#barberwitch tip

[barberwitch]

hola barberwitch. 63 yr old male Pagan based witch. Glad you're back. we have never met nor chatted yet, but i'm glad to see some folks that are a little longer down the path than new ones. Not sure what you posted before but it sounds like it was frequent; that's the kind of folk i'm looking for. Perhaps i'll work up the courage to post my Shadows...

best from south dakota,

Bart

I had some very positive messages and reposts, but your response solidified it for me.

While I’ve been on my path a while, just the length of life gives some perspective, so I really appreciate your outreach.

I did post frequently, I would do a witch tip Wednesday (to be honest [tbh] I think I was one of the first since I started so long ago) and some general tarot pulls either for the community at large or a specific tarot pull that just came through that I figured would be helpful for one of my followers.

While I’d love to see your book of shadows or personal working, I will say that I only shared some general personal workings, or would share 3/5ths of what some of me workings were. I have a post specifically (somewhere) about leaving some thing out because I’m a community of witches, you do want to leave some stuff out on the off hand you need to do a working against another witch 😅

I’ve done this for reasons you’ll probably get. 1) I gave structures with the hope that others would tailor things to their craft because mine is varied but specific. 2) I trust my perspective and while it may work, I don’t know the motivation on strangers on the internet.

I’ve given and done full working for and with friends or clients because I know where they coming from. I do baneful and left hand path stuff as part of my practice, and aside from that, I work with a lot of poisonous and toxic plants so I’m tentative of telling people to work with something that could potentially make them hallucinate, or give them heart palpitations as young adult.

Thanks for reaching out Bart, there’s some good magic in South Dakota that unless I lived there, I’ll never be able to use.

Since this is the first post from my touch stone and others will see:

I’m going to go back through all my posts, my advice and my personal practice and organize it. Maybe it’ll end up a book someday or even a series since I have a few friends who’ve published their craft.

Mostly, I need to remember what I’ve said and what I’ve posted so I don’t repeat myself when past self spent every Tuesday picking a perfect GIF and formatting my post.

Cheers,

🪢 Mr. Moonflower

[barberwitch]

Follow up to last months witch tip regarding gardening! There will be more posted on @thebujobrujo as we go along!

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

Garden Planning

Sometimes it’s easiest to do a rough sketch of you home and garden to organize your thoughts!

Outlined in gold are all the planting areas.

Green stripes denote grass

Rough tree outlines

The borders of white are all already planted and have no additional planting room.

I’ll be creating 2 raised garden beds, one for vegetable and the other for herbs and flowers.

Witching herbs and flowers will go into existing planting areas so as not to contaminate edible plants.

My advice if you’re plotting your garden, next time you have the day off check outside! Every hour or so, see which areas are in shade and which are in sun.

Look up your climate zone and compare the growing needs to your growing areas! Also, it’s a good idea to look ahead a few seasons to make sure that you stay on schedule if you want pumpkins, fruits, or herbs that do better in colder climates because you may have missed the boat this year already.

Here’s another post about gardening and your craft I did a few weeks ago to inspire some ways of infusing magic purposefully into your springtime.

[punkylilwitch]

Quickie #29: Blasting

Blasting it's an all the term that was mainly used to describe which is who caused disruption in new crops, animals, and humans. as per usual, witches and Witchcraft were the scapegoat for anything that went wrong, are go they were fast 4 blasting despite the fact that, in reality, witches Heavenly support and worship  fertility, nature, animals, and humans alike.

It is called blasting because its aim is to blast the witch's power to certain place, the most typically the intense to destroy whatever it may be, however it all depends on intentions. More often than not, a Blasting rod is used to do this.

Here is a blasting rod from the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in the Cornwall:

https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/object/wand-rod/

Here I will link a more detailed post by @barberwitch​ about blasting rods in particular: https://barberwitch.tumblr.com/post/182250716431/witch-tip-wednesday-12319 

“In Paganism and Wicca, blasting and all other acts of harmful magic are considered unethical, a violation of the law, “An’ it harm none, do what ye will.” According to tenets of the Craft, Witches must use their powers for good, to help others and work in harmony with nature (see Wiccan Rede). In many tribal cultures, however, such ethical distinctions are not made, and blasting continues to be among the acts of Sorcery carried out against people, animals, crops and possessions.” - Blasting By Occult World

https://occult-world.com/blasting/

[this-possum-cries]

Other Resources:

(Here’s a list of other resources to help you along your witchy journey! Blessed be.)

Witchy youtubers: moon-lightfaerie

Intent versus will: theoryofmagick

Witchy bullet journaling: calyhex

Witchy dictionary: witchcraftandwitches

About star signs: spell-bound-life

Types of witches: rainy-day-witchcraft

~~~

Baby witch routines: windvexer

Beginner witch tips: spell-bound-life

New witch guide: witchmums

Beginners masterlist: wolfofantimonyoccultism

Coming out as a witch: witchcraftandwitches

Closet witch tips: breadbrewsbibliomancy

Subtle witchcraft tips: anachromystique

How to hide altars: hermesmystic

Qedava's masterlist: qedavathegrey

~~~

8 Rules for spellcasting

Lazy witch tips: witchcraftandwitches

Low effort witchcraft tips

Tired witch tasks: chibiiiusa

Shitty witchy tips: moonblovegood

Witch tip wednesday: barberwitch

Broke witch tip 1: heyitsgrey

Bedroom witch tips: rosemarymilkwitch

Witchling tip: therootedcottage

Witch hacks: mangobeah

Planning your Apothecary: banebite

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[sylars-duckling]

Hi! I am extremely new to witchcraft. I don’t even know where to start, tarot cards and the use of crystals really intrigue me and I’d love to learn more about how to use them, where to buy them, which ones you’d recommend. I’d really appreciate it if you could get back to me thank you so much! - an aspiring witch

Hello there! Sorry for the delayed response, I’ve been so busy with the holidays, it’s been crazy. Also, in writing this, I realized this was gonna be a pretty huge response, so click below to read my full response.

To answer your first question, witchcraft is a huge, ever growing umbrella that encompasses so much knowledge, so there’s not really a cut and dry place to start. Various people might have different recommendations as far as where to start, but I started with a lot of research, and baby steps towards what I was interested in. One thing that I did at first was look up secret or closeted witch tips, not because I needed to keep my practice secret, but most of the tips were small, discrete forms of magic that I used to dip my toes into the world of witchcraft.

As I got more confident, I started focusing on more on what really interested me (I really like crystal work, tarot, essential oils/herbs, lunar witchcraft, and astrology). So I started doing some reading on all of those subjects. Going through articles online, a few books from my local library, and various Tumblr posts helped me piece together the mechanics of these various forms.

