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We are all aware of the dangers of the internet. However, there are some specific 'dangers' - or at least scams - that seem to be specific to the witchcraft community. One of the most repreatedly posted questions I see online goes something along the lines of 'I visited a psychic and they told me there is a generational curse and now she can remove it for me (usually costing money), is this real'? The short answer is, most likely not. And there are a lot of these scams going around. So today, I wanted to give some tips on staying safe online so you don't find yourself in danger or out of pocket. We will start with the obvious: never give out your personal details to people you don't know. Definitely not your address, and absolutely not your bank details! Now, phone number is always a bit of an iffy one; I have given out my phone number exactly three times to people in the community I hadn't actually 'met' yet. Two were ladies I was involved in running a small community with and had messaged extensively online first, and the other was a lady who I was arranging to meet at a conference I was speaking at because she was helping organise the conference. The great thing about phone numbers is you can block them if things get weird or even change your number (as much hassle as that is). On the whole, this is a lovely community, and you will make friends online that you may want to chat to outside of online spaces. Trust your gut if you are going to give your phone number out to people and don't be afraid to bail the minute it gets uncomfortable. Now that is out of the way, let's move on to more 'witchy' scams: 1. People messaging you asking if they can do a reading for you: There is a difference between marketing and people soliciting you for readings. Marketing is more general, more impersonal, and is usually just a 'call to action'; asking you to check out their shop, advertising they are doing readings and to let them know if you want one, etc. Those soliciting you for readings will be much more personal, often opening with something along the lines of 'hey! I saw your profile and I just felt such an energy coming from you, I just knew that I was meant to connect with you!', or 'my guides led me to your profile as they have a message for you'. I get a lot of these, and one evening after a few drinks (and having some spare money having done really well saving that month), I decided to play along and see how legit it was. So I responded to one of these messages, and they offered to do a reading for me (which cost £40!), to reveal my message. So I agreed. They messaged me back literally three minutes after I had transferred the money via PayPal saying they had pulled three cards and had my message. Now, I'm sorry, I don't care how good a Tarot reader you are, there is no way you can connect with your guides, shuffle your cards, pull three, interpret them, and write a message with that interpretation in three minutes. Absolutely impossible. Strike one. And - Gasp! - wouldn't you know it! Apparently I have a family member who was jealous of my potential success so put a curse on me when I was a child! This was strike two. I have a damn good life. I have good friends, partner, family, a well paying job I enjoy, I own my own flat in a city I love, I am getting to do what I love with my books, podcast talks, etc. If this is me being cursed, then all I can think is that this 'curse' has someone prevented me from being the billionaire play-girl married to the hottest Hollywood actor that I always knew I should have been if life hadn't of dealt me this cruel hand! But I went along with it, and then would you believe it - she had just the curse removal spell she was willing to cast for me! So generous, so kind....wait no, just kidding, of course that too would cost me. Strike three. By that point I had had my fun and proved my point, so just ignored them. But many well respected tarot readers and practitioners of any magickal art will tell you that they do not solicit their works. So if someone you have never heard of creeps into your DM's with a message from their spirit guides, chances are, it's a scam. 2. Paying for Spells: Another popular one. 'I can make your ex come back to you, I can curse his new lover', etc. You see them everywhere; on social media, on Etsy, one self-built websites. And you know what, some of them are legit. However, red flags to look out for include: - 100% guarantee the spell will be successful. No witch can guarantee success every time, that just isn't how magick works - Next day results. Again, no witch can guarantee exactly when the magick will manifest, so I would be wary of any promises such as this - Messages after you have already paid asking for more money; either they need more tools, the spell wasn't powerful enough and they want to try something else, or some other excuse. If they ask for more money, block and move on - They approached you. This definitely falls under the same 'solicitation' scam I spoke about above  3. People offering to pay you for Spells: Not quite as prevalent, but recently there have been reports on social media of people receiving messages from others asking them to perform spells for them, and that person will pay you. This is often a data mining scam, so even though it may be difficult on the surface to see where you could lose money or how you could reveal personal information, again just block and move on. 4. Joining Online Communities: I love online communities, and to be honest, I tend to be more involved with the online community than I am the 'IRL' community. I have joined countless 'schools' over the years 9I am old enough to remember life before the internet), done various courses, and love chatting to others via social media. However, again you need to exercise caution when interacting with online communities, and below are some of the reasons why: - Creeps: Unfortunately the spiritual community can attract a lot of creeps. If anyone starts to engage you in any sort of conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable or starts asking for pictures (even non-sexual ones), then steer clear - Asking for money: Some courses and schools will ask for a small fee to cover operational costs, and this is understandable. However, those that charge obscene amounts of money, or small but regular amounts for information you could get elsewhere for free or cheaper are often untrustworthy - Promising you 'secret knowledge': Ah yes; there is but one truth in this universe that will make you rich and successful beyond your wildest dreams. But the only way you can access it is if you pay X amount of money or join Y society. Unfortunately, it is never that easy. Hiding such 'revolutionary knowledge' behind a paywall is a common tactic that preys on the vulnerable, so avoid, avoid, avoid! - Pushing to meet IRL: As great as online communities are, sometimes meeting face to face and practising in person is more beneficial. However, any online community that INSISTS you have to meet them in real life is often one to be wary of. Especially if that meeting place is in the middle of the darkened woods which is just 'perfect' for this specific ritual they want you to be a part of.... These are just some of the most obvious scams, but sometimes even the most innocuous of interactions can be preludes to scammy behaviour. Some people are very good at hiding it, no matter how sure you might have been. Other behaviours to look out for that are most likely signs you should stop engaging with this person/this community include: - People operating from brand new profiles with very few posts - People spoofing well-known users accounts (stealing their content and giving themselves a very similar user name to fool people into thinking they are that credible user) - People asking for money through unsecure payment channels - People pressuring you into making decisions and payments NOW - People threatening you; this could be telling you that a curse that was placed on you that they can remove will get worse unless you pay them now, that they themselves will curse you if you don't give them money, or that they will contact a loved one (such as an ex) to tell them you are trying to cast spells on them Obviously it is difficult to know 100% if something is a scam or not, but when it doubt, drop it and search out more reputable practitioners. Look for independent reviews, speak to others who have been involved in those communities or who have head readings, etc., from those people, and make sure you never give away any personal information. Stay safe out there witches!
