Updates

The A to Z Pagan Glossary is up. It may or may not have shown up in your feed because I test posted it a two weeks ago to get the correct links to set up the HTML of the post.

A post regarding Magic and Magick will hopefully be up later this evening. I am going to discuss the two and explain why I don't use the k.

I am going to be working on the HTML of the Herbarium page later today so if you notice it goes down for a while or looks a mess, you know why.

Just wanted to keep you guys update for those of you not following the blog on Facebook.

The A to Z Pagan Glossary

Are you new to the pagan world or confused by a word you read recently in a New Age book or on a pagan blog? This glossary is made up of a collection of popular words from the pagan world, and it's complete with short, simple definitions that you'll want to print, laminate, and stick in your BOS! Or you could just Pin It; whatever works!

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Acolyte: one who attends or assists in a ritual, service, or procession.
• Adept: a person who is skilled in magic, witchcraft, or mysticism.
• Air: one of the four (or five) elements; element of the East; associated with intuition, learning, thought, and knowledge.
• Alchemy: a branch of High Magic developed in the Middle Ages that sought to magically and/or chemically turn base metals into gold through the use of a Philosopher's Stone; also known as transmutation.
• Alexanderian: A tradition of Wicca descended from the teachings of Alex Sanders, the "King of Witches."
• Altar: a flat surface used for religious, spiritual, and magical rituals, preferably of natural material.
• Amulet: a magically charged object that deflects specific energies, usually negative, to protect the bearer.
• Angel: a spiritual being who acts as a messenger between the Divine and physical realms.
• Animal-Psi or Anpsi: psychic phenomena involving animals and humans.
• Animism: the belief that the divine is within everything.
• Anoint: to smear or rub with oil
• Arcana: the two halves of a tarot deck; divided into Major and Minor; Major consists of 22 trumps while the minor consists of 56 suit cards.
• Arcane: ancient or secret wisdom.
• Archetype: universal images and symbols commonly used to represent deities in forms that we can understand. 
• Asperger: a bundle of fresh herbs or a perforated object use to sprinkle water before, during, or after a ritual for purification purposes.
• Astral Plane: an invisible world parallel to our own often used for travel.
• Astral Projection: the process of separating your astral body from your physical one to travel in the astral plane.
• Astrology: the study of the effects of the movements and placements of planets and other heavenly bodies on human lives and behaviors; a form of divination.
• Athame: a ritual blade, usually double-edged which a black handle; it is never used to cut anything in the physical realm.
• Aura: life energy that surrounds all living things.
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B

• Balefire: a traditional bonfire held on the sabbats, especially Beltane.
• Banish: the magically send away or repel, especially negative energies or entities, from a person, home, or ritual area.
• Bell: ritual tool used to invoke directional energies, ring in the sunrise on a sabbat, stir up energies, or frighten away faeries and harmful spirits.
• Beltane: a fire festival falling on May 1st that celebrates fertility, fire, and abundance.
• Besom: witch's broom often used to sweep away negative energies from a space, as a protection symbol, or as a guard to doors cut in a magical circle.
• Bind: to magically restrain.
• Black Magic: negative magical used to harm or manipulate someone, something, or a situation; sometimes referred to has the "left-hand path." (has racist connotations. Please read Decolonizing Witchcraft)
• Blessing: the use of magic to benefit an object or being.
• Blood of the Moon: a woman's menstrual cycle which is also her most powerful time, especially if it occurs on or around the full moon or new moon.
• Boline: a white-handled knife used for practical purposes such as cutting herbs or inscribing candles.
• Book of Shadows: a book of magical workings which sometimes includes spells, rituals, and magical lore; also know as a BOS. See grimoire.
• Burning Times: a reference to a period during the Middle Ages when many people were executed by the church or by public officials for supposedly practicing witchcraft. Some estimates state as many as nine million people were killed while others offer more conservative numbers. By the end of the period, it became a favored means for officials, neighbors, and families to get rid of personal enemies or any unwanted person in the community, especially powerful women.
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C

