I Would Love To Make A Movement Where Witches Say They Are Celebrating Oíche Shamhna Instead Of Samhain

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. 

Why Yule Needs to Stay Creepy

“…There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago…”

So I have been thinking about our Contemporary conceptualization of the Christmas season a lot lately and it’s kind of interesting. So many things we associate with Christmas – Christmas trees, greeting cards, Santa Claus, his reindeer and elves, gift-giving in general – all of these things came into vogue in the 19th Century and are very sticky-sweet, in my opinion. They’re lovely, but not filling. If we just scratch the surface of the Christmas we know and love and peek back into its history, we find something much meatier.

Before the cheerful Christmas tree, a number of other plants were associated with Christmas. The holly, associated with sacrifice and the blood of Christ, and the parasitic mistletoe, associated with the death of Baldur in Norse mythology – these were the plants associated with Christmas before the Christmas tree became the standard.

Also, the Yule log. The Yule log, meant to provide light on the darkest night of the year, was a magic charm in and of itself. If it did not burn through the night, it would be a terrible omen. By watching the fire and coals of the Yule log, one could also predict who would give birth and who would die in the coming year.  

When our simple Santa Claus is reduced to his predecessors, one is left with Odin, ancient Norse God of battle, Saint Nicholas, the canonized former bishop of Turkey, and Father Christmas, the hard-drinking gluttonous representation of holiday merriment. And all of them brought ghastly friends – Odin, the spirits of the Wild Hunt and Saint Nicholas, his helpers (including Knecht Rupert, Krampus, etc.). Father Christmas, more of a personification of the season than a night visitor, undoubtedly brought many hangovers.

Before stories about reindeer, snowmen, or things of that ilk, there were ghost stories. Charles Dickens did not invent the Christmas ghost story in “A Christmas Carol,” but popularized an already-existing folkloric trend. If we look to the old tales of Christmas, we find stories about witches that rode the night air, cursing the birth of the Savior. There are stories about fairies, ghosts, and Devils that wreak havoc, frightening livestock and damaging property. In an era before television or radio, homemade storytelling was one of the primary forms of entertainment. And winter was the storytelling season.

You also have mumming, wassailing, and caroling – dressing up in colorful costumes and (sometimes drunkenly) begging for money door-to-door. As John Grossman notes in his book “Christmas Curiosities,” Christmas before the Contemporary Period resembles our Halloween more than it resembles the Christmas we know now.

Let us not forget, those of us who acknowledge the Wheel of the Year, that the season of darkness extends from Halloween to Christmas. This darkness only begins to fade when we gain back the Sun at the Winter Solstice. From Halloween to Christmas, the dead may roam the Earth and weird things may happen. In his classic “Mastering Witchcraft,” Paul Huson notes that Yule is not a time for pleasant spell work, but cursing! It is a time of dark magic and mystery. And we need this time. To understand the light, we must understand the darkness – the witches, ghosts, and Devils of the old Yuletide. Like the trees that go dormant, we must embrace the darkness of winter to grow and thrive.

Thank you sm, this is super helpful

Crystals for Beginners 💎

This is a list of crystals that are commonly known, generally easy to get a hold of, and have multiple uses.

Agate - protection, good luck, balance, strength, inspiration

Amethyst - calming, emotional stability, balance, inner strength, protection from psychic attacks

Aventurine - happiness, peace, healing, prosperity 

Calcite - amplifies energy, cleansing, reduce stress, calming, emotional healing, memory

Carnelian - creativity, manifestation, luck, protection

Citrine - does not retain negative energy, thus never needs to be cleansed; creativity, motivation

Clear Quartz - a power stone used to provide extra energy and can be used to charge other items; healing, protection, power, banishing, charging

Fluorite - stability, peace and calm, impartial reasoning, responsibility, concentration, meditation, protection from psychic attacks, self love  

Hematite - grounding, deflecting negative energy

Jasper - protection, relaxation, tranquility

Jet - eases grief, protection, banishing

Kyanite - does not retain negative energy, thus never needs to be cleansed; cleansing other stones, tranquility, removing energy blockages, channeling energy

Labradorite - attract success, dreams, reduce stress and anxiety, spiritual connection, transformation, clarity, peace

Milky Quartz - luck, calming, soothing, meditation, purification

Obsidian - grounding, negating and transmuting negative energy

Onyx - grounding

Rose Quartz - self-love, calming, romantic love, and friendship

Selenite - mental clarity, removing energy blockages, cleansing and charging other crystals

Smoky Quartz - grounding, banishing, cleansing, removing emotional blockages

Tiger’s Eye - self-discipline, practicality, protection, grounding, peace, clarity, intelligence, intuition, financial stability, calmness 

Cleansing and Charging Crystals - a good rule of thumb is that if you’re not sure if you can place your crystals in water, salt, or direct sunlight because it might damage the stone, use moonlight or starlight instead. You can also place your crystals in a dry bath of herbs and flowers, or pass them through incense smoke.

