#Spiritual cleansing

[ambermotta]

Protection Magic: Some Important Concepts

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Long post based on my experience and research. Meant to be informative. I don't claim to know the absolute truth.

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Protection magic is any type of work meant to protect A from B, and there are many ways that this can be done: prayers, charms, talismans, tokens, casting circles, setting up wards, visualization. The list can go on and on because it can be done in many different ways and combining many different methods.

But methods are not the topic of this post today. No, today I would like to talk about some key concepts to keep in mind before getting started on making protections and keeping them effective.

The Importance of Cleansing

Before doing any protection work I like to do a cleansing. Imagine you have an open water bottle, and because it was open, a lot of dirt has found its way into it over time. You decide to seal the bottle so no dirt comes in, but you don't pour out the old water, so you end up sealing it in. Yes, you'll keep more dirt from coming in, but the muck is still there.

It is easier to see this being applied to a physical location, but I personally also apply this to personal protective tokens. I feel they work better when you are taking care of your energies by doing regular cleanses and managing internal negativity.

Important Definitions

Protection ≠ Banishing ≠ Cleansing

I feel a lot of people are under the impression that these are all the same. I think they all work together towards a similar goal, but their jobs are different.

Protection: protecting something from something

Banishing: driving out entities

Cleansing: clearing out energy

You can do cleansing, banishing, and protection at the same time, but that doesn't mean they are the same. You can do a ritual including all of them, but you can also just do a cleansing or just do warding (which is a form of protection).

Note: cleansing is not restricted to “negative energy”. You can cleanse any kind of energy. Exemple: a friend of yours decides tarot is not for them and hands down their deck to you. If you wanna work with that deck it is highly advisable that you do a thorough cleansing of it and then infuse it/consecrate it with the energies you want. It's not that your friend has “bad” energy, it's just that you might not want to work with the same energies they have, or use a tool that has someone else's energy in it.

Not Necessarily a Lazy Job

One important thing with protection magic is that no matter how strong or how successful are at doing it is that it is not failproof. I have yet to see protection work that lasts forever, and there may be a few reasons for it.

Negativity also comes from within

Imagine you have a fish inside an open fish tank. Just like the bottle example earlier, you decide to put a lid on so you prevent leaves from falling into the tank and polluting the water. However, there's a fish, a living being in there, and it produces waste. It is impossible for the fish to live without producing waste. If you don’t regularly clean the water, ammonia and fecal matter will build up.

In this analogy, you are the fish. I am the fish. Humans literally cannot live without ever having a negative thought or feeling, it is part of our existence and we have to live with it. No one lives in constant bliss.

That doesn't mean we have to live in the muck though. That's why cleansing yourself is important.

No one is immune to the environment

Here I have another analogy for you. Imagine you're facing a harsh winter, but you are safe in the security and warmth of your house. Your house is protected from the cold so you don't even mind it. However, you have to go outside. You dress up, go out and you feel very, very cold. You could perhaps wear something warmer, but it will never feel the same as home. Yet it is better than going outside naked, no?

Same thing for energies. You can have protection, but depending on how strong the energy in the environment is you are sure to feel it to at least some degree. However it's best to have some protection than no protection at all.

And there is a difference between Feeling an energy and dwelling in it vs Feeling an energy and not letting it latch onto you.

Energy can wear off, and new energy can build up

Energy is ever changing, ever moving. If you do a strong protection spell once, it can last for a long while, but if you forget about it it will likely lose a lot of its strength over time. Some of what you put out there might wear off and be substituted by something else. The energy can also grow stale, which means it becomes less effective.

But if you do a strong spell every month you will not only make your protections stronger, but also constantly renew the energies and not let them stagnate.

So keep doing cleanses and every now and then give a boost to your protections so they are refreshed and recharged.

Note on "Negative Energy"

One of the main reasons someone might choose to do a protection ritual and a cleansing is to ward off negative energy. But is that really needed? What is "negative energy"?

Negative energy might feel like a sense of heaviness, dread, pain, sadness, feeling ill, angry, sad or anxious. Emotions produce and attract what we can call "negative energy", the same way it can make us feel those things.

And while I personally think nobody wants to feel them, we must understand they are not always bad at their core.

The uncomfortable feelings they can cause may also be a gateway for healing and transformation. Pain tells us there is something that needs to be worked on, that needs change.

If you are feeling negative, ask yourself why. Why does this bother me? What makes me feel this way? What can I learn from this pain?

If you happen to feel negative energy, it is good to cleanse and protect. But I advise you to always look for the source to see what can be done about it or what you can learn from it. Don't just try to use spellcasting to run away from your shit. Own your shit. Deal with it.

