sweetwitchythings

[sweetwitchythings]

Let me put y'all onto something. ESPECIALLY digital witches or witches who keep their Grimoires/Book of Shadows on some type of device.

I type faster than I write. I also often make simple spelling mistakes that I have to black out or white out because I try to write to keep up with my brain speed (adhd yaaaaay). So typing is much easier for me. I've kept my Grimoire and Books on my laptop for a very long time and LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I used an app called Obsidian for a long time. I liked it alright. I didn't like how it alphabetically organized my folders, because I would rather put things in the order of how they make sense to me, like a chapter book, and not alphabetically. I also didn't like how I had to PAY to get it on my other devices, like my phone or tablet.

My wonderful husband was listening to me rant about these frustrations; about how I couldn't make it pretty like I wanted to, about the annoyances of the app, and he went and found me another one!

This app is called Notion. It has a wiki ability where you can make your Grimoire/BoS look like a super cool website! There is a premium version, but the only popup I got about it was when I tried to add an image that was too large to be supported by the free version. Luckily, I didn't care about the image, so I just found a new one. There is also a built-in AI feature, but you aren't forced to use it to use the app. It connects to all of your devices, has a calendar function that links with Google calendars if you use that, and has lots of other features for business owners, personal life, and students. I personally love the meal planner and the reading list! I can put down all my kitchen spell recipes and plan what days I use them! I'm sure you can also do that for spells!! It also has to-do lists, journal functions, and project management. AND THE FREE VERSION DOESN'T SUCK!

Run as fast as you can to get this. It's awesome and I'm already transferring all of my witchy notes and papers over to it. It's so awesome!

Disclaimer: I am not sure what comes with the premium version or what is all in it, but the functions with the free version seem to be just fine thus far, so I'm not worried about it.

[sweetwitchythings]

FYI iPhone users!

[sweetwitchythings]

time to get a delicious tea drink from my favorite crone, boba yaga

[sweetwitchythings]

i don't care if it's nazis, mormons, or a bunch of misguided autistic people. if anyone ever tries to tell you your soul is from another planet and you're actually part of the class of impressive people that secretly did everything cool in the world but is now extinct and lives on through your broken genome, you RUN. YOU WILL RUN AWAY. YOU WILL SPRINT FULL SPEED AWAY FROM THAT.

[sweetwitchythings]

Other witches having practices that are very different or even polar opposites from yours and them simply sharing how they do things is not attacking or invalidating how you do things.

If nobody is getting hurt, if no bigotry is involved, then different is just different, not better and not worse.

You don't have to agree with anybody. You can just keep doing your own things. We're different people and we all have our own reasons for how we roll.

And as we grow and change, our crafts grow and change with us.

[sweetwitchythings]

𝐈𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐜

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What is Imbolc?

Imbolc is a festival that marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, occurring around February 1-2. Known as Brigid’s Day or Candlemas, it celebrates the first stirrings of spring and the return of light. The name Imbolc translates to “in the belly,” symbolizing new life, growth, and the creative potential that is awakening within the earth. It is a time of purification and renewal, where the energy of the earth begins to rise, bringing warmth and vitality to the whole world.

Imbolc is often dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of fire, healing, poetry, and craftsmanship. Brigid is associated with both the hearth and the forge, embodying the transformative powers of fire and light. As the days grow longer and the sun strengthens, we honor her influence in bringing fertility and growth to the land. The first signs of spring, such as the lactation of ewes and the appearance of snowdrops, are seen as blessings from Brigid, signaling that life is returning.

Imbolc is also a festival of light, a time to celebrate the increasing daylight through the lighting of candles, bonfires, and lanterns. As the earth begins to thaw and the seeds of spring stir beneath the soil, Imbolc offers a space for spiritual growth and creative awakening. It is a perfect time to clear away the stagnant energies of winter, refresh the soul, and prepare for the vibrant months to come. The act of lighting candles not only honors the growing light but also serves as a reminder of the inner light within us all, waiting to shine brightly in the coming seasons.

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Goddess Brigid

Brigid, one of the most revered deities in the Celtic pantheon, is also known as Lady of the Sacred Flame. She is the goddess of healing, fire, smithcraft, creativity, animals, hearth and poetry, Imbolc is her Sabbat, a time dedicated to honoring her influence on creativity and new beginnings. Her symbols are fire, poetry, lambs and fertility. Brigid is often depicted with a flame emerging from her head or a serpent coiled around her, representing the powerful energy she brings. She is also a goddess of protection, childbirth, women, blacksmithing and life.