You mentioned you are interested in crystal work and tarot cards, which is great! I too enjoy working with both, and I’d say those two combined is close to the bulk of my practice (well, and enchanting, but we’ll get to that later). 

Crystals are a great way to get into witchcraft because they can be combined with other practices, or used on their own. I use crystals for meditation/energy work primarily, holding the crystal I think best fits what I want to meditate on/what energy I want to work with, and focusing inward. 

When I say what crystal I think best fits what I want the meditation/energy to be about, I’m referencing their metaphysical properties and associations. Throughout history, various people and cultures have connected various types of crystals to various themes, such as love, business/career, healing, protection, communication, ‘opening the third eye’ or using intuition, helping with anxiety/stress, and bringing harmony and peace, among others. There are tons of themes that are associated with various crystals. 

In addition to themes or emotions that people attribute to crystals, various people and cultures connect different crystals with different parts of the body, associating different crystals with the head/the mind, the heart, the throat, the stomach, among other places. These can often line up with the theme of the crystal as well (for example, I have a necklace made with Lapis Lazuli, a stone associated with communication and honesty, as well as being associated with the throat. I really like this stone because the theme of the crystal also aligns with the biological location, and this necklace allows me to keep this crystal physically on the biological area it’s associated with)

“But where do I find this information?”

This kind of information is all over the web. A site I used a LOT when I was getting into crystal work was the Crystal Vault’s crystal encyclopedia.

https://www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedia/crystal-guide

While it doesn’t have everything, what it does have is super detailed and really well organized. In addition, searching “(name of the stone) metaphysical properties” in google pulls more of this kind of information than a regular google search of just the stone name. 

For where to buy them, I try to support local business by going to the two closest metaphysical shops near me, but I understand that’s not accessible for everyone. I’m a frequent user of amazon for crystal jewelry, and the site I linked earlier has a shop section as well (unfortunately I can’t attest to their quality of products/service as I haven’t bought from them, I know they have an expansive inventory that could be good for beginners). 

other ways to use crystals include:

-as components/ingredients in spell jars/spell-work

-as talismans, amulets, or charms (wearing, carrying, or placing them in your home/space to bring a specific energy/thing into your life)

-to make crystal elixirs (a sprayable/drippable liquid that you can put on other objects to imbue them with magical power) (A NOTE WITH THIS ONE: crystal elixirs really shouldn’t be drunk, and some of them can be VERY POISONOUS, whether to drink or even to touch/make. always always always ALWAYS be safe and double check if a crystal is water soluble or toxic. It’s always better to be safe than sorry). 

-hundreds and hundreds of other uses that I can’t think of off the top of my head/aren’t in my practice but could certainly be part of yours

For recommendations, a few stones I recommend for beginners/what I started with are:

-Clear Quarts: clear quartz is a great stone because it boosts the energy and ‘vibe’ of all other stones around it. I keep a clear quartz point with all my other crystals for this very reason

-Rose Quartz: a stone popular for it’s gentle pink color, rose quartz has a very loving energy and I found it very welcoming in my early practice

-Black Agate/Black Tourmaline/Obsidian/Hematite: all these stones are associated with protection. While they all have their various individual niches and energy, its good to have a protection stone around when you’re about to start doing witchcraft, as it can protect you from outside influence while you work your witchcraft. 

-Amethyst: this stone is commonly associated with the mystical, intuition, divination, and reaching higher powers, a kind of witchcraft booster if you will (good for tarot, which we’re about to get to). 

So that rather wraps up crystals, again always be safe as these are elements from the earth and can contain chemicals or content harmful to humans and/or pets. In addition, something I like to note is that if you’re storing crystals out in daylight, certain kinds can fade in color (amethyst and rose quartz in particular fade rather quickly if left in direct sunlight). If you want to preserve the vibrancy of your stones, check to see if they’re safe for intense sunlight before picking a display spot. 

Now, onto Tarot

Tarot is one of the most well recognized forms of witchcraft. with the tarot deck being an iconic part of witchcraft. While, of course you don’t need to use tarot to be a witch, you mentioned you were interested in it. 

Tarot is a form of divination using a special deck of 78 cards to predict the future. The deck is made up of 2 categories; the Major arcana and the Minor arcana. 

The Major arcana has many of the more ‘iconic’ or recognizable cards from tarot. These cards generally have fancy names and do not fit a suit. Some examples of these cards are “the hierophant”, “The devil” “the lovers” and “justice”. These cards are sometimes considered more powerful than the Minor arcana. 

The Minor arcana is the second part of the deck. The minor arcana has 4 suits; swords, staffs/rods, cups, and pentacles/coins (depending on what deck you have, they might use either staffs or rods, and pentacles or coins, the symbolism and meaning are the same between staffs vs rods and pentacles vs coins). Each suit in the minor arcana contains a king, a queen, a knight, a page, and 10-1 of the suit. These cards have various meaning, and while may be considered less powerful than the major arcana, can still be very enlightening and powerful.  

To use tarot cards for divination is called giving a tarot reading, and while the process is in effect the same, there’s a few ways to get there. 

To start, when performing a tarot reading you focus on a question. A question for a tarot reading needs to be rather general and open ended. Questions like “Does my boyfriend love me?” “Am I pregnant? and “When will I die?” are too narrow for a tarot reading to explain. A better way to phrase a question if you want this kind of information is something like “What does the future hold for my relationship?” “What does my fertility look like?” and “What does my distant future look like?” 

After determining your question and focusing on it, you shuffle the cards face down and select cards (how many you select depends on what tarot spread you use, which I’ll get to in a minute). Different people have preferred methods of shuffling, and I personally like to lay all my cards face down in a messy pile and pick rather at random, touching as many cards as I can and picking which one ‘feels right’

For how many to pick up and what to do with them, we have to look to tarot spreads. Tarot spreads are patterns in which you lay out tarot cards during a reading, and the placement of the cards represent different things. A common spread is a 3 card speed, where you lay 3 cards face down in a line. going from left to right, the cards represent your past, present, and future, as related to the question. There are TONS of tarot spreads available free online, with the pattern  and the placement key to tell you what each card position means. I personally like the 1 card quick draw for just getting a pulse of the situation, the 3 card spread, and @barberwitch‘s full moon clarity spread (link below)

https://barberwitch.tumblr.com/post/158286975716/barberwitch-full-moon-clarity-tarot-spread-1

once you’ve picked your cards and laid them out in a spread, you flip them over one by one in the numbered order of the spread, and interpret the cards. When I started reading tarot, I was no where even close to having the card meanings memorized, but I found this amazing app called Labyrinthos Academy (link to their desktop site below)

https://labyrinthos.co/pages/learn-tarot-for-beginners-with-our-online-tarot-classes

it’s a great app that has not only all the card meanings (as well as the inverse meanings, as tarot cards tend to mean either the opposite or near opposite when they show up upside down in a spread) in a neat, clean interface, but has a neat quiz feature to help you memorize the meanings, and the best part is it’s free for iOS and android (however, I think it is unfortunately not available for desktop). (also, fyi, while the app is built for the labyrinthos brand tarot cards, it does work with any deck, as images are fairly standardized, only really different by the difference in art styles by artists). 

