#kitchposting

[anthologiemystika]

Sonoran Desert Plants & Their Magic

Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata

A.k.a Stinkweed, Chaparral, and Hediondilla

image source

Creosote is a prominent plant in the southwestern portion of North America, it's range includes the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts.

Correspondences

• Element: Water

• Powers: Permanence, longevity, healthy isolation (living alone with a purpose i.e introspection or healing), developing a "tough skin", overcoming challenges, logic, reasoning, order

Mesquite Tree

Prosopis velutina

A.k.a Velvet Mesquite

image source

Velvet Mesquite is found naturally, and plays an important ecological role, in the Sonoran Desert. They grow 20-50 feet in height, or more in well watered areas, less in dry grasslands. The roots far extend the height of the tree, as such Velvet Mesquite can access water sources that are deeper than most plants can reach.

Correspondences

Planet: Saturn

Element: Water, Earth

Powers: Healing, protection, cleansing, purification

Chuparosa

Justica californica

A.k.a Hummingbird Bush

image source

Chuparosa is a flowering bush native to the deserts of Southern California, Arizona, and Northern Mexico. Chuparosa and Chiporosa are both colloquial Spanish terms for "hummingbird". For a short while this shrub produces succulent leaves, it then loses those leaves and grows plentiful tubular flowers. These flowers are generally shades of bright red, but can also be found in shades of yellow. Hummingbirds frequent this low bush to feed on the sweet nectar hidden in the flowers.

Correspondences

Planet: Venus

Powers: Beauty, self-esteem, romance, sexual energy, love, new beginnings, positivity

Brittle Bush

Encelia farinosa

image sorce

Brittle bush is a rather common little shrub found in Northern Mexico, Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, and Utah. It's name comes from the brittleness of the stems. A Spanish name for this plant is "incienso" because the dried sap was burned by the early Spanish missions in the New World as incense.

Correspondences

Planetary: Sun

Element: Earth

Powers: Healing, cleansing, luck, empathy, friendship, protection, banishing sickness

Desert Lavender

Hyptis emoryi

A.k.a Bee Sage or Bushmints

Image source

Desert Lavender is found in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Northwestern Mexico. It is a medium to tall perennial shrub that is favored by honeybees in early spring. The violet-blue flowers are profuse along the main stem and side branches.

Native American tribes like the Akimel O'Odham saw this plant as a "pure and holy plant that cleanses all evils away from one's spirit". It's traditional Native American uses include smudge wands that were burned to cleanse the body of diseases and stop heavy menstruation and internal bleeding.

Correspondences

Element: Earth

Animal: Honeybees

Powers: Spirits, purity, banishing, warding, psychic energy & ability, cleansing, protection

Ephedra

Ephedra fasciculata

A.k.a Mormon Tea or Arizona Ephedra

image source

This plant is found mainly in the Mojave, Colorado, and Sonoran deserts. It thrives in creosote bush scrub. Historically it has been used as an alternative to coffee.

Correspondences

Element: Air

Planet: Earth

Powers: Protection, healing, positive energy, cleansing, friendship, happiness, purity, alertness & focus

Yellow Bells

Tecoma stans

A.k.a Yellow Trumpetbush

image source

Yellow Bells is an attractive ornamental vine native to the Americas, and is the official flower of the United States Virgin Islands. It is hardy in nature and can be grown nearly anywhere, becoming an invasive species in some areas. It's large yellow flowers attract many creatures such as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

Correspondences

Element: Earth

Powers: Resilience, dominance, strength, healing, cleansing, banishment, cursing, retaliation

Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4 |

Source 5 | Source 6 | Source 7 | Source 8 | Source 9 | Source 10 |

[zoochi]

Oh my god

AHHDBDJ SOMEONE IS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE ME WITH SOCIAL ANIETY ON MY KITCHEN POST HELP

[anthologiemystika]

Pop Culture Magic | Fight the Darkness Charm

"My heart is strong. I'll prove it!"

