justalittleb-witchy

[justalittleb-witchy]

[justalittleb-witchy]

One of the things I love about my beliefs is that I can communicate with deities through divination. You aren't sure about whether they'd like something? Just ask them directly. The fact that a divine being perhaps from another realm chooses to answer me and bless me is insane. Despite all my silly mistakes, I am grateful.

[justalittleb-witchy]

When it comes to kitchen magic (or really witchcraft in general), people get too hung up in correspondences, esp when first starting out. And I think focusing too heavily on correspondences is what ends up making people feel like they cant advance their craft.

In my opinion part of it is "you need to make your own correspondences". Sure some rosemary in a stew might work for healing or purification, but do you also associate the herb that way? I think of my beautiful rosemary bushes over the years, tying and drying their branches, the beautiful scent, previous spells I have done. It feels me with a certain feeling of safety that I can then channel into my work.

When it comes to cooking, I feel like it's a lot of energy work. All spell work incorporates our energies in some way, I especially feel it with cooking. Your hands and cooking tools are vessels to transfer your energy. You transfer your energy when you knead bread, cut veggies, wash the rice, stir the soup, you get the idea. Yes you can focus on a specific mantra, but the point is you don't always have to do that. You using your energy to change ingredients into something new, something nourishing for the body, is magic in and of itself.

I also use my energy to charm my tools instead of individual meals/drinks. A special tea cup charmed with a spell to bring me relaxation doesn't need me to do a small spell or mantra every time I make a cup of tea (because I would forget to do that anyways). Instead it holds the calming energies I have already given it until I feel it needs to be charged again. A favorite soup stirring spoon is going to spread my love to every meal I make using it just because it has picked up my own energy throughout its use.

I think just accepting the magic of the everyday and of your energy is esp important for those of us who feel like we have less spoons. Me cooking uses enough of my precious energy, but it's something I do out of love and because I enjoy it. That's where the real magic is.

[justalittleb-witchy]

i saw one for lord ares and lord apollon and i had to make one for lady aphrodite

(edit: i forgot to put her name, sorry)

[justalittleb-witchy]

I’m so insanely frugal/penny-pinching that the devil card has become a reminder that money is meant to be used. It often comes when I’m just getting through the drudgery of life, not really doing anything to enjoy it. The core theme of imprisonment collides with the theme of materialism for me, because allowing myself to buy small things, to enjoy life, is freedom.

In my opinion, the meaning of cards can even shift between decks, depending on authorial intent, symbolism, personal associations, etc. The cards are then further informed by the context of your life and who you are as a person. It doesn’t, for example, make sense to warn someone about self-isolation when they push themselves to be extroverted (to the point of their own detriment) or vice versa.

Everyone who plays around with Tarot cards long enough winds up with a “bad” card that they love. I just barely persuaded my husband not to get the Ten of Swords tattooed on his body; traditionally, it shows a corpse with ten swords stuck in their body and means “utter ruin,” but he thought that if it took ten swords to kill you, then you must have put up a pretty good fight.

honestly this is the most badass ten of swords interpretation i've ever heard.  i'm stealing this

[justalittleb-witchy]

Small fun thing about gods: sometimes they co-opt each other’s signs, if they see that something has worked in the past.

Years ago, I prayed to one of the deities I worship, explaining that while I knew he was always there, it was frequently difficult to feel his presence. It made me feel very lonely. Not long after, one of the comments I wrote about him got very popular. I consistently got notifications from that comment. Weird, but not unheard of. Except, three years later, I STILL get notifications about people liking that comment. That IS unusual— especially since the ratio between my comment’s likes and other comment’s likes is 7:1, minimum. Some comments on that same post only have 1 or 2 likes— mine has 700. Still, I didn’t really put two and two together until a reading pointed out that that was probably a sign, saying “hey, I’m here, I’m reminding you that I’m here, like you asked me to.”

