D for Death Witch

• Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it. 
• Haruki Murakami 

It is not length of life, but depth of life. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. 

Kahlil Gibran

Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them. 

George Eliot

• Death/Necromancy - A practice that may combine Bone, Animal, Spirit work, occasionally also Blood. Using spirits to empower one self, hoarding bones, using graveyards, graves, the spirits of them, as well as the dirt (or even plants) that are found in them. May also honor the dead and/or gods who work with the dead.

Similar to:

Spirit Working - A practice in which the person will perform spellwork in conjunction with or with the help of any manner of spirit. This includes Ouija, (sometimes) demon spirits, spiritual contact, etc.

Spirit Worker. - A magick practitioner who works with spirits of all kind in communication and guidance. Spirit working can be defined as working with human spirits, demons, fae, spirit guides and spirit companions. The definition varies from person to person.

Life and death, death in life. I see and talk to spirits pretty often. I have done it since I was very little. Mostly I did it with dead plants but when I grew up I started to notice some new things in the world, human spirits. I have never been afraid of them, but they have tried to hurt me at least one time (that I know). I used to see dreams about my dead friend (which I tell you more about in the Dream Witch post (up coming!) (edit. I talked with this friend via spirit board and she said she really did come to visit my dreams!) and I just today did a smudging in my apartment to get rid of one nasty spirit who has taken my energy past week or so. I have been so heavily tired I have needed to take naps every 3-6 hours. I can sometimes see and hear spirits but mostly I feel them. I feel cold air, I feel pressure from really bad energy, I feel emotions and I feel touching. (edit. I have a spirit in my apartment again, need to do some cleansing)

Clairs: 

Clairvoyance (seeing), 

Clairtangence/psychometry (touching), clairaudience (hearing), 

Clairgustance (tasting), 

Clairsentience (feeling), 

Clairscent/clairodoance (smelling) and clairempathy etc etc to communicate with spirits. While some people have a natural affinity for one to several, they can all be strengthened by anyone with practice.

Death is in my plants that don´t survive (I just can´t do it, sigh, I clearly am not a Green witch), death is in my animals that had past away, death is what feeds me and my family, without dead plants and animals, we wouldn´t be here (what would we eat?). Death is in my ancestors which I don´t know but would like to know. Death is where something in my life ends and new begins. Death is in the changing seasons. Death is in my friends who has passed away but who I don´t forget and they live trough my memories. There is no life without death and other way around. Death is everywhere. Circle of life will continue no matter what. I myself, am a Death Witch.

In Finnish lore we have Tuonela (underworld) and we had Kalman väki (people of the dead) who welcomed new spirits to the spirit realm and they mostly gathered up together. We had Tuonen Tytti (Tytti of the underworld) who came with her boat and sail the dead to Tuonela. A lot has been forgotten  but some of us still remembers and respect the old believes. If this made you feel interested, let me know and I will tell more. Also there is coming my big photographing project, so I will let you know about these kind of stuff later on.

Tips for someone interested in getting started on this path

-Do research on funeral services and the ways different cultures take care of their dead. 

-Study death, how it occurs in humans, animals, plants, etc. 

-Think of your own death and the death of those around you, think of what the word “death” truly means to you. 
-Start a journal and write down your thoughts and how the meaning of that word changes for you over time. 

-Start talking with spirits (but remember that some do lie). 

-Go to graveyards and pay respects to those that are there, especially the older forgotten areas of cemeteries.

Some tools that Death Witch might use: Graveyard Dirt, salt, black Salt, obsidian, hematite, smoky quartz, athame, pendulum, spirit board, tarot cards, bones (obtained ethically),blood (own).

Crystals in Death Magick 

Ajoite - overcome sorrow, emotional healing

Amethyst - eases grief and sadness

Andalusite - crossing over into the afterlife

Apophyllite - spirit communication

Bixbite (Red Beryl) - eases grief

Black Tourmaline - eases grief

Bloodstone - to strengthen ties with ancestors or loved ones who have passed on

Blue Lace Agate - connection to the spirit world, eases passage into the afterlife

Calcite - emotional healing, peace

Carnelian - eases sorrow, protection in the afterlife

Celestite - spirit communication

Charoite - eases passage into the afterlife

Cuprite - spirit communication

Halite - dispelling negativity, protection

Hematite - grounding, peace, transforming negativity 

Jade - protection in the afterlife

Jasper - safe passage into the afterlife

Jet - eases grief and mourning

Kunzite - eases heartbreak

Labradorite - spirit communication

Lapis Lazuli - spiritual connection

Obsidian - healing, deflecting negativity, grounding, protection

Onyx - grounding, protection

Pink Tourmaline - emotional healing

Quantum Quattro Silica - eases grief

Quartz - safe passage into the afterlife

Selenite - spirit communication, eases passage into the afterlife

Sunstone - spirit communication

Tanzan Aura Quartz - spirit communication

Tsavorite - connection to the spirit world

Turquoise - spiritual attunement

Violet Flame Opal - spiritual awareness

Death Witch things to do

-Visiting natural history and art museum. Not only for the spirit work (museums are surprisingly rife with spirits) but also the reflection on the objects themselves that are imbued with death energy due to their age.

-Kitchen witchcraft with fermentation. I’m talking both home starters/yeasts and drink based fermenting! The process of encouraging fermentation is literally a controlled necromancy if you think about it! Also your own fermented product will be excellent to use in spellwork!

-Upcycle crafting! The process of reusing items in a new way that you already had or seeking out items to use instead of letting them become trash is also working with death energy!

-Playing death related games or watching movies with friends and family. Death witchcraft tasks and energy work doesn’t have to look witchy! If you have a weekly or monthly hangout where you play tabletops like Betrayal at House on the Hill or even online games. Or watch documentaries or movies with loved ones that related that totally counts! Especially as a lower spoon option.

-Drawing or photographing abandoned buildings/architecture. So often people forgot that the decay of manmade objects and places do hold death energy and weight. Tapping into this side of death witchcraft can be an interesting experience.

-Visiting a 24 hour store or restaurant in the middle of the night. Also walking through a store at 3am is a good time to practice a walking meditation or some simple spirit communication without too much trouble. Just have your headphones in for an excuse!

-Learning to maintain your own compost! The cycle of your kitchen supplies life and decay is such a simple and deep way to access that death energy and maybe even work your way up to having that green thumb! Also using this compost in spellwork will pack a punch!

Rituals

Death witchcraft can be used and interpreted in many different ways. But what one does with it is often very personal, different, and unique. Here are some rituals, spells, etc. that I found useful.

-Scrying with spirits 

-Divining the future with the dead 

-Grief spells and rituals

-Passing spells and rituals - helping spirits pass on, or get “unstuck” when reliving their past is a very rewarding thing. 

