🛡 Warding 🛡

Disclaimer: This is all based on my research, path, opinion & experiences! Intro: I really was holding out on doing this post because it’s such a big, important topic to cover and I really don’t want to mess it up or get anything wrong. This post needs to be done though, people have asked if I have such a post and an anon suggested it. So finally, here it is. - What Is Warding? Warding is a type of magick, it is the act of creating an energetic barrier around you, your home, an object, ect. They can be temporary or permanent, although typically they are cast with the long term in mind. They can banish or turn away whatever you choose. Warding is an excellent skill to have because it can keep you, and even others safe and with practice you can do it anytime with just about whatever you have on hand. When Should I Ward? Whenever you want an energetic barrier around you, most people consistently ward their home, themselves or their place of practice. Some people even ward their space every time they prepare for a spell. It should be done consistently in any area you want protected, but exactly where and how often is entirely up to the practitioner. What Should I Do Before? Cleanse, a ward is a barrier of energy and in the same way that it keeps things out it also keeps things in. You don’t want to trap anything inside of it. Cleanse yourself before you ward yourself. Cleanse your space before you ward your space! Tips Before You Ward- Phrasing Keep the phrasing in mind! You don’t want to keep anything out that you want in, or let something in that you want out. If you’re chanting or using sigils ect keep in mind exactly what you want to keep out both in your methods and in your mind. Covering everything Make sure to cover everything, a ward is useless if there’s a weakness in it or if the ceiling & floor aren’t probably covered. Be super thorough! Layering Your Wards One small little wimpy barrier? Ha, the spirits say as they scramble into your home to wreak havoc! You need to layer your wards, don’t just use one method one time, there’s no such thing as too much warding. What Are Some Ways That I Can Ward? Now we’ll get right down to the methods you can use to ward yourself and your space! Remember that warding is important and needs to be effective, don’t try anything that you don’t have experience with for warding. At first, focus on the stuff you know. If you like sigils, use sigils at first and slowly work your way into using other more complex methods or methods that solely rely on your abilities. Circle Casting You cast a circle by summoning the four elements to protect & energize what is in the circle. - Here’s my post about circles & how to cast them Chanting/Speaking Come up with a protective chant you can use to ward your space. This chant could be someone else’s or your own as long as you feel it’s effective. Speak it aloud and visualize a layer of energy protecting your space. Incense Burn a protective incense in the space you’d like to ward and visualize a barrier protecting your space. Athame Draw out the line of your ward with your athame, visualize the wall appearing, covering everything with a thick layer of energy. Spraying Spray a mix of blessed/magickal waters and or herbs with protective properties in the space you want to ward. Sigils Create a sigil using your favorite method with the intent to “ward” or “protect/protection.” Then charge and activate it as a layer of protection! Here’s my post on sigils if you’re interested in that: - Sigil Post Jar Spells You could mix up a jar spell for warding, set it in your house and forget it as a layer of warding. - My protective jar spell post Anointment Anoint the doorways of your space, you could also anoint the ceiling, floor, walls, corners, honestly go for it. Salt Sprinkle salt all around the edge of your home or space. Make sure to sprinkle salt on the INSIDE of your harm as salt can harm plants & wildlife if used outside. If you’d like to make a barrier on the outside of your home, you can use dried & crushed eggshells in place of salt. - Post on how to make eggshell powder here - Hag stones Hag stones are stones with holes in them that have been corroded into the stone because of rushing water. It is believed rushing water is protective & cleansing so if you wear a stone that sat in it long enough to have parts corroded away, that the stone will maintain and keep those properties with it. It’s a great way to personally ward yourself, and an excuse to go out in nature. They look like this!

