Beats To Help You Relax/study

WitchYes’ Flight of Courage spell bottle

So. You need a little boost of courage, a little something to make you feel as if you could conquer the open skies. I have just the thing for you.

(WARNING: This spell is NOT vegan or vegetarian friendly as it contains bones and eggshells. However, these components may be substituted with other things according to personal association.)

YOU WILL NEED: - dried basil (courage) - salt (protection) - eggshells (growth, protection) - bird’s bone (flight, courage) [This can be substituted of course if you are against using animal components in spells or are uncomfortable using bones] I used chicken bones, I did not harm an innocent bird!

Grind everything up and mix them together well. MAKE SURE you seal the bottle with wax.

(Let me know if you did this, and how it turned out!)

Just a little cleansing incense for your blog to chase all the negative crap away. 

Old Mother Redcap's "Faithful Friends" Spell

This spell is designed for people wanting to make new long-lasting friendships. This spell works in the same way as a love spell, by attracting people (in this instance, friends) toward you. Items needed: - A large jar or bottle - Red or pink taper candle - Honey - Sugar - Juniper berries - Pen and paper - Magnets - Photo of yourself Method: Place the honey, sugar and juniper berries into your large jar or bottle. Take your pen and paper and write down all the qualities you wish your new friends to have. For instance, “loyalty”, “honesty” etc. Cut out these words and wrap them up in the magnets. Whilst you put them in the jar, visualise yourself surrounded by a new group of friends. Lastly, fold up the photo of yourself and add it into the jar.  As the last step, inscribe your candle with words or sigils pertaining to friendship. Place the candle in the jar or bottle, with the bottom sitting directly into the honey and sugar. You may want to add more honey until it fills the top so the candle stays steady. Place the jar or bottle on a heat-proof dish and burn the candle every night for 3 nights. 

Of Imps and Familiars

The topic of Familiars in modern witchcraft is a bit  misinformed as to what exactly these beings are. Some say they are simply a pet belonging to a witch; however, it is far from the case. In the hopes of clearing things a bit up for my followers, I am writing this to explain what Familiars are and the differences between the different types. This post will provide a brief summary of the topic

There are a few different types of Familiars to consider. There are:

The Familiar Spirit

Imps

Familiar spirits

Bloodline Familiars

Let’s discuss what they are and how they differ from another.

The Familiar Spirit

Tam Lin by Jane Yolen and Charles Mikolaycak

This is somewhat comparable to the Holy Guardian Angel found in various practices of high and ceremonial magic, such as the Order of the Golden Dawn. It is the human familiar spirit, the fairy lover, the demon lover, the spirit companion, the familiar self, the witch’s doppleganger. It is the you that is separate, yet it is its own entity. These are the beings that witches met when flying to the sabbat, their spirit lover. Typically, it is opposite to the witch, “In 1633, Margaret Johnson, the Lancashire witch, stated that besides theire particular familiars or spirits, there was one greate or grand devill, or spirit, more eminent than the rest. Shee allsoe saith, yt if a witch have but one marke, shee hath but one spirit; if two, then two spirits; if three, yet but two spirits. Shee alsoe saith, that men witches usually have women spirits, and women witches men spirits,” (source). It might be that these spirits are complete opposites to their witch counterpart; however, it may also be they take a form most desired by the witch. It is why some have Familiar spirits of the same gender, or spirits that change gender along with their witch.

Examples of The Familiar Spirit

Tam Lin (from the Ballad of Tam Lin)

The Queen of Heaven (from Thomas the Rhymer)

Cupid (from the tale The Most Pleasant and Delectable Tale of the Marriage of Cupid and Psyche)

Imps

The Witches’ animal familiar, maleficent animals, divination animals, domestic familiars. These are, usually, physical creatures or vessels that act as the witch’s familiar. These are the creatures people typically think of when thinking of familiars. They are the witch’s pet, servator, companion, spy, and aid in the magical arts.

Now from this, there are 2 main sort of imps. A living creature of flesh such as a rabbit, cat, or dog. There are also imps that are merely spirits tied to a vessel. These vessels can be anything from stuffed animals to bottles or urns. The Familiar’s spirit possesses the vessel, which then it seeks to serve the witch. It can be an actual spirit or even created by a witch (or even by another spirit). Now the interesting part of this is that the living creatures can even act as vessels for familiar spirits.

Imps are the creatures you see depicted being fed blood from witches. Witches allow familiars to suckle blood from their witch marks to forge the pact between the two. The imp receiving care and food, and the witch receiving aid and power from the imp. The pact between the two is what makes an imp the witches’ familiar (vs just a regular pet or spirit).

Familiar spirits

A witch can have many familiar spirits, which take many forms. Though, they tend to be animal in form. There are some known to be human or even “supernatural” in form. There are descriptions of familiar spirits that are fairies, spirits of the dead, saints, devils, demons, and even angels. Some witches state they had certain plants as their familiars.