-Curses - death does not always mean bringing mortality to a living, breathing thing. It can be used it to smother success, disenchant happiness, etc. 

-Rebirth spells and rituals - Release yourself from the past and start with the clean sheet.

-Communing with the dead - meditation can lead to eye opening encounters with the spirits of those who died before you. They have voices, and they will speak, even if you will not listen.

-Cleaning up, respecting the dead - burying bones or carcasses of animals is one way to respect and honour the dead (if they want you to, that is). So is picking up litter near a cemetery, or helping the grief stricken friends and family of someone you know who has passed. Learn what to say, and what not to, and read up on death, and its overwhelming history.

Communication with Ghosts 

A baseline experience in warding/protection and spirit communication is necessary first. Also have an energy source other than your own ready for boosting the communication (offerings, crystals, charged items or water, energy jars, etc.) is helpful and polite as well.

Find a place that works for you: cemeteries, old buildings, museums, crossroads, bodies of water, old growth forests, liminal spaces, personal ancestor shrines, old houses, etc.

Start with a communication method you’re familiar with: Tarot, pendulum, shufflemancy, trancing, channeling, automatic writing, empathy/clair senses

Let your mind unfocus- it doesn’t have to be true “clearing mind” that meditation methodology sometimes talks about. Letting your mind just wander is good too. Gently allow thoughts to appear but don’t dwell on them. Try identifying thoughts that wouldn’t be your own. Practice discernment.

Record the feelings and experience. If you’re comfortable with it, push for more specific interaction with your communication method: “who are you?”, “where are you from?” “what do you need me to know about?” “what do you enjoy talking about”. It’s okay to just keep things organic and loose for the first couple times and not ask specific questions, just allow impressions.

Be firm about safety and your boundaries. Don’t let the spirit take advantage of any discomfort you may experience. It’s always okay to disconnect the communication and come back later.

Keep a journal regarding these experiences. Refer back to it to build relationships with repeat spirits and learn methods that work the most successfully for you. Feel free to use it to research background on deceased spirits when you aren’t communicating directly.

Be respectful about privacy. It’s okay to share experiences in a general sense but you may include a question about whether you may share specifics about any spirits you interact with. However, be wary of any spirits that tell you not to talk about communing at all, that level of secrecy is suspect. Personal privacy (names, history, ages, personal stories, etc) are of course common courtesy to protect but your own success in methodology and emotions regarding the experiences should be your own choosing on whether to share, not theirs.

Skulls

A skull may house a conjured ghost, and allow that spirit to speak through the body of the skull. Some sources will offer incense upon the skull to help this take effect.

Related to the first point, a sealing spell may be cast upon the skull to prevent it from lying or deceiving. This spell involves sealing the mouth with graveyard dirt and drawing an engraving on it with iron. 

Skulls may be used to dispel or scare off ghosts. A libation poured from the skull of a black dog is used in one such banishing ritual. 

Many rituals include using a skull to prevent one from grinding their teeth during sleep. Some believed that this happened because a dead family member tried to communicate through their relative in sleep. The sufferer may either kiss it seven and seven times, or kiss it seven times and lick it seven times, over the span of four nights.

Skulls are used as summoning ingredients and basis for the conjurer’s power. Sometimes, an incantation will be spoken over a skull. Other times, a libation or conjuring oil will be spilt over the skull.

Simple Spirit Work

-Write messages and notes for deceased loved ones on autumn leaves and let the wind carry them where they need to go.

-Carve sigils and symbols to promote spirit work into pumpkins and place on altars or around your property.

-Collect pinecones and pine boughs and tie in bundles to be placed around a room you want to discourage spirits from visiting during the thinning veil time (i.e. your bedroom, bathroom, etc.).

-Read a favorite book or book passage in a graveyard to the local spirits and ghosts. You may also playi or sing a favorite song.

-Enchant candles you place in your jack o’ lanterns to greet and guide spirits peacefully and with love.

-Erect an ancestor altar; include pictures, items, food that were favorites of deceased loved ones (including pets!!).

-Pour an additional drink or fill a small plate with part of your meal as a tribute to household spirits or ghosts.

-Do your divination outside during dawn or dusk times.

-Invite spirits and ghosts to join you in watching your favorite holiday movies (”Nightmare Before Christmas”, “Halloween”, “Hocus Pocus”, etc.).

-Leave birdseed or bird/animal safe homemade crackers outside for your local messengers of the dead.

-Bury offerings for the Underworld and Kerberos (again, assuming they’re critter-safe).

-Make crockpot soups and stews enchanted with prosperity, healing, love, and warmth

-Paint sigils in water/sugar under or on top of baked goods before popping into oven for charging.

-Pick up debris in a local graveyard while talking pleasantly to the spirit occupants.

Good Offerings In Death Work

Whenever you visit a graveyard, to honor someone or otherwise, it is only appropriate to leave an offering behind. Below I will list common offerings for the dead.

Herbs

Mugwort, Apple, Bay. Frankincense, Myrrh, Rosemary, Pomegranates, Wormwood, Banana, Honey

Flowers

Roses, Lilies, Orchids, Daisies, Dandelions, Mullein, Eucalyptus Leaves, Juniper Berries

Liquids

Water, Wine, Pomegranate Juice, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Vinegar, Whiskey

Others

Coins (Very Common), Brown Bread, Candles (Typically White or Black), Musical Elements, Birthday Candles, Rice

Crystals

Bloodstone, Amethyst, Obsidian, Blue Kyanite, Danburite, Tektite

Coins

Most of these herbs, flowers, and crystals are used for protection or guiding spirits. So you may be asking, why do we commonly leave coins are an offering? Well, most speculate this is due to the Charon. In Greek and Latin literary, the Charon is the ferryman who guides souls into the afterlife from the land of the living. The coins are offerings to him to help guide the spirit.

Different Ways to Use These Offerings

-Burn the herbs and/or flowers around the grave either alone or with a written message to the spirit.

-Pour the liquids over the grave, or leave them in an offering bowl.

-Leave above the grave the flowers, coins, crystals or other offering objects.

Some Activities That Can Be Used As Offerings

-Reading a story out loud or to yourself.

-Tell the spirit a story of your life.

-Play some music for the spirit.

Memento Mori Journal

One way to honor the dead is to keep a Memento Mori Journal. This is a journal that the living write headstone information in to remember the dead. It’s also advised that you search up the person once you get home and write some facts about them in your journals. Among the community, they are quite popular.

