Witches Travelling Tools


Just as most modern-day priests will carry
small versions of their consecrated tools with
them, in case they are needed, so every magical
practitioner can do the same. In some ways the
latter are more fortunate, particularly if they
work within the nature traditions, as they can
often use objects that are readily to hand and
dedicate them on the spot.

Invoking Air

 


The direction of this Element is east and the colour usually associated with it is yellow.

Incense is often used to represent Air, since the movement of the air can be seen in the incense smoke.

When you are looking for inspiration, need new ideas or perhaps to break free from the past or undesired situations, you would use this Element.

The quality associated with it is that of thinking or the use of the intellect.

When working in a magical circle, Air is the second quarter on which you call for protection.

The sylphs are the Air spirits; their Element has the most subtle energy of the four.

They are said to live on the tops of mountains and are volatile and changeable.

They are usually perceived with wings and look like cherubs or fairies.

One of their tasks is said to be to help humans receive inspiration

Invoking Earth


Traditionally the direction of this Element is
north and the colour normally associated with
Earth is green. It is represented on the altar
usually by salt or sand. Crystals, because they
are totally natural substances, can also be used.

When invoking Earth and the powers of the
north, you are looking for recovery and healing
and perhaps trying to find answers to questions.
These powers deal with gaining knowledge,
blessing, creating and shielding. When working
within a magical circle, this is the first corner or
quarter on which you call for protection.

The principal nature spirits of the Earth are
called gnomes. They are said to live
underground and guard the earth’s treasures.
Other groups within the earth’s nature spirits
ruled by the god Pan are brownies, dryads,
Earth spirits, elves and satyrs.

A witch’s ladder

A witch’s ladder is one of those nifty things we sometimes hear about but rarely see. Its purpose is similar to that of a rosary – it’s basically a tool for meditation and ritual, in which different colors are used as symbols for one’s intent. It’s also used as a counting tool, because in some spell workings there is a need to repeat the working a particular number of times. You can use the ladder to keep track of your count, running the feathers or beads along as you do so. Traditionally, the witch’s ladder is made with red, white and black yarn, and then nine different colored feathers woven in.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Varied
Here’s How:

Realistically speaking, it makes more sense to use yarn colors that have a significance to you and your working. Also, finding nine differently colored feathers can be tricky if you’re looking for them out in the wild – you can’t just go plucking feathers from local endangered species – and that means a trip to the craft store and some oddly tinted feathers. I’d recommend using either found feathers of any color, or something else entirely – beads, buttons (see our discussion on the magical uses of buttons), bits of wood, shells, or other items you have around your home.

Corn Dolly’s

“An ancient and widespread custom across northern Europe was related to the cutting of the ‘last sheaf’ of the crop. The belief was that the ‘spirit of the corn’ was present in the grain; as the harvest proceeded, this spirit would become concentrated in the remaining crop and the final sheaf to be cut would contain its distilled essence.

Shown: Corn dollies collected by anthropologist Robert Craig Maclagan (1839 – 1919). Left Cailleach from Islay; right Maighdean Bhuana from Argyllshire

“In Gaelic tradition, the last sheaf or sguab mu dheireadh would usually be barley or oats, or a mix including rye. Once cut, the sheaf was crafted into a superstitious charm, which could take the form of a simple plait of straws tied up with ribbon, or may be crafted into a corn dolly and even clothed. The charm was displayed in the home over winter until it was time to start the growing process over again – often it was fed to the birds, horses, or ploughed back into the field to replenish the soil.

“As Calum MacLean writes (Scottish Studies, vol. 8, 1964), traditions relating to the last sheaf were found all over Scotland in various forms and with various names. In Gaelic it was called the maighdean-bhuana (the harvest maiden), the cailleach-bhuaineadh (the old woman of the harvest), or clàidheag, which became the Scots clyack.

“In some places it was the youngest female who cut the sheaf; in others it was the oldest person in the community. It was sometimes considered good luck, sometimes bad.

“It’s fascinating to listen to the different explanations – for example, the recording of William Forbes speaking to Ann Ross in Highland Perthshire in 1964 (Track ID 75601) or Janet Shaw speaking to Calum Maclean in Jura in 1953 (Track ID 6998).
Different localities had different names for their harvest celebrations. It was often called the ‘Harvest Home,’ but it was also known as a ‘Kirn’, a ‘Meal and Ale,’ a ‘Muckle Supper’ or Deireadh Buana in Gaelic.”

“These were events in which the the whole community took part and served as a thank you to those who had helped make the harvest successful. There would be plenty of food and drink, as well as games, divination, music, singing and dancing.

“There is a cheerful recording from John MacDonald in Elgin, with an explanation of the last sheaf, a dram and the tune ‘Harvest Home’ played on the melodeon (Track ID 25999). [Each of these audio tracks is linked in the article] Calum Maclean interviewed Kate MacRae from Lochalsh about the feasting and dancing at the Fèis Deireadh Bhuana (Track ID 1283).

“And in Orkney, Ethel Findlater spoke to Alan Bruford about the ‘Muckle Supper,’ which used to take place in people’s homes before the village halls were built (Track ID 64275): “After the harvest wis all in and they hed their potatoes up and everything ready for the winter, and the cattle all inside, they had a jollification they called the ‘muckle supper.’ And it was just held in the farm house and in the barn…the ones that had been helping them in the harvest time they would all invite…Plenty to eat and plenty of fun. Somebody would maybe sing a song or two…and then they danced ‘til maybe four o’clock in the morning!””

Power of 3 Healing Spell

This spells uses the strength of the number 3 to help speed healing of an illness. It’s best used when someone is ill, rather than injured. You can use this spell for yourself (if you are well enough to really focus on it) or for someone else.

3 candles (1 each of purple, blue and white)
Myrrh oil
Mint oil
Sandalwood oil
3 pieces of quartz
3 small pieces of paper.
Anoint each of the candles with all 3 oils, and set them up in an even triangle shape on your altar. Anoint the stones as well, and place one in front of each candle. Write the name of the ill person on each piece of paper, and place them in the center of the triangle.