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30/7/2023 0 Comments Magick for Every Day of the WeekOne of the first things I learned as a beginner witch all those years ago was that each day of the week is associated with a specific deity, and specific correspondences, attributes, etc. I used to wait diligently for a particular day of the week before performing my spells or rituals. These days, I cast magick as and when I need to, but I thought it would be fun to revisit the days of the week and focus on using their power to enhance my workings. So, let's recap briefly what each day represents, and how you can use the energy of that particular day. Just to note, I am using the Roman deities as the associations for each day, but different pantheons and traditions will attribute the different days to deities within their own belief system. Monday: Monday is associated with the Moon. It represents femininity, intuition, mystery, emotion, dreams, and prophecy. As such, Monday is a great time to work with the moon (bonus points if it falls on a full moon!) and deities associated with her such as Selene or Diana to help you connect to your own Goddess power. This may be through meditation, a ritual bath, or if you're short on time then wearing silver jewellery can help you connect to this feminine energy. It is also a great time for divination, so grab your tarot cards, your oracle cards, your lithomancy set or your pendulum (just to make a few of the many different divination methods out there) and perform a few readings. Or perhaps drink a herbal tea before you go to bed and ask the Goddess to bring you prophetic dreams. Good herbs to use include sage, mugwort, and lavender.  Tuesday: Tuesday is associated with the Roman God Mars, and so is a great day to focus on strength, courage, and confidence. Red is the colour associated with strength, and yellow or gold with courage and confidence, so begin your day by burning one of these coloured candles and asking the universe to help imbue you with those energies. If you're able, get some exercise in! Go for a walk, dance, lift some weights, and remind yourself of your own strength. Or if exercise isn't your thing, make yourself a hearty, protein filled meal, fit for a warrior. Wednesday: Wednesday is ruled by Mercury, and is associated with communication, knowledge, learning, and mental faculties . If you want to focus on improving your communication skills, carry a blue crystal such as aquamarine or blue lace agate with you. Flex your brain muscles by trying your hand at crosswords, sudoku's, or other games. Find a subject you're interested in a good book or video and try and learn something new, or work on your book of shadows. You can burn an incense associated with learning, such as rosemary, to help you retain the knowledge that you have learned. The key is also a symbol of knowledge and learning, so you can always carry a key with you to help encourge you to learn and grow, and to unlock the doors of opportunities this could open for you. Thursday: Thursday is a day for prosperity, abundance, health, luck, and good fortune. The main deity associated with Thursday is Jupiter, the King of the Roman Gods. If you need a bit of luck or good fortune in your life, you could create a sigil or empower a talisman to bring you luck in your endeavours. If you're focusing on money or business, build yourself a money bowl (or top one up if you already have one), or sprinkle cinnamon in your purse or across the doorway of your business to encourage more customers.  Friday: Friday is associated with the Goddess Venus, and is a great day to relax a little, indulge a little, and focus on beauty and love (both self-love and romantic love). Carry a piece of rose quartz with you to encourage love for yourself and others, or treat yourself to a ritual bath using rose petals, lavender, and marjoram. Take some time out and treat yourself. This could be something as small as enjoying a slice of cheesecake, listening to some ethereal music, or wearing jewellery and clothing that makes you feel beautiful. Venus is also associated with art, so maybe take yourself off to an art exhibition or some other creative exhibition. Saturday: The Roman God Saturn is associated with Saturn, and so this is a great day to practice protection and banishing. You could try cleansing yourself and your space with incense smoke, and then focusing on protecting your energy with an energy shield. Or carry a black crystal such as tourmaline or obsidian on you to encourage protection. If you would rather focus on protecting your space rather than your person, then design a charm to place by your front door to protect your home, which you can then recharge every Saturday. If you're looking to banish, write whatever it is you want to banish and then burn it in the flame of a black candle, and then scatter the ashes outside. Sunday: Unsurprisingly, Sunday is associated with the Sun. Success, wealth, fame, and our own personal power are all associated with this day.