• Candlemas: another name for Imbolc; the first of the fire festivals falling on or around Feruary 1st to usher in spring.
• Call: to invoke divine forces as in calling quarters.
• Cardinal Points/Directions: North, South, East, and West.
• Cartomancy: divination through the use of cards. See tarot cards.
• Cauldron: a three-legged post, often of cast iron, used to cook potions, for scrying, and as a censure; symbolizes rebirth and the Goddess.
• Censor: a heat-proof container used to burn incense; associated with element Air.
• Ceremonial Magic: school or method of magical that places emphasis on long, complex rituals; often referred to as ritualism.
• Chakras: the seven psychic centers of power associated with different parts of the body in the Tantric system of anatomy; often associated with a color. This is a Hindu practice and is closed to those outside the culture.
• Chalice: a cup used in rituals to represent water and the feminine principles of creation.
• Channeling: a New Age word for mediumship; involved allowing a spirit or entity to speak through the individual.
• Charge, To: to infuse an object with personal power.
• Charm: an object that has been charged with power for a specific task by saying an incantation over it.
• Circle: a sacred place in which a ritual or magical workings takes place; also used to describe a group of witches or Pagans who work together in an informal way.
• Clairvoyance: the faculty of perceiving things and/or events in the future.
• Cleansing: the process of removing negative or unwanted energies from an object, person, or place; can be accomplished through a variety of means such as burning sage or sweeping with a besom.
• Cone of Power: psychic energy raised and focused by an individual or group mind to perform a specific task or to achieve a purpose. 
• Consecration: the act of cleansing, blessing, and charging an object or place with positive energy. 
• Correspondences: sets of ideas, concepts, and beliefs about objects, sabbats, plants, animals, or colors.
• Coven: a group of thirteen or fewer witches who work together in an organized fashion to perform magical workings and religious ceremonies.
• Covenstead: the place a coven meets.
• Craft, The: a old term used by Freemasons to refer to their activities and beliefs; currently used by Neo-Pagans and modern Witches to refer to their activities and beliefs. See witchcraft.
• Crone: aspect of the Goddess represented by an old woman; associated with wisdom, waning moon, crow, black, Mabon, and Samhain.
• Crystal: stones associated with various properties used to enhance magical workings. See gemstones.
• Cult: a system of religious devotion toward a particular figure or object; often used negatively.
• Curse: magical spell to harm an object or being.
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D

• Daemon: a spirit or being below the Gods in power.
• Dagger: ritual knife used to sever psychic bonds, cursing, initiating, and exorcising.
• Damping: lowering the power level of psychic energy fields.
• Dedication: a ritual in which a witch dedicates his- or herself to the craft and vows to study and learn all that is necessary to reach adeptship. 
• Deity: a god or goddess.
• Demon: a personification of evil; an entity of an evil and destructive nature.
• Demonology: Medieval science of studying demons.
• Deosil: clockwise direction; symbolic of life and positive energy and magic. Pronounces jostle.
• Divination: the magical art of using tools and symbols to find hidden information about the past, present, or future; often uses psychic talents. See runes and tarot cards.
• Dowsing: a technique of using a rod or pendulum to find underground water, minerals, or anything invisible; can be used to magically find a person, place, thing of element.
• Drawing Down The Moon: a ritual performed during the full moon to empower oneself with the moon's essence.
• Drawing Down The Sun: a lesser-known and lesser-used ritual performed to empower oneself with the sun's essence.
• Druid: a person who practices druidism; derives from drui which means "oak" and "solid and true;" modern day druids follow ancient and contemporary wisdom; have a reverence for nature, especially oak trees, knowledge of astrology and divination, shamanic journeying, and healing.
• Dualism: a religious doctrine stating all spiritual forces are split in two.
• Duotheism: style of religion in which there are two deities, usually of opposite gender.
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E

• Earth: one of the five (or six) elements associated with stability, wisdom, knowledge, strength, growth, prosperity, and North.
• Earthing: connecting with the Earth's natural energy, usually through the feet. See grounding.
• Earth Magic: a form of magic which draws on the powers of the Earth.
• Earth-Mother: female personification of the life force of the Earth. See Gaia.
• Eclectic Witch: an all-purpose term applied to Wiccan and witchcraft traditions that don't fit into any specific category; usually pull from a variety of traditions, making the craft their own.
• Elementals: personification of the elements. See gnome, undine, sylph, and salamander.
• Elements, The: earth, air, water, fire, and spirit.
• Empath: a person with the ability of apprehend the mental and emotional state of another individual.
• Enchantment: the state of being under a spell.
• Entity: a being, spirit, or living creature or its personification.
• Ethics: a part of philosophy dealing with matters of "right" vs "wrong."
• Esbat: a ritual performed on the full or new moon.
• Evocation: to call something out from within.
• Exorcism: severing an unwanted psychic connection within an object, person, or place; dismissal of an unwanted spirit, demon, or ghost.
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F