Self Care for Death Witches

-Take a cleansing bath. Sometimes working with death energy can take a toll on your energy levels, as well as potentially attract death into your life (especially if it is surrounding you on a daily basis). Every two weeks or so, it’s a good idea to clean up your aura and spirit using a ritual shower or bath. For a bath, toss in 1 cup of epsom salt, and ½ cup of baking soda, and then use any safe essential oils to add a little magical boost. This combination will cleanse you physically of any toxins, and also spiritually. Do not soak for longer than 20 minutes, and it is generally said that every 2 weeks is the best timeframe between this ritual. I use lavender oil and mint leaves to really clean and protect myself. Be sure to research the affects of herbs, especially in regards to your physical state and taking into account medications you consume. For a shower, let the water run over your whole body. Then, soak a loofa or hand towel in a mixture of epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oils or herbs (again, do this safely). Softly scrub your body, and rinse yourself off again.

-Take naps. This is a very important tip, especially for those of you who work primarily at night. Find a good time for you, and try to consistently get enough sleep. It’s important to stay well rested to keep your energy up and your physical body healthy.

-Spend time doing what you love. Don’t neglect things you enjoy to focus your whole being on death witchcraft. If you like to sew, paint, write, solve equations, cook, or whatever else, make time for it. Doing something mundane is very essential to keeping you from getting burnt out on your practice.

-Eat. I mean it. I find myself forgetting to eat an awful lot when I immerse myself in death witchcraft and necromancy. I don’t know if it’s just because I am super busy or because I am focusing too much on spiritual needs instead of physical ones, but it isn’t good for you. Eat at least 3 meals, and drink lots of water!

-Listen to your body. If it’s telling you it’s tired, hungry, thirsty, or in pain, you shouldn’t ignore it. This is something I really need to remember. Sometimes I think practicing death witchcraft is more important than focusing on my physical needs, but it isn’t black and white like that. Both are important, and I should really realize that if I don’t take care of myself now, I won’t be able to practice later.

-Relax. Take a moment and meditate, or just sit with crystals, candles, water, or whatever calms you. Recharge your batteries. This is really vital for those of you who use a lot of your own energy for spells, spirit communication, and more. I like to listen to music that makes me feel like a death witch (playlist is on its way to a blog near you).

-Spend time in places you find fulfilling. I like graveyards, I like hospitals. I like places where death is prevalent because it helps me get acquainted with the thought of death. If this is you, too, then go to those places.

Did you know?

In certain traditions, the gatekeeper is said to be the first spirit who was buried in that cemetery. The gate keeper is a guardian of the dead, of sorts, who help other spirits and keep the graveyard powerful and contained. Sometimes they reside in a vessel, and sometimes they roam around. For spirit workers such as death walkers, they may help lead you to troubled spirits or spirits they’d like you to help.

Death Witch Tip

Offering for the dead: lemon poppy seed baked goods.

Poppy seeds = Sleep and peace, to give them rest.

Lemon = Healing and purification, to bring them peace and allow to leave gently without being followed.

Death witchcraft faq masterpost

Blessed be!

Witchy self care

I had my own first retreat with my witchy friends this weekend, I feel all balanced and I want to share the feeling with others.

How do you feel today? Like I said about in Cottage Witch post, do you take care about of castle, your home, now I ask, do you take care of YOU? Sometimes we are so busy we don´t have time for ourselves and our body and mind aren´t in balance anymore. Even if you already feel quite good, it is really important to take care of yourself, to do some self care. Loving our best friend (that is you) is the most important thing. It doesn´t need to be anything big and expensive, do things that you actually enjoy. Here is few things I do when I feel little bit down, stressed out or just when I want to pamper myself. Every little small thing you do for you, is important.

You can use things that are supposed to use in love spells, to make your own self love feel more effective. If spells doesn´t work for you, you can make a love altar or a little magick pouch full of love related things in it. And why not even make a witch ball? Get crafty! Use them in your kitchen, use as incense, hold a crystal, anything that works for you.

Herbs for love

Apple leaves and seeds

Coriander

Cyclamen

Cinnamon

Daisy

Ginger

Geranium (pink)

Iris

Jasmine

Lavender

Marigold

Marjoram

Myrtle

Periwinkle

Passionflower

Rose

Vanilla

Incense for love

Amber

Cherry

Jasmine

Rose

Sandalwood

Ylang-ylang

Crystals for love

Jade

Jasper

Opal

Ruby

Rose quartz

Pearl

(Remember that Rose quartz fades in the sun and same goes for Opal when in contact with salt)

Day of the week

Friday or Tuesday

Time of day

Sunrise or Sunset

Moon phase

Crescent or Full

Colours

Red and Pink

Other things

Himalayan salt

Seashells

Mirror

Lipstick

A bed

Silk

Heart emoji

Apple pie

A pearl necklace

My first rose petal bath. For self love and feminine feeling. It felt so awesome, highly recommend herb baths. You can also wash your hair with herb oils that you can simply do by yourself (coming soon in a post)

Witchy things to do when feeling stressed or depressed:

- Take a nap

- Sit in the warm sunshine

- Cuddle a pet

- Go to bed early

- Meditate and imagine the negative energy fly away with bursting golden light

- Forget all the yoga and just lie down for however long you need

- Put on body lotion (you can also dry brush your skin, it makes your skin feel super smooth!)

- Change your clothes into something more comfortable

- Wash your hair

- Light some candles

- Write a love letter to yourself

- List 10 good things about yourself

- Watch a childhood classic on TV

- Clean your room: make it cozy and safe

- Care for yourself the way your guardians would when you were a sick child

- Do a small task or hobby that you used to love - listen to old music

- Play a game from your past

- Eat a healthy meal

- Put on some upbeat music (and dance with it!)

- Drink ice cold water

- Change into clothes that make you feel good but aren’t pyjamas (probably also your absolute favorite clothes, even though you are not going outside)

- Go for a walk

- Challenge yourself to do the things you want to do and reward yourself after

- Get in touch with a friend

- Go to a public place, like a coffee shop, read a book or just chill and enjoy the coffee

- Say hello to a stranger, you can just smile too, you have no idea what effect the simple smile has

- Call your mum (or other family member, or a very close friend)

- Message a long lost friend (they might also be missing you)

- Arrange to meet someone you love

- Join online groups of people with similar interests

- Do some light exercise

- Drink a glass of water (use moon or sun charged water for extra boost)

- Do some yoga or stretches

- Go to bed early

- Eat something healthy and tasty

- Clean your home

- Write about how your feelings

- Dance to your favorite music

- Sing

- Put on makeup

- Paint or draw

- Bullet journal

- Write a story, some poetry or a diary entry

- Change your hairstyle (go wild if you like!)

- Drink something warm

- Go somewhere you feel safe

- Spend time with safe, loving people

- Watch a lovely tv-show or movie

- Get under some blankets

- If it’s cold, sit by a fire

- Cuddle someone or something

- Give yourself a little hug

- Do some shadow work, don´t be scared about it!