As far as decks, there’s a lot of superstition and tradition around tarot decks. Many say that the first deck needs to be stolen/gifted. Please don’t steal a tarot deck just to match tradition, it’s not worth the penalty, and while receiving a tarot deck as a gift is a great gift and a wonderful gesture, it could be a lot of waiting around, or if you’re a closeted witch, nearly impossible to get as a gift. I bought my first deck myself and never had any troubles with it. 

The first deck I bought was, honestly, the cheapest deck I could find. I was broke and just wanted the most basic deck to get me by. I picked up a basic deck at a halloween store (link below)

https://www.spirithalloween.com/product/148287.uts

while it did it’s job (the cards were well made and didn’t fall apart, the deck didn’t have any missing cards), I didn’t like the the art style all that much, and they were really hard to read unless you had memorized what card illustration matched what card. However, for $4 USD, you really couldn’t beat the price if budget is an issue

Recently, however, I got The Essential Tarot Kit (link below)

https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Tarot-Kit-Book-Card/dp/0880882484

while it has a higher price point ($15 USD) it comes in a sturdy box that can be used for storage when not in use, and also comes with a mini book with a few basic spreads and a page of meaning for every card in the deck. I really like this because I like to not have electronics out when I do tarot readings, it can be distracting. In addition, the deck has beautiful illustrations and the bottom of the card has the name of the card in a much easier to read print. 

As for where to find tarot cards, they’re readily available on sites like amazon, and most major bookstores will stock tarot kits (however if you’re looking for a certain art style, a brick and mortar bookstore might not have the best selection). 

In addition to tarot cards, there’s also oracle decks, which have their own styles, number of cards, and symbolism, as well as ways to use a standard playing deck for divination. (all three of these forms of witchcraft fall under cartomancy: divination using a deck of cards). 

So that pretty much wraps up tarot cards. A few notes before I close on tarot, many people have multiple decks, with some being just for personal readings, and other decks for giving other people readings (where they ask the question and choose the cards, and you help set up the spread and help with interpreting the cards). Some people also recommend having a black cloth to work on, as it blocks outside energy or influence, but I personally feel fine using my deck on pretty much any flat, clean, safe surface as long as I cleanse the area before starting. In addition, when dealing with divination, and tarot in general, remember that what the cards say is not set in stone. Just because you interpret the cards one way does not mean that exact thing will come to pass, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Tarot has been explained to me as a glimpse into the future if you do not change anything, and that you always have the power to change the future through your actions in the present. 

I think that just about finishes this post. sorry it was so long, but I hope this was helpful, and thank you for the inquiry! I’m always willing to help a fellow witch, and if you have any other questions, feel free to contact me again!

happy witching! ✨🌕🔮✨

[torque-witch]

Kitchen Witchcraft FAQ Page

Last updated 8/21/17

A | B | C | D | E | F| G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X

Y | Z

Click the title link to scroll the tag in its entirety! I am tagging every FAQ page post as “torquewitchfaq” and will be updating each with all the sections in alphabetical order once they are all posted. Tumblr deleted my entire A-Z post links, so I’m doing these by section instead.

Kitchen Witchcraft

Almond & Honey Cake for Prosperity - [ houseofolwe ]

Baking Tips - [ kitchenwitchcraft ]

Beverage Magic - [ orriculum ]

Blackberry Honey Butter - [ thetinyivy ]

Blueberry Protecting Muffins - [ plantifulmoon ]

Cheap Witch Patchwork Soup - [ thewitchofthenorse ]

Chocolate Souffles - [ witch-of-the-dragon ]

Colcannon - Potato Dish for Samhain - [ thepagancook ]

Cold Banishing Potion - [ mrs-k-cottage-witch ]

Correlations Between Cooking & the Craft - [ qedavathegrey ]

Faery Tarts - [ thepagancook ]

Lentil Soup for Colds - [ takealookatthoseteeth ]

Milagu Paal - [ witch-of-the-dragon ]

New Start Eggs - [ frankiezaltar ]

Parmesan-Crusted Salmon Dish - [ thepisceanwitch ]

Raspberry Lemon Friendship Muffins - [ freaky-femme ]

Rose Crescent Moon Cookies - [ death-witch-envy ]

Rosemary & Lavender Skillet Bread - [ barberwitch ]

Rosewater Waffles - [ wiitchbones ]

Teddy’s Protection Tomato Sauce - [ werunwithwolves ]

The Wooden Spoon - [ wiccaweekly ]

Vegetarian Stew for Protection & Health - [ broomclosetwitches ]

Wild Rose Faery Jam - [ witchy-fae ]

Witchy Ice-Pops - [ yourmamthemoon ]

[ashtonjpage]

Tried this out the other day after someone was an unnecessary ass to me on an app. Thanks to @barberwitch for encouraging a little black magic every once in a while. Pro tip: don’t be an ass, because you never know when a witch is gonna send that shit back to you 10 fold.

[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 1.23.19

The Blasting Rod

I received an ask about how to make a blasting rod a while back, and through a series of events, I delayed answering so I could gather some additional information because this tool has a very powerful mystique, coupled with a relatively simple premise.

I’ll start off with some possible ways to make a Blasting Rod aka Black Rod before I delve deeper into some of the references and my ramblings. One thing that seems clear to me, but seems obvious is that to make a blasting rod, that must be your intent. It isn’t simply a wand made of blackthorn (powerful enough on its own) but one made with the intent to utilize it for both beneficial and malefic magic. In European/Celtic tradition it is made of Blackthorn, though other sources do not specify the wood needed. Designate it as a blasting rod, include iron, thorn, or bone, and connect to it as an extension of yourself. It is called a blasting rod, because of its use as blasting the witch’s power in the direction it is aimed, alternatively named a blasting rod for the fact that it will blast or destroy if that is the witch’s intent. Aside from that, I believe the further fabrication of it should be personal to the one creating it. If that is including an inscription, a symbols or sigil of power, or a glyph that represents the witch or the possible workings. The blasting rod should mirror the witch as an inanimate representation of how the witch works, how they view themselves, and the endless possibilities that encompass the witch’s work.

