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NO-KNEAD CRUSTY ARTISAN BREAD

One of my most reader-tested and approved recipes! This crusty, fluffy artisan bread needs only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to come together… you won’t believe how easy and delicious it is!

The beautiful, crusty and fluffy bread that results from just four ingredients will knock your socks off! All it takes is flour, salt, yeast and water, all mixed up in a bowl and set to rest for 8-24 hours.

Just make sure your flour is fresh and yeast isn’t expired. I’ve used both active dry yeast and highly active dry yeast with great results!

NO-KNEAD CRUSTY ARTISAN BREAD YIELD: Makes 1 loaf INGREDIENTS: 3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt (not table salt)

½ teaspoon dry yeast (active dry or highly active dry work best)

1 ½ cups lukewarm water

Special cookware needed: Dutch oven or any large oven-safe dish/bowl and lid*

DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt and yeast. Stir in water using a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a shaggy but cohesive dough. Do not over-work the dough. The less you “work” it, the more soft, fluffy air pockets will form.

Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let dough sit at room temperature for 8-24 hours*. Dough will bubble up and rise.

After dough is ready, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place your Dutch oven, uncovered, into the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

While your Dutch oven preheats, turn dough onto a well-floured surface. With floured hands, form the dough into a ball. Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap and let rest.

After the 30 minutes are up, carefully remove Dutch oven. With floured hands, place the bread dough into it. (You can put a piece of parchment under the dough if your Dutch oven isn’t enamel coated.)

Replace cover and bake for 30 minutes covered. Carefully remove cover and bake for 7-15 minutes* more, uncovered.

Carefully remove bread to a cutting board and slice with a bread knife.

Enjoy!

NOTES

Uncovered baking time depends on your oven. In my oven, the bread only needs 7 minutes uncovered until crusty and golden brown, but this can vary. Just keep an eye on it!

Preheating your Dutch oven to 450 degrees F will not damage it, or the knob on top.

I’ve let this dough rise anywhere between 8-24 hours and it has baked up beautifully. Just make sure it has risen and appears to “bubble” to the surface.

There’s no need to grease the Dutch oven/baking dish/pot. My bread has never stuck to the pot. If you are concerned though, put a piece of parchment paper under your dough before placing into your pot.

I do not recommend using whole wheat flour or white whole wheat flour in this recipe. The resulting bread will be very dense, and not as fluffy and delicious.

I used a 5.5 quart enameled cast iron Le Creuset pot, but you can use any large oven-safe dish and cover. All of these also work: a baking dish covered with aluminum foil, crockpot insert, stainless steel pot with a lid, pizza stone with an oven-safe bowl to cover the bread, and old cast iron Dutch oven.

Add any mix-ins you like - herbs, spices, dried fruit, chopped nuts and cheese all work well. I recommend adding them into the initial flour-yeast mixture to avoid over-working the mix-ins into the dough. The less you “work” it, the more you’re encouraging soft, fluffy air pockets to form!

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Secular Celebrations - Lughnasadh

From Midsummer, we move to Lughnasadh in early August. Also called Lammas, this is the first of the three harvest holidays. Much of what you’ll see associated with this holiday involves bread, bread, and for a change of pace, more bread and also corn. But there are also associations with field games, music, crafts, artistry, games of skill, self-expression, wishmaking, and the first fruits of the harvest. It’s another holiday for picnics and bonfires, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your festivities.

It’s probably easiest to talk about the food first, since that’s a big part of this holiday. Lots of witches bake bread of some sort for Lughnasadh, in observance of the grain harvest. This would be a great time to put that sourdough starter to use, if you made one. But don’t limit yourself to bread alone! Late summer fruits and vegetables are also coming into season and that gives you plenty of options for kitchen witchery. Check your local farmer’s market or produce stand for what’s available, or see what’s in season for your area, since this will vary from region to region.

You can make jams and preserves, try your hand at winemaking or brewing beer, make a vegetarian or fruit-based dish, or cook over an open fire, if you have the option. You should be able to harvest things from your garden as well, since it will be producing by this time, and this is another great holiday for visiting pick-your-own berry patches and orchards. If you can, share what you harvest or make with friends and neighbors. This is a time to remember your circle and your community as well. None of us stand alone, and we are stronger when we stand together and nurture those bonds.

Make decorations with wheat stalks and corn husks, and thank the fields and the sun for their bounty. Just like on Midsummer, you can hang ribbons and paper wishes from trees and shrubs if you like. I’m also partial to (very carefully) gathering brambles, rose thorns, and holly hedge cuttings for use later in the year around Lughnasadh. It’s a tricky, prickly business, but they come in very handy when you’re preparing magical protections for the home.