- Burn Frankincense, Orange Peel, and Sage if you are having creative blockages or feel yourself slipping into a depression, these will help lift your spirits and feel motivated again!

- Take a cleansing shower, imagine your worries going down the drain

-Carry some charged crystals with you or hold it in your hand and feel the positive power flowing inside

-Watch something that makes you laugh

-Buy yourself flowers

-Brush your hair slowly and carefully, making sure not to cause any accidental breakage

-Rub a scented lotion into your hands, elbows and heels while humming a happy song softly to yourself

-Anoint yourself with your favorite essential oil (diluting if necessary) on your throat, the base of your neck and behind your ears

-Massage your feet while listening to calming music

-Make yourself dinner (or dessert!) and fill it with love and good energy

-Take a hot bath in a dimly lit room and imagine the thoughts passing through your mind as clouds passing over the moon. Acknowledge them without judgement, and allow them to drift freely onward.

-Get a new plant and place it somewhere where you can see it often and feel happy about it

-Ask for help if you need it

-Damiana is a love herb. You can use it for self love and confidence. Smoke it or make it into a tea.

Make the tea and squeeze a little orange in it. Oranges are really good for lifting spirits and giving a feeling of happiness. It is so good with a lil bit of honey.

Damiana is used to treat headache, bed wetting, depression, nervous stomach, and constipation; for prevention and treatment of sexual problems; boosting and maintaining mental and physical stamina; and as an aphrodisiac.

-When it rains, go outside and stand in the rain. Feel the rain refresh you.

 Cleansing Routine

-Clean your room; focus on each individual section, dust and purge

-Clean your eating habits; try to stick to plant-based meals and don’t eat anything processed or junk food

-Delete old texts and clean your phone out

-Clean up social media

-Clean your sheets, shower, and wash your clothes

-Throw out or consolidate old bottles of lotion, perfume, etc.

-Clean out your herb supply, throw out moldy or old potions and spell jars

-If you have a carpet, pour a mix of herbs onto it and vacuum them up

-Take a shower or bath and use an enchanted scrub to get rid of dead skin and cleanse yourself

-Take out the garbage and freshen it up

-Light a few candles and change out your pillowcases

-Move furniture around, move plants and items to bring new energies in

-If your altar is messy, clean and organize it; cleanse or charge your crystals and throw out old candles

-Make new playlists and delete old ones you no longer listen to

-Be as kind as you can not only to others, but to yourself

-Donate old books or materials, old clothes, etc.

-Wash your shoes

-Draw sigils inspired by your name and cleansing and burn them

-Learn something new, and teach something new

-Trim your nails and moisturize your skin

-Clean pieces of jewelry you wear often

-Throw out or reuse old pill bottles; put crystals in them, paint them, use them as spell jars

-Renew good relationships and remove yourself from old ones

-Write down things that bother you on a piece of paper and burn it. Just burn things.

-Delete unnecessary contacts

-Drink plenty of water and ingest a lot of plants; cleanse your internal system

Blessed be darklings, take care of yourselves! 

C for Crystal Witch

Crystal - Magick that is worked commonly with stones and crystals, such as during spellwork or for crystal healing techniques. This may also include chakra balance, crystal meditation… anything that uses crystals, really! A crystal witch may also have an extensive knowledge of stones, including how to identify them and using their properties. Their Book of Shadows will most likely have information about the stones, chakra balance, and crystal meditation.

Crystal witch things: keeping crystals in your pockets, crystals sitting on your windowsill under the moonlight, crystalline light reflections.

I am not going to tell what every little crystal will do, internet is full of information. But I am going to tell some basic things about crystals that you might want to know. I, myself, use crystals in healing, while I am dreaming (for various reasons, like getting rid of nightmares or many healing reasons), I use them while I bathe, because you can use them to cleanse and bring things in your life you need, I use them while meditating and also when I feel very anxious and to get calm. My amethyst in my wedding ring is of course always in use for protection of negative energy and keeping my own emotional energy in balance. It is said that in lot of use the amethyst will fade but past 7 years it is still very purple. Of course every crystal jewelry is always handy (and oh so pretty!) in regular use.

´Today´s outfit
Dress: Deadfine.fi
Shirt: Second hand
Socks and shoes: H&M
Bag: Second hand
Hat: Second hand
Sunglasses: Borrowed

Witchy things to do with crystals

-Wear rose quartz on a necklace close to your heart to open up your heart chakra or keep it next to the bed to promote harmony and unconditional love in your relationship. Place it in the relationship area of your home or room to manifest a partner!

-Place citrine in the prosperity corner of your office (or desk), keep some in your wallet, or put some in the cash register of your business to get the money flowing!

-Meditate on, visualize, and verbalize your desires while holding quartz crystals. You can also place them on a photograph or list of what you would like to manifest. 

-Use amethyst in meditation to get in tune with your feelings, promote mental clarity, and calm your thoughts. Place it in your home, office, or car to purify the space of any negative energy so you can thrive in your high vibe environment!

-Sleep with obsidian under your pillow to help with mental stresses or use it in meditation to get clear about what's holding you back from manifesting your desires.

-Keep carnelian in your pocket for enhanced creativity and motivation, or place it in your workspace if you're some type of artist.

-Charge your crystals with music. Just pick one song that is fitting for your intent.

-Have a bath with crystals with you!

-Put a crystal in the water you use for watering your plants/herbs to give them an extra boost of magic. Make sure to check that your crystal is safe to put in water, you don’t want to poison your plants or damage your crystals.

-Decorate your place/home with crystals and make it feel magickal!

-Get your own crystal shelf (it´s a thing now in crystal witch community)

-Make crystal grids

-When you feel like you need a new crystal your life, pick the one that calls you. Crystals know that you need them in certain point of life (it´s like the wands in Harry Potter).

-Get a book of shadows that you will include only crystal things.

Below is a list of helpful terms to know when working with gems and minerals. It includes terminology on various crystal shapes and forms. Terms specific to mineral shapes have “(form)” next to them for ease of reference.

Abundance (form): An abundance crystal consists of one long quartz crystal with many small crystals clustered around its base. Its function is to attract wealth and abundance.  

Adamantine Luster: A particularly brilliant shine as shown by a specimen such as a diamond.

Amorphous (form): Amorphous crystals, such as obsidian, have no particular shape. Energy flows rapidly through and amorphous crystal as it has no rigid internal organization.

Aura: The subtle bio-magnetic sheath that surrounds the physical body, providing a protective zone that extends for about 18 inches to 3 feet from the body and contains information about a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state of being. 