This spell is inspired by Kingdom Hearts, a well loved Square Enix video game series. More specifically inspired by a character from the Series, Aqua - one who constantly fought the darkness, won many times, and managed to claw her way back out when she was lost... with a little help from her friends.

This spell is to help fight the Darkness in your life. Be that stress, anxiety, or just plain old sadness. Everyone can use a little uplifting.

What you'll need:

• Mesquite incense I use this for protection, healing, and cleansing, though you may substitute for whichever incense you prefer. Or none at all if incense bothers you.

• Aqua blue candle Esoteric meaning of aqua includes happiness, harmony, healing and peace

• A small Star shaped jar I am a sucker for spell jars. The star in this case represents the Wayfinder charm Aqua made for Ventus and Terra. Also acceptable is a regular bottle with a star shaped charm to wrap around or attach to the jar. Ideally the jar will be small enough to make a necklace out of to wear this as a ward.

• Obsidian chips Used for protection, and elimination of negative energy from the self and environment

• Dried Lavender buds Soothing for anxiety, plus smells nice while adding to your jar.

• Dried Green tea leaves These improve your focus and help reduce stress in a spell.

• Pink Himalayan salt Calming, self love

• Fluorite chips These help create order from chaos, relieve stress, aid in focus, and cleanse

As this spell bottle is for cleansing yourself of stress, anxiety, and sadness the best place to start is grounding and centering yourself. There are many ways to do so, and I always recommend choosing your favorite method. I personally like to meditate and visualize for about 10 to 15 minutes before a spell if time allows for it.

Once you've prepared yourself and your work space, light your incense and repeat these words three times:

I can feel the Light May my Heart be my Guiding Key The Darkness Doesn't Interest me

After repeating the rhyme, use the smoke from the incense to cleanse the bottle you're using. Pass the opening over the smoke a few times to catch some in the bottle. Once you've felt you have done this enough times (I usually recommend 3 to 7) turn the jar right side up and let the smoke clear from the inside.

Light your aqua blue candle, and then you can start layering your spell ingredients. The order only matters to the spell caster, but this is the order I would use:

First, a layer of black obsidian chips for eliminating negative energy from yourself and the environment around you.

Then a layer of pink Himalayan salt to cleanse yourself and promote self love.

Followed by a layer of green tea and lavender buds (you can mix the two together) for focus, reduced stress, and soothing anxiety.

Last but not least, a layer of fluorite chips to create order from the chaos causing your darkness.

Place the cork in the bottles opening, and use the wax from the aqua blue candle to seal it. If you used a star shaped bottle, this will be one of your last steps. But if you used a bottle that was a regular shape, then you would attach the star shaped charm and secure it with the wax as well. As you're doing this, you can repeat the rhyme from above three more times.

If the bottle is small enough to wear, you should attach the necklace it will be on after the wax has dried enough to do so, but before you snuff out the candle. Let the candle burn as the wax dries and take that time to visualize and focus on the results you desire from this charm.

[anthologiemystika]

Scorpions in Magic

Scorpions are one of the most fascinating creatures that have more than four legs, in my opinion. They have always fascinated me, so much so I even had one as a pet for a long while. This is an older post that I had worked on, and while I no longer have Pinsir as a pet, this post will briefly mention him as though he is still around.

Lately It has seemed as though he will be going through his first molt, and I have been contemplating preserving his exoskeleton to use either as a spell component or an altar piece. This renewed interest inspired me to so some research on how one could incorporate scorpions and scorpion symbolism into their craft.

And what I found...was a whole bunch of nothing.

The information available online was so minimal, I have decided to put together my own correspondences and associations for scorpions and their magical uses. The best way to go about this is to first understand scorpions themselves, as well as their role in the animal kingdom.

Scorpions belong to the Arachnida class of the phylum Arthropoda. As arachnids they have eight legs much like spiders who share the same class, but their most distinctive features are their grasping claws and segmented, stinger tipped tail. They are predatory creatures, which use their speed, stinger, and pincers to catch unwary prey.