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The Return of Light and the First Signs of Spring

Imbolc marks the shift from winter to the first signs of spring. Days start to get longer, and you can feel the earth beginning to wake up, even though winter isn’t completely gone. It’s the time when the sun starts to grow stronger, and we begin to see early signs of new life. During Imbolc, many light candles or bonfires in Brigid's honor, celebrating the return of light and the growing strength of the sun as the days grow longer.

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Brigid's Cross

A traditional symbol of Imbolc, Brigid’s Cross is woven from reeds or straw and represents both protection and blessings. It’s believed to offer protection from fire and lightning, making it an essential symbol of Brigid’s influence. In Ireland, it was common to hang Brigid’s Cross on the rafters of homes to invoke her protective energy.

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Brigid's Flame

According to legend, Brigid lit a flame on the hill of Kildare, pledging to keep it burning in her honor. This flame was said to burn continuously, symbolizing her eternal presence and influence over the cycles of life. The fire became a sacred symbol, tended by the Brigidine Sisters for centuries, representing not just physical warmth, but the power of creativity and healing.

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Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Moon, Venus

Season: Midpoint between Winter and Spring

Element: Earth, Fire

Time of Day: Dawn

Tarot: The Star, The Empress, The Ace of Wands

Colors: White, Light Yellow, Green, Gold, Silver, Lilac, Pale Pink, Purple

Herbs: Chamomile, Clover, Angelica, Heather, Basil, Bay Laurel, Willow, Rosemary, Milk Thistle, Coltsfut, Lavender,

Fruits: Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Blackberry (Brigid's favorite fruit)

Vegetables: Leek, Potato, Carrot, Turnips, Garlic

Runes: Sowilo, Berkano, Algiz, Kenaz

Crystals: Carnelian, Amethyst, Garnet, Onyx, Ruby, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Milk Quartz

Trees: Rowan, Willow, Birch

Goddesses: Brigid, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Aphrodite, Ceres, Venus, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aradia, Athena, Minerva

Gods: Faunus, Eros, Pan, Cupid, Aenghus Og

Dragon: Fafnir

Flowers: Snowdrops, Crocus, Daisy, Dandelion, Chicory

Animals: Lamb, Sheep, Cow, Deer, Groundhog, Hedgehog, Snake, Swan, Wolf, Bear, Boar

Magical Powers: Purification, Renewal, Creativity, Fertility, Awakening, New Beginnings, Hearth and Home, Healing, Hope, Inspiration, Cleansing, Protection

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Activities To Do:

🐑 Light candles or a bonfire to honor the return of the sun.

🐑 Make an Imbolc altar.

🐑 Rest and enjoy the midwinter season doing cozy activities.

🐑 Wear the colors of the season.

🐑 Cook or bake seasonal dishes, especially fresh bread, cheese, or other dairy products.

🐑 Make Brigid's cross.

🐑 Take a walk in nature and collect branches and stones to add to your altar.

🐑 Donate to animal shelters or send wishes for the animals born during this season, especially lambs.

🐑 Eat fresh bread or drink milk

🐑 Clean your house to invite new positive energy.

🐑 CREATE ANYTHING!! whether it’s art, crafts, edits or poetry.

🐑 Write the sigil of Imbolc somewhere visible to attract its energy( I usually do this on a piece of paper that I put on my altar or on my arm)

🐑 Take a bath with lavender or cinnamon essential oil

🐑 Read about the goddess Brigid

🐑 If it’s a sunny day, celebrate the festival of light by spending time outdoors and letting the sun purify you.

🐑 Do offerings for your deities

🐑 Dance to festive music, feel the joy of the season, and let your inner fire shine :D

🐑 Try spinning or crafting with wool to honor traditional Imbolc crafts.

🐑 Look for seasonal flowers like snowdrops or crocus and bring some into your home for decoration.

🐑 Plant seeds if the weather allows, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.

🐑 Do spells for fresh starts and set intentions

🐑 Worship Goddess Brigid or any deities you feel connected to during this time.

🐑 Read poetry to celebrate the creative energy of the season.

