🩸 Period Self-care For Witches 🩸

A great overview article talking about; what shadow work is, how the shadow self is formed, and the basics of shadow work (with some exercises): https://scottjeffrey.com/shadow-work/#What_is_the_Shadow

What are yall’s thoughts on this? I’m planning to try some of these exercises out soon!

Scott Jeffrey

Shadow Work: A Complete Guide to Getting to Know Your Darker Half

The comprehensive guide explains Jung's concept of the shadow and provides daily shadow work exercises and tips for integrating your disowne

Art by craftingwitch

The Fair Folk: Fairy Myths Around The World

🦋 The following list contains different names used for Fae or Fae-like creatures and spirits around the world, as well as the place/culture they are from. Since the European Fae are the most well-known of the bunch (and there’s a lot of them), this list shall mainly focus on what I think are the less known ones.

WARNING: This list was just made with the intent of gathering more information about them and as a writing resource/inspiration. It is NOT meant to be used as a “beginner’s guide” to contact with these spirits for witchcraft purposes or anything like that. For those wanting to work with spirits, Fae or otherwise, witchcraft-dedicated blogs have already made some really good posts about the subject. Some of these spirits also belong to closed or semi-closed cultures. Please, always do your own research.

(Germanic and Romance) European Fae:

Aos Sí (Ireland): “People of the Mounds” Umbrella term to describe most of the Celtic faeries and nature spirits. 

Alp-luachra (Ireland): “Joint-eater” A type of fairy who would adopt the form of a newt to consume half of a person’s food or nourishment.

Brownie (Scotland): Household spirits said to inhabit the unused corners of the home and aid in tasks around the house.

Bluecap (England): Cavern spirits known for helping miners with their work.

Caoineag (Scotland): Female spirit whom, like the Banshee, weeps and wails to foretell death and misfortune.

Cat sìth (Scotland and Ireland): Feline fairy said to resemble a black cat with a white spot on its chest.

Cù sìth (Scotland and Ireland): The Cat sìth‘s canine counterpart. They are said to resemble large hounds with shaggy, dark green fur.

Clurichaun (Ireland): Male fairies with a taste for alcoholic drinks. Known for their tendency to haunt breweries, pubs and wine cellars.

Dobhar-chú (Ireland): Water spirit said to resemble a dog, an otter or a half-dog, half-fish creature.

Duende (Spain): Small house spirits known for their mischiveous trickery, but some can also be helpful and kind to humans. 

Fachan (Scotland): Mountain spirit described as having a single eye in the middle of its face, a single hand protruding from its chest instead of arms, and a single leg emerging from its central axis.

Far darrig (Ireland): Small fairies described as having dark, hairy skin, long snouts and skinny tails, as well as wearing red coats and caps. They are sometimes associated with rats.

Kelpie (Scotland): Water spirits said to haunt lochs and lonely rivers. It is usually described as appearing as a horse but is able to adopt a human form. Mostly known for tales of them tricking humans into riding them, after which they’d take them to the water to drown.

Púca (Ireland): Shapeshifting nature spirits, which can take the appearance of horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares. While able to take human form, animal features usually remain, such as ears or a tail.

Trasgo (Spain): A chaotic type of Duende that its mischiveous and playful at their best, malevolent and hateful at their worst.

Américan Fae:

Almamula (Argentina and Uruguay): “Mule soul/Mule ghost” Malevolent female spirit described as a black mule or donkey able to breathe fire. Associated with wildfires, droughts and sexual urges/lust.

Caipora (Brazil): “Inhabitants of the forest” Forest-dwelling, dark-skinned fairies. They are said to demand smoke and tree-bark offerings from hunters before allowing them to have any luck in their hunting.

Chaneque (Mexico): “Those who live in dangerous places” or “The owners of the house” Spirits of the soil, found on forests, lakes, rivers and jungles. Similar in many aspects to the European Goblin and the Duende, they are described as having child-like faces and voices, as well as tails. 

Curupira (Brazil): Nature spirits described as having red hair and feet turned backwards, they are said to be vengeful against poachers and hunters that take more than what they need of the forest.

Momoy (Venezuela): Small male faeries who are described as bearded men who wear tall hats, similar in appearance to the Scandinavian Dwarf. Associated with rivers, fog and agriculture, the Momoyes are peaceful water spirits who are said to be helpful to those farmers who treat them with respect.

Sisimique (Costa Rica): Earth spirits described as having the face of a human and the body of a monkey, as well as just having four fingers on each hand. They are said to inhabit caves and caverns.

Wefuke (Chile): Mischievous spirits who feed on negative emotions, said to sometimes be malevolent in nature but who are also known to punish wrong-doers. They are an important part of Mapuche witchcraft traditions, as they function as ‘Familiar’ spirits to the Calcu (Name given to those Mapuche witches who choose to specialize on baneful magic and hexes, as opposed to healing shamanic magic or Machi). These Wefuke are said to stay loyal to a human bloodline for generations: A Calcu will sometimes inherit the Wefuke companion of their mentor or family member after they pass away.

