Cheap, Easy Ways To Decorate Your Altar For The Sabbats

✨ Days Of the Week + Magick ✨

Each day of the week is ruled by a planet which possesses specific magickal influences. Use this knowledge to further your own practices!

MONDAY (MOON): Peace, sleep, healing, compassion, friends, psychic awareness, purification, fertility.

TUESDAY (MARS): Passion, sex, courage, aggression, protection.

WEDNESDAY (MERCURY): The conscious mind, study, travel, divination, wisdom.

THURSDAY (JUPITER): Expansion, money, prosperity, generosity.

FRIDAY (VENUS): Love, friendship. reconciliation, beauty. 

SATURDAY (SATURN): Longevity, exorcism, endings, homes, houses.

SUNDAY (SUN): Healing, spirituality, success, strength, protection. 

(Credit to Llewellyn’s magical almanac. Happy spellcasting)!

Spiritual Gifts

Aries- Embracing the rough and tumble the of the world with childlike curiosity and wonder. Reacting to things as they crop up without overthinking and evaluating, even if society says no to this. Protecting the innocent around us, including the spirit of naivety and recklessness.

Taurus- Knowing the value of the things around them, embracing the sensual pleasures of the Earth, finding meaning in simplicity and routine, having devoted relationships with the people around them. 

Gemini- Finding joy and stimulation in the trivia, humour and knowledge of the world. Being the messengers of the universe, here to be teachers and spread interesting and thought provoking wisdom. To flourish in all areas of communication, make believe and play.

Cancer- Being emotionally receptive and compassionate to the people around them, especially the vulnerable. Finding a sanctuary in creativity and solitude, where they can gain a grasp on themselves and recharge somewhat. Being a representation of the divine nurturer. 

Leo- Finding joy in creativity and pleasure, yet also seeing the warmth that others can exude. Being humorous, light hearted and loyal to the people around them. Being a jackpot of wisdom and uplifting knowledge, especially as they grow. 

Virgo- Understanding the preciousness of connection through duty and shared burdens. Appreciating the little gestures of kindness and the simple beauties of the Earth. Gaining knowledge through their life events to ease the pain of the people around them. 

Libra- Learning about themselves and the world through the eyes of others. Finding the other part of their soul in intimate relationships. Being creative and harmony seeking, knowing that there is a yin to every yang. 

Scorpio- Seeking intimate truths and knowledge from the universe. Being endlessly devoted to the people they love, yet also receptive to subtle emotional intuition. Going through intense shifts that reflect their surroundings. 

Sagittarius- Finding optimism and wisdom in the information they receive. Always questioning the powers that be, looking for evidence from their surroundings. Finding flight in abundance, yet also the minimalism of swift travel. 

Capricorn- Having timeless wisdom learnt through independence, simplicity and authenticity. Understanding the value of long standing relationships that are supportive. Finding humour and lessons in even the morbid. 

Aquarius- Being the pioneers of the collective new age and the practices that go along with this. The humanitarian conscience that resides in many of us, finding joy and excitement in invention and innovation. 

Pisces- Seeing and having knowledge of the many dimensions of this universe, experiencing the fluidity and passivity of this world, seeing light in the personalities of others and being porous to this. 

Reblog if you’d be okay if your friend came out as transgender

let’s see how many transphobics we can weed out

Herbs for Magical Teas

Alfalfa Leaf: home protection; money draw; prosperity; security.

Bergamont: money draw; success.

Black Cohosh: relaxation; turn worries aside.

Boneset: call upon devas; divination; protection; ward negativity.

Burdock Root: protection; purification; ward negativity.

Chamomile: calmness; meditation; prosperity; purification.

Chickweed: Crone Wisdom; divination; honesty; love; trust.

Comfrey: health; money draw; safety.

Damiana Leaf: attraction; divination; love.

Dandelion Root: divination; Fairies; good luck; honor/invoke devas; psychic power.

Echinacea: body’s self-defense; empowerment; invoke healing devas.

Elder Flower: Fairie blessing; honor/invoke the Goddess; healing; prosperity; rest.

Eyebright: mental sharpness; psychic awareness.

Fennel: healing; honor/invoke Horned God; protection; purification.

Fenugreek Seed: attract money; skill in verbal communication.

Feverfew: health; protection; purification; ward sickness.

Goldenseal: healing; honor/invoke the God; joy; prosperity; success.

Hops: comfort; good health; relaxation; well-being.

Hyssop: purification; ward negativity.

Irish Moss: invoke Fairies; luck; money draw; protection.

Lemon Balm: health; love; success.

Linden (Tila): love; luck; Otherworld; protection; rest.

Mint: Devas; money; protection; prosperity.

Mugwort: Hecate; divination; inspiration.

Mullein: between the worlds travel; courage; divination; health; protection.

Nettle: healing; love; protection; ward negativity.

Orange Peel: divination; love; luck.

Parsley: purification; protection.

Raspberry Leaf: Fairie blessings; health; love; protection.

Rose Hips: divination; consecration; Elves; protection; ward negativity.

