Ocean Jar Spell

🌊Ocean jar spell🌊

Recently due to quarantine, I haven't been able to visit the beach. I have a general longing for the sea but these days it makes me so sad that I'm not able to visit at all. So I made a small simple jar spell to keep the ocean with me!

🌊Ingredients

🐚beach sand

🐚water(any water is fine but salt water, storm water, or moon water works best)

🐚seashells/seaglass

🐚sea salt

🐚blue wax

🌊Steps

🐚cast your circle, ground yourself, center, etc whatever you do to prepare for magick work

🐚cleanse the ingredients you are using for the spell

🐚sprinkle in the sand, and think about the good thoughts the beach sand gives you. I think about how it feels to walk in it and run your fingers through it

🐚sprinkle in the salt and think about the good feeling the salt of the ocean gives you. I like to think about the smell of the ocean and the feel of dried salt water on your skin after a day of swimming.

🐚place each seashell/sea glass piece in gently and think about the beauty of the ocean.

🐚put the water in the jar. This can be difficult if you have a teeny jar like me, but what I did was dip my finger in the water and let the water drip from my finger into the jar. I put in nine drops to represent Clíodhna and her ninth wave, as I called upon her to help me with this spell. As the water drips, think about the feeling of the water.

🐚cork the jar and seal it with the blue wax. I like to think of it as water running down the bottle.

🐚this one is completely optional, but when the beaches are safe to visit again, I hope let the ocean water run over it a few times!

Take it with you whenever you feel like you need the ocean with you. I'm keeping it in my cardigan pocket every where I go! :) Good luck witches, blessed be🤍🌊💧🐚

In case any of you other witches cats like to get a little too involved with your witchcraft, you can set up a wall altar so your cats can’t reach it!

Intro to Spirit Work

Throughout history those who practice magic have had a close connection to the spirit world, from fairy doctors who were said to learn their craft from the fae, to ceremonial magicians invoking angels and demons, to witches working with familiar spirits. To practice magic is to open yourself to this connection and to become aware of a whole new world of intelligent beings.

In modern Western culture, there’s a lot of fear around working with spirits. There are countless horror stories about malevolent hauntings, seances gone wrong, and violent possessions. It’s easy to see why many new witches are reluctant to work with spirits.

Ironically, in most other times and places, the spirit world was and is accepted as a normal part of life. All over the world, since before recorded history, people have honored their ancestors, left offerings for local land spirits, and built relationships with deities. We’re actually the weirdos for not having a healthy relationship with the spirits around us.

I personally have found working with spirits to be incredibly rewarding, and being aware of the spirits around me adds a lot of depth to my spiritual practice and my witchcraft. As long as you do your research, keep your wits about you, and are polite, you have nothing to fear and everything to gain from working with spirits.

Some Philosophy Terms

Animism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects.” An animist believes that all things have a spirit, from animals and plants to rocks and even man-made objects. Animism is a big part of many magical practices, especially in folk magic. It’s also a part of several modern religions, including Shinto and Anito. I personally am an animist, and my magic includes connecting with the spirits of the plants, crystals, and objects I work with.

Pantheism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.” A pantheist believes that the physical world is the Divine. Whereas an animist believes that all things have their own spirit, a pantheist believes that the entire world shares a single, divine spirit. Many Wiccans are pantheists, and in some cases pantheism can coexist with animism (all things are both individual spirits and part of the divine whole).

Panentheism: defined by Merriam-Webster as “the doctrine that God includes the world as a part though not the whole of his being.” A panentheist believes that the world is a part of the divine, but that there is also a part of the divine that exists beyond the physical world. Some Christian groups are panentheists. Another example of panentheism is ancient Egyptian religion, where natural objects like the sky and the sun were seen as the bodies (but not the souls) of the gods.

Which of these philosophies you resonate with will shape how you interact with spirits and the spirit world.