If you can have a small bonfire or have the opportunity to light up a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can throw incense or paper wishes into the fire. If you like, you can also throw paper packets containing your regrets into the fire, symbolically ridding them from your life and freeing you to move forward.

If the weather allows, have a field day! Play games, have a cookout or a barbecue, play music, and enjoy yourself. Celebrate the abundance that the first harvest brings into your life and all the hard work you’ve done so far in the year. Provided that your circle can gather, maybe have an informal tournament with games of skill and chance. For those of you who just went, “-gasp- Trivia contest!” you’re right on the mark. That carnival atmosphere comes into play again for Lughnasadh, so have a little fun with your near and dear.

Handicrafts and the arts are also celebrated at Lughnasadh. It’s a good time to start that new project you’ve been meaning to do, or to try your hand at a new skill.

This is also a time to begin reaping what you’ve sown and to examine your own progress since the beginning of the growing season. Meditate on how your personal projects are going. What progress have you made toward your goals? What have you learned so far this year? What promises have you kept, which ones could use more dedication, and which ones fell by the wayside?

How have your actions, for good or for ill, affected the direction of your path? What have you sown that is now coming to fruition? What is still budding? What has yet to manifest? What might require more of your attention?

Meditate also on self-expression. How well do you communicate with others? What would you like to improve? Are there boundaries that you need to clarify or reinforce? How much are you allowed or able to be your truest self? What do you long to be able to do or say or express differently?

Keep in mind that progress, education, and recovery do not happen in straight lines or have constant upward trajectories. Be patient with yourself. You may not be exactly where you thought you’d be, but you’re still further along than you were. Even a single step forward counts, and it’s okay to stop and rest if you need to.

- Hex Positive, Ep. 11 - Secular Celebrations (Full Episode available on your favorite podcatcher)

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Worship may get tricky sometimes, especially if you happen to have some sort of a mental illness or disability. I would like to use my own experience as a mentally ill, professionally diagnosed person as a way to help others find a healthier path into worshipping the Gods. We will start with Apollo as someone I have the most experience with and how to make worshipping him safe for people with psychosis as a disorder that might mainly get in the way when dealing with divination and interpretation of signs and prophecies. However, even though this post is mostly about Apollo as signs and prophecies are his field, it does not mean it is not applicable to other Gods. Disclaimer: This is just my personal experience as a psychotic person and this post is to aid people like me. Please, do NOT take it as any sort of medical or universal advice and only use it if you have the same experience as me. If you do not have this experience, this post is not for you and the advice given in it can actually harm you if misused - so please, be careful for your own sake.

Keep reading

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Apollo

Greek god of music, art, light, prophecy, oracles, knowledge, healing, diseases, poetry, dance, herds and flocks, and archery

Apollo has a complex role as a deity for he is both the healer and the destroyer. He is known to be warm at heart and is fond of delighting others with music, namely by playing a lyre. Apollo is also deeply connected with all forms of art for he is a lover of beauty and emotion, and in fact, he is so deeply connected with the arts that the Muses are his attendees. 

As a healer, Apollo is known to visit humans suffering from plagues and epidemics so he can heal them. Though as destroyer, he is given the name “the god who punishes and destroys (oulios) the wicked and overbearing”. All sudden deaths of men, whether they were regarded as a punishment or a reward, were believed to be the effect of the arrows of Apollo; and with the same arrows, he would send out plagues. In mythology, a story tells that four days after his birth, Apollo went to mount Parnassus, and there killed the dragon Python, who had pursued his mother during her wanderings. The circumstance of Apollo being the destroyer of the wicked was believed by some of the ancients to have given rise to his name Apollo, which they connected with apollumi, “to destroy.“ 

In my personal experiences with this god, Apollo is an elegant, refined, and sophisticated gentleman who’s eloquent words reflect his role as a god of the arts. He is deeply compassionate and protective of those he cares for, making his heart golden like the sun itself. Though he does in fact get wrathful towards injustices and is not afraid to seek the destruction of the cruel. 

| Symbolism of Apollo |

Lyres

Bow and arrows

Laurel wreaths

Pythons

Ravens

Dolphins

Swans

Wolves

The Sun

| Personal Associations |

Harps

Sunflowers

Morigolds

Bees

Hawks

Griffins 

| Some of his epithets |

Loimios (The deliverer from plague)

Epikourios (The helper)

Chrusaôr (The god with the golden sword)

Akestôr (Averter of evil)

Hekatos (He who kills many {with plague})

Hekatebolos (He who strikes from afar)

Eleleus (He who utters a war-cry)

Erasmius (The lovely)

Aegletes (The radiant one)

Acesius (Healing)

| Offerings |

Musical instruments, bows and arrows, artwork, poetry, prose, music sheets, hand-made crafts, chamomile, sunstone, citrine, bay leaves, divination tools, golden jewelry, yellow or gold candles, images of the Sun, images of his sacred animals, laurel, marigolds, sunflowers, pottery, wine, tea, and classical music.