Scorpions are resilient and have evolved and existed on this planet for the past 430 million years. They can survive in a wide range of climates and are found on nearly every major continent (excluding Antarctica). The only climates scorpions cannot survive in are permanently snow-capped mountain tops, and boreal ecosystems like the tundra. Otherwise they can be found anywhere from mountainous caves and intertidal zones, to tropical forests and arid deserts.

Many scorpions are known to glow a bright blue-green when exposed to UV light like that produced by a blacklight. Many scientists use special hand-held blacklights when working on field studies at night and attempting to locate scorpions. Their fluorescence may have a large role in the scorpions ability to detect light around them.

Most scorpions reproduce sexually, and the females carry newly born scorplings on her back to keep them safe until their first moult. This is a completely different behavior from the majority of species in the Arachnida class. Generally, creatures from this class do not care for their young.

Now onto the Magic

Correspondences

• Planetary: Pluto, Mars • Zodiac: Scorpio • Element: earth, fire • Cardinal Direction: South • Gender: Masculine and feminine • Deities: Serqet, Hedetet, Ta-Bitjet, Ishkara, Chelamma, Malinalxochitil, Belial, Azazel • Colors: blue, green, brown, gold, black • Powers: protection, baneful magic, fertility, passion, sexual energy, attraction, maternal instincts, healing, resilience, strength, invisibility, hidden meanings/truth, defensive magic, death

As I mentioned before, I didn't find much in the way of information online, so these correspondences are of my personal associations. To me, scorpions are master's of lying in wait for their prey, and expanding the minimal amount of energy necessary to catch only what they need to survive. The stay hidden most of the time and only reveal themselves when it is an absolute necessity.

In my opinion, these traits make scorpion symbolism perfect for things like curses, hexes, jinxes, etc. Especially those used in defensive situations, or those that require quick and decisive action against the target.

Scorpion Spirit Animal/Totem

If a scorpion spirit has revealed itself to you as a totem, it shows you are a person of strength with the ability to inspire those around you. When you need solitude you can be very protective of it, possibly to the point of pushing others away. You do not fear being vulnerable in front of others, and your way with words can have a sharp, stinging effect to them. However your overall charisma will guide you through any conflicts that may arise.

Scorpions as a Spirit Guide

Scorpions are very defensive spirit guides which can be called upon to protect you from various threats. The scorpion guide will always guard your back and keep an eye on your blind spots to help make you more aware of your surroundings or incoming threats. In this way the scorpion will guide and empower you to find a new sense of personal freedom and gain the ability to protect yourself at all times. Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | All photos from pixabay

[anthologiemystika]

Pop Culture Magic | May All your Food Taste of Ash

This curse is inspired by CD Projekt Red's videogame Witcher III: Wild Hunt.

At one point, Geralt of Rivia encounters a werewolf that was cursed to be forever hungry, but the food he would eat turned to ash in his mouth.

The Items Required

• Mortar & Pestle

• Coyote fur, a skull, or symbolism - coyotes are tricksters and often seen as ravenous beasts. The intent to manifest here would be the feeling of endless hunger in your target.

• Ash made from myrrh and patchouli incense

• Chicory

• Asafoetida powder

• Red pepper flakes

• Rotten food - anything will work, but I believe blueberries would work best for the curse intent

• Chewed gum or used toothbrush from target

• A photo of the target

• A small cauldron, big enough to fit the photo in, and fire safe

• A sigil to represent gluttony and illusion - I have designed my own for this curse, but it is my belief sigils work best when made by the person using them.

• Black candle

Preperation

Set up a temporary altar somewhere outside, away from your home. The smell of rotting blueberries is certainly not pleasant. Place the coyote fur or skull in a prominent place on the altar, and carve your gluttony & illusion sigil into the black candle.

If casting a circle is something you feel you need to do once the altar is set up would be the time to do so.

Place the Asafoetida powder, chicory and red pepper flakes in your mortar and grind all of it together as best you can, focusing your intentions on the herbs. Once they are ground as finely as is possible, mix them into the ash.