Skullcap: healing (esp. headaches); hidden knowledge; Lord of Shadows; protection; wisdom.

Slippery Elm Bark: clear communication; persuasive speech; protection from envy, gossip, and slander.

Uva Ursa: divination; honor/invoke Artemis; purification; psychic awareness.

Valerian Root: Crone magics; love; protection; purification; psychic awareness.

White Oak Bark: fertility; honor/invoke the Green Man; health; protection.

Wild Cherry Bark: creativity; divination; love.

Willow Bark: health; mental acuity; reduce headache pain.

From Ann Moura’s “Grimoire for the Green Witch”

Dark and silent, the river runs. Flowing like twilight through the earth, forward and forward, the river runs. if you fell in, would you become yet another writhing shadow beneath the surface? would it be death– or baptism? or nothing at all? The river is a place to dream. 

Fluffy Bunnies

C&P’d from Wicca for The Rest of Us

http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/fluffy.shtml

Willow: Talk. All talk. ‘Blah, blah, Gaia. Blah, blah, moon. Menstrual life-force power thingy.’ Buffy: No actual witches in your witch group? Willow: No. Bunch of wanna blessed be’s. Nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she’s a sister to the dark ones.

Q: How many New Agers does it take to change a light bulb? A: (Waaayyy too perky) We don’t use light bulbs, we just think happy thoughts at our quartz crystals and they glow.

Fluffy Bunnies, Insta-witches, McWiccans, One-Book Witches, Wicclets, and Whitelighters: these are those people who, most broadly categorized, give the rest of us a bad name, not by doing bad or objectionable things but instead being unserious, sophomoric, or just plain wrong. Wiccans will say that everyone is allowed to follow their own beliefs, and that any form of belief, whether another person agrees with it or not, counts as religion, and I agree. However, it does not necessarily make the practitioner a member of my religion, and I for one would prefer for them to stop embarrassing the rest of us with their antics.

The primary definition of a Fluffy Bunny is one who refuses to learn, refuses to think, and refuses to consider the possibility that they could possibly ever be wrong. Generall, they find one book, author or website and follow it as if it were the holy word, frequently denouncing anything that disagrees with it as obviously false. Fluffy Bunnies rarely get past the defense of “Because [insert favorite author here] says so.” Sometimes they don’t even get that far, responding to any and all criticism with something like, “You’re just trying to persecute me!”

When I speak of Fluffy Bunnies, I do NOT mean those who disagree with me. Lots of people disagree with me. People I respect sometimes disagree with me. I respect them because they have actual reasons for their beliefs and are willing to consider the opinions of others - but just because they consider my opinion does not mean they are required to agree. Blindly agreeing with me is just as fluffy as blindly agreeing with the author of the week.

Likewise, being a newcomer to Wicca does NOT make one a Fluffy Bunny. All of us were new to this at one point in our lives. Moreover, having bad information does not make one a Bunny. There’s still a lot of bad information available in books and websites, and if that is the first information you find, how can you know it’s bad? There’s only a problem when one stubbornly refuses to question that original information regardless of the mountains of contradictory evidence put before them.

Fluffy Bunnies are frequently attracted to Wicca for the sake of appearance. This includes those who:

Are into Wicca to upset their parents and just plain “be different”. This generally occurs during the teenage years, but its amazing how many of the Fluffy Bunnies never really grow out of this stage.

Think black clothes and huge pentagrams are appropriate Wiccan dress. You’re allowed to wear anything you want. If goth’s your thing, so be it. But those who dress that way do so out of personal choice, not because of their religion. Author Laurie Cabot is the absolute worst, dressing day to day in a long black robe which she describes as “traditional Wiccan garb.” And before you load yourself down with ten pounds of silver pentagrams, imagine a Christian wearing an equivalent amount of religious jewelry. I think we’d all find that truly obnoxious.

Believe the God and/or Goddess are an embodiment of love and want nothing but what’s best for us. For a religion that has no embodiment of evil, how in the name of balance can our gods be dedicated to good and benevolence? The world that these gods are a part of exists in a state of equilibrium. Things live and things die. It is necessary, but it is not benevolent.

Think picking up one book on Wicca ever makes them Wiccan. No one possesses the Divine and Ultimate Truth. Wiccans are seekers, and everything you read helps you further develop and understand your faith. You’re not going to agree with everything you read, and that’s fine. You should allow yourself the opportunity to choose what you accept and what you do not. One book does not allow you to do that, and if you never put that information to use, then it doesn’t matter if you have read a thousand books. Just reading books makes you student of the subject of Wicca. Wiccans actually practice and live by Wicca.

Think speaking a few words out of a book over a candle is how one makes magic. An entire library of books will not allow you to practice magic on their own. Magic involves belief, focus, practice, and serious intention. It also involves responsibility and a healthy dose of common sense. One class on magic at the local new-age store does not bestow mad majickkal skilz.

Preach that Wicca is all “goodness and light”. The corollary to this is the exclamation of “So-and-so couldn’t have done that. She’s Wiccan!” Like everyone else in the world, we are not saints.