Weather permitting, you could make some sun water by leaving water to soak in the sun's rays. This can then be used in teas or ritual baths, especially those that focus on strength, vitality, and harnessing masculine energies. This is also a great day to celebrate your strengths and what makes you, you. So celebrate yourself! Take some time to reflect on all that you have achieved, and all that you want to achieve in the future. Great crystals to work with include pyrite and citrine to help you connect to your inner power and appreciate the uniques individual that you are! 14/7/2023 0 Comments Wishing StonesEvery year I try to take myself off to the Welsh coast; I love Wales, and I love the beach, so it's always a trip I look forward to. This year I went to a certain part of Wales I have never been before and was amazed by some of the rocks I found on the beach! Including this beauty in the picture below:  Apparently this is known as a wishing stone! But what exactly is a wishing stone? Wishing stones are usually grey or pink in colour, but they can be any colour, size or shape, and their defining feature is a band of white around them. This band of white is actually often a vein of quartz or calcite running through them. Those that are known as the strongest of wishing stone are those that have a band of quartz or calcite that runs around the stone in a fully connected circle, and should be uninterrupted by other lines or streaks in the stone. It is said that if you find one of these stones, you should trace the band with your finger and focus on your wish, and when you are done throw it as far into the sea as you can. Or, you can give it to another person instead of throwing it away. This should ensure that your wish comes true; however, if you make a wish for someone else, then all of your own wishes will come true too! No-one is quite sure where this particular piece of folklore comes from. It may be some ancient belief, it may be based on ancient superstition, or it could be a fairly modern invention. No matter where it originated, I still think it's pretty neat! Wishing stones can be found all over the world and are most prevalant on coastlines and rocky beaches, although can also be found in rivers. So next time you are at the beach, keep an eye out for wishing stones, make your wish, and then dispose of it - I personally love the idea of giving it to a friend and keeping that chain going. I personally couldn't bear to throw or give this particular one away, but next time I find one I will definitely be following this little tradition!  We are in the throes of summer, and it has been a hot one! I personally love summer; the long, sunny days gives us a lot more opportunity to go out, enjoy ourselves, and try new things, and it's hard not to feel enthused, motivated, and joyful under the heat of the sun! So, below are 15 affirmations/mantra's/Prayers you can try to help you connect with and embrace the power of these glorious, fiery days!  1. I shine with the light of the sun, confident and joyous
2. Like the flowers that bloom beneath summer's warm embrace, I blossom and grow into my best self 3. I bring warmth to those I meet; may they be renewed by the light that I shine 4. I rise with the sun and greet the day with love in my heart 5. As the sun rules the lengthening days, I open my heart to the opportunities it brings and embrace its possibilities 6. Strength within me, light surround me; I will shine true this day 7. May the suns rays light my path this day and lead me towards my fullest potential 8. May this day be long, and my fire shine bright 9. As the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, I too will walk this path this day with the fire and light 10. We are all one beneath the beating of the sun; I am connected to all, and we are all one with the light that guides us 11. Summer sun above me, I embrace the joy the light brings and shine it out into the world 12. May all who arise this day bask in the heat and glory of the sun God, and may we be blessed with his strength and courage 13. I am the fire that burns within, powerful and true 14. As the wheel turns I embrace the light, and dance beneath the sun's warm embrace 15. May all that the light touches this day as it rises upon this earth be blessed, as I am blessed this day 28/5/2023 0 Comments Building Your Own Travel AltarTravel altars are a neat little way of physically bringing your practice with you. And they are fun to make! However, it can be difficult to know where to start with a travel altar - if you're anything like me, you'll start off with a small tin and before you know it you need an entire suitcase to carry everything you plan on carrying around with you! So below are just some tips to get started to help you build your own travel altar. 1. Think about the size The idea of a travel altar is that it is small and compact enough to be carried around with you on your travels. So the first thing about is how you plan on transporting it. Are you looking for an altar you can carry in your handbag? A backpack? Or maybe you travel a lot and want an altar you can stick in your suitcase, or maybe you drive a lot and are looking for one you can keep in the boot? Once you've understood this, it will help you in deciding the size of your travel altar. Many people tend to opt for a mint tin or a small box of similar size, but if do have the ability to choose something a bit bigger, then go for it! 2. Think about the physical container As well as the size, you will need to think about the structure of the container itself. A lot of people tend to opt for a metal tin, such as a mint tin. Not only does this provide a bit of protection to your tools as you are carrying it around, but the lids are pretty secure. You could decide to use a material pouch, or even a makeup bag to transport your tools. How subtle do you want to be with the container? Especially if you are travelling with others or likely to be in the position where others may get a sneak peak into your bag or car, you may want to choose something with a very subtle design. However, if you are proudly out of the broom closet or can afford to be a bit open, then you might want to decorate it with paint, stickers, charms, beads, feathers, etc., to help evoke those magickal energies. 3. Think about why you will use it No matter the size, you won't be able to carry all of your tools with you unless you are a very minimalist kind of witch (and I know very few witches who are - we love our crystals and our divination decks!). So to help you whittle down exactly what you will put in your altar, think about how you will use it. Will you primarily be using it to perform general daily devotionals, or devotionals to a specific deity, maybe whilst you're staying in a hotel room? Do you anticipate that you will want to use it to help you protect your energy whilst you're out and about around the city? Or maybe you want to be able to practice some kitchen magick whilst you're staying in your Air BnB? Understanding exactly why you want to use your altar will help you determine the few items you should include in it. 4. Decide on the tools you want to carry in your altar Now you know why you want to use your altar, you can start to fill it! Remember to also think practically; many countries have laws against carrying blades depending on their size, and whilst you will probably be fine with something travel size, it is always best to check! If you're carrying your altar in your bag chances are it's going to shift around, get turned upside down or bumped, so if you are going to carry anything liquid then make sure it is very securely stored. Otherwise, think about ways to 'downsize' any tools you wish to carry. Instead of statues representing your deities, could you choose small charms like you would find on a piece of jewellery? Instead of tumbled crystals, could you choose crystal chips? Get creative and enjoy building your own travel altar! Below is a list of the items I keep in my own personal travel altar, and why I have them, in case this can help you get started on building your own. The main types of magickal working I am interested in are water witchcraft, working with water spirits, lithomancy, and energy healing. So everything in my travel altar is to aid me on the go in one (or more) of those areas.  Incense Cone: For cleansing and removing negative energies from myself, my space, tools, etc.
