#witch tips

[princessaurasdiary]

I'll add: The names we use for these holidays don't matter as much as simply celebrating the seasons for what they are. You don't need to celebrate Ostara to celebrate spring. You can just celebrate the actual event of the Spring Equinox without ties to the holidays that come from the "wheel of the year" that is a bunch of holidays from a bunch of different European cultures.

For example I live in the Mohave desert where Spring maybe lasts a month as a shoulder season before we go head first into 120⁰F heat. We don't have flowers to celebrate with as much as other people do but we can still celebrate going from a hard freeze winter to getting more sunlight!

Labels matter less than one might think along ones spiritual path. But it's still important to be respectful of each person's chosen labels :3

Happy Spring °.♧

I too want to be a part of the new witchblr wheel of the year entry, "this practice is not universal/fuck you yes it is."

Since the basis of this argument seems to be (as far as I can see) some people really finding value in a practice to the point where they assume it's universal, I propose:

As a celebratory holiday activity we all share one practice we personally found to be useful. Then we pretend that means everyone has to do it, and are bad people if they don't want to.

[breelandwalker]

Hi! I was wondering if feeling a strong connection to the universe, both the material world and what we can’t see, could be a sign of being a witch? I feel like I receive signs a lot (ie: number repetition, my name) but I don’t really believe in any one deity or god. I more so believe in one present power that lends itself to other things, in short, if that makes sense. I also sometimes receive “information” that I couldn’t possibly know. Not to sound out there, but it’s like thoughts in my head that I know are mine but couldn’t have come from me. I’ve been trying to maximize on the potential of this and have always been drawn to the occult. Thank you for any insight you may offer 💖

Anon, I'm very glad you brought this to my askbox. This is a question a lot of people who are curious about magic and witchcraft ask themselves, especially since there's a lot of conflicting information out there as to what signs do or don't indicate whether you're meant to be a witch.

So let me clear this up for you in no uncertain terms:

There is no sign or omen or special power or birthright or cosmic calling required to study or practice magic. There is no exam to pass, no approval needed, and no higher authority which determines whether or not you are "fit" for the work. If you want to be a witch, then you can be a witch. The only sign you need is what comes from your own heart.

And just so we're clear, that means that you're only a witch once you decide to be one. No one and nothing else can make that decision for you. There's no secret witchy identity lurking in your bones waiting to reveal itself through unique powers or special abilities. That's rhetoric that comes from people that were out to burn witches, not encourage them.

If you're curious and feel drawn to the occult, explore it! You can learn loads about witchcraft and occultism just from an academic point of view (and plenty of people do). If you want to dabble and try things out, you can do that too. There's no requirement to commit to a particular path or choose deities to venerate. You can just try things out and see how they suit you. Go at your own pace, ask questions, take notes along the way.

It definitely sounds like you have some pretty sharp intuition going, so that might be something to explore. I might recommend starting with protection and divination magic, if that sparks your interest. (There's also lots more information in the "Advice for Beginner Witches" tag on my blog and on my monthly podcast, Hex Positive, if you're interested.)

Anyway, best of luck to you! Don't be afraid to ask more questions!

[snakeflower-cottage]

Channeling the Elements in Witchcraft, a foundational skill and arte

Magic moves like the wind and settles like stone, flowing through the world in ways we may never fully understand. Witches do not command the elements, we learn from them, work with them, and with determination and a bit of work, we borrow their strength. Each element has its own temperament, its own price, and its own way of shaping the unseen into something tangible.

🜂 Fire is unpredictable. It is hunger, destruction, and transformation, and it does not care for the hands that shape it. Even the smallest spark will take what it can, growing beyond what was intended. Fire magic is used to transform, to destroy, to strip away the old and make space for the new. It lends power to offence, heats and empowers the cauldron, reduces poppets and charms to ash and smoke. But be wary—call on fire too carelessly, and it may consume more than you bargained for.