• Fairy or Faerie: a small being of human form with magical powers; may be invisible or visible.
• Faerie Burgh: a mound of earth that covers a faerie colony's home.
• Familiar: an animal that has a spiritual bond with a witch; may be on physical or astral plane.
• Fates: the three goddesses who preside over the birth, life, and death of humans.
• Fire: one of the five (or six) elements associated with the west, creativity, destruction, and power.
• Folk Magic: the magical practice of projecting person power and energies into natural objects to bring about desired changes.
• Folklore: traditional sayings, stories, faerie tales, or cures with a particular locale.
• Folktale: a story handed down among a people.
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G

• Gaia/Gaea: the personification of Mother Earth. See Earth Mother.
• Gemstone: stones associated with various properties used to enhance magical workings. See crystal.
• Ghost: spirit of a dead animal or person existing in a nonphysical manner.
• God/Goddess: masculine/feminine aspect of a deity.
• Gnome: an earth elemental; correspond with the direction North; insure the stability of Earth and offer a rooting or grounding quality when called upon. See earth.
• Green Man: another name for the God; often represented as a face surrounded by or made of leaves; associated with fertility.
• Green Witch: nature-based and earth-oriented form of witchcraft which draws on folklore, folk religion and folk magic.
• Grey Magic: magic that is neither black nor white; morally neutral; not performed for specific beneficial or hostile reasons.
• Grimoire: a compilation of spells, ritual information, formulae, correspondences, history, and all other magical information; does not contain journal entries or outlines of magical workings.
• Grounding: the process of centering one's self with the Earth before and after magical workings, rituals, or astral experiences.
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H

• Hag Stone: stones containing a naturally occurring hole; believed to provide protection against diseases and evil.
• Handfasting: a Pagan wedding.
• Hearth: a fire place and the surrounding area; symbol of one's home.
• Hearth Witch: a witch who performs magic in and around the home, usually centered around the hearth and kitchen; often healers.
• Heathenism: a Pagan religion focused on Germanic beliefs, usually Norse, with the basic premise that everything spiritual is also practical.
• Hedge Witch: a form of earth-based witchcraft that is shamanistic in nature; the main function for a hedge witch is to be a mediator between the spirits and people; commonly referred to as wise man or wise woman; often healers.
• Herbalism: the study and use of plants for medicinal and magical purposes.
• Horned God: one personification of the God; not to be confused with Satan or the Devil. see god.
• Horoscope: a forecast of a person's future and their character based on the relative positions of the planets and stars at the time of the person's birth.
• Hypnosis: an altered state of consciousness where one's bodily and sensory control, suggestibility, and the ability to concentrate are increased. See mesmerism.
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I

• Imbolc: the first of the fire festivals using sympathetic magic to usher in spring. See Candlemas.
• Incantation: words used during a ritual or spell that are chanted or sung.
• Incense: ritual burning of herbs or oil during magical workings or rituals to better help the witch(es) attune with the goal of the working.
• Initiation: the process of being introduced and admitted into a coven; usually done as a ritual.
• Invocation/Invoke: summoning of a deity or supernatural force, usually in ritual form; to call energies into one's self.
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J

• Jewitch: a term coined by some pagans of Jewish descent who are seeking the pagan roots of Judaism.
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K

• Karma: the Hindu belief that one's thoughts and deeds are counted for or against them or added to their spiritual path across multiple lifetimes. Similar to the Threefold Law.
• Kitchen (Cottage) Witch: a witch working in or around the home to bring peace and harmony to them and their families; usually healers; focus on magical workings in the kitchen, especially regarding food. See Hearth Witch.
• Kettle: a vessel used for boiling liquids or cooking food.
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L