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Apollo/Apollon

Small devotional acts.

Spend a moment enjoying the sun

Always carry a couple band-aids with you

Listen to music that reminds you of him

Support LGBT groups or go to Pride

Take an archery class

Wear sunscreen!

Always open the curtains to let the sun in

Wear colors that remind you of him

Be the reason someone smiles

Sing! Or hum!

Spend time cooking a good breakfast

Give money to any street artists or musicians you pass

Explore different music genres

Write poetry

Donate to a medical charity

Enjoy the first rush of caffeine in the morning

Wear more glitter

Learn to play an instrument

Attend a small concert (or a big one)

Find perfume or oils that smell like a sunny day

Practice divination 

Get up early to watch the sunrise

Take a first aid class

Blast the radio

Use a picture of the sun for your screensaver

Read a poetry book

Donate blood

Incorporate more lights into your room/home

Self care! Be healthy!

PRACTICE LOVING YOURSELF

Many, many, many other things not said here

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🍯Litha herbal honey cookies🍯

1 & 3/4 cups of flour

¾ C. softened butter

¼ C. honey

¼ cup brown or cane sugar

1/2 teaspoon minced thyme

1/2 teaspoon lavender buds

1/2 teaspoon minced rosemary

1/2 teaspoon minced sage

pinch of salt

Icing:

3 teaspoons milk

1 cup icing sugar

a wee bit of grated lemon rind.

Coloring

Combine your milk and icing sugar. Slowly add in your colouring and mix until you find the desired colour/consistency

Preheat Oven to 300F (150°C)

Beat flour, sugar and soft butter together until creamy.

Slowly drizzle in honey while beating until mixture pulls together.

Add minced herbs and petals, mix well through the dough.

Divide into four balls and chill for an hour or so.

Roll out and cut into round shapes. Add flour as needed.

Bake at 150°C for 10-15 minutes.

Let cool.

Add icing on top

Decorate using the flowers and herbs of the sun: petals of calendula, lawn daisies, St. John’s Wort, rose, or sprigs of rosemary, thyme and sage.

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hello,i had a question

i started being an apollo devotee very recently but i am not able to have an altar for him to give offerings etc

what are other ways i can honour Him?

Hello! I'm also pretty new but I have done my research

As far as I know, an altar isn't necessary for offerings, as you can see in my earlier posts I made offerings a few times on a bedside table/a makeshift temporary altar, the Gods know and understand your circumstances and will appreciate any form of worship

If I can't make a physical offering I either

Write and recite a poem to Him during a prayer

Offer drawings by burning them (STAY SAFE)

Devote my music listening sessions to Him

Pray

Recite His hymns

Study and meditate on His mythology

Devote taking my medicine and caring for my health to Him

Sing to Him

Sing, dance, appreciate music and art while thinking about Him

I also light candles for Him a lot, you can take any candle (I prefer to buy new ones) and offer it to Him. You don't really need an altar for that either. NEVER LEAVE A CANDLE UNATTENDED

I assume you can't have an altar because you live with someone who wouldn't understand your worship? Of course, your safety comes first, don't do anything that might put you in danger and an altar really isn't necessary. If you really want to make an altar though they're easy to disguise as a decorative table (source: I live with my parents)

My altar consists of a vase with fake sunflowers, a glass offering bowl (which will soon be filled with fake flowers so I'm able to hide the offerings and avoid questions) , a yellow candle, (soon) an incense burner and (soon, hopefully) hyacinths

If I said anything wrong or made any mistakes feel free to correct me!