🜁 Air is restless. It moves unseen, a force that shapes without being held. This is the element of breath, of voice, of words given power. It carries spoken spells, sends power with speed, turns whispered wishes into things that travel far beyond us. Air can sharpen the mind, twist thoughts into visions, and scatter illusions like leaves on the wind. But it is fickle… It shifts too easily to be owned, and what is sent forth on the breeze may never return the way you expect.

🜄 Water is a gateway. It is the boundary between worlds, the place where spirits gather, where things lost may return. Water is life-giving, carrying vitality through the body just as it carries magic between realms. It softens and soothes, heals wounds both seen and unseen, and deepens the witch’s connection to all things. Wells and streams are places of healing, where offerings are left, and forces intersect. Rain blesses, washes clean. The sea remembers the beginning of life. To work with water is to work with feeling, with intuition, with the currents that pull us toward what we need most… whether we know it or not.

🜃 Earth is patient. It does not hurry, does not shift for just anyone. It is the foundation of protection magic, of wards buried at thresholds, of charms sealed with salt and soil. Earth magic is steadying; good for binding, for holding things in place, for giving power to spells that must last. It listens to whispered oaths, holds the echoes of past workings, and lends its strength to those willing to wait. But earth is not easily moved… If you seek its help, be prepared to meet it on its own terms.

Each witch has their own way with the elements. Some find fire too wild to wield, others feel lost in air’s ceaseless movement. Magic is not about bending these forces to our will, but about knowing which will meet us halfway. Work with what calls to you first, and remember, what is freely given is always stronger than what is taken.

[phthalo-blue-witchcraft]

Distancing your witchcraft from overconsumption and capitalism

New article hot off the press! Give it a read

[khajiithaswitchywares]

Go hiking. Fake your death. Become one with the forest. Elevate to forest god. The simple things.

[glitterandwitchcraft]

Some little things I've learned over a decade of witchcraft:

If you are feel called to work but are tired/drained, sit outside. Take in all the energies around you. Nature can help charge you

Every witch does a little bit of a bunch of types of magic but sticks mainly to one or two in general. You usually won't be eclectic forever. You'll find what magics work best with you.

Never be lazy or cut corners with spirits. Always be respectful and always tell them to leave when you're done

When you see a plant or ingredient with a long list of properties, there are different things at play. Season of collection, the part of the plant, the health of the plant, etc all play a role in impacting which properties it will carry.

Don't call on spirits unless you have confidence and control

Be careful with sea/water magic. Get into it gently and slowly until you have the energy figured out because it can get out of hand quickly.

Adding a little pinch of magic into your breakfast can make a major difference in your day.

Your personal emotions/feelings over something will impact a work

Planting some plants is good, not only to have a garden, but the dirt helps cleanse you too. Get all dirty and muddy. It's good for ya

Not all trees are nice

The more you listen to your intuition, the easier it will be to tell it apart from your anxieties and worries

Incense is very easy to make which is why it's usually cheap to buy. But you can find a million tutorials online on how to make your own personal incense which is great if you want a spell to take effect over a while but also want to infuse the fire energy in it.

The more you work with something the better feel you get for it. Cinnamon goes in almost everything i cook and most of my spells because me and cinnamon just get right along

Your path is yours and no one else's. It will look like yours and no one else's

[wizardsaur]

This is your friendly reminder that herbs aren't inherently safe.

Natural doesn't mean Safe.

Lightning is natural. Opium, therefore heroin and opiate drugs are derived from poppies. Cinnamon oil will burn your skin. Lilies are toxic to cats and will cause organ failure. Activated charcoal will neutralize your prescription medications and literally anything else in your system. St. John's Wort will destroy your serotonin production and mess with your happiness threshold if it DOESNT KILL YOU FIRST.

So anyway.

Do some damn good research every time you go to eat, breathe, bring around your pets, bathe in, or smoke something. Be safe please.

[spookysalem13]

Yule Herbs 🌿

[servantofthefates]

Strict Tarot Rules My Grandma Taught Me

Sweep the floor with a whisk broom before every reading. It shows respect for the old gods who will be coming in.

Answer only three questions for a querent in one seating. Revealing too much sacred information will dilute its meaning.