On the back of the photo of the target, write your intentions for the curse. An example:

For the wrongs you have done to me, actions and additude equal to trash, my vengeance you will soon see, When all your food shall taste of ash.

Not great, I know, however it is succint and to the point. It conveys the message and sets the intent of the curse very clearly.

Light your black candle now, and place the photo in the small cauldron. Pour the ash and herb mixture on the photo itself. If you are able to obtain the chewed gum or used toothbrush, also place those in the cauldron.

Use the candle with the sigil carved into it to light the photo on fire. Once its burned into the ashes, mix it all together and repeat what you wrote on the back of the photo three times.

Then take the ashes and bury them with the toothbrush, or the gum if you have those items. Preferably somewhere you will remember so you can un-bury them if you feel the curse has delivered its message.

[anthologiemystika]

Pop Culture Paganism | The Dalish Pantheon | Dragon Age

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In the world of Thedas, the Dalish elves show respect for and worship five gods and four goddesses they refer to as "The Creators." The All-Father, Elgar'nan, leads this Pantheon. He is known as the god of fatherhood and vengeance. Beside him rules Mythal, the goddess of motherhood and justice. Opposite the nine Creators are the precursor gods known by the Dalish as "The Forgotten Ones."

This post focuses on the Creators; I will include basic information on their mythology and things you can leave them as offerings and elemental correspondences.

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Elgar'nan

Long ago, when time itself was young, the only things in existence were the Sun and the Land. The Sun, curious about the Land, bowed his head close to her body, and Elgar'nan was born in the place where they touched. The Sun and the Land loved Elgar'nan greatly, for he was beautiful and clever. As a gift to Elgar'nan, the Land brought forth great birds and beasts of sky and forest and all manner of wonderful green things. Elgar'nan loved his mother's gifts, praised them highly, and walked amongst them often.

- Codex Entry: Elgar'nan: God of Vengence

Elgar'nan was the first of the ancient elven Gods, born of Earth and Sun. According to Dalish myth, the Sun had grown jealous of the Earth's favor of Elgar'nan and burned its creations to ashes. Enraged, Elgar'nan fought with his father and threw him from the sky. He only later restored the Sun's place with the help of Mythal's intervention, on the condition that the Sun set every night.

Most elves invoke Elgar'nan when seeking retribution or vengeance.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Colors: yellow, white

• Sun

• Black onyx

• bamboo, chili pepper, cinnamon, thistle, linden (flowers and leaves), nutmeg

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Mythal

It was at this moment that Mythal walked out of the sea of the Earth's tears and onto the Land. She placed her hand on Elgar'nan's brow, and at her touch, he grew calm and knew that his anger had led him astray. Humbled, Elgar'nan went to the place where the Sun was buried and spoke to him. Elgar'nan said he would release the Sun if the Sun promised to be gentle and to return to the Earth each night. The Sun, feeling remorse at what he had done, agreed.

- Codex Entry: Mythal: The Great Protector

The Dalish believe Mythal was born from the Sea after Elgar'nan threw the Sun out of the sky. She is said to have calmed and shown him that his anger had betrayed him. Thus, Mythal convinced Elgar'nan to free the Sun. On the first night of the Sun's freedom, Mythal created the moon out of the Earth around the Sun's bed to be a pale reflection of the Sun's true glory.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Colors: Purple, blue

• Dragons

• Moon

• Carnelian, kyanite

• Nettle, garlic, St. John's Wort, mugwort, chestnut

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Falon'Din

In ancient times, the People were ageless and eternal, and instead of dying would enter uthenera—the long sleep—and walk the shifting paths beyond the Veil with Falon'Din and his brother Dirthamen. Those elders would learn the secrets of dreams, and some returned to the People with newfound knowledge.

But we quickened and became mortal. Those of the People who passed walked with Falon'Din into the Beyond and never returned. If they took counsel with Dirthamen on their passage, his wisdom was lost, for it went with them into the Beyond also and never came to the People.

- Codex entry: Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, The Guide

In Dalish mythologies, Falon'Din and Dirthamen are the eldest twin children of Mythal and Elgar'nan. Falon'Din had no fear of the dark and could walk where The People (elves) could not live.