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Please reblog/interact if you're an active Apollo/hellenic polytheism blog as of May 2021 I need ppl to follow

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Apollo would want you to trust your gut and your heart. 🧡

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“Trust your intuition, it’s more accurate than you believe in this craft”

- Apollo’s advice today for all you guys who worry about truly recognizing signs from the gods

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A Little Witchy Guide About Auras

Hello Witchy Darlings! I hope you had a wonderful New Year and I can’t wait to spend another one with all of you! :D

I figured I’d make a little guide to Auras since I’ve gotten quite a few questions about them. Please add on to this if you feel I left some things out!! :)

Brightest Blessings to you all! )0(

An aura is the energy field around all each matter that takes space (excluding air itself), whether that is a person, plant, animal, or an object. Each color represents a different aspect of that matter. Reading auras can be useful in determining whether you should confront a person at a certain time; what you can do to improve your present condition; tune you in to illnesses and conditions around you, and many other benefits. Everytime you come into contact with someone, your aura reacts to theirs. If your aura’s frequency is close to theirs, you will feel close to them quickly and drawn to them. If not, you may feel an instant dislike towards them. Everything has an aura. We have been “trained” not to see them, but with a little practice many people can successfully see and read them. Below I’ve listed what the different colors of auras mean, but first you should learn how to read them. When you begin, you may have a hard time seeing the colors. A lot of times, beginners will see pale colors such as white, yellow, and light blue. As time passes, and with practice, you will see that the colors seem to become brighter to you and easier to read. A little bit of patience can go a long way.

ASTRAL AURA The astral aura extends about eight to twelve inches from the physical body and appears as brightly coloured rainbow clouds. The astral aura is the bridge between the physical world and the spiritual world.

ETHERIC TEMPLATE AURA The etheric template aura extends about twelve to twenty four inches from the physical body and appears as a blue print form. There is an empty groove in the etheric aura aura into which the etheric aura fits. The etheric template aura holds the etheric aura in place. It is the template for the etheric dimension.

THE CELESTIAL AURA The celestial aura extends about twenty four inches from the physical body and appears as a brightr shimmering light of pastel colours. This is the level of feelings within the world of our spirit. Here we communicate with all the beings of the spiritual world.

KETHERIC TEMPLATE AURA The ketheric template aura extends about thirty six to forty eight inches from the physical body and appears as an extremley bright golden light that is rapidly pulsating. This aura takes on the form of a golden egg that surrounds and protects everything within it.

HOW TO SEE THE AURA Everybody has the ability to see the aura. For beginners a low light is the best way to start. Turn out the lights and lay on the bed. Leave the window curtains open and let the natural light flow in. As you are laying on the bed hold your hands out at full distance in front of you. Dont stare hard but rather just gaze at your hands. Moving your hands slowly, bring your fingertips together until they are almiost touching. You will notice a cloudy blue haze appear around your finger. This is the etheric aura. 

 FEELING THE AURA Draw a circle on your left hand using your right fingertip. Dont let your finger touch your hand, keep it at a distance of about a half inch. Move slowly. You will feel the power of your aura.

Colors of Auras

Here are the most common colors and their meanings in an Aura:

Red- strength, strong passion, and will. Dark red may symbolize quick temper and someone who is nervous or impulsive. All red colors mean nervous tendencies.

Orange- warmth, thoughtfulness, and creativity. Browner shades may mean pride or vanity, while brighter orange means self-control.  

Yellow-Mental activity, optimism, new learning oppurtunities and wisdom. A Bright yellow means the person takes care of themself. A darker yellow may mean that its owner is shy.

Green- sympathy and calm may be very good with healing arts and is very reliable. Dark shades of green may mean someone who is jealous or uncertain.

Blue- quiet and calm. Blue is a good color to have in the aura; deep blue is the best. This mean the person has found his or her work in life. Many are spiritual minded as well. Blue may sometimes represent a tendancy to be moody and depressed.

Indigo and Violet- one who is seeking something in life. Represents an ability to handle affairs with practicality. Dark shades may show that the person has obstacles to overcome and is feeling misunderstood.

Black-The color of protection. Thr person who is hiding something. May possibly indicate imbalances as well.

Here are some other colors that may be seen within the aura:

Pink- love, represents compassion, and maybe a love of art and beauty. Darker or muddier shades of pink may denote an individual who is immature.

White-Usually one of the first colors you will see in an aura. However, when it is a true and strong color of the aura, it reflects purity and truth.

Brown- a person who is very “earthy” and that a person is establishing new roots.

Silver Lights or Twinkles- may mean that they are pregnant, or have been or may soon be. However, this is not always so. This may indicate a person who has great creativity in their life.

Black Spots-may indicate that it is imbalanced in some areas. May mean that the person has some negative habits that he or she should change. Meditation helps reduce these spots, as does things like exercise and sunlight.

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How I Read Auras

First of all, an aura is a visualization of the energy-based field around everything, living or non-living. Living beings’ auras tend to change over time, where non living auras generally stay fixed. Auras span the whole electromagnetic spectrum, which is why the colors of the rainbow can often be seen. Auras are often stronger around the head or heart areas. 