There are of course specific rituals one can do to make the rod, but their validity is again an issue that one must sort through to find what is someone’s idea of how it was done traditionally, someone’s own creation, or a remnant come to light from times gone by. I’m not going to police you and tell you that it must be done one ritual is more valid than another, especially because I’m not going to share my own ritual for crafting a blasting rod. My goal is to provide some context, food for thought, and to show that it’s not as simple as spouting some universal truth in the matter of crafting it.

Top: Blackthorn and bone blasting rod. Middle: Bone and rosewood wand. Bottom: Bone and rosewood want with fossilized belemnite tip by traditional witch Gemma Gary.

Another blasting rod from the Museum of Witchcraft (Cornwall) Braided blackthorn.

More Below the Break!

The blasting rod is a tool used in witchcraft that can vary greatly depending on the creator. It has a history of being used for multiple purposes, but it is eclipsed by the possible malefic usages. It is known to be able to purify, banish, protect of course, but it also used to wither crops and wombs, cause illness, accident, break up storms and divert lightning. Absorbing clouds and controlling spirits and demons alike, as well as being a tool that can intimidate or offend the Fae.

Most times when it’s described, it’s made of blackthorn. Prunus spinosa, or the blackthorn tree, sloe berry etc is a perennial plant that grows in Europe, notably in Ireland, Scotland, and England, though it is also found in the United States near the coasts. It’s a relative of Rowan and Hawthorn, but unlike the other two, has a notable penchant for more “aggressive” magics. All accounts can agree that whether or not you have a sensitivity to energies, or spirits, care must be taken when working with the plant because on the mundane front, black, vicious thorns sprout from the branches. Left untreated, the wounds have been known to fester and grow septic. For this, and the history of burning witch’s with their rods, canes and walking sticks, as well as tossing additional blackthorn wood, the reasoning that it is a purifying wood may come from that.

I’ve spoken at length with several other witches about the ins and outs of blasting rods and changed my opinion on their creation more than once. The conclusion, I have trouble deciding to this day. While mentioned in traditional witchcraft based on European, especially Celtic traditions, it is almost inexplicably tied with blackthorn. It’s possible that it has that connection because of the common practice of having blackthorn staffs, canes, and shillelagh, but in another famous text (although the origin is a bit dubios), blackthorn is not mentioned.

According to the French text “The Grand Grimoire”, it is described as a hand wand that has two forks, capped with magnetized steel. This text, supposedly written in 1522, but researches place the text as written most likely in the 17th and 18th centuries, also claims that the blasting rod is an ancient tool that harkens back to the Garden of Eden, being the tool that God gave to the Angel when Adam and Eve were driven from paradise. Further account says that the blasting rod was used to smite the rebellious angels and condemn them to the pit.

Whether through this text, other folklore, or individual’s experiences with their own rods, it is known as a tool with an affinity for banishment and control of spirits and demons through intimidation. One could assume that, similar to lore of vampires being afraid of the sign of the cross, demons and spirits fear the replica of the tool originally used to seal their fate…again, simply an extrapolation if you go off The Grand Grimoire.

There is another story that I read ages ago that, apologies, I know I’m missing some details, but included a man who had business to attend with The Good Neighbors, or the Fae. He had a blackthorn cane as many did, but to conclude his business, he had to lessen his terrible weapon, by removing the iron tip. Only then, by lessening the fatal nature of the blasting rod, was he allowed entry under the hill to ask his favor.

From this story, and common practice of having metal at the tip of the cane for stability, another aspect of the blasting rod is revealed that mirrors that of the Grand Grimiore. Rather than a forked wand with magnetized caps, it is a simple cane of blackthorn with an iron tip.

Another supposed traditions from an article, claims that to make a blackthorn anything into a blasting rod or black rod, the rune Thurisaz is inscribed or burned into it. This may be some holdover from viking or Norse interactions with Ireland and the British isles. Speaking with some traditional witches I know of various backgrounds, an iron blade is attached to the rod, preferably from a knife that the witch had used previously. Some say that it is in the harvesting of the plant that the rod gains its power. By communicating with the plant spirits, either an agreement is formed where witch and wielded work together, or by infuriating the plant enough to lend its power to the witch through the gift of a branch. Either are valid depending on your tradition, and this is where I get stuck myself on the creation.

The Blasting rod in Celtic tradition is always made of blackthorn, though in other texts, the blackthorn is not listed specifically. Does that mean that this powerful tool gains its power through any baneful plant, or that blackthorn is the catalyst? Does that make it a blasting rod if you use any thorned plant, or do you follow the tradition of utilizing metal and forked branches. I’m not quite sure, to be honest. It could be a case of creating a powerful tool that has those usages, but referring to it as a “Blasting Rod” is a misnomer. Similar to referring to the magistellus flora of a plant as an “Alraune” when it’s not made of mandrake.

What I can surmise from wand lore, folklore, tradition and locale, is that a branch with some marking, whether metal or burned into it, is ritually consecrated to connect to the witch. It is from a woody plant that has import and history, connected to power, purification, and a connection to the land. If a metal is included, it is of iron, or a metal that is magnetized, and it must be treated with care. Of course, there are variances, as there is with any tool crafted by the witch. Some examples keep the thorns, an outward symbol of its offensive power, others are disguised as simple walking sticks, what is agreed is that it is a powerful tool if it is in fact a blasting rod and not just a wand. If made with the proper intent, it can be your greatest ally, or worst enemy. And after seeing more than one post about someone’s pet being found eating their “blasting rod” I urge you to refrain from trying to make one if you can’t be responsible.

The last thing I will say is that I believe that a tool like this is crafted once, and not created again until broken. Let me clarify, I think that you can have multiple blasting rods of various sizes, and possibly purposes if one seems to meld better to a specific type of magic. I’ve seen people talk about making wands of 12 different woods, and some with crystals, and some with wire, and some with feathers. Don’t make it if you aren’t going to use it. Spend time getting it right the first time, instead of abandoning it as soon as you find a “better” piece of wood. But who am I to tell you what to do? You do you, but this is my answer to a question I received and my rambling opinions.

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

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[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 3.6.19

Making an Herbal Grimiore

So rather than waiting to post once it’s done, I figured I’d give you guys the process I’m working on currently! You may have seen my portable plant press I posted about yesterday, well it’s part of a larger project I’m working on and one you can do too.

Especially with winter creeping away, and the spring equinox getting ready to occur, there are many plants, weeds and wild things growing that you can take advantage of, not just for your day to day Witching, but making a tangible, expansive, and personalized tool that will be just...fucking awesome, and an heirloom if done right.

The easiest way to make this is with an expandable/post bound scrap book, or if you’re adventurous, making the book yourself. I’m doing the scrap book version because easily adding and removing pages, organizing etc is going to be easier. They also tend to look a little cleaner than a binder imo.

