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Monday, May 25, 2020

7 Witchy Books for Spring and Summer

witch, books, reading, summer, witchy, witchy reads, occult

Spring and summer are excellent times to sit down with a book outside in the fresh air along the beach while the waves crash in the distance. With quarantine still in effect in much of the world, there isn't much to do other than reading! I've been doing a lot of reading lately and I have put together 7 witchy books to read this spring and summer. As before, each book is paired with a fabulous tea, whether it's chilled or warm. I'm sorry, but tea is for all year, not just in the fall and winter.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

1. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen- This is a fairly popular book among the witch community, just like Practical Magic. In fact, this story is very similar to Practical Magic in that it tells the story of two sisters, one who carefully manages the family home cooking delicious, magical creations from the family garden while the rebellious sister runs amuck until she ends up back home with a daughter seeking refuge. Needless to say, its a fun quick read that is sure to delight as you sit among your own garden or at the local park. 

I suggest sipping on Mother's Bouquet by Harney & Sons over ice while reading this book. It contains chamomile, rosebuds, cornflower, and orange peel, making it the perfect floral delight to accompany the story. 

2. The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw- I read this book last year and devoured it in a weekend. Ernshaw has a gift with words, so much so I could feel the cold breeze on my face and smell the salty air of Sparrow. The Wicked Deep tells the tale of the town of Sparrow that drowns three sisters accused of witchcraft around the same time as the Salem Witch Trials. The sisters subsequently return each summer, dragging unsuspecting townsfolk and tourists to their watery deaths from June 1st until the Summer Solstice. Penny, a local girl, can see these sisters and is torn between saving her love interest or herself. There are so many beautiful lines in this book, but there are three in particular that I loved beyond all others. 

"Love is an enchantress- devious and wild. It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat." 

"But magic is not always so linear. It was born from odium. From love. From revenge." 

And finally "Magic is a tricky thing. Not easily measured or metered or weighed."

It's not full of a bunch of witchcraft, but I enjoyed the story greatly. 

I suggest drinking a strong black tea with a dash of sugar and milk with this tale. Despite it occurring in the summer, you are bound to get the chills reading this one. 

3. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert- Another quick read, this fantasy meets horror story follows young Alice on her quest to find her mother who was stolen away by characters from her grandmother's cult-classic fairy tale compilation on the Hinterlands after her grandmother dies alone in her mansion known as Hazel Wood. She teams up with an unlikely classmate who is a fan of Alice's grandmother's work in an attempt to solve the mystery and bring Alice's mother home. There are some Alice In Wonderland-esque moments, but overall, unique. I will say, there is a bit of ableism in the book, but other than that I enjoyed the read. 

I suggest pairing this horror story with Peaches and Ginger Tea by Harney & Sons. The peach flavors scream of summer while the ginger has a bite that compliments this dark tale well. Drink warm or over ice. 

4. The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling- This book is the first in a series of books about fairies, but this one can easily be read on its own without thought to the other books. Despite this, the whole Chronicle of Faerie series is fantastic and all of the books are summer reads. The Hunter's Moon, however, follows Gwen and her Irish cousin Findabhair who spend the summer traveling around Ireland visiting historical faerie sites. One night Fin is stolen away by the Faerie King and Gwen must find a way to get her cousin back before its too late.

Pair this book with an Irish breakfast tea for the sake of honoring Ireland. Besides, nothing wakes up one from a night of romping with the faeries like a stout Irish breakfast tea.

5. The Tree Shepherd's Daughter by Gillian Summers- This is another book in a long series (of 7 books, actually), but again, this one can be read alone. After her mother dies tragically, Keelie Heartwood is forced to move in with her father, a woodworker in a traveling Renaissance festival. Keelie doesn't know much about her father, and her "allergy" to wood and slightly pointed ears has her wondering if it has something to do with him. She quickly realizes there is more to the fair folk than there seems, and when disaster strikes Keelie must find a way to save herself and the others. I have actually read this book more than once, as it always gets me ready to go to Renn Fest, which occurs in the spring and early summer here in Georgia. This year, however, the festival will occur in October, but I still plan to grace these pages once again. Its another YA book, but perfect for as a quick read while on vacation or over a long weekend.

I would pair this book with Pink Rose Lemonade Tea from The Tea Spot. The unique floral concoction with a hint of lemon is calming and refreshing on a hot summer day. 

6. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black- If you have never read anything from Holly Black, you definitely should. All of her books on faeries are beautiful, fun, and quick reads, perfect for spring and summer. The Darkest Part of the Forest tells the story of siblings Hazel and Ben and the boy in the glass coffin with horns and pointed ears that suddenly awakes turning the whole town of Fairfold is turned upside down. I loved all the twists and turns in this wonderful book, and the inclusivity; that the girl is the warrior and the brother the lover.

Pair this book with Wedding Tea by Harney & Sons. This is my best friend's favorite tea and always reminds me of love. The lemon and vanilla pair beautifully together while the rosebuds tie it all together. While this story is intense at times, the deep love the characters have for one another sings throughout the story, making Wedding Tea a perfect pair.

7. The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees- This is another slight horror meets fairytale. For the longest time, Rhea has been the only one to see a dense forest appear and disappear before her eyes. Each time, a scream pierces the sky, leaving Rhae feeling anxious and afraid. To the Witch, the forest is her home and a place of wishes for the children that visit her in their dreams. But suddenly, a mysterious shadowy figure appears in Rhea's attic and her mother and sisters begin going missing. Rhea's world collides with that of the Witch's and nothing is as it seems. This book takes a very serious turn on its head, leaving you screaming "WHAT?!" at the pages. Think M. Night Shamalan. Seriously.

I suggest drinking Seashore Breeze Iced Blend by Beach House Teas with this book. The unique combination of peppermint, spearmint, black tea, rosemary, ginger, hibiscus, and lemon peel will shock your tastebuds with each twist and turn of flavor, just as this tale will have your mind reeling. Plus, there is a lot of beach or beach-esque scenes in the book, making Seashore Breeze a great compliment to the story.

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And there you have it, 7 witchy books for spring and summer that are sure to get you through the warm days ahead. Is there a witchy book you enjoy reading in the spring or summer? Have a tea you think pairs well with one of these books? Let me know in the comments below!


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Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Elemental Magic: Connecting with Earth Ritual


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Now that we have covered Earth folklore and correspondences, its time to actually start working with Earth! Today I share a ritual to help you connect with Earth more intimately and start building the foundation for healing and change. There are several tasks in this post and I encourage you to perform each of them with fidelity. Before we get started, however, I'd like to discuss what I put together for the first Earth task presented two weeks ago.


The first task was to research your local ley lines. These lines are believed to be areas of power, a liminal place full of magic, and often intersect through many holy or sacred places across the world, including Stonehenge, the Gret Pyramids, and even the Great Wall of China.

There are a number of online maps that lay out where these ley lines are, but I suggested you first lookup local holy and sacred places in your area before consulting these maps. This helps you become more intimately familiar with your local area, thus helping you develop a more localized practice. I am rather close to the Etowah Indian Mounds, which are situated extremely close if not directly on a leyline running through Georgia. It's hard to tell from a map, but there aren't many scared sites in Georgia, making it difficult to completely map out the ley lines by hand. However, the Georgia Guidestones are on the same ley line as the Etowah Indian Mounds, giving me a reason to believe the mounds are close enough to be considered on a ley line. According to some maps, Stone Mountain, a large granite pluton outside of Atlanta, is also on a ley line. I used to live right at the mountain and felt a deep connection to the park