Energy Manipulation If you’ve got a knack for manipulating energy, you can create a barrier through work and visualization that surrounds yourself or your space. This isn’t recommended for beginners though! Links: - Horse Warding Charm By @anothersusurrus - House Warding Spritz Mixture By @seleneblackwell Both of these are great if you’re looking for specific spells, types of magick, correspondences, sigils, ect! - Protection Magic Masterpost Part 1 By @auricwitch - Protection Magic Masterpost Part 2 By @auricwitch Personal Wards Also remember not just to ward your space but yourself, if you layer your home with wards, what happens when you leave? Exactly. Keep yourself safe too! Circle casting & hag stones are great methods I mentioned above that are good for personal warding. Can I Ward Specific Things And Not Others? Absolutely! I mentioned this in the phrasing section of this post, keep in mind exactly what you want to keep out when you’re warding. I like words like “negative” or “harmful” or “with ill intent” because they don’t necessarily keep out the Fae or positive/neutral spirits but it does keep out anything that wants to harm you in general. Just think about it ahead of time, find wording or a phrase you like and keep that in mind as you ward. What If I Live With People? If you’re out of the broom closet, explain to your family/roommates what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and make sure they’re cool with it and are aware of what’s going on. If you’re not out of the broom closet, you may have to resort to only warding yourself/your room, & that’s okay! I hope this helps someone or teaches them something new! Enjoy! Have a lovely day 💖

Augury with Birds Notes 🕊🌻

Meanings of Birds In The Sky

High flying bird = great omen

Low flying bird with irregular wing pattern = bad omen

Bluebird in spring = joy will soon come

Red bird = arrival of a guest

Robin pecking at a window = baby conceived by residents

Owl hooting three times = warning

Raven before battle = victory

Meanings of Feathers Found

Brown = peak fitness

Red = superb luck

Orange = joy and pleasure

Yellow = warning to beware of false friends

Green = adventure

Blue = love

Purple = exciting voyage

Black = illness, perhaps even death

Grey = amity and union

Brown and white = bliss

Black and white = bad luck avoided

Black and green = fame and fortune

Black and blue = new love

Grey and white = your wish will be granted

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spellbound-savvie

3 years ago

“She Would’ve Made Such A Lovely Bride What A Shame She’s Fucked In Her Head, ” They Said

“She would’ve made such a lovely bride what a shame she’s fucked in her head, ” they said

113 notes View Post

spellbound-savvie

3 years ago

hi! i’ve been struggling with a lot of negative thoughts lately, especially during this social isolation period. do you have any tips for dispelling mental negativity?

Hello! This is a tough time for us all, and it’s completely understandable to be dealing with an increase in negative thoughts and emotions. I’m fairly well-practiced at social isolation/staying at home for long periods of time due to chronic health issues, so I’ll talk about what helps me!

Take care of physical needs.

I challenge you to spend five minutes making yourself more comfortable. Here’s some things you might do:

Change clothes/into something more comfortable.

Wash your face, neck, arms, etc. with a wet washcloth.

Brush or comb your hair.

Brush your teeth.

Put on lip balm or lotion.

Drink some water (at least 3 mouthfuls).

Go to the bathroom!

Pay attention to sore/stiff areas of your body. Stretch and do what you need to in order to feel better. (Also fix your posture and relax your jaw!)

When was the last time you had fruit or veggies?

Do you have glasses? They could probably be cleaner.

Get some fresh air, even if you need to hang your head out the window.

Next level physical needs:

Take a bath or shower.

Go for a walk if you can, or move around your home (dance, yoga, shuffle around in your blanket cloak, whatever).

Set some hydration goals.

Follow your medication schedule.

Eat balanced meals, however that looks for you.

Go to bed a bit earlier, even if you can’t fall asleep keep the phone put away and just relax.

Quick mental recharging:

Watch a cute video.

Watch a favorite movie/episode.

Change your surroundings; hang out in a different spot, change the lighting, even just rotate on your bed.

Play some music and fully listen to it. The full song, do nothing but listen. I love turning off the lights and chilling with my headphones in. OR taking a shower with the lights off and the music playing (just be safe!)