• Lady: another name for the Goddess. See Goddess.
• Lammas: the first of the three harvest festivals falling on August 1st; a celebration of the harvesting of grains; fresh bread is baked and blessed from the first harvest of wheat. See Lughnasadh.
• Litha: a festival held on Midsummer when the sun is strongest; honors the Sun, strength, and vitality. See Midsummer.
• Lord: another name for the God. See God.
• Lughnasadh: See Lammas
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M

• Mabon: a mid-harvest festival honoring the changing seasons and the second harvest; often referred to the pagan "Thanksgiving."
• Mage: a general term for anyone performing magic. See magus.
• Magi: Zoroastrian priests; powerful magicians.
• Magic(k): the projection of energies to bring about a change using focused will and emotion.
• Magic Circle: a sphere constructed of personal power around a witch or coven in which magical workings are performed; protects the witch(es) from outside forces.
• Magician: general term for someone performing magic.
• Magos: the Greek word for "magi."
• Magus: singular form of "magi."
• Maiden: the first aspect of the Triple Goddess; symbolizes new beginnings and creation.
• Mantra: sounds used for as an associational device or to induce trance.
• May Pole: a phallus symbol of Beltane; often danced around on Beltane.
• Meditation: a mental exercise such as  reflection or contemplation for the purpose of reaching a heightened spiritual awareness.
• Medium: a psychic who is able to communicate with various spirits.
• Mesmerism: a form of telepathic interaction which consists of suggestions backed by the insistent power of the sender; Charles Dickens was also famous for practicing mesmerism.
• Mesopaganism or Meso-Paganism: a general term for a moment that started as a way to revive what their founders believed to be the best aspects of ancient pagan ways.
• Midsummer: see Litha.
• Monotheism: a style of religion following only one deity.
• Mother: the second aspect of the Triple Goddess which symbolizes motherhood and fertility.
• Mundane: worldly, ordinary, common, or simple; often refers to the physical plane.
• Mystic: one who practices mysticism.
• Mysticism: the belief that one can directly connect with a deity or truth through meditation and intuition.
• Myth: lore about any land or peoples that makes up their mythology.
• Mythology: a collection of myths.
• Mythos: a myth or mythology; a set of beliefs or assumptions about something.
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N

• Necromancer: a magician who specializes in summoning spirits of the dead.
• Neo-Paganism: a modern religious movement that incorporates beliefs and ritual practices from traditions outside the mainstream (pagan sources).
• New Age: the mixing of metaphysical practices with a structured religion such as Wicca.
• Nine Herbs Charm: an old English charm used to treat poison and infection; one of only two Old English mentions of the herb Woden.
• Numerology: divination through the use of numbers and numerical values of letters.
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O

• Occult: "hidden;" applied to a range of beliefs and activities that are outside mainstream religions and philosophies; can refer to anything secret, magical, or supernatural.
• Old Religion: a name for Paganism that pre-dates Christianity; sometimes used as another name for Wicca.
• Oracle: a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice and prophecy is sought.
• Ouija Board: a board containing letters, numbers, and the words yes and no which is used for divination and speaking with supernatural beings.
• Out of Body Experience: one's consciousness being outside one's physical body as during astral projection.
• Ostara: a festival on the Vernal Equinox to celebrate spring, new life, and sexuality.
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P

• Pagan: general term for follower of magical, shamanistic, and polytheistic Earth-based religions.
• Paganism: a term used to describe religious and spiritual practices that are not Christian, Judaic, or Islamic.
• Paganing: when a baby is presented to the God and Goddess and given a craft name; at the age of 13 the child can choose their own name.
• Paleopaganism: general term for the nature-based faiths of tribal Europe, Africa, Asia, America, Oceania, and Australia.
• Palmistry: divination using the folds and other features of the hands; palm reading.
• Pantheism: belief in many deities as simply aspects of a single source.
• Pantheon: a collection or group of deities in a particular religious structure.
• Paranormal: supernatural or unusual.
• Pendulum: any small object on a string use in divination.
• Pentacle: a pentagram surrounded by a circle.
• Pentagram: a five-pointed star representing the four (or five) elements; used in magical workings for a variety of purposes.
• Polytheism: belief in the existence of many unrelated deities and lesser beings.
• Poppet: anthropomorphic (human-like) dolls representing a particular person in magical workings.
• Priest or Priestess: a cleric who is a leader of a given religion, cult, or coven.
• Projective Hand:  generally your dominant hand; hand from which personal power is sent from the body; the hand in which tools such as a wand or athame is held.
• Prophet: a person who speaks for a deity.
• Psychic: see Medium.
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Q