Otherwise, it will keep coming back no matter how much protection you have.

Conclusion

It is impossible to always be free from “negative energy” all the time, no matter how strong your protections are. But protections can absorb some of the blows that you would otherwise take and ease the ones you were going to take no matter what.

Protection magic alone will not solve all your problems. It is a great tool to help you keep your center and remain grounded, but it is not usually something you do once and forget. It is a continuous, ever evolving work, meant to be used in conjunction with other types of spellwork.

And most importantly, it can give you some comfort through the many trials of life.

Thank you for reading, and good luck on your path! ♡

[wandoffire]

[themodernwitchsguide]

protecting your space

hi all! i just moved and was cleansing my new home; prepping it to be lived in and all that. i got to thinking about what other people do for themselves and, well, that's where this came from! the order of step one and two is unimportant, plus keep in mind that everyone does things differently. every culture has their own idea about how to cleanse a space/person, and none of them are wrong.

STEP ONE: CLEANSING

Immediate Disclaimer: Anyone/anyplace that uses the term "smudging" (using it out of it's cultural context) is a source you should be wary of. Smudging is a set of very specific rituals that were created and are used by indigenous americans. The use of sage, palo santo, sweet grass, hawk feathers, evil eyes/hamsa are all practices specific to certain cultures. If you're just someone not of those cultures trying to cleanse your space, I recommend the following techniques.

-Burning lavender, rosemary, or cedar bundles

-Burning incense

-Burning frankincense/myrrh

-Putting salt at the boundaries of your home, inside or out

-Putting ground eggshells at the boundaries of your home, probably best to do this outside for the smell

-Actually cleaning your home

-Sprinkle essential oils on the corners of a room or in doorways

-Selenite is also a great cleansing stone, although I usually use it for individual items instead of a whole space

-Moon water can also be a good replacement for essential oils

-Ring sacred (to you) or enchanted bells throughout the home

STEP TWO: WARDING

This is a step that varies a lot more from person to person. There are certainly plenty of spells out there available to you, but some people have created their own spells, others will use certain iconography, herbs, etc. Either way, know that it is not necessary for you to do every one of these things--I honestly doubt a space will get any more or less safe depending on how many of these you do. Also, for your own safety, make sure you're doing the appropriate non-witchy things to keep yourself safe. Just because you have a nice sigil above your unlocked door doesn't mean that someone will be automatically unable to rob you. Anways, here are just some of my ideas.

-Put a bundle of rosemary above a doorway

-Create a spell jar/bag with any of these materials or these, I also recommend including some of yourself in a jar like this

-Sprinkle black salt around entryways

-Use a spell like this or this

-Draw a rune (i use algiz) on entryways (i use essential oils and blood for this, but to each their own)

-Draw a sigil like this or these on entryways

-Pray to a certain deity for protection, or put their iconography up (for example, an ansuz rune for odin)

-Burning incense and using essential oils will ward away negativity, but they don't last for long periods of time in my experience

-Make use of a crystal grid to manifest your intentions

-Salt and eggshells also help to ward off negativity entering your space!

STEP THREE: UPKEEP

Now, how do we keep the wards and cleansing sustained? Well, there are a variety of methods. A lot of these can be done as your intuition tells you they need to be renewed, or done at a regular interval that works for you. Still, upkeep is important!

-Redo the spell you did every full moon or at another important time for you

-Refresh herbs and salt/eggshells when they get old or fall apart

-Break open your spell jar/sachet and recleanse the ingredients or just add new ones

-Clean up any salt/black salt/eggshells and put down new lines

-Add more essential oil/moon water to the locations you put them in before

-Redraw sigils/runes when they fade or get scratched off

-Pray to the deity who is looking out for you often/do devotional activities

-Burn more incense, herbs, or frankincense/myrrh, or cleanse with bells again

-Clean your room/house/depression hovel

[adobealmanac]

The magic of scissors ✂️

There are many often negative superstitions surrounding scissors, from the Indigenous idea that using scissors during a wedding will cause the groom to become impotent to the notion that breaking a pair of scissors is a bad omen of arguments and distress in the home. However, in colonial New Mexico there was a vastly different notion, that being that scissors can be a positive and protective amulet.

In brujeria and curanderismo, scissors, specifically made of iron, are seen as deeply protective objects. While often said to be protective against witchcraft, modern pagans are welcome to use them as a general protective tool. Typically open scissors are used to protect against malevolent entities and fairies, however they may be used while closed too. Cutting the cord in a cord cutting ritual with iron scissors may aid in cutting off a psychic vampire.