Here’s the concept: A book that has identifiers, pictures, correspondences, spells, and plant material. A book that, if that’s the only thing you could grab for some rushed spellwork, you would be able to complete it.

Collect plants that you have around you, especially those that you may already use in your craft.

Find out their name with some fancy googling, reverse image searches, local plant and foraging guides etc.

You can visit this site, click on the search magnifying glass on the photo stream , and type in the name. It will pull up antique botanical prints. You can then print these out and save yourself the frustration of not being able to draw like an 1800’s naturalist.

Pick the one you want/what’s most accurate, and print it out!

Now comes your descision about how you want things formatted. Depending on how much information you have, or if you want to leave room to add and keep everything contained, you can tape the pages together to form fold outs.

So I used 3 sheets of paper. Enough room to hand write notes, additional spells, meditations, growing instructions etc. also tissue paper envelopes take up very little space and are cheap to make. In each entry, you can write the info of when it was harvested, how, moon phase etc.

As you go, you can hand write an index and table of contents. Make it alphabetical, organize it by when you can harvest them on a seasonal basis! Do common, secret or scientific name in the index, write what spells you can do with them. This is an easy way to create a useful, personalized grimiore with the stuff you use.

Additionally, you can really trick it out by using a font made of your handwriting! Unfortunately I was rushed and wasn’t able to do it for this example, but I may do it in the future!

I’ll probably post other examples as I go, I’ll use the tag #herbal grimiore

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

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[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 2.6.19

The Calendar of 2019

So my bitchin witches, you’re starting to wake up from the haze of the never ending january and are looking to the rest of the year struggling to stay on track? Well, do I have a post for you! Also...sorry I didn’t do this in January, that was the plan, but then...life!

Includes: Moon Phases, Mercury retrograde (no Venus or Mars retrogrades this year), and more. Also, full moons and new moons that land on Friday’s are debuted due to specific rituals that require that.

Please note, that the dates and times are based in North America PST, so some math and actual date tracking may still be needed for those who aren’t based here in the US. Holidays from the Wheel of the Year are added, though not listed for the Solstices and Equinoxes.

February

🌑New Moon: 4th @ 104:pm

🌓First Quarter: 12th @ 2:26 PM

🌕Full Moon: 19th @ 7:53AM (Super Moon)

🌗Last Quarter: 26th @ 3:29AM

March

🔄♓️Mercury Retrograde 5th - 28th (Pisces)

🌑New Moon: 6th @ 8:05AM

🌓First Quarter: 14th @ 3:27AM

🌕Full Moon: 20th @ 6:42PM 

🌷Spring Equinox: 20th

🌗Last Quarter: 27th @ 9:09PM

April

🌑New Moon: 5th @ 1:50 AM (Friday)

🌓First Quarter: 12th @ 12:05PM

🌕Full Moon: 19th @ 4:12AM (Friday)

🌗Last Quarter: 26th @ 3:18PM

👹Walpurgisnacht:30th

May

🔥Beltane: 1st

🌑New Moon: 4th @ 3:45PM

🌓First Quarter: 11th @ 6:12PM

🌕Full Moon: 18th @ 2:11PM (Blue Moon - 3rd Full Moon in single season)

🌗Last Quarter: 26th @ 9:33AM

June

🌑New Moon: 3rd @ 3:01AM

🌓First Quarter: 9th @ 10:59PM

🌕Full Moon: 17th @ 1:30AM

🌞Summer Solstice: 21st

🌗Last Quarter: 25th @ 2:46AM

July

🔄♋️♌️Mercury Retrograde: 7th to 31st (Cancer into Leo)

🌑New Moon: 2nd @ 12:16PM

🌓First Quarter: 9th @ 10:59PM

🌕Full Moon: 16th @ 2:38PM

🌗Last Quarter: 24th @ 6:18PM

🌚New Moon: 31st @ 8:11PM (Black Moon - 2nd New Moon in 1 month)

August

🌾Lammas/Lughnas: 1st

🌓First Quarter: 7th @ 10:30AM

🌕Full Moon: 15th @ 5:29AM

🌗Last Quarter: 23rd @ 7:56AM

🌑New Moon: 30th@ 3:37AM (Super New Moon - Friday)

September

🌓First Quarter: 5th @ 8:10PM

🌕Full Moon: 13th @ 9:32PM (Micro Full Moon - Friday)

🌗Last Quarter: 21st @ 7:40PM

🍁Autumnal Equinox: 23rd

🌑New Moon: 28th @ 11:26AM (Super New Moon)

October

🌓First Quarter: 5th @ 9:47 AM

🌕Full Moon: 13th @ 2:07PM

🌗Last Quarter: 21st @ 5:39AM

🌑New Moon: 27th @ 8:38PM

🎃Halloween/Samhain: 31st

🔄♍️Mercury Retrograde: 31st to Nov. 20th (Scorpio)

November

🔄♍️Mercury Retrograde: Cntd.- Nov 20th (Scorpio)

💀Dia De Muertos: Nov 1st ( - 2nd)

👻All Souls Day: Nov 2nd

🌓First Quarter: 4th @ 2:23AM

🌕Full Moon: 12th @ 5:34AM

🌗Last Quarter: 19th @ 1:10pm

🌑New Moon: 26th @ 7:05AM

December

🌓First Quarter: 3rd @ 10:58 PM

🔔Krampusnacht: 5th

🌕Full Moon: 11th @ 9:12PM

🎊Saturnalia: 17th

🌗Last Quarter: 18th @ 8:57PM

🌜Winter Solstice: 21st

🕎Hanukkah: 22nd @ 4:47pm

🌑New Moon: 25th @ 9:13PM (🎄Christmas)

January 2020

🌓First Quarter: 2nd @ 8:45PM

👑Dia De Magos: 6th

🌕Full Moon: 10th @ 11:21AM (Friday)

🌗Last Quarter: 17th @ 4:58AM

🌑New Moon: 24th @ 1:42PM (Friday)

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

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Original content of this blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license

[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 10.16.18

Corn Dolls for Fall

For me, I grew up making them in fall and winter because that’s when my family made tamales. Hojas, or corn husks were an integral part of the process and without them, no tamales. So we always had more than we needed. Better to have more masa than meat. And better to have more hojas than both.

Here’s a little corn doll you can make as a gift, a fetish, a poppet or whatever your tradition holds. It’s not my business what there for, but here’s how I make them.

So I went a little crazy writing again and still pulled myself back, so history of corn dolls is below the tutorial 😅 Based on requests, I’ll be focusing on ways to make these poppets instead of spirit dolls (though I may make another post for the spirit component at a later date). As a poppet, these will last as long as you need them to, they will dry completely within a day and keep indefinitely. Once you’re done or you want to end the working, these poppets burn rather easily.