Slavic and Scandinavian Fae:

Bauk (Serbia): Large fae, described as being bear-like in appearance, whom inhabit dark places, holes, or abandoned houses and are scared away by light and loud noises. Said to enjoy the taste of human flesh, parents used to scare their children with tales of these creatures.

Hulder (Norway and Denmark): Female spirits described as beautiful women with hollow backs and with a cow’s tail. Said to lure human men into marrying them to kill them later, but folktales of Hulders seducing human women to spirit them away into their realms also exist.

Leshy (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland): Nature spirits who rule over the forest and the hunt. Masculine and humanoid in shape, but also said to be able to assume any likeness and can change in size and height. Sometimes portrayed with horns and surrounded by packs of wolves and bears.

Mavka (Ukraine, Austria, Serbia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary): Nymph-like female spirits, most commonly associated with the Carpathian Mountains. They are described as being eerily beautiful, as well as not casting a shadow nor reflections.

Nisse (Norway): Brownie-like creatures (As in, the European fairy, not the chocolate cake), whom live on farms and are said to help farmers with taking care of animals and keeping the soil bountiful. Though mostly benevolent, they’re still Fae, and they are said to cause mischief when disrespected, including killing/harming the animals and/or turning the soil infertile. Their Swedish equivalent is called Tomte.

Rusalka (Russia): Female water spirits, described as having long, wet hair and pupiless eyes. Similar to the Greek sirens and the mermaids in that they are said to seduce humans with their singing and dancing to bring them into the water, where they then drown them and eat them.

Samodiva (Bulgaria): Woodland faeries commonly depicted as ethereal maidens with long, loose hair, and in some cases, wings. They are often described as blonde, tall, slender women with pale, glowing skin and fiery eyes, typically dressed in free-flowing, feathered white gowns.

Underjordiske (Norway and Scandinavia as a whole): “The Underworldly”, “The One Living Underground” or “Those who live down below” Umbrella term to describe most Scandinavian faeries.

Vila (Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria): Female faeries described as young-looking girls with bird or butterfly-like wings, golden hair, white dresses and armed with bow and arrows. Some tales have them as being fearsome warriors despite their cutesy appearance, and that they could be seen riding elk or wolves into battle. Associated with dew, certain flowers and rainbows.

Vittra (Sweden): Nature spirits who live underground and are indifferent towards human affairs, but who are said to be fearsome when enraged.

villages in anhui province by 旅人蕉下客

Cleanse your phone after an argument or after some other technology based nastiness:

Restart your phone

Play a song through your phone’s speakers (something happy that you like, or something more "banishing" like Hit The Road Jack or Bye Bye Bye. Whatever makes you feel it’s done it’s job)

Change your wallpaper

Journal Prompts for Shadow Work #3

Hello family! Let’s do another journal Prompt!

This one is going a little further regarding self reflection and noticing some unhealthy habits or behaviors that affect you negatively. I remind that you use these prompts with caution and to reach out to your support system if needed for extra support.

1. Describe the top 3 lessons that you have learned the hard way: these could be small lessons or large lessons which ever ones that impacted your life the most. Go into detail if you need to.

2. Describe the top 5 negative habits or behaviors you wish to change or understand? Negative behaviors could be; being quick to anger, self destructive habits, talking poorly about others, etc.

3. Are you afraid of being yourself in front of others? Are there certain people whom you don’t feel comfortable being yourself around? Why? This is the time to reflect who you surround yourself with and who makes you feel uncomfortable being your most authentic self. Explore the reasons behind why you feel this way. Is it worth having them in your life if you cannot practice being yourself? Or how can you be comfortable being yourself around these people?

4. Are you projecting your habits onto others without realizing it? Sometimes when we hurt or we are upset/uncomfortable/ don’t like something about ourselves we take our unwanted feelings or emotions and attributing them onto someone else. Usually an example would be; a cheating spouse would accuse the other of cheating, a friend betraying and accuse the other of betraying, a person lying and accuse the other of lying, etc.

I am not a licensed professional, however my inbox is open if anyone needs additional support during their healing journey. Please use this as a caution, everyone has different traumas they are healing from and effects us differently, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Jupiter Moon Apothecary

Jupiter Moon Apothecary

Shadow Work & The Healing Journey

Things to Consider in a Tarot Reading (Other Than Card Meanings)

It’s important to look at the meanings of tarot cards, but it’s very possible to pull even more out of a reading that individual card meanings. Here’s some other stuff you might consider bringing into your interpretation when it feels right:

🍄The position of the cards. This is why spread design can be so important! I’ve had instances where all the cards, in their positions, had the subjects looking or pointing towards one specific card. It was wild. What did it mean? Maybe nothing, but maybe something very significant, depending on the question!