Other things to look out for:

Claims that Wicca is a “woman-thing”. Both genders are equally welcome, which some women find to be a positive change from previous religious experiences, but Wicca is not about femininity. Some people will even say being a woman is the only reason they are a Wiccan. Wicca is a religion, not a political movement. For more on this, read Goddess Worshippers.

Those who took up Wicca to spite their Christian upbringing. We are not against any religion. Moreover, most of the accusations leveled at Christians in the name of Wicca were never committed against Wiccans, if indeed they were committed at all.

Overly ostentatious ceremonial tools. I have found that, in general, the more flashy (or even gaudy) the tools, the more interested the Wiccan is in appearances over any actual religion.

Liberal advertisement of titles or degrees. Since each coven is autonomous, the titles bestowed by one may mean quite a bit within the coven or even within the Tradition, but they don’t mean squat to the rest of us. High Priestess So-and-so could be presiding over an entire coven of fluffy bunnies for all you know, while solitaries, no matter how well-learned, have not had the chance to have any titles bestowed upon them. Likewise, some covens denote their High Priest and High Priestess by the titles of “Lord” and “Lady.” This means quite a bit within a Tradition, but is pretentious outside of it. If nothing else, we have no way of knowing who honestly earned that title and who has just tacked “Lord” or ‘Lady" to the front of their name. If someone has honestly earned that title, it should be evident in their knowledge, not in their titles

Quoting Margaret Murray. This woman’s writing is the basis of a lot of our supposed history. The problem is her work was debunked decades ago and the only people who take her seriously are some Wiccans and Pagans, including some very influential writers. For more information, see Murray’s Unlikely History.

Users of “White Magic”. This term makes no sense. It’s most often used by those who swear up and down that witchcraft is not evil and was in fact only called evil by the Church as part of a smear campaign. If that’s the case, then why the clarification? The existence of white magic implies an existence in black magic. The simple fact is that magic, like any tool, is neither good nor evil, although it can be used toward either purpose.

Odd spellings of magic. While some people have specific reasons for speaking of magick, a great many users of this term are simply looking for attention. It doesn’t prove you’re more knowledgable. It just shows you can’t spell. More extreme Fluffies will even speak of “majick” or (good grief) “majik”. For more on why strange letters get added to “magic”, check out Magic.

I would love to make a movement where witches say they are celebrating Oíche Shamhna instead of Samhain but I know that it won't happen because people would rather stick with what they have known for years than the true name for Halloween in Irish but I might as well make a case here;

Oíche Shamhna in Irish/as Gaeilge is November's Eve, Halloween, October 31st. Even in Scottish Gael it is Oidhche Shamhna.

Samhain is the month of November in both Irish and Scottish Gael. Samhain itself is said to come from the term for Summer (Samhradh) and people suggest that in old Irish it may have been combined with the word for end to create Samh-ain.

According to mythology, Samhain was when a feast would be held as the governing bodies of Ireland decided on new laws and taxes. There was writings of sacrifices happening in honour of Fomorians, the enemies of the Tuatha dé Danann - a group of supernatural deities which include The Morrígan, Lugh, Brigid, and the Aos Sí which are the fair folk (bean sídhe, cú sídhe, fear darrig, leprechaun, púca, and selkie as examples). November 1st as well as a record of a High King giving worship to Crom Cruach on this day but being slain while doing so, Crom Cruach being a deity of sacrifice. Many other High Kings have been recorded as dying on or around Samhain.

HOWEVER IT IS BEST TO REMEMBER THAT MOST IRISH MYTHOLOGY WAS ONLY WRITTEN DOWN BY ROMAN VISITORS OR CATHOLIC MONKS, LENDING TO THE AGREED UPON BELIEF THAT MOST CURRENT MYTHOLOGY HAS BEEN MODIFIED HEAVILY TO SUIT OTHERING OR CHRISTIAN IDEALS.

This can be seen at the end of the tales of The Children of Lir where the children land on the grass in front of St Patrick's church where he baptises them as Catholic, they die, and he then gives them a Christian burial. Even the story of Tír na nÓg where Oisín, the son of Fionn mac Cumhaill, falls in love with Niamh, the daughter of a sídhe of the sea includes this similar end. The end of this story includes Oisín aging increasingly upon touching Irish soil, being visited by St Patrick who either Baptises him as a Catholic, Oisín then dies and is given a Christian burial OR fights with the aged old man for months and ends up burying him in Antrim without death rites.

...

TL;DR - Samhain is November, Oíche Shamhna is October 31st. There is no recorded God/Deity that are worshipped but there are mentions of feasts and sacrifices, however these can be questionable as they were written about by outsiders who may have been attempting to other the Irish rituals as barbaric.

“She wears strength and darkness equally well, the girl has always been half goddess, half hell.”

— Nikita Gill (via quotemadness)

Tried to infuse a jar of honey with blueberries.

Yeah…that went well. I shoulda squashed them first, because now they’re just floating at the top and not doing anything.

Tried squishing them against the glass, but they’re refusing to pop.

Sad blueberry honey experiment is probs just gonna wind up on toast and will not be spoken of ever again.