Materials: scissors, string, and corn husks. Optional, use the corn husks instead of string, either cut thinly, or braided....and water. Super simple.

Step 1: soak the corn husks (about 6) in warm water for at least 5 minutes to make them pliable. You may need to weigh down the husks to keep them submerged...I only had a pomegranate on hand since I’m at work.

You can add ritual oils, dyes, herbs, or whatever you need to imbue to whole thing with your purpose. I used an oil blend for protection.

Step 2: take the husks out and pat them dry with paper towels to get off excess moisture.

Step 3: gather the thinnest points of the triangular husks and tie them off about an inch from tip.

Step 4: fold the lengths over the tied off end.

Before folding over, you can add a taglock to the tied off edges because folding them over will encase the taglock and form the head of the doll. For reference, add the taglock to the right of the twine in the above picture.

Step 5: Once all the lengths have flipped over the taglock and tied off section, tie string around the folded part to create the head.

You can introduce knot magic or color magic with the string. If doing baneful magic, you may want to make this into a noose.

Step 6: take one corn husk, and fold in half. Tightly roll and tie off the ends. Trim the edges. This is also a section where in folk practice, the arms may be braided instead.

If your tag lock was too large, or you want to include a sigil, written spell or other component, roll it into the arms. Whatever is at the most central point will sit where the heart is.

Step 7: separate the “dress” portion of the doll, and place the arms just beneath the neck. Once in place, tie off below the arms, this forms the waist.

Step 8: This section will vary doll to doll. You can leave it as is and make a dress. Or you can cut straight down the middle and make legs. I left a front and back section uncut to make this into a robe, covering the legs.

Step 9: Optional, but you can split a section and drape it over the shoulders, tying it off and creating an X, sealing the intent into the doll.

From there, do whatever you need to do with the doll to continue the spell you’ve done. You can toss it in a jar and label honey over it and other spices for a sweetening spell. Put it in a box with nasty things for a curse. Completely tie it off for a binding, or give t encouragement for some sympathetic magic/mood boosting to tour target.

You can also dress them in fabric or make adornments out of husks to further their likeness to the intended. The very first picture is a witch, capped in a hat and broom, so get creative!

🦇Cheers, Barberwitch

Show support for the blog, anything helps!

Corn Dollys is one popular way of referring to these small creations made out of the husks of corn. The greek word for apparition, or spirit is “eidolon”. This root word then became shortened to “idol” and it’s been referenced that the term “dolly” is a bastardization of that root word referring to spirits. 

There are many different traditions surrounding the use of grains, or corn and their pieces to make either gifts, or spiritual houses for the spirits of the land, or the crops harvested. In europe, these Corn Dollies are sometimes referred to as Corn Mothers and are made of differing grains and straws into artistic shapes out of the last sheaf of wheat or other cereal crops. The thought being that the spirit of the grain would no longer have a home after the final harvest, and as a thanks for protecting these crops, they would make a home for it to inhabit until the next planting season. There are interesting requirements in certain folk practice, like it must be made out of the last ear of corn, or the last sheaf of wheat gathered, carried onto the last wagon back home. In 7th century Germany, they called these grain dolls vetula from the latin for “old woman”. In Ireland, these were referred to as “Cailleach” meaning witch.

While most Americans may immediately think of the faceless people shaped dolls, that’s in large part because of settlers adopting Native American traditions of making dolls out of corn, stalks, husks and animal fur. They adapted that tradition with their own regarding making offerings and symbols of the previous harvest out of European cereal crops. These offerings and spirit fetishes were used to thank the land, the grain spirits or as a tool for rain and weather magic, or a charm for a prosperous next year and amulet against a harsh winter.

Across the world, there is some sort of decoration or figure made from the plants that sustain us usually made during the final harvest. From Ancient Greece, across Europe, the americas and Africa as well. There is a parallel between agriculture and thanks given before, during or after the harvest.

The Goddes Ceres in Ancient Greece and then Rome was referred to as the Corn Mother, and the term “Cereal” is derived from her name. Even in modern times, there is a statue of Ceres, faceless on top of the Chicago Board of Trade.

In pagan tradition, the people shaped dolls are made during Lammas. But in different locations they’re made in different shapes: deities, people, animals, geometric design etc.

I could honestly go on and on about human’s obsession with finding reflections of themselves in nature: the alraun(e), poppets carved from roots and branches, dolls for children and for spirits. There is an innate connection between us and nature and creating a space for spirit has been a part of that as well. I hope you enjoy making these, and following in the footsteps of countless generations and cultures before you in this tradition.

Original content of this blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license

References: The Golden Bough by J. G. Frazer

Putting Out The Hare, Putting on The Harvest Knots

[barberwitch]

Hi. Do you have a resource recommendation for correspondences?

Hi 👋🏼 No

I’m kind of...not a great person to ask for a straight up list for anything. I’m the asshole who tells you how to figure stuff out yourself...sorry.

Fighting Fear to Make Your Own Magic

This is a post with a tip and example of how to determine personal correspondences. This is especially helpful for plants and herbs that are more local or unique and not obviously “witchy”. You could use this for trees or shrubs since not everyone has access or ability to grow the classic ingredients.

How to get comfortable with new herbs and spices

Just an easy way to mindfully and simply connect to edible plants and herbs by eating smelling cooking and tasting. Helpful for broom closet witches who may be relegated to only using kitchen herbs for craft related needs and not having purely craft usage ones.

Tips on how to google in a productive/helpful manner

So when I’m researching a new plant or herb, or even crystal or incense, this is usually the format I use to search. There’s also correspondences for pine and birch in this post.

So hopefully that can help you personalize your correspondences to what you use regularly and what you may be able to use that you didn’t consider before!

Last piece of advice, print or write that stuff down. Scrap book it, write it by hand, make a google doc or something so you can reference it easier and even offline. Even a quick paragraph printed out that you write a note scrawled in the margins will give you a better grasp of it and fill up your grimiore faster than you think. Filling it with stuff you researched to use means you’ll have a good reference of what you actually have access to instead of buying a book that 80% is stuff you will never even come across.

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 2.20.19

When is a door not a door?

When it’s ajar.

You aren’t the first person to ask this so I figured I’d expand the post a bit. I’ve spoken to several witches regarding the “What now?/What next?” issue of spellwork when it seems like something is missing, or the directions leave something to be desired.

If there’s no direction or specified next step for a spell or ritual (or you’re making an original one) it more or less depends on what type it is, or what your preference is.