🐑 Make an Imbolc Magick Spell Jar

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Food and Drinks:

Dairy products (or vegetarian alternatives), like milk, cheese, and yogurt, freshly baked bread, muffins, waffles, blackberry jam, blackberry cakes (anything with blackberries), lemon cake, poppy seed cakes, biscuits coated in sesame seeds, dishes with bold spices, seeds such as sunflower, poppy, and sesame (for Imbolc seeds are very meaningdul), red cabbage, oats, butter, honey, garlic, scones, pancakes, crepes, pickles, cheese pie, oatcakes, bannock, mashed potatoes, colcannon, chili peppers, eggs, apple tarts, spiced nuts, roasted vegetables, hearty soups, grain-based salads, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon or pomelo). Don’t forget to make a wish while flipping your pancakes on Imbolc! <3

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useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip Jar🌲

[sweetwitchythings]

[sweetwitchythings]

Part Two of Caring for your Tarot or Oracle Deck!

Thank you guys for the love on the first part! This is a little shorter, but it's sweet and to the point! <3 ✨🔮

Cleansing Your Tarot/Oracle Deck 🔮✨🌙

There are many ways to cleanse a tarot deck! You can cleanse just about any way you can cleanse any other object. I like to use smoke, but you can also use sounds, like bells or drums, music, candlelight, sunlight, moonlight, an herb bath, or by sprinkling crushed eggshells over them. Some people have bowls that they make salt baths in, mixed with herbs and cascarilla powder, for things that you can't get wet. I think this is an excellent method of cleansing, if you can keep it clean and not allow it to get wet and crusty. After you cleanse the first time, your deck probably won't need any more serious cleansing; at least, not for a long time. Using them often and cleansing them gently between uses should keep them well-cared-for. Instead of foreign energy, what you should really watch out for after this is stagnant energy. If your cards go unused for a long time, the energy residing in them will grow still and stale. To prevent this, I like to "wake them up" before every reading. First, I take my cards out of their container. The box you got them in works fine, but I try to keep mine in nice leather holsters or velvet bags. When I take them out of the holders, I hold them in my hand nice and tight, then knock on them 3-5 times, on both sides. This both stirs up the energy in the cards, to "wake" them, and bangs out some of the stagnant energy or residual garbage in them, knocking it out. Then I shuffle the cards well while thinking of my question. If I read for other people, the process is a little different. I knock on them, front and back, then allow the querant to touch them for a moment while they think about their question. Then, as Spirit leads me, I either shuffle and wait for a card to pop out, or I shuffle until I feel it is sufficient and then let the querant cut the deck, then draw from the top. The second one is more personal, but I wouldn't do it for anyone I didn't trust. I personally don't really like people touching my cards, especially if I don't know or trust them, but I don't really know other ways to charge the cards with the energy of the querant unless they were to tell me exactly what question they were looking to be answered. I feel like that might be a breach of privacy, but if it is between personal friends, I wouldn't feel as weird asking them what exactly they were looking for.

Quick edit and disclaimer: this is NOT to say your cards can never pick up negative energy. ANYTHING can. I'm just saying negative energy is a MUUUUCH smaller risk than just plain stagnant energy. I think the whole *negative energy* thing is usually a bit overplayed. If you have good spiritual hygiene and care for your spiritual tools often and regularly, then you probably won't have to worry about bad vibes very often, if at all. This, of course, totally depends on what you use your tarot cards for. I have never channeled spirits with my cards before and use them as more of a introspection tool. If you channel something nasty, then yeah cleanse your cards of negative energy. But personally I wouldn't freak out over negative energy being in your cards just because you haven't used them in a couple weeks/months. Just give them a good sweep to reactivate them, wake them up, and blow off that stale stinky energy.

[sweetwitchythings]

What I did for the full moon last night:

did a psychic circle board session

read my husband's cards

cleaned my room

cried a lot

Gotta love the moon being in Cancer ♋🥲

[sweetwitchythings]

Caring for Your Divination Deck Part One ✨

This is the first bit of my Book of Shadows that I'm ever posting! Yaaaaaay!

This will be a short series of just a couple parts on how I've come to care for and love on my tarot decks. Some of this are things that I've read, some are things I've come to learn on my own after reading tarot for 5 years. I own multiple decks, but you don't have to have more than 1 to be a real tarot enthusiast. I just see pretty card and grab pretty card and love pretty card...

Part One: Bonding with Your Deck for the Very First Time!

So. You've got a new deck. It's fresh out of the packaging, with little bits of plastic wrap everywhere from where you've freed them. They're in your hands, touching your skin for the first time. Now what? Well, you need to bond with them. Just like meeting a new person for the first time, you need to go through all the small talk and social rigamarole to make them your friend. There are many ways to go about this, but this is the method that has ALWAYS worked for me, in the order I usually go about it. If this doesn't work for you, feel free to develop your own methods!