A Starfish: The starfish is a symbol of regeneration and regrowth, and is a great energy to use in healing work. A Vial of Moss and Heather: As someone who practices energy work, I love 'combining' the energy of various things to see what they produce. Heather and moss is one of my favourites! Moss represents both the water and earth element, whilst heather represents healing, nurturing, and the Goddess. Together I find they have an amazing healing energy, and I love drawing on that in my workings! A Moon Shell: To help me connect with feminine water energies. An Octopus Charm: The octopus is my main animal guide, so I have a charm to represent that and to help me better connect with my guide. Water Stone: This is a piece of sodalite with a gold, upside triangle carved into it (the symbol for the element of water), designed to help me connect with general water energies. Chakra Lithomancy Set: I have a lithomancy set I designed which is based around the chakras and the elements. Not only can this be used in divination readings, but also in energy healing. Amazonite Pendulum: To help me connect and communicate with water spirits. Crystals: I have a stash of crystals I work most closely with - clear quartz, rose quartz, aquamarine, turquoise, kyanite, green aventurine, blue aventurine, amazonite, and some quartz points. These are useful for both connecting with water energies and energy and healing works in general, as well as a myriad of others things (bringing creativity, self love, improving communications, etc.), whenever I need them. Ostara is the Spring equinox, the second of the fertility festivals, and usually falls around March 21st. The sun has been growing in strength and the days becoming longer. The spring equinox represents the point where day and night are of equal length, before the days officially become longer than the nights. The promise that was made at Imbolc is being fulfilled, and the flourishing of the earth can already be seen, with the earliest of spring plants starting to bloom. This is a festival of fertility, where we celebrate the plants, and the crops that are about to grow. Eggs are an important symbolism at this time, as they represent fertility and new life, as is nurturing that which has just been brought into the world. At Imbolc we sowed the first of our seeds, and will continue to do so as the conditions demand; for example, many vegetables require planting around about March/April time. It is important for many seedlings to keep them warm and covered, especially against the frost. This is easier said than done, as with the effects of climate change, we are becoming more prone to later frosts. However, this care and compassion is necessary to ensure a successful harvest later on. This festival is often associated with the Germanic Goddess Eostre. But who was she? And, possibly the most pressing question, was she 'real'? Or made up by an 8th Century Saint?  There is no reference to Eostre in pagan sources. The only reference to her is from Saint Bede in his 8th Century works De temporum ratione (The Reckoning Of Time). In his works, Bede discusses the names of the months as referred to by the indigenous English peoples through the following translated text: Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a Goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance. This is the one time up until this point that Eostre is mentioned. There are no inscriptions, no depicitions, nothing. This has lead some scholars to believe that Bede invented Eostre, or at the very least took some 'creative licence' in basing her off of other deities. In 1835, Jacob Grimm entered the fray with his own view on Eostre. Here are some of the passages taken from some of his writing about the Goddess: We Germans to this day call April 'ostermonat', and 'ostarmanoth' is found as early as Eginhart [a Frankish scholar]. The great Christian festival, which usually falls in April or the end of March, bears in the oldest of OHG remains the name 'ostara'...it is mostly found in the plural, because two days...were kept at Easter. This 'Ostara', like the [Anglo-Saxon] 'Eastre', must in heathen religion have denoted a higher being, whose worship was so firmly rooted, that the Christian teachers tolerated the name, and applied it to one of their own grandest anniversaries. .................... Ostara, Eástre seems therefore to have been the divinity of the radiant dawn, of upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing, whose meaning could be easily adapted by the resurrection-day of the Christian's God. Bonfires were lighted at Easter and according to popular belief of long standing, the moment the sun rises on Easter Sunday morning, he gives three joyful leaps, he dances for joy ... Water drawn on the Easter morning is, like that at Christmas, holy and healing ... here also heathen notions seems to have grafted themselves on great Christian festivals. Maidens clothed in white, who at Easter, at the season of returning spring, show themselves in clefts of the rock and on mountains, are suggestive of the ancient goddess. ...................... But if we admit, goddesses, then, in addition to Nerthus, Ostara has the strongest claim to consideration. To what we said on p. 290 I can add some significant facts. The heathen Easter had much in common with May-feast and the reception of spring, particularly in the matter of bonfires. Then, through long ages there seem to have lingered among the people Easter-games so-called, which the church itself had to tolerate : I allude especially to the custom of Easter eggs, and to the Easter tale which preachers told from the pulpit for the people's amusement, connecting it with Christian reminiscences.  Grimm's view was essentially that Eostre was a local Goddess based on a more widespread Goddess, and it was Grimm that named this Goddess as Ostara. Like Eostre, it is difficult to tell whether Ostara existed in the wider world, or whether this was all speculation on Grimm's part.