Types of Spirits

This is not by any means an exhaustive list, but here are some of the types of spirits witches commonly encounter or work with:

Ancestors: deceased human spirits, especially those with a familial link to you. Ancestor veneration is a huge part of some magic systems, as well as many religions. Some witches ask their ancestors for help in every single spell or ritual, while others honor their ancestors on certain days, like on Samhain or on a deceased loved one’s birthday. Honoring the ancestors is a good place to start with spirit work because they already have a connection to you and are more likely to be willing to help you. However, working with ancestors can be difficult if you don’t know your family’s history or if you don’t feel close to your family. As author Aaron Oberon says, “Sometimes ancestor work is undoing the blocks our ancestors have built.”

To begin connecting with your ancestors, start by researching your family history. Ask your living relatives about their parents and grandparents. Try your hand at genealogy research and see how far back you can trace your family. If you feel called to do so, you can create a special altar to honor your ancestors. Light candles and leave out offerings of food that your ancestors enjoyed while they were alive.

Land Spirits: spirits that embody and are connected to a natural object or landmark. There are many, many types of land spirits, from individual tree and plant spirits to the spirits of great mountains and rivers. Some land spirits are even worshiped as gods – like Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile. Some modern witches even choose to recognize cryptids like Mothman or the Jersey Devil as land spirits! Working with your local land spirits can help you develop a deeper connection to your environment and can make your magic feel more localized and personal.

To begin connecting with land spirits, start by learning about the biology and folklore of your local area. Offerings for land spirits are usually left outside, so be sure to offer things that won’t harm local wildlife. Wild bird seed, fresh fruit, and unsalted peanuts are a few examples of safe offerings.

Spirits of Place: spirits tied to a specific building or location. Unlike land spirits, these beings aren’t always connected to a natural feature. Houses and other buildings can have their own spirits that embody the energy of that place. In Germanic folklore, these spirits are called house wights or husvaettir, and in English folklore they’re called brownies. For people who grew up in non-animist cultures, it can feel strange to leave offerings for the spirit of a man-made building, but there’s a long history of these types of spirits being honored all over the world. I personally see house wights as being similar to land spirits.

If you want to begin connecting with the spirits of your home, start by greeting them by name and leaving out an offering for them. Establishing a relationship with the spirits of your living space can help you create a more harmonious and productive home. Traditional offerings for house wights include dishes of cream, grain-based porridge (like oatmeal or grits), and clean water.

Animal Spirits: the spirit of a specific animal, the archetypal Spirit (with a capital “S”) of an entire species of animal, or an individual spirit that appears as an animal. The concept of animal spirits that act as protectors and guides is found in many cultures, especially those with shamanic traditions. In Norse mythology, fylgjur were protector spirits who often appeared as animals. In British Traditional Witchcraft, witches work with familiar spirits that often take on animal forms. It’s worth noting that the terms “spirit animal” and “totem animal” come from Native American spiritual traditions and should not be used by people who don’t belong to those cultures. The concept of animal guides exists in other cultures, so there’s no reason to appropriate indigenous words and ideas. In my experience, animal spirits are often friendly and easy to connect with, so this is a good place to start for witches who are new to spirit work.

If you’d like to work with animal spirits, you can begin by connecting to the animals that are local to your area. You may feel called to bring a part of the animal you’re connecting with into your sacred space – for example, I keep crow feathers on my altar. Offerings depend on the type of animal spirit you’re connecting to – some require only fresh water, while some traditions state that familiars should be fed with blood (not human). Use your intuition to choose what works for you.

Fairies: fairies are a specific kind of land spirit, and most fairy lore is based on mythology and folklore from the British Isles. Fairies have a reputation in modern pop culture as being sweet, friendly creatures – some authors even compare them to angels! However, I think it’s important to remember that historically, fairies were known for being mischievous and sometimes dangerous. In folklore, fairies are less Tinkerbell and more Spiderwick Chronicles. As author Morgan Daimler says, “They can be cruel and vicious, or generous and kind. Some of them are helpful. Some are indifferent. And some of them think we make a very tasty meal indeed.” For this reason, fairies should be approached with caution.

If you want to honor the fairies in your practice, I recommend checking out Morgan Daimler’s books – they have several on this subject that are both easy to read and well-researched. There are a lot of rules for working with fairies, such as not telling them your full name and not saying “thank you” to a fairy, so this is one type of spirit that you should definitely research before beginning to work with them.