Aura Crystal: A crystal specimen, usually of the quartz variety, that has been coated with metal (i.e. gold, titanium) in a vacuum chamber resulting in an iridescent sheen.

Ball (form): Balls are usually shaped from a larger piece of crystal and may have planes or flaws within them. They emit energy in all directions equally. 

Barnacle (form): A barnacle crystal has many small crystals covering a larger crystal. 

Bridge (form): A bridge crystal grows out of another larger crystal. It assists in bridging gaps and bringing things together.

Carat: The standard measure of weight for precious stones and metals. A carat is equal to 0.007 oz (0.2g).

Cathedral Quartz (form): Cathedral quartz may appear to be composed of several convoluted pieces, but these are in fact all part of the main crystal which has multiple terminations with at least one point at the apex.

Channeler (form): A channeling crystal has a 7 sided facet at the front of the termination and a triangular face on the opposite side. It channels healing energy or information from higher sources. 

Cleavage: The way a mineral or rock breaks along a certain plane, or in a certain direction.

Cluster (form): A cluster has many points bedded, but not necessarily fixed, into a base. The crystals may be small or large. 

Companion (form): A companion crystal has two crystals entwined and partly growing in each other, or a small crystal that grows out of the main crystal. 

Cross (form): A cross formation has one crystal at right angles to another, usually larger crystal. 

Crystal: A naturally occurring substance whose atoms are arranged in a regular manner. 

Crystal System: The systems in which crystals are grouped based on their symmetry. There are 6 crystal systems: cubic, monoclinic, triclinic, trigonal/hexagonal, orthorhombic, and tetragonal. 

Diamond Window (form): Flat faces at the top of crystals are called windows. A diamond window is large and connected to the apex and the base.

Double Terminated (form): A crystal with two naturally faceted ends. 

Dull Luster: A shine that reflects very little.

Earthy Luster: A non-reflective mineral luster.

Egg (form): A crystal cut in the shape of an egg. 

Elestial (form): An elestial has many natural terminations and folds over a multilayered crystal. 

Etched (form): An etched crystal that looks as though hieroglyphs or cuneiform writing has been inscribed on its faces. 

Faces: The External flat surface that make up a crystal’s shape.

Fault Line: An inner flaw or break in a crystal that refracts light and appears to divide the crystal into sections. 

Fluorescence: The optical effect whereby a mineral appears a different color in ultraviolet light than in ordinary daylight. 

Fracture: The distinctive way a mineral breaks.

Friable: Minerals that easily crumble are referred to as friable.

Gemstone: A mineral, usually crystal-like, which is valued for its color, rarity, and hardness.

Generator (form): A generator crystal has six facets meeting equally in a sharp point. 

Geode (form): A geode is contained within an outer form. When opened, it is hollow with many crystals pointing inward. 

Geologist: A scientist who studies the Earth and its structure and composition.

Gridding: The placing of crystals around a building, person, or room for protection or enhancement energies.

Habit: The general shape of a mineral.

Inclusion: Any material that is trapped inside a mineral during its formation, often producing a rainbow.

Iridescence: A play of colors that looks like oil on water that occurs when light reflects off internal elements of a rock or mineral. 

Layered (form): Plate-like crystals such as lepidolite are referred to as layered. 

Luster: The way in which light reflects of the surface of a mineral.

Manifestation (form): One or more small crystals are totally enclosed by a larger crystal. 

Matrix: The bedrock on which crystals are formed.

Metallic Luster: A shine like that of polished metal.

Mineral: A naturally occurring solid with specific characteristics, such as a particular chemical composition and crystal shape.

Mineralogist: A scientist who studies minerals.

Mohs Scale: A scale of hardness used in classifying minerals. It runs from 1 to 10 using a series of reference minerals, and a position on the scale depends on the ability to scratch minerals rated lower.

Occlusion: A mineral deposit within a crystal, which usually shows up as cloudy patches, spots, or a ghostlike image depending on the color of the material.

Opaque: A substance or material that does not let light pass through it.

Ore: A rock or mineral from which metal can be extracted

Phantom (form): A phantom crystal appears ghostlike within the body of a larger crystal. 

Pleochroic: In a crystal, appearing to have two or more different colors or shades of color, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. 

Point (form): Points may be natural or artificially shaped. A single crystal point has a faceted pointed end and the other end tends to look ragged where it has been separated from a cluster base. 

Prism: A solid geometric figure with a set of faces parallel to one another.

Pyramid (form): A crystal with four sides on a base, but the base itself may be squared off if the crystal is natural (i.e. apophyllite) rather than artificially shaped.

Record Keeper (form): A record keeper crystal has clearly etched pyramid shapes on its side or sides. 

Resinous Luster: A shine like that of resin.

Scepter Quartz (form): A scepter quartz is a large central rod around one end of which another crystal is formed. 

Seer Stone (form): A seer stone is a natural, water polished stone that is cut to reveal an inner world. 

Specific Gravity: The ratio of a mineral’s weight compared to the weight of an equal volume of water.

Square (form): A square crystal consolidates energy within its form. It’s useful for anchoring intention and grounding. 

Streak: The color of a mineral’s powder. It is less variable than the color of the mineral, so is a more reliable identification tool.

Striation: One of multiple, usually parallel grooves or scratches on a rock surface, produced by abrasion associated with glacial movement, stream flow, a geologic fault, or meteoric impact.

Tabular (form): A tabular crystal has two wide sides resulting in a flat crystal which may be double terminated. 

Transmitter (form): A transmitter crystal has two seven-sided facets with two perfect triangles between them. 

Tumbled (form): Refers to stones that have been polished in a large drum with grit, resulting in a smooth and often shiny stone.

Vitreous Luster: A shine like that of glass.

Vogal Wand (form): A crystal with specially created, indented facets with specific angles down the sides of a quartz wand. 

Wand (form): A crystal in the shape of a wand, either naturally occurring or artificially cut.

Crystal grids

What is a crystal grid?

-Simply put, a crystal grid is an arrangement of crystals that helps set, focus, and amplify intentions 

What can a grid be used for?

-There are several things you can use a crystal grid for

1. To increase the power of your crystals

2. To cleanse and/or charge your crystals

3. Create protective boundaries

4. Raise the vibration of your space (good for work flow or meditation) 

5. To bring in luck, happiness, wealth, love etc. (any intention you can put into a spell, you can put into a crystal grid) 

Different Parts of a grid 

The Perimeter

–an optional outer ring of stones that are used to protect your grid. 

The Desire Stones

–Gather the energy of your stones and send it out into your space

The Way Stones

–Organizes and modifies the energy set by the focus stone

The Focus Stone

–Usually the stone in the center of the grid, sets your intentions

How to cleanse your crystals

Water

-You can leave your crystals under running water and visualize water taking away all the energies that no longer serve the crystals.