• Quarters: the four corners and/or watchtowers in a magical circle.
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R

• Receptive Hand: the hand through which energy is received into the body; usually the opposite of the dominant hand.
• Rede: the basic tenet of witchcraft according to Wiccas; "An it harm none, do what thou will."
• Reincarnation: the belief that one has lived before in another lifetime and will continue to live again after physical death.
• Ritual: an ordered sequence of events, actions, and directed thoughts designed to produce an altered state of consciousness or bring about a desired change.
• Runes: a set of symbols that are used in divination and magical workings.
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S

• Sabbat: one of the eight festivals celebrated by witches. Include Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Mabon, and Lammas.
• Salamander: elemental of fire; associated with the direction south, energy, passion, and power.
• Samhain: the pagan new year; celebrated on October 31; a time for honoring the dead and the Crone; final harvest festival.
• Scry, To: to gaze into an object to still the conscious mind and contact the physic mind.
• Scrying: a form of divination in which one gazes into an object until visions appear.
• Seer: one who can see the hidden.
• Shaman: a medicine person and medium who uses astral projection to enter the spirit world; represents the human world in the spirit world.
• Shamanism: the practice of shamans; usually ritualistic or magical. This is considered a closed practice.
• Sigil: a magically oriented seal, sign, or glyph used in magical workings.
• Skyclad: the act of performing magical workings or rituals in the nude.
• Smudging: a traditional Native American method of burning sacred herbs to produce a smoke cloud to cleanse and purify prior to a ritual or healing; not to be confused with smoke cleansing used by most witches. This is a closed practice!
• Sol: another word for sun.
• Solitary: a pagan who works and/or worships alone.
• Solstice: the two times of the year when the sun reaches an extreme northward or southward motion; June 21-22 and December 21-22.
• Sorcerer or Sorceress: term used to describe a man or woman who uses magic.
• Spell: a magical ritual often accompanied by spoken words; does not have to be religious in nature.
• Spiritualism: a religion based on the belief in life after death; usually use mediums to contact the dead.
• Sprites: disembodied spirits, elves, daemons, or dairies; often associated with sylphs. See sylph.
• Staff: a ritual tool corresponding to the wand or athame.
• Summerland: the pagan/Wiccan "heaven;" land of the dead.
• Supernatural: rare, unusual, or different; paranormal in nature.
• Sword: symbol of the element air; used for directing energies and for severing psychic bonds or links.
• Sylph: air elemental; associated with the East, knowledge, intelligence, and communication.
• Sympathetic Magic: the concept of like attracts like; the most common way spells are cast.
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T

• Talisman: an object charged with personal power to attract a specific energy or outcome to the wearer; not to be confused with an amulet.
• Tarot Cards: a set of 78 cards that feature pictures and symbols used for divination.
• Theology: the study of religion; concerns the nature of the deity and the deity's relation to the world.
• Threefold Law: a Wiccan karmic principle that energy released, both negative and positive, will return to the original source three times over.
• Tomte: a Scandinavian house gnome or elf with a long beard, conical red cap, and no taller than three feet; protects their family's estate, including property, animals, and house; loves honey and milk.
• Totem: a natural object or animal that has a spiritual significance to an individual or group and is adopted as an emblem.
• Tradition: any various sects of Wicca, witchcraft, or paganism.
• Trance: an altered state of consciousness, usually undertaken to connect with the astral or spiritual plane.
• Triple Goddess: one goddess in all of her three aspects. See Maiden, Mother, and Crone.
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U

• Undine: water elemental; associated with west, emotions, and purification.
• Universe: all existing matter and space.
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V

• Vampire: a person who is undead and survives through the eating of blood.
• Vibration: oscillation of a fluid or energy given off by all natural objects, living and nonliving.
• Vision Quest: using astral projection or bi-location to accomplish a specific goal.
• Visualization: the process of forming mental images; used in the craft to increase personal power, direct energy, and set a goal for a spell or ritual.
• Voodoo: a religion practiced in the Caribbean and southern United States which combines elements of Roman Catholic ritual and African witchcraft; characterized by sorcery and spirit possession. This is a closed practice.
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W