As I said, Eostre and Ostara's validity as 'real', ancient deities that were worshipped and venerated is a hot topic amongst scholars. Other theories around deities with similar names, roots of names, etc. - far too many to go into here. For example, a cluster of place names in England contain a variety of Germanic and English names which include the element 'eostre'. There is no doubt as to the word 'eostre' existing, but whether it was also the name of a Goddess, and a Goddess related with Easter, is still very much up for debate. However, don't let this stop you from working with this energy! My personal view of deity is that there is one 'universal energy', and that deities are interpretations of this energy - like the faces of a diamond. As such, she is just one face of this energy, and is no less valid. She may very well have existed, or she may well be a retelling of some other ancient Goddess. However, whether she exists or not is an interesting scholarly debate, and one which appears to be very divisive! 16/3/2023 0 Comments Building Your Own Book Of ShadowsA BoS, or Book of Shadows, is a witches manual. Many practitioners place a lot of importance on their BoS and will spend hours creating elaborate books filled with information. However, there is so much you can include that it can be difficult to know where to start! One of the main problems when creating a book of shadows is that you are constantly learning. If you start with a fancy notebook and write what you've learned about tarot, and then move on to write about what you have learned about bird divination, chances are that at some point in the future you are going to learn more about tarot. Then your only option is to either pull the book apart, or add another tarot section, and the whole thing can become messy and out of synch. For this reason, I personally prefer to build my own with 'loose' pages. I actually learned book binding for this very purpose! But remember, as you learn your BoS will also grow, so it is probably best to go for a format that allows you to add and remove pages.  Similarly, when it comes to how you decorate your pages, remember you are probably going to amass a lot of them! I made the mistake of starting off using a fancy sort of paper which then went out of print and struggled to find a replacement. Another thing I do recommend if you are looking for something with a bit more of a design is to take a look on Etsy or similar for blank, printable pages with designs on which you can then print on to blank paper of your choosing and write over. Or maybe you want to go completely modern and just have a digital book of shadows? There are many reasons that a digital BoS could be preferable; it's cheaper, easier to access on the go, and you have more freedom to add and remove pages as you go. There are definitely benefits to having a digital BoS, but for a lot of people (such as myself), creating a physical BoS is personal, creative, and fun! Once you have decided on the format of your BoS you need to think about what to put in it. Again, with the more you learn, the more you will want to add, and potentially remove. Your BoS should mirror your own experience, and again this is another area where we can become overwhelmed. It can be very tempting to add information about tarot even though you have never studied tarot, just because you feel like you should. If you go down this route you will find it becomes very time consuming, and again once you actually decide to start learning tarot you will learn a lot more information that you will need to add in, or could even make the original information you added redundant.  Another aspect you need to consider is do you just want to contain 'factual' information, or do you want to include your own experiences? For example, using tarot again, do you want to include different spreads, but do you also want to record all of your individual tarot readings alongside it? Do you want to write a bit about a specific deity, but do you also want to record any experiences you have with them? I personally keep these two elements separate; my BoS is more of a manual, or reference book, and then I have separate notebooks that I record my experiences in. I've been practising for over 20 years now - if I also recorded every experience or every divination reading I have done, my BoS would be far too large to manage!
Below I have written a list of what you could potentially add to your own book of shadows, and based on the above I recommend that rather than just researching each subject, you make an effort to actually give these things a try. This will also help you weed out what is good, accurate information and what is just fluff - the last thing you want is to be adding misinformation to your BoS! Even this list is just a small drop in the ocean! There will be many, many more things you can add to it. Alphabets Animal magick Bird Divination Candle magick Colour magick Correspondences tables Crystal magick Deities Elements and elementals Food magick Herb magick Lithomancy Magickal cleansing Magickal protection Moon Phases Planetary Correspondences Sabbats Scrying Spells and rituals Tarot Working with guides Working with spirits So, in short, here some tips and tricks to help you when creating your own BoS: 1. Go for loose leaf rather than a book with restrictive pages so you can add/remove pages, or a digital version 2. Try and go for a consistant design you can maintain through lots of pages! 3. Decide whether you want to include just factual information or your experience also 4. Try to split it into sections based on the subjects you are writing about 5. Have an active go at everything you are writing about! 6. Include a table of contents 7. Personalise your BoS; this can be through the decoration, or you might want to write a book blessing for the front page or cover The most important thing is to have fun! Your BoS can become a very personal and important part of your practice that you will grow to cherish, so it is definitely worth putting the effort in. 1/3/2023 0 Comments Tarot Prompt: The FoolIn an effort to improve my tarot skills, I've been reading Silvia Hill's Tarot for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Reading Tarot Cards, Basic Spreads, and Psychic Development. I LOVE this book! I will do a proper review of it once I have finished it, but one thing I am enjoying is the tale of The Fool's journey through the Major Arcana, and the questions/prompts which are given for each card. So once a week I'm going to post one of the prompts on Instagram and write a blog post with my thoughts on that question/prompt. For the first card in the Major Arcana, our 'leading man' The Fool, our two prompts are: How might The Fool's journey differ if he were aware of the danger he was in? What do you think The Fool represents for people in different stages of life? The Fool is the first card of The Major Arcana and represents new beginnings, innocence, and potential. But what if he knew the dangers he faced? What does he represent for people in the different stages of their lives? Below are my thoughts.  If The Fool had known the dangers he would encounter before he set off before his journey, things may have been very different. He may not have started out at all for fear that where he ended up would be worse than where he started from. And even now, with him having been through that journey and through profound change, do we know for certain he is happier and better off?