Some superstitions from here include cutting spider webs with iron scissors to prevent the witches in the form of guajalote (the turkey) from sucking the blood of your children. It is also common to see a pair of open or closed scissors hung above the entryway to prevent evil from entering the home. This tradition is one of my favorites, as the scissors always feel so powerful and protecting whenever I walk beneath them. They may also be placed under the bed to prevent bad dreams.

New Mexico is an interesting place for folklore such as this to exist, as we tend to be very isolated from other cultures other than our Indigenous neighbors, which causes many of our own traditions to persevere for quite some time, along with our cultures blending with that of the natives who belong to this place. While in recent times it has become easier to travel here, it is still a relatively unpopulous place, with roughly 2.1 million inhabitants spread out over 121,280 square miles. With such space and isolation comes many tales.. such as that of the chupacabra, el coco, thunderbirds, and skinw**kers. If you choose to wander into our land, do, proceed with caution. That being said, we do have some phenomenal natural wonders such as white sands and cool festivals such as the balloon fiesta in ABQ. It's worth the trek, but be prepared and be safe.

[violet-hearth]

Salt Scrub

Salt scrubs are a great way to incorporate physical cleansing into your routine - they help exfoliate, reduce inflammation, and improve blood circulation whilst also having the cleaning and protection qualities of salt, dried herbs, and oils. The recipe is easy, cheap, and quick making it one of the most accessible recipes I have.

Salt scrubs are not recommended for people with skin conditions or sensitive skin, and salt can dry out your skin so be sure to moisturize after use. As a rule of thumb, you should not use a salt scrub more than 1-2 times a week.

General Recipe:

1 cup of sea salt

1/4 cup of carrier oil

10-20 drops of essential oil

1 tbsp of herbs such as lavender, rose or chamomile and/or vitamin E oil (ensure they are crushed well)

In a bowl, stir together the salt and oil

Add the essential oil and herbs

Store in a sealed glass jar in a cool location until ready to use

To use a salt scrub, apply to damp skin in circular motions gentle for 20-30 seconds before rinsing well.

Weekly Cleanse Scrub

1 cup of salt of choice

1/4 cup carrier oil (jojoba, almond, vegetable, sunflower etc.)

10-20 total drops of lemon balm, tea tree, witch hazel and lavender

0.5 - 1 tablespoon moon water

1 tablespoon of dried lavender and lemon peel (optional)

1 tablespoon vitamin E oil (optional)

Venus-Inspired Salt Scrub

1 cup sea salt

1/4 cup of almond oil

1 - 1.5 tablespoons castor oil

10-20 total of drops of the following essential oils: rose, lavender, cedar wood and ylang-ylang or a attraction/love oil

1 tablespoon of dried rose petals

1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

As always, adapt the recipes as needed for what you have and to your own practice <3

[your-anemia]

Cleansing rituals. 🌿🪬

@vareneternalcreations

[stariez13]

so there are so many ways to cleanse your space before a spell. Moonwater, incense, crystals, etc. but i think my favorite is music. it’s very underrated. all you have to do is put on some feel good music (could literally be anything) and sing and dance to it in your space your trying to cleanse. it brings good energy to the space and gets rid of the negative energy. i even keep the music on while im doing a spell. just a cool way to cleanse

[lionheartapothecaryx]

Hoodoo WitchTips: Divination🔮✨

Here are some quick but powerful protective tips to help with divination when working with tarot, oracle, bones & more. 
Divination is still a form of labor, so it’s important to ground yourself and even do a bit of light healing work afterwords. It’s so easy to do divination most people forget or don’t know about these simple spiritual hygiene tips. Good spiritual hygiene, protection and healing is important during divination because you are tapping into unknown energies. 
Doing these small things routinely, can help you keep your clarity of mind and even possibly prevent psychosis or trigger other mental health issues.

While Hoodoo is a closed practice, the MAJORITY of tips/tricks are present in many cultures and are not Hoodoo specific, with the exception of the usage of Florida & Kananga Water. Non Hoodoo, Brujeria or ATR practitioners can use holy or blessed pagan water as a substitute.