Always use the Celtic Cross for a personal reading. “You cannot truly appreciate the weight of the advice you are giving if you don’t fully understand the way the querent is feeling.”

Make an offering to the querent’s higher self before proceeding. “The body may want a reading, but the soul may be unwilling.” A piece of chocolate or anything sweet should be appropriate.

Ensure the querent’s hands are clean. Prepare a hot towel or a water basin. It rids their body of negative energy and keeps your cards from getting dirty.

Dim the lights before you deal the cards. “The Fates live next to Hades. They are not used to harsh lighting.”

Play soft and quiet music. It calms the mind and encourages the querent to bravely tell you what they really seek.

You shuffle, they cut. Shuffling lets the cards connect you to the source. Cutting allows the cards to feel the querent’s life force.

Honesty is better than sympathy. Exaggerating hopes and softening harsh truths do more harm than good.

Never forget to thank your cards afterwards. “The messages come from the goddesses, yes. But your cards make the effort to speak them in the way you can understand best.”

[harvestmoss]

 💫 Why Protection Magic Is Useful (even if you have no enemies)

A lot of witches will tell new witches (baby witches) that they should start by learning and using protection magic. However, I've started to see a lot of witches say that protection magic is not as important as other witches claim it to be. Saying that they don't have anyone coming after them or an enemy in real life to warrant a spell of protection.

I think this may also be due to how I've not personally come across anyone really explaining why a witch may want to use protection magic all the time.

Now, it is true that there's no need to be paranoid all the time and have protection up 24/7. But here's a list where you may use it, find it useful, or haven't thought protection magic could be included.

An actual person -- This one is obvious, you have an enemy in real life or on the internet and you need protection magic to protect you from their curses.

A malevolant spirit -- They can come from your windows, mirrors (including tv screens, computer screens, and other reflective surfaces maybe), they seep through floor cracks, hanging onto your coats from outside, etc. Just like how you'd use garden gloves to avoid dirt up your nails being trapped there. Protection magic is just like putting on those gloves.

An energy -- Say you have a neighbour who's arguing with someone. They're yelling and screaming and it can be heard through the apartment walls. That negative energy is seeping into your home and your energy. So it may be worth protecting your home and energy from that sour neighbour's energy. (ever been scolded by your mother and your mood is sour? it's kind of like the same here.)

Your own spell -- Now a self-love spell is probably not something you should protect yourself from. But let's say you're doing a curse. It would be a smart idea to make sure you're protected before beginning such a spell. Much like how you'd wear an apron to protect your clothes from stains when cooking food. You may not always spill your food when cooking, but damn it is it annoying when you do and the stain won't wash off. It's the same with a spell.

Unintentionally -- Sometimes things can happen that's out of our control and it's a good idea to be a little prepared. A black cat suddenly running across the street? Bad luck. Someone got jealous when you told them something good? Evil Eye. Think of it as going to the store with an extra bag for your groceries. You may not need it, but isn't it handy when you at one point do need it?

Protection magic doesn't have to be elaborate or grand or be convoluted. Protection magic is powerful but also extremely simple. All you need is a horseshoe above the door, a little talisman in your pocket, a sigil for your car, etc.

So don't dismiss the importance of protection magic. It may help to improve your spellwork and your energy.

[nordseehexe]

[solitarystarrywitch]

💫witch tips I've gathered for the past 8 years that have worked for me💫

some you may have seen before, some you may have not 💜

☆ . ＋.。 . 。, ☆ ﾟ. ＋ ☆ * 。ﾟ. o, 。 . ＋ ﾟ ☆

- blow cinnamon into your front door in the beginning of each month to welcome in abundance.

- speaking of abundance, mix basil in your mop water before you clean your floors.

- the upside down broom trick works. if you don't know what i mean, turn your broom upside down (bristle side up) and have it near your door to ward off unwanted guests

- if you can, avoid welcome mats. it's literally inviting unwanted energy into your home. if you already have one, just turn it to face the door. OR draw sigils and intent under the mat to specify which energies or being are welcome and which aren't.