At first, seeing auras can be extremely difficult. I found it almost impossible for a good few months. My first tip is to unfocus your eyes when you’re looking at a particular thing. Say you’re looking at a person on the train opposite you. Look at a part of their body (so you don’t freak them out with constant eye-contact) and fuzz your eyes slightly, as if you were going cross-eyed. It takes a few tries, but you should start to see a white ring around their body. This is the first success.

After a while, more colors will begin to appear around people. With practice, you can even gather a rough idea of what they are feeling through their aura. If a color appears stronger than the rest, they are feeling an emotion corresponding to that color. However, the colors and correspondences aren’t always the same for everyone. Often, you have to interpret them for yourself. For example, I interpret red as feeling bitter, feeling unrequited love, or being generally unhappy. A yellow aura for me means the person in question is feeling particularly happy today. If I see a blue aura, I see confidence.

For other people, it can be different. My partner sees red as misunderstood, and yellow as calm. This is why auras can be difficult to read. You have to make your own mind up from whatever your energy tells you.

click here for tarot readings!

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All About Auras

An aura could best be described as the energy given off by someone or something. Supposedly, everything has an aura, even an apple. Many people are able to either see or ‘sense’ auras, which may appear as a haze of light or colour surrounding something.

The colour an aura appears can have many correspondences, which can relate to someone’s mood or spirituality, or can be because of external factors such as light intensity. It’s even said to be possible to tell if someone is pregnant from the way their aura appears.

Common misconceptions about auras:

It is always the same colour.  - This is untrue, as auras tend to change colour when affected by many different factors. However one colour may be dominant.

It is always the same shape and texture.  - Nope, they could appear hazy, smooth, or spiky. Some could have auras spanning an inch from their bodies, but others could have auras reaching out to a metre.

There is scientific evidence for auras.  - Again, untrue. Despite many people being able to see auras, there is no way to measure them or comprehend why it is even there.

Your aura is a shield.  - Whilst it’s possible to utilise your energy to shield yourself from things through visualisation, your aura alone is by no means a barrier against spirits and vampire-like entities looking to ‘feed off’ your energy. Learn how to ward yourself.

There is only one colour at a time.  - Your visible aura can actually be a mix of colours. However, there are also seven different extents of your aura, ranging from physical to spiritual, which could all be a different colour at one time.

It is especially important to note that auras are constantly changing. This could be seen as Anicca, or impermanence, in which the Buddha taught that nothing is permanent and everything is constantly changing. The aura reflects this truth in ourselves and those around us.

Seeing Your Aura

Some people are able to see auras with ease without a whole lot of practice, whereas others might never be able to comprehend the aura. It is common for many witches to practice with seeing their aura.

Here is a simple exercise which will help you to begin seeing your aura. This is what I tend to get people to do often when starting with auras. If inexperienced, it is important to practice often in order to get better!

You may want to begin by meditating or casting a circle in order to have a better focus on your aura. Make sure you are calm and in the mindset to concentrate.

Find a blank area, such as a white wall or a sheet of paper, and hold your hand out to it. It is important that you don’t get distracted by the colour of the wall or anything on it.

Rather than focusing directly onto your hand, shift your gaze to look just past it. For instance just past your fingers, but not the space directly between your fingers.

Focus on this space. To avoid distracting yourself, practice steady breathing as you would in meditation.

Eventually, you should begin to see a haze of light surrounding your hand. At first it may appear small and even colourless, but keep practicing and you will start to see it even better.

Colour Correspondences

The colour of an aura can have many connotations, and can be dictated by thr shape and texture too. But here is a guide to help you with the typical deciption of simple aura colours.

RED -

Centred/grounded, passion, anger, energetic.

ORANGE -

Power, confidence, outgoing, good health.

YELLOW - 

Spiritual awakening/awareness, playful, happiness.

GREEN -

Healing, good communication, jealousy.

BLUE -

Intuition, calm, clairvoyance, honesty, fear of the future.

PURPLE -

Daydreaming, spirituality, artistic, psychic abilities.

WHITE -

Newness, purity, reaching enlightenment, angelic.

BLACK -

Negative feelings, blocked energy, potential illness.

BROWN -

Grounded, tied to the outdoors, afraid to let go.

PINK -

Loving, sensual, psychic gifts, dishonesty.

SILVER -

Physical and spiritual wealth, awakening of higher thought.

GOLD -

Enlightenment, protection from divine entities, guidance.