[solselah]

SPIRITUAL

CLEANSING TOOLS

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ALL WHITE CLEANSE :

For this pile I channeled an all white cleanse as your effective mode of cleansing!! That revolves around wearing all white for a specific amount of time ! For example 5-7 days etc! Honestly however many days you feel drawn to!! This cleanse for you will help awaken your crown chakra & Help you to lean softly into awakening your spirit in totality (think of what caffeine does to the body). This method of cleansing will Suck out all of the shadow energy that has been trapped in your auric field & body!!! It may bring fourth heavy and vivid dreams along with remembering certain things from the past & past LIVES ! You may use this cleansing method when things do not seem clear to you …. When things are literally unknown and you truly can’t figure out what to do next it may be necessary to clothe yourself in all white to connect with your YANG ! At this specific time I believe there is some unresolved anger needing to come to the surface and Dissipate!! It’s time to move on from an angry space to a space where growth and Purity are present!! Wearing all white is your armor , it will help your spiritual connections way more than you actually think. Your white clothing act as an Antenna it will help you to strengthen the connection with whomever and whatever you’re planning to connect with !! CLARITY ✨

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SPIRITUAL BATH :

There are a few things here

You may be someone in the limelight or center of attention without even trying & people really do evil eye you very often, im talking when you step out the “eye” pops out!!! It’s automated at this rate. Totally not your fault your energy is just powerful and magnetic! Very !! So using a spiritual bath with certain herbs will help you to fully release the energy that has been projected onto you ! Even if you wear a certain necklace or bracelet it’s still a necessary step to submerge your whole entire body in water to spiritually cleanse yourself! It’s almost like you get in the shower everyday to cleanse your physical body so it’s important to keep the same energy spiritually! That’s so needed for you guys in this pile. It’s time for a deep / full reset. You will notice after your spiritual bath I’m talking a day after you will feel light as A FEATHERRR ! You may feel intense energy which may come off as heavy, but it takes just a moment for that baggage to clear out ! (As herbs do have different properties and time that they are effective) For you I would always make sure to add a dash of ground coffee to your bath just a pinch I’m talking a sunflower seed amount !! It will help to add a kick to the cleansing process as far as time is concerned!! When it’s a beneficial time for you in life it’s important to also indulge in a spiritual bath ! It shows you are putting your best foot forward in attempt to grow , to change. You may even receive spiritual gifts by doing spiritual baths routinely!!! That’s specific for the type of energy you carry but for the most part doing this long term is so beneficial!!!

I’m feeling the heaviest of Pisces and Libra energy if this is you please do take this Into consideration. Especially if you have mercury in 5th house :)

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CANDLE WORK :

YOU & candle work go absolutely hand and hand. This could be something you do regardless , I can see that for a select few of you, you may have used candle 🕯️ magic in the past to invoke a soul mate or to manifest love in your life. I do see here that at some point you were successful and came into “a” union with your mate. Creating a bond attached with a contract!! I believe it’s time for you to utilize candle working with cleansing intentions in mind. White candles specifically!!! But In addition, with black candles there is usually some deeper energy to wipe out! I would start with a black candle with intention to burn out certain energies that may be holding you back or crowding over you in a negative way!! Soon after I would purify and cleanse a white candle and ~purify~ my energy!! Think of a washer machine and the process of putting the clothes in , adding your choice of soap & rinsing a few times , and soon after drying. So This could be a longer process of cleansing but for you..it’s very deep and effective!

You could be an Aries or a Virgo !! Also I’m feeling LEO energy !! You like to utilize a FLAME! And for you it works!! And it feels effective to you. Which is a bonus & all that matters!

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SMUDGE :

THEIR IS A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE if you are burning sage currently stop !!! (Unless culturally your practice)

There is a specific Range of herbs you are meant to use to cleanse yourself & I feel for a few of you sage hasn’t been as effective for you personally ! No hate against it it’s just that soul wise you haven’t felt any differences regarding how you feel ! So for those who don’t know what herbs are effective for you to smudge with I’m hearing

Frankincense and myryth & Dragons blood! Along with cloves & Cinnamon !!

I’m seeing bay leaves for some ! So there are a bunch of effective herbs for you to smudge with that will help to be effective for you as per your personal ENERGY! Now I’m not saying the sage won’t do what it’s meant naturally ,it just doesn’t seem to be effective for you personally! You smudging in general helps you to release your fears and your self limitations at that VERY MOMENT !!! Pairing your smudges with song or Chants are super powerful ! So powerful !!! It may even release so much energy for you you’ll encounter an emotional reaction & just start sobbing because of it! In the long run it will help you with rejection you experience / experienced! Helping you to put pieces of you back together !!! It helps , and is effective so don’t get discouraged by one method not doing what you want! Keep trying different herbs that you intuitively feel driven and guided towards !! It Helps to ground you as well. It’s important & imperative that YOU stay grounded.

*I am picking up Capricorn energy along with Cancer & Sagittarius!!*

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Hope you enjoy ✨

IG:@ soleccentric

[ambermotta]

Cleansing Basics – Crash Course

What is cleansing? When should I do it? How do I do it?

These are some of the questions I'll be tackling today. I hope this post will be useful to those who are not quite familiar with how to cleanse and why it's important for any witch or pagan practice!