-You can put them in a bowl with salt and leave them outdoors under the sunlight and the moonlight for three days. Then, you wash them with running water. 

If you want, you can consider in which phase the moon is and leave them under its light to charge them with the energy you are looking to work with:

-Waxing Moon: Activation

-Waning Moon: Receiving

-Full Moon: to amplify the energy and bring light and awareness to situations

-New Moon: Fill them with potent energy. Positive vibes and manifestations.

Earth

- Lay your crystals on the earth or bury them. If you have pointed crystals, you can hammer them into the earth. 

Air

-You can use the smoke of incense or burning herbs to cleanse your crystals (sage and lavender are great for this). The smoke of charcoal disks, or  copal resins is also useful for this.

Fire

-You can quickly pass your crystals through a candle’s flame. If you choose to do this, make sure you do it fast so crystals do not overheat. Please be careful, SAFETY FIRST!!

-There are lotions, oils, and sprays that are specially made to cleanse and purify the energies of a space, or people. You can use these to give your crystals a quick cleanse and recharge.

Other crystals

The vibration of other cleansed and charged crystals can help to reprogram or cleanse your new crystals. You can put some (or all) the crystals you already have in a plate, and place your new crystals on top of them. You can leave them for a few hours or days.

There are some crystals (like calcite, selenite, and pyrite) that cannot be submerged in water or be cleansed with salt. Crystals like amethyst should not be left under direct sunlight.

Witch Tips

-Rose quartz is a great stone to have when bathing/showering. It helps cleanse one emotionally while being cleaned physically, it also brings a light airy feel to the atmosphere and the water can help cleanse the stone itself as well.

Bonus- if you worship Aphrodite it’s a good way to honor her, being a love goddess closely associated with water, and rose quartz is a love stone.
-Don’t leave your crystals directly in salt, this can erode them very easily. Instead place them in a bag first or on a plate over the salt.
-Never leave them in water or create elixirs with them. This will erode and cause them to dissolve, if crystal water is your goal, place the crystals around the water or on top of the lid, or once again, place them in a bag first. (Definitely don’t consume water that has been in contact with the crystals either, as they can be highly harmful.)
-Be very careful, or avoid using them with children and animals entirely, this can be very dangerous as they can easily get swallowed or choked on, as well as being toxic to the little guys.
-When placing them in a safe space in times of being unused, you may want to keep similar crystals and stones nearer each other rather than mixing them with opposing vibrations.
-Keeping in mind that some crystals are receptive as others are projective, their vibrations can be quite opposing as well, this can be a hassle when making grids or incorporating many crystals into a ritual or spell, so always be knowledgeable of your crystals!

-If you have any of these:  Aquamarine, Turquoise, Pyrite, Ruby, Moonstone, Lapis Lazuli, Halite, Garnet, Fluorite, Amazonite, Desert Rose, Gypsum, Talc, Calcite, Angelite, Malachite, Witherite, Cinnabar, selenite, celestine
PLEASE DO NOT PUT THEM IN WATER. The bolded ones are especially dangerous as they release toxins when exposed to water!
-Keep your amethyst out of the sun while charging it (it will fade), instead use moonlight (you can also put a circle of salt around the crystal. Do not put the salt on the ground, use plates etc).

101 how to use crystals
Crystals in the craft

Blessed be darklings!

C for Cottage Witch

“From a golden broom pluck five long straws, 
Light them as tapers at the fire;
Carry them through the house, and cause
Their subtle smoke to thicken the air–

Then summon good fortune with this spell:

Wraiths of the house,
Take heart and live:
To every chamber
This light I give,
To every corner 
This breath I send–
Approve and favor
My willing hand

If you would please them doubly well,
Sprinkle the floor with leaves of tea
And orris powder and grains of salt–
Then sweep with the broom, until you are free
Each crack and crevice from speck or fault.”


— From Crone’s Book of Magical Words  by Valerie Worth 

Cottage / Hearth - (A slight variation from kitchen) Magick that is weaved, worked, or someone who is into mundane tasks around the house or for loved ones. Cottage/Hearth magick may be worked into daily tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or any hobbies. A Cottage Witch is a witch whose magickal practice focuses mainly on the home, similar to a Kitchen Witch but with less of a specific food/kitchen focus and more of a general home focus. A Cottage Witch considers her home sacred space and housekeeping a sacred act. A Cottage Witch may follow any religious or spiritual path or none.

Do you respect your home? Do you take care of your home? Home is our sacred place, where we let in only the ones we want to. It is our safe haven  from the world outside. It is the place where we spend most of our time and we should make it to feel our own, make it feel that the word "home" has an actual meaning.

What to tell about Cottage Witch? It´s my jam. Like Kitchen Witch is also, I made another post about Kitchen Witchery, so just wait a while for more information if this interested you. Anyway, what Cottage/Hearth mean to me, is my basic lifestyle. You can be a cottage witch no matter what kind of place you live, you can live in a mansion or in a tent, it´s all fine. 

I am not that ritualistic witch, I like to do little things in my life that has magic in them while making it, such as cleaning and decorating my home. So my rituals are in the making, in living, in every day life. I think our kitchen is very magickal and I do a lot of cooking and baking, I dry herbs and I want to kitchen to be the heart at my home. I have little kitchen altar (I also have bigger altar in the bedroom, which I use in my rituals and I decorate to match each Sabbat) and I believe in home deities and I often leave gifts for them. I love feng-shui, I need to do more with it again, I need to put it on my to do list... I think it is very important to keep things in your life that only brings you joy or you actually need. When everything has it own place and things are in certain order, the energy in the home will flow more fluently. It will effect on your mood and energy level. It also makes you stress less.

So make your home your own, care for it, so you can also care for you too.

Today´s outfit, all from Flea market except the shoes

Small Town Hearth Witch Aesthetic

Has an apron for every outfit.
Knits while waiting.
Does not know of a problem that can’t be solved with the right magical tea blend.
Soft and round at the edges.
Favorite movie is Little Women.
Hair always smells of woodsmoke.
Big sweaters and wool socks.
Has lost count of the bird feeders in her backyard.
Everything she owns is old but loved and well-maintained.
Laughs a lot.
Long, meandering walks.
Collects Depression era glassware, like the kind her Grandma always had.
Favorite month is October. 

Hella cozy

Basics of Kitchen and Cottage Witchcraft

Kitchen witches believe that the kitchen is a sacred place where all of the magick happens. They focus on the use of edible ingredients and kitchen tools.  A cottage witch is a witch that brings magick into the house and are protectors of the hearth and home. They bring cheer and warmth to every room they enter. Their focuses are on the family, home, and daily needs. Both the cottage and Kitchen witch believe that by honoring the home it honors the Gods and Goddesses. They bring magick into everyday life and daily chores.