Angels: divine messengers; spirits of love and light that come from the Divine and have no physical form. Strictly speaking, “angel” refers to a messenger of the Abrahamic God, but there are other spirits from other religious traditions that fill a similar role. Angels and similar spirits embody divine love, and as such they are both incredibly powerful and incredibly supportive. Because of their loving nature, working with angels is a good place to start spirit work. Some witches who have had negative experiences with Christianity, Judaism, or Islam may feel uncomfortable working with angels. I have personally found that angels don’t really care how you identify in terms of religion, and have had good experiences with Christian angels even though I identify as pagan. However, your experiences may be different, so please don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable!

There are a lot of bad resources floating around the Internet when it comes to angels. If you’re interested in working with them, I recommend Chantel Lysette’s books Azrael Loves Chocolate and The Angel Code. There’s also a YouTube channel called Ask Angels with Melanie Beckler – I don’t agree with 100% of her ideas, but it’s a decent free resource. Offerings to angels are typically non-physical, like the light from a candle or the smoke from incense.

Demons: spirits of mischief, strife, and/or evil with no physical form. In Western culture, we associate the word “demon” with Christianity, but demons appear in many other religions, including Hinduism and Kemetic paganism. I personally define “demon” as a spirit who: 1.) is not and never was human, and 2.) is antagonistic towards humans. Most witches only deal with demons when they’re trying to get rid of one. However, there are some magic traditions, such as Goetic Magic, that call on demons in magical rituals. Let me just say this: in my experience, there are very few reasons why someone would want to work with a demon, and doing so is as dangerous for the person doing the summoning as it is for the intended victim. I definitely recommend that new witches stay away from these spirits. (But it should be noted that demons are not the same thing as dark deities!)

If you need to get rid of a demon, sulfur is used in American traditions to banish them. (It may also banish helpful spirits, so keep that in mind.) Blessed water is used to repel demons in several cultures. You can also call on an angel or deity for protection.

Deities: powerful, divine spirits who are worshiped as gods. Deities vary a lot from culture to culture, and each deity has their own personality, moral code, and mannerisms. I have found working with deities to be very fulfilling, as deities allow us to put a human face on the Divine. It’s much easier to form a relationship with, say, Odin than it is with an abstract divine force, at least in my experience. Aside from spiritually fulfilling relationships, deities can also be powerful allies in magic. It’s worth noting that very few deities are 100% good or 100% bad – they’re more nuanced than that. Just like anyone else, deities have strengths and weaknesses. (Yes, even the Abrahamic God. Read the Old Testament sometime and tell me God doesn’t have flaws.)

If you are interested in working with deities, start by doing research into the pantheons you feel drawn to. Were you obsessed with Greek mythology as a kid? (Or Norse? Or Egyptian? Or any other culture?) Read up on it! Find out how those deities were worshiped historically, and use that as a starting point for building your own practice. Offerings for deities vary from culture to culture, but I’ve found that fresh, clean water seems to be pretty much universally accepted.

This post ended up just being a whole lot of vocab, but I wanted to get some definitions straight before I start writing about how to connect with the spirit world. In my next post, I’ll talk about how to introduce yourself to different types of spirits and etiquette for maintaining a healthy relationship!

Resources:

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

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve

Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

Temple of the Cosmos by Jeremy Naydler

Azrael Loves Chocolate, Michael’s A Jock: An Insider’s Guide to What Your Angels Are Really Like by Chantel Lysette

Valentine’s Witchery

Witchy things for everyone on Valentine’s day, not just the hopeless romantics! (More related masterposts linked at the bottom!)

Last updated February of 2021, please inform me of broken links via askbox!

Correspondences:

Flowers: Roses, jasmine, lilacs, daisies, marigold, most flowers!

Spices and Herbs: Vanilla, lavender, chamomile, pepper, basil, cinnamon, bay leaves.

Crystals: Rose quartz, pearls, opal, citrine, jade, clear quartz. 