Anyways, back to the main topic: I’ve been questioning whether or not an offering of mine was accepted, because I wanted it to be special and heavily overthought it. Lo and behold, I open up a specific app— and I have a notification from a comment from 2 years ago, left on a video SPECIFICALLY about how to determine if a deity accepted your offering (a video made by a worshiper of the same goddess). So, yes, it does seem like that offering was accepted lol

[justalittleb-witchy]

Bewitching Your Coffee

I am 100% a coffee drinker. I love drinking it black, I love it in lattes and cappucini (yes, that's the actual plural of cappucino), and I especially love the experience of sharing coffee with another person. And, like everything that comes out of my kitchen, I like finding ways to make coffee more magical.

But even though coffee is a daily essential for a lot of us and has a long history in folk magic, people don't talk about it nearly as much as tea magic. I did some digging, and this post contains my research into the magic and lore of coffee and the things we like to add to coffee. I hope my fellow kitchen witches find this helpful!

Correspondences of Coffee and Common Coffee Add-ons

Coffee: Used for grounding and to anchor a spell in the physical world. Useful in spells for mental clarity and enhancing psychic senses. Used in several types of American folk magic as an offering for spirits. Author Starr Casas uses coffee for powerful cleansing and blockbusting in her Southern folk magic practice. Because of its association with energy and movement, coffee can be used to add strength to spells. I personally associate coffee with the Earth and Air elements and with the planet Uranus.

Milk has different correspondences based on whether you are using cow's milk or a plant-based milk.

Cow's Milk: Associated with nurturing, love, and abundance. In pagan Ireland, offering someone milk was an effective blessing. Milk and cream are said to be favorite offerings of fairies. I associate cow's milk with the Water element and the Moon.

Soy Milk: Soy may have been a sacred food crop in ancient China and is associated with blessings. During the Japanese festival Setsubun, soy beans are used to repel bad spirits and draw good fortune in a practice called mamemaki -- soy products can be used in spells for protection or good fortune. Use soy milk or other soy products in spells for success, good luck, and prosperity. I personally associate soy milk with the Earth element and with the planet Jupiter.

Almond Milk: Associated with prosperity, wealth, and success in business, as well as with increasing wisdom. Almond milk and other almond products are associated with the Air element and the planet Mercury.

Coconut Milk: Associated with purification, healing, and protection. In African American magic traditions, coconut can be used for peaceful home work and protection work, as well as ancestor offerings. Coconut is associated with the Water element and the moon.

Oatmilk: Associated with prosperity and money magic. Oats are associated with the Earth element and the planet Venus.

Sweeteners attract sweetness and good fortune. Different sweeteners have their own associations.

Sugar: Associated with love and lust. In Southern folk magic, sugar is sometimes used in money work. Sugar is associated with the Water element and the planet Venus.

Brown Sugar: Has the same associations as regular sugar, but works more slowly because it contains molasses.

Honey: Associated with home, family, love, and blessings. In Southern folk magic, honey is sometimes used in domination or control work, especially honeycomb. I personally associate honey with the Water element and with the planet Venus.

Maple Syrup: Associated with love, money, and long life. I personally associate maple with new life and transformation based on Robin Wall Kimmerer's writings about them in Braiding Sweetgrass. Associated with the Air element and the planet Jupiter.

Artificial Sweeteners (Splenda, xylitol, and other man-made sweeteners): There's very little written about the magical uses of these sweeteners, but I personally associate them with creativity, innovation, and new discoveries. I associate these sweeteners with the Air element and the planets Mercury and Uranus.

Caramel* is actually made from sugar, which is cooked over low heat until it caramelizes, or turns brown. Caramel has the same magical associations as sugar, but with a stronger connection to Fire energy and to transformation.

*Note: In the US, "caramel" is often made with corn syrup. For example, the caramel drizzle at Starbucks is basically 100% corn syrup, or at least was when I worked there a few years back. This isn't to say you can't work magically with corn syrup-based caramel, but the energy will be different. I don't have experience here because I have a corn allergy, so I'd love to hear if anyone has experience working with corn syrup in witchcraft!