Jar spells for instance have the longest commitment in my opinion aside from actually crafting something ritualistically like a tool or vessel. Jars can be left more or less, indefinitely. You can think of it as an enclosed terrarium, self sustaining and once completed doesn’t need to be messed with again. Of course, this leads to some sticky situations when you placed something especially unique, or precious or expensive in a spell and now won’t be able to use it for another unless you dismantle the jar.

Your options are: suck it up, and do without that ingredient until the jar is finished.

Suck it up and try and find a replacement for that ingredient in the jar.

Suck it up, and find a new spell that doesn’t end in you being without access to specific items, or keeping a jar for the rest of your life.

For jar spells or container spells in general, this means you have two decisions to make before even doing the working. And plenty of people forget that this should be the habit when spellcrafting:

Is this a spell with a set timeline (start, middle and end)?

Or is this a spell that, if left on its own I’d want to continue as long as it’s able/is it something I can regularly attend to to continue if indefinitely?

If you chose the latter, here is a spellbottle found intact dating to 1650 England. Included were urine, hair, fingernails, pins, nails and something referred to as belly button fluff.

Jarspells need a battery, or a power source, or to be near something to draw energy to continue the purpose of the spell. That can be a taglock and siphoning energy off of the intended, or the witch. It could be powered by a holy relic or ingredient, the moon, the sun, the earth etc etc etc, but if you want it to continue indefinitely you have to plan for how it will stay functional.

To answer that other part of saying a spell...yes. Otherwise you have a bowl of potpourri. Without giving direction somehow, it’s just a bunch of ingredients. Chant, whisper, think clearly, write it down and include it, meditate on it, visualize how it works and progresses, just do SOMETHING.

This is a difference between rituals and spellwork, a ritual may be more organized and have a beginning, middle and end, where as a spell may be just a quick one off. So designating parts to it can help you connect to the working better.

Now, backtracking real quick about the question I mentioned? If it has a set beginning middle and end to a jar or container spell. You have to go with your gut. If you’ve got a rare ingredient or special something and you’re trying to bargain with yourself about how much to use? Don’t. Sometimes witchcraft takes sacrifice, and you have to go with your gut as to what’s the appropriate amount because sometimes, the sacrifice is what makes it magic.

Think of it this way, what’s more special, more magical, and potent, honey mass produced and bottled, or that jar of honey you got from a local beekeeper who gave it to you as a gift? How much do you want the spell, the offering, the ritual to mean/to work/to manifest? Would a drop of honey be enough, or would giving up the whole thing mean more?

I realize people have budgets and constraints and all of that, but witchcraft should mean something. While it doesn’t have to cost much, it should be felt and sincere. It’s a balance but something that should be considered “What am I willing to do or give up to see this to fruition?” That’s for you to figure out.

Same thing with offeringns, that’s between you and who you’re offering to. Would silently leaving a bowl of milk be more significant, or sitting and talking honestly to the deity with the half muffin you saved from breakfast as the offering mean more? I can’t tell you that, it’s something you should figure out.

So, say your spells, acknowledge them, write them, but if you’re just tossing stuff together from a correspondence table and assuming that the rosemary will know what to do, or that flattened penny knows what you’re intending, you may be disappointed (or you may not. Again, that’s for you to figure out!)

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

[barberwitch]

Hi there! I recently performed a fiancially-focused spell to get me out of a tough situation and it worked! Now I'd like to show my gratitude but I don't worship any deities so I'm not sure how I can do that.

So, this may go over controversialy...but worship yourself.

I want to bring attention to something that I KNOW has come across other’s paths, but may not have come across certain people’s.

There’s a huge mentality that you just thank every plant, and every gust of wind, and every grain of salt that’s passed your altar, or...even the palms of your hands (because let’s be real, most of my followers are younger. Budget bound and not able to dedicate anything significant and may feel bad about not having an altar blah blah blah).

If you want to thank each individual item, then do it. Animism can be a very fulfilling practice, but it’s not for everyone.

If you want to thank a deity or spirit, do it.

If you want to pay homage to the archetype of each item once a year (“BLESSINGS TO YOU GREAT SPIRIT OF PINK HIMILAYAN SALT! THAT YOU CLEANSE AND MINERALIZE MY LIFE AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO DO NOT HAIL FROM THE LAND OF YOUR HARVEST!”) then do it.

But, if you worship no deities, work with no spirits, or...did not include them in a specific working...then thank yourself.

If through your workings you flexed your power, did your thing, pulled those strings and mixed that fucking mud...then give yourself the pat on the back.

Sometimes, yes it’s due to a bigger power that we called forth. Thank them then, pour some honey, sing a song, leave some wine. Sometimes they come uninvited vocally, but are invited subconsciously.

But...if you made no such request. You did not invoke anything or anyone and did it by the skin of your back, the scape of your teeth, the sweat of your brow...then take the wine yourself. Bathe in the honey yourself. Adorn yourself in gold and stones.

It’s more than fine to embrace the fire within yourself. Careen into oblivion with the witchfire inhand, and sing songs of your own success.

Let’s be real for a second. If someone came to a party and purposely avoided your attention, then that’s on them. So you do you boo.

Thank yourself. And if you want to thank something else, then thank the candle you lit to thank the herbs you burnt and the crystals you used then thank that candle you burnt for the other candle and so on and so forth.

Stop the cycle and by selfish enough to stop the glorified circle of social and magical justices to reduce it to a “If anyone helped, thanks. I feel good, so here’s a cigarette for me, and some tea for you. Cheers Queers 💚 ” sometimes, that enough.

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 2.13.19

Vinegar Infusions To Hex or To Heal

I’ve covered tinctures and I’ve covered hydrosols, but another infusion method is vinegar. While the other two are more neutral and thus, more versatile in some people’s opinions, that doesn’t discount the preservation and power that can be held in a vinegar based infusion!

Vinegar is a mixture of acid and water and pretty inexpensive to boot. The edible and topical varieties are usually about 5% acetic, but white vinegar meant for cleaning*, can be 25% acetic and will not be safe to use in the ways I describe below, so check the bottle! You can use Apple Cider Vinegar, Balsamic, White Balsamic, White Wine Vinegar, or Redwine Vinegar, use your instincts for what corresponds best with your intent.

Infusing things into vinegar are great because you can use both fresh and dry ingredients in them, and as long as the ingredients are safe to ingest, it will be shelf stable and free from bacteria due to the acid content. Connected to solar energy or the element of fire, it sits in balance with water so if you use elemental associations in your workings, have at it!

How to infuse:

In a clean and sterilized container, add in herbs, roots, plant matter etc that have been cleaned and dried of excess water. If they’re dried ingredients, or particularly large leaves or herbs, roughly chopping or crushing them to release more scents/flavor/essence is suggested.

