Embracing Change: A Ritual

Embracing Change: a Ritual

Today, I decided to tap into the energy of change and transformation that Wednesday can bring. I've felt sort of stuck and in a rut lately. Life just feels stale, my practice has come to a bit of a halt (not alarming, I've been a witch for nearly two decades, and sometimes the spiritual burnout hits hard), so I felt like I needed to do something.

For this, I don't have any real instructions on how to go about things, and the items used really depend on your intention, but I can offer the bare bones of this spell.

Two candles (one black to represent the aspects of your life that you are letting go of, one white to represent the change you are embracing. If you want to use colors that fit the specific aspects, go right ahead!)

Some sort of imagery to symbolize change and transformation (I chose Death, as this card is a reminder to let go of what no longer serves you)

Herbs for your intention (here I used bay, lemongrass, hibiscus, Angelica root, and dandelion root)

Crystals to match your intention (red aventurine, red howlite, honey calcite)

If you have any special water to use, it can be part of this (I used a cap filled with snow water I collected last winter)

Any oils you may want to use

Set your space up to your liking. Do any cleaning you may do before spellwork. Whatever you need to do to feel in the zone, do it.

When dressing the candles (for this, I just used an all-purpose oil), take the one that represents what you're letting go of and dress it from the top to the bottom. Do the opposite (bottom to the top) with the one representing the change you're embracing. While doing this, focus on your intention. Are there certain areas in your life where you feel stuck? Do you have habits you need to release? Pour those energies into this act. Continue that focus as you add any crystals, herbs, etc. With each one, consider what each one means to you personally, and what its place is within this ritual.

If you plan to call upon deities, do this in whatever way you usually do. Offer libations as needed. So on, so forth. For this, I opted out of deity work (although I've found that when I usually just send intentions out to the universe, a deity I don't expect usually swoops in like, "Nope. You work with me now." [Looking at you, Hera. 💕]).

Speaking your intentions out loud. Address any deities you're speaking with and petition their help, if applicable. Otherwise, just speak. Don't think about what you're saying. Let it come from the heart. Tell the universe your problems. Talk about how you feel stuck, what you want to change, what an ideal outcome would be for you, etc. I feel like there's a special sort of magic just in the cartharsis that comes with giving voice to what you're feeling, especially if you don't have an outlet.

Take all the time you need. If you need to give this more energy, sit there with it. No matter how quick I may be with a ritual, I let the candles burn out completely. I also do this in my living room, so either me or my boyfriend can see the flames at any give time. If fire safety doesn't allow for you to leave it burning while you move about, don't worry. Extinguish the flames as needed. You can return to burn them a little more throughout the day.

I hope the universe reveals this little ritual to anyone who may need it. I send it out into the world with the hope of helping. Have a magical Wednesday, and may the winds of change blow in your direction and lead you to where you need to be.

Harmony at Home Blend

I've been away for a bit, taking care of some mental health things, but I'm back with another herbal blend for anyone who may want to bring some good energy to their home. Without further ado...

Ingredients and intention

Alfalfa (prosperity and cleansing)

Lavender (calm)

Rose petals (love)

Hyssop (cleansing and purification)

Lemon balm (tranquility and harmony)

Juniper berries (good luck and protection)

I haven't quite decided how I'm going to use this, but there are a few possibilities. Most likely, I will use them as an infusion to make a floor wash. Other options are grinding them to make either a floor sweep or a powdered incense.

Any ritual and spellcraft used with this is entirely up to you! I always like to focus on my intent when preparing the blends, and since this will be used with domestic magic, I like saying a little prayer to Hestia and leaving her an offering. Feel free to be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like if you choose to incorporate this blend into your practice.

Morning tea affirmation with the When My Soul Whispered oracle deck, and enjoying the gentle nudge from a nice cup of mint green tea

"Each and every facet of me, even the not-so-shiny ones, bear witness to thr person I am today."

Crystals that are NOT suitable for placing in water / making gem water

This list will explain common stones that are either toxic to use for drinking in gem water or stones that are soluble in water. :)

Alunite: Non toxic but soluble in water

Anglesite: Toxic and slightly soluble in water

Arsenopyrite: Potentially toxic

Azurite: Harmful

Azurite-Malachite: Harmful

Azurite-Pseudomalachite: Harmful

Bunsenite: Toxic; allergen; avoid skin contact

Calomel: Possibly hazardous to health

Cerussite: Toxic

Chalcanthite: Harmful; easily soluble in water

Cinnabar: Very toxic!

