Witches, Lets Talk Spell Books.

witches, let’s talk spell books.

this is such a huge part of our craft, and i think its about time we talk about it.

a side note before we start, there is an amazing video that personally inspired me by a witch (herspeak) that you can watch here! i will include some of the information she gives in her video in this post for those of you who don’t have the time to watch!

first off… grimoire? book of shadows? whats the difference? what on earth even is a book of mirrors?? wait… there’s even more??

well first lets quickly talk about the different types of books!

grimoire: a textbook of magick, a reference book filled with anything you desire or need to remember (lists, correspondences, how-to’s, spells)

book of shadows: for wiccans/pagans, this can be seen as more religious, but it is typically more known for its personal/spiritual journal aspects (religious or not); some may use it for references also

book of mirrors: a book of reflections, for recording experimentation and its results including successes and failures (some like to keep their book of shadows pure with only successes)

book of light: a book used usually by wiccans/pagans that is used by eclectics, referring to light as knowledge; used for notes and information often to be shared whereas a book of shadows is personal and private (sort of makes me think of a less organized/personal grimoire)

the tree: a seax-wica (an anglo-saxon paganism) version of a book of shadows

book of ways: a devotional book for wiccans/pagans

(of course all of these things are up to further interpretation!)

back in the day when witchcraft was more ruled by covens, only one spell book was required for each coven, but now that witchcraft is often a solitary and/or personal path, witches are often encouraged to have their own! most witches will have either a book of shadows or grimoire. some witches will have both, and some will have one book that includes the aspects of both and call it one or the other.

let’s start with the basic thing nobody talks about… the book itself!

what should you use? well first off, you don’t need some big, expensive, and fancy leather book straight out of hocus pocus. if its so fancy that you aren’t going to work in it, don’t use it! you could use…

a sketchbook

you could make a book (a traveler’s notebook is a great idea)

an online book

a binder and insert pages

an old thrift store book and paint over the pages

you could even write and paint on paper and paste all over your walls and work space and make a room your ‘book’

you could choose something that relates to your field of magick if you have a defined one, get creative!

make sure your book a reflection of you. but remember, we are what makes books come alive. reading is what makes languages have purpose. without you there to read it, your book is meaningless. the connection between you and your book is beyond special from the first moment you begin working!

so where on earth do i start? if you already have one, what’s holding you back from working more?

well what interests you? if you don’t know yet, here is a wonderful masterpost of types of magick! find what you like, what sounds cool to you, what resonates with you, research it! (maybe make an entry about it and your discoveries!)

once you know your interests, don’t waste time on things you aren’t interested in. if you don’t care about herbal magick, don’t write down a seven page list of all herbs and their properties. i personally had to retry creating a grimoire a few times in order to learn that lesson.

so how do i bond and grow comfortable with my book? how do i create a connection? how do i give it my personal touch?

do what makes you happy.

create your own aesthetic. maybe ask friends around you what your aesthetic seems to be if you don’t know yourself. don’t follow that big ole leather book stereotype unless you like it. if you do, another great idea for aging your pages are coffee and tea stains on your paper. 

sleep with your book under your pillow! bond with it like you would your tarot deck. carry it around throughout the day. let it become a companion.

your book isn’t just a place to write about your craft, infuse your craft! if you like lunar magick, bathe it in moonlight. if you like herbal magick, spray your pages with an herb and water mix.

don’t stress about organization or a table of contents yet. you can put an index at the end when you know you’re done. its your book so you’ll probably have a sense of where things are anyways, but if you’re forgetful like me, use some labelled bookmarks!

in fact, don’t stress about it at all if you can! your book shouldn’t stress you out. mistakes happen. keep negative energy away. you and your book are a conjoined, powerful force! you can paste over pages, paint over them, or even just rip them out. in the wonderful words of herspeak in the aforementioned video, nothing is special until you say it is. 

remember, it might take a couple tries to get it right, and that’s okay! you might have to make a couple throughout your lifetime to hold all the knowledge you learn, so no worries.

don’t just copy and paste other peoples’ information into your book, that isn’t how you learn. take note of things that are important to you. are you memorizing or understanding? allow yourself to understand. if it shines and you find it important, write this information in your own words and in a setup you enjoy.

you don’t have to be an artist to make a beautiful book! your book is already beautiful, unique, and magickal because its yours!