🍄The visual element of the cards. Sometimes what’s depicted on the card can give more specific insight than the actual book meanings. The pictures were done that way for a reason, so don’t be afraid to give them their own weight! Also, sometimes the spread as a whole will have a flow of design (like when one half is much brighter than the other) or a specific card is WAY more colorful than the other cards on the table. Any of these could potentially carry meaning.

🍄Jumper cards. This is when a card pops out while you’re shuffling! I usually just put them back… UNLESS the question has already been presented, and I’m shuffling with that question in mind. Then, I keep them as extra advice, bonus cards.

🍄Reoccurring numbers. Maybe you do a four card spread for a friend, and you get the four of cups, four of swords, four of wands, and the Emperor! (IV.) What does that mean? What does the number four symbolize? Well, a lot of things, potentially, depending on what you study. Some tarot designs incorporate the Kabbalah’s numbered paths in the tree of life, others go with numerology. Maybe, the number four just means something special to you or the querent in particular.

🍄A bunch of cards in order. I’m not talking about when you forget to shuffle. I’m talking about when you give it a really good shuffle and you still get the ace, two, and three of Pentacles all in a row. This can be seen as a sign of progression, or that the events are all much more closely connected than anticipated. It can also mean it happens over a shorter period of time than normal. It’s up to you, your cards, and the contexts.

🍄Proportions of different features. Maybe you’re doing an obstacle spread, and your obstacle is something like the nine of swords. That’s pretty nasty, but if all the other cards in the spread are Major Arcana, then it’s probably not going to be that difficult to surmount. The reverse can also be true. Additionally, a high number of reversed cards in a spread typically signifies a lot of confusion, conflict, and turmoil.

🍄Reoccurring symbols. Beyond just the four suits, because that’s a given! But maybe your spread shows a lot of cards with images of fire, people dancing, or birds. Do these mean anything to you or the querent? What do they typically symbolize?

🍄Any hiccups or unusual events during the reading. Once I had a querent pick up a card to examine it, drop it, then pick it up and put it back reversed. Since it was the overall outcome card, I interpreted that as a heightened ability to change her own fate in this given situation, since she had turned the card from quite a bad omen to a good one. Sometimes little accidents like dropping cards, accidentally shifting them, or laying out the spread wrong are meant to be there and add to the meaning!

I hope this gives you some ideas! Feel free to add more. What do you interpret alongside the cards in a reading?

🌄Morning Witchcraft☀️: how to connect to the elements

These are some of my tips for connecting to the elements in the morning before school, work, busy days, or just a day at home. It’s also handy for witches like me who prefer to work in the morning and daytime 🌞

☁️Air-

💨wake up at dawn if you can (dawn is the time that correspondes with air)

💨pick a perfume that correspondes with your intent for the rest of the day

💨listen to some music to set intent for the day and energize yourself

💨get some fresh air and let the crisp morning air invigorate and center you

💨light incense that correspondences with your intent of the day

💨enjoy the morning bird chirping

💨do a daily divination reading to get a feel for what to expect for the rest of the day

💨incorporate almonds, honey, strong scented herbs like dill, or eggs in your breakfast

Water🌊-

💧have a cup of tea or some water when you wake up

💧take a shower or bath and let it cleanse you

💧take a morning swim if you can

💧moisturize with lotion that correspondes with your intent for the day

💧make a water bottle of infused water (with the herbs/fruits of your intent) to carry around and keep you hydrated for the day

💧collect morning dew

💧pick a seashell that correspondes with your intent for the day to carry around with you

💧sing! (to connect to mermaids and warm up your voice for the day)

💧incorporate apples, berries, salt, fish, or avocado in your breakfast

Earth🌳-

🌿take a walk or jog

🌿do some yoga

🌿pick a crystal that correspondes with your intent for the day to carry with you

🌿ground yourself

🌿take care of your plants (water them, talk to them, etc.)

🌿do a prosperity spell for the day

🌿spend time with your pets

🌿use plant based products or make your own if you can (like shampoo, soap, makeup, etc.)

🌿incorporate nuts, beans, roots (like ginger), and greens (like spinach and kale) in your breakfast

Fire🔥-

🕯light a candle to set your intent for the day

🕯enjoy the morning sunshine, feel it’s warmth

🕯do some makeup or fashion magic when you’re getting ready

🕯meditate with the Sun

🕯take vitamins and/or medications

🕯stay warm with hot teas, hot showers, blankets, etc. (the morning can be a bit chilly)

🕯use the sunshine as a positivity and happiness spell and let it charge you for the day

🕯carry a tealight with you (you never know when you’ll need one)

🕯incorporate citrus and spices (like cinnamon, peppers, etc) into your breakfast