witch-girly

[witch-girly]

Tarot:Minor Arcana

(Simplified)

The Suits

1. Wands

Action, initiative

Advice on when to move or slow down

2. Cups

Relationships, Intuition

Understanding emotions/emotional situations

3. Swords

Conflict, Challenges

Harnessing strength of mind

4. Pentacles

Finances, Work

Long term goals

The Numbers

1. Aces

Beginnings, Potential, Initiative

2.Twos

Dichotomy, Balance

3.Threes

Communication

Indication of an influence someone else has on you

4.Fours

Break period

Contemplate the past and what you want for the future

5.Fives

Adversity, Conflict, Loss

Negative experience that needs to be overcome

6.Sixes

Growth

Bad situations in past

7. Sevens

Truth, Determination, Confidence

8. Eights

Work, Progress

9. Nines

Fruition

10. Tens

Final Outcomes

Consequences/Rewards

11. Pages

Beginnings

Gather Information

12. Knights

Movement

Stop waiting around

13. Queens

Feminine Power

Advice

14. Kings

Power, Authority

[witch-girly]

Tarot:Major Arcana

(Simplified, pt. 1)

1.The Magician

Seeing the path ahead

Taking action & making decisions

Stop overthinking

Reversed

Blocked flow

Projects aren’t going ideally

2.The High Priestess

Appreciate the feminine in the world

Value in depth, sensitivity, contemplation

Reversed

Tone down & refocus your energy

3. The Empress

Something of abundance is headed your way

Reversed

Suggests a time of struggling with not having enough of something

4.The Emperor

Divine Masculine

Protection, Order, Power

Reversed

Tyranny

Lack of focus

5.The Hierophant

Learning, Routine, Tradition

Take counsel of trusted ones

Reversed

Rebellion, Chaos, Rejection

Shift in values

6.The Lovers

Love coming your way

Love yourself first

Reversed

Jealousy, separation, indecision

Struggles in love ahead

7.The Chariot

Issues will be resolved soon

Development & growth: not without struggle

Reversed

Upcoming danger

Failures standing in the way

8.Strength

Compassion, charisma, patience

Reversed

Lack of courage

Hopelessness

9.The Hermit

Intense transformation

Spend time alone

Reverse

Too much isolation

10. Wheel Of Fortune

Abundance

Beginning of a new season

Reversed

Change is being ignored

11. Justice

Clear path to success

Balance

Important choice

Reversed

Imbalance, dishonesty, unfairness

12.The Hanged Man

Experience is deepened, refocused, or intensified

Change in perspective

Positive change

Reversed

Trouble adjusting to change

Fighting progress

Wrong level of self-awareness

13.Death

Positive

New Beginnings

Passion

Reversed

Pessimism, Fear

14.Temperance

Magic

Potential pain

Reversed

Imbalanced, Argumentative

Feeling of being fragmented

15.The Devil

Someone in your life is controlling

Potential addiction

Reversed

Unhappiness

Lack of self control

16. The Tower

Imprisoned, Conflict

Fighting for beliefs

Reversed

Avoidance of responsibility

17. The Star

Transcendent openness

Healing & wholeness

Reversed

Wasting time

Loss of self-respect

18.The Moon

Divine Feminine

Truth

Reversed

Confusion

19. The Sun

Expansiveness & success

Clarity & focus

Reversed

Arrogance, self-doubt

Refusal to share knowledge

20. Judgement

Rebirth

Decision making

Changes ahead

Reversed

Ignoring change

21. The World

Completion

Celebrating accomplishments

Reversed

Delay in success

22. The Fool

Innocence, openness, playfulness

Reversed

Irrational, Naive

Never progressing

🌸✨🤍🖤

Pt. 2 is out on my page 💜💙

[witch-girly]

Tech Witchcraft

What is a Tech Witch?

Also called Technopaganism, Tech Witchcraft can be defined as the use of modern technology within magical rituals and other forms of witchcraft.

To me (but everyone has their own opinions), it’s really about accepting that the world is changing quite rapidly, and placing technology at the heart of my spirituality by using my computer and mobile phone in my craft - from finding resources, sharing knowledge, meeting fellow witches, etc.

It might seem in strong oppositions with the environmental and traditional values of witchcraft, but I don’t see them as opposite. On the contrary, there is power in using technology for good, and I intend to do so.

–

Witchy Phone Apps

Moon is a very simple and straight-forward app telling you the current moon phase according to your location. Ideally, I prefer actually checking the moon phase in the night sky, but as I live in a city, the moon is not always visible, so this app helps me a lot!

Labyrinthos is amazing for Tarot learners as it allows you to learn the meanings and correspondences in a Duolingo kind-of way. You can also draw cards directly on the app if you do not have your Tarot cards with you, or enter the cards you just drew physically to keep track of your previous readings.

Co-Star is a beautifully designed astrology app creating your birth chart, and giving you a hyper-personalized daily horoscope made from an algorithm that is just a bit wonky - but super fun!

Seek is a useful app for all the green witches out there as it allows you to identify wildlife, plants, and fungi with just a picture. Incredibly useful when you are in nature, or in stores, and you don’t know the exact name and properties of a plant that you’d like to harvest or buy.

–

Rituals for Tech Witches

💻 Bless your devices whenever you first acquire them

📱 Text yourself with emoji spells, intentions and affirmations

📝 Use Notion as grimoire or book of shadows  

🎵 Make music spells by creating playlists on Spotify

🧙‍♀️ Connect and share knowledge with other witches on social media

☀️ Use a sun lamp in winter to practice light therapy (which can help reducing the effects of seasonal affective disorder)

🧹 Cleanse your computer and phone from unread emails, notifications and files not stored properly

👩‍💻 Learn to code to build your own witchy applications

🧘 Use these breathing gifs to meditate and center yourself

🔴 Get help from red light therapy devices to soothe your sore muscles

🎮 Play cute video games like Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing to wind down and create your own peaceful world

[witch-girly]

📓Starting a Grimoire!🖊️

+ some pictures of mine

I found it very difficult to start a Grimoire for the longest time, even though I know I should so I can record anything relevant to my practice so I have easy access to it. I wanted to give some advice to help others who are having issues as well! Please note that a Book of Shadows is different from a Grimoire! This post is specifically about how I started my Grimoire, I don’t have a book of shadows yet so I don’t want to claim that these apply when I don’t know. 🤷‍♀️ (Feel free to try them and let me know tho!)

