You do not need to follow instructions for a spell down to a minor detail in order for it to work. You do not have to cast a spell on the EXACT day it states. You do not need every exact ingredient in order for a spell to work. Moon phases don’t have to be exact in order for a spell to work.
Feel the need for a confidence spell? Cast it.
Wanting to perform a binding spell? Do it.
Witchcraft is about being in tune with your emotions and the energy around you. If you feel the time is right to cast a certain spell, do it.
Witch bottles traditionally act as what can be described as ‘decoys’ for malevolent or baneful spirits and energies. This includes curses, hexes and jinxes – it includes anything and everything that seeks to ruin that good streak you’ve got goin’ on.
Historically, witch bottles included items such as rusted nails, thorns and wine (yep, you read it right: people used to stick wine in bottles to never be consumed!), and almost always include an item of your physical being, such as a lock of hair, a little bit of spit or blood or semen, etc,… you catch my drift here, right?
**IMPORTANT:if and when you draw blood, don’t just wing it. Use hygienic and sterilized equipment to prevent infection!
When creating a witch bottle of this ilk, your main goal is entrapment so personalize to your heart’s content.
Nowadays, we have witch bottles for protection, entrapment, cursing and myriad other things, but typically they all follow the same basic method of construction (for lack of a better word) as traditional witch bottles, which goes as follows:
For protection against baneful energies and the entrapment of them, some ingredients may include the following:
A item of your physical being
Sea salt
Needles/pins/nails
Broken glass
Sage
Garlic
Blood or wine
A sigil written on paper or the ashes of a burnt sigil
A tangle of black thread
Basil
Cayenne Pepper
If you’re creating a protection bottle, you may want to include protective herbs, (such as Rosemary, St. John’s Wort, Pennyroyal or Mandrake root) and small crystals, like amethyst and quartz, in place of the… angry-ish content of the negativity-trapping bottle.
Next, you put all of your ingredients into your chosen bottle which can be made of glass, clay, metal or ceramics, and seal it as tightly as possible with a lid or stopper (cork). Now, shake! If the mood takes you, fill the bottle with whatever thoughts and feelings fit the intent for a little extra oomph.
Now you must take a candle that again, corresponds with the intent of the bottle. Black for protection (for me!), – but each witch has their own colour correspondences, remember – and drop the hot wax over the lid/stopper of your witch bottle. Before you play with hot wax, set some paper down underneath your bottle to protect whatever surface you’re working on and please, please take care not to let the wax touch your skin whilst it’s hot!
Traditionally, again, ceramic witch bottles were burnt or placed in a fire or hearth and the ashes/remains then buried somewhere on the witches’ property. Nowadays this isn’t always an option, and many of us choose to use glass bottles or jars. In this instance, you can run the jar/bottle through the smoke of an incense that befits yours needs and wants, and then leave the witch bottle somewhere dark/somewhere it won’t be disturbed.
Many practitioners of magic (including myself) enjoy using the energies of crystals in their practice. The energies of crystals can strengthen the effects of magical working. Crystals can be used in spellwork, meditation, ritual, divination, etc. Or you can carry them around with you throughout your day to achieve a certain result, or just to help you get through life more smoothly. I hope this list helps you find a crystal to suit your individual needs.
Quartz – A multi-purpose crystal, can be programmed for nearly anything. Enhances and strengthens the energies of any magical working. Offers protection from negativity. Can act as a substitute for any other crystal in spell work.
Amethyst – Excellent for all types of healing, both physical and emotional. Has very soothing and calming energies and is great for meditation. Protects against negativity, especially spiritual and psychic attack.
Rose Quartz – A stone of love and relationships. Wonderful for promoting self-love and for allowing one to open up to receiving love from others. Has calming and reassuring energies and is great for emotional healing. Promotes sleep and good dreams.
Citrine – Does not accumulate negative energy. A great stone for manifestation and abundance. Attracts wealth, prosperity, and success. Promotes love and happiness and soothes problems in relationships.
Tiger’s Eye – An excellent stone for protection, especially against curses and ill-wishing. Good for boosting confidence and self-worth. Helps with accomplishing goals. Enhances good luck and brings prosperity.
Agate – Promotes inner stability, self-esteem, and composure. Improves concentration and mental clarity. A protective stone, especially during travel. Enhances feelings of security and safety.