RAINBOW -

A rainbow aura can indicate a healer, a new soul, or reaching enlightenment.

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Aura colors and their meanings

Reds; hearts and blood circulation

Dark red: Usually indicates someone who is centered and grounded, with a strong sense of self-preservation.

Muddy red: Indicates anger.

Bright red: Passionate, competitive, sensual, and energetic.

Pink: Artistic and loving. If this is not the person’s usual aural color, it may have turned pink because they have recently fallen in love or are feeling love more profoundly at that moment. It may also indicate that the person possesses psychic abilities.

Muddy pink: Indicates deceit and emotional immaturity—which is frequently the cause of deceit.

Oranges; healthy and full of vitality - reproductive system

Red orange: Indicates confidence.

Yellow orange: This person is creative, intelligent, and a perfectionist.

Muddy Orange: This person is feeling laziness or a lack of ambition. They may also be emotionally clogged and unable move forward.

Yellow; optimistic and full of life. Or liver/spleen malfunction. Either or. 

Pastel yellow: Optimism and spiritual awareness. 

Bright yellow: Struggle for personal power. 

Muddy yellow: Indicative of fatigue, from trying to do too much all at once.

Green; health of the heart/lungs. Someone with a green aura wants to help the world however they can. Think teachers and healers.

Yellow green: Excellent communicator.

Bright green: Natural healer. 

Muddy green: Jealousy, insecurity. This person has trouble taking responsibility for their actions.

Blue; state of the thyroid. Someone who is calm, compassionate, sensitive, and intuitive.

Turquoise: Powerful healer, particularly in the realm of emotional and mental health. 

Light blue: Truthful and peaceful. 

Bright blue: A spiritual intuitive. May be able to read other’s thoughts or futures. 

Muddy blue: Deceitful, though not out of malice, but instead out of fear.

Purple; something may be wrong with the nervous system. Often people who are deeply spiritual and posses extraordinary gifts.

Indigo: A daydreamer, but in the best possible way. This person can make the world the way they wish it to be.

Violet: Psychically powerful and wise.

Lavender: Imaginative and creative.

Muddy violet: This person’s psychic gifts are being blocked by some internal force.

Misc Colors

Silver: Abundance, either spiritually or monetarily. 

Grey: Filled with fear to the point of physical suffering.

Gold: Someone in direct communication with the Divine. 

Black: This individual is pulling all energy towards themselves, sort of like a black hole. They are psychically or physically wounded, and attempting to (inefficiently) heal themselves in some way. 

White: Newness and purity. Children, celestial beings, and the enlightened. 

Keep reading

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Smalls Ways to Develop Intuition

Everyday tips and tricks to develop your Claircognizance and Clairsentience. 

Guess. Take a guess at every chance you can during the day. Play a guessing game with yourself constantly throughout the day. 

Guess with numbers. Numbers are a great tool of the universe. They are more powerful than you might think. And they are a great way to establish a connection between yourself and guides and angels. So play with it. Play number guessing games. Guess what time it is. Guess how many street signs you will drive by today. It may seem impossible at first, but the more you play with it, the more you’ll find that you get closer and closer to the actual correct number each time. 

Guess with food. I know this one sounds weird, but hear me out. I like to consider myself a kitchen witch, but it’s mostly just a clear-knowing and clear-feeling I get when I’m working with food. I think some of the most amazing chefs are very psychic and in tune with the energies of the food they make. So you can practice this as well, even on a smaller scale. Pop your food in the microwave, take a step back, maybe do something else, and then guess when the food will be ready. I’ve actually very proudly got this down to 1 second left on the microwave. 😄

Guess with words. My favorite way to do this is to finish people’s sentences. Guess what someone is going to say. You don’t have to physically try to finish their sentences, (that may get annoying) but you can do it in your head. Also guess answers to questions that you hear people ask. This is a great way to quickly see if you were right or not. For example, if you’re out and about and you hear two people talking, one asks the other “Hey how did you do on that assignment?”, before the other person answers, take a guess. Then see how correct you were. 

Guess with time. This is similar to guessing with numbers, but specifically guessing with time. Time is a very human thing, so let’s see if we can use it to our advantage! Or…use it to strengthen our intuition. Invite someone over, and guess what time they’ll show up. Guess what time the mailman will deliver your packages. Guess what time you will finish all your work at. Guess what time you will wake up at. Guess what time you’ll receive a phone call you’ve been waiting for at.  