Heat on the stove top your desired amount of vinegar to fit your sterilized container on low until it is just steaming but NOT boiling.

Pour into the sterile jar over the herbs and seal.

Shake daily for 1-3 weeks depending on how strong you want the flavors (keeping in mind that stronger herbs may overpower more subtle flavors, you should adjust the ratios of plants, rather than opening and adding more of a substance).

OPTIONAL, BUT SUGGESTED. Strain mixture and pour infused vinegar into a pan or pot and heat on low. Get it steaming, but not boiling. At the same time, you can sterilize your jar by baking for 10 minutes at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour strained and heated vinegar into your container and seal. 

If you don’t want to do that, strain into a clean glass or bottle. 

If you did step 5, it pasteurizes the infusion and will keep indefinitely, though flavor may start to decrease in intensity after about 5 months. Can be stored at room temperature.

If you did step 6 instead, it will lose flavor after 3 months, but can be extended by keeping it refrigerated. It will expire after a year.

The expiration date does and doesn’t matter depending on your intent. If you want to cook with or ingest it, that may determine how involved you get, but if it’s strictly for spellwork or topical applications, then the expiration date doesn’t matter so much!

Infused vinegars already have an immense amount of potential in spellwork because of the energy they carry. Immediately one thinks of protection, cleansing, banishment, but also for overcoming, dissolving and binding as well as hex breaking and hex casting. This is intensified and blended with whatever you add and infuse into it, creating something new.

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

How you can support the blog!

Examples of spells below the break!

A famous example of vinegar used for protection is Four Thieves Vinegar. I’ll leave you to finding your own version of the story, but the summary is 4 thieves drank and applied externally a blend of herbs infused in vinegar to protect them from plague while stealing belongings from plague victims. While there are numerous versions of this blend, no one can seem to agree on what the actual one was, or people take artistic liberty and add in their own ingredients.

Vinegars can also have fruits and berries added to them and infused and can make a lovely offering for spirits and deities. Infuse the vinegar, and mix with honey and water and leave out. A simple way of leaving seasonal correspondences when they are unavailable from the fresh source. Ex: Infuse black berries with dandelion roots and flowers into apple cider vinegar. Pour into a bowl with a tablespoon of honey, and living water (rain, stream, storm, moon, river, snow etc) take a small sip, and leave the rest for the spirits.

Alternatively, if you are asking for a blessing from spirits or deities, reserve the rest of the vinegar after you’ve had it blessed by them, and add it to bath water, or sprinkle over your head in the shower. Apply at pressure points or however you want externally (May be a bit sticky so, less is more).

In hexes, vinegar can be added to a jar with iron nails, and water to create War Water. It can be used as a replacement for urine in witch bottles and hex bottles. submerge a photo or taglock with pins and needles and Four Thieves vinegar along with graveyard dirt and bury it on the property of the intended for a powerful hex that will fester and grow over time as they blend.

Alternatively, for hex breaking, add a few tablespoons of Four thieves vinegar it into a bath and submerge yourself, letting the (harmless amount) of acid burn away the negativity, the herbs cleanse and replenish you, and the water wash it away. 

For protecting a home, or a space, setting up boundaries or wards, use an infused vinegar (in this case, it’s similar to incense, the associations of the vinegar are what you bring into the home, the opposites it repels). Take a bowl with the infusion, add in blessed water, and take branch from a plant that grows on the property. Dip the branch into the bowl and scatter the mixture at the cardinal points, and wipe the branch across the threshold. If you’re able to, you can do this process instead, by walking along the entire property scattering the infusion in the same manner from inside the property line, towards the outside.

*You can still infuse the cleaning variety to create a floor wash, but it should be done without heat, and create a stock bottle by making a concentrated infusion you can dilute with water when mopping floors.

Vinegar can also be used for the creation of flower essences (which demands its own separate post.)

Original content of this blog is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license

[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 11.14.18

Hidden in Plain Sight

Adding a dust jacket to your witchy books

Yes, I know this is a repeat tip, but much like the broom tutorial, this is fleshed out! This post was pretty much my first Witch Tip that sparked these Wednesday posts last November. It was rough and a photo set and not formatted and blah blah. Figured I would revisit it for the anniversary! Also, I couldn’t figure out how to re-format it and reblog it because it was an old photo and caption thing...

I got this book at my local retailer and as usual when I get a hardback witchcraft book, I decided to cover it with wrapping paper. I do this for a few reasons and it takes just a couple minutes but has saved my books from damage numerous times.

Most witchcraft, supernatural, occult related books I get that are hardcover, don’t have dust jackets.

I can read a covered book in public without a hassle from strangers.

When they’re covered I can keep them out on the bookshelves without worry of house guests getting all skeeved out by yet another pentacle or misunderstood symbol on the spine glaring at them.

It protects my books...simple. There have been some near misses where the wrapping protected the cover from damage and that’s awesome.

You could go hog wild and recover all your non dust jacketed books if you’re a closet witch. Designate a specific wrapping paper for your spooky ones and witchcraft ones, and no one is the wiser. At most, they’d usually just think you had a cool idea of adding some color and festivity to your bookshelf.

You can also magic them up. Write sigils, messages, spells etc on the reverse side of the paper and know each book has a layer of protection, secrecy, memory retention or whatever you feel inspired to do.

Wrapping paper is out and about this time of year and benefits of the times we’re in, there’s usually a fair amount that aren’t related to the holidays, but rather colors, patterns and just neutral designs. Here’s a small walk through...it’s easy, but some small tweaks make it easier.

🦇Cheers, Barberwitch

Buy me a Ko-Fi / Donate to PayPal / Etsy for flying ointments and more!

Original content of this blog is licensed under a Creative Commins Attributution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license

Photoset and tutorial below the break!

Measure at least 2 inches from the edge of the book to the edge of the paper on all sides. Keeping the spine in place, open the front and back covers, measure and cut.

Cut a small channel while holding the sides open. This will help keep the cover from buckling, and gives you separation to cover the spine. Repeat on both sides, top and bottom.

Fold the bottom and top edges up (you may need to cut the channel a little bit more to stop the paper buckling).

Press the edges to really get them set, and do the same for the hanging edge opposite the spine.

Cut off that awkward rectangle on the inside portion of the edge (above where my thumb is) on all sides. Fold the remaining corner inwards.

Fold the length down, just a bit. And fold over the inner edge of the cover. Tape to the bottom edges! Trim the hanging pieces on a slight diagonal to slip in the gap between outer spine and binding.

And you’re done. Folding and taping like this keeps you from even needing to tape anything directly onto the book. That way if the cover does get damaged and needs replacing, you don’t tear any of the inside edging paper.