Light each candle and focus on the person who is sick. Think about them being healthy and free of their symptoms. Picture them strongly in your mind as the candles burn. Repeat the following three times:

Magick mend and candle burn,
Illness leave and health return

Leave the candles to burn for 3 hours, then snuff them out. Your subject should soon start to improve, but you can add some extra power to your spell if you do the entire ritual for 3 nights in a row rather than just once 

God/Goddess Spell’

You will need the following items for this spell:

Your voice and alone time
Say this 4x

Gods and Goddesses hear my plea
its my greatest wish so i hope to be
A god of nature,life and fury
Blood and war may stay indoors
Drama may come to me
i will deal and delete these horrible feats
So let me be a god and mote it be 

Magical welcome doormat

tems needed

a doormat (whatever one you like)
paint
oils
salt and rosemary mix
After gathering the items, you should place a symbol of protection on the back of the doormat (or you can write a chant on the back) if you are placing the mat on a cement driveway, I would suggest using chalk and writing the things underneath the mat.
Grab the oils and pour a bit of the scented oil on the mat.
Next, grab the salt and rosemary mix and sprinkle some at the front of the door.
Chant this when you are ready “All those who I love and cherish shall enter freely and happily without harm. All those who I hate and fear shall be sent away and forbidden to enter and will not bring any harm inside.

Crossroads A Magickal Tradition

Crossroads are considered sacred in almost all magical traditions. A crossroads is a universally accepted place to hold rituals, leave offerings, or dispose of items you wish to be rid of. While this is not a natural creation but one that is homemade, it still falls in the realm of earth.
It is believed that Hecate rules over the three-way crossroads. She can see the past, present and future, It is said that if you should approach a three-way crossroads at night, you would hear her black dogs howling. Her altars have been erected at such places for centuries.
The four-way crossroad are considered to be powerful because all four directions meet at one point. Dirt, rocks and sticks gathered from such a crossroads are said to have powerful spiritual connections, albeit tricky ones to master. In Greek myths, Oedipus met his fate at the crossroads. From the Yoruban people we have Legha (a god known for his clever tricks) ruling the crossroads.
Ancient people were afraid of what it meant when one direction met another direction. All manner of folklore is available concerning the crossroads. Fairies are said to hand about there, along with ghouls and goblins. Even the Christian Satan is said to roam the crossroads.
Earth Witches know that a crossroad is actually a place of sacred transformations, manmade or not. Frequently they see them as a metaphor for transformational points in our lives. In such a capacity the crossroads relate to time.

The Chameleon of Illusions

 

I hated you….you sniveling and soft creature…..giving and loving wrecklessly….you stupid girl

What did that get you? Self loathing for never feeling enough….rejection and alone….and you fucking deserved it because you didn’t place a value on you and on the love you shared

Don’t lie to yourself….you craved being accepted and you knew you had to change…..and you did…

Change your weight….change your hair, your make up, how you dress, how you stand, how you view people….change your smile…the way you talk….oh and change your name…..Shannon has to go….change your neighborhood, your religion, change change .. never enough….

Caroline came from the ashes of burning everything that Shannon was…..hide that stupid girl….the one that just loved and loved and gave and gave….kill her….and Caroline become hard- jaded- cynical and I don’t let anyone get too close

Caroline The Chameleon of Illusions she learned to become everythjng…she desired….a little arrogant but a lotta fair…..someone special and someone determined to succeed – to heal from the vile creature Shannon’s life…..and Caroline thrived…..behind a stone wall heavily guarded ….

Then Caroline realized she should’ve died one day and she craved feeling the love and the light and the joy and happiness and sunshine of Shannon….and Caroline opened her souls closet door to where that little girl was she’d hidden a long long time ago and despised

She looked at her….and said come to me….it’s time for me to love you ….you broken little girl and it’s time to feel the world through you again…..

I cleaned her face….and I smiled as I saw those mischievous green eyes glowing ….and I feel you little one….my beautiful ME I lost so very long ago…it’s okay….to have a seat at my souls table because YOU ARE ME under the iron shield of The Chameleon of illusions and I’ll protect us as we learn to enjoy & just love each other again after 45 years…..

I won’t lose me again…..and it’s okay to not be okay and it’s okay to love every chapter you’ve grown in…..and out of….it’s just okay to be lost….it’s okay to hurt….but it’s okay to love you and feel you and be proud of you and know you’re special….it’s okay to stop being The Chameleon of illusions and just embrace being YOU….those that are meant to be yours and you theirs.. will love you as you are….broken and beautifully faceted in shards refracting your inner souls light of just YOU and whom you are

HOW TO BLESS YOUR BOOK OF SHADOWS

Having a Book of Shadows is great. It can be a great way to keep track of anything that you do. However, one way to help with making sure that this book does not become like other books is by blessing it. Blessing your book is easy and it will also make you feel much better about writing in your book once you have done it. Here are a couple of recommended blessings for your Book of Shadows.

One of the blessings for your book of shadows is known as the Elemental Blessing. Before you start this blessing you will need to get four candles and your book of shadows. Here are the candles that you need to get:

Blue candle that represents water

Red candle that represents fire

White candle that represents air

Green or brown candle that represents the earth

The candles should all be the same size so this way they burn out at around the same time.

Here are the steps that you should take:

Put your candles by each corner of the Book of Shadows. The brown/green one should be facing north, the red candle should be south, the white candle in the East and the blue should be in the west corner.

Light the candles and as you light each candle say this:

“By the north, bless this book with the power of the Earth

By the south, bless this book with the power of fire

By the west, bless this book with the power of water

By the east, bless this book with the power of air”

Keep the book there and the candles until all of the candles are burned out. Once the candles have burned out your Book of Shadows is blessed and you can now use it.

Here is another way to bless your Book of Shadows

You will need:

Your Book of Shadows

White Candle

A Pen that’s of high quality

This is what you do:

Right before the clock strikes midnight, turn the lights off and light up your white candle.

Take your Book of Shadows so that you can see it near the candle.

Write out this blessing:

“Goddess, can you please protect my Book of Shadows

From wondering eyes and from prying looks,

Fill it up with your special ancient power

At this nightly witching hour. So mote it be”

Read the words out loud and say it a few times until you feel confident that the book is blessed and ready for you to use it.