Chocolate** is originally from Latin America and was an important ceremonial drink in Mayan culture. In Mexica (Aztec) culture, chocolate was used as currency and was said to be a gift from the gods. It was associated with the devil and with witchcraft when it was first brought to Spain by colonizers. Later, during the Renaissance, it was seen as a miracle cure for all kinds of medical conditions. Based on its history, chocolate can be used in magic for love, sex, energy, spirituality, magical abilities, and healing. I personally associate chocolate with the Fire element and with the Sun.

**Note: Scott Cunningham includes a note on "chocolate" in his book on magical herbs, but this is actually carob, Jacaranda procera. The cacao tree, which produces chocolate, is Theobroma cacao.

Cinnamon is associated with success, healing, adding power to spells, spirituality, wealth, and protection. Cinnamon is important in Christian folk magic because of its use in the Bible. In Southern folk magic, cinnamon is used for money, luck, and lust and is said to work very fast. It can also be used for blessings and protection spells. It is associated with the Fire element and the Sun.

Clove is probably most famous for its use in spells to stop gossip, but it is also used to drive away harmful spirits and to attract wealth. It is also sometimes used in love and sex magic and for successful business work. It is connected to the Fire element and the planet Jupiter.

Ginger adds power to spells and situations. It is used in spells for love, money, success, and healing, but it can be included in any spell to add power or make results happen faster. Ginger is associated with Fire and with the planet Mars.

Hazelnuts have long been used in Western European folk charms for luck and good fortune. It is said that eating hazelnuts makes you wise and can increase fertility. Hazel is also associated with protection and with granting wishes. It is connected to the Air element and the Sun.

Lavender is used in love spells, especially spells to attract a masculine partner. It also has a strong association with peacefulness and with calming emotions. It is sometimes used for protection and is said to both attract and banish spirits, depending on the source. Lavender has a long historic connection to the queer community. It is associated with Air and the planet Mercury.

Nutmeg is most famous as a good luck charm, but it is also used for healing, money, and success. In Southern folk magic, it is used mostly for money, success, and good luck. It is associated with Fire and with Jupiter.

Peppermint is commonly used in healing magic, but it can also be used for purification, attracting good spirits, divination, love, and money. In Southern folk magic, peppermint is used for hex breaking. It is associated with Fire and the planet Mercury.

Vanilla is strongly associated with love and comfort. It can sometimes be used in lust spells. Scott Cunningham mentions using vanilla to replenish lost energy. It is associated with the Water element and the planet Venus.

Magical Coffee Brews

With these ingredient correspondences, you can easily mix a spell into a coffee drink. For example, a pumpkin spice latte (which is made with pumpkin pie spice, i.e., a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves) can be a spell for money and success. A lavender latte with oatmilk could be an excellent love spell, especially for queer love. A peppermint mocha (coffee with chocolate) could be a healing spell. There are lots of possibilities for a magic brew!

Sources:

Witchcraft for Everyone by Sam Wise

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Hoodoo Herbal by Starr Casas

Jambalaya by Luisah Teish

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Wikipedia article for soybeans

Wikipedia article for Setsubun

"History of Chocolate" on History.com

"Chocolate: From witchcraft to miracle worker in early modern Europe" by Erin Alice Cowling, published in The Conversation

[justalittleb-witchy]

Easy Ways to Kitchen Witch

If you're new to the craft, or if your path is recently at a cross roads where you're feeling more drawn to kitchen witchcraft, you might be looking for some easy ways to start. So often when you picture Kitchen Witchcraft, you think of elaborate meals of baked goods beautifully decorated. And sure, that can be part of it; but if you try to make Instagram worthy food for every meal, you'll burn out real quick. So how can you Be a Kitchen Witch without braking bank or burning out?

Stirring your intentions

This is going to be brought up any time talking about Witchcraft and Food, so I figured I'd get it out of the way first. The idea being if you want to add energy or personal intention to food, so that when it's consumed the magic activates. A lot of witches swear by: Stir Clock Wise to Add, Stir Counter Clockwise to banish (Get rid of bad stuff in food). I've mentioned this before, I personally don't feel like this makes a difference. Instead, what makes a difference is stirring towards you to add Energy and intentions. Stir away from you to Banish or remove. Which direction is Towards/Away? Whatever way feels right to you.