Legends say that the twins were inseparable spirits from birth through adulthood. They were separated when Falon'Din took pity on a dying deer and carried her across the Veil, somewhere tricky for Dirthamen to follow. As Falon'Din watched the deer's spirit release from her body and prance around again, he vowed to remain behind the Veil to guide the dead to their place in the Beyond.

The elves invoke Falon'Din on their deathbeds or before quests they do not expect to return from.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Colors: black, gray

• Owl

• Tigers Eye

• Bay leaves, elder, eucalyptus, grapefruit

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Dirthamen

Dirthamen wandered aimlessly till he came across two ravens. "You are lost, and soon you will fade," the raven named Fear said to Dirthamen. "Your brother has abandoned you. He no longer loves you," said the other, named Deceit. "I am not lost, and Falon'Din has not abandoned me," replied Dirthamen. He subdued the ravens and bade them carry him to Falon'Din.

- Codex Entry: Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets

When Falon'Din crossed the Veil, Dirthamen lost track of him and wandered the gray spaces and roads of the Fade, searching for him. There he found the two ravens, Fear, and Deceit. When Dirthamen outwitted them, they brought him to Falon'Din, and the twins were never separated again.

According to elven lore, Dirthamen gave the gift of knowledge to The People and taught them loyalty and faith in family.

Dirthamen counseled elder elves who walked the Fade in search of the secrets of dreams. In one tale, he granted a secret to each creature of Thedas. Only the bears managed to keep their secret and are therefore honored by Dirthamen.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Colors: Dark blue, Purple, Silver

• Bears

• Ravens

• Sapphire, turquoise

• Apple, hazel, sage

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Andruil

Andruil, blood, and force, your people pray to you. Grant that your eye may not fall upon us. Spare us the moment we become Your prey.

- Elven Prayer to Andruil

Andruil's parentage is unclear; some legends say she is the daughter of Elgar'nan and Mythal, while others say she was created from the Earth. All stories agree that Sylaise is her sister.

Andruil is the creator of the Vir Tanadhal, or Way of the Three Trees.

1. Vir Assan, or Way of the Arrow: fly straight and do not waver.

2. Vir Bor'assan, or Way of the Bow: bend but never break.

3. Vir Adahlen, or Way of the Forest: receive the gifts of the hunt with mindfulness. Alternatively, together we are stronger than the one.

Andruil watched over the forests and the animals that resided in them, and she taught the people to respect them.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Color: Red

• Hare

• Hawk

• Aquamarine

• Cypress, mistletoe, fuzzy weed, yellow evening primrose, parosela

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Sylaise

It is Sylaise who gave us fire and taught us how to use it. It is Sylaise who showed us how to heal with herbs and with magic, and how to ease the passage of infants into this world. And again, it is Sylaise who showed us how to spin the fibers of plants into thread and rope.

We owe much to Sylaise, and that is why we sing to her when we kindle the fires and when we put them out. That is why we sprinkle our aravels with Sylaise's fragrant tree-moss, and ask that she protect them and all within.

- Codex Entry: Sylaise the Hearthkeeper

In Sylaise's youth, she stayed home while her sister Andruil went out to hunt and play. She enjoyed singing and making art and gifted fire to The People. She taught them how to weave ropes and thread and how to use herbs and healing magic. Sylaise is seen as the protector of all those who stay near the hearth, especially children.

Sylaise's path is Vir Atish'an - the Way of Peace. Elves invoke her name before kindling a fire and after quenching it.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Color: Green

• Fireplace - many shrines to Sylaise incorporated fire

• Jasper, jet, rose quartz, sardonyx

• Basil, chrysanthemum, cyclamen

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June

We dedicate all our crafts to June, for it is he who taught the People to bend the branches of trees to make our bows, and to fashion coverings of furs and ironbark. Without June, would we have the aravel, or the harnesses for our halla?

