Kinda Niche But Does Anyone Here Use Any Catholic Cookbooks? I See A Lot Of Witchy/magical Potential

kinda niche but does anyone here use any catholic cookbooks? i see a lot of witchy/magical potential in them and i would to love hear your experiences with them.

symbols and their meaning (bug edition)

🌸moths- transformation, healing, endings, death, rebirth (pluto/ scorpio energy !!)

🌿butterflies- freedom, beauty, hope, transformation. in chinese culture it’s also said to symbolize the human soul !

🌸beetles- prosperity, luck, wealth, growth (mainly from chinese & native american cultures)

🌿ants- unity, team work, power of collaboration and cooperation. in native american culture they can also represent allies

🌸bees- dedication, prosperity, fertility, focus, team work, hard work, kindness, success, positivity. in christianity it can represent forgiveness

🌿scorpions- protection, independence, intelligence, solitude, transformation, sex, lust, fertility, defensiveness

🌸spiders- patience, persistence, omens, fate. native american culture also believe they represent creation, protection, and wisdom

🌿ladybug- positivity, good luck, spiritual guidance, trusting the universe, protection, past lives, wishes being fulfilled, abundance preying

🌸mantis- clairvoyance, meditation, stillness, awareness, balance, peace. christian’s believe it symbolizes piety or that angels are watching you

🌿dragonfly- rejuvenation, unexpected, self realization, mental & emotional maturity, fantasy, adaptability, joy, courage. in buddhism, they believe that dragon flies represent overcoming illusion, through the transformation of your perceptions.

🌸firefly- attraction, self illumination, hope, unity, harmony. the ancient japanese also thought that they were to represent love and war

🌿centipede- healing, hidden things, doubts. although in other cultures such as chinese and african, they believe centipede’s bring wealth, and prosperity

For the witches and pagans who need to hear it, connecting with nature is supposed to be about like, actually observing nature over long periods of time, not doing stuff like hoarding endangered bird feathers and beach sand, or just meditating out in aesthetically-pleasing locations. Can you tell me exactly when your wildflowers and weeds start blooming? When do your bugs come out of hibernation? When do migratory birds come and go? How does the air feel during different times of year? If you can't do stuff like that, you aren't connecting with nature.

Day of the Week Magickal Correspondences:

Monday

Planet: Moon

Tarot: High Priestess, Moon

Color: white, light blue, gray

Stones: moonstone, pearl, fluorite, amethyst, quartz, sapphire

Herbs: moonflower, jasmine, gardenia, white rose

Influences : astral realm, clairvoyance, creativity, dream work, emotions, family, fertility, healing the home, illumination, inspiration, intuition, love, prophecy, protection, psychic ability, travel, truth

Tuesday

Planet: Mars

Tarot: Strength, Wands (5, 6)

Color: red, orange

Stones: carnelian, ruby, bloodstone, garnet, red jasper

Herbs: basil, ginger, blak pepper, patchouli, holly, dragon’s blood, nettle, thistle, thorns, wormwood, hawthorn,

Influences : power, war, courage, agression, revenge, hexes and curses, distruction, ambition, sexual identity, sex magick, self confidence

Wednesday

Planet: mercury

Tarot: The Magician, Wheel of Fortune, Pentacles (8)

Color: blue

Stones: Agate, citrine, aventurine, sodalite, lapis, hematite, emerald

Herbs: lavender, rosemary, fern, cherry, licorice, poppy, mugwort, plantain, apple, fennel

Influences : communication, arts, change, mental power, education, divination, psychic power, divination, wisdom, knowledge, traveling, spiritual enlightenment, mischief

Thursday

Planet: jupiter

Tarot: Pentacles (ace, 9, 10)

Color: royal blue, green and purple

Stones: amethyst, sapphire, turquoise, lepidolite, sugilite

Herbs: cinnamon, sage, nutmeg, melissa, clove, honeysuckle

Influences : money, business, manifestion, justice, healing, abundance, luck, fidelity, honor, justice (legal matters), leadership, loyalty, prosperity, relationships, well-being, success

Friday

Planet: Venus

Tarot: Empress, Lovers, Cups (2)