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Long post based on my experience and research. Meant to be informative. I don't claim to know the absolute truth.

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What is cleansing?

Cleansing is clearing away energy from someone, something or somewhere.

When should I cleanse?

Whenever you need to clear away energy.

Personal opinion: you should cleanse yourself and your house at least weekly.

It is generally recommended that you periodically cleanse magical items and cleanse before and after any type of magical/ spiritual work. Cleansing before contacting deities (even if it's just prayer) is also considered "standard protocol" in some cultures, like in Hellenic paganism and Shintoism.

From my personal experience I do feel I can connect better with spiritual beings when I cleanse beforehand, but I believe my emotional state has a bigger influence on the matter. Cleansing generally calms me down too so –

Why should I cleanse?

The number one reason you'll see cleansing everywhere is because it is a way to help get rid of excess negative energy.

I'm not going to say you can clear away all of it because as living humans, we are constantly emanating energy and a lot of times it is "negative" energy. Which is okay, it's part of being alive. Plus, there are other factors that come into play.

However, cleansing often can help you stay in touch with spirituality and ease your mind since you'll be getting rid of excess (and oftentimes unwated) energy.

Cleansing also comes into play when you want to clear away any other kind of energy, for example, when you get a new magical tool (such as a tarot deck) or finish a magical working. You don't necessarily want the energy that was on that object or that spell sticking to you all day, you know?

How to prepare for cleansing?

First of all, gather your stuff. Gather everything you need and try to avoid interruptions.

I personally recommend you always do a physical cleaning up of whatever you are going to cleanse. Tidy up your house, take a shower, and clean your magical items (if possible).

Dirt and clutter feel bad, and it can distract the mind. Starting your cleansing in the physical plane can definitely make it more powerful in the astral too.

How do I cleanse?

Most cultures/religions/spiritual practices have their own way of doing things (ex: hellenic pagans have khernips), so first of all, do your research! And respect the fact that some things are out of your reach.

There are A LOT of techniques you can use to cleanse that are not particularly tied to a single culture and that can be done in many different ways. I'll quickly go through some of them, but it is by no means an extensive list.

Cleansing with the 4 elements:

Earth: I've mainly seen this in two ways, which are sending energy to the earth (something like grounding) and burrying objects.

Fire: commonly used together with air in smoke cleansing. There's also energy work that pulls energy and sends it towards the fire for cleansing (either a candle, a bonfire, or a visualization flame)

Water: mostly used for cleansing yourself or objects. It can be through herb baths and showers, rain/sea/river water, salt water, or sacred waters. For cleansing spaces, there are things such as water spray bottles and floor washes (though I've only seen this one being used in hoodoo). Careful with objects, some may not be resistant to water.

Air: generally the most common for cleansing spaces or people. Usually achieved by lighting up incense or herbs with cleansing properties and using the smoke to cleanse.

Sidenote: burning a herbs ≠ from smudging. Smudging is a native american practice that is closed to their people. Don't smudge, don't call some herb-burning smudging. It's not the same thing. Stick with what's appropriate for your culture.

Sun and moon: using sunlight or moonlight to cleanse (and often charge) yourself or objects. Always make sure what you are cleansing can actually be left in the sun and handle weather.

Crystals: Some crystals have cleansing properties, usually back ones (onyx, obsidian, black tourmaline), smoky quartz, and selenite, to name a few. Keep in mind that they usually need to be cleansed periodically, too.

Sound: Praying, chanting, singing, music, and using bells or drums are some ways you can use sound to cleanse.

Visualization: There are many techniques used for cleansing this way. While it can be effective, it is definitely not for everyone as a lot of people will find that using tools is easier and more consistent. Visualization requires some practice and a lot of focus.

What to do after cleansing?

That depends on your objective.

If you are cleansing a space, such as your home, and you want to keep it "clean" for longer, you can cast a protection spell.

If you are cleansing yourself or an object, you may want to do a Charging of some sort. When you cleanse, you are getting something out, which opens up space for the new, so you can use this as an opportunity to "fill in" with another type of energy.

Conclusion

Cleansing is very versatile and unique to each practice. There are a lot of things you can do that are fairly neutral, but in general, cleansing always has the same purpose and is done in a similar fashion.

Knowing what your tradition (if you have one) usually does to cleanse objects, people, and places can be very enriching, so do your research!

Thank you for reading!

[mycrystalearth]

<afternoon incense>

[ascendedice]

🕯️˖*°࿐ Witchy tips! #1 - Energy Hygiene

It's essential for every witch to do energy hygiene! This overall means cleansing and protecting your space and your own energy, as well as grounding yourself before and after magick.