The Path of the Fire Witch

The path of the Fire Witch is not for the faint of heart. Strong and courageous, these Witches rarely take no for an answer. The Fire Witches are considered to be the rebels of the Elemental Witches. They possess a joy of life that is unequaled. They are extremely sociable creatures.
The Fire Witches are all about individuality. Each one is unique. For the most part, their lives are beautiful and poetic, yet there lurks an underlying current of tragedy. There is no typical personal style to the Fire Witch; it varies, as does each flame. The one thing you can be sure of is that she will shine. In blue jeans or diamonds, you know a Fire Witch by the confident aura that surrounds her.
The Fire Witch’s decorating style runs the gamut from sleek, modern, and sophisticated to all-out opulence and luxury. She has a flair for decorating, often incorporating candles and designer lighting to add a more dramatic touch. Frequently, Fire Witches love antiques and metal objects. Their house often feature warm, rich colours and dark woods.
The Fire Witch’s house is usually very neat and clean. She will spend whatever time is necessary to keep it that way. She will also destroy that cleanliness in an instant, when she is angered enough, by having a complete and total hissy fit, although that is rare. While the Fire Witch can be hotheaded and temperamental, her iron will usually allows her to maintain control.
The Fire Witch loves to dance and is very seductive, passionate, and lusty. She can be indulgent when it comes to her sexual nature. She often is very active and usually love to participate in sporting events. She is bold and daring and frequently pushes things to the absolute limit.
Because of her indulgent habits, the Fire Witch may unknowingly enable addictions or foster one of her own. Some Fire Witches may have addictive personalities. When a Fire Witch loves someone, she does so with a heart so pure that she can overlook any defects in the person for a long time.
This can place her in troublesome relationships until she has finally had enough and moves on. When a Fire Witch moves on, she has a compulsion to completely destroy the previous bond and is capable of being cruel in order to see to it that the situation is over for good. She is much more comfortable knowing that it cannot be repaired and can move herself forward more easily by not allowing herself to wonder about the past.
Philosophically, the Fire Witch has an open mind. She is the proverbial free thinker. Because of the placement of her element(both above and below the Earth), the Fire Witch has the ability to see all sides of any argument. She values honesty and courage above all else. There is nothing she detests as much as a liar. Fire Witches are usually quick-witted, think-on-their-feet types of folks. Their is a reason that smart people are called “bright.”
The fire brings the light, and with light there follows shadow. The Fire Witch is complex, passionate, and tumultuous. She is sizzling hot stuff. She has both a light and a dark side, and the two sides work together constantly.
The light side of the Fire Witch keeps her personal practices of spirit informal and fun. But when it come time for magickal work, the shadow side often takes over. The dark side of the Fire Witch holds a vast knowledge of the more complex magickal applications. Magickal equations and ceremonial practices are second nature to the Fire Witch. She may prefer the drama of a high magick ritual and a more ordered structure to things. However, she often utilizes a simpler style of Witchcraft, too. It depends on the situation.
Magically, the Fire Witch specializes in bonding with divinity, regeneration, energy, truth, manifesting, sex magick, banishing, purification, destruction, negative magick and defensive magick.
Fire has been used to honour the God since its inception. Many shrines and altars are guarded by an eternal flame. the Fire Witch understands that her every movement is an honour to divine forces.
She is very generous with her time and money when it comes to charity. She always seeks to help and improve the world around her in this manner.
Fire is a creative element, especially when seen in its regenerative aspect. In the same manner that the phoenix rises from the ashes or the sun undergoes an eclipse, a Fire Witch puts herself through a constant process of growth by tearing herself down in order to build herself anew. It can be an agonizing process, but she emerges renewed and stronger than ever. She will often disappear from the world for a few day at a time due to this process. She can be instrumental in helping others move beyond their own heartbreaks and pains and begin their lives again.

Who is Krampus

Krampus is meant to whip children into being nice.

When listening to the radio in December, it’s unlikely to hear holiday songs singing the praises of Krampus:
a half-goat, half-demon, horrific beast who literally beats people into being nice and not naughty.

Krampus isn’t exactly the stuff of dreams: Bearing horns, dark hair, fangs, and a long tongue, he comes with a chain and bells that he lashes about, along with a bundle of birch sticks meant to swat naughty children. He then hauls the bad kids down to the underworld.

You better watch out . . .
St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children. His saints day falls in early December, which helped strengthen his association with the Yuletide season. Many European cultures not only welcomed the kindly man as a figure of generosity and benevolence to reward the good, but they also feared his menacing counterparts who punished the bad. Parts of Germany and Austria dread the beastly Krampus, while other Germanic regions have Belsnickle and Knecht Ruprecht, black-bearded men who carry switches to beat children. France has Hans Trapp and Père Fouettard.
Krampus’s name is derived from the German word krampen, meaning claw, and is said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology. The legendary beast also shares characteristics with other scary, demonic creatures in Greek mythology, including satyrs and fauns.

The legend is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany, where Christmas celebrations begin in early December. Krampus was created as a counterpart to kindly St. Nicholas, who rewarded children with sweets. Krampus, in contrast, would swat “wicked” children, stuff them in a sack, and take them away to his lair.

According to folklore, Krampus purportedly shows up in towns the night of December 5, known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. The next day, December 6, is Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas Day, when children look outside their door to see if the shoe or boot they’d left out the night before contains either presents (a reward for good behavior) or a rod (bad behavior).

A more modern take on the tradition in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic involves drunken men dressed as devils, who take over the streets for a Krampuslauf—a Krampus Run of sorts, when people are chased through the streets by the “devils.”
Participants dressed as the Krampus creature walk the streets in search of delinquent children .

Krampus is coming to town
Krampus’s frightening presence was suppressed for many years.
But Krampus has been having a resurgance over the past few years, thanks partly to a “bah, humbug” attitude in pop culture, with people searching for ways to celebrate the yuletide season in non-traditional ways. In the United States, people are embracing the dark side of Christmas with Krampus movies, special “Krampus” television episodes. They’re throwing Krampus parties, attending local Krampusnachts and running in Krampus-themed races.

For its part, Austria is attempting to commercialize the harsh persona of Krampus by selling chocolates, figurines, and collectible horns. There are already complaints that Krampus is becoming too commercialized and losing his edge because of his newfound popularity. 

To Honor Shadow Work ..