Put the phone down for a bit. Even if it’s a designated timeframe (5 minutes, 10 minutes, an hour, whatever.)

Write down whatever is bothering you. What are your thoughts? What’s triggering them? Often getting it down can help us release them.

On that note, do things without your phone. Create, read a book, watch something with your phone in the other room. It’s a wonderful tool, but sometimes it can be too much!

Long-term mental recharging/goals:

Learn one new thing every day. It can be as simple as googling random facts or as complex as learning a new subject/topic/skill. Watch DIY or how its made videos. Just aim for learning one thing per day.

Clean/tidy one thing per day. Made your bed? Moved the dishes into the kitchen? Put all the wrappers/whatever into a pile for later? Cleaned the entire house? Great! Just one thing, big or small.

Get a hobby that doesn’t involve screen time. Knitting? Crocheting? Weaving? Sewing? Reading? Poetry? Gardening? Baking? Drawing? Painting? Creating? You don’t have to be good at it, learning is the fun part anyways! You also don’t have to do it every day, but you’ll hit a point where you’re aimlessly clicking between multiple apps and not enjoying any of it--that’s the time to return to your hobby.

Figure out a schedule that works for you, and be gentle about it.

Example: I fluctuate quite a bit with what time I’m ready to fall asleep, and I give myself a certain window that I can stay in bed (generally 10 hours is what I need). If I wake up before then, great! I can stay in bed until the window, but then I at least need to get up and take care of my needs before going back to my bed. But if I’m having a bad health day, that’s okay. You know what level of commitment you need to get benefit out of having a schedule. (TL;DR my schedule shifts with my needs, and that makes it work for me).

Stay connected. Text people. Call them. Video chat. Send snail mail (if safe to do so). Message them. Let them know when you’re thinking of them.

Bedridden witch: Stale energy edition

Magic to replenish energy

Rejuvenating witchcraft

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

How I recovered from depression influenced by chronic illness

Spoonie witch masterpost

391 notes View Post

spellbound-savvie

3 years ago

mythologies → death deities

1K notes View Post

spellbound-savvie

3 years ago

15 Herbs for Your First Aid Kit

1. Calendula: • Cuts & Scrapes • Minor Burns • Inflammation

2. Clove: • Toothaches • Strained Muscles • Flu Aches

3. Chamomile: • Indigestion • Rashes • Inflammation

4. Eucalyptus: • Antiseptic • Insect Bites • Minor Wounds • Minor Burns

5. Fennel Seed: • Indigestion • Gas • Bloating • Aids in Breast Milk Production

Keep reading

Lammas Resource Masterpost

A collection of categorized posts for your Lammas needs! What is Lammas? [X] Lammas is generally celebrated on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and February 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. Also called/merged with Lughnasadh.

The Basics:

Celebrate Lammas!

Lammas or Lughnasadh?

Lammas correspondences / more correspondences / even more

The witch at Lammas (history)

A solitary Lughnasadh celebration

Celebrating Lughnasadh in the kitchen and at home

Lammas: easy ways to celebrate / more ways to celebrate / even more

Subtle ways to celebrate

Lammas Crafts:

Leaf envelopes

Corn husk dolls

Lammas Recipes:

Lughnasadh sun tea

Honey lavender bread

Soda bread for Lammas

Lughnasadh bread recipe

No-knead artisan crusty bread

Strengthening magical onion jam

Lammas Spells:

Lammas bread protection spell

Lughnasadh/Lammas ritual

Lammas Tarot Spreads:

Lammas tarot spread (3 card)

The harvest: a Lammas spread (3 card)

Lammas harvest tarot spread (5 card)

Lughnasadh tarot spread (10 card)

Other:

First harvest incense recipe

Lughnasadh oil

Lammas playlist

Invocation to Brigid

Updated January of 2021. Please inform me of broken links via askbox!