Crystal Resources:

Mineral and Crystal Safety and Care Masterpost (this will tell you which crystals can be cleansed with either water, sunlight, or salt) 

A to Z Crystal Meanings

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whisper your promises to the trees and watch them go, melting into a maze of bark. hide your curses under wilting ferns. trust them to the earth. drop your words, plinking, into the river, and feel your heart settle among the stones at the bottom. the current will carry them home.

Celebrate Lammas

Outside:

Use this day to harvest vegetables and herbs outside

Collect Berries to make bracelets and garlands

Collect seeds for next season’s sowing

Leave offerings as thanks for this year’s harvest

In the Home:

Burn Frankincense, Rose or Sandalwood incense

Fill the home with the smell of fresh baked bread

Leave bowls of sunflower seeds and nuts around the house to snack on

Drink hoppy beers and ales

Make apple candle holders

In the Kitchen:

Make a sweet Cinnamon Braid Bread

Bake a Wreath Bread or soda bread

Make Lentil Pot Pie

Make Elderberry Wine

Make a corn and barley stew

Feast on grains, seasonal vegetables, grapes, nuts and berries

In the Bath:

Add skin-healing Calendula to your bath

Surround yourself with yellow and orange candles

Use a soothing moisturizing aloe lotion

On your Altar:

Incorporate symbols of the harvest with things like corn and wheat

Use shades of yellow, orange, gold and purple

Decorate with apples, corn and wheat

Add yellow and golden stones likes citrine 

One word spells are powerful little statements that send BIG messages out to the universe.  Use these in your daily life–mundane or magical!  I like to combine beautiful languages outside of English with seafarer lingo to make these little beauties. 

BRONREKKEN

Pronounced brawn-wreck-in.

A combination of BRONTIDE (a rumbling noise heard occasionally in some parts of the world, probably caused by seismic activity) and the Haitian Creole word REKKEN (shark.)

Use BRONREKKEN when in needing to make your presence known in a subtle, yet powerful way (meetings with your boss, leading a group, presenting a project. etc.)

SMIRISQUALL

Pronounced smeer-ee-skwahl.

A combination of the Croatian word SMIRITI (to calm, quieten, pacify) with the word SQUALL (a sudden, violent gust of wind; a violent sea storm.)

Use SMIRISQUALL to curb sudden temper flares.  This is best for people who are quick to have aggressive emotions.  

TASKMINOG

Pronounced task-mee-nawg.

A combination of MULTITASK (to perform two or more tasks simultaneously) and the Russian word осьминог (also: os'minog) which literally translates to “octopus.”

Use TASKMINOG when having multiple things going on that need your attention.  It will aid you in being able to prioritize and accomplish your goals without getting stressed.

STELINA

Pronounced steh-lee-nah.

A combination of STELLA, the Italian word for “star”, and MARINA (a dock in a bay for multiple boats.)

Use STELINA when needing to bring a night to an end (best used at a party or event; when needing to get people to go home; when needing to wind down from a very busy day.)

SOIDIR

Pronounced sigh-deer.

A combination of the Irish word SOITHEACH (ship or vessel) and DIRECT (to regulate the course of.)

Use SOIDIR when needing your intention or actions to follow a straight, unblocked path and accomplish your goal quickly and efficiently.

Weird Little Habits That Are Actually Magick

Knocking on wood Blowing on dandelion seeds Using a fallen eyelash to make a wish Kissing under mistletoe Throwing spilled salt over your left shoulder Don’t put shoes on the table/bed Don’t open an umbrella indoors Finding four leaf clovers for luck Carving jack-o-lanterns Wearing masks/costumes on Halloween Using flower petals to play ‘Love-me, Love-me-not’ Wishing on a falling star

That’s all I can think of at the moment, add more!