Salt Balance Spell
As we know Shadow work involves spells ro adjust ( or honor) our not so positive qualities. You know like speaking sharply or just not letting something that irritat
es us go including And that emotional pain! In doing this work, we have to accept that, this part of it holds value and purpose! And yes this is not considered enjoyable ( at least to me). But Shadow work is ideal during times of balance – the equinoxes- when our world’s own light and darkness are able to achieve a strong, yet still malleable balance.
****
YOU WILL NEED:
Coarse white Sea Salt
Black Lava Salt
Gray Salt
Three small bowl ( one for each salt)
Glass bowl with water in it
******
DIRECTIONS:
Place the bowl of water and each salt filled bowl in front of you.
With each of the following lines from the spell, sprinkle a pinch of salt of in the water. Going from BLACK to GRAY, to WHITE to GRAY and back to BLACK again. Repeat the cycle, with the LAST LINE dedicated to a last sprinkle of GRAY, sealing the meld of black and white.
Here are the lines you need to speak:
The embers fight the nightly chill
The kind that comes when life is still
It sits in the Chambers of the heart and the hearth
It’s battle made manifest on the grounds of this earth
They strike a cease-fire; an ancient truce
To acknowledge their facets and their positive use
A delicate balance of the highest self
and the pain that resides in the deepest of wells
We honor the dark wind, with bright embers upon it
For even honey and vinegar make a strong , stable tonic.
* pour a little of the water at the four cardinal directions of your home until all the water has been poured out

Gods, Fae, Elves, and Ancestors: Are They All the Same?

Gods. Fairies. Elves. Ancestors. The deeper we go into our pagan history, the more we see a blurring of the lines between the spirits. In fact, many of the sagas, legends, and lore point to the idea that our pagan gods, and the beings we call fairies and elves, might have once been living, breathing human beings. And therefore, our ancestors.

Ancestors OR Gods? Which is it?
I’ve recently been exploring the idea that our gods and fairies were once our ancestors. That our labels for the gods and the other spirit races like the fae stems from a deep-seated belief in our ancestors and ancestor worship. And that many of our “gods” and what we know as fairies today were actually living, breathing human beings like us at one time.

In the Celtic and Germanic traditions, the lines between spirits are blurry at best. You’d think the more you read and research the clearer these beings’ nature would become. But in fact, it becomes more complex and muddy. And the legends point to the idea that these three – gods, faeries, ancestors – are all one-in-the-same.

My thought process is – all of these spirits arose from the same place and somewhere down the line someone started separating the three via personal lore. But, at one time, everyone followed a more ancestral type of belief system which is where the gods and fae originate. Essentially, if we strip away the titles and words that we as humans have put on these beings, do they come closer to being the same thing? Or not?

Odin as Man and Ancestor
It is possible that a person named Odin lived an actual human life in ancient times. This is even mentioned in the Sagas, that Odin was a real king from somewhere in Eastern Europe or possibly the Middle East, who migrated to Northern Europe and conquered many peoples. Because of his legendary status, and because of a strong ancestral religious system, the people ended up deifying their ancestor, a.k.a. the King Odin. Many Germanic royal bloodlines claim Odin as their divine ancestor, even to this day. In the myths, Odin creates man and woman from driftwood then breathes life into them. And we call him the Allfather.

From the Ynglinga Saga, Verse 2:
“The country east of the Tanaquisl in Asia was called Asaland, or Asaheim, and the chief city in that land was called Asgaard. In that city was a chief called Odin, and it was a great place for sacrifice. ………….Odin was a great and very far-travelled warrior, who conquered many kingdoms, and so successful was he that in every battle the victory was on his side. It was the belief of his people that victory belonged to him in every battle.

It was his custom when he sent his men into battle, or on any expedition, that he first laid his hand upon their heads, and called down a blessing upon them; and then they believed their undertaking would be successful. His people also were accustomed, whenever they fell into danger by land or sea, to call upon his name; and they thought that always they got comfort and aid by it, for where he was they thought help was near.”

Freyr as Ancestor, God, and Elf
A great representation of the blurred lines between gods ancestors and the elven beings is the Norse God Freyr. Freyr is considered an ancestor to the Ynglings, a royal bloodline of Old Sweden. In addition, the Eddas written by Sturluson in the 12th century, depict Freyr as a god AND as a King of Alfheim…or Elf Home.

Linda Raedisch explores the idea of Freyr, an earthly god and Elf, being even older than the worship of Odin arising from the Nordic Bronze Age. Then when the Aesir (sky gods) took over as the main Norse pantheon, Odin and Thor grew in popularity, washing out the older earthly gods. Yet Freyr’s veneration continued, even at the Temple of Uppsala in Sweden during the Christianization of Scandinavia. So his name was just as powerful as Odin and Thor.

Elves as Ancestors and Gods
The words Elf, Alf, Alfar have Germanic origins and are related to Alba and Alb in Proto-Germanic, translating to Light or Brilliant.

Many names in the Middle Ages stem from words that meant Elf or Elven, and some we still use today. Albert, Alfred, Aubrey, Avery, Alvin, Alfric (and if you’d like to hear Medieval names that mean elf just watch The Last Kingdom, there’s a dozen or more of them – Alfric, Alfred, Aethelfled, Alfwyn, etc.) These names were particularly common with royalty.

In modern Norse paganism, the Alfar are our ancient, elevated male ancestors and the Disir are ancient ancestral goddesses or elevated female ancestors. In addition, these beings are considered of the Elven race. Each Norse Germanic family and individual has its own Alfar and Disir guiding and protecting them from the Other side. Though don’t get it twisted – the alfar AND the disir could be downright vicious, particularly the Disir of whom required sacrifices.

There’s a story about how during the Christianization of Scandinavia, a man in one family decided they wouldn’t sacrifice someone for their Disir at Disablot, and instead would sacrifice a bull. The Disir came down from the mountain in the distance, wearing black hooded cloaks, knocked on the door, the man answered the door and they un-alived him and left.

The Disir are guardians of the bloodline, can grant prosperity, but also control the fate of the individual. They are likened to the Norns of whom control the destiny of the Universe. In fact, we could say the Norns are the Disir of the gods and the Universe. Interestingly, the Norns are often described with different names and being different entities including goddesses, ancestors, and even trolls.

The Practice of “Sitting Out”, Utesitta
There is a sacred practice in Norse tradition where the individual would seek guidance or visions by sitting on top of a mound, which was often a burial mound of an ancestor. But it’s also mentioned as seeking guidance from the Alfar and the gods.