The neat thing about stirring is you can do it with any food or drink. You don't need to be actively cooking to do some stirring. You can use a straw, a fork, a spatula; whatever. And if you have something that can't be stirred, like a slice of pizza, try turning the plate.

Candle to Raise Power

Any time you're cooking in the kitchen, or doing anything in the kitchen, consider lighting a candle. I have a round candle holder with a lid that I wash and reuse. Just plop a tea light or votive candle in there. Candles are great at heightening the energy in a room, and as someone who's struggled with depression and motivation, I've found this little ritual/routine helps gets me going.

A few tips, first you wanna make sure the candle is in a place where you can see it but not in a place where it may get in the way. I keep mine on the back of my prep counter. Next, avoid strong scented candles. Scented candles can be great for a lot of occasions, but the smell of the candle can muddle or mute the smell of the food. Finally, as with any time you use candles, please practice good fire safety.

Spell Ingredient Correlations can Carry Over to Food

Have you done extensive research on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme? Well I got good news! All of that research was not for nothing! Herbs and Spices used in Witchcraft and Spells are commonly used in food. If you use cinnamon in a lot of your spell work for prosperity and success, try throwing some in your food with similar intentions and see how it goes.

Granted, this is not going to apply to every spell ingredient as many plants used in witchcraft are toxic. Or at the very lest can be problematic when consumed in large amounts or if pregnant. So please use some caution and common sense. A little research can take you a long way.

Simmer Pots

These are great ways to elevate your home's energy. Also a good way to use up some dried ingredients that's been laying around. A simmer pot is not anything special. You can take any small pot you got, fill it about halfway with water, add dried or fresh herbs, and leave it on the lowest heat setting on your stove, uncovered. Everything will simmer and release amazing aromas and energy. The properties of the ingredients in your pot can release into the air of your home. This can be good to do in colder months when cleaning. Just warms up everything.

Saucy Symbols and Sigils

If your oils and sauces are in easy pour bottles, consider getting a little creative when you use it. Gunna put some Ketchup or Siracha on that? Why not draw a pentacle. Oiling a pan? Maybe cook your food in a symbol of infinity or life. Or create your own symbols and meanings. Add them to your food to help elevate their magic. You may feel limited by the pour spout, but remember it comes down to intention. But if it makes you feel better, you can always transfer your sauces to bottles with more precise pour.

Make a Magic Potion

If you are not a huge fan of Cooking or Baking, remember there's still options for Kitchen Witchcraft. Magic Drinks. You can infuse your magic into syrups, juices, teas, cocktails, mocktails, smoothies, and more. There are options for people who can't consume alcohol, caffeine, dairy, sugar, any dietary restriction. I think I a lot of people write this option off because they think it focuses too much on alcohol or they don't like tea/coffee. But there's a lot of options when it comes of conjuring drinks.

Cook with Sun and Moon Water

If you're not familiar with Moon water, it's fairly easy to make. You fill a glass jar and leave it out in moonlight to charge with moon energy. Same idea for Sun Water. I find Sun Water is better for general Cooking and Moon Water is better for Teas as the energy from moon water is more mellow.

Adding some Solar Energy with Sun water to soups or to cook your rice and pasta in can help infuse your food with some Solar energy. It ups the overall energy and power of the magic in the food, as well as adds success and thus increases the chance of things working. There's also many other benefits, but listing them all might be worth their own post.

Kitchen Witchcraft is more than Cooking

I think the most important thing to remember is that Kitchen Witchcraft is not just food. Kitchens are often the heart of a home, and many things will go on and get done in a kitchen. Family meetings or get togethers may happen in the kitchen, people may do their reading or web surfing there. Or maybe it's where they do their homework or paperwork. They may do their hobbies at the table or counter. There's more than just food going on in the Kitchen.

So, feel free to expand out. Do some crafts with kitchen supplies or for your kitchen. Protective charms and garlands made out of cinnamon sticks and other items. Or just try other kinds of Magic. Maybe you like the idea of knot magic and want to try knitting a protective scarf. Or you like plants and want to get into garden magic. You don't need to stay in some box; try some stuff out!

