Sometimesmagic

𝕾𝖆𝖇𝖇𝖆𝖙𝖘

The sabbats are holidays celebrated throughout the year on solstices, equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. These sabbats form the Wheel of the Year, honoured by many for centuries.

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🌲𝐘 𝐔 𝐋 𝐄 {December 20th//23rd, winter solstice}

Yule focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes its way back to the earth. It's all about new beginnings, reflection and embracing warmth. Much like Christmas, many celebrate with a feast, gift giving, being cosy and appreciating the good.

↟Nature: cedar, frankincense, myrrh, mistletoe, pine, birch, ivy.

↟Foods//flavours: ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, wintergreen, apple, dried fruit.

↟Stones: citrine, ruby, garnet, alexandrite, green tourmaline.

↟Activities: decorate your altar with incense associated with Yule, burn ash wood for prosperity, bake using Yule flavours like ginger or cinnamon, make wreathes to hang around the house, spend time with loved ones.

🕯️𝐈 𝐌 𝐁 𝐎 𝐋 𝐂 {February 2nd}

Imbolc focuses on celebrating the nature that is preparing to grow and renewal, also known as "candlemas" and the "Feast of Pan".

↟Nature: basil, blackberry, heather, celandine, iris, wisteria, vanilla, bay, yellow and white flowers.

↟Foods//flavours: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, peppers, onions, spices, and herbal teas.

↟Stones: amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, ruby, onyx.

↟Activities: decorate with candles and sun decorations, go hiking, have a bonfire, bake foods with poppy seeds, and burn any leftover winter herbs.

🌼𝐎 𝐒 𝐓 𝐀 𝐑 𝐀 {March 20th//23rd, spring equinox}

Ostara focuses on manifesting creativity and love. As the days become longer, energy becomes stronger.

↟Nature: ash, alder, daffodil, honeysuckle, narcissus, primrose, violet, jasmine.

↟Foods//flavours: olives, maple syrup, honey, edible flowers, chocolate, pine nuts, nettle or lavender tea, local fruits and vegetables.

↟Stones: amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone.

↟Activities: gardening and planting seeds, bake breads with olives or honey for example, start new projects, talk to plants, do some painting, decorate with wildflowers.

🌰𝐁 𝐄 𝐋 𝐓 𝐀 𝐍 𝐄 {May 1st}

Beltane focuses on fertility, love and abundance. Also known as "may day", on this sabbat many celebrate with dancing, bonfires and many high energy activities, including enjoying themselves sexually with a partner or conceiving children.

↟Nature: frankincense, lilac, ivy, marigold, woods, rose, thyme, mint, yarrow.

↟Foods//flavours: oats, leafy greens, fruits, breads, honey.

↟Stones: malachite, amber, fire opal, red jasper.

↟Activities: dance, decorate with florals and symbols of the sea, go to the beach, go hiking, have a bonfire, feast on fruits, vegetables and grains, laugh and let your hair down, perhaps have sex with someone where there is a connection.

🦋𝐋 𝐈 𝐓 𝐇 𝐀 {June 20th//23rd, summer solstice}

Litha focuses on growth and celebrating the longest day of the year and the sun, before the shorter days begin.

↟Nature: fern, yarrow, sage, rose, oak, mugwort, lavender, chamomile, myrrh, pine.

↟Foods//flavours: herbed bread, honey, sunflower seeds, iced herbal tea, lemon, vanilla.

↟Stones: lapis lazuli, amethyst, malachite, tiger's eye.

↟Activities: make or buy a sun catcher, surround yourself with warm tones, watch the sun rise and set, make sun water, spend time outdoors, make use of herbs.

🌾𝐋 𝐀 𝐌 𝐌 𝐀 𝐒 // 𝐋 𝐔 𝐆 𝐇 𝐍 𝐀 𝐒 𝐀 𝐃 𝐇 {August 1st}

Lughnasadh focuses on celebrating the first of the three harvesting sabbats and taking time to really feel the positivity in different aspects of life.

↟Nature: cornstalks, heather, acacia flowers, hollyhock, oak leaves, wheat, myrtle, spices.

↟Food//flavours: grainy bread, corn, potatoes, nuts, blackberries, wine.

↟Stones: amber, agate, citrine, clear quartz, obsidian, tiger's eye.

↟Activities: bake bread, make corn dolls, visit a sunflower field, spend time in nature, acknowledged what you are grateful for, journal.

🍁𝐌 𝐀 𝐁 𝐎 𝐍 {September 20th//23rd, autumn equinox}

Mabon focuses on honouring the change of the seasons, balance and peace.

↟Nature: sage, pine, marigold, thistle, acorns, milkweed, oak leaves, myrrh.

↟Food//flavours: cinnamon, nuts, beans, dark fruits, pies, soup, butterscotch.

↟Stones: citrine, carnelian, clear quartz, sapphire, yellow agate.

↟Activities: collect pine cones, donate food and old clothes, meditate, dry herbs, spend time with loved ones, speak to the nature around you.

🎃𝐒 𝐀 𝐌 𝐇 𝐀 𝐈 𝐍 {November 1st}

Samhain focuses on celebrating life, and honouring those who are no longer with us.

↟Nature: heather, sage, pumpkins, straw, flax, patchouli, myrrh.

↟Foods//flavours: apples, cider, pumpkin, pies, soups, stews, potatoes, ginger.