Cottage Witch things to do

-Create a kitchen altar
-Stock your shelves with herbs and spices
-Bring maximum feng-shui to your home
-Keep the home physically and spiritually clean
-Paint the house walls in colors that bring happiness, warmth, and coziness
-When making a sandwich put mustard or mayo sigils on it
-When making meals add herbs that correspond to your magickal needs
-Decorate the home according to the sabbats
-Brew some special teas
-Make your own candles, salves, and tinctures.
-Make offerings to Gods and Goddesses of hearth and home.  
-Ask your deities to keep your house safe and healthy.
-Create your own recipes and add your own touch of magick to them
-Put intent into everything you cook and clean
-Make an incantation or short song to sing while you stir.
-Inscribe your wooden spoons with sigils  
-Carve your wooden shelves with sigils - carve them at the bottom of the cupboard to remain discreet
-Craft oils, incense, soaps, potions, and salves.
-Make herbal remedies
-Chant while cleaning or preparing a meal
-Use numerology in your practices by the number of times you stir or the number of times you knead dough.
-During the mead moon, brew mead with magickal intent.
-Decorate the home with your own art or art done by your children, poems, knits, woodcraft’s, paintings, quilts, diy’s, or tapestries.
-Enchant your crafts.
-Use weather magick, candle magick, ribbon charms, and anything else used to add magick to your home.
-Honour the ancestors.
-Bless the home.
-Start a garden and will it with organic and in season fruits and vegetables.
-Charge herbal oils by moonlight or candlelight to heal, bless the home or to clean and protect the woodwork she polishes with it.
-Scatter charm bags, witches ladders, chimes, and bells around the home.
-Grow an indoor jungle
-Learn herbal remedies to treat MINOR injuries
-If you work with meat make sure to thank and honor the animal it came from.
-Sing or play music to raise good vibrations
-Bake and cut cookies in shapes to match your intentions
-Provide someone in need with a free meal
-Volunteer at a local soup kitchen to bring magick into it

-Sweep with a broom (besom) regularly. To the mundane eye, you’re clearing away dust and crumbs, but any witch knows you’re really spiritually cleansing and charging your home.

-Put a line of salt on your windowsill for protection.

-Forage fallen sticks to tie into a pentacle with twine. Hang as a wreath on the front door.

-Candles in every room.

-Call it “aromatherapy” if you’re still a secret witch, but utilize scent as the powerful thing it is! Burn incense. Have asthma? Try essential oils and scented candles. Budgeting? You can always put herbs and teas into the wax of a melting pillar candle to release the scent.

-Bake bread. Knead it with intention, cut a sigil in the top before baking, indulge in the act of creating.

-Open windows to bring in the element of air and purge your home of bad or stale energy.

-Collect and display little things from nature: pinecones, stones, crystals, dried flowers, acorns, feathers (if you’re permitted). Altars don’t need to be obvious, they can just be things that make you grounded and glad.

-Live. Always remember that anywhere a witch lives is magical, whether you feel it or not. Do these little things for yourself, to cherish feeling connected, but witchcraft is not about pressure or conforming.

-Burn a candle on your stove (or wherever you consider to be the heart of the home) to symbolize the hearth fire of ages past. This can be used a daily ritual to connect to your ancestors, those who came before us, and (if you have any) your deities, especially if you have a patron home and/or hearth deity. It also fills the home with love, warmth, and intent. Feel free to match the color and scent with your desired intent! 

Not in a position to burn candles? Have no fear! You can absolutely use a battery powered candle, or one of the LED ones. After all, the intent is what makes this meaningful.

What their altar may display:

Candles
Tools used for sacred use
Four elements
Statues of the honoured deities
A doll weaved of corn
A kitchen witch’s altar is often displayed in the corner of the kitchen and is not permanent
Food made by the witch left as an offering

Some beliefs followed:

-Magick is not used to inflict pain on others or block anyone’s free will
-Believe in living simple lives
-Believe in using organic items, products that aren’t animal tested, recycling, and composting.
-Creativity is a form of devotion
-Keep peace in the household
-May the home always contain good food, good talk, and good company
-Welcome guests into the home with open arms

Cottage and Kitchen witch superstitions/wives tales:

-Stir clockwise to bring good luck
-Never stir with a knife as it is considered bad luck
-Place a piece of amethyst near the stove top to make the food cooked there tastes better
-If an apple bursts in the oven while baking it means good luck is on its way for the cook
-Eggs that are cracked while they boil is a sign that visitors are on their way
-Dropping silverware means that company is coming
-Spilling water on the table cloth means that rain is on its way
-Seeing a spider in the house is good luck, killing it is bad luck
-Wild animal tracks in the snow encircling your house is a sign of good luck and protection
-When your cupboard doors are left opens it means that people are gossiping about you
-If a broom drops across the doorway it means that you will soon head off on a journey
-If you spill salt throw it over your left shoulder to undo any bad luck
-To keep evil spirits away chop an onion in half and place it on the window sill

Chosen tools:

Wooden spoons
Knife
Bowls
Cooking pot or cauldron
A ritual knife used to only cut spiritual ties
A Fire place
Broom
Mortar and pestle
Kettle
Jars and bottles
Sewing kit
Cook books

Spells are cast to bring:

Healing
Prosperity
Protection
Abundance
Happiness
Fertility
Harmony
Peace

Howl´s moving castle

Energy Cleansing Through Cleaning

Have you been feeling down? Too tired to get up and do things? Try these:

Vacuuming - Oh the smell of a room after it’s been vacuumed. Cleaner but also a little empty. Vacuuming is a good “lets whip the slate clean of everything”. It sucks up the energies in your home leaving it clean and blank.  After a good vacuuming is a perfect time to do some home blessings and protections!

Sweeping - Banishing! Now go go go, the broom shrieks as you brush away dirt and old leaves. Sweeping is a perfect way to banish energies. Not suck them up and get ride of them. Oh no, banish them. Forcibly remove them from your place cuz those nastiest aren’t allowed to stay around. You can also put charms on the broom so it lays down goodness as it banishes the not so good stuff.

Window Cleaning - Opening the mind to inspiration and clear thinking. Whipping away the muck from the windows allows the home to be charged and energy flow in smoothly. It also can bring in more inspiration and clearer intuition. 

Cleaning The dishes - Time to help harmony move around. Spreading love and charm with eat spoon, plate, and bowls. Allowing fulfillment of the stomach and the soul! Wipe away the muck of the day, and bring in time to for better days!

Enjoy your cleaning!

Vintagehoneybees on Tumblr

Witchery for the hearth.

