Sometimes Just A Glass Of Water Is An Offering. Sometimes Just Saying A Deitys Name Is An Offering. Sometimes

sometimes just a glass of water is an offering. Sometimes just saying a deity’s name is an offering. Sometimes laughing or crying or letting yourself feel what you need to feel is an offering. Sometimes just existing is an offering. Not everything has to be a big, grand gesture. The gods understand so much more than we think they do. They’ve existed for eons, have had thousands, if not millions, of people pray to them and offer to them and become their devotees. Would they really curse one person, out of all these worshippers, for simply trying their hardest? Have more faith in them.

Rowan Méadhbh’s List of Tips and Advice for New Witches

Rowan Maédhbh’s List of Tips and Advice For New Witches!

✧ GENERAL TIPS:

Read.

Before you even think about practising magic, you need to study. It sounds tedious, I know, but witchcraft is not a trivial undertaking. You also need to learn to read critically, and with a pinch of salt! Why? Because, although almost all authors do have some valuable and useful content in their work, some perpetuate problematic ideals, such as racism, sexism, stealing from closed cultures, and the use of Wicca and witchcraft interchangeably.

Start a grimoire/Book of Shadows/Journal.

You’ll need a safe place to keep all of the information you’ve gathered safe, and a grimoire (as I call mine), is essentially a notebook for that exact purpose. It doesn’t have to be fancy (though you’re welcome to make it as ostentatious as you like), - it can be a bullet journal if that’s easy for you. Within your grimoire, you should keep all gathered information, spells, failures, successes, records of work you’ve done, etc,. Anything that pertains to your craft.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to pick a path.

You might see a lot of witches who class themselves as one thing or another, e.g., storm witches, kitchen witches, elemental witches, spirit/divination witches; green witches; cosmic witches, and so on. That is cool and their prerogative, but you will also see witches known as eclectic - like me! Eclectic Witches, are simply witches who choose to practise many different types of magic and forge their own path, instead of following only one, or following a pre-established path.

Basically, there is no need at all, whatsoever, to label yourself. With many of us, our paths found us in time.

Research paths, secular witchcraft and religious witchcraft.

Witchcraft alone, is a practise. However, some paths are indeed religious, such as Wicca. Make sure you know the difference before you begin actively practising and before you decide on your path, if you do choose to do so.

Carry a little notebook on your person.

You can’t always carry your grimoire with you, so I personally like to carry a tiny little notebook with me, for those moments when inspiration takes me, or if something captures my imagination or attention. You can add it to your grimoire/BoS later.

Oh, and one more thing: don’t ever stop learning and reading and recording. Witchcraft is a path of continuous learning.

✧ THINGS TO RESEARCH:

Crystals/gemstones/minerals

Herb and crystal correspondences, e.g., such as colour and planetary.

Sabbats and esbats, if you want to observe them.

The basic tools of witchcraft.

Altars (if you’re so inclined).

Lunar phases.

Divination, e.g., tarot, runes, pendulums.

Witchcraft and deities (if you’re so inclined).

Traditional witchcraft practises.

SAFETY! What is safe to use/burn/touch/ingest. There are lots of poisonous and potentially fatal plants and ingredients out there.

Easy/budget magic/witchcraft.

The history of witchcraft, including lore, myths and tales.

The importance and use of the elements in magic.

Research cultures. Find out what is and is not available for you to adopt and practise. Make sure that your practise does not steal from closed cultures.

✧ EASY PRACTISES FOR NEW WITCHES:

Grounding - grounding is the act of centering your energy and focusing it within yourself. You can ground yourself by being out in nature and using visualising techniques that tie your energies firmly into the ground (very traditional method), or by finding a quiet place that you are content in and meditating.

Meditation.

Visualisation/visualising.

Sigil crafting/creation.

Charging jewellery/crystals/objects/sigils.

Using glamours in makeup/cosmetics/everyday wear.

Incorporating intent via ingredients into cooking.

Incantations and chants to bring about luck, good fortune, etc.

Cleansing your space with incense.

low energy offerings for Aphrodite

- lighting a candle

- offering a candy

- brushing your hair

- washing your face

- offering a short quote, lipstick print, or doodle

- posting online in her honor

- thinking positive thoughts

- expressing your love for others

Hey, could you send me the links you have about divination or just tarot if it's not too much trouble? Thank you for the help!

Hah, hah hah. I actually didn’t have ANY links at the ready. So I went and compiled all this for you. Hence why it took like 3-4 hours for me to answer this. Hope it helps!