# 1: Personalize

Front + Back of my Grimoire

Get a PLAIN NOTEBOOK! I’ve tried using ones with designs on the outside but it never felt as personal as decorating it myself makes it feel. Take time to think about the things you use to personalize. Think about placement, colors, everything. Make sure you’ll love it, because this is Y-O-U-R’-S. The more you like it, the more you will want to use it.

# 2: Number The Pages

1st and 158th (last) pages.

Yeah, I admit this is a semi-tedious process. Investing the time into numbering each page makes you a lot more likely to continue to use your Grimoire, so that all the time you spend numbering isn’t a waste! This also makes it so much easier to find things you need later on (Table of Contents)

# 3: “If Found” Page

No Pictures:Private Info

Have a page with a phone number for someone to call if you ever lose it! I bring mine with me to places in case I need to write something down. (I have a section in the back for random field notes!) If you plan on bringing yours to a workplace (Job, School, Etc.) you can also have an optional name list of people it can be returned to should someone not have access to a phone. (especially applies in school settings)

# 4: Info Page!

My Info Page

All of your favorite things are relevant to your practice, so don’t forget to include a page all about them! It’s a fun thing to look back at and throughly makes my Grimoire feel more loved.

# 5: Small Notebook!

Notebook w/ pen & brush for size

Working in a smaller journal has been less overwhelming and easier to focus on than In larger journals where I always feel guilty for empty lines on pages and empty space surrounding drawings + writings. A smaller Journal is easier to fill making it especially ideal for beginners.

Love and Light, My Deers

- 🦌 🌹

[witch-girly]

These are not mine, nor am I claiming them to be. The information here is good & I needed a place to save it for when I can incorporate it into my home.

[witch-girly]

Cleansing, Charging, Warding & Banishing

Cleansing

How to Cleanse

Find the target of your cleansing

Pick and appropriate method of cleansing

Hold your intention while cleansing. Stay focused and grounded

Follow up by filling the cleansed space with positive energy to avoid negative energies from coming back in

When to Cleanse

When you get a new tool

When a tool/room feels stale or off

When your tools or space come into contact with negative energy

Whenever your intuition tells you its time

Common Methods

Use the Elements Cleanse a room with water, fire, earth, or air. Soak or sprinkle with water, pass through flame or smoke, sprinkle or bury in dirt

Smoke Cleansing Use the smoke of herbs and plants to cleanse a space, item, or person. Pick herbs that correspond to your needs, light a bundle, and lead the smoke

Salt Salt will soak up all negative energies

Sun & Moonlight Let your item cleanse in the sunlight or moonlight, or open your windows to cleanse a space

Crystals Use corresponding crystals to cleanse a space or item. Carry them around to cleanse your spirit

Charging

How to Charge

Pick your target. Anything you want to fill with energy

Choose a method of charging that is appropriate for your item

Hold your intention while charging. Stay focused on transferring energy to the target item

Listen to your intuition. You’ll know when an item has been charged

When to Charge

After you cleanse a tool/item

When an item/tool doesn’t feel as potent or feels weak

When energy becomes stagnant

When you want an item to hold a certain intention/purpose

Charging Methods

Sun & Moonlight Set an object in the sun or moonlight to let it soak up that energy

Crystals Crystals that have been charged and cleansed can be used to charge other items

Elements Use the power of the elements to charge items metaphorically or literally

Visualization Picture your energy and intention flowing into your item and filling it with power

Herbs Charge an item with corresponding herbs by passing them through herb smoke, anointing with herbal oils, etc

Sound Use singing bowls, bells, or corresponding music to fill an item or space with energy

Banishing & Warding

What’s the Difference?

Warding is… a gentler form of defensive magic. It’s used in a general sense. Warding is used to protect and guard from negative energies. It is used to redirect energy away from you or your space.

Banishing is… far more specific and direct. It’s used to get rid of a particular energy, spirit, or person. Banishing is a very strong form of defensive magic.

Warding Methods

Guardians Create a guardian to guard your home or space from negative energies. Use a small object, enchant it with your intention, and keep it in a safe, permanent place.

Crystals Corresponding crystals can be worn as jewelry to protect against negative energy. Placing crystals in a room or around your house will create a protective barrier.

Salt Sprinkle salt around your doors and windows or make protection jars.

Herbs Burn protective herbs and pass the smoke through your space or tools or sprinkle herbal oils and tinctures on yourself and your space for protective barriers.

Visualization Use your intention and energy to visualize a powerful barrier of protecting light around yourself or your space.

Banishing Methods

Use the Elements Burn a slip of paper with your target's name on it. Throw a leaf with your target’s name on it into a running river. Burn corresponding herbs and pass the smoke through your space.

Candles Anoint your candles with corresponding herbs and oils, then burn it. When the candle has burned out, the banishing is complete

Sigils Make your own banishing sigil or find one that resonates with you. Place it in the space or on the item you are banishing energy from.

Herbs & Tinctures Use herbal smoke to force energy out of a space or object. Make a spray or herbal tincture to sprinkle around your home.

[witch-girly]

Warding Your Electronics

Warding your electronics can be of use, although not all practitioners do it or even deem it necessary. A lot of energy can be received and transmitted via the internet and social media. This is why warding your phone, tablet, or computer can help. Here are some helpful hints to keep yourself energetically protected with your electronics

Put a protection sigil on your Wi-Fi router. This can transmit protection to all electronics connected to the Wi-Fi signal being received by your devices. Instant protection for all devices all at once. Cleanse your router every once in a while too, that may make a difference (not in your internet speed though, unfortunately). You could even place protective or intention-based crystals around your router for added protection/intention/magic.