Selenite – A good stone for promoting spiritual growth. Increases awareness and intuition. Good for meditation, dispelling negativity, and promoting harmony. Increases feelings of love and inner peace.
Obsidian – Helps protect against depression, negativity, and psychic attacks. A very grounding and protective stone, especially for sensitives. Good for breaking attachments and releasing. Also good for manifestation and abundance.
Fluorite – A highly protective and stabilizing stone. Strengthens the intuition, increases insight, and heightens mental abilities. Absorbs negative energies. Protects against psychic manipulation and organizes chaotic situations. Creates calm feelings and mental clarity in chaotic situations.
Labradorite – Promotes innate magical abilities to come to the surface. Tempers negative personality aspects and brings out the best in a person. Calms an overactive mind and awakens new ideas and energies.
Bloodstone – Protects against threats and bullying, and brings strength for coping with new situations. Increases creativity and heightens the intuition. Encourages blessings and prosperity. Boosts the immune system and balances hormones.
Onyx – Absorbs negative energy and removes negativity from a person’s life. Prevents the draining of personal energy and aids in the release of negative emotions. Promotes good fortune, relaxation, and strength. Increases courage to face challenges in life.
Hematite – A good stone for grounding, stabilizing, and protecting oneself. Promotes mental organization, memory, and calming energies. Decreases emotional negativity and feelings of anxiety. Enhances willpower, confidence, and strength.
Moonstone – A protective stone, especially during travel by night. Aids in the acceptance of love and opens the heart to nurturing qualities. Increases fidelity, fertility, self-expression, and self-confidence. Soothes and calms the emotions and enhances the intuition and happiness.
Note: Crystals are not a substitute or alternative for medical attention.
It is crucial (if you want to have good results) to prep before spellwork. Here are some ways to make sure you reach full magic badassery when doing a spell:
1. Spend time being positive. Thinking positively will get you in the right mindset to perform a ritual. This is especially helpful when doing self love and healing spells. For a large ritual start improving your mood as soon as a week prior to the spell. If you are doing something simple, modify your train of thought an hour or so before you begin casting.
2. Meditate. This is also one way you can achieve method 1. Meditating helps clear the mind of negativity and aids in focusing. Light a candle, silence any technology, turn off the lights, and breathe. With every breath you breathe out envision negativity exiting your body. With the intake of air envision breathing in positivity and universal energy.
3. Get clean. One of the best ways to make sure no negativity makes its way into your spell is to simply take a shower/bath. Not only will you be physically clean and refreshed, but you can use some simple cleansing energy to get rid of anything unwanted. Use a shower scrub (extra points if it has herbs with magical properties !) and scrub away all of the nasty blocking energy all the way from your head to your toes. It helps me to envision the energy leaving my body as black or dark grey liquid pouring down the drain. Next, stand under the water and let it rain down on you. Imagine it as golden liquid light; surrounding you and charging your spirit. If you are in a bath, immerse yourself in the water and do the same.
4. Prepare. Gather all of the supplies you are going to use. Place them in your space and make sure you won’t be bothered. One thing that I also like to do is pick out some witchy/comfortable clothing. Our clothes change the way we feel, so make sure you feel powerful and comfortable. You can also even enchant these beforehand.
5. Don’t doubt! Never doubt your own power. You are the key to your own success! Take a moment and remind yourself that you are a badass magical bitch and you get stuff done.
You are now ready to get out there and perform your ritual! ✨
Tuck a stone or crystal under your pillow / into your pillowcase before going to bed to promote the properties of that stone in your sleep. For example, rose quartz is a lovely stone to use if you need a calm and peaceful rest! I’ve also known other witches besides myself to say that certain stones will give them different types of dreams ~ Crystals known to enhance psychic power/third eye power/aid astral travel would also be well-used in lucid or prophetic dreaming.
This is a really good, comprehensive list of edible flowers. It has a vivid description each plant’s taste and how to use and harvest as well as including which parts of the plant are inedible (x)
Here’s a great free ebook on cooking, brewing and blending herbs (x)
This website has fantastic gardening advice. Just search for a plant and it will tell you how to grow it, what grows indoors, pest, solutions, trivia and much, much more. (x) And it even has an edible gardening section (x) plus an indoor section if you don’t have a garden (x)
If you have any other resources, feel free to add them to this list.
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