Thestarlightpractice - Amie

Seasons of the Witch: Samhain

It is that time of year again and Samhain is upon us bringing with him the colder weather. This is a very important time in the witches calendar and I am excited to share some things you can do to prepare. These things are form the 'Witchery' by Juliet Diaz if you want to do some further reading on your own.

Samhain

Also known as: All Hallows' Eve, Halloween

When: northern hemisphere October; southern hemisphere May

Celebrates: ancestors, spirits, those who have passed

Energies: death, rebirth, wisdom, essence of the night, communication, release, return

Ideal Spell for this Time: Star Anise Psychic-Amplifies and Protection Incense

Correspondences

Magickal Workings

Communion with the dead, protection, candle magick, past life, ancestors, psychic powers, release of bad habits, banishing, self, uncrossing (removing hexes)

Altar Changes

Symbols: pumpkins, jack o' lanterns, apples, corn, gourds, fall flowers, dried leaves, crows, ghosts, cobwebs, broomsticks, cauldrons, bones, lanterns, candles, the Moon

Colors: black, orange, red, white, gold

Herbs and Other Plants: mugwort, garlic, sandalwood, amber, wormwood, mugwort, patchouli

Crystals and Gems: black obsidian, bloodstone, jet, hematite, onyx, smoky quartz, carnelian

Ways To Celebrate

Honor the Dead: Honor the departed by setting up a special altar on which you place food, drink, pictures, and other items that have belonged to the departed, or that hold meaning associated with them. Some witches honor the dead by leaving offerings, such as food, outside their door for any spirits who may come by. Lighting candles and leaving them outside your door or window will invite departed loved ones into the home.

Silent Supper: The Silent Supper, or Dumb Supper, is a popular tradition around the world to celebrate Samhain. The meal honors the dead by being taken in silence, with the diners taking care to eat and drink quietly as well as refraining from speaking. It's even important to clear the dishes without making any noise. I've known Silent Suppers to include table setting, complete with food, for all those who have departed. Remember that this is a sacred dinner, so light candles and set a peaceful atmosphere for the event.

I will be posting the above spell after this post as well. I hope this information finds you well and have a wonderful day.

🌲Cedar Tree

The cedar tree is associated to the Sun and it is connected to the element of fire. Its qualities are prosperity, protection, and healing.🌞

✨As an incense, cedar purifies an area and banishes nightmare.

✨Hung in the house, cedar repels lighting and protects the home from negative energies of all kinds.

✨Place cedar in your wallet or pouch to attract money, or burn it to attract financial success and increase psychic powers.

✨Cedar smoke can be used to consecrate wands and it is said to complement the study of the Wands suit in the Tarot deck.

✨Cedar is one of the “Nine Sacred Woods” suitable for all magical workings and earth rituals.

✨Cedar salves work well for rheumatic afflictions (use fresh leaves to make the salve.)

✨The oil in Cedar can act as an insect repellant.

✨An old pillow case filled with cedar chips will keep moths out of your closet. Smaller pillows can be stuffed into nooks and corners in drawers.

*Make sure the tree/leaves have not been treated with pesticides, etc. Before taking anything make sure to tell the tree what you are about to do and why. Also, give something in return as thanks (coins, tobacco, pour a drink, crystal chips, etc.) *

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               𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄𝙨

          𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚?

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Frankincense is a powerful resinous sap

coming from trees in the Boswellia genus.

The trees grow only at the south end of the Arabian Peninsula.

The sap is taken off of the tree and left to dry under the sun. Frankincense was spread through the Silk Road trade routes and influenced many different cultures.

Frankincense was used for religious and spiritual purposes in Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Isreal.

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      𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 / 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨

                 𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙨

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It was most commonly used in burial ritualsfor embalming and because of its ability to cover the odor of a deceased individual.Frankincense and Myrrh were one of the three gifts the wise men brought to baby Jesus, and while some churches no longer use incense Catholic churches still burn frankincense as they believe it will send prayers into heaven.

In Egyptian, Greek, and Roman religious practices, frankincense was burned as an offeringto different deities. Egyptians burned incenseduring sunrise and used the resin in embalming along with putting it in the tombs for theperson to have in the afterlife. In traditional Hellenismos incense was burned to catch the attention of a target deity with its pleasant smell. It was burned as an invitation to have them in our lives and theirs in ours.

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   𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡

       𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙨

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For centuries frankincense has been used intraditional medicine to treat many different ailments. In recent times, some of these benefits were proven to be true!

Compounds in frankincense prevent the

production of leukotrienes, which is what causes your bronchial muscles to contract when you have asthma. Frankincense can often be found in many natural toothpastes and gum for its amazing ability to keep our mouths clean and cavity free. It could even help stop the spreading

of cancerous cells due to its boswellic acid.

Along with these physical benefits, frankincense has emotional benefits when burned. It contains a chemical called incensole acetate, which when tested on mice lowered anxiety and acted as an

antidepressant. Along with this, frankincense activates a protein called TRPV3, which controls the feeling of warmth in a mammals brain.

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* 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙲𝙻𝙰𝙸𝙼𝙴𝚁

If you suffer from depression, burning some frankincense won’t hurt anything. But please, use it as an add on and not as a cure. Your mental health is important, please seek professional help ♡

Types of Water Divination

Hydromancy: divination using water

The flow of water speaks to the intensity of current and/or upcoming events. To practice this method, dip a metal ring in water and gauge the movements like using a pendulum for "yes/no," or interpret the answer from the number of ripples that arise.

Acultomancy: divination with needles

Using needles in water or flour, the diviner would interpret shapes and patterns created by the needles in the substance. 21 or 7 needles would be used following the question being asked. The broken line may mean traveling or heading on a new journey. The parallel lines may mean money in the future, either given or taken away. The vertical lines are meant as guided roads to take. The horizontal lines may mean what the fate will be.

Ceroscopy: divination with molten wax in water

Light the candle with your question in mind and allow the wax to drop into the bowl of water. As the wax forms shapes and pattens, use these to interpret an answer to your question.

Quercusmancy: divination with acorns and oak trees

Lovers can drop acorns into the corner of a body of water. If the acorns touch, the lovers are meant to be. Acorns were also carried as lucky charms. If an oak tree shed its leaves, an oath was said to be broken.

Lecanomancy: divination with oil and water

Drop oil or rocks into a bowl of water and interpret the shapes and ripples in answer to your question.