"When to cleanse?"

It's entirely up to you, but here are the main factors I follow:

When your space/room/house feels weird - just cleanse it.

Every time I feel my surroundings are negative, I just cleanse them. It's recommended to do it at least once a month, but of course if you feel anything building up before that trust your intuition and cleanse.

When you are feeling drained, stressed or anything negative really.

It's still good to frequently cleanse your own energy. Remember - you can cleanse yourself when going to the shower/bathtub. It's about intention.

Before and after spell work.

It's recommended to cleanse your space before and after doing spell work, so random energies don't influence your spell. It's like using a dish - you have to clean it before re-using it.

Just trust your intuition - if you feel like you need to do something, do it.

"How to cleanse?"

There are a lot of ways to cleanse and maintain your space. Some of the ones I commonly use are:

Sound cleansing -

If you have a bell - ring it around your space with the intention of cleansing the energy around. You can also clap your hands or even knock on your tools.

Smoke cleansing -

Smoke cleansing with incense is another good way to cleanse. Just let the smoke run through the space or the tool you want to cleanse.

important: burning any kind of sage is a CLOSED PRACTICE.

Water cleansing -

I mostly use that way to cleanse myself or my crystals. Let the water run through the object you want to cleanse or yourself - it will work.

Subliminals -

Sometimes when you're unable to cleanse yourself in any of the ways above, you can always go on youtube and search for an energy cleansing subliminal. 2-5 minutes of listening would be enough!

"When should I ground myself?"

Grounding yourself is an important thing, especially when doing magick. It's very de-realizing to do any kind of magick due to how surreal it feels. That of course, is different for all people BUT it's really recommended to do some sort grounding.

Before and after any kind of magick -

No matter if it's spell work, cleansing, tarot or any form of witchcraft really, you should ground yourself before and after doing so to avoid derealization and to be able to focus on your practice.

When feeling overwhelmed or stressed.

Grounding and cleansing yourself are both really important self-care practices. Make sure to do that

"How can I ground myself?"

Grounding is a practice that involves connecting with the earth's energy to stabilize and balance your own energy. It is a means to anchor yourself back to the physical world and release excess or negative energy. To ground yourself:

Sit in a comfortable position with your feet touching the ground, start relaxing and breathing in.

Imagine a cord or a root extending deep in the earth.

Visualize, breathe in the new energy.

This can be done for 30 seconds, or even 10 minutes. Do what you're comfortable with.

REMEMBER - this is just a random grounding method that I use myself. You can always research and find countless ways to do it.

Thanks for reading, take care of yourself! 111 222 333

[adobealmanac]

How I was taught to cleanse with fire

Many cultures around the world use smoke and fire for cleansing and purification rituals. New Mexico is not different in that manner, as often I see curanderos (and spiritual leaning Catholics) burning a variety of herbs, woods, and resins to cleanse themselves and their spaces. Sometimes we even use mezcal to cleanse by spraying it from our mouths. While not necessarily ‘fire’, it does have that flame element to it. Spraying mezcal from the mouth is often done to cleanse the body or mind of someone, rather than a space.

I grow a variety of herbs on my property and I often find myself inclined to use them over store bought bundles or incense as it feels more traditional, and connects me to the earth and to my ancestors. My grandma taught me how to burn desert sage to purify a space, which is one of my favorites to use spiritually for cleansing. It brings an energy of healing and calmness when you burn it, and also works great for purification. I think of it as the lavender of sages due to its warm hug-like energy it brings.

To begin cleansing with desert sage, you first must hold the sage in your hands, and close your eyes. Envision happiness, and warmth, and hugging your own abuelita. Think about the warm yellow energy of the desert sage and how it brings that feeling of walking through a winter landscape knowing that you will be home soon. Enjoy the feeling and scent of the unburnt sage. Once you feel ready to begin, open your eyes, and take one deep breath in and out. Now, you must open the front door of the place you are cleansing, and optionally more windows if the space is large enough. The thick adobe of my grandmothers house wouldn’t allow any spirits to leave if you didn’t allow them to exit somehow. Begin by walking around the space with the unlit sage, feeling the energies of the space and finding spots that you need to focus on. Once you have identified the dense spots, you can light the sage. I always light the largest end of the desert sage bundle as I find it is the easiest to work with, allowing you to hold it by the smaller portion. Allow a large ember to form, about the size of a dime. Then, while walking through the space blow on the ember allowing the smoke to fill the direction you are blowing into, as this brings life and soul into the sage you burn. While doing this be intently focused on removing ‘anything bad’ as my grandmother would say. Be sure to blow the smoke into each of the four corners of your house too, to fortify and protect your space. I usually include the outdoor corners too, if the weather is calm enough outside to allow my sage to burn. Once you have hit all of the dense spots with your smoke, place the desert sage into a cooking pot in the kitchen or living room until it ceases to burn. This allows the smoke to do any remaining work it needs to. Once complete, thank the spirit of the sage by holding it again in your hands, giving it a sort of hug, and verbally thanking it. You may leave an offering at the bush you collected it from if you harvested the sage itself, otherwise you could also leave the offering near your favorite plant, I suppose. Once complete store your sage respectfully until the next time you need to purify your space.

