Fighting Conch: aggression, defense, warding/shielding, protection, masculine energies, fire element

Frog Shell: moving forward, starting over, new beginnings

Harp Shell: secrecy, beauty, art, protection, feminine energies, water + air element

Helmet Shell: grounding, protection, strength, honor, masculine energies fire element

(Horned) Turban: protection, faith, trust

Horse Conch: beauty, freedom, grace, strength, progress, water + earth element

Jackknife Clam: (inner) strength, speed, warding, secrecy, masculine energies, air element

Janthina Shell: faith, peace, trust, moving forward, going with the flow, trust in the universe, air element

Jewel Box Clam: beauty, vanity, glamour, passion, (self) love, self care, feminine energies, water element 

Jingle Shells: wealth, prosperity, cleansing, positivity, trust, intuition, earth element

Junonia Shell: strength, beauty, marriage, fertility, childbirth, feminine energies, named after the Roman goddess Juno/Hera (Greek)

Kitten’s Paw shell: youth, innocence, playfulness, protection for cats, feminine energies + water element ***

Keyhole Limpet: finding a way in/out in a situation, meditation, unblocking psychic/divination abilities  

Limpet: courage, confidence, strength, nurturing, self  trust, peace, endurance

Left-Handed Whelk: making drastic / positive changes in life, transformation, air element

Lightning whelk: awareness, banishing, intent, trust

Lion’s Paw: strength, courage, protection, inner strength, victory, pride, masculine energies, fire element

Miter Shell: peace, spirituality, grounding + centering, calm energies, spiritual introspection, lunar magick, feminine + masculine energies, water element

Moon Shell: purification, peace, protection, meditation, clarity, vitality, rebirth, cleansing + charging energies, psychic awareness, cycles, progress, warding, lunar magick, feminine energies, water element

Muffin Snail: peace, grounding, protection, sweetness, humility, can be used as a salt/water vessel, earth element + feminine energies ***

Murex: protection, defense, binding, masculine energies

Mussels: communications, friendships, luck, health, travel, abundance, dedication, determination, community, life giving stability, enduring life’s hardships, feminine enegies, water element

Nacre/Mother of pearl: intuition, beauty, imagination, creativity, new ideas, clarity, new beginnings, harmony, balance, cycles, protection, healing, cleansing, motherhood feminine energies + water element ***

Nautilus: focus, intentions, clarity, wisdom, growth, peace, endings + beginnings

Nerites shell: male beauty, youth, slowness, peace, tranquility, masculine energies + water element, Named after a minor Greek sea god Nerites ***

Olive Shells: healing, hope, love, friendship, hope abundance, opportunity, water element

Oyster: love,luck, good fortune, prosperity, banishing, fertility, (hidden) beauty, vitality, passion, turning pain into beauty (pearls), lunar magick, feminine energies, water element

Oyster Drill: curses, warding/shielding, protection

Pear Whelk: control, life, progress, trust, strength, manifestation, fire element

Pen Shell: beauty, confidence, creativity, self-love, art, love, inspiration, feminine energies, water element

Periwinkle: grounding, intuitions, focus, friendships

Purple Snail Shell: beauty, divination, psychic abilities, air element

Pyram Shell: determination, hope, strength, air element

Red mouth rock shell: wealth, royaltly, hardwork, high status, abundance, strength, aggression, masculine energies + air element***

Scallops: travel, love, friendships, movement, beauty, grace, change, fertility, peace, healing, travel, spirituality, happiness, communication, patience, diversity, openess, all-purpose shell, feminine energies, water + air element

Slipper Shell: balance, generosity, transformation, healing, peace, community, helping others, air element

Snail Shell (Garden Snails): fertility, sexuality, travel, protection, home, feminine + masculine energies, earth + water element

Spider Conch: maturity, responsibility, self-defense, maintaining your position, fire element

Spindle Shell: inspiration, meditation, fate, change, karma, destiny, vitality

Star Limpet: strength, growth, beauty, art, water element

Strawberry top shell: beauty, (platonic) love, sweetness, compassion, attraction, healing, friendships, innocence, feminine energies + water element ***

Strombus Shell: truth, communication, divination, speech, trust, air element

Sundial Shell: hope, success, victory, the sun, fire element

Thorny Oyster: defense, creativity, intuition, focus, beauty, art

Tooth Shell / Tusk Shell: wealth, business, abundance, strength, aggression, masculine energies fire element

Top Shell: spiral energies, centering, helping energy flow, control, beauty, art, centering, gentleness, helping energy flow, control, helps with breastfeeding, feminine energies + air/water elementair element ***