Place an anti-gossip sigil in your phone case. This would work for a protection sigil, attraction, or anything else. It is directly in contact with your device so it can influence it and your presence on the apps you use. Make sure to make a copy of the sigil and burn it or energetically charge the single one you draw to activate it before use.

Hide runes or sigils in your phone background. I have done this with my tablet and just created a simple sigil for whatever I need and lower the opacity almost all the way down. I resize it and hide it in the image so it's not noticeable. Every time your device is charged, the sigil too will be charged. You can do this with phone backgrounds, laptop wallpapers, even pfp's!!! It's so easy and versatile.

For the love of the gods, please cleanse your devices every once in a while. Energy on your devices can get stagnant and affect you. Just a once over with incense or a bell or even your voice can cleanse it easily enough.

Make Emoji Spells in your Notes App or Twitter. This is much more of a Technomagic practice, but you can make spells with whatever emojis fit your intention. Set one emoji per word in your spell or even two per word, or whatever you want. Type it in the notes app, press save to enact the spell. Easy peasy done. You can even do this with your IG bio! Put an emoji spell in your IG bio or Tweet it to send the spell out and activate it.

Put your screen names in a jar. Not a bad curse jar, a protective jar. Write them on a piece of paper, fold it in towards you, shove it in the jar and put protective herbs and such in your spell jar. It can help keep your online presence protected. You can do this with any intention, obviously, but protection is a big one.

[witch-girly]

Quick Tips For Green Witches

talk to your plants. it may feel silly at first, but even just saying something nice every day has been proven to have a positive impact on both you and your plants. i also advise telling them why you're doing things like transplants to help them adjust to the shock.

if you can, prioritize working with plants native to your area. this is makes them easier to find, easier to grow, and it's much better for the environment.

look into companion plants! for example, basil is commonly used in both witchcraft and cooking and it's a great companion plant to tomatoes, which are always handy to have. tomato sauce as a protection spell, anyone?

do research on plant varieties. even the most seasoned tend to overlook this. different varieties of the same plant can have wildly different needs and you may be accidentally neglecting a variety much better suited to your area and your uses.

take a look at your local nurseries before jumping to shop for seeds or supplies online.

always thank your plants for helping you.

[witch-girly]

I see a lot of beginner tips on the internet that seem to be for people who have already gotten started, how about some tips from someone who has no idea where to start at all?

Tips for Witches Who Haven’t Even Started Yet

Heads up this guide will be designed assuming someone has learned modern witches are a thing, is interested and maybe wants to be one, but has done none or very little research.  First let’s go ahead and get rid of some COMMON misconceptions people come into my DMs with when they’ve barely begun... 

There are all things you do not have to do to be a witch: 

Do evil things or be a “satan worshiper” 

Be a specific religion, because witchcraft is not a religion

Work with deities or spirits of any kind 

Be a woman, witch is a gender neutral term

Be Wiccan or Pagan

Pick a witch type 

Spend a lot of money 

Be in a coven or know other witches 

Have a big or pretty altar, grimoire, ect 

Have tarot cards or any tools for your practice gifted to you

One final disclaimer Another thing to go into your research with that you may not know if you’re just starting at the very beginning is that there are many paths, practices, belief systems, ect besides the eclectic form of witchcraft I teach here and that you will commonly see presented online. I feel a lot of people may benefit from a more structured, or different path. Keep an open mind. You might come across something more fitting.  So if the above is all false, are there any rules? The only rules I ever push around here are have an understanding of what you’re doing and its consequences, and do not appropriate from closed practices!  Okay, so I read all of the above, now what? If you don’t know where to start at all? Research. Research is always where you should start. That sounds overwhelming and may be something you’ve already seen a few times but it could be as simple as a google search to start and I will be here to make it as simple as possible with this guide. Also as usual my DMs are always open if you have questions. 

Onto how to do that research...  First here is a google doc full of links I’ve compiled that may give you somewhere to start! With that, here are some suggestions for what to research. 

Follow your interests For someone who has just begun I would highly suggest following your interests. What I mean by that is if anything interests you, keep googling, try Youtube maybe, check if your library has books on it, ect. Take notes on what it is, why it interests you and what you find. There are tons of practices and subjects witches study so just keep learning at your own pace and incorporating what works.

If you need somewhere to start, here’s some general topics I’d suggest:

Types of magical/Pagan practices

Cleansing

Charging

Grounding

Warding

Banishing & binding

Divination types

Tools & ingredients

Closed practices

If you’re stuck hopefully doing some searching on the above topics will get you down a rabbit hole of interest. Below is also a bunch of info on how to do GOOD research. Doing good research is very important to me. 

Research tips  Think critically and ask yourself questions like this while researching: 

What are the qualifications, motives and biases of the person giving me this information?

Who recommended this source?

Is anything they're implying or advising here a threat to my or someone else's safety or health? Do I know that this suggestion is safe? 

Does this line up with other things I know to be true? Like science, other factors about witchcraft, your beliefs, ect. Beliefs won't dictate fact but often in witchcraft personal belief is the only thing that will sway you towards one answer or another.

Does it make sense? Like logically does it make sense to you? Why? Just ask yourself why. Ask them why. Ask them for sources or an explanation.

Have I seen someone say this before? How often? Apply the above questions to that source or sources as well.

Here are all my other general research tips: 

Take time to take things with a grain of salt. Try not to categorize them as right or wrong until you're absolutely sure.

Cross reference everything you find. The answer you see the most is likely right. 

Understand that many things are up to personal belief and for many questions the answer will be "Depends on the witch." Both answers might be correct. This path is yours and often you have to dictate how things will work. 

Check out your local library.

Use books that aren't marketed as being about witchcraft or the occult. Folklore, local flora and fauna, nature, botany, gardening, foraging, geology, these are all useful subjects. 

Ask real, experienced witches. Do not rely on them as your soul mentor and ideally and contact multiple witches or groups, but do ask.