here’s some ideas for pages in your book!

correspondence lists. i definitely think color correspondences are important for just about every witch! what do these things mean to you? how do they make you feel and what do you relate them to? do this with other things you find interesting!

devote a page to your sun and moon sign or maybe you and your partners signs and how they interact.

create a protection sigil just for your book.

make a page about your totem animal/spirit animal. please don’t appropriate these terms though, you can also use daemon, patronus, eomkin, or even just your personal corresponding animal.

you could make a page for each holiday, its history and dates, and add a paper pocket into the page filled with recipes.

you could collage things that make you think of a deity you like whether you’re secular or whether you participate. if enjoy and appreciate a deity, give em a page! if you worship or work with one or many, dive in much deeper and show how that relationship affects you.

paste in pictures from books or parts of posters that show what magick means to you.

practice spirit work? draw the spirit! collage the spirit. find art that makes you think of the spirit and pop it in there.

press plants you find, tape them in, bring a little greenery into your book. label them if you like. give them your own names if you don’t know your plants well.

write your dreams out, decorate in a way that feels right, use colors according to how it made you feel.

draw out the ingredients you want to use in a spell/potion/oil. dab a bit of the creation on the page.

make a page for your familiars. list any spells for them, where you found/adopted them, their breed and things about them, what’s their favorite snack, and if your familiar is cooperative, maybe try to get a paw/nose print!

make a pendulum chart.

find one of those adult coloring books. tear a few pages and stick them in either randomly or maybe in a page about meditation. when stressed, use it as a meditative practice.

chakras, what they mean to you, correspondences, and which you may need to work on. here is a fun test you can take that tells you if your chakras are under-active, over-active, or open.

any fictional/real witches or wizards that stood out to you? why?

write about magickal experiences you had as a child you can’t explain today. what about imaginary friends and were they imaginary?

get geeky. make spells about video games! inspire spells based on favorite characters and abilities or get inspiration from your favorite playable mages! get really creative with this one.

make a page about past lives if you know of any.

what do the elements mean to you? what are your favorites? which do you feel connected to?

stick envelopes in there and put recipes, spreads, all sorts of things in there to save some pages! utilize fold out pages for long chunks of information.

do you cast circles? what do you use? what do you think the energy looks like? the color? the shape if you don’t see it as a circle? draw the seen and unseen.

make a page about your spiritual or psychic gifts. how did you discover them?

make a list of things to research. cross them out as you do.

print out aesthetically pleasing pictures you find portray you and your craft. collage your personal aesthetic/witchy moodboard

i could list on and on, but i hope i’ve given you some creative inspiration! make your book what you want! keep researching and gain inspiration from others if you’re ever lost. feel free to message me if you ever have questions!

happy casting!

Bonding with Lady Hera 🍯

☕ gardening! i love tending to my plants while humming or talking to her.

☕ telling her about your daily plans while making your morning coffee/tea, or if you don't drink either of those, making breakfast.

☕ devote your showers to her. i'm not able to shower everyday to due staying home with a toddler, so showers are special for Hera and i.

☕ ask her to tag along while thrift shopping!

☕ self care! self care! self care! hera is HUGE on self care and loving yourself.

☕ if it's your thing, wedding planning! i devote my wedding planning to hera because it makes me feel extremely close to her

☕ if you're a parent, parent/kiddo dates with your child! when i take Atlas to the park or just outside, i feel close to Hera.

☕ dates with your partner

☕ i feel like this is obvious for some people, but meditation

☕ cooking dinner for yourself, or your partner, family, friends, etc!

☕ spending time with your friends, or making more friends!

☕ relationship strengthening spells, friendship spells, self care magick

☕ farmers market trips!!

feel free to add more to this!! this post comes from my personal experiences and may not suite everyone ~

Can Meditation Help your Psychic Abilities?

Many people ask me how to get your psychic abilities in check. To me I feel the main way is daily meditation. To which I am not going to lie but I am behind a bit.

Even if you just start and sit for 10 minutes a day it will help. You will notice it too. First you will notice it in your dreams. Then it will carry over into your daily activities.

Some people tell me meditation is hard due to they cannot tune out the real world. Give it time. Eventually you will be able to shut oh I have to go grocery shopping, what did I forget to do today. Did I remember _____?