Allow the front door and any open windows to remain open for at least 30 minutes after the final ember went out. Remember to always practice fire safety and never leave a sage bundle burning unattended.

If desert sage does not grow near you, look into if it would be able to successfully grow in your plant hardiness zone. If not look into using a native sage variety that grows in your area! In my opinion it is always best to use herbs that are from the region you live in over imported ones any day. And of course, do your best, because no one is perfect. If store bought is all that is available to you then use it! Or, if you already have a store bought herb bundle go ahead and use that. Be resourceful, and stay safe out there!

[ome-magical-ramblings]

Review: Spiritual Cleansing by Draja Mickaharic

If there's one book I would always go back to or always look back to or recommend to others it is this book! Seriously, that's how good this book is. To start with, this book is the best because it is direct, to the point, and only 100ish pages. I honestly have to put the following "warning" that the author himself puts in the start of the book:

Because some of these things sound simple and interesting, don't get an idea to “do a variation.” When you try to work “magic” using only your own enthusiasm you are treading in dangerous waters.

How do I sell you on this book? that's a funny way of me saying that this is the best book you will have in your library as a starting beginner. First let me mention some stuff from the book, which is evil eye being the first chapter and get dealt with so swiftly with a beer bath and there's no extra mystification or complicated procedure being given. As this whole book the procedures are simple but application of them consistently will proves their benefits. In the Arbatel itself we find the following:

God and Nature have ordained all things to a certain and appointed end: so that for examples sake, they who perform cures with the most simple herbs and roots, do cure the most happily of all. And in this manner, in Constellations, Words and Characters, Stones, and such like, do lie hid the greatest influences or vertues in deed, which are in stead of a miracle.

Protection while asleep, psychic, attacks, and stuff related to sleep and protecting your loved ones can be seen here where you can help someone who can't help themselves like a child or someone who's too weak to protect themselves at night.

My Favorite Chapter(4) is the bath/spiritual baths chapter. Every part of the bath from beginning to end is filled with gems and wisdom that you will not regret. 4 Cleansing baths, 12 herbal bath, 6 household items baths, 2 love baths, and 4 nut baths, like what's MORE I can say except mention the bath he got the most testimony out of! To add ¼ cup bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to the regular bath water is an amazing cleansing bath both physically and spiritually :) of course praying, doing it with the instructions and so on is the best you can do!

Special mentions go to chapter 6 for teaching how to cleanse with an egg and not making it some tiktokized or 30 seconds or 2 minutes version of it. What can I say more is that it is a VERY amazing chapter, for all kind of cleansing emotional or spiritual, for eyestrain, for protection while asleep, cleansing your home, cleansing the sick, and cleansing your pet!

I will jump over chapter 7 and 8 despite them being EXTREMELY good and mention that chapter 9 is a MUST READ. Mainly these methods of washing the head or feeding the head are used to work with the non-physical part of the human mentation, not exactly a replacement for psychology or psychiatry or medical treatment of mental illnesses but it is an AMAZING addition to anyone who's healthy but feel slightly "off".

The last chapter and appendix is about finding spiritual practitioner to help you, and what Draja describe as "Recommended System of Treatment for General Therapy", I am honestly just going to say good read the book, it isn't that long and the weight of it is in gold with how much jam-packed it is with technique you would pick up from here or there. Go buy it, pirate it, I don't know just get it and see for yourself!

[harvestmoss]

☀️🌷 Florida Water

I see a lot of witches, more so the new ones, get confused as to what Florida Water is and if it's water from the beaches of the state, Florida. I can assure you, you do not have to travel all the way to Florida and fight crocodiles to get some water.

What is Florida Water?

Florida Water came into the world in the start of the 19th century as a cologne for both women and men. It was a highly popular cologne in the late 19th century for it's rich and strong smell. It has a light flora scent with citrus overtones.

It became synonymes with spirituality when African-Americans in the Hoodoo sphere used it as a powerful spiritual cleanser, and because of it's pleasant smell, was also associated with appeasing the dead.