Don't worry about making a fancy grimoire or book of shadows or having all the correspondences in the world written out. That's the least of your worries, take notes on the essentials and things that interest you personally. Some things to include are the subject, date & source of what you're reading.  

Take notes, here’s how I mentioned note taking in there and I definitely have more to say on that! A lot of the time people get overwhelmed before they’ve even done anything remotely “witchy” because they feel like they need to have a big fancy grimoire. This is not the case. You can make a google doc or shove a bunch of notes in a binder. This tip has helped a LOT of people including me. I do strongly suggest taking notes, but take them your way. 

General Tips And finally here are some general tips to reference or keep in mind as you research and maybe start practicing witchcraft.

Don’t believe everything you hear and take information with a grain of salt. Most things to do with witchcraft depend on the witch. 

Lots of witchcraft supplies can be found or made. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

You can find supplies at mundane places, the dollar store, craft store, library, ect. 

Follow your intuition! One of the most important things here. To be a good witch and form a solid, personal path you have to know and be able to tune into yourself. 

Experiment! Try different things. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t. 

When you don’t know what to do, return to the basics. Whatever that means for you. Cleansing, warding, your deities, ect. 

If you feel overwhelmed, start with just one topic or two! You don’t need to take in witchcraft as a whole right away. Same goes for if you return from a break from the craft. 

Finally remember that you are always welcome to DM me for any reason with any question or concern throughout your research and practice! After my hiatus I’ve learned helping you guys one on one is my favorite thing, so remember I’m always here 💕 

[witch-girly]

Yule anointing oil

This oil can be used to annoint your yule log, as well as candles etc. I used a variety of herbs and spices that I personally associate with Yule ( and conveniently found at home).

Ingredients:

Jojoba Oil (carrier oil)

pine essential oil (protection, purification, healing)

ground nutmeg (love, health, divination)

star anise (protection, divination, luck)

cardamon (love, happiness)

cinnamon (fire, sun, love, healing, happiness, prosperity)

ground ginger (love, health, healing)

juniper berries (love, health)

rosemary (fire, sun, purification, divination, happiness, love)

cloves (fire, love, divination, protection, prosperity)

anise seeds (happiness, divination, protection)

orange peels (fire, sun, love, happiness, divination, prosperity)

peppermint (love, healing, purification, protection, prosperity)

pine needles

ground tears of frankincense as well as a few whole tears (fire, purification, healing, courage)

a little bit of Myrrh resin (sun, healing)

one stone chip of bloodstone, garnet or emerald

Use a mortar and pestle to grind some of the cloves, star anise and frankincense to a powder (more or less), I’ve found that their scent is stronger that way 😊

[witch-girly]

The gods' beauty matches their domains, meaning they're far more gorgeous than we can imagine.

Aphrodite rivals the beauty of the sun setting over an ocean's horizon as you stand on the shore, the water tickling your feet as it pulled in and pushed back out repeatedly by the waves. Poseidon exceeds the beauty found deep within the ocean's waters, from vibrantly colored coral reefs to the very denizens that live within the seas - he's more beautiful than them all. Apollo surpasses the beauty of the morning light cast through your curtains by the rising sun, of the songs that send chills throughout your body and tears to your eyes, of even the most intricately crafted poems with passion and emotion stamped on to each letter. Hermes glows radiantly with beauty that extends past the feeling of freedom when you ride a bicycle without help for the first time, or the feelings of awe and wonder you experienced on your first trip away from home, or that feeling of wholeness when you watch a smile take shape on someone else's face because of something you said or did.

The gods are more beautiful than the very domains they preside over. Their beauty cannot be put into mere human words. To describe them is to underestimate the sheer potency of their beauty. But I hope I've at least been able to put some of it into perspective.

[witch-girly]

“Doing a craft properly is so expensive” - it doesn’t need to be.

We’re students so we don’t have a lot of money.

Here are some tips to save money:

•Jars:

Never throw away Jars!

When you’re buying groceries, look at the jars - maybe you will try something new you never knew you would like PLUS after you ate it you have a unique Jar!

Reconsider looking for a dollar store to look for spell Jars! They’re usually super cheap!

•Herbs & flowers:

Look up what kind of flowers(and Herbs) are growing in your area and go and pick some flowers! Never buy dandelion syrup or flowers or tea if you could pick them yourself

Don’t forget that you can buy ingredients for a spell in the tea section for cheap- it’s dried and perfect for spells!

The forest is usually full of important witchy flowers, fruits(like berries) and other stuff like pinecones, pineneedles ( Maybe you will finde a good stick to make a wand? ) … Just think about it

•Crystals:

My fiancée found lots of clear quartz while spending time in nature (specifically in the mountains) - just look up, where you could find crystals!

•Athame: Our Athame is a normal kitchen knife which has a wood handle. We took some small stones, dried herbs and flowers & salt and put it on the Athame and merged it with candle wax. It worked out great, we can hold it tightly without breaking it! - What we want to say - an Athame doesn’t need to be a 100$ dagger

Don‘t be an asshole when you‘re at the forest. Check if there are sticks on the ground, before considering cutting a stick off a tree. Look up how to properly harvest plants, so they can fully regrow. Last but not least: Only take loose crystals!

•Wand: We did the same thing with the wand - we found some thick birch sticks and 1. we cut away the bark. Then we cleaned it with citric acid & apple cider. After it dried we took some small stones, dried herbs and flowers & salt and put it on the wand and merged it with candle wax.

[witch-girly]

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼 Wild Plant Lore 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

Some notes from my BOS of weeds / local plants that can be used in one's craft. Includes magickal correspondences, traditional uses (medicinal and culinary), and some of their folklore.

Disclaimer at the end !!