Divination

[Divination: List of Symbols] *

[Divination: Symbolism]

[Fun Ways to Divine Masterpost]

[Master List of Ways to Tell Fortunes]

[Methods for Divination and Fortune Telling] *

[Types of Divination]

[Types of Divination, a Masterpost of Sorts]

[Youtube Divination Lessons Masterpost]

Astrology / Star Reading

[Astrology] *

[Astrology as Divination] *

[Divination: Astrology]

[Star Reading: a How To]

[Star Scrying]

[Star Scrying] *

[Star Scrying] *

Cartomancy / Lenormand

[Basic Guidelines for Reading with the Petit Lenormand] *

[Cartomancy Basics: Meaning, Spreads, and More] *

[Cartomancy: A Comprehensive Guide to a Deck of Cards] *

[Cartomancy Card Meanings] *

[Create Your Own Playing Card Oracle Deck]

[Divination: Cartomancy]

[Divination Using Playing Cards] *

[Divination with Playing Cards]

[How to Design and Create Your Own Cartomancy Deck/System]

[How to Read Lenormand Card Combinations] *

[Lenormand for Tarot Readers]

[Lenormand for Tarot Readers Master Post]

[Lenormand Lessons] * (a lot of links and videos)

[Lenormand Keyword Chart]

[The New World Witchery Guide to Cartomancy] *

[Petit Lenormand Card Meanings] *

[Playing Card Meanings] *

[Playing Cards Divination]

[So You Want to Learn to Read the Lenormand (Resources)] *

[Tips for a Beginner in Cartomancy] *

Ceromancy / Ceroscopy / Candle Wax Divination

[Candle Wax Divination]

[Candle Wax Scrying]

[Candle Wax Scrying] *

[Ceromancy] *

[Ceromancy - Predicting the Future from Observing a Burning Candle] *

[Ceromancy - Scrying With Candle Wax]

[Ceroscopy] *

[Divination: The Delicate Art of Ceroscopy] *

[How To Do a Candle Wax Reading] *

[How to Wax Scry]

Lithomancy

[Divination Using Crystals] *

[Lithomancy]

[Lithomancy: A Powerful Divination Technique Using Stones] *

[Lithomancy: The Psychic Art of Reading Stones]

[Lithomancy- The Psychic Art of Reading Stones] *

Misc

[Apple Divinations]

[Dice Divination]

[Divination Dice]

[Domino Divination]

[How Rook Does Aura Readings]

[I-Ching]

[Metoposcopy - The Divination Form No One Has Heard Of]

[Ran’s Runes (divination tool in honor of the sea goddess)]

[Sea Shell Divination and How I Do It]

Palmistry

[Divination: Palmistry (Part 1 of 2)] and [Divination: How-To Palmistry (Part 2 of 2)]

[An Easy Palmistry How-To Guide] *

[A Guide to Palm Reading] *

[Illustrations showing Basic Lines and Mount Areas of a Hand]

[Palmistry 101: A Guide To Palm Reading For Enchanted Babes] *

[Palmistry Room] *

[Top 10 Lines in Palmistry]

Pendulums

[DIY Pendulum]

[How to Use a Pendulum]

[How to Use a Pendulum] *

[Limited Pendulum Masterpost]

[Pendulum Dowsing: A Guide]

[Pendulum Guide] *

[Pendulums!]

[Pendulums (A Beginner’s Guide)]

[Pendulums: A How To]

[Teach Yourself How to Use a Pendulum] *

Runes

[All About Rune Reading] *

[Casting the Runes] *

[How-To Read Runes] *

[Pages from The Book of Runes]

[Reading Runes]

[Runecasting: Divination] *

[Rune Guide - An Introduction to Using the Runes] *

[Runes: The Basics]

Scrying

[The Art of Crystal Ball Gazing] *

[Beginner Tips for the New Scryer]

[Beginners Guide on How to Use a Crystal Ball] *

[Black Bowl Scrying]

[Crystal Ball Reading for Beginners]

[Crystal Gazing]

[DIY Scrying Mirror]

[Fire Scrying, Mirrors, Bowls, and Pendulums] *

[Guide to Water Scrying]

[How to do a Nephelomancy Reading {Cloud Scrying}]

[How to Scry]

[How to Smoke Scry]

[How to Water Scry] *

[Hydromancy] *

[Mama Odie’s Gumbo Scrying]

[Mirror Scrying] *

[Mirror Scrying and Wax Divination- Methods of Meditation] *

[Scrying] *

[Scrying] *

[Scrying and Divination Techniques] *

[Scrying, Crystal Gazing]

[Scrying- How To]