To quote Linda Raedisch in her brilliant book The Old Magic of Christmas, “the ancient Scandinavians regarded the Alfar as a distinct class of beings, though there is some fluidity among the bloodlines of elves, gods, norns, and even humans.” she also goes on to say “if the elves resemble us, it is because they are us, or rather, were. The human who stumbles upon a procession of elves or an impromptu elvish feast is often startled to recognize someone he knows among them: someone who has died either recently or years before. The elves, then, are the dead – not the quietly resting dead but those who, for whatever reason, have taken up new lives on the other side of the veil and at times might come strolling back through it.”

Alfablot and Disablot
First, I’ve written an entire blog post on Alfablot its origins and how to celebrate. I’ve also written a blog post on Disablot. ( Which you can find in our guide section ) Alfablot is essentially the elven blot or sacrifice, often taking place during the Winter Nights or the end of Autumn leading up to the Winter Solstice. This was practiced in Sweden, we know for sure, and the Disablot is the Disir blot or sacrifice which also takes place during Winter Nights. There is another disablot called the Disting that occurs in February too. All during a time when ancestors and elves were both “active” in later lore.

Fairies and Ancestors in Celtic Lore
Now let’s travel to the Celtic lands and notice all of the similarities between their gods and faeries and the Norse gods and elves. In fact, our good friend Linda Raedisch often comments in her books about the resemblances between the two peoples and how they likely arise from the same peoples if we go back far enough.

Mounds are the Tombs of Our Ancestors:
We have a similar theme here in the Celtic lands as in the Norse, where ancestors are buried in the earth, often in mounds, of which later on become the dwelling place of the Fae or Tuatha. I.e. portals to Elfhame or the Elf-land.

For example, Knockma Hill in Galway, Ireland is notably an ancient world site. Scholars say just as important to world history as Stonehenge or Newgrange yet not as widely recognized. And it is a hill that’s been used for thousands of years (it’s older than the pyramids) as a ceremonial burial ground. Where it gets interesting is that, in addition to being a burial place for the dead, later on in Celtic lore it also became a place of the Fae. Specifically the Elven King Finvarra, also called the KING OF THE DEAD, makes his home in this hill. King Finnvara is known to have liked the human ladies as lovers and even tried stealing a local one to make his wife.

Here we start seeing the idea of fae and elves as ancestors and as interbreeding with humans. In addition, in the same hill, there are at least 5 ancient cairns…one of which MIGHT be the cairn of Queen Medb (Maeve) who is a legendary Queen of Ireland who would eventually morph into a Fairy Queen in later lore. Again, a potentially real person buried in a mound becomes a Fairy Queen later on. In addition, she is considered a divine ancestor or mother of certain Irish lines.

The Celtic Otherworld and Afterlife: Tir na N’og
The faeries and Tuatha are said to live in the Celtic otherworld, right? Well, the old stories and lore also said that when people died, their souls might go to the Otherworld, as well. Tir na N’og being one example, which translates to the “Land of Youth”and is featured famously in the tales of Oisin and Niamh. There are other names for this seemingly same place including Mag Mell (Plain of Delight) and Emain Ablach (Isle of Apple Trees).

The Tuatha de Dannan live in Tir na N’og and are featured in many old Irish myths called the Immramm (voyage) tales. These heroes who reach this otherworld do so through entering ancient mounds, travel across the sea to the farthest unknown places, go down under the water, or go through the mist to reach it. And there they might meet the Tuatha, the gods, and their ancestors.

Manannan Mac Lir is the ruler of Tir na N’og, a sea god of Celtic lore, the first ancestor of the human race and the KING OF THE DEAD.

Celtic Fairy Queens, Goddesses, and Heroes as Divine Ancestors
There are ancient families and septs/clans of Celtic Irish folk who claim descent from many of their legendary heroes, gods, goddesses, and faery queens. If you have Irish ancestry, you might find your family is one of them.

The idea of royal lines claiming descent from gods/divine beings is nothing new and isn’t solely Norse or Celtic but spans cultures. The Ancient Egyptians, for example. Here I should state again, is this because these “gods” were actually real people at one point and became deified ancestors? I believe it’s highly likely.

The Medieval Irish sept called the Dairine (stemming from the Corca Dhuibne pronounced way-nah) claims descent from the Cailleach, a goddess/hag but also from Danu.

And the Dal Cais (Dal-cash), originally the Deisi people, claim descent from Flidais (Flee-aysh) a goddess/fairy queen.

Lugh is a Celtic god who is also part of the Tuatha De Dannan. Multiple Irish clans claimed Lugh as their god and ancestor. If your ancestors were part of the Eoganachta, Lugh is your divine ancestor. One connection lies in the King Lughaid who claimed descent from Lugh, as well as Irish clans that claim descent from Cu Chulainn (coo-hoo-lin). This legendary hero claimed descent from Lugh, henceforth Irish clans connected to him are also descended from Lugh.

Being a Witch

“Being a witch, continued Don Juan, does not mean practicing spells, or trying to affect people, or being possessed by demons.

Being a witch means reaching a level of consciousness that gives access to unthinkable things.

The term “witchcraft” does not have the ability to express what witches do, nor does the term “shamanism.”

The actions of witches exist exclusively in the realm of the abstract, of the impersonal.

Witches struggle to reach a goal that has nothing to do with the common man’s quest.

Witches aspire to reach infinity, and be aware of it..

The purpose of the witches is to break the fixation of social interpretation to see energy directly.

It is not enough for the warrior to know that the universe is energy, he has to find it out for himself. “

THE MOON VISITS GEMINI

As the moon makes her way through the zodiac, she stops and visits each sign for a spell, spending a couple of days in each of their homes and with their unique energies. She is influenced by these energies, and the way she expresses herself adapts to the sign she is in.

She has been on the road for 30 days now, making her way through the entire zodiac. By the time she arrives at the sign of Gemini, she is full….a bit tired from her travels, and ready to let go of some of the baggage she has picked up along the way.