Generally, Florida Water is a spiritual cleanser, protective agent, and draws in luck, fantastic energy, and happiness.

Why is it called Florida Water?

Well, the word "Florida" is actually a Spanish word. Which roughly translates* to "Flower" or "Abundance of flowers" or "Flowery". Another way of saying Florida Water, in Spanish, is "Agua de flores".

How Do you make Florida Water?

Florida Water is still sold commercially with it's original formula from the 19th century, however, you can still make your own Florida Water at home. Recipes often change but have similar overlaps. Here's some ingredients to consider when making it, there's no need to use all of them, but it's always good to use most.

Citrus fruits -- Lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime.

Herbs and Flowers -- Rose, lavender, rosemary, mint, calendula, sage, thyme, jasmine, bergamot, violet, chamomile, basil. lemon balm, eucalyptus.

Spices -- Cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, anise.

An alcohol like Vodka** and distilled water.

Place ingredients into a large jar with a tight lid. Fill it half with vodka and then half with distilled water. Let it sit in a dark place, shaking it often, for at least 2 weeks to up to a month (you could make it during the new moon and complete it during the full moon). Then strain it using a sive and cloth and place into an airtight bottle.

The mixture should last you 6 months, keep out of direct sunlight, it's a good idea to write down when you made it and what ingredients it contains on a piece of paper and stick it to bottom of the bottle.

You may add essential oils to it as well or only use essential oils of the ingredients. You may also use fresh or dried ingredients. I prefer fresh. I also recommend using organic, so make sure your roses are not sprayed with pesticides and such.

Where do I use it?

Cleansing a space, yourself as a bodyspray, in rituals, to cleanse objects and charge them, offerings, warding off bad luck, to a bath, to be rid of bugs, your laundry, floor wash, to shine your iron tools, etc. Get creative!

(* Please note, Spanish is not my native language nor a language I study, takes these translations with a grain of salt.)

(** You may use grain alcohol as well, but do not use common household alcohol.)

My personal mix includes lemon, orange, lime, rose petals, mint leaves, rosemary, lavender, thyme, cinnamon sticks, garden sage, and mugwort. As well as vodka and distilled water.

[magickkate]

Hey there, fellow witches-in-training! Ready to learn how to fortify your energetic boundaries and protect yourself from unwanted vibes? Let's dive into the magical world of warding and shielding—essential skills for any budding practitioner. Here's the lowdown:

🌿 What is Warding?

Warding is like setting up a magical barrier around yourself or your space to keep out negative energy, entities, or influences. It's your personal energetic security system, designed to maintain harmony and protect against psychic intruders.

🔮 How to Ward:

Clear Your Space: Before warding, it's essential to cleanse your space of any lingering negativity. You can do this through smoke cleansing with herbs, sprinkling salt, or using sound vibrations with bells or singing bowls.

Set Your Intention: Decide what you want your wards to accomplish. Are you focusing on protection, privacy, or something else? Be clear and specific about your intentions.

Create Your Warding Tools: This can include crystals, charms, sigils, or even visualization techniques. Choose whatever resonates with you and feels most empowering.

Activate Your Wards: Place your chosen tools around your space or carry them with you as needed. Visualize a protective barrier forming around you, reinforcing your intention with each breath.

Reinforce Regularly: Warding isn't a one-and-done deal—it requires regular maintenance and reinforcement. Check in with your wards periodically and adjust them as needed.

🛡️ What is Shielding?

Shielding is like putting on a magical suit of armor to deflect negative energy and psychic attacks. It's all about strengthening your energetic boundaries and maintaining your inner peace amidst external chaos.

🌟 How to Shield:

Ground Yourself: Connect with the earth's energy by visualizing roots growing from your feet into the ground below. This helps you stay rooted and centered in your power.

Visualize Your Shield: Imagine a bubble or aura of protective light surrounding you, extending several feet in all directions. Envision it as impenetrable and invincible, repelling negativity like water off a duck's back.

Set Your Boundaries: Intend for your shield to only allow in positive energy while blocking out anything harmful or intrusive.

Maintain Awareness: Stay mindful of your shield throughout the day, especially in situations where you feel vulnerable or overwhelmed. Adjust its strength and size as needed to suit your surroundings.

Keep in mind, both warding and shielding are highly personal practices, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Trust your intuition, stay grounded, and know that you have the power to create and maintain your own sacred space. Stay magical, my friends! 🌌✨

Sources: Sebastiani A. By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn. Independently Published; 2020. Wigington P. How to Magically Ground, Center, and Shield. Learn Religions. Published June 25, 2019. https://www.learnreligions.com/grounding-centering-and-shielding-4122187