[justalittleb-witchy]

Kitchen Witch Cheat Sheet

It can be so confusing remembering all the different properties of food. Flat out over whelming to be honest. So instead of having a long sheet with every food you cook with and 10 properties it could have, start with this. It'll be a rule of thumb to help remember some basics.

Elements

If a food is spicy or has a lot of energy/Passion, it likely has the element Fire. Black Tea, Chocolate, and Jalapenos are examples.

If a food is very light or fragrant, it likely had the element Air. Onions, Herbs, and whipped cream are examples.

If a food is juicy, runny, or comes from the ocean/lake, it likely has the element Water. Apples, Milk, and Fish are examples.

If a food doesn't fit into any of the previous categories, chances are it has the Element Earth since all food comes from the earth.

Properties

Any food that has been a backbone staple will have Prosperity properties. Rice, Wheat, Oats, Cabbage, Quinoa; anything that has allowed a people to prosper.

Foods that have spent a lot of time directly in the ground will have strong Grounding properties. Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, and other root vegetables. Additionally, foods that have been through a grounding process also tend to have good Grounding properties. Coffee and Ground Meat for example.

Spicy spices are good for banishing and protection. Black pepper, Cayenne, Chili Flakes, Gochujang ect. If you hate spicy food, stick with Salt and maybe Garlic/Onion powder.

There will be some exceptions and overlap. This is just to help if you're starting.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Adapting a Recipe for Kitchen Witchery: The Basics

Step 1: Figure out what you want to do, and what you are good at.

Do you prefer making drinks, baking, cooking, making frozen items, etc.?

What do you need this spell to do?

What ingredients do you have on hand? What equipment do you have?

What flavors do you enjoy?

What flavors are associated with the things you want your spell to do?

End of step: Based on what you are good at (cooking, baking, etc.), choose a general flavor profile that corresponds to what you are trying to do.

Example: "'I enjoy beverages. I need to be energetic, but calm and collected, with plenty of self confidence. I enjoy coffee and I am okay with floral flavors."

Step 2: If necessary, find a recipe

Based on the flavor profile you chose, try to find a recipe that is appealing to you. If you have some experience in the kitchen, you can improvise and add ingredients to the recipe. As an example, many bakers know that coffee pairs well with chocolate, which could be used to establish 'energizing" as an intention within the spell.

Example: "I found a recipe for lavender simple syrup, which pairs well with coffee. This will energize me, through coffee's associations and physical properties, while also allowing me to remain calm through lavender associations and properties."

Step 3: Techniques

This step follows many of the same principles as step 2-- if you know what you are doing, you can change up how you cook the food. You can chill a dough, whisk something by hand (or with a machine), heat something up, etc. As an example, if you wanted a "fluffy" ward that covers many people, you could whip the egg whites during a baking recipe (e.g. as the eggs expand and grow, so does the influence of the ward, placing a light protection around a greater area) (if appropriate-- be aware that whipping egg whites will change the texture of the baked good, so it may not always be appropriate) .

Heat can be used to represent-- or directly incorporate-- the element of fire. You can use it in the ways fire is traditionally used-- to burn away something bad, to speed something up, etc.

Air-- such as whisking air into something-- can be used to incorporate the element of air

chilling something can be used to freeze or slow down something, make it solid and enduring, etc.

Very commonly in Kitchen Witchcraft, you will be advised to stir counterclockwise when you want something out, and clockwise when you want to bring something in. As an example, if you were trying to infuse good intent, you'd stir clockwise.

Now, here's how all of this looks when put together:

I need energy to work, but I also want to be calm and collected.

I enjoy making drinks

Lavender is associated with being calm, coffee is associated with energy, and they can be paired together.

I found a recipe for lavender simple syrup and cold brew coffee.

By allowing the coffee to steep for 14+ hours in the fridge, I am imbuing an intention of patience and "chill"-ness, while still having a potent source of energy (caffeine)

While heating the simple syrup, heat (which is necessary to make a syrup) can be used to energize. I stir counterclockwise to remove any over-excited energy, then stir the lavender in clockwise to bring in a sense of calmness. I allow this to simmer to incorporate both the flavor, patience, and calmness. I let this cool, both because it needs to, and because it can (once again) be used to incorporate a chilling-effect to bring about calmer emotions.