If he did still decide to start out on his journey, he may have been a lot more cautious, trying to avoid those dangers. It might have changed his experience completely. But again, can we say for certain that it would have been a better or worse experience than the one he would have experienced if he hadn't known what his original journey would hold? Or maybe The Fool's journey was set to follow that path no matter what he did? Maybe, no matter whether he had stayed behind or started on his journey, no matter what he did along the way, he would still in some form experience the themes of the Major Arcana on his path, just in different ways? Maybe the themes and opportunities of the Major Arcana are unavoidable in life in some capacity or another (big or small, life changing or life progressing), and it is the attitude of The Fool rather than his physical actions which determine whether he will come out better or worse for the experience? Would I have the guts to leave everything I have behind for the possibility of something better? I'll be honest, I'm very content with my life, so probably not. Would I look for the positives and the learnings in all of the themes of the Major Arcana if I had no choice but to experience them, rather than trying to avoid them or pretend they aren't happening? Yeah, I like to think I would. As for The Fool in different stages in life, I touched upon it briefly above. I own a flat, have a decent job, friends, I have published a couple of books and generally don't want for anything. I am very content with my life. With The Fool's journey being unknown and the end consequence of it still a mystery, I probably wouldn't set out on it. If I were in a different position, if I were struggling to make ends meet, didn't have much to my name and little responsibility, then I would be much more open to the journey. In terms of 'stages of life' I don't see these stages as being age defined, but comfort defined. The happier and more satisfied you are with your life, the less likely you are to want to do anything which could risk it. I know that is how I personally feel anyway. And as discussed above also, sometimes we have no choice but to go through this journey - let's say the death of a loved one, losing your job, etc. In this case, at this stage of life, it becomes more about preserving what you already have rather than chasing something new. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it changes the nature of the fool's journey and his attitude towards anything 'new', 'unknown', or potentially 'life changing'. Again, is this worth risking when you are comfortable with what you have? For me personally no, not if the reward is not guaranteed. 24/2/2023 0 Comments Book Launch! 'The Water Witch: An Introduction To Water Witchcraft'; A Free SampleToday is the day! My second book 'The Water Witch: An Introduction to Water Witchcraft' is now available to buy in both paperback and e-book formats! I've been especially excited about this one as water witchcraft is the backbone of my spiritual practice. So, to celebrate, I thought this blog post would be a 'free excerpt' of some of the book. If you want to know more, check out my insta @thecottagemysticwitch, as I have a lot more informaiton on there about it, including a table of contents and what you can expect to find in each section of the book. But for now, here are some excerpts from Chapter Four: Tools of the Water Witch'.  Chapter Four: Tools of the Water Witch The water witch tends to use tools as any other witch would. However, often these can be ‘water themed’ to help us connect with water energies - for example, using a wand made out of driftwood or a piece of tree fished out of a pond or river. Whilst there isn’t actually much that a water witch uses that you wouldn’t find in other practices, they might perhaps use some tools moreso than you would find in other practices. Below I will take you through some of the most common ones, and how they are used. Driftwood: As I mentioned above, driftwood can be used to make wands. It can also be used to create divination tools, charms, or sigils, and is great to carve symbols into. Basically, anything a stick can be used for, driftwood can be used for. Bottles Of Water: A water witch collects different types of water, and each body of water has its own association (more on that later in the book). Try to use glass bottles as opposed to plastic water bottles. Not only are plastic bottles terrible for the environment, but over time the plastic from these bottles can leach into the water. But trust me when I say that you will never have enough bottles, so start building your collection now! Hag Stones: Hag stones are stones with natural holes in, and are most often found on the beach or near large bodies of water. They have a rich history in folklore and tradition, but most commonly hag stones can be used to bring luck and protection. They are often worn as charms or used in magic. I have a large hag stone I found on the beach which I anointed with protection oil, and now sits by my front door to protect my home. Sea Glass: Again, often found on the beach, it is formed when pieces of glass are smoothed by the salt in the sea. Sea glass can be of any colour, and these are useful to use as colour magic correspondences, to draw symbols and sigils on for charms and divination tools, or to decorate an altar. I also find that they make good offerings for sea deities, and pieces of sea glass are a glorious find. Sand: Collected from the beach where it has been exposed to the water, most sand contains tiny little particles of minerals such as quartz, garnet, black tourmaline, and beryl (amongst others). The breaking down of these minerals and other things which eventually form sand is not a quick process - some sands are as old as 4 billion years! As such, sand can be used to represent the cycles of life, transformation, and anything to do with the past such as ancestor, or past life work. The sands also act as a barrier between the land and the sea, and as such can be seen as a barrier between worlds. Mermaids Purses: Mermaids purses are the egg sacs of certain sea creatures such as the skate. They are black/brown rectangular ‘pods’, with a tendril at each of the four corners. These are very much like ‘chicken eggs’ to the water witch, and can be used in magic around fertility. As the word ‘purse’ may indicate, they are also associated with abundance and money magic. *************************************************************************************************** Plants: Bladderwrack: Bladderwrack is a type of seaweed. It can be used to protect those who are sailing or flying over the sea. It is also associated with the moon and lunar energies, and despite its appearance can also be used in beauty magic. Bladderwrack is also said to aid in weather magic. One can conjure a storm by waving it in a circular motion above their heads. It can also be hung outside of the house to help predict the weather. If the weather will be warm and dry then the bladderwrack will stay dry and crisp. However, if rain is on the horizon then the