- got those cute polaroids of you and your friends? put up a photo wall if it's to your taste, and pay attention to the ones that keep falling. they either may not be doing well, or they may not be wishing you well.

- for the art witches, especially the ones that sell their art, put that intention into your moon water and use it as paint water.

- another tip for the art witches, use sigils when staining your board

- and another for art witches, treat your brush like your wand

- for the 🍃💨 ouid witches, write intentions or sigils on your wrappers, and even pens!

- you used rice and crystal CHIPS for your money bowl, and now that you're refreshing it, it's kinda tedious to pick out the chips? use a selenite stick to stir the bowl. bam. refreshed and no hassle.

[clowncarbrain]

Witch Tip

Make your own spells and sigils and rituals. Discover what associations resonate with you, what things mean to you. Put your own spin on things if you are gonna grab ideas from others. Witchcraft isn’t all about memorization or copying someone’s directions exactly. The power comes from you. The other stuff is just your way of harnessing your energy to do whatever you’re trying to do

Basically you’re the magic. Do what works for you. You’re more powerful when you make your practice your own

[lunar-witchin]

coffee magic ☕️

a list of simple tips and correspondences for coffee magic

— sun water | energy, happiness

— new moon water | new beginnings, new projects

— full moon water | manifesting, calming

— cinnamon | love, happiness, money

— honey | friendships, relationships, protection

— sugar | manifesting, attraction

— nutmeg | legal matters, good luck

— clove | protection, clarity, abundance

— cardamom | love, lust, confidence, beauty

— anise | purification, protection, love

— ginger | quicken manifestations

— cocoa | grounding, prosperity

— vanilla | calming, good luck, love

— hazelnut | protection, fertility, wisdom

— milk I growth, fertility, strength

— oat milk | prosperity, abundance, fertility

— almond milk | love, prosperity, wisdom

— coconut milk | cleansing, protection, blessing

— stir clockwise | to manifest

— stir counterclockwise | to banish

— paint sigils on your coffee mug / glass

— read your coffee grounds / cream clouds

— scry using black coffee as a reflective surface

[fluidity-stupidity]

Beginner Witch Things to Research

So many older - more experienced - witches tell beginner - baby - witches to start with researching things like protection spells, grounding, cleansing and warding but what do you research afterward? These are just a few things that I would recommend every individual to research, regardless of how experienced you may think you are.

Carl Jung's Map of the Soul This is where the archetypes stem from, a what a lot of witches dread doing - Shadow Work. Shadow Work is uncovering not just traumatic ventures of our pasts but also revealing what made and makes us who we are today. Studying where it all started makes working through your own shadow a lot less stressful and a lot hammering on the soul, it also leads to a lot less martyrdom in the spiritual community.

Honing in on your psychic abilities and Intuition Gaining the ability is easy, everyone has these abilities, you just have to work to get them to where you want them to be. Remember a spiritual practice is still a practice, you have to put in the effort to get better, just as you would a physical sport or an instrument.

Egregores and Amalgamations vs. Deitys vs. Pop Culture Deitys Egregores and amalgamations exist solely in the astral plane and can (and will) mimic, imitate, and parody deities. Being able to decern these, especially with your intuition will always provide useful. Learning that Lucifer from Dantes' Inferno is reaching out to you versus aspected, epithetic source Lucifer will give you a much better relationship and outcome in your practice.

Deity Work vs. Deity Worship Offering play a key role when learning to decern these from each other. You can in fact, do both, but be warned deities get jealous of each other.

Find what you love and surround yourself with it Incorporating things that you love into your practice and not actually doing what you love about your practice is one of the key differences I saw in my practice when I learned how to differentiate them. I found incoporating pop culture media into my practice made me get burnout from both that piece of pop culture and my spiritual practices.

Finding a form of divination that you are most comfortable with Everyone likes using cartomancy, divination using cards or pieces of paper, is the most common form of divination, but learning your favorite form of divination will help avoid burnout and creating tension for yourself in your practice.