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Acorns- the nuts of oak trees. They're made of one seed covered by a tough shell with a cap on top. These nuts can be eaten and are turned into flour to make breads and pastas. Much about acorns are unknown as they are mainly unused in everyday life, but we do know that they contain a high fiber content which has been used to treat bloating, diarrhea, stomach pains, and other digestive issues. Because these nuts come from oak trees they’ve been a symbol of great wisdom and longevity in many cultures such as Celtic and Nordic. Many people have worn necklaces with acorn charms on them to bring protection

• Protection, prosperity, growth, wisdom 

Bull nettle- Thick stock and toothed leaves with stiff prickly stinging hairs, the flowers are small, white, and covered in hispid. The seed pods are lightly coloured and cylindrical, containing ~3 seeds. Touching this plant will cause a stinging, burning, or itching sensation that will last for hours. The seeds from the seed pods are edible and taste nutty but need to be harvested with extreme care as to not sting yourself. The seeds can be roasted or ground into a "cornmeal." The root of bull nettle is edible, it's similar to a potato but tougher and the core is so tough it should be discarded.

Binding, banishing, warding, baneful (to cause pain)

Cattails- Cattails are semi-aquatic plants that consist of multiple long spiked leaves with one center spike holding a sausage-shaped head that is filled with cottony seeds. Their rhizomes can be turned into a flour with a high protein content and the shoots can be cooked and eaten. The stems and leaves can be turned into paper. A poultice from the roots can be used as an antiseptic, for burns/cuts, and to reduce inflammation. When harvesting this plant please do not overharvest, it’s a very important part of a wetland’s ecosystem ! Also, always make sure the water near the cattails is clean because cattails filter pollutants out of the water so if you plan on consuming the plant, you could also be consuming those pollutants. 

Fertility, growth, prosperity, peace, water-associated magick, cleansing

Catchweed- Also known as cleavers, hitchhikers, goosegrass, or sticky weed. Catchweeds are branchy, square stems that latch onto other plants and buildings with small hooked hairs on their leaves and stems. They have tiny, star-shaped, green or white-ish flowers with four petals. They also have small burrs that contain a few seeds that are covered in hooked hairs so they can latch on to animals to disperse seeds. For those who want to risk getting pricked, catchweed is edible. Young leaves and stems can be cooked and eaten like spinach. This plant is also in the same family as coffee, meaning that you can dry and roast the seeds in their burrs to make a lower-caffeine coffee substitute and teas. Poultices have been made with the whole plant, as with tea washes from dried leaves, in many cultures for light burns, small wounds, and eczema. It has a cooling effect so it’s also used in infusions for bug bites, stings, and poison ivy. 

Energy, binding, commitment, protection during travel 

Chickweed- Also called chickenwort/weed, winterweed, and simply ground cover as that’s its primary use in modern society. Long stems with pointed, oval-shaped leaves and tiny white star-shaped flowers that resemble carnations. Its star-shaped flowers earned it the botanical name “Stellaria media”. Its flowers and leaves are both edible and are very popular in salads, soups, and stir-fries. It has a taste similar to sprouts that you’d use in a salad. Chickweed salves are used for skincare, poultices for poison ivy, and teas for digestion. Historically, it's been used for skin ailments like itching, dry skin, and even bruises or bug bites from a tisane/tea of the stems applied to the affected area. In European folklore, it was said to help promote a happy, balanced family and love life. This is believed to come from how chickweed grows so closely with all its stems intertwined but in a way that promotes each part to grow healthy, so it promotes everyone in a household getting along with one another while having their own sense of individuality. It’s also associated with perseverance (like most weeds I’ll admit), this is because chickweed is seen growing everywhere, in yards, in forests, on piles of dirt. If it sees an opportunity, it’ll take it and thrive year-round. 

Love, stability, loyalty, communication, lunar-associated magick 

Clovers- white, balled flowers with three to four small, round leaves. Every part of this plant is edible, the leaves and flowers are sweet and vanilla-y so they are good in teas and sweets. Clover has been used to ward off fevers and used in tisanes/teas for inflammation. Clover has been associated with good fortune for centuries, especially four-leaved clovers. A shamrock is a symbol of a three-leafed clover representative of the Christian Holy Trinity, it’s also believed that the Celtic druids thought shamrocks to be significant because they had three leaves possibly representing the underground, earth, and sky. 

Luck, prosperity, happiness, faith

Creeping Speedwell- Teeny tiny violet/baby blue flowers with light yellow middles, it is incredibly fast-growing and can be found in most yards. Speedwell is edible and good in salads, pestos, and smoothies. Tea is made from the leaves and flowers to help clear congestion, allergies, and coughs. Some add it to their baths to help with their allergies and inflammation, inflammation is also helped by a poultice. In some folklore, it’s said that a tea or ointment from speedwell could help one with psychic visions and faerie sight. Before I truly knew the folklore behind speedwell I had this sense that it would help with your clairsenses. 

Abundance, divination, psychic/clairsense work

Creeping buttercup- Buttercups are toxic and will leave blisters when raw so they must be cooked or dried before being consumed, even then it's not recommended to eat. A poultice of the (boiled) leaves is used for inflammation and wounds and a tea from the plant is used for its analgesic properties, but be wary of the blisters that may occur. Buttercups used to be used to ward off faeries, many farmers would plant these around their cows to prevent them from being stolen from the fae. There are a lot of stories relating buttercups to cows which is very very cute but ironic because buttercups are actually toxic to many animals! For its many associations with children, fairies, and coyotes across various cultures it can also be related to mischief  

Youth, happiness, love, protection from fae, mischief (jinxes/hexes/glamours) 

Creeping charlie- Also known as ground ivy. Creeping charlie has square stems with dark, rounded or fan-shaped, toothed leaves. It has small blue or lavender, funnel-shaped flowers that grow in clusters of two or three in the spring. Creeping charlie is edible and has a long history of being used in beer and cheese, it tastes subtly minty as it's in the mint family. Young leaves are good in salads to freshen them up and it's also really good in teas and sweets. There is a risk of it being toxic if consumed in large quantities though. For centuries now it's been used in teas to calm a cough, been said to help with headaches, and has been used on the skin to reduce pain and soothe inflammation. Some have turned it into a snuff and used it for congestion, kind of like Vaporub. It was actually brought over from Britain to the Americas for its medicinal uses, now it’s one of those weeds people will spend tons of money trying to get rid of. Alike creeping buttercup, it’s said that some may have used this to ward magick from their livestock and themselves. Some say it’s good to use to find out who has cursed you or sent the evil eye your way and in some stories, people would drink it as a tea to get rid of their shyness. 