• Wand: a ritual tool used for directing energy; representative of fire in some traditions.
• Warlock: a derogatory term referring to a male witch; translates to "oath-breaker" or "liar;" arose during the Burning Times.
• Water: one of the four (of five) elements; associated with the direction west, purification, intuition, compassion, and emotions.
• Web Weaving: networking with other witches and pagans through conversations, emails, blogs, message boards, etc to gather information and assist each other.
• Wheel of the Year: full cycle of the seasonal year.
• White Magic: magic performed with "good" intentions; benefit the parties involved and do not bring harm to others. (has racist connotations. Please read Decolonizing Witchcraft)
• Wicca: a modern Pagan religion with spiritual roots in nature; belief in and worship of the God and Goddess; practice witchcraft; very ritualistic; believe in Threefold Law,
• Widdershins: counter-clockwise motion; used for negative magical purposes such as dispersing negative energies or banishing.
• Witch: one who practices witchcraft; describes both male and female practitioners.
• Witchcraft: the craft of a witch; uses magic in conjunction with personal power and the energies of stones, herbs, colors, etc, to bring around a desired change; not associated with Satanism; not a religion but a practice.
• Witch Doctor: a medicine man/woman or shaman who uses magic to heal, divine, and protection others from "evil."
• Wizard: derives from "wys-ard" which means "wise one;" originally referred to someone who was wise; sometimes used to refer to a male who practices magic.
• Wyrd: concept of fate or personal destiny in Anglo-Saxon culture; modern English word for weird.
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X

• X: a placeholder; a magical symbol used in place of an unknown or secretive object.
• Xenophobia: a fear of what is new, different, or strange.
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Y

• Yin-Yang: Chinese symbol representing polarity and the connectedness between opposites.
• Yule: festival held on the Winter Solstice (shortest day of the year) to celebrate the birth of the God, the coming of light, and the Holly King.
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Z

• Zen: Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the value of meditation and intuition; total state of focus that incorporates a togetherness of mind and body; peacefulness.
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And there you have it! This list should cover most, if not all, of the terms you may find confusing or difficult while learning about witchcraft and paganism. If there is a definition you feel is incorrect or needs clarity, please let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or via email. Furthermore, if there is a word you don't see on the list that you are confused about or you feel is important for beginner witches to know, please also contact me via the comments, Facebook, or email.

I hope this has been enlightening and helps you progress in your craft.

10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have

While you don't need any tools, herbs, or crystals to perform witchcraft, there are some crystals that can enhance your spells and rituals greatly. There are hundreds of crystals out there to choose from, so how do you figure out which ones you should keep on hand? Lucky for you, I have done the heavy lifting. Below is a list of 10 crystals every witch should have. Some of the crystals come with suggested alternatives, so if you are unable to find one of the crystals or you find the crystal doesn't resonate with you, feel free to grab the alternative instead.

Clear Quartz: This is an absolute MUST-have for any witch. If you are only going to have one crystal, this is the one to have. Quartz is the most versatile of crystals, and it is able to do just about everything you need. It boosts the powers of other materials like herbs and other crystals, focuses and directs energy, especially quartz points, and can be used for protection balancing, meditation, and dispelling negative energy.

Citrine: Citrine is a yellow/orange variety of quartz and, like clear quartz, is very powerful. It is second on my list because it is well-known for its cleansing ability and can be used to cleanse you, your magical tools, other crystals, or even to diffuse a situation or disturbance in your home such as nightmares. Furthermore, it can be used to enhance psychic ability, making it a great companion to divination. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Yellow or Orange Calcite

Rose Quartz: Ah, another quartz crystal! As I said, quartz is the most versatile of crystals, making it a witch's greatest companion. As the name suggests, this quartz crystal has a rose or red hue, making it perfect for spells and rituals involving emotions, especially love. Use it to attract romance, affection, and friendship, bring soothing, healing energy to your home, diffuse situations, and bring peace to those fighting or suffering a great loss. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Pearl or Ruby