cheap, easy ways to decorate your altar for the sabbats

Imbolc/Candlemas: seeds or bulbs, candles, red and white

Ostara: flowers, eggs, milk, honey

Beltane: flowers, ribbons, acorns

Litha: oak leaves, sun symbols, sunflowers

Lammas: bread, wheat, beer, honey, corn dolls, iron

Mabon: fall leaves, cornstalks, grapes and grape vines, pomegranates, apples

Samhain: tarot cards, mirror, food offerings, mulled wine, dark bread

Yule: holly, pine cones, mistletoe, fruits, nuts, bells

A Masterpost for Space Witches (1.1)

Basic Tutorials

How to Make Galaxy Print (video)

DIYs: Clothing & Accessories

DIY Constellation Cardigan

DIY Constellation Scarf

DIY Galaxy Blouse

DIY Galaxy Cuff Bracelet

DIY Galaxy Dress

DIY Galaxy Jeans

DIY Galaxy Leggings

DIY Galaxy Pendants (video)

DIY Galaxy Shoes

DIY Moon Phase Tights

DIY Nail Polish Galaxy Necklace

DIY Starry Skies Hairpin

DIYs: Decor & Art

A Galactic Watercolor Technique

DIY 5 Minute Spray Paint Space Art

DIY Constellation Clay Bowls

DIY Constellation Lamp

DIY Constellation Table Runner

DIY Galaxy Wine Glasses

DIY Glow in the Dark Galaxy Jar

DIY Lighted Constellation Jar

DIY Lighted Constellation Wall Art

DIY Lighted Star Garland

DIY Moon Clock

DIY Moon Craft Mobile

DIY Moon Phase Wall Art

DIYs: Other

DIY Galaxy Envelopes

DIY Melt & Pour Galaxy Soap (video)

DIY Moon & Stars Magnets

DIY Recycled Solar System

Makeup

Galaxy Nails Tutorial

Glitter Lips Tutorial

Recipes

Edible Glowing Gelatin Stars

Galactic Candy Apples

Galaxy Bark

Galaxy Jello in a Jar

Outer Space Cupcakes

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster Cocktail

Planet Cake Tutorial

Sonic Screwdriver Cocktails

Fun / Sensory

DIY Bottled Nebula

DIY Galactic Sensory Bottle

DIY Galaxy Playdough

DIY Galaxy Slime

DIY Magnetic Slime

DIY Moon Dough Recipe

DIY Moon Sand Recipe

DIY Night Sky Playdough

DIY Outer Space Playdough

Erupting Moon Dust Recipe

Erupting Moonrocks Tutorial

Safe Glowing Bath Tutorial

Online Fun & Games

Online Nebula Maker

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Apps & Digital Tools

10 Free Stargazing Apps

Interactive Galactic Explorer

Online ISS Tracker

Starry Night Online Star Chart

Stellarium: A Free Open-Source Planetarium

Digital Supplies: Audio & Video

“All Alone in the Night” Video; Time-lapses of the Earth from the ISS.

“Planet Earth Seen From Space” Video; Time-lapses of the Earth from the ISS.

Saturn Rings Ambient Noise Generator

The Sounds of Neptune as Captured by Voyager (from fleurlungs​)

The Sounds of Space from Space Audio

Spaceship Ambient Noise Generator

UniverseTV’s Youtube Channel

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Magick and Divination

How to Make Full Moon Water (by thesigilwitch)

Moon Water (by auroraswitchcrafthomepage)

Moon Banishing, Binding, and Conjuring (by windvexer​)

Star Reading Tutorial (by jay-omnipotent​)

Star Scrying (by shipping-the-gods)

Witchy Full Moon Stuff [Masterpost] (by natural-magics)

Some Space Witchery References

10 Stunning Minerals for Space Witches (by tarigrove​)

2015 Moon Dates (by rikkalorelei)

All About Retrogrades (by coolastrology​)

Basic Understanding of Planet-in-House Placements (by @lunarcappy)

Correspondences for the Seven Planets (by abwatt​)

EarthSky’s Eclipse Calender

Meteor Shower Calender

Moon Magick References (by the-darkest-of-lights​)

Suncraft References (by thecuriousviolet​)

Spells:

A Billion Suns Wish Spell (by witchlinghour​)

A Lunar Fertility Spell (by aspelladay​)

A Two-for-One Moon Wish Jar (by lunar-moonbow​

Full Moon Jewelry Protection Spell (by natural-magics)

Full Moon Wish Spell (by draiocht-arsa​)

Luxa’s Lunar Self-Love Spell (by alcryst)

Moon Infused Protection Water (by natural-magics)

Simple Full Moon Ritual for Letting Go (by witchesamongus​)