This is common. You just need to not to think. Just close your eyes and relax. First slowly tighten all the muscle in you body. Start with the feet and continue tightening your muscles and relaxing  them as you do this your body will start to relax. You can use calming or relaxing music. I tend to use humpback whale sounds. It is whatever your preference is.

As for your thoughts just tell your mind to shut them off.

You can also lay down and visualize a light aboce your feet and move it up to your head slowly.

If you try these practices daily it will help open yourself up more so you aren’t so stuck.

I will be posting more about each of the abilities and how to become more in tune to them.

I rolled a rose petal and lavender joint today! It smoked pretty smoothly, smelled lovely, and tasted sweet.✨🥀🔮

((caption deleters will be cursed))

Small Candle Spells

Not every witch has the means to collect tons of exotic ingredients.   Sometimes, all you have is a candle and a wish.  So, I have put together 10 small candle spells.  (The types of candles I am talking about are tea lights or small, tapered little fellas.  Relatively cheap and easy to use!)  Hope this becomes a resource for you all!  Let’s get started!  <3 Salt

BLACK CANDLE:  Protection

You will need:

One Black Candle

Sheet of Paper

Pen/Pencil

Spellwork:

Write down what it is you wish to protect, be it your home, your family, yourself, etc.

Light the candle.

Chant the following ten times:

By the time this black candle has waned, the blessing of protection be gained by all that fall beneath its wax be safely guarded from attack. Until the next waxing moon appears, protect all that I have written here.

Allow the candle to burn completely down and the wax to spread across the paper. 

Fold it and keep it until the next waxing moon.

Repeat as often as needed.

WHITE CANDLE:  Spirit Communication

You will need:

One White Candle

Photo of the Person you wish to speak to

Spellwork:

Before bed, light the white candle and focus on the flame.  Let’s its warmth ignite the love you feel for the person you wish to communicate with.

Say their name allowed.  Speak of the memories you have with them.  Let the memory of them come to life in your mind.

When you are ready, recite the following spell:

Before I rest my head for the night, I ask that my heart’s call to you, (say their name), be answered. In dreams, let us be together again and share the embrace of love. I await your visit and, for it, you have my deepest thanks.

Blow out the candle and visualize their face in your mind’s eye.

Once the wax has cooled, place it and the picture together near your bed.  You are free to sleep.  Enjoy the visit!

PINK CANDLE:  Self-Love

You will need:

One Pink Candle

Piece of paper (cut into a heart shape)

Pencil or pen

Spellwork:

On the heart paper, write down the positive aspects and assets you have.  It can be anything (from pretty eyes to being compassionate.)  Fill up the paper and fold it into a half heart.

Hold it in your hands and shut your eyes.  Deeply breathe, and focus on your pulse and the things you wrote.  Focus on yourself.

Recite the following incantation:

I am who I am flawed, challenging, human I am who I am soulful, in communion with the universe I am who I will be ever-changing and growing And I bow to the purpose that resides in me.

Light the heart paper on fire, allow it to turn to ash, and blow out the candle.

Anoint your forehead and the center of your chest with hearts made of ash.  Meditate on the self and what your purpose might me.

Anytime you feel the need to revisit self-love, use the ashes and light the candle again.

PURPLE CANDLE:  Accessing Gifts and Talents

You will need:

One Purple Candle

Spellwork:

On the night of the New Moon, sit in a quiet, dark room.  Light your candle and concentrate on expelling all the static energy from your mind.  

Focus on your the gifts you would like to explore.  An example?  If you are drawn to Tarot, have your deck nearby and envision yourself shuffling the cards.

Repeat the following chant 13 times:

My mind is clear, my heart is too Reveal my gifts, deep and true

Open your eyes and stare into the flame.  Let the fire of inspiration illuminate the talent you want to access.

Invoke the gift by whispering:

On this night, and all nights to come, I will open myself to this ancient power and allow discovery of my true potential.

Blow out the candle and keep by your bedside.  When you practice a gift or talent, light it until there is no more wax.

ORANGE CANDLE:  Calling Your Inner Child

You will need:

One Orange Candle

Divinatory Tool (Suggest: Tarot or Oracle cards)

Spellwork:

Light the orange candle and begin shuffling your cards.

When you feel that you have shuffled enough, hold the cards in your hand and focus on the flames.