- Codex Entry: June: God of the Craft

Dalian legend describes June as either a brother to Andruil and Sylaise or Sylaise's husband; it is even said he created himself.

Before Sylaise and June came to them, the elves wandered the forest without purpose, naked and eating nuts and berries they could find, shivering through cold nights. June taught the elves to craft things they needed and used Sylaise's lessons to teach The People how to make bows, arrows, and knives for hunting.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Color: Yellow

• Anvil

• Alexandrite, kyanite, opal

• Mandrake, tomato, walnut

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Ghilan'nan

One day, while hunting in the forest, Ghilan'nain came across a hunter she did not know. At his feet lay a hawk, shot through the heart by an arrow. Ghilan'nain was filled with rage, for the hawk and the hare are very beloved of Andruil. Ghilan'nain demanded that the hunter make an offering to Andruil in exchange for taking the life of one of her creatures. The hunter refused, and Ghilan'nain called upon the goddess to curse him so he could never again hunt and kill a living creature.

He found Ghilan'nain while she was out on a hunt with her sisters and lured her away from them with lies and false words. He told Ghilan'nain that he had learned his lesson and begged her to come with him, so she could teach him to make a proper offering to Andruil. Moved by his plea, Ghilan'nain followed the hunter, and when they were away from all of her sisters, the hunter turned on Ghilan'nain. He blinded her first, and then bound her as one would bind a kill fresh from the hunt. But because he was cursed, the hunter could not kill her. Instead, he left her for dead in the forest.

- Codex Entry: Ghilan'nan: Mother of the Halla

According to Dalish legend, Ghilan'nan was a huntress of The People who another elven hunter betrayed. After this betrayal, Anduril turned Ghilan'nan into the first of the Halla, raising her to the same rank as the Gods.

The elven people invoke Ghilan'nan when they wish to travel quickly or when their hunters have lost their way home.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Colors: White, blue

• Halla (a white, deer-like creature with elegant antlers)

• Jet, malachite, moonstone, tin

• Basil, comfrey, feverfew, heather, maple, pennyroyal, yew

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Fen'Harel

There is precious little we know about Fen'Harel, for they say he did not care for our people. Elgar'nan and Mythal created the world as we know it, Andruil taught us the Ways of the Hunter, Sylaise and June gave us fire and crafting, but Fen'Harel kept to himself and plotted the betrayal of all the gods. And after the destruction of Arlathan, when the gods could no longer hear our prayers, it is said that Fen'Harel spent centuries in a far corner of the Earth, giggling madly and hugging himself in glee.

- Codex Entry: Fen'Harel: The Dread Wolf

Fen'Harel is the elven god of betrayal. Many names know him - The Dread Wolf, He Who Hunts Alone, Lord of Tricksters, The Great Wolf, Roamer of the Beyond, The Old Wolf, and The Bringer of Nightmares.

According to legend, he was kin to The Forgotten Ones and The Creators. He is said to be responsible for sealing away both factions of gods in their respective realms, cutting them off from the mortal world.

Due to this legend, the Dalish generally refer to Fen'Harel as an evil god. However, in the past, and still sometimes today, he is called upon for advice in various matters - for a price.

Symbols & Correspondences

• Colors: Black, white, gray

• Wolf

• Pearl, peridot, obsidian, onyx

• Angelica, anise, blue cohosh, mullein

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All Images from Dragon Age Wiki

[anthologiemystika]

Modern Magics | Cotton Candy

Cotton Candy is superheated floss sugar (a fancy name for granulated sugar) and food coloring. It has a light, airy, cottony texture and comes in a variety of colors. However since cotton candy is generally PINK or BLUE I will focus on those colors.

image source

Correspondences:

Sugar: Love, friendship, sweeten a situation

Cotton-like texture: durability, simplicity

Pink: Ruled by Venus, self-love, personal harmony, friendship, love

Blue: Ruled by Jupiter and the Moon. Joy, opportunity, patience, peace, truth, loyalty

image source

A spell involving cotton candy can go a few ways. It can be a ritual or spell of self love, and harmony within, or it could be one of friendship, sweetening relationships with others and promoting peace, loyalty and truth in those relationships.