bladder wrack will turn moist. Other uses for bladderwrack include in abundance magic and spells concerning business, financial security, helping to remove negativity, and to aid in otherworld travel. Lotus Flower: The lotus flower’s roots are submerged in the mud and during the night it submerges down into the water. The next morning it will bloom back above the water, and then disappear back down at nightfall. As such, it is often associated with life, growth, and rebirth, especially in a spiritual sense. The Egyptians believed that the lotus had the power to bring the dead back to life in the form of a lotus flower themselves, and in Hindu tradition it is said that the Gods sit on lotus thrones. The individual colours of the lotus also carry specific meanings. For example, the yellow lotus is associated with spiritual ascension and religious belief, and the white lotus is associated with purity, balance, faith, beauty, wealth, knowledge, and fertility. Reeds: The reed is one of the plants/trees associated with the Irish Tree Ogham. It has had many practical uses, such as being used as flooring or roofing. You can soak them in fat to create candles, and it is still used today to make instruments. Reeds can be used for purification and protection, and to rid yourself or your space of negative energies. It is also associated with being proactive and helping you find your purpose. *************************************************************************************************** Seashells: Of course we can’t write a whole book about water magic and not include a section on seashells. There are many different types of seashells, and many have different properties. Think of them as the crystals of the sea in a sense, for they can be used in the same way. As you might carry around a piece of citrine in your purse to ensure wealth and abundance, you might instead carry a small cowrie shell. One of my favourite ways to use seashells is in ‘crystal grids’, but replacing crystals with shells. I use these mainly for healing purposes and find them to be extremely effective. For example, a grid consisting of a starfish, clams, cockles, limpet shells, whelk shells, and clear quartz crystals is great for bringing relief and renewal after a period of difficulty. Below is a look at some of the more common types of shell and their associations. If you head to the beach to collect shells, make sure you leave enough for the local wildlife - many small creatures use shells as their home. Make sure to also check restrictions in your area, as some places prohibit the removal of shells and such from their beaches. Some shells can be difficult to tell apart. The conch shell and the whelk shell are two which are often confused, so make sure you do your research. Take into account your location and the environment around you; for example, conch’s are generally found in tropical waters whilst whelks are found in more temperate waters. Sometimes this might be the only way in which you can identify that shell you found, so pay attention. I also recommend working with any shells you find and learning what their associations mean to you. When I first started out, I read that the ark shell was great for inner reflection. So, after a particularly bad day at work I did a smoke cleanse on myself using some ‘ocean wind’ incense, and then sat down to meditate with an ark shell. I wanted to reflect on the day, what had gone wrong, and what I could do in the future to ensure it didn’t happen again. However, the ark shell had very different ideas. I felt a very masculine energy from it, and it was one of acceptance and moving on rather than reflecting. It told me that what was done was done; there was no point in dwelling on it, tomorrow was a new day, and I had the strength to ensure that I didn’t let one bad day get me down. This was quite a surprise considering everything I had read about the ark shell. So, don’t take what I have written here as gospel. You may find the shells speak to you differently. Abalone: Commonly used as a smudging bowl for those who practice smudging, it is also associated with healing, prosperity, and abundance. Ark: The ark shell has quite a masculine energy, and can help us feel stable and secure. It allows us to put the past behind us and move forward with strength and determination. Auger: The auger shell promotes focus and clarity, as well as protection. Carrier: Carrier shells are fascinating. Often the creature inhabiting this shell will cement other shells and small stones to the edge of this shell as it grows, and there are some beautiful ones out there. As such, the carrier shell is associated with abundance, growth, development, and creativity. It can be useful to those who wish to come ‘out of their shell’ or explore their own personality, individuality, or creative expression. Clam: The clam has many different associations; these include communication, grounding, healing, love, purification, emotional protection, and helping us connect with the world around us. *************************************************************************************************** The Water Witches Altar/Shrine: I’ll preface this by saying, you don’t need an altar. It isn’t a requirement. For years I didn’t have a permanent altar or shrine set up. I moved around a lot, often living in pretty bad rented accommodation and with people I didn’t know too well, so my ‘house’ was pretty much just somewhere to sleep. I much preferred to be out in the forest or parks and working magic discreetly. Now I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I have my own space and feel comfortable having one displayed. However, if you live in shared accommodation without much privacy, or are trying to be more low-key in your practices for whatever reason, then don’t feel like you need to have one prominently displayed. If you do want an altar or shrine, even just a small lay out on the edge of a desk can work. One of the great things about water witchcraft is that many of the tools we work with can be seen as nice little decorative pieces; statues depicting mermaids, seafolk, and other mythical creatures, shells, bottles of sand, etc. Whether you want to go all out for your altar or shrine or go for something a bit more discreet, what you display on your altar is completely up to you. Every witch's set-up is different, and should represent them and their beliefs. The water witch is no different. There is a subtle difference between an altar and a shrine. An altar is generally a place where practical workings take place; it holds your tools and other more general magical items (such as representations of the elements, spell jars, herbs, crystals, etc.), and many witches perform their rituals and spells at their altar. A shrine is usually dedicated to a specific deity, spirit, your ancestors, etc. It acts as a space of worship, containing statues, offerings, and anything that reminds you of that which you have dedicated it to. Below are some items you might find on the water witches altar or shrine. Of course, add whatever feels right to you, but the below might provide you with some ideas to get started with. *************************************************************************************************** Exercises:
As you can see, there are many different tools that the water witch could use in their practice. Have a think about the tools you already use in your practice and whether you could incorporate more water inspired versions. For example, if you read runes, could you collect some light coloured shells or pebbles from the beach and draw your runes onto them? If you enjoy working with colour magic, could you incorporate different coloured sea glass into your practice? Even small things, such as swapping out your shower gel for one with a scent more closely associated with water such as coconut, or a soap which contains seaweed, can boost your connection to water energies. Have a think about whether you do want any sort of dedicated space, and if you do, will it be an altar or a shrine? Once you have made this decision, take your time and design your own altar or shrine. If a shrine, is there a particular deity or spirit you want to dedicate it to, or maybe you just want to dedicate it to water energies in general? Decide what you want on your altar or shrine. You might want to sketch out a rough idea of how you want it to look, or you might just want to dive straight into it and let your intuition guide you in regards to what to include and how to display it. This space should be a reflection of your inner witch, a sacred place, so treat it with love and respect. Having spent a week snowboarding out in Andorra, I thought it would be fitting to do a post on the Gods, myths, and legends of the pyrenees mountains which run through Andorra. Andorra is a small principality (a country governed by a Prince or Princess, although these roles are honorary) between France and Spain, and shares the Pyrenees mountains with several other countries. Despite its small size (a population of less than 90,000), it is one of the oldest countries in the world, dating back to 803 AD. As such, there is a wide range of myths and legends pertaining to these mountains, and these can differ from region to region. The Pyrenees has captured the imagination for thousands of years. With its rugged, breathtaking landscape it is difficult not to see where myth and mystery abound in its snowy peaks. In fact, some of the most well known myths of the Pyrenees actually comes from Ancient Greece and revolves around the creation of the mountains themselves. In one version of the tale, Pyrene was the daughter of King Bebrycius, and lover of the Greek hero Hercules. She gave birth to a serpent like monster and was so terrified she fled into the woods where she died. Stricken by grief, Heracles built a tomb by piling rocks on top of one another, and this became the Pyrenees mountains, named after his love. In another version, Pyrene was the lover of Hercules but abandoned by him, which is why she fled into the forest where she succumbed to her death, devoured by wild beasts. In another tale, there was a three headed creature named Gerion who gained control of the Kingdom of Tubal (Spain). This creature was in love with Pyrene, but she in turn was in love with Hercules. Fearing for her life from this terrifying monster, Pyrene fled. When Gerion failed to find the princess, he set the whole area on fire, despite knowing that the princess would most likely perish in the flames. The fire spread and destroyed everything in its path, with entire villages being utterly destroyed. Surrounded by flames and knowing death was near, Pyrene screamed for help. Hercules heard and ran to the princesses rescue, but was too late. He then built her tomb out of rocks, and this became the Pyreneese mountain range.  Other tales from the Pyrenees describe the mountains as giants. This isn't unique to the Pyrenees, but it was said that the highest peaks of the mountains were actually sleeping giants, and their laments could be heard on the storms, specifically the Aneto summit in Spain. Another myth holds that the Puigmal summit is actually a human, whose presence guarded and protected the natural mountainous environment.
Other creatures can also be found in tales from this area. Tantugou, who is known throughout the Louron and Larboust valleys was a figure who protected shepherds and their herds. He was depicted as a tall, bearded man who dressed in a hooded tunic with animal skins, who carried with him a club. There is some debate as to whether he was a God or some sort of other being - accounts differ depending on the source. There was the Basajun, which translates as 'wild Lord', who despite also being a protective figure was more feared due to his human/animal cross appearance. Then we have the Drac, who was sometimes described as being dragon like, sometimes like a leprechaun, and was actually a form that the devil took in order to lure people away. From the lakes and rivers which run through the Pyrenees we have the Duanas d'aiga, feminine water spirits akin to mermaids or the fae who could be spotted in these bodies of water before they retreated to the caves they lived in. As well as creation stories and mythical creatures, several deities have also been associated with the Pyrenees. Thanks to various inscriptions and other historical evidence, we know of roughly 45 deities associated with the pyrenees. Some of them are only mentioned the once, such as the God Xuban. Of these deities, it is difficult to be able to discern much about them. However, it is worth noting that similar names pop up. For example, at Escugnau (in the Val d'Aran), an inscription can be found dedicated to Iluberrixo. This name resembles other deity names, such as Iluron or Ilumber, and even some Pyranean Roman towns such as Illiberis. As such, it has been wondered if rather than separate deities, these are all in fact one deity who has been adpoted and adapted slightly across different regions and dialects. The most well known of these is the God Abellio (also known as Abellion), with roughly eight insciptions being found dedicated to him. One of these depictions can be found on the Croix de Beliou. This is a stone cross, believed to be the grave of Millaris, a 1,000 year old patriarch who can be found in tales from across the region. Historians believe that he was a solar God, or possibly associated with apple trees, and he is often spoken of in the same vein as the Roman Apollo, and also the Celtic Belen (Belenus). However, it is worth noting that Abellio is only attested among the Aquitani, a people neither Greek nor Celtic. This is just a very brief snapshot into the myths and legends of the Pyrenees mountains - there is a lot more information out there, but for now I thought this was an interesting insight into a culture which is never really spoken about in much detail. |
The Weekly Witch:Once I week I talk about something 'witchcraft' related I have done with my week. How we incorporate witchcraft into our every day lives is always a topic that has interested me, so I wanted to start this blog to explore it further! Archives
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