Imbolc / Ostara / Beltane / Litha / Lammas / Mabon / Samhain / Yule / Bedridden ideas

952 notes View Post

spellbound-savvie

3 years ago

Pathworking and Astral Travel

In spirit work, we often connect with the spirits that have crossed over and are present in the physical world. However, there are also ways to cross over into the spirit world and connect with spirits in their home environment.

Pathworking

As I mentioned in a previous post, a pathworking is a specific type of meditation where you go on a psychic journey, but are still anchored to your physical body. It’s sort of like dipping your toes into the spirit world.

There are two important elements to a pathworking: a clear entrance/exit point and a way to retrace your steps. Pathworking journeys are typically cyclical — there is both a journey out and a return where you go back the way you came. This makes it easier to fully return your consciousness to your body, and failing to do so can cause you to feel disoriented upon the return.

Your entry/exit point can be absolutely anything, but common examples include a door, a gateway, a tree (or sometimes The World Tree), a cave/tunnel, or a natural landmark like a beach or mountaintop. What’s important is that it’s recognizable and easy to find your way back to.

If you want to try pathworking, make a rough “road map” of your journey beforehand. This doesn’t have to be super specific, but it should contain the following: a goal for the pathworking (such as to connect with a certain spirit), an entry/exit point, and a general idea for the route you’re going to take. If you’re worried about getting lost, author Thea Sabin recommends using “the Theseus trick.” Like in the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, you can tie a golden thread or rope to your entry point and the other end to your astral body. If you get lost, you can follow the thread back.

Pathworking is fairly beginner friendly, and I highly, highly, highly recommend starting with pathworking and becoming comfortable with this method before trying astral travel. Even for more advanced witches, pathworking is often a better option than astral travel because it’s less involved and requires a little bit less effort. I personally prefer pathworking for most situations.

Performing a Pathworking

Before you begin, establish a clear goal for your pathworking and write out a rough “road map.” At the very least, you should know what your purpose is, where your entry point is, and how to find your way back.

Begin in a dark, quiet room. Cleanse the room by burning incense, diffusing or spraying essential oils, or using a ritual broom to sweep out old energy.

Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down and begin meditating. You may want to play meditation music, practice breathing techniques, or use some other method to help you reach a meditative state.

Once you reach a meditative state (you should know what this feels like if you have experience with meditation), see yourself standing at your entry point. This is your entrance to the astral realm.

Set out on your pathworking.

When you are ready to leave the astral realm, you will need to find your way back to your entry point. Once you reach your entry point, it should be fairly easy to return to your body.

Once you’re fully present in your physical body, use your favorite method to ground yourself.

Write down everything you experienced during your pathworking in a journal.

Astral Travel

If pathworking is dipping your toes into the spirit world, astral travel is diving in the deep end. Also called spirit flight and hedge riding, astral travel includes actually sending your soul/consciousness out of your body and into the spirit world. As you might guess, this is more complicated and requires more effort than pathworking. For this reason, astral travel is not beginner-friendly. If you are completely new to meditation, witchcraft, and spirit work, it’s best to learn to pathwork before you attempt astral travel.

A word of warning: you may want to avoid astral travel at times when you’re in a very vulnerable or volatile emotional state. Some days you just aren’t up for it, and that’s okay. On those days, a pathworking or another form of spirit work may be a better option.

Triggering Spirit Flight

In astral travel, a trigger of some kind is used to help disconnect the soul from the physical body. Common triggers include drumming, special music, shaking a rattle, chanting, and dancing.

You can find shamanic drumming tracks on YouTube that can help you achieve astral travel. If you find that repetitive motion helps you trance out, you may look into getting a small drum or rattle to play.

Animal Guides

In many cultures, those who travel into the spirit world do so with the guidance and protection of an animal spirit. From the Norse fylgja, to the shamanic power animal, to the witch’s familiar, history is full of examples of these types of guides.