As she taps on the door of Gemini, she is greeted by the owner of the home, Mercury himself. He looks at her inquisitively, tugging on his glasses to see her better. He introduces himself, but she already knows who this god is: this traveler of the upper and lower worlds, bearer of messages, and facilitator of communications. He welcomes our moon inside and notices immediately that she is carrying quite a heavy load. He ushers her to the kitchen table and offers her a cup of tea, chatting about nothing as he prepares it. The moon looks around and is overwhelmed by the number of bookshelves this man has in his home, each overflowing with literature. Has he read them all?… she wonders. In another part of the room, she sees a display wall that contains what must be an original antique telephone, a telegraph machine, a quill pen, a computer, old letters, and…is that a fax machine? She recognizes these as the tools he has used throughout the years and comments on how beautiful they all are. Mercury looks fondly at them and says, “Thank you.”

He brings the moon her tea and takes a seat next to her at the table. “Talk to me,” he says. “Tell me what it is you are needing to let go of?” Usually more introverted and private, the moon hesitates…but there is something about being in this house with this god that makes her want to open up and tell all. So she does. She tells Mercury of her travels through the other eleven houses and how each one required her to use a different piece of her energy. She told of which ones she liked the most, where she got the most rest, and where she felt the most out of place. She shared the things that were holding her back the most and what stresses she was currently carrying. Mercury listened intently and encouraged her to continue. Once Lady Luna had said all the things she needed to, Mercury smiled, made a witty comment about how much lighter she looked already, and then set out to help her find solutions. He had been taking notes and had a plan. It was her turn to listen now as this intelligent god shared his ideas, introduced her to solutions, and re-framed her struggles.

Mercury and the Moon spent most of their time together this way, sharing and communicating with each other about everything under the sun. When she hugged Mercury goodbye a few days later, she felt like she had talked more in two days than she had all month, and she realized this was just the medicine she needed. Gemini was a retreat of a different kind, the kind that encouraged a verbal expression of her emotions and a new perspective on her path.

The moon walked away from the house of Mercury lighter, leaving behind what she had carried in, and set off to begin her retreat back into darkness.

Orphic Hymn To Hekate

 call Ækátî of the Crossroads, worshipped at the meeting of three paths, oh lovely one.

In the sky, earth, and sea, you are venerated in your saffron-colored robes.

Funereal Daimôn, celebrating among the souls of those who have passed.

Persian, fond of deserted places, you delight in deer.

Goddess of night, protectress of dogs, invincible Queen.

Drawn by a yoke of bulls, you are the queen who holds the keys to all the Kózmos.

Commander, Nýmphi, nurturer of children, you who haunt the mountains.

Pray, Maiden, attend our hallowed rituals;

Be forever gracious to your mystic herdsman and rejoice in our gifts of incense.

Hekate Chant…

Glory to you, O Hekate

Goddess who guards our opportunities

Queen of magic and circumstance

Keyholder, beloved mother of witches

Hekate, guide me through blessed doors

Shut those that might lead to my destruction

Hekate, she who holds the keys to the realms of time

Hekate, the goddess of wisdom and fate

Who hears the whisper of prophecy

Goddess of mysteries

Take my hand, O goddess

Put all your knowledge into my palm

And let your magic flow through me..

Here is a short prayer to Hekate about Persephone:

You, who dwell in the deep abyss,

In whose hand is death,

Who lives in the underworld,

You found the lost queen of Hades,

You guided her to save humanity from eternal winter.

Hekate, companion and friend of Persephone,

Guide me on my path.

May I never fear the darkness.

May I know where to find the light.

The following prayer was written specifically for Hades and Hekate:

Hear me, O Hades, king of the dead,

Lord of the underworld, ruler of the dead,

You who live in the dark places,

Work well with kind Hekate,

For she will help you bring back those who have died.

Hekate will be your companion in your work.

Hekate’s power will aid you in your task.

This is a prayer to Lilith and Hekate:

O Lilith, Seductress, Temptress,

She who invades dreams,

Who works hand in hand with divine Hekate,

Hear my prayers to you,

Defeat my enemies and aid my goals,

Help me overcome my fears,

And protect me from harm.

Prayer To Hekate Soteira
The role of Hekate as savior is very important. She is often associated with the concept of salvation. This is because she can help people escape their earthly problems and grant them a blameless death.

Soteira means “to save” or “to rescue”. Here is a prayer to Hekate Soteiria:

Heavenly Mother, hear my plea!

I am but mortal and wretched.

Give me strength and courage to face my fate,

To make good use of my time here.

To guide me safely to my end,

So that I may join my ancestors.

The following prayer is dedicated to Hekate:

Great Goddess, Queen of Witches,

Queen of the Night,

My Lady of Mysteries,

Lady of the Underworld,

Goddess of Death,

Mother of Souls,

Protectress of Witches,

Mother of Ghosts,

Guardian of Diviners,

Protector of Travelers,

Giver of Dreams,

All-Knowing One,

Mistress of Fate,

Mighty Ruler of All Things,

Guide me always,

Lead me to safety,

Save me from danger,

Keep me safe from evil,

Watch over me,

Be with me always,

Love me,

Listen to me,

Look after me,

Take care of me,

And I will work eternally in your name!

Signs Hekate is Reaching Out

Are you looking into working with a deity? Do you feel particularly drawn to Hekate’s figure? If you are approaching a big breakthrough, she might be calling you.

Get to know Hekate
Hecate is one of the lesser-known Greek goddesses. The abilities attributed to her in Greek mythology are many, and they are mysterious. That is why, even nowadays, some myths around her present her as an evil goddess. Certainly, some of her powers and characteristics can be associated with the Underworld. However, some of her domains undoubtedly belong to the realm of life. She has extensive powers and many divine duties. She is considered to be the goddess of the night, light, crossroads, liminal spaces, childbirth, ghosts, necromancy, and the moon. Today, we know her mainly for being the goddess of magic and witchcraft.

According to mythology, her divine duties include ushering souls from the physical world to the underworld and vice-versa. She is, therefore, a liminal goddess. As such, she was given the title of goddess of gateways and borders. In this aspect, those “in-between” spaces are under her domain. She is also called the goddess of crossroads. To represent this, she is frequently represented as a triple goddess. For example, she is most commonly seen as a triple feminine figure, or as a woman holding a three-headed dog.

Hecate’s calling
Hecate is known to call people even when, more often than not, some witches are afraid of working with her. she may call you despite you knowing very little about her -or even if you do not know her at all. This goddess tends to be persistent and does not care about the resistance or inexperience of those she wants to call.