[Scrying Mirror]

[Scrying Using the Black Mirror]

[A Short Course in Scrying] *

[Using and Empowering a Black Mirror] *

[Water Gazing]

[Water Scrying]

[Water Scrying I] and [Water Scrying II]

Shufflemancy

[How to do a Shufflemancy Reading]

[How to: Shufflemancy]

[Intro to Shufflemancy] *

[Shufflemancy] *

[Shufflemancy: 101]

Stichomancy / Books

[Book Number Divination]

[How to Do a Stichomancy Reading]

[Intro to Stichomancy]

[Stichomancy] *

[Stichomancy Tricks and Tips]

[What is Stichomancy ? and How You Do It] *

Tarot

[The Basics of Tarot]

[Beginners Guide to Tarot Cards] *

[Divination: Tarot Reading]

[How to Read Tarot Cards: A Step by Step Guide] *

[Masterpost of Tarot Related Content]

[Tarot Masterpost] (a buttload of links on all things tarot)

[Tarot Starter Guide]

[What Every Newbie Tarot Reader Should Know] *

Tasseography

[The Art of Reading Tea Leaves] *

[A Dictionary of Symbols] *

[Getting Started with Tasseomancy] *

[How to Read Tea Leaves]

[How to Read Tea Leaves] *

[Reading Coffee Grounds] *

[Reading the Tea Leaves or Coffee Grounds] *

[Tasseography]

[Tasseography with a Marked Cup - Possible Pros and Cons]

[Tasseomancy]

[Tea/Coffee Readings]

* = external links

I just saw a post about how Hera, Demeter, and Hestia should be the Big 3 instead of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. And while I understand the sentiment (✨Feminism✨🖕🏻Fuck the Patriarchy 🖕🏻✌🏻Girl Power✌🏻 etc) I personally think Hera, Demeter, and Hestia are not only quite content with their positions, they very likely helped orchestrated it to be that way.

One of the biggest mistakes worshipers, witches, and mythology fans make is thinking the 3 sisters are not powerful enough to take the thrones if they wanted them.

Demeter alone forced 2 out of the 3 Kings (1 of them being THE King) to bend to her will. One of those thrones could have easily been hers if she wanted it.

Hestia paved the way for Athena and Artemis, by CHOOSING her own path. She didn’t ask Zeus, she told him by swearing an oath that she would remain a virgin. And of course, Hestia gets offerings first and last. Pretty sure the one thing all the Gods can agree on is that Hestia is the best and that by itself is power.

As for Hera, she knows her position is actually far better than Zeus’ bc she has more freedom. I always compare them to the King and Queen in chess. The King is important enough to be the entire purpose of the game however he’s extremely limited. The Queen, on the other hand, is limitless which makes her the most dangerous piece on the board. You can see this in action in the Iliad. Hera is able to release her anger and fury for not being chosen by Paris and aids in the destruction of an entire city. Zeus, with all his power as King, can’t even prevent his beloved son’s death because his position of King does not allow it. And it was Hera who reminded Zeus that as their leader, he couldn’t save his son. So she knows the limits that come with that role. Why would she choose a position that only lets her move one space at a time when she can move whenever and however she wants? And she still has a crown on her head.

I get because of how patriarchal Ancient Greece was it’s easy to look at the hierarchy of the Gods as a reflection of that. But personally, I think the structure actually makes sense when you take into account the personalities of the Gods and what each position requires.

And as I said before, if Hera, Demeter, and Hestia weren’t happy with the current structure, it wouldn’t be the current structure. 😂

Also, we haven’t even talked about the wildcard that is, Aphrodite! As if that hot sexy bitch couldn’t take the whole thing down with just one boob.

Like come on, I thought we all already knew that our Goddesses are the ones who truly run the entire show?

Worshipping With Limited Space/Materials/Time/Etc.

One of my close friends has been asking me how to worship deities with limited space/privacy/materials/etc, so here it is. A guide on worshipping without space.

See @catnip-reed for my religious blog if you want.

Altars

There are many ways to have a small/discreet altar. Some people (including me) even make them online.

Travel Altars: a small altar (usually in a small box or tin can) made for traveling; usually includes a tealight candle, crystals, herbs, coins, and photos.

Discreet Altars: a collection of objects that doesn’t look like an altar but functions as one; usually includes decorations, colors, etc. that don’t directly point to it being an altar but still hold symbols of the deity (i.e. coquette decor for Aphrodite, cat-focused decor for Bastet, etc.)