Amethyst: Okay, I promise this is the last of the quartz crystals. Amethyst is a light to dark purple variety of quartz and because of its color, it is great for use in magical workings. It helps deepen meditation, improves psychic ability, and aids in the remembrance of dreams. Wearing the crystal or placing it on your nightstand or altar will produce the greatest effect. If you have deities in your craft, it also makes a great offering, especially in cracked geode form. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Lapis lazuli or Moonstone

Amber: Amber is not technically a crystal, but instead fossilized tree sap. Of course, I would put a fossil on the list, and honestly, I would have put more, but I picked the crystals that pack the most bang for their buck for this list. Amber is highly prized among witches, partly because of its association with the Sun and partly because of the amount of work that is required of the Earth to make it. Most people only associate amber with the Sun due to its yellow and orange color. One legend suggests amber to be the tears of the Sun, but if you know how amber is made you will find it has a deep connection with the Earth as well. Being blessed by both the Earth and the Sun makes this crystal an extremely powerful protection gem. I'd venture to say it is more powerful than quartz when it comes to protection. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Clear Quartz or Garnet

Malachite: Known for its deep emerald hues, malachite is perfect for prosperity magic. It is also a great crystal for protection, supposedly warding off evil and allowing the bearer to sense danger to come. It is also due to the green hues that many witches, especially green witches, use it in grounding rituals or spells. There are plenty of green crystals you can use, but I personally find malachite to be one of the prettiest out there. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Green Agate or Aventurine.

Obsidian: This glass-like, black crystal is sacred to Hecate, the goddess of witches, and a favorite crystal for scrying mirrors. It can also be used for protection, boosting strength, and breaking down obstacles due to its volcanic origins. Being black, you can also use it in banishing magic. Since this crystal is sacred to Hectate, I couldn't leave it off the list, although I don't use my obsidian crystal often. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Onyx

Tiger's Eye: "It's the eye of the tiger; it's the thrill of the fight; risin' up to the challenge, of our
rival." Yes, I just quoted Survivor, but it is perfect for this stone. Tiger's eye, which gets its name of the bands from the gold in a base of brown, is used for strength, courage, good fortune, and boosting self-confidence. Roman soldiers used to carry it in their pockets when they went off to battle. Whenever I do something new that makes me uncomfortable, I carry my Tiger's Eye with me. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Onyx or Bloodstone

Bloodstone: Well, as its name suggests, this crystal is associated with health, especially in regard to blood. However, the crystal is green with red flecks, not red as you may have guessed. It is also a great stone for protection, good luck, success, and courage like the Tiger's Eye. I added this one to the list because it is great for female witches if you know what I mean. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Tiger's Eye or Red Coral

Moonstone: This crystal is milky white in color and ruled by the Moon. Like amethyst, it aids in dream recall and increases intuition. It also calms emotions, like rose quartz, and benefits women's health like bloodstone. I added this one to the list because I have crystals from the Sun and Earth, and you can't leave out the Moon in witchcraft. This is a great crystal to use in place of amethyst, rose quartz, and bloodstone if your budget is tight or you don't have a place to store so many crystals. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Opal

So that is my list of 10 crystals I think every witch should have. Did I leave off a crystal you use often? Disagree with something on my list? Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments!

Dollar Store Witchcraft

Witchcraft doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, many things you need you can make, grow, or buy cheaply at your local Dollar Store (Dollar Tree in my area). The trick is to know your way around your local Dollar Store and if the item is really worth the low price of a dollar.

For your convenience, I visited my local Dollar Tree and complied a list of 13 items you can pick up to use in your craft.

1. Candles & Candle Holder: There is an ever changing variety of candles you can pick up at the Dollar Tree. However, there are some staple candles they always have in stock. You can always find red and white taper candles, like those featured in the DIY Candle Wheel. There are also boxes and even bags of tea lights. I use tea lights all the time for spells as they burn quickly so I don't have to snuff them to finish a spell. They usually burn out by the time I am done. There are also a variety of candle holders so you needn't worry about what you will place your candles in when you get home.

2. Scented Oil & Oil Warms: The selection is usually small, but you can always find at least one or two scented oils and oil warmers.You can use the oils to anoint your candles, statues, or stones, or simply warm them in your oil warmer. I actually purchased a burner to burn my charcoal in and it works perfectly. DO NOT use these scented oils to anoint yourself. You will need anointing oil or essential oils safe for use on your skin for that.