Open her up and give her a gander! Tarot cards and oracle cards are not just magical because they can give us insight on things we don't yet understand. They're also lovingly crafted by artists, who draw each and every card with beautiful artwork for us to enjoy! Admire the pattern on the back of the cards, then go through every single card and ooh and ahh over the pretty art! You picked this deck for a reason, and for me (oftentimes), that reason had to do with 'it's so pretty!'. Decks call out to us for a lot of reasons, but when your eyes are drawn naturally towards a deck, it's often because of the eye-catching artwork displayed on the box and promised inside of the cards. So flip through them in order! Enjoy the lovely artwork and read the back of the box about the author and illustrator of your deck. It never hurts to give these artists some love either! (This is why I would hate to see AI generated tarot and oracle cards start to appear, which I know will happen if it hasn't already. Art is a beautiful form of expression, and part of what gives the cards their power and beauty is the time and love and effort that the illustrators put into the cards, and the same that the author of the guidebook put into it, if there is one.)

Shuffle them for the first time. If you read reversals like I do (not all decks are meant to be read reversed, but most are fine to do this with), then flip them around several times during shuffling to allow cards to present themselves as reversed. Shuffle good, and for as long as you can, and do this several times over the next few weeks as you bond with your cards. You can shuffle in any way you like, but the cut-n-shuffle method I use works the best for me. Traditional and fancy shuffling can be difficult, because many cards are shaped differently from playing cards, so you can't always hold onto them the same way. It seems to me that most tarot decks are much longer in shape than a standard deck of playing cards and oracle decks tend to be a bit bigger and more square.

Give them a good cleansing. Make sure everything is off of the cards; plastic wrap or paper holders or stickers. I like to blow on the cards a little while thumbing through them, visualizing blowing away the stale or stagnant energy that they accumulated while sitting in a box, as well as any foreign or unwanted energies picked up from handling or transit. You can do this at the same time you shuffle if you like! Moving the cards around is a good cleanser and energizer.

This step is optional, but I like to pull 1 card from the deck to say hello! Greet your cards and ask them how they feel about you. In my view, there is no "bad" card; nope, not even The Tower! If you pull The Tower in this setting, I would personally see it as the cards saying "buckle up, I'm gonna learn you a thing or two!"

Give the cards a home. Whether that's the box they came in, a container that you purchased to keep them in, a tarot card bag, or wrapped in a cloth, the cards need to go somewhere for safekeeping. Keep it away from things like water or flame. I know a lot of witches keep their cards on their altar, but you don't have to keep it in your workspace ALL the time. I don't like to keep my cards in my workspace because I don't have a very big one and the cards take up a lot of space, as well as the risk of spilling something on my altar and getting on my cards. I'm pretty clumsy, so this is not a rare occurrence. I keep all of my cards in a cupboard above my table in my house, so nothing gets on them. It's also difficult to keep your cards on your altar if you have multiple decks like I do, so a designated spot like a shelf, drawer, cupboard, or on a bookcase is a good idea. This spot can become sacred itself; keep it clean and well-cared-for, so your cards will have a nice home.

Spend time with your cards before doing any serious readings with them. You don't have to do readings with your cards to make an energetic connection with them. Just handling them or keeping them near you while you work or rest is a good idea. I like to safely tuck them under my pillow for a few nights right after buying them, to connect with them while I sleep. It's also a good idea to just play with them; shuffle them idly while you do something else or to help yourself think during work, or thumb through them without really thinking about them. I even played Solitaire with my first deck and I'm more connected to it than any other deck I have! I don't think this is "disrespectful" at all, because tarot was originally a card game anyway. As long as you handle them a lot and spend time with them, then you will be connected with them. By the way, it was Tri Peaks Solitaire and I just removed all the Major Arcana cards to play with the suits.

There you have it! Again, these are not "rules" to follow. This is just what works for me and how I like to bond with my tarot cards when I first get them. Remember, you don't have to be gifted your first deck! If you want to learn to read tarot, get a deck and start reading!

-SweetWitchyThings 🔮

[sweetwitchythings]

Hate how lighting a candle does wonders to my mood. Like wowwww. Grug like fire? Grug not sad anymore because Fire in Cave? Wow. Real predictable of Grug.

[sweetwitchythings]

Eugenicist and bioessentialist beliefs about magic

Like New Age, modern witchcraft developed at a time period when eugenics and so-called race science were highly popular ideas - and consequentially, some of these ideas influenced people’s beliefs about magic. These beliefs also influenced modern conspiracy theories about the occult, which in turn influenced perceptions of magic in general. Here’s some of these beliefs:

People are either born with magical gifts, or they’ll never have them at all.