Protection from magick and spirits, divination, clarity, courage

Deadnettle- My favourite weed :) Square stem, fuzzy leaves that occasionally are red/purple at the top, with tiny tube-shaped light pink flowers. Despite technically being a nettle, it’s not a true nettle so very few people will have a reaction when touching this plant. Deadnettle is part of the mint family and every part of it is edible, despite that though it's not very minty and is floral and sweet. My favourite parts are the tiny pink flowers which have sweet nectar in them and are good in teas, syrups, sweets, and jams. The leaves are good in teas, smoothies, pestos, and salads. A poultice or salve can be made from the leaves for wounds and teas can help with allergies. This plant is sometimes called purple archangel because it pops up around the Feast of the Apparition when it was said St. Micheal appeared. It’s associated with determination because this lil dude will grow anywhere, even in spots with the worst quality soil. 

happiness, determination, peace, healing

Dandelion- Dandelions are bright layered yellow flowers with toothed leaves that grow pretty much anywhere there is enough dirt to get their roots in. The entire plant is edible, the flowers are slightly sweet making them good for salads, syrups, and sweet. The leaves are slightly bitter but that can be lessened when harvested young or boiled, they're good as spinach replacements and can be dried for teas. The flowers can also be turned into dyes. The plant's name can be literally translated to 'healing herb' as it has been used in many cultures for it's gut health and detoxifying properties. Teas and tinctures from leaves are made for a diuretic and flowers are made into salves or beauty products to treat acne/eczema and to reduce inflammation. About dandelions being diuretics - the name dandelion comes from the french name dentdelion (tooth of the lion) but there’s actually a second French name, “pissenlit”, which means piss the bed !!

luck/wishes, communication, balance, courage, youth

Daisy- Daisies are low-growing flowers with thin, long, white petals and yellow disc florets (middles). Common daisies are edible, these are really found growing anywhere even in your lawn. Leaves can be used in salads or stir-fries and flower heads can be pickled or used in salads. Wines, soups, and teas are also commonly made from daisies. The flowers have a slightly bitter taste but look pretty in dishes. Daisies have been used in teas for coughs, bronchitis, and common colds. It's also been used to "stimulate the digestive system" to promote appetite. Daisies have been into lotions and other skincare products to treat rashes, eczema, and other skin issues. Daisies came to be associated with love and motherhood through it being the flower of Freya, innocence/purity through the story of Vertumnus and Belides where the flower gets its scientific name, and purity the popular phrases like “fresh/clean as daisies”.

Happiness, cleansing, love, purity (cleansing), motherhood/childbirth

Feverfew- Feverfew are daisy-like flowers with bright yellow middles and white petals, with yellow-green leaves in a feathered arrangement, that grow in small bushes together. Feverfew is edible but many will steer clear of it as it has a very bitter taste. It’s often made into teas and used in pastries. Although feverfew isn’t used to reduce fevers anymore, there are still many health benefits and medicinal uses of the plant, some people even calling it ‘medieval aspirin’. People will take feverfew pills or apply a poultice to relieve pain from arthritis and inflammation. A poultice can also be applied to minor cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. Teas can be made for headaches and some use it to help with menstrual pain. Feverfew is also known to show some skin benefits by reducing redness and inflammation. Feverfew may increase bleeding as it acts similar to an anticoagulant, because of this it is advised that if you are taking a blood thinner like aspirin, Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Heparin (Innohep), or others, you talk to your doctor before taking feverfew. This plant has more medicinal uses than references in mythology but I did find a few references to it being believed to be able to save the life of someone that had fallen from the Parthenon, a temple to Athena, which gave it the scientific name parthenium.

Healing, curse-breaking, love

Lesser celandine- Also known as pilewort or sometimes fig buttercup. Pilewort is a plant on the buttercup family that has dark, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers with glossy petals. Despite its pretty exterior, touching the plant could cause rashes or blistering especially when the plant is crushed. Ingesting the plant can cause dizziness, vomiting, and worse. While there may be ways to cook out the toxins, I cannot advise anyone to consume this plant without proper experience. This plant is also known as the spring messenger as it's one of the first plants to bloom in the spring. Lesser celandine was referenced a lot in literature, most being about love and foreshadowing happiness alike how it signals spring. 

Joy, love, Spring associated magick

Maple seed pods- Maple seeds, also known as helicopters or samaras, are the seed of maple trees, as one would assume. These are winged pods consisting of a papery tissue surrounding a single seed that is usually joined together in pairs of two. The seeds are edible once the outer covering has been removed and taste better while young, becoming bitter as they mature. Some say that smaller pods taste sweeter and larger ones taste more bitter. They're good in roasts, stir-fries, and salads. They can also be dried and pounded into flour ! Much of what we know about maple seeds are simply culinary and there's not much information on their medicinal uses. The majority of the correspondences of maple seed pods come from maple trees which represent balance and longevity. They also are associated with childhood after the many many years of children playing with these helicopter-like seeds. 

Longevity, growth, balance, youth

Mulberries- Mulberries come in three different colours which are red, white, and black. Different mulberries grow on different mulberry trees. Black mulberry trees have an orange-y-toned bark with toothed, heart-shaped leaves. White/red mulberry trees have a greyish bark with large, deeply lobed, oval-shaped leaves. Mulberries look very similar to blackberries but longer with each cluster of fruit containing a seed. Mulberries are edible, black ones taste the best and can be both sour and sweet and the white/red ones are duller in flavour but sweet. These are made into jams, syrups, wines, sweets, sorbets, really anything sweet and it tastes great ! These berries are more known for their culinary uses but some studies suggest that they can help reduce cholesterol and improve digestion. In Greek/Babylonian mythology, red mulberries came from white mulberries that were stained red from the deaths of the star-crossed lovers Pyramus and Thisbe which gave them the association of love and death.