Cinnabar-Opal: The cinnabar stored in the opal is toxic

Crocoite: Toxic 

Cuprite: Harmful

Durangite: Potentially toxic

Eclipse Stone: Limestone with orpiment, toxic

Eilat Stone: Harmful

Erythrite: Potentially toxic

Fiedlerite: Toxic

Fluorite, Antozonite variety: Potentially harmful

Galenite: Toxic and slightly soluble in water

Gaspeite: Harmful; allergen; avoid skin contact

Greenockite: Toxic

Halite: Not toxic in small quantities, but dissolves easily in water

Iron-nickel Meteorite: Harmful; allergen; avoid skin contact

Jamesonite: Potentially toxic

Lemon Chrysoprase: Potentially harmful; allergen; avoid skin contact

Lopezite: Very toxic! Hazardous even through skin contact

Malachite: Harmful

Millerite: Toxic; allergen; avoid skin contact

Minium: Toxic

Nickeline: Toxic; allergen; avoid skin contact

Olivenite: Potentially toxic

Orpiment: Toxic

Proustite: Potentially toxic

Psilomelane and Pyrolusite: Harmful

Pyromorphite: Potentially toxic

Rauenthalite: Toxic

Realgar: Toxic. Store in dark, securely locked place.

Scorodite: Potentially toxic

Sphaerocobaltite: Harmful; allergen; avoid skin contact

Stibnite: Harmful

Tetrahedrite: Potentially harmful

Ulexite: Non toxic but slightly soluble in warm water

Valentinite and Senarmontite: Harmful

Vanadinite: Toxic

Wulfentie: Potentially toxic

Happiness Potion (honey milk tea) 🤎✨

What you need: 

2 tsp honey

½ tsp cinnamon

½ cup boiling water

½ cup milk

What to do:

Mix the honey, cinnamon and water together in a mug until combined.

Froth the milk with a milk frothing tool or by whisking/shaking very violently (Optional)

Add the milk

Garnish with cinnamon

Optional:

The ratio of boiling water to milk should bring the drink down to the perfect temperature!

With milk, you can add peppermint to soothe the stomach, chamomile to soothe the throat and encourage sleep, ginger to soothe the throat, or cayenne pepper to clear the sinuses.

Without milk, you can add a bit of lemon to boost the immune system.

You can replace the water with a herbal tea of your choices such as lavender or chamomile.

You can replace the milk with almond milk or any milk of choice.

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Here’s the explanation for this spell for fellow baby witches

Spells come in many forms, including drinkable ones! You can call them potions if you like. They involve using herbs/flavors/scents etc with specific correspondents to fulfil a specific intention.

Honey signifies happiness and positivity and expels negativity, depression and anxiety.

Cinnamon signifies spirituality, success, healing, protection, power, love, luck, strength and prosperity

Milk has correspondents too! Full cream milk signifies prosperity, nurturing, protection, success. Warm milk eases anxiety and anger. Here’s a list of correspondents for non-dairy milk types by @heximari

Citrine is a crystal that boosts joy and optimism, and clear quartz is used for protection and as an amplifier for other crystals.

Sigils are statements of intent drawn up into a little picture which you can write on your skin, on a paper, or in this case, stir into tea, to make a spell work better.

Prosperity Bath

I am a firm believer that a nice bath in and of itself is a special sort of magic. My one complaint about my new apartment is that it's shower-only, so I am trying to find a way to modify my old baths to suit my present needs. Until then, have a little bath formula to help draw in the energy of prosperity.

Items needed

Green aventurine (known as the stone of opportunity, and it's used to attract prosperity, opportunity, etc)

Green candles (as many as you'd like)

For the bath

Salt of your choice (I prefer coarse sea salt)

Basil

Lemon

Lemongrass (optional, but I love adding it to things because it is so good for removing obstacles)

You can either use fresh or dried herbal items, or diluted essential oils

Mix your ingredients together with the salt and add to a hot bath. Inhale the steam, inviting prosperity and success into your life. Set up your green candles and aventurine to your liking. As you light the candles, say an affirmation or whatever comes to your heart. My personal favorite is, "I have all that I need, and the universe provides."

Enjoy your bath, focusing on your intention.