isobelthewitch

[isobelthewitch]

#Witchytip

[isobelthewitch]

5 Apps Every Modern, Millennial Witch Must Have On Their Phone

What do you think when you see the word witchcraft? Salem? Broomsticks? Bubbling cauldrons? An old withered woman hunched over a tarot deck and an oil lamp? You may or may not be surprised to learn that the modern witch is seldom any of these things. In fact, for many of us involved in the modern witchy world, technology plays a huge part in our practices!

If you're a modern witch looking to expand your reach into the technological world, or maybe even just a curious newcomer, this is the article for you. These apps may never be able to replace your loved and worn tarot deck or grimoire, but they are certainly convenient in a pinch! Not to mention, there's just something kind of cool about having a spellbook with a backlight.

1. Spellcaster

Spellcaster is one of the witchy apps I've been using the longest--and with good reason! It's a great introductory tool for new witches, it's mostly free, and it's aesthetically pleasing to boot. The app includes a great variety of different tools, including several daily tarot readings, a baby spellbook with detailed instructions on castings, and a daily horoscope. For $0.99 you can also unlock rune readings, a rock guide, and of course, some cute witchy stickers.

I'd recommend this app for new or casual witches due to its easy to use interface and versatility. However, more seasoned witches might find it a little confining and impersonal, as there is no way to add your own spells or other customization.

2. Oil Guide

With a simple and easy to use interface, this app is fantastic for those looking to get into the application of oils or aromatherapy as part of their practices. It includes fabulously written information guides on everything from acne treatments to ulcers, tips for direct application and methodology, detailed info on just about every oil and oil blend you could imagine, and even an entire section dedicated entirely to weight-loss.

The downside? The meticulous detail of the app is almost entirely lost without purchasing the premium version, only allowing access to a select one or two pages in each section tab. The good news is the premium version is only $0.99, and while I usually scorn the thought of purchasing anything I can look up on the internet for free, Oil Guide is just so damn compact and comprehensive it ends up paying itself off over and over again.

I would absolutely recommend this app to anyone looking to seriously get into using essential oils, not just witches. That being said, newer witches might be a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information the app has to offer and might feel more comfortable easing their way into witchcraft with some tamer apps, like Spellcaster or GoldenThread Tarot.

3. PlantNet

PlantNet is, and I don't say this lightly, freaking awesome. Funny enough, it is very much not designed to pander to witches, but I'll be damned if it isn't one of the coolest tools I own regardless. Its basic premise revolves around mucking about in nature, so if that isn't up your alley, it's possible this app is not for you. However, if you are like me and enjoy the occasional escapade into the wilderness, this app can become your best friend real quick.

PlantNet is essentially a worldwide database of identified plant species, categorized by location. Now while that might not exactly sound like the most interesting sentence you've ever read, its usefulness makes itself known through its signature feature: camera identification. That's right, if you've ever seen a plant on a hike and thought, what the hell is that? This app is about to become the coolest thing you download today.

Simply snap a couple pictures of the plant in question and PlantNet will automatically search through its databases to find you a range of potential matches. Once you recognize your mystery flora, simply click the picture and PlantNet will dump an entire Wiki page's worth of info about it on you. This has been amazing while looking for herbs out in the wild, and also just becoming more familiar with my native plant life. Plus, once you submit your photo, it gets added to the national database as a GPS location for that specific plant--who said science and witchcraft couldn't work together?

4. Stone

Stone is one of my favorite apps not only for its usefulness but also because it's so dang aesthetically pleasing. Like you might have guessed from the name, Stone is a crystal and rock identification tool. The app opens to a page of various crystals against a white background, and clicking one brings you to a pretty looking page that tells you the basic uses and principals for the stone in question.

Its a great tool for identifying crystals you might own but aren't quite sure of their names or uses. With a constantly expanding and updating database, its worth coming back to even if you couldn't find what you were looking for the first time. It also allows you to search for stones by name or "vibe", which is essentially the enhancing effect of a particular stone (i.e. "passion", "insight", "joy", etc.).

While the more seasoned witch might find Stone a little basic, it is a great tool for new or beginner witches that are curious to learn about the common properties of crystals and how to use them.

5. GoldenThread Tarot

GTT is a fun app I would recommend to those looking for an introduction to tarot, or those witches just looking for a fun daily tarot app. Like Spellcaster, GTT offers a daily tarot reading, albeit at a more advanced level. The thing I love about this app that Spellcaster lacks, however, is its ability to personalize its readings in a way I didn't think possible for a smartphone app. After drawing your daily tarot card (which is complete with an explanation of its meaning for those unfamiliar), the app will ask you to rate your reaction on a scale of great to horrible, as well as choose from a list of generated words that might have been evoked while reading your card (i.e. acceptance, fear, excitement) before adding that card, as well as your reaction, to your personal log.

Logging your cards daily provides a fun way to look back over your readings, as well as make connections in your personal life. Another cool thing about GTT is it offers to teach you how to use your own physical tarot deck in personal readings, and also allows you to log readings done this way. Many witches are uncomfortable using digital tarot decks, so the fact that GTT provides options for both physical and digital tarot readings makes it a fabulous versatile tool.

Beyond this, GTT also offers several general tarot lessons, ranging from "An Introduction to Tarot" to "The Minor Arcana," as well a tarot database that explains suits, individual cards, and their relationships to each other.