Triton Conch: happiness, intentions, prayers, helps clearing your voice/intentions, use to seek help/attention, air element

True heart cockle: true love, relationships, emotions, soulmates/twin flames, gateway to a new life, forming strong bonds, new beginnings, feminine energies + water element ***

Turkey Wing: freedom, happiness, emotions, lifts bad moods, change emotions, water + air element

Venus Comb Murex: vanity, beauty, glamour, love, feminine energies, protection, water element

Wentletrap: creativity, inspiration, art, water element

Whelk: taking control, get a hold of a situation, life changes, good fortune, wisdom, guidance, control, positivity, understanding, spiritual development, air element

Whelk Egg Casing: abundance, new beginnings, faith, luck

Worm Snail Shell: tenacity, hope, life and death, creation, overcoming obstacles, hope, changes, earth element

❤ Note: Please use/collect your shells ethically! ❤

    ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧      ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿       ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 

Witchy Youtubers

Here’s a list of some of my favorite witchy/spiritual youtubers that I can’t get enough of. This is by no means a complete list, feel free to add onto it!

Anais Alexandre

Annie Tarasova

Ashera Star Goddess

Avalon Cameron

Azura DragonFeather

Broom Closet Artistry

Creosote Coyote

Dewdrop Dwelling

Ember HoneyRaven

Ethony

Harmony Nice

Hibiscus Moon

Jessi Huntenburg

Joanna DeVoe

Joey Morris

Kelly-Ann Maddox

Laura Daligan

Molly Roberts - HerSpeak

new age hipster

Oolong Witch

Orriculum

Owlvine Green

Samantha Valens

Scarlet Ravenswood

Snow Orchid

Sunshine MorningRae

The Sea Priestess 

The White Witch Parlour

The Ladygravedancer

WitchandMoon

WyllowWynd The Thrifty Witch

May the moon light your path.

Making an Altar Master Post

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

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

🌻What is an altar?🌻

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

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

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

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

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

🌻Types of altars🌻 (not an inclusive list)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🌻Supplies🌻 (again not an inclusive list)

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

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

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

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

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

- Bowl/dish: To hold any offerings.

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

- Matches/lighters: If you include candles.

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

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

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

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

🌻Building an Altar🌻

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🌻Tips🌻 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Common plants and their uses in Magick

Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)- Poisonous, so do not ingest. Used for flight (on a broom and astral projection), for youth and beauty spells, and to summon the dead.

Betony- For purification and protection. Prevents nightmares.

Caraway- Good for love spells and as an aphrodisiac 

Cinquefoil- Prosperity, purification and protection

Clover- cures madness, also useful in youth and beauty spells.

Cowslip- Invites those who have passed to visit in dreams.

Dragons Blood- Cures impotency, good for love spells

Elecampane- Aids in raising spirits.

Eyebright- Make a tincture and anoint your eyelids to induce visions.

Frankincense- Powerful aid to meditation.

Garlic- protection, healing, courage, and of course exorcism.

Hawthorn- Protects against evil spirits, good for marital happiness.

Hellebore- Can make you invisible. Useful in exorcisms.

Henbane- Aids in flight (on a broom, but also astral projection.

Holly- Powerful protection against evil. Enhances masculinity, Invites prophetic dreams.

Honeysuckle- Useful for prosperity and love charms

Hyssop- Purifies. Useful in preparing for astral projection and for banishing evil spirits.

Juniper- Protects against accidents and theft.

Lavender- Provides clarity of thought, aids in having visions. Good for peace and protection.

Lemon Balm- Aphrodisiac, also soothes a broken heart.

Mandrake- Powerful protective charm. Increases strength and courage, as well as virility and fertility.

Marigold- Useful in prophesying. Helps you see magickal creatures. 

Majoram- Helps overcome grief.

Mistletoe- Mainly used in love spells and to aid in conception, also provides protection.

Mugwort- Aids in astral projection, enhances psychic abilities, prevents fatigue.

Myrtle- Long history of use in love spells.

Pimpernel- Helps detect lies and deceit.

Rosemary- “Rosemary for remembrance”. Improves memory and mental function, useful in youth spells.

Sage- Good for fertility and wisdom, also aids in health and longevity.

St Johns Wort- Increases courage and willpower, good for banishing evil spirits.

Thyme- Renews energy, purifies the spirit

Vervain- Cleanses ritual spaces. Good for prosperity and creativity.

Wormwood- Releases the wandering dead so they may rest. Useful in divination.

Yarrow- Enhances perception and psychic abilities.