As we know, Hecate’s domains include crossroads. Not unexpectedly, she often calls people who are going through major life changes. This is why she is believed to call pregnant and dying people predominantly. She also likes calling young witches, as she likes to teach her craft using old-school methods. This is, of course, not true for everyone. You might be invited to work with her at any age.

However, if you are standing at any kind of turning point, she might lend a hand to help you. It might come across as an inconvenient time to embark on something new. But she will empower you to burn bridges leading back to those things that no longer serve you.

This is a deep, internal process. When something inside you starts breaking, her power seeps through the cracks and starts lighting up your soul. But Hekate is loud about what she wants. The work might be inward, but she will not leave room for doubt. If she wants to call you, you will notice subtle, yet unmistakable signs from her. You just have to pay attention.

6 signs Hekate is trying to get your attention

Black dogs
Dogs are sacred to Hecate. They are her animal companion and she is frequently depicted with one. Repeatedly coming across large, black dogs can be a signal from her. However, this sign can manifest in different ways. For example, you might hear dogs howling or barking a bit too frequently. If these sounds seem to come out of nowhere, they might be her hounds calling you.

Keys
Hekate is the goddess of gateways, and keys are one of her symbols. Of course, we handle keys on a daily basis. But if you unexpectedly come across keys while running errands, or find a long-lost bunch of keys, it might be a sign.

Torches
In most representations, Hecate is holding torches. This is related to her soul-guiding and gate-keeping duties. Unlike keys, torches are not frequently seen in our daily life, so spotting one without actively seeking it could be a sign.

The number 3
Hecate is often represented as a triple female figure. This is the representation of crossroads, one of her domains. In Greek mythology, she is also connected to the three realms of the Cosmos: earth, sea, and sky. Therefore, 3 is a sacred number when it comes to Hecate. If you notice it around you often, take note. It could be a message from this goddess.

Crossroads
Hecate will likely call you when you are standing at a crossroads. But not only metaphorically! If you have a strange experience while standing at a crossroads, especially in a forest, pay attention. A symbol, a vision, a channeled message… that could be her calling.

Symbols
Sometimes, the calling is even more obvious. If straightforward symbols, like Hecate’s wheel or triple moon imagery, appear around you repeatedly, she might be trying to call you.

What to do when you are called by Hecate
Receiving these signs from Hecate herself might be overwhelming. Maybe you sense that she’s trying to get through, but you are not completely sure. That is normal, especially if you have never worked with deities before.

At this point, being open to signs is more effective than actively looking for them. If you suspect that Hekate wants to work with you, taking notes might be useful. Keeping a detailed log of these signs will make them tangible and can help you understand them better. Write down if they are present in dreams or real life. Mention every symbol you notice. If you have a vision, jot down any other elements present. If you are undergoing any kind of change in your life, explain that, too.

Of course, it is difficult to discern what is really a sign. However, this is when faith comes into play. Remember that Hecate works from the inside out. If you have an unexplainable gut feeling, you are most probably correct. Trust her guidance and she will show you the right direction.

First steps working with Hecate

If you are ready to start working with Hecate, you can start small and work up progressively. Here are some ideas to start your journey.

Include her in your altar
Having her picture on your altar or lighting a candle for her is a good place to start. You can add elements as your confidence grows.

Work with Moon cycles
You can start by cleaning your home during a Full Moon as a cleansing ritual. Make sure to intention your actions.

Help animals
Hecate is deeply related to Nature and animals in general. Even when she is mostly seen around dogs, other animals like snakes and polecats (similar to ferrets) are also included among her symbols. Working in your local shelter or with strays is a nice way to connect with her.

Take care of your plants
This is a rather easy way to start understanding Hecate’s work. She is an herbalist and honors medicinal herbs and plants in her craft. Learning to work with these elements can take long study sessions. However, bonding with your houseplants is an easy starting point.

Do shadow work
Hecate is the connection between light and darkness. She walks in life, death, and anything in between. Working with your shadow will spark a close connection between you and this wise, mysterious goddess.

Practice green witchcraft
Devote time to including herbs and elements from Nature in your practice. Not only will you feel closer to Hekate. You will also learn a new craft.

How To Master Witchcraft Even With Absolutely No Time…

Is your life filled with so many responsibilities that you can barely make time for yourself, let alone try to master the art of witchcraft? You feel like you have no time and no energy to pursue your interests. You see so many witches online talking about the books they’re reading, the spells they’re casting, and the meditations they’re doing every. Single. Day. Sometimes it feels like you’ll never have the time to really devote yourself to your craft in the way that you “should”.

But here’s the truth: you don’t need that much time or energy to start learning the craft. In fact, all it takes is a bit of dedication, some self-compassion, and a little loop de knowledge, and you can become the witch you’ve always wanted to be.

So if you’re feeling like life is standing in the way of your dreams of being a witch, don’t worry—this is for you. In today’s blog post, I’ll share my secrets for mastering witchcraft despite life’s challenges.

When Life Makes Practicing Witchcraft Difficult
Are you finding it hard to make time for your daily magical practice? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the other obligations of life, and have no idea how to fit one more thing into your already crammed schedule? You’re not alone! This is one of the most common things that I hear when I ask my audience what’s stopping them from really pursuing the craft. It always comes down to too many responsibilities and too little time.

The truth is that the ultra-polished, high-frequency witchcraft practices you see online are often staged, exaggerated, or even entirely made up. Comparing yourself and your practice to what you see other people doing online simply isn’t reasonable. Why would a mom of three who also works full time have a witchcraft practice that looks the same as a university student on TikTok who has no job and very few responsibilities? The answer is, she wouldn’t! That would be insane!

The thing that is actually causing such a major block in your ability to practice witchcraft isn’t a lack of time, it’s actually a lack of self-compassion. By constantly comparing yourself to other people and getting down on yourself about how you can’t, or you’re not good enough, or you’ll never be a real witch because… you’re adding a huge amount of judgment and shame to your life and your craft.

In all honesty, this kind of negative self-talk takes up a ton of time and energy! That’s time and energy that you could be putting toward literally anything else, like, y’know… witchcraft. Rather than spending a bunch of time and energy beating yourself up for not being a good enough witch, why not make ANY amount of witchcraft a win?