People born with magical gifts are meant to be spiritual leaders and guide the world into a new age.

There are special bloodlines whose members are more capable of performing magic than others.

People who can perform magic are able to do so only because they have special ancestry.

Some racial groups are more capable of performing magic than others.

Some bloodlines or racial groups are more capable of performing certain kinds of magic than others (EG, so-called “light magic” or “dark magic”).

The traditions of your genetic ancestors will always come to you easily and intuitively, with little to no study required. (And if they don’t, you aren’t a “true witch.”)

Modern witchcraft was also hit by the gender essentialism stick, and claims that come from this line of thinking include:

Magic requires or at least massively benefits from some performance or symbolic representation of heterosexuality or heteronormativity; other forms of magic will be inherently weaker.

Literally all magic is a recreation of heterosexual reproduction.

The womb is a woman’s most potent source of magic.

There are only two important deities: the god and the goddess.

All goddesses represent the divine mother archetype, all gods represent the divine father archetype.

Feminine energies are soft and nurturing, masculine entities are aggressive and bold.

Masculine energies are too strong in the world, and are the reason for imperialism, violence, etc. The imbalance can be corrected by focusing on feminine energies.

So yeah, always watch out for claims like this because they don’t come from a good place.

[sweetwitchythings]

More good alternatives to salt on the ground outdoors: egg shells, flower petals, catnip, olive oil.

[sweetwitchythings]

i wish people who dunk on “silly” southern accents and vernacular could experience the total derealization that comes with listening to yourself talk and realizing that it’s not your real voice anymore. i spent so many years flattening my accent to sound smarter that i have to remind myself constantly that it’s okay to use my real fucking voice. i’ve had customers at my job make fun of me to my face when i let it slip. when i’m public speaking or even speaking in class with my peers it goes away completely because i’m so terrified of being perceived as a hick. just imagine opening your mouth and hearing a strangers’ voice come out. i can’t stress how viscerally upsetting it is to not know what the real you sounds like anymore. just think for two seconds before you yell about how you can’t take southern or appalachian dialects seriously or i will blow you up with this bombbbbb i swear to godddddd

[sweetwitchythings]

potions vs charged waters

updated version

i most often see the word “potion” used as a blanket term for any liquid mixture that you enchant with magic, but it's a tiny bit deeper than that.

potions

a potion is broadly defined as a mixture of liquids with magical, healing, or poisonous properties [source] and is meant to be ingested - essentially, a potion is a liquid spell you're supposed to drink in order to feel the effects of said spell. in fact, the word "potion" is derived from the middle english pocioun, from anglo-french poisun, pocioun (drink, potion,) from Latin potion-, potio, from potare (to drink) [source].

you can essentially enchant any beverage to be a potion, and create your own potions using edible ingredients. wanna make a strawberry banana smoothie with the intent of having a super good day? bam, potion.

but, please keep in mind that even if something is edible, that doesn't mean it's safe. do your research and don't ingest harmful substances!

charged water

charged waters are infused with the energy of an external source - the moon, your favorite herbs and crystals, and elemental energy, for example. charged waters can be edible (potions) or inedible, which entirely depends on your intent. no really, i mean it. if you want to use this water strictly for spellwork, anointing items, adding to spell jars, etc., then you can add whatever the heck you want to it - crystals, oils, herbs, you name it.

but if you want to drink it or turn it into a potion of some sort, please for the love of the cosmos do NOT add a bunch of oils and trinkets and accessories to your DRINKING water.

essential oils are not for human consumption!!! and - you shouldn't be drinking something you just put a bunch of rocks in!!!!

tips

regardless of what you plan to do with your magically enchanted water, leaving it out at room temperature is a potential breeding ground for bacteria so plan to refrigerate it or store it in a cool, dark place and dispose of it within a couple of weeks.

final notes

anything you plan on drinking: use edible ingredients only, and store accordingly. do not add random nonsense to water you plan on drinking.

as always, do your own research and use your best judgement to discern what is safe and what is not.

© 2025 ad-caelestia

[sweetwitchythings]

Out with the "magick" spelling in 2025, let's go, shall we? Let the flaming piece of burning garbage Aleister Crowley fade into insignificance and obscurity.

[sweetwitchythings]

I think I’m going to start posting blurbs from my Grimoire/Book of Shadows here for the fun of it.