It could be made as an offering to a God or Goddess that values love and harmony (especially one that has a sweet tooth!).

If you're looking for a self love ritual, cotton candy bath bombs are a wonderful, brightly colored addition. And very easy to come by as well. They usually come in both pink and blue at once so you can take advantage of both colors for your intents. Example: a self love ritual bath that promotes inner harmony AND honesty. Too often I have found that I am lying to myself about silly things!

image source

I like to try and incorporate new things into my magic that most people havent used yet, or thought of. Cotton Candy is a new enough food that it hasn't been introduced into kitchen magic or magic in general. Not that I know of anyway. So a lot of this is my personal interpretation of colors and the singular ingredient (sugar). I hope it was an interesting read for y'all, maybe I'll look for more unusual modern things to add to my Grimoire and post about!

[anthologiemystika]

FishCraft Series | Water

The most basic of basics when it comes to fish, and aquariums, is the water.

Saltwater

Saltwater is the more difficult of the choices to work with. The chemistry involved is a little more serious to maintain as the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are more problematic to control than they are in freshwater. The specific gravity (salinity) is also something that must be constantly monitored. I do not reccomend this choice to the beginner aquarist.

This option does come with some magical benefits however. Saltwater magnifies magical intentions, and is great for cleansing, purification, and protection due to the salt content. In my opinion, for the purposes of FishCraft, having a saltwater tank will keep your spell charged longer than just freshwater, and intensify your personal magic and intentions.

Saltwater is also the cradle all life is born from. As such, I find that using it in witchcraft, not just FishCraft, is very beneficial for spells relating to health, long life, and general well being.

Freshwater

Going for simple, clean, dechlorinated freshwater is not only just as beneficial, but also much easier for the beginning aquarist.

In FishCraft there are a few ways you can interpret the magical properties of freshwater. They all have one thing in common, the flow of the water.

If the water is stagnant, like a lake or pond, its great for self reflection, peace, relaxation, and contentment. I personally find still waters excellent for curse or hex reflection.

If the water is slow moving like a creek or stream, its energies are best used for purification and cleansing.

If you have a serious, heavy duty current pump in your tank the water will be like that of a river. River water is best used for change, moving forward, overcoming challenges, and protection.

Brackish Water

Brackish water occurs where freshwater rivers or streams run into the ocean or sea. The salinity content is much lower in brackish tanks than a saltwater setup, and is a little easier to maintain.

Because a brackish tank is both fresh and saltwater its almost the "white candle" of FishCraft. It takes on magical properties of both environments, as well as adding its own flavor to the mix.

Brackish water is mysterious, where it occurs in nature tends to be murky, muddy, and obscured with low visability. This aspect makes it perfect, in my opinion, for use in a curse - to muddy ones eyesight or perception for example.

Its also good for adding mystery, to yourself, your situation, your love life...wherever you feel some mysterious energy is needed most. Brackish water also has a balancing energy, as many plants that grow in a brackish environment are baneful, while many others are not.

To put the properties of each water type in simpler terms, this post will conclude with them in list format.

Saltwater

• Cleansing • Purification • Magnify magical intent • Health • Longevity • General Well Being

Freshwater

• Calm Water - self reflection - curse/hex reflection - peace - contentment - relaxation

• Slow current - purification - cleansing

• Fast current - change - moving forward - overcoming challenges - protection

Brackish Water

• Balance • Mystery • Low visibility curses • Curses in general • Protection • Magnify magical intent

Photo source for legend GIF | Koi pond photo source

Saltwater photo is my own, taken in Labadee, Haiti.

[anthologiemystika]

FishCraft | An introduction

As an aquatic specialist, fish enthusiast, future marine biologist, and exciteable witch I look for many things to incorporate into my craft that resonate with me on a personal level. One of those things I have been working on for a few years now is something I have dubbed...

FishCraft

This is something that is still a work in progress. There will be posts added to this regularly, each focusing on a different aspect of aquariums and their practical applications to my craft and spell work.