↟Stones: amber, black obsidian, fossils, onyx, sandstone, bloodstones.

↟Activities: honour the deceased, spend time with family, make a hearty comforting meal, make or buy a scarecrow, spend time practicing divination.

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Things you can do every sabbat, and how I enjoy celebrating:

↟Do a tarot reading relevant to that sabbat.

↟Spend time in the moonlight, charging my crystals and tarot cards, as well as meditating.

↟Bake something using at least one traditional food of that sabbat to share with others.

↟Sage cleanse my living space and any of my magickal items.

↟Write down how I am feeling and how I would like to feel in the weeks to come.

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witch’s herbarium: mugwort

mugwort in folklore, history, and medicine

in medieval europe, mugwort was used as a magickal protectant and a repellant against moths, fatigue, and evil. it was also used historically  as a seasoning across europe and asia.

medicinally, mugwort tea is said to relieve problems associated with irregular and severe menstruation, as well as digestive and bowel issues. mugwort should not be consumed in large doses or by those who are pregnant.

topically, mugwort can help relieve muscle aches and joint pains. you can make an ointment of it, or relax in a mugwort infused bath. it is also a great antiseptic to help relieve acne issues.

in the primitive days of farming, mugwort became precious for its insect-repelling properties, which helped crops prosper. it has also been used in brewing historically, to help beer stay fresh for longer and give it notes of bitterness.

st. john the baptist is said to have worn a belt of mugwort when venturing into the wilderness for safety, while the romans put mugwort in their shoes to prevent physical exhaustion.

another name for mugwort is “sailor’s tobacco”, as throughout history sailors would smoke wild mugwort instead of tobacco for its alleged nerve-calming effects.

the magickal uses of mugwort

mugwort is associated with the moon, astral projection, and dreams. place some mugwort under your pillow to encourage prophetic and magical dreaming.

mugwort is helpful during divination and ritual work, as it enhances the psychic mind. drink some mugwort tea or inhale the scent of dried mugwort to help with focus and intuition.

the protective nature of mugwort makes it a great charm to hang above your front door to ward off unwelcome energies. you can also cleanse your ritual tools with mugwort water, which purifies them and amplifies their natural powers.

a little mugwort charm

to protect you and keep bad energy away

a bit of dried mugwort

a small square of black fabric

a strand of purple thread or string

a black, white or purple candle

light your candle. warm your hands over its flame, letting the fire charge your hands with its protecting, cleansing spirit. set the fabric square on a surface in front of the candle, and sprinkle your mugwort atop it. whisper to it, “may you serve me well and keep me safe”. gather the corners of the cloth together and tie it shut with the purple thread. keep it in your pocket, purse, car, or home.

psychic mugwort tea recipe

a gentle earthy tea to enhance psychic energy

makes one small pot (or large mug)

one tsp. of chamomile tea or dried blossoms

one tsp. dried mugwort

one tsp. peppermint tea or dried leaves

a bit of honey or sweetener to taste

steep for 3-5 minutes, and drink by candle-flame before a ritual to prepare for powerful spellwork, especially involving lunar magick. for magickal dreams, drink some before bed while meditating on what you want to dream of.

ATTENTION: 2020 Witch Challenge??

I’m considering running a year-long witchcraft research challenge, but first I’d like to know who’s interested. It’d work like this:

Each month is assigned a topic. Before the month starts, I’ll release information about that months challenge. It’ll involve one task or assignment to complete each week (4 per month) at any time of your choosing. Most of these assignments will involve you posting your findings or final product under the challenge’s hashtag. The idea is that you can then go and read everyone else’s work and learn more that way (e.g. an assignment could be to research and post the properties of a herb of your choosing; you can then read everyone else’s posts to learn more without having to research thirty herbs on your own). I’ll be doing the challenge along with everyone else: the topics will be areas I know enough about to be able to guide the process, but I’ll be learning along with you.

I hope to structure this challenge so that it’s beneficial for all witches, regardless of their skill level. If you’re an expert on a months particular topic, you can drop out of the challenge until the next month. If you’re busy the first month, you can drop in on the second month, or catch up on missed tasks in your spare time. This challenge will be largely theory based, with a few practical components. I’m creating this because I’ve noticed that most of the witchcraft resources available on Tumblr are practical (spells, instructionals, etc.), and there is little attention paid to the why and how of witchcraft. If you don’t know why the spell you’re doing works the way it does, or how the various components affect it, then your craft is inevitably going to be less effective than it could be.

The topics I’m thinking are:

JAN: History of Witchcraft (covering both ancient and modern aspects)

FEB: Elemental Studies

MAR: The Wheel of the Year

APR: Meditation & Mind Skills (shielding, visualisation, etc.)

MAY: Divination

JUN: Astrology

JUL: Spellcraft

AUG: Green Witchcraft

SEP: Religions (a look at the other spiritual practices of the world to better understand our own)

OCT: Mythology

NOV: Locational Studies (how time, place and location affect magick)

DEC: Ritual Magick

I’d appreciate people reblogging (to spread the word) with suggestions and expressions of interest.

Ways to charge a hex/curse jar:

Shake it daily  (Violently)

Throwing it

Throwing or placing it on railroad tracks

Melt wax over it

Submerge it in hot water

Meditate while holding it and visualize your anger going into the jar

Hide it in a dark space

good things will happen 🧿

things that are meant to be will fall into place 🧿