Incense: Amber, cherry, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang [X]

Glamour:

Aphrodite glamour water

Siren’s lipstick spell

Eye catching glamour spell

Glamour solid perfume

“Life of the party” glamour charm

Attracting Romance Spells:

Simple love attraction spell

Spell to attract love into your life

To attract a kind person for a relationship

Love spell for a third party

Love drawing bath soak

Romance Tarot Spreads:

Valentine tarot spread (3 card)

Love tarot spread (4 card)

What are the chances here? (6 card)

Anti-Romance Spells:

Ice queen breath spray 

To repel an unwanted lover

Love repression spell

Anti-lust spell

“Cover My Ass” Anti-Harassment Charm

F*ck off… “leave me alone vibe” glamour

For the Brokenhearted: 

Mend the heart spell

Spell for emotional healing and moving forward

Forgetting that ex spell

Simple spell to heal the heart

Selkie spell to ease heartbreak

Heal your heart potion

Self Love Spells:

Lavender self love jar

Self love spell

A simple self love spell

Self love bath

Self love bath spell

Self Love Tarot Spreads:

Beautiful you tarot spread (3 card)

Self love spread for V day! (6 card)

Self love spread (7 card)

These lovely masterposts:

themanicnami’s list of love spells

sylvaetria’s list of magic for strengthening romantic bonds

urbanspellcrafts’s list of heartbreak-related magic

orriculum’s valentine’s day masterpost

Pt 1 -> Hello I have a question, um, I just did a curse to some really awful neighbors, and the letters transferred in pen ink onto my desk, like perfectly (usually that makes total sense but in this context its sorta weird. Either the ink would of have to been still pretty wet when I turned it over or I pressed so hard that it went thru the paper, neither of which are likely but are still obviously plausible). I didn't wanna have it settle into the desk since its school property

Pt 2 -> and so yeah, I rubbed off the ink with my fingers so it wouldn’t fuck up the desk, but now I’m being all superstitious and thinking I’m gonna pick up some of the curse energy lol. I did use a little germ-x to get the ink of my hands so it wouldn’t get all over the place but yeah… I’m just being silly and wondering if I should be afraid to catch my own curse LOL is that possible or should I not worry abt it 

Hello there! Thank you for sending this in :) First off, I want to say that I’m really glad that you tried ruling out normal, every day occurrences instead of automatically taking them to be some kind of omen. It’s very refreshing to know that some people do think before they react. And, chances are it is just that- a totally normal phenomenon. However, if it’s really bugging you, and making you uneasy, it is always better to be safe than sorry! 

First, I would probably cast a few protection spells for your home, yourself, and your family. It would be a good idea, since you did it at school, to maybe make a charm of some kind that you can carry with you for protection as well. 

Then, I would cleanse yourself, and your home. If you can, maybe make some “holy water” or a  powder that you could use on your desk or around it inconspicuously. This was you can kind of neutralize ground zero. 

One more step you could take is maybe to create a spell or another powder that will direct and contain the effects of your curse to your neighbor. I would suggest a combination of a spell mixed with something you could scatter around your neighbors property to make a wall or barrier to contain the curse within. 

Lastly, I will leave you with a couple links that you might find super useful!

This post by @breelandwalker would be super awesome to put around your home. It’s an offensive and a defensive. 

And Here is an awesome resource list of posts by @recreationalwitchcraft on what to do and how to handle curses!

Here is a post about how to tell if you’ve been cursed and what to do

and here is a recipe for an anti-curse powder you could use! 

I hope this helps! 

constantly-disheveled.tumblr.com/ask

Death Stranding Bonds Potion 👥

a request, inspired by death stranding, a potion be for strengthening bonds

👥 gather: cocoa powder, a mug, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves, and milk or milk substitute of your choice

👥 in the mug, mix a heaping spoonful of cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, 1-3 spoonfuls sugar (to taste). a pinch each of cinnamon and ground cloves

👥 add 2 spoonfuls of water, mix thoroughly. heat briefly and mix again to melt the sugar

👥 add milk, mix well. heat to preferred drinking temperature

👥 if you are of legal drinking age, add a little red wine for flavor. 

👥 top off with black licorice cords and orange zest on top of whipped cream

i apologize for the norman reedus baby sobbing gif i could not find an appropriate one from the game