They take similar roles to spirit guides and spirit helpers; however, they, like imps, also require a pact as well. A witch can have many familiar spirits all that serve their needs depending on the reason for the pact. However, the pact isn’t always made through physical means vs the pact made with imps.

Bloodline Familiars

Bloodline familiars are those that are passed down from hereditary practices, from parent to child. Covens have also been known to have these, and can give access to these familiars through initiatory means. They are familiars that serve specific bloodlines or groups, and only grant their power and aid to those within it.

One can also argue that a Bloodline familiar is not truly a spirit, but rather an icon. A symbol of that family or coven, in which appears in dreams as a sign or omen. I attempted to do more research into this, but it was only mentioned in one of my texts, “There is that which is used as the coven “totem” animal, mentioned earlier in connection with the symbolism of the witch bracelet. This symbolic animal form is decided upon at the formation of a coven by mutual agreement among the members and after much introspection and divination. The chosen totemic animal form or forms, for there may be several, is then ritually “assumed” by coven members during the chain dance at the Sabbat itself, and also should they at any time wish to indulge in the practice of “sending for the fetch,” commonly Omens and auguries of coming events may also be drawn by the seasoned practitioner from the appearance on the scene of one such specimen of a coven totem, a grey bird maybe or a large black cat. Part of this witchlore may have filtered out in the past and now be responsible for the common public beliefs about lucky or unlucky black cats crossing one’s path, and so on,” (Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson).

As a note, I believe it is more fitting to call these another name other than “Totem” familiars. It would be better to call them Bloodline Familiars. The source was written in the 70s. Though I do love that book, it does not address cultural appropriation. 

The Pact (how does one get a familiar?)

The pact is something that is spoken of within many witch confessions and trials. The witch obtains the familiar, forges a pact, and begins the relationship. Familiars were told to appear in a few different ways.

given from a spirit (the devil)

passed down from another witch

appearing by chance

created by the witch’s own “evil” desire (this references that familiars can be created by the witch themselves)

appearing after a great rite or initiation

There are those that believe every witch will have at least one familiar, whether it be a physical creature or not. Though, familiars don’t appear in every witch lore. It is mostly common in western European witch lore.

What does the pact entail? Typically, it involved the feeding of blood to the familiar to strengthen the bond and forge the union. I’ve seen reference to a few other methods such as spiritual sacrifice, offering of milk or food from the same dish, or even scraping off bits of your kitchen table to feed the familiar. Others reference to rituals being performed to summon the fetch and create the bond. Though one thing is very important, the witch and familiar must be bound to one another body and spirit.

This allows the witch to travel to the Sabbat with their familiar, perform magical acts with them, or even hag ride them into the night.

Hope this helped clear a bit up! My resources are below. As a note: I do reference reading Margaret Alice Murray, not for her incorrect theories, but for her amazing resources. When reading her books focus on quoted references. You can also do further research by searching into her sources (though some are difficult to find).

reading list

Demonology: demons & devils / Spiritual Warfare By Dr. Phillip Botha

Witches’ Familiars in England by M. A. Murray

Malevolent Nurture: Witch-Hunting and Maternal Power in Early Modern England by Deborah Willis

The Esoteric Codex: Supernatural Legends By Cedrick Pettigrove

The History of Witchcraft and Demonology by Montague Summers

Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern British Witchcraft and Magic by Emma Wilby

The Visions of Isobel Gowdie: Magic, Witchcraft and Dark Shamanism in Seventeenth-Century Scotland by Emma Wilby

Traditional Crafte translated by Robin Artisan

Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson

The Golden Bough by Sir James George Frazer

The Witch-Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Alice Murray

Irish Witchcraft and Demonology by St. John D. Seymour

Also what are altars used for?

Altars are used for your craft. To practice, to write in your book of shadows and for those who decide to follow a deity, its a place for you to connect with him or her, to worship, give thanks etc. Long story short its your own personal little “church/temple”

Simple Positivity Spell

Materials: -Any color candle (other than white or black) -Black candle -White candle

1. Light your random colored candle to represent yourself.

2. Light the black candle from the other candle’s flame. Focus on your negativity (the flame) moving from yourself to the black candle.

3. Blow out your candle.

4. Light the white candle with the black one, converting the negative energy into positive.

5. Blow out black candle.

6. Re-light your candle with the white one, pouring the positive energy into you.

7. Blow out both candles.

+ If you want, circle the white candle’s smoke around you after you blow it out. Make the smoke your shield from negativity.

mercury retrograde means youre going to put your foot in your mouth if you arent careful. choose your words and when you use them with caution.

jupiter retrograde means you are going to feel like everyday is friday the 13th. roll with the punches and keep the big picture in mind.

venus retrograde means romance and relationships in general will be a giant mess for you. block people you know arent good for you and take care in forming any new connections.

saturn retrograde means that any task will feel impossible to finish once you start. stay committed and keep your end goals in mind.

a ride