Say the following spell:

Bring future to past with this candle’s light and provide for me childish insight. One card to tell me of my woes, another about the child within, a third cast to bring us together so that we may begin again.

Draw three cards.  The first will represent your position right now (who you are and what you have been going through); the second will represent your inner child and what insights they can provide through their innocence.  The third and final card will show you what will happen if you allow the present you and your inner child join together.

Light the candle whenever you need guidance from your inner child again.

LIGHT BLUE CANDLE:  Fortune and Glory

You will need:

One Light Blue Candle

Money (coins or paper money)

An Award or piece of Recognition (trophy, certificate, etc.)

Spellwork:

Anytime on a Sunday (the day where workings for wealth, achievement, goals, and promotions correspond), place your candle between your representations of fortune and glory.

Put one hand on each item, and say:

I humbly ask for the Universe and all the powers within it to look upon these representations of fortune and glory.  I light this candle to honor you and ask for the following blessings…

Light your candle and return your hands to rest on your items.  Recite:  

By the light of this flame, sweet fortune I do claim.   Wealth and wisdom I do gain. By warmth of this flame, glory granted to my name. Recognition I do gain.

Allow the candle to burn until there is no more wax.  Collect what is left, store in a jar, and keep in a place you conduct business.

YELLOW CANDLE:  Invoking the Spirit of Air

You will need:

One Yellow Candle

Spellwork:

At 3 PM, go outside and bathe in the light of the middle of the day.  Light your candle and place it in front of you.

Fisting your hands, place them on either side of the candle and say the following incantation:

Here and now, I call the element of Air.  Summer breeze and roaring wind, echoing melody and lifting wings, ever-dancing.  I call you forth to infuse my intention with your swirling fits of both song and silence.  Carry my will on your back and raise my purpose into your sky.  Breath and cloud, sound and song.  Air, I call you to me.

Open your fists and allow for the spirit of Air to translate through your palms and into your center.

Let the candle burn for five minutes and then blow it out, keeping it when you need it again.

GREEN CANDLE:  Invoking the Spirit of Earth

You will need:

One Green Candle

Spellwork:

At night, go outside and bathe in the light of the moon.  Light your candle and place it in front of you.

Fisting your hands, place them on either side of the candle and say the following incantation:

Here and now, I call the element of Earth.  Soil of fertility and growth, fecund source of stability, stillness and health.  I call you forth to filter away all that is impure, and to stand rooted in this world.  Mountain and dust, footstep and stone.  Earth, I call you to me.

Open your fists and allow for the spirit of Earth to translate through your palms and into your center.

Let the candle burn for five minutes and then blow it out, keeping it when you need it again.

DARK BLUE CANDLE:  Invoking the Spirit of Water

You will need:

One Blue Candle

Spellwork:

At twilight, go outside and bathe in the light of the fading sun.  Light your candle and place it in front of you.

Fisting your hands, place them on either side of the candle and say the following incantation:

Here and now, I call the element of Water.  Tranquil and powerful, rippling and deep, abundant resource of life.  I call you here to infuse my intention.  Wash my will in your flow, carry my purpose on your current.  Dewdrop and lake, clarity and storm.  Water, I call you to me.

Open your fists and allow for the spirit of Water to translate through your palms and into your center.

Let the candle burn for five minutes and then blow it out, keeping it when you need it again.

RED CANDLE:  Invoking the Spirit of Fire

You will need:

One Red Candle

Spellwork:

At sunrise, go outside and bathe in the light of the new dawn.  Light your candle and place it in front of you.

Fisting your hands, place them on either side of the candle and say the following incantation:

Here and now, I call the element of Fire.  Heat and flame, passion and love, anger and wildfire.  I call you forth to burn away all that impedes my highest vision and to enact change in the world.  Lightning and hearth, heart and forge.  Fire, I call you to me.

Open your fists and allow for the spirit of fire to translate through your palms and into your center.

Let the candle burn for five minutes and then blow it out, keeping it when you need it again.

To Aphrodite

To Aphrodite 

Great Aphrodite,

Beauty of the sea,

She who loves

When we ourselves cannot 

Her hands grace our hair,

A motherly touch, one of comfort 

She tells us it’ll all be alright,

When we cannot see through our tears 

So, beauty Aphrodite,

We praise you heartfully, 

For holding us close,

And clearing the salt from our eyes.