Color: pink

Stones: rose quartz, pink tourmaline, moonstone, jade, peridot, emerald, ruby

Herbs: red hibiscus, rose, lavender, rosemary, jasmine, blue lotus, violet, birch, sage, ivy

Influences : beauty, emotions, fertility, friendship, happiness, love, passion, pleasure, sexuality, wisdom

Saturday

Planet: Saturn

Tarot: Temperance, Swords (knight, 2)

Color: Black, Gray (dark), Indigo, Purple (dark)

Stones: onyx, obsidian, smokey quartz, jet, pumice

Herbs: myrrh, moss, thyme, basil, hemlock, nettle, peppermint, pomegranate, hyacinth, mallow, juniper

Influences : banish, binding magick, death, protection, freedom, justice, karma, banishing, uncrossing magick, hexes and curses

Sunday

Planet: Sun

Color: yellow, gold

Tarot: Chariot, Sun, Wands (ace)

Stones: citrine, sunstone, pyrite, gold, goldstone, carnelian, orange calcite, tiger’s eye, amber

Herbs: sunflower, chamomile, calendula, marigold, bergamot, oak, rosemary, oregano

Influences : accomplishment, action, ambition, attraction, authority, beauty, confidence, creativity, energy (solar), fame, freedom, friendship, goals, personal growth, healing, hope, illumination, justice, leadership, light, protection, spirituality

Types of 'Gods'

The concept of gods varies across different cultures, mythologies, and belief systems.

Here are some broad categories or types of gods that can be found in various religious and mythological traditions:

Creator Gods: Creator gods are often associated with the creation of the world or universe. They are believed to have brought existence into being and may hold significant power and authority. Examples include Brahma in Hinduism, Atum in Egyptian mythology, and Elohim in certain interpretations of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Mother Goddesses: Mother goddesses represent fertility, nurturing, and the life-giving aspects of the divine feminine. They are associated with creation, birth, and the cycles of nature. Examples include Isis in Egyptian mythology, Demeter in Greek mythology, and Gaia in ancient Greek cosmogony.

Sky Gods: Sky gods are associated with the heavens, celestial bodies, and the realm of the sky. They often possess powers related to weather, lightning, or cosmic order. Examples include Zeus in Greek mythology, Thor in Norse mythology, and Indra in Hinduism.

War Gods: War gods are associated with warfare, battles, and military prowess. They often embody strength, courage, and strategic abilities. Examples include Ares in Greek mythology, Mars in Roman mythology, and Huitzilopochtli in Aztec mythology.

Wisdom Gods: Wisdom gods are associated with intellect, knowledge, and spiritual insight. They are often revered as divine teachers or possessors of divine wisdom. Examples include Athena in Greek mythology, Thoth in Egyptian mythology, and Saraswati in Hinduism.

Trickster Gods: Trickster gods are mischievous and often unpredictable figures who challenge conventions and bring about change or disruption. They may embody chaos, humor, or transformation. Examples include Loki in Norse mythology, Hermes in Greek mythology, and Anansi in West African folklore.

Love and Beauty Gods: Love and beauty gods embody qualities of love, romance, beauty, and desire. They are often associated with fertility, attraction, and the pursuit of aesthetic pleasure. Examples include Aphrodite in Greek mythology, Venus in Roman mythology, and Freyja in Norse mythology.

These categories are not exhaustive, and there are countless other types of gods and divine beings found in different belief systems. The characteristics and roles of gods can vary greatly, reflecting the unique cultural and religious contexts in which they are worshipped.

{This post is just for educational reasons}

Mary Gardens and Saintly Plants

Hello my fellow Catholic witches! So while I was looking through stuff to do for May, I came across Mary Gardens and I thought they sounded like something full of potential witchery.

What is a Mary Garden?

A Mary garden is a garden dedicated to Mary. It is full of plants relating to Mary and her son, Jesus. They also contain a statue of Mary and sometimes have benches and candles for prayer. Some people also add plants relating to other saints. Sometimes they are dedicated to a certain aspect of Mary (such as Our Lady of Sorrows). They can be as big as a park or as small as a flower pot.