I recommend GTT to all witches, new and old, as both a fun way to learn and to practice tarot skills. The best part? The app is 100% free, although its creator does sell a beautiful physical tarot deck based on the app's aesthetic, so if you're a witch looking for a deck, give it a look!

Be Blessed.

[isobelthewitch]

#1: Place Flowers On Your Altar

I started doing this because I was in a living situation where I couldn’t burn incense or herb bundles in my sacred space. I wanted a way to bring the scents of nature to my altar without pissing off my roommates.

A bouquet of flowers was the answer. I placed a vase of flowers on my altar and I could feel an immediate change in energy in the space. I recommend placing flowers on your altar particularly when you need to increase your vibration, but you don’t have the energy to do yourself.

The resistance-free energy of flowers on your altar can aid you when performing magic with the intentions of banishing, releasing, or allowing.

A vase of red, orange or yellow flowers can also be a way for you to represent the four elements on your altar. The water in the vase, obviously, represents water. The actual flower represents earth. Red, orange or yellow petals can represent fire. The fragrance of the flowers can represent air.

#2: Use Flowers To Honor The Moon

The life cycles of flowers and the lunar cycles are similar. Because of this, you can use flowers in different phases of growth to honor the various phases of the moon.

The seeds of a flower can honor the intention-setting energy of the new moon.

A flower bud honors the growing energy of the waxing moon.

A flower in bloom honors the celebratory energy of the full moon.

A dried flower or the petals of a wilting flower can honor the releasing energy of the waning moon.

For a simple moon spell with flowers, arrange your flower (or seeds) in a circle to represent the cyclical nature of the moon. Place a tea light or white candle in the center of the circle to represent moonlight. Meditate in front of your moon altar and absorb the energy of the current moon phase.

#3: Make A Flower Crown

Making flower crowns is a wonderful activity to do with your witchy friends to prepare for ceremonies or sabbats. They are absolutely gorgeous and allow you to connect with the fertile, creative energy of the earth.

You can gather wildflowers from nature or from your garden. Keep in mind, it’s illegal to pick wildflowers from certain places, so make sure you do your research on local laws before gathering flowers.

Another way to go is to buy flowers from a florist or store. Often times, a storebought bouquet of flowers will include a variety of leaves and flowers that look beautiful together. You’ll need a few other supplies like wire, ribbon and florist tape.

#4: Soak In A Flower Petal Ritual Bath

Add flower petals to your next ritual bath to support whatever your magical intention is. You can select flowers to use by color associations. For example, red rose petals can represent romantic love or sensuality. Purple lavender sprigs can represent spiritual power and magic.

Another way to select flowers is to do it by your own personal associations. Sunflowers for me make me think of a first love because I bought a bouquet of them from a farmer’s market the day I met my first love. Maybe daisies make you think of your childhood home and the security you felt while living there. Explore your connections to different flowers, and bring that special energy to your ritual soak.

#5: Use Magically-Charged Water With Your Cut Or Potted Flowers

Make moon water by placing water outside during a specific moon phase, and use that water in the vase with your bouquet. Another way to use the water is to water your flower garden with it. If you’re watering growing plants, I’d recommend using waxing moon or full moon-charged water.

You can also use crystals to charge your water with a specific energy. You can’t do this with all crystals because some can become toxic or disintegrate in water so be sure to check which crystals are safe to use first. To charge your water with a crystal, place the crystal in a jar of water for at least 30 minutes. Remove the crystal before using the water.

Citrine-charged water is perfect for growing plants. Clear quartz and amethyst are ideal for flowers that you place in your meditation space or on your altar.

#6: Add Flower Petals To Make A Beautiful Herb Bundle

With a bit of baker’s twine and a handful of dried herbs and flower petals, you can create an herb bundle to use for smoke cleansing, charging your sacred space, or celebrating a sabbat.

To do this, gather up your herbs in a way that looks good to you. Tie the bundle at the bottom with the baker’s twine. Then begin to wrap the bundle with the twine, making spirals up and down. Place flower petals around the outside of your bundle as you’re winding the twine around.

Hang the bundle upside down somewhere dry until all the flowers and herbs have completely dried out.

#7: Brew A Rose Petal Beauty Potion

This potion is essentially a tea that you can drink to raise your energy and enhance your natural beauty from the inside out.

Only use rose petals that you are absolutely certain have not been exposed to any harmful substances or chemicals. If you have your own rose garden, you can pluck a handful of petals from the blooms to use. However, if you have any concerns that your flowers may have been exposed to chemicals or harmful substances (like if they were growing near a road) don’t use them. Safety first, Witches!

Another option is to purchase edible rose petals from a specialty grocery store or online. When researching this article, I learned that not all roses taste the same. Some are sweeter and some are more bitter. If you purchase your edible rose petals from a store, you can be sure they’re not the bitter variety.

Once you have your petals, rinse them in water. Fill a saucepan with water and drop your rose petals in. Heat up the water to a simmer, stirring every now and then. Let the water simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Add sugar if you like, or enjoy your potion as is. Meditate on the natural beauty and grace of the rose as you sip your potion.

Whatever potion you don’t use can be frozen in an ice cube tray and used in the future. Add them to a glass of iced tea for a touch of magic.

Be Blessed.

[isobelthewitch]

Finding ways for evil protection.