Candles: literally just a candle; used to focus energy, sometimes contains herbs or crystals inside

Shoebox Altars: a shoebox filled with permanent offerings, statues or photos, candles, and other things commonly placed on an altar; usually stored away until needed

A Binder: a binder filled with art, poems, prayers, information, etc; can also be a notebook or deity journal (see my post about deity journals here)

Bags: bags or satchels of things related to the deity (i.e. coins, herbs, photos, etc.); can be emptied to set up a temporary altar or held when praying/offering/etc.

Books: a collection of books devoted to them; can be books related to their domains or books that remind you of them; used as an offering (reading) or communication (annotation)

Temporary Altars: altars that can be set up and taken down with ease; most commonly includes a small offering plate, a small cup, and sometimes candles, statues, or photos

Photos: a photo collage online or physical containing photos of the Gods and/or their domains; my favorite way to display these is as phone/computer backgrounds or on bulletin boards (similar to a vision board)

Pinterest: pinterest boards; a collage of pins of the Gods, their domains, and things that remind you of them

Tumblr: tumblr sideblogs; reblogging or posting things like quotes, photos, ideas, etc. that remind you of them

All in all, altars really are just a way for you to focus on your deity. In some religions, altars are a designated space for offerings. Depending on how you view them, you can make anything into an altar.

Divination

Some people like to use communication methods like tarot, runes, etc. to talk with their deities. For those who can’t openly own/use them or can’t afford them, here are some alternatives.

Lenormand Cards Website

Labyrinthos Tarot App

The Fool’s Dog Tarot App

Golden Thread Tarot App

The Classic 1910 Tarot App

A List of Oracle Card Apps

Cartomancy: using playing cards to divine

Astragalomancy: using dice to divine

Coins: flipping a coin to get a yes/no answer; there are other coin divination methods but many are closed

Bibliomancy: using books to divine; either a book falls on a specific page and you choose a random sentence or you choose a book, flip to a random page, and find a random sentence

Aeromancy: using weather to divine

Pyromancy: using flames from a candle/bonfire/etc. to divine

Capnomancy: using smoke to divine

Offerings

Offerings! One of my favorite things about my worship. Offerings are basically bribes so that your deities like you more /s. But seriously, offerings bring you closer to your deity.

Water: a simple cup of water; can be drank or left out for them

Food: either portions of your meal or food made for them; can be eaten or left out for them

Other Drinks: cups of other drinks; can be drank or left out for them; most commonly milk, alcohol, coffee, or tea

Candles & Incense: candles or incense devoted to them; can be lit or just kept in honor of them

Flowers: bouquets or single flowers; can be bought from stores or found outside (i.e. dandelions)

Honey: doesn’t have to be ethically sourced; can be added to teas and other drinks

Art: your own art or the art of others; includes music, playlists, digital art, poetry, drawings, paintings, instruments, etc.

Coins: many deities enjoy coins as offerings; can be offered to wealth/luck deities or can be offered to a deity because of the image (i.e. a coin with a sun on it can be offered to Apollon)

Devotional Acts

The only thing I love more than offerings. Also used to get closer to deities. Offerings of actions instead of physical things.

Donating: donating to organizations related to your deity (i.e. health organizations for Apollon)

Volunteering: volunteering at places related to your deity (i.e. dog shelters for Ares)

Practicing Good Hygiene: showering, washing your face, brushing your teeth and/or hair, etc.

Self-Care: ritual baths, face masks, relaxing, doing a hobby, etc; anything that makes you happy can be dedicated to a deity

Going Outside: taking a walk or sitting outside; some people make outside altars for some nature deities

Sunbathing/Cloudwatching/Starwatching: sunbathing for deities associated with the sun, cloudwatching for deities associated with the sky/weather, and starwatching for deities associated with the night/stars/planets; if the deity does not have a domain in one of these do whichever makes you happy

Cleaning: keeping your space and any altar/religious space you have clean and free of dust

Research: learning new things about your deity

Browsing Social Media: browsing a tag/account/etc. dedicated to your deity

Sharing: telling people about your deity

Learning Language: learning the language of your pantheon (i.e. greek for hellenism, italian for roman polytheism, etc.)

Conclusion

You do not need big, elaborate altars to worship. You do not need scheduled offerings, or even any offerings at all. You do not need to use tarot or runes to communicate with your deities. The only requirements for worshipping a deity is wanting to worship them and stating that you are worshipping them. To build from there, you begin building a relationship with them. Offerings and altars may help you do that, but they are not required. The Gods will understand if you do not have the space/time/materials/etc. to worship them how you would like or how others do. The Gods will understand if you do not want an elaborate practice. They will understand.