Plants for a Mary Garden

Relating to Jesus

Grapes- His blood

Wheat- His Body

Hyssop- Used at the Crucifixion

Begonia- Heart of Jesus

Geranium- Heart of Jesus

St. John’s Wort- Jesus’ Blood

Snapdragons- the Child Jesus’ shoes

Passion flowers- Christ’s Passion (the stamens and pistils look like the nails and the crown of thorns)

Red Roses- Christ’s Passion (as the crown of thorns and the five petals are Christ’s five wounds)

Plants with thorns- the crown of thorns

Dogwood- the Crucifixion

Relating to Mary

All flowers are associated with Mary but here are some that have more specific associations.

Roses- The Marian flower. Said to be found in her tomb, and appear in most of her apparitions. Used during May Crowning. Their colors symbolize her as follows:

White - Mary’s Purity

Red- Mary’s Sorrow

Gold- Mary’s Glory

Lilies- Said to be found in her tomb and given to her by the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation

Forget-Me-Nots- Our Lady’s Eyes

Baby’s Breath- Our Lady’s Veil

Bachelor’s Buttons- Our Lady’s Crown

Bleeding Hearts- Mary’s Heart pierced by swords

Iris- the swords that pierced Mary’s Heart

Marigolds- Mary’s gold

Violets- Our Lady’s Modesty

Lavender- one legend says this plant got its scent when Mary laid Jesus’ clothes out to dry on it

Lily-of-the-Valley- Said to have grown from Mary’s tears as she stood at the foot of the cross

Damask Roses- the roses Our Lady of Guadalupe told St. Juan Diego to gather

English Daisy- Mary’s Love

Maidenhair Fern- Mary’s Hair

Field Bindweed- Our Lady’s Cup (from a German legend that Mary freed a wine seller’s cart after giving her a drink. Because he did not have a cup, Our Lady used the flower of Field Bindweed instead)

Morning Glory- Our Lady’s Cloak

Hawthorn- traditionally used during May Crowning

Honeysuckle- Our Lady’s fingers or Our Lady’s stick

Hydrangea- Ave Maria

Jasmine- Mary

Larkspur- Mary’s tears

Moonflower- Our Lady of the Night

Primrose- Mary’s candlestick

Juniper- Our Lady’s Shelter, said to have hidden the Holy Family during the flight to Egypt

Snowdrops- used at Candlemas

Sweet Alyssum- Blessed by Mary

Tulip- Mary’s Prayer

Water lily- Our Lady of the Lake or Stella Marius

Parsley- Our Lady’s Little Vine

Sage- Mary’s shawl

Thyme- Mary’s humility

Fennel- Our Lady’s Fennel

Spearmint- Mary’s mint

Horehound- Mother-of -God’s tea

Dandelion- Mary’s bitter sorrow

Catnip- Mary’s nettle

Valerien- Our Lady’s Needlework

Chamomile- Maiden’s weed

Other plants

These relate to saints or to God.

Columbine- the Holy Spirit (because they look like doves)

St John’s Wort- Named after one of the many St. Johns

Chicory- the Heavenly way

Coriander- St. John’s head

Dill- Devil away

Tarragon- Named for St. Martha’s dragon

Shamrock- St. Patrick

Lilies- St. Joseph’s staff

Peony- Pentecost Rose

Nasturtium- St. Joseph’s flower

Tritium- the Holy Trinity

Ivy- Where God has Walked

Hollyhock- St. Joseph’s staff

Gladiolus- 12 Apostles

Grape Hyacinth- St. Joseph’s bells

Basil- St. Anthony of Padua

Cosmos- St. Michael’s flower

Aster- Michaelmas daisies

Chrysanthemum- All Saint’s flower

Cherry- used on St. Barbara’s feast day

Pussy willow- used on Ash Wednesday

Palm- used in Palm Sunday

Pansies- the Holy Trinity

Blackberries- last gathered on Michaelmas

What does this have to do with witchcraft?

Well, many of these plants are commonly used in witchcraft. They can be used to call upon a certain saint for help (doing a protection spell, use Cosmos- St. Michael’s flower). Or they can be used based on their association (Maidenhair fern for beauty spells because it’s associated with Mary’s hair).