Many of the posts included in this series will be of my own creation, meaning that while medicinal information is readily available for many of the common aquarium flora, magical properties are much harder to find. Therefore these will be based off my own research and intuition.

Note: Fishtanks are a serious responsibility. They arent something you can just throw together and ignore. They need maintenance, and diligent care, and setting up a tank properly can cost anywhere from 100 USD to a few thousand dollars. FishCraft isn't something to be taken lightly, as it is basically one very expensive, long term spell that can be modified and changed over the years.

As I stated above, fish tanks can be huge, ever changing and evolving spells. Most aquarists have a set schedule for their tanks, but as a rule maintenance should happen at least once a month after testing the water quality. Since I am immersed in the tank up to my elbows (sometimes farther) at this point, I use this time to charge the spell, spend time with the life being maintained in the aquarium, make sure the plants are healthy, and focus my intentions while doing these things.

As this is something of my own personal creation, I look forward to sharing this practice with you. I hope it inspires you to get creative with your magic as well.

Once I start posting in depth information about FishCraft, I will be using the tags #KitchPosting , #FishCraft , and #ReginaSolem - so keep your eyes on those if you're interested in learning more!

[anthologiemystika]

Sobek | He Who Makes the Herbage Green

"I am Sobek, who dwelleth amid his terrors. I am Sobek, and I seize [my prey] like a ravening beast. I am the great Fish which is in Kamui. I am the Lord to whom bowings and prostrations are made in Sekhem."

-The Book of the Dead, The Chapter of Making the Transformation into the Crocodile God (Sobek)

Sobek was the Ancient Egyptian god of protection, strength, and fertility. He is often depicted as an ordinary crocodile or a man with a crocodilian head. While being considered a patron of the pharaoh's army, Sobek is seen holding the uraeus, the Royal Authority's symbol.

He was a longstanding presence in the Egyptian Pantheon from the Old Kingdom (2685 - 2181 BCE) through the Roman Period (30 BCE - 350 CE). Although he was known and worshipped in the Old Kingdom, it was in the Middle Kingdom (2055 - 1650 BCE) he gained prominence. The Twelfth Dynasty Pharaoh, Amenemhat III, had taken quite an interest in the Faiyum, where Sobek's influence originates. As a result of this interest, Amenemhat, as well as many of his contemporaries, engaged in building projects promoting Sobek.

The ambiguous nature of Sobek led some to believe he was a repairer of evil already done rather than a force of good itself. An example of this would be Sobek venturing into the Duat to repair the damage done to the souls of the dead by their method of death. Sobek is also known to call upon appropriate gods and goddesses required to protect people in various situations, maintaining a more distant role by nudging things along rather than getting directly involved.

Due to these factors, he is often characterized as a primal god and an avatar of Amun-Re. Amun, at the time, was considered the chief god, and eventually, his characteristics merged with those of Sobek. This merging resulted in the creation of the avatar Sobek-Re (also known as Sobek-Ra); this is a syncretism, which is an entirely different entity.

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🌊 .⋅} ────── ⊰

"I am Sobek, who dwelleth amid his terrors. I am Sobek, and I seize [my prey] like a ravening beast. I am the great Fish which is in Kamui. I am the Lord to whom bowings and prostrations are made in Sekhem. And the Osiris Ani is the Lord to whom bowings and prostrations are made in Sekhem."

[CI]-The Book of the Dead, The Chapter of Making the Transformation into the Crocodile God (Sobek)

⊱ ────── {⋅. 🌊 .⋅} ────── ⊰

Offerings to Sobek

Water

Wine

Beer

Bread

Amaretto

Dark chocolate

Hashbrowns

Pomegranate

Figs

Fig Newtons

Dates

Chicken or Duck

Beef

Gold items

Solar symbols

Green Obsidian

Green Flourite

Myrrh, frankincense, sandalwood

Green or blue candles

Devotional Activities

Exercise

Swimming

Any physical betterment of oneself

Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | All Images from Pixabay