3. Stones: Looking to make your own runes and don't have a local river or lake near by to collect some river rocks? Not to worry! You're local Dollar Store has plenty to choose from. Use them to make runes, place on your altar, fill vases, or create other witchy works of art.

4. Seasonal Items: The Dollar Tree always has a variety of flowers you can choose from no matter what the time of year, but around the holidays they stock a number of seasonal items you can use to adorn your altar. Figurines of cupids for Imbolc, rabbits for Ostara, suns and wind chimes for Beltane and Litha, wheat or corn for Mabon and Lammas, pumpkins for Samhain, and Yule trees and logs for Yule. They also stock up on seasonal foods and drinks you can use as offerings as well as seasonal floral decorations to place on your altar or around your home. Around Yule they have a number of bells you can choose from for ritual and spell work.

5. Matches & Lighters: A witch can never have too many matches and lighters. They range in size from small to long depending on your needs. It is always a good idea to have a mix, especially if you want to minimize your chances of getting burned!

6. Herbs: The Dollar Tree carries a small assortment of herbs and spices, but not all of them are a steal. Check your local grocery and compare prices. I've been able to purchase organic Basil on sale for cheaper than the Dollar Tree. However, they are generally cheaper here if you are not growing and drying them yourself. They usually have basil, oregano, garlic powder (sometimes minced garlic), and pepper.

7. Sea Salt & Epsom Salt: What witch doesn't use salt? Representing Earth, salt is needed in a variety of rituals and spells as well as in cleansing baths. You can pick up plenty of sea salt for rituals and spells and Epsom salt cheaply at the Dollar Tree. They even carry lavender scented Epsom salt to increase the potency of your cleansing bath prior to a ritual.

8. Glass Jars, Small Bowls, & Trays: From jars and vases to bowls and trays, the Dollar Tree has just about everything you need for storage and offering dishes. Use the vases to hold your flowers or stones, the glass jars for spell work, and the small bowls and trays as offering dishes. Depending on the time you year, you may even find some decorated for the holiday season!

9. Incense & Incense Burners: Most Dollar Trees now carry incense cones, sticks, and burners. The variety is generally limited, but depending on the time year they can have a greater variety. Incense are a must for any witch's cabinet as they are often used to represent Air and sometimes Air and Fire together.  I purchased a new wooden incense burner there just yesterday.

10. Scrying Mirrors: If you are into divination, why not pick up a mirror or two to create your very own scrying mirror? They have small framed mirrors and the "candle holder" mirrors featured below. Depending on your needs, this is a great place to pick them up to make your own!

11. "Chalice": Chalice is in quotes because 1) they are really just drinking glasses and 2) I'd like you to be aware of where the glass comes from. Due to recent scares, glass from China may contain lead. The Dollar Tree gets many of their products from China so keep an eye out. If you are not going to be using these for consumption, then go right ahead and pick some up! You can decorate them in any way you please while others come decorated for the seasons. They make great offering chalices for your altar or during ritual use.

12. Picture Frames: Want to place that picture of the God or Goddess or some pictures of you ancestors on your altar, but don't have the right frame? Have no fear! The Dollar Tree has you covered. They carry a variety of ever changing picture frames throughout the year ranging from small to printer paper size. These are great for decorating yourself. Place printed or drawn pictures of the deities, your ancestors, or the spell or ritual you are performing in the frams to keep them from getting wet or catching on fire during spell work and rituals.

13. Journals for Grimoires or BOS's: Sometimes you will get lucky and find a really great journal you can use as a Grimoire or BOS. Looking for a binder? They have those too. Most of the time the journals and binders are plain, allowing you to decorate them in anyway you see fit. A word of caution: some are not that high a quality and for the amount of use they will see, make sure you get something that will hold up!

And there you have it! Thirteen items you can pick up at the Dollar Store for all your witchcraft needs. You needn't spend hundreds of dollars to decorate your altar, cast a spell, or work a ritual. In fact, you don't really need any of these items to work magic. Remember, the magic comes from within you, the witch. All the other items simply enhance your magical workings and help you focus your mind on your intention.

Are there any items I did not mention that you pick up at the Dollar Store to aid in your witchcraft? Let me know in the comments and happy witchcrafting to you all!