-Lay thorny branches on your doorstep to drive away evil.
-Put thyme in your last meal of the day to have pleasant dreams.
-Place coins and cedar chips in a box for an easy money spell.
-The bark of the willow tree is a natural painkiller.
-Put almonds in your pocket to recover a lost object.
-Light candles throughout the house regularly.
-Sprinkle oats over your garden (especially herbs) to ensure good growth.
-Honey is a natural antibiotic and antibacterial. Got a cold sore? Put that stuff all over that. Got a cold? Eat a tablespoon every few hours.
-Place lilacs all over the house to get rid of unwanted spirits.
-Drink cranberry juice to get a good detox when in need of grounding.
-Hang dill over your door to keep people who wish ill on you out.
-Place half an onion in the room with someone who is sick to draw out disease.
-Place morning glory seeds inside your pillow to get rid of bad dreams.
-Pour salt in your bath (or shower floor if you don’t have a bath) to cleanse and ground yourself.
-Use chili peppers to break a curse.
-Plant rosemary next to your front gate or door for a little good luck.

Laundry magic

-Charm your washing machine, or your favorite machine in your building or at the laundromat.

-Put a water and heat safe object in your pocket before you put it in the laundry. You can cleanse while you clean.

-Laundromats are serious crossroads. A great place to spread or dispel.

-Use a washable marker to write a sigal on a dryer sheet.

-Or on your detergent.

-Sprinkle your detergent into the washer counter clock wise.

-Divine using the window in the dryer. 

-If you use a laundromat try divining other people’s fortunes using the window in their dryer.

-Detergent scents are based on herbs and flowers and they have great names. I use Gain for money, Tide for luck, Snuggle for love, Bounce for resilience and OxyClean for confidence.

-Always remember there is magic in the mundane.

Washing dishes

-Dip your finger in dish soap, draw a sigil in the sink, fill sink to activate sigil.

 -Sing a song or whistle while you work.

-Open the nearest window while washing dishes for double cleansing via water & air.

-Practice mindful breathing.

-Make an offering of your chore any way you choose.

-Wash your dishes by candlelight. This is super Witchy feels if you add music + wine!

-Listen to a Witchy podcast.

asf-arte from Tumblr

Domestic or hearth goddesses from various mythologies include:

European

Aitvaras in Lithuanian mythology

Berehynia (originally a river spirit, since 1991 has become a hearth goddess in Ukrainian Romantic nationalism)

Brighid, a goddess in Celtic paganism

Brownie or Urisk in Scottish folklore

Bwbachod in Welsh folklore

Cofgodas in Anglo-Saxon paganism

Domovoy in Slavic paganism

Frigg, a goddess in Norse paganism

Gabija, a goddess in Baltic paganism

Haltija, or Haldjas in Finnish paganism, Finnish folklore, and Estonian folklore.

Heinzelmännchen in German folklore

Hestia, a goddess in Greek paganism

Hob, Lubber fiend, and Puck in English folklore

Jack o' the bowl in Swiss folklore

Kobold in German folklore

Lares in ancient Roman religion

Lutin in French folklore

Matka Gabia, a goddess in Slavic paganism

Monaciello, Monachiccio, Mamucca, Lu Laùru, Aguriellu, or Mazapegol in Italian folklore

Pūķis in Latvian folklore

Tomte, or Nisse in Scandinavian folklore

Trasgu in Spanish folklore and Portuguese folklore

Vesta, a goddess of traditional Roman religion, both state and domestic

African

Bes, a god in Egyptian paganism

Ekwu, a god in Igbo Odinani

Asian

Anito in prehispanic Filipino culture.

All Gashin, the most prominent being Teoju, Seongju, Jowang, or Samshin.

Kamui Fuchi, a goddess in the Ainu folklore in Japan

Hearth God in Chinese folklore

Ông Táo in Vietnamese folklore

Tudigong in Chinese Folk Religion

Zashiki-warashi in Japanese folklore

North American

Chantico, a goddess in Aztec mythology

Witch house from Moomins

Cottage Witch Tips

For those among us who, value the simple little things we can do to keep our homes and hearths happy, healthy, and still magical!

• Make a spray of salt, water, vinegar, and herbs you associate with protection (pepper, lemon, and rosemary- and a variation of Thieves oil, if you’re interested in also cutting down on germs and such) to use when cleaning to add a magical boost to protecting your home.
• Through many of us don’t have the traditional old school hearth setup, I like to light a candle to symbolize the hearth fire burning in my home. I use this ritual to honor my gods and their presence in my home. This also helps me feel connected to the hearth fires of old and to all those who came before me, allowing me to be here.
• Timing your chores with moon cycles can be an effective way to get witchy and remember to actually do certain chores, which we all forget from time to time (no? Just me? Alright then.)
• Enchanting your throws, blankets, and miscellaneous comfy things to be loving, comforting, and reassuring for those who need it is always a nice touch.
• Making a charm for a healthy, happy, and protected home! I made a little witch ball out of a plastic Christmas ornament and some items that matched my intent and it’s been good.
• Don’t underestimate the magical nature of mundane chores. Sweeping? I like to visualize that I’m sweeping out all of the gross energy and vibes along with the grime. Vacuuming? Same deal. Airing out the house? Inviting in clear and flowing energy. As long as you make it meaningful, it is.
• If you’re into home decor, switching out wreathes and interior decorations is a good way to stay in tune with the feel of the season.
• Warding your home! This can take many forms, such as a witch ball, wind chimes, a rock guardian, or whatever else you see fit!
• Adding charged water to your cleaning supplies can really help intent and usher in the seasons. I like to use solar water with some lemon to welcome in the spring and summer and moon water with some chai spices to welcome in fall and winter. Some people like to use this method for a magical mopping scenario, I just use it for the front door.
• Laundry magic is real, y'all. Even if you don’t make your own detergent or fabric softener, you can buy scents that correspond with certain intents (citrus for joy, lavender for relaxation, etc).
• I enjoy working my crystals and plants in my home decor. Our little rock and plant friends are great for keeping a home feeling happy and healthy. They raise the energy of the home, but also make it a bit more inviting in feeling and appearance.
•Stir your food clockwise to banish negative spirits.

•When cleaning, sprinkle salt on the floor and go do something else. Come back to the salt after a while and sweep, so that all the negative energy is gone.
•Put dried rosemary in your home to purify and cleanse the space.
•Need your fridge to stop smelling bad?
Leave a saucer of baking soda on the bottom shelf to absorb odor or cut a lemon in half, stab the halves with a fork a few times, place both halves in the fridge. It will absorb all those nasty smells!

Kitchen and Cottage witch
Cottage witchcraft

Blessed be my dear darklings!