There are tons of other small everyday ways to develop your intuition, but these are just a few fun ways I like to play around with on a daily basis to develop a strong connection to my intuition. Also use your senses! You’ll be surprised how much you can smell something- and then make a prediction based on the smell. Or feel something, and then use your intuition to guess what you feel as well. Psychic abilities like clairsentience and claircognizance are simply your senses, but heightened. Play around with it! 😊💗🌺

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Tapping Into Your Psychic Senses

Every single person on the planet has psychic abilities, but most people never realize that they’re using them. As Tess Whitehurst says in her book You Are Magical, “There is almost certainly something you assume that everyone can perceive that is actually a perception that is relatively unique to you.”

For example: you may be a gifted artist. Drawing and painting come naturally to you, and you have an intuitive sense of form and color. You probably know people who claim that they “don’t have an artistic bone in their body” or “can’t even draw a stick figure,” but you can’t bring yourself to believe it. Surely, those people are just psyching themselves out, because if art comes so easily to you, everyone must be able to do it to some extent, right?

Psychic abilities are similar. You’ve probably been tapping into at least one psychic sense all your life, but it feels so normal to you that you assume everyone experiences the world this way.

Once you become aware of your innate psychic abilities, you can start to harness them. For this reason, I think it’s a good idea to become familiar with (and comfortable using!) your natural psychic gifts before you try to learn any kind of divination.

Read over the following list of common psychic senses. Does one or more of them sound familiar? Once you recognize which of these you resonate with, focus on strengthening that gift over the next couple of weeks. You’ll be amazed by how easily you’re able to tap into it once you know how!

Clairvoyance: Clear Seeing

Contrary to popular opinion, the word “clairvoyance” does not describe any and all psychic abilities. Someone with clairvoyance receives psychic messages through their sense of sight. They may see these messages with their physical eyes, or see images in their mind’s eye. Seeing auras is an example of clairvoyance in action.

You may be clairvoyant if…

You often see flashes of light, blurred figures, or other visual phenomena that others do not see. [Note: This is NOT the same as visual hallucinations. Clairvoyants typically see things with their mind’s eye, not their physical eyes, and can differentiate between their visions and what is physically in front of them.]

You often experience random mental images that seem to have nothing to do with what’s going on around you.

Your meditations are primarily visual — for example, if you meditate on the element of water, you may see a bubbling fountain in your mind’s eye.

You are a visual learner.

Ways to Strengthen Clairvoyance

Keep a journal of the mental images you receive “out of nowhere.” Do these images mean anything to you? Do individual visions fit into a larger pattern?

Meditate on the energy systems in your body, starting from the feet and working up to the crown of the head. What does your energy look like? Are the colors bright and clear, or more faded and muddy? Does the energy move quickly, or is it slow and sluggish? Are there certain areas of your body where the energy seems to be tied up or stuck? How does its appearance correspond to your life? 

Do research into auras and what the different aura colors mean. Do you always seem to see or think of a certain color when you’re around a certain person? How does that color represent that person’s energy and personality? Write down your findings.

Clairaudience: Clear Hearing

Someone with clairaudience receives psychic messages through their sense of hearing. They may hear messages with their physical ears or “hear” them in their mind. A medium who hears spirits is an example of someone using clairaudience.

You may be clairaudient if…

You sometimes “hear” things in your mind, as if someone else was talking to you from inside your head. [Note: This is NOT the same as “hearing voices” or auditory hallucinations. Clairaudients usually “hear” messages with their mind, not their physical ears, and they can distinguish between psychic messages and physical, “real world” sounds.]

Sometimes, when you listen to music or watch a movie, a specific lyric or line of dialogue seems to jump out at you, as if it were a special message.

Your meditations are primarily auditory — for example, if you meditate on the element of water, you may hear a babbling brook.

You are an auditory learner.

Ways to Strengthen Clairaudience

Keep a journal of the messages you “hear” out of nowhere. Are they consistent, forming a larger pattern? Do they all seem to be “in the same voice,” or coming from the same source? (If so, this could be a deity or spirit guide reaching out to you.)

Do a meditation with the intention of holding a conversation with a helpful spirit guide. (If you are not comfortable working with spirits, you can set the intention of speaking to your inner self.) What does their voice sound like? Is it different from or similar to your own? Do they speak with an accent or have a unique inflection? Write down your thoughts.

Experiment with shufflemancy. This is a modern form of divination where you put a playlist on shuffle and receive a psychic message from the song that plays first. (You can find playlists specifically made for shufflemancy online, or make your own.) How does the song make you feel? Are there certain lyrics that jump out to you? Write down your thoughts.