The key is to start small. Instead of fitting an hour-long ritual into your daily life, try sneaking in a few minutes of magical activity here and there. Regularly writing down your thoughts in a journal that you keep near your bed or planning out a few quick spells can be just as powerful as doing full-fledged rituals. Just because it’s not big or flashy doesn’t mean that it doesn’t count! Start counting absolutely every magical moment, even 10 seconds of tuning into the energy of a room, as real witchcraft and you’ll likely find that you’re already doing way more than you thought.

You can also try to make mundane tasks magical. Channeling your energy toward something mundane can help increase the power of your spellwork and ritual work significantly. Even doing small things like taking care of plants or wearing particular colors or jewelry that have special meaning for your practice can add an extra layer of magic to any activity.

Most importantly, give yourself permission to take breaks from witchcraft when needed—it’s ok if you don’t always find time for it! It’s more important that you take care of yourself first—and will ultimately help maintain stability and balance in both your magical and mundane life.

Where to Find Magical Time in Your Schedule
You don’t need to give up on living a magical life just because you don’t have the time to focus on witchcraft. With some creativity, you can find a few moments here and there to fit in magical practice this with self-compassion. You may not be able to find time every day. Even one extra moment of focus on your craft during the week counts as a win!

Start by mapping out your weekly schedule. Take a look at the hours you spend on work and other responsibilities. Think of what small changes you can make in order to create space for witchy activities—even if it’s only five or ten minutes here and there.

For example:

Wake up 10 minutes earlier for a morning tarot card pull
Take a short meditation break during lunch
Spend half an hour listening to an audiobook or podcast before bed or during your commute
Fit in manifestation sessions or spell casting during study breaks
You’ll soon find that you are able to fit in small doses of ritual and these small moments can really add up!

Finally, if even these small moments still don’t seem to be enough, look into creative ways to practice and immerse yourself in the world of witchcraft. From joining online communities to taking classes or workshops, to learning from books, there are plenty of ways to enrich and add depth to your craft that don’t have to take up a ton of time.

At the end of the day, carving out a successful magical practice requires a bit of ingenuity and flexibility. Don’t feel bad if you can’t meet the expectations of a grandiose witchy lifestyle—start with small changes and over time, you’ll be able to gradually create a more robust and fulfilling magical practice.

Establishing a Daily Practice
You might not think you can make time for a daily practice of witchcraft, particularly if you have a demanding job or too many responsibilities. But it’s actually easier than it sounds—you don’t need to do something elaborate. All it takes is a little bit of effort and the right mindset.

To establish a daily practice, start by carving out just a few minutes each day for yourself. This could be during your lunch break, when you wake up, or before bed—it doesn’t matter when, as long as it works for your schedule.

Here are some simple steps to get you started:

1) Choose something that resonates with you—this could be divination, journaling, or meditation.

2) Create an easily accessible space where you can set up everything you need for your chosen practice. Not having to do any setup or put things away every single day takes a LOT of the friction out of this process and makes you much more likely to return to it regularly.

3) Be flexible. If something in your life changes, let your practice change with it. Consistency requires that you keep the reality of your life in mind! Sometimes schedules change, your energy levels change, and what you need and want from your practice changes. Switch from mornings to evenings when you need to, let yourself do a tarot pull instead of meditation sometimes, and build ease into the practice.

4) Finally, BE COMPASSIONATE WITH YOURSELF. Did you miss a day? That’s fine, life happens. You missed a week? No sweat, that’s life. Get back to it when you’re ready just stop agonizing over not doing things exactly right all the time. You can become a perfectly good witch even if you get it “right” less than half the time! You are good enough.

What Do You Do If You’re Short On Time And Not Sure Where To Start?
I get it. You’re busy, you have a million responsibilities, and finding time to practice witchcraft is one thing but you don’t even know what to DO with that time when you manage to find it.

Make Figuring It Out The Goal
If you have no idea where to start, the first thing you should do with the time you do manage to carve out is figure out where to start. Literally. That is a perfectly good goal to begin with. This could mean something like spending 15 minutes a day reading about witchcraft or spending a few minutes journaling about what you actually want to do with your craft. It’s ok to srpend a few weeks or even months just getting the lay of the land and figuring out where you want to focus your energies first. Witchcraft is a huge and incredibly varied subject and nobody expects you to just jump straight in and know exactly what you’re doing.

Start With What Interests You
It’s important to focus on what really resonates with you when it comes to your craft. Pick one thing that speaks to you the strongest and start there—maybe you begin by studying astrology or learning spells—and go from there. This way, you don’t feel overwhelmed with all the options out there and can concentrate on mastering that one thing first before moving on to something else. It doesn’t really matter what you pick as long as it’s something that piques your interest, there’s really no “correct” order to learn things in.

Learn from Others
No one ever said that mastering a magical practice had to be done alone. Reach out to experienced practitioners and those knowledgeable in witchcraft to pick up tips and learn from their experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to open up about your own struggles—not only will it help you to get perspective on things but it will also create a sense of community among those who have similar interests and goals.

Track Your Progress
Finally, make sure to keep track of your progress. This doesn’t have to be complicated; it can take no more than writing a few words in your journal each day or creating a spreadsheet or digital document to track your spells, rituals, divination, and other activities related to your practice. Write down all of your wins, big and small. In fact, especially write down the small wins! Remember that those little moments add up and they DO count.

By tracking your progress, you’ll be able to easily refer back to your successes, what worked and what didn’t. And on days when things seem to be hitting a dead end, you’ll be able to look at the progress you’ve made and remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

By integrating these tips into your magical practice, you’ll be well on your way to mastering witchcraft despite life’s little hiccups and obstacles.

When life gets overwhelming, don’t forget that you can still practice witchcraft. It doesn’t have to be an in-depth practice or a lengthy ritual – it can be a five-minute positive affirmation every morning or lighting a white candle every night before bed. While it’s important to build a strong foundation of knowledge and practice, a lot of times the sim plest techniques are the most powerful.

Reminss and have the power to shape your life. Invest in yourself and create a personalized practice that works for you, but remember that a d bit goes a long way. No matter how busy or stressed you might be, a few simple steps can take you a long way on your journey to mastering witchcraft.