Love, death, faith, wisdom

Osage oranges- Also known as horse apples or hedge apples. Osage oranges are a yellow-green fruit with a very rough and bumpy peel. These oranges grow on trees called Maclura pomifera. The wood of these trees are used for very good firewood and yellow-green dyes. The Osage natives would use the wood from the tree for many things like bows and boats as it’s very flexible. The roots of the trees are sometimes made into water infusions to help with eye conditions. People have also used the wood, or even sat out the fruit, to deter insects. Osage oranges are edible but most people, and even animals, will avoid eating them due to their dry and bitter taste. They taste like very bitter and citrus-y cucumbers. These oranges can cause skin irritation to some. 

Warding, protection, strength

Pinecones- Pinecones are geometric cones that come from conifer pine trees that produce pollen or seeds depending on their sex. Pinecones symbolize fertility and life in many cultures and have been used in artwork for centuries. The pineal gland in the brain was named after pinecones because of its shape, this gland is sometimes referred to as the “third eye” and some believe that it acts as a witch’s eye would; this is how pinecones were tied to the idea of enlightenment and rebirth as well as the fact that they have been around for so long. Some conifer cones are edible (some aren't!) but they are very tough to chew so you must boil them before eating, pinecone jam has been commonly made from young cones. Pine has been used in teas, tinctures, resins, and many other things to treat coughs, allergies, and help with sinus infections. 

Fertility, creativity, prosperity, enlightenment, rebirth

Prickly lettuce- a quite tall, red stem that contains latex with large tooth-shaped leaves that have prominent veins and spikes lining its edges and main vein on its underside. When it blooms it has small, pale yellow flowers. This plant is edible and is pretty much used like normal lettuce while having a slightly bitter taste, as usual, this gets less noticeable as it matures. Leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked/steamed and the root can be made into a tea. The latex substance that comes out of the leaves and stem when injured is called lactucarium which is known as lettuce opium due to its sedative and pain-relieving properties; the process of harvesting this substance is tedious. This can be used to help people sleep, relax, and relieve pain. Lettuce in general has a great amount of significant historical usage. Lettuce came to be associated with sex because an Egyptian fertility god, Min, was associated with lettuce as it was known as an aphrodisiac that was ritualistically ingested before sex. These effects were due to the lactucarium. In Hellenism, when Adonis died he was laid on a bed of lettuce along with other fast-growing plants. In festivals for him, they would burn withered lettuce and mourn his death, this related lettuce to death. 

Necromancy, offerings for the deceased, fertility, sex

Queen Anne's Lace- Also known as wild carrot. A tall flowering weed with a thin, stiff stem and tiny white, clustered flowers. The flowerhead consists of a bunch of separate flowers, some plants may have a singular purple/pink flower.  Queen Anne's lace's root is edible which is actually where it gets the names wild carrot and Daucus Carota, it's good steamed and boiled. It is pretty stringy and if you wait too long to harvest it can become very hard and woody. This plant is NOT safe to consume for those who are pregnant ! The stem is known to cause skin irritation and rashes to people with sensitive skin. Despite being edible, most wouldn't suggest eating it because it looks almost identical to poison hemlock which if consumed could be fatal. It also looks a ton like wild celery but that's less of an issue. Historically, the seeds of wild carrot were used as an abortant in a "morning after pill" type of way. Wild carrot was named Queen Anne's Lace after Queen Anne of England who was a great lace maker, there is a legend that when making lace one day she pricked her finger then a single drop of blood fell on it and that's why the flower has a single purple flower. Because of the association to Queen Anne, some would use it to try to attract love or make themselves look more beautiful. Wild carrot is also called bird's nest or the bishop's flower which ties it to themes of safety and sanctuary.

Beauty, love, glamours

Rosebay willowherb- Also commonly known as fireweed for its appearance or bombweed because it began to heavily grow in bomb craters/sites in WWII around the UK. The rosebay willowherb has tall reddish stems and willow-like leaves with long magenta flowers. Traditionally it's been used in teas, jellies, and salads. It has a pretty bitter taste so you need to harvest it young and cook it before eating. It's used in teas for its demulcent properties, to treat certain stomach conditions, and has been used in skincare because of its astringent properties. There’s not much folklore about this plant but it’s well known for appearing after events that devastated an area, it was one of the first plants to start growing after Mt. St. Helens, after colonizers burnt down forests, and after bombs dropped in WWII. I’ve also heard it’s bad luck to pick its flowers, either stating that a storm will occur or your mother will fall ill.

Courage, perseverance, change, bad luck

Stinging nettle- tall, heart-shaped, toothed leaves. The leaves are covered in small stinging hairs that when touched will inject chemicals into one's skin and cause slight stinging sensations. Young stinging nettle has widely been used in dishes as soaking/cooking it takes away the sting. It is very similar to spinach in taste, texture, and nutrients. Ointments are made to treat arthritis and inflammation, teas are made from dried leaves and flowers to treat allergies and hayfever. Poultices of the leaves were used for stiff joints and muscle pain by helping blood circulation in that area. Be wary of using stinging nettle on your skin as it can cause rashes and blisters. Some Native American groups used it in teas as a stomach tonic. In Celtic folklore, it was said to keep evil spirits and illness at bay, it also says that when you see thick strands of nettle it means that faeries are nearby. 

Binding, protection from baneful magick and evil spirits, strength, curse breaking

Sweetgum seed pods- Also known as witch’s burrs or witch balls. Sweetgum seed pods are hard, spikey seed pods with small holes where the seeds once were. These fall from sweetgum trees after they mature and disperse their seeds. These aren’t edible nor really used for any medicinal purpose. They’re often placed around plants to protect them from animals. Magickally, you can place them around your space to ward off unwanted energies and entities or even grind them into a powder for banishing or protection. These things hurt like hell to step on so they’re also good to use in baneful protection magick, like baneful wards or return to senders. 