Clairsentience: Clear Feeling

Someone with clairsentience feels psychic messages, either through their body or through their emotions. They may feel physical sensations, like an upset stomach, or may be very sensitive to emotional energies. Intuitively picking up on someone’s emotions without needing to ask is an example of clairsentience.

You may be clairsentient if…

You often feel physical sensations, like a hot flash or a cold chill, out of nowhere.

You are able to feel other people’s emotions — you can always tell when someone has had a bad day, even if they’re trying to hide it.

You can sense the “vibe” of a room as soon as you walk in. Do certain buildings feel “angry” or “sad” to you? Can you always tell the energy of a party even if you just arrived?

Your meditations primarily focus on tactile sensations — for example, if you meditate on the element of water, you may feel waves lapping at your feet.

Ways to Strengthen Clairsentience

Pay attention to your “gut feelings.” Do you feel a sinking sensation when thinking about something, only for it to go badly later? Do you feel a warm, fuzzy sensation thinking about something, only for it to go really well? Write down your experiences — and be honest. It’s okay if your gut feeling doesn’t always match the outcome.

Do a pathworking meditation (this is just a type of meditation that focuses on taking a mental journey) to a forest, or a beach, or some other location that appeals to you. Try to feel as many tactile sensations as possible, as if you were really there. Feel the grass or sand under your feet, feel the wind in your hair, feel the sun on your skin. Write down your experience.

Practice feeling the energy of a plant or crystal. Reach out and touch the plant/crystal, and try to feel it out. Does it have a calm, stable energy, or is it more bright and zingy? Try feeling a different plant/crystal and see how it feels different. Write down your experience.

Note: Some (but not all) clairsentients are also empaths, people who take on the emotions of others as if they were their own. All empaths are clairsentient, but not all clairsentient people are empaths. You may be an empath if you often find yourself matching the emotions of the people you’re around — you cry when they cry, laugh when they laugh, etc.

Claircognizance: Clear Knowing

Claircognizence is the gift of psychic knowing — people with this ability often “just know” things, even if they should have no way of knowing. They may know what someone is about to say before they say it, or know personal information about someone they just met.

You may be claircognizant if…

You “just know” what’s going on with your friends and family, even if they haven’t told you. For example, you may suddenly feel like you need to call your sister, only to find out after you call that she just broke up with her boyfriend.

You always know who a text is from as soon as your phone dings, or always know what song is going to play next on shuffle.

You often know things about new people as soon as you meet them, only for them to confirm it later. Did you know your friend was a vegetarian before he told you, even though you’d never shared a meal with him?

Your meditations often include “downloads” of information, where you feel like the answer to your question or some other revelation has just been dropped into your brain.

Ways to Strengthen Claircognizance

Every time your phone goes off, try to guess who the message is from. Keep a tally of how often you’re right vs. wrong.

Do a meditation with the intention of receiving the answer to a specific question. Retreat to a place of stillness and focus on your breath until the answer to the question “just comes to you.” Write down your experience.

This is a game I used to play with my sister before I knew what claircognizance was: have a friend show you a picture of someone they know, but whom you have never met before. Focus on the picture, and see if you get any info about the person — are they a jock? Do they like rock music? What’s their personality like? Get your friend to confirm or deny the info you got from the picture, and keep a tally of how often you’re right vs. wrong.

The Other Clairs

There are two other “clair” senses that are less common, so I’m not going to talk about them at length here. Clairalience, or “clear smelling,” refers to receiving psychic messages through smell. (If you smell roses out of nowhere, with no roses in sight, you may be using clairalience.) Clairgustance, or “clear tasting,” refers to receiving psychic messages through taste. (If you taste chocolate out of nowhere, you may be using claigustance.)

In my experience, these psychic senses are less common than the ones listed above. Most people I know who have clairalience or clairgustance seem to use it as a secondary sense, in addition to a primary sense like clairvoyance or clairsentience.

Conclusion

You are probably using at least one of these psychic senses every day, without even knowing it. Most people have two to three “main” psychic senses, but some may regularly and easily use all of them. For example, my primary psychic senses are clairsentience and claircognizance, but I also find myself receiving messages through clairaudience fairly often. It’s rare for me to receive clairvoyant messages, but it has happened.

Once you’ve identified the psychic senses that you naturally lean towards, you can begin to develop and strengthen them.

Resources:

You Are Magical by Tess Whitehurst [Specifically the chapter, “Reading the Signs.”]

The Fat Feminist Witch Podcast, Episode 68: “Clear Knowing”

The Angel Code by Chantel Lysette [Specifically the section on the psychic senses.]

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Some of my fave personal spreads 😊