I make a cold beverage with ice, cold brewed coffee, and lavender syrup to keep me calm, but energized. I stir it clockwise when/if I feel it needs a "boost" while I drink it.

[justalittleb-witchy]

low energy devotional acts you can do!

hey guys! i know i haven't been quite active here, and as the title of this post suggests, you might already know why :') i know this is something that may happen to all of us, so i wanted to start by saying that it is completely normal and that you shouldn't beat yourself over it. so here are a few things you can do to honour your deities, even on days where you feel at your lowest <3

have a cup of tea in their name. you don't necessarily have to offer it, just have a nice warm drink in their name

drink water. you have to take care of yourself either way, so better keep yourself hydrated!

have a small meal in their name. just eat something, for their sake, and for yours.

light a candle. even an LED candle is fine. let its warmth embrace and its light guide you

listen to music. now's the perfect time to listen to your devotional playlists, even if you're just laying in bed.

pray. just pray to them. out loud, in your head. doesn't matter. you can do this from your bed, too, they'll understand

wear devotional jewellery. it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a small ring or necklace or whatever that reminds you of them.

just take care of yourself. it'll pass. and they will welcome you with open arms once you recover your usual energy and go back to your usual self.

remember. your gods love you. so do i. everything will be okay <3 take care!

[justalittleb-witchy]

Magical Oil Recipes - Protection and Warding Edition

For anyone looking to brew up some magical protections or enhance their current warding measures, here are some recipes I’ve created that you might find useful.

To prepare them, blend the ingredients in such proportions as feels correct for your purposes (or as supplies allow). Use dried material except where indicated. Place a few spoonfuls in a mason jar with a screwtop lid and fill the jar with a bland oil of your choice. (Vegetable oil of the sort you would buy for cooking works fine.) Screw the lid on tightly and shake well to combine, then leave the jar in a dark dry place for 2-4 weeks to steep.

Once steeped, prepare a clean storage bottle (also with a secure lid) and label with the type of oil and the bottling date. Strain the oil through paper towels or cheesecloth to remove the plant material, then bottle immediately. Store away from sunlight and heat for up to one year. Use for spellwork as you see fit.

(Please note that NONE of these potions are meant to be taken internally by any means. Observe all proper safety measures related to glass, fire, and potentially harmful plants as necessary during preparation.)

*- Ingredient is potentially harmful if inhaled or ingested. **- Ingredient should not be used or handled if you are pregnant or nursing.

All-Purpose Blessing Oil For blessing, purification, and consecration.

Lavender

Sweet Basil

Bay Leaf

Patchouli Note: Use Olive Oil for the base.

All-Purpose Hexbreaking Oil For general negation of baneful spells cast by oneself or others.

Agrimony**

Cinquefoil

Fennel

Vervain

Solomon's Seal Root in master bottle

And Stay Out Ward Refresher Oil For strengthening household protections between castings.

Sarsaparilla

Oakmoss

Horehound

Sweet Basil

Banned From The Premises Banishing Oil For anointing doorways and banishing unwanted persons.

Oregano

Rosemary

Lemon Peel

Thyme

Blue Moon Curse Reversal Oil For turning and countering baneful magic.

Angelica Root

Lemon Verbena

Motherwort**

Elderberries*

Change the Locks Protection Oil For protection of the home from banished persons.

Cumin

Oregano

Rosemary

Thistle

Cradlekeeper Child Protection Oil For protection of infants and young children.

Daisies (any color)

Flax Seeds

Caraway Seeds

Lamb's Ear Leaf Note: Use to anoint the lintel of the door to the child's room.

No Soliciting Front Door Oil To keep unwanted visitors away from your home.

Ivy Leaves

Sweet Basil

Blueberry Leaf

Juniper Berries Note: Apply to your front door or threshold.

Safe Space Protection Oil To help one find sanctuary when it is most needed.