Protection, warding, binding, baneful protection

Violet- There are many species of violets so I'm going to cover them in a broad sense. Violets are usually small, light purple flowers with short stems, little shrubbery, and heart/kidney/scalloped leaves. In many species of violet both the leaves and flowers are edible and contain high levels of vitamins A and C, but make sure to properly identify your plant before consuming. These can be made into teas, sweets, salads, etc. Violet syrup is my favourite ! Some leaves in wild violets will taste quite soapy, so try them out before cooking them into anything. Violet leaves have cooling and anti-inflammatory properties so they are used in poultices, salves, compresses, and oils for scrapes, burns, and bug bites. Violets have traditionally been used in teas or tonics for coughs and swollen lymph nodes. There is a lot of folklore and mythology that this flower is a part of. Violets are largely associated with modesty and innocence and this stems from two main stories; Persephone was said to be picking violets when Hades kidnapped her to live in the underworld and in Greek mythology when Apollo pursued a nymph, Artemis/Diana turned her into a violet to protect her. There are also stories in The Bible that associate violets with modesty like when Archangel Gabriel tells Mary she is pregnant, violets bloom around her. This is why sometimes when a child dies, violets are put on their grave as a representation of their innocence. There are many other popular stories of violets turning to tears when someone is crying. They’re also associated with love from a story of Venus and Cupid and were believed to be an aphrodisiac in the Middle Ages. 

Femininity, respect, wisdom, modesty, divination, love 

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Disclaimer !!: Before you consume or use a plant medicinally, make sure you are 100% sure on the ID. Speak with a doctor before using a plant, especially if you’re pregnant, and make sure you aren’t allergic and that it won’t interact with any of your medications. Do not substitute legitimate medications with herbal remedies, this is not medical advice. Always do your own research before consuming or using a plant medicinally. Some of the plants, while generally safe for humans, are not safe for animals and children. As a general rule of thumb, younger greens will taste better. As the plant matures and bears fruit it will typically become more bitter, so the best time to harvest most of these is before it bears fruit. Make sure to avoid areas treated with pesticides and always wash your takings before use. And make sure you're never over-harvesting, always make sure there's another 'patch' of the plant your taking !!

[witch-girly]

WITCH'S 2023 CALENDAR

if i miss anything or get anything wrong, don't be afraid to correct me!

i live in the Northern Hemisphere, so some of these dates are based on that

sorry for the long post!!!

RETROGRADES OF 2023:

MERCURY RETROGRADE:

December 29, 2022 - January 18, 2023

April 21, 2023 - May 14, 2023

August 23, 2023 - September 15, 2023

December 13, 2023 - January 1, 2024

VENUS RETROGRADE:

July 22, 2023 - September 3, 2023

MARS RETROGRADE:

October 30, 2022 - January 12, 2023

JUPITER RETROGRADE:

September 4, 2023 - December 30, 2023

SATURN RETROGRADE:

June 17, 2023 - November 4, 2023

URANUS RETROGRADE:

August 24, 2022 - January 22, 2023

August 28, 2023 - January 27, 2024

NEPTUNE RETROGRADE:

June 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

PLUTO RETROGRADE:

May 1, 2023 - October 10, 2023

FULL MOONS OF 2023:

WOLF MOON:

Friday, Jan 6

SNOW MOON:

Sunday, Feb 5

WORM MOON:

Tuesday, Mar 7

PINK MOON:

Thursday, April 6

FLOWER MOON:

Friday, May 5

STRAWBERRY MOON:

Sunday, Jun 4

BUCK MOON:

Monday, Jul 3

STURGEON MOON:

Tuesday, Aug 1

BLUE MOON:

Thursday, Aug 31

HARVEST MOON:

Friday, Sept 29

HUNTER'S MOON:

Saturday, Oct 28

BEAVER MOON:

Monday, Nov 27

COLD MOON:

Wednesday, Dec 27

NEW MOONS OF 2023:

Saturday, Jan 21

Monday, Feb 20

Tuesday, Mar 21

Thursday, Apr 20

Friday, May 19

Sunday, Jun 18

Monday, Jul 17

Wednesday, Aug 16

Friday, Sept 15

Saturday, Oct 14

Monday, Nov 13

Tuesday, December 12

FIRST QUARTER MOONS OF 2023:

Saturday, Jan 28

Monday, Feb 27

Wednesday, Mar 29

Thursday, Apr 27

Saturday, May 27

Monday, Jun 26

Tuesday, Jul 25

Thursday, Aug 24

Friday, Sep 22

Sunday, Oct 22

Monday, Nov 22

Tuesday, Dec 19

LAST QUARTER MOONS OF 2023:

Sunday, Jan 15

Monday, Feb 13

Wednesday, Mar 15

Thursday, Apr 13

Friday, May 12

Saturday, Jun 10

Monday, Jul 10

Tuesday, Aug 8

Wednesday, Sep 6

Friday, Oct 8

Sunday, Nov 5

Tuesday, December 5

HOLIDAYS OF 2023:

Samhain (All Hallow's Eve, Autumn-Winter Cross Quarter Days): Oct 31 - Nov 1

Yule (Winter Solstice): Dec 21 - Jan 1

Imbolc (Ground Hog's Day): 1 - 2 Feb

Ostara (Spring Equinox): Mar 20

Beltane (Mayday): May 1

Litha (Summer Solstice): Jun 20

Lammas (Lughnasadh): Aug 1

Mabon (Autumnal Equinox): Sep 21 - Sep 29

*stupid little footnotes: i'm trying out some colors. idk. i think it's cool. more organized. lmk if you guys like or dislike it

[witch-girly]

My Self Love Spell Jar 🌸

[witch-girly]

Welcome My Witchy Friends, What To Expect From My Blog:

Witchcraft (duh)

Darker Goth Aesthetics

Info Dumps

A Supporting Community

Occasional Tarot Readings

Spells

What You Should Not Expect and Will Not Be Tolerated:

Racism

Homophobia

Fatphobia

Sexism

Welcome! 🧙‍♀️🧚‍♀️✨