Before you begin astral travel, do a pathworking to meet your animal guide. It’s important to note that you aren’t choosing an animal guide — only meeting one that has always been with you. Your guide may be an animal that you like or identify with, or it may not. When I first began experimenting with astral travel, my guide was a coyote — an animal I had never identified with before, but who I learned was deeply connected to my inner self.

It’s important to always have your animal guide with you when going on astral journeys, as they are an important source of protection and power. They may also literally guide you to the things you need to see and the spirits you need to meet.

Flying Ointments

Historical accounts describe witches using “flying ointment” to help them achieve spirit flight. These traditional flying ointments contained toxic and/or hallucinogenic plants like belladonna, datura, henbane, mandrake, and opium poppies. For obvious reasons, most modern witches do not use these herbs.

Please do not try to create your own flying ointment with poisonous plants. If you’re a true traditionalist and feel like you just have to try a historically accurate flying ointment, Bane Folk Apothecary sells several. Bane Folk is run by Sarah Anne Lawless, a kickass witch who knows her stuff and produces safe, medicinal products inspired by traditional flying ointment formulas. I am usually very pro-DIY, especially when it comes to witchcraft, but this is one case where it really is best to defer to a professional.

To create a modern, non-toxic flying ointment: heat eight ounces (or one cup) of poppy seed oil over low heat on the stove. Once the oil is warm, add 2 ounces (or ¼ cup) of beeswax into the oil. (Use carnauba wax for a vegan alternative.) Take the mixture off the heat, and allow it to cool off a bit. Once it has cooled (but before it’s begun to solidify), add nine drops each of mugwort essential oil, star anise essential oil, and peppermint essential oil. Pour the mixture into a mason jar and seal tightly. To extend your ointment’s shelf life, add a few drops of Vitamin E oil and store in the refrigerator. If you don’t have access to essential oils or prefer a more traditional method, you can buy dry herbs and infuse them into your oil instead — to do this, crush up 2.5 ounces (or 1/3 cup) each of dried mugwort, star anise, and peppermint and add them to a mason jar; add enough oil to the jar to cover the herbs completely, with about an inch of oil above them; seal the jar and place it in a sunny window for 2-3 weeks to infuse; and finally, strain the herbs out of the oil with a mesh sieve or a cheesecloth. You can then add your Vitamin E oil and beeswax to create an ointment.

This modern recipe does not contain hallucinogens, but it does contain plants that are commonly used in magic to increase psychic abilities and aid in astral travel. You can say an incantation over this ointment while making it to add some extra magical potency. Applying the flying ointment can also become a sort of ritual that prepares you for spirit flight by helping you slip into a more spiritual head space.

Performing Astral Travel/Spirit Flight

Before you begin, know why you are journeying to the spirit world. You should always have a clear goal for your astral journeys.

Begin in a dark, quiet room. Cleanse the room by burning incense (mugwort incense aids in astral travel), diffusing or spraying essential oils, or using a ritual broom to sweep out old energy.

Use your favorite method to ground yourself.

If you are choosing to use a flying ointment, rub it on your skin now.

Hold a protective item in one of your hands. I like physical items for protection during spirit flight, because they can ground you and help you find your way back to your body. Examples of protective items include a sprig of rue, a piece of iron, or a protective crystal like black tourmaline. If you ever feel scared or uncomfortable during your journey, you can bring this object into the astral realm to protect you. It will also keep your body safe while your consciousness is occupied.

Start up your trigger, whether this is drumming, rattling, dancing, etc.

Allow yourself to drift into a trance state, and then to disconnect from your body.

Call your animal guide to you.

Set out on your journey in the spirit world.

When you are ready, feel yourself returning to your physical body. Allow yourself to come back slowly — don’t rush it.

Ground yourself. One good way to ground after astral travel is by eating a snack.

Write down your experiences in a journal.

Resources:

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Hedge Riding by Harmonia Saille

“How to Make Herb-Infused Oils for Culinary & Body Care Use” and “How to Make Herbal Salves” from the Mountain Rose Herbs blog