Blackberry Leaf (or Tea)

Allspice Berries

Fennel Tops

Clover Leaves and Blossoms

The Shielding Light Protection Oil For passive protective magics.

Caraway Seeds

Eucalyptus Leaf**

Lavender

Vervain Note: Passive protection magic functions as a shield, rebuffing or neutralizing harm. It is good for long-term spells that don't require much energy or maintenance.

The Shining Dark Protection Oil For active protective magics.

Coconut Husk

Thistle Leaf

Witch Hazel**

Angelica Root Note: Active protection magic functions as a sword, strongly deflecting or fending off harm. This is best for short-term or immediate-use spells that are not meant to last, but must kick in very strongly and very quickly. Excellent for emergency personal protections.

The Sorcerer's Tower Protection Oil To protect your witchy supplies and workspace from interlopers.

Juniper Sprigs or Berries

Blueberry Leaf

Thistle

Astragalus Root Note: Works best alongside mundane secrecy and privacy measures. To avoid damage, anoint containers, furniture, and doors rather than items. Do not use directly on books as it may damage delicate paper or covers. Use with caution on unfinished wood.

Thorn in the Door Warding Oil To discourage unfriendly witches from entering your home.

Rosemary

Bay Leaf

Sage (any color)

Solomon's Seal Root

Rose Stem (with thorns) in master bottle

Walking Ward Protection Oil For personal warding spells of all kinds.

Sweet Basil

Witch Hazel**

Fennel Sprigs Note: This works for both active and passive protection magics and may be used in conjunction other protective oils.

Wanderlust Traveling Oil For all-purpose protection and luck while traveling.

Feverfew

Cinquefoil

Witch Hazel**

Spearmint

Should the reader require supplies, I recommend the following:

Penn Herb Company

Starwest Botanicals

Bulk Apothecary

Mountain Rose Herbs

Specialty Bottle

Photo Credit - Shaiith

All recipes are © 2017 Bree NicGarran, published in Pestlework: A Book of Magical Powders & Oils. Please check out the book if you would like more recipes.

If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Being an Apollo/Apollon devotee is so blinding, idk. Like "having a bad day?" FLASHBANGED ☀💥 "tired and about to cry?" FLASHBANGED ☀💥 "Doing absolutely nothing and going on with your day?" YOU GUESSED IT FLASHBANGED ☀💥

[justalittleb-witchy]

There is something so beautiful about having altars in your home, especially in your room. There is something so lovely about coming home after a long day and going to my room and being able to spend time with Aphrodite and the other deities that I worship. There is something so lovingly about having lady Aphrodite be the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night.

[justalittleb-witchy]

Sometimes offerings can look like devoting acts to the gods

Sometimes offerings can look like just giving the gods a simple glass of water

Sometimes offerings can look like making things in honour of the gods

Sometimes offerings can look like giving the gods cool rocks you find

Offerings don’t have to be big or expensive to be good offerings, it’s the thought that is most important

[justalittleb-witchy]

Offerings for Aphrodite

🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷

Physical offerings:

• Rose quartz, • Seashells (especially scallop shells), • Pearls, • Copper, • Gold, • Doves’ feathers, • Roses, • Myrtle, • Apple blossoms, • Jasmine, • Lavender, • Vanilla, • Honey, • Cinnamon, • Pomegranates, • Apples, • Chocolate, • Wine, • Seafoam, • Sand dollars, • Perfumed oils, • Mirror imagery, • Swan imagery, • Dove imagery, • Water from natural springs, • Pink or red candles, • Handcrafted jewelry, • Decorative combs and beauty items.

🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷

Devotional offerings:

• Practicing self-love and self-care

• Taking ritual baths with flowers and oils

• Adorning yourself with beautiful clothing, jewelry, or perfume

• Expressing love and affection to others

• Writing poetry, love letters, or songs in her honor

• Celebrating beauty in all forms—art, music, dance

• Supporting organizations that help women and those affected by love-related struggles

• Learning about ancient love and beauty rituals

• Studying her mythology and worship practices

• Celebrating her sacred festivals, such as the Aphrodisia

• Creating or enjoying romantic and sensual experiences

• Honoring healthy relationships and connections.

🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷🐚🩷

[justalittleb-witchy]

As another tactile thing, gestures can be used to carry and imbue intent. This can be as small as snapping your fingers, or as large as a complex dance. Physical movement of the body is a great way to work with energy. Items like ribbons could be good for something like this, where you get the physical sensation of it twirling around with you.

Personally, in the past, I’ve used walking sticks. The physical sensation of something thudding and whirling with you, carrying that energy above, below, or around, is useful. A tall object with a little bit of weight could be used similarly— just don’t hurt yourself.

Exercise can be used to build up or gather energy, or to expend and disperse it.

Spinning something in a circle and slowly drawing it closer to yourself can be used to gather energy into it, or you could do the opposite to disperse it. This specific motion/momentum could be used to gather/create or disperse a storm. It’s easiest to do this with something like a pendulum or yo-yo, a weighted item on a string— in the physical sense that it’s easy to swing.

Repeated tapping of the ground or an object can disperse energy— I’ve heard that some people knock on their tarot decks before use to either disperse unwanted energy or to “wake” the deck up.

Hugs could be used to embue someone with protection. (With consent)

Physical touch makes energy transfer SOOO much easier (imo), whether that’s absorbing it from something/someone or giving it to someone/something. It’s a great way to practice sensing energy.

If you practice archery, you can use that movement, sensation, and momentum to send things.

Run with the wind or fly a kite to carry your intentions to where they need to go. Dip your hands in running water, or place them in a place often travelled for the same purpose.

Dig and un-dig to hide or uncover things. (Using the word un-dig instead of burry because I do not support burying anything that’s not meant to be there. Meant to be there: plants that won’t harm local wildlife. Not meant to be there: invasive species, weeds, things like broken glass that could harm wildlife)

Smacking things together, like pan lids or your shoes, to banish— though that falls closer into sound witchcraft territory, the physical sensation also plays into tactile witchcraft.

Many different practices, including some open ones and ones where people can be taught by a dedicated teacher (open conditionally, basically) use movement/touch to affect energy. It’s an extremely well established thing, across many cultures— but everyone handles it slightly differently.

Enchanting with touch -

A lot of witchcraft seems to be focused on visualisation as a means of imbuing things with magic, energy work seems almost entirely written to suit those who can visualise images. I am extremely tactile, I am a touchy feely person with busy hands so I decided to share how I “enchant” items.

Enchantment in my book means to take an object and make it magical, whether it be a charm, a ward, an agent of the spell itself.

Kissing things - your lips are far more sensitive than your fingers, they are also very close to your nose so you can incorporate smell into this, too. Take the item, and bring it too your lips gently, place a plush firm kiss whilst focusing on planting your into into the item.

Stroking or brushing - I have heard people try knot magic by braiding their hair, my hair is too short for this, but you could start by brushing your hair. Really smoothing it out, deeply brushing hair or even fur is a great way to transfer magic from your mind to the hands to the object, brushing is very therupeutic and could almost be a trance inducing activity. When I had hair I could sit on, it was a wonderful sensory experience to hand brush it after a wash.

You could also feel the surface of your item by smoothing it with you hands, really get to know the texture, let the magic explore the grain of the wood, the crevices in the stone or the cool touch of the metal.

Crumbling something - You could do this with breadcrumbs for kitchen magic or a bath bomb for bath magic (I wouldn’t crumble a bath bomb imo but I have heard some people prefer to do that.) Guide your intent to your hands and let it over whelm the object in your palms.

Stepping on something - This could be very destructive and great for curses.

Walking around it - Walking around an object features a lot in folk lore, perhaps you could use it to slowly build up intent and magical energy within you?

Throwing or juggling - Juggling is a great skill to learn and I can well and truly say kinetic energy is magical very powerful, throwing and catching something in the air until your satisfied is a fantastic way of enchantment, the weight as you catch it in your hand and watching it fly in the air is just fantastic.

Rubbing it to give it body heat - This is very physical, you can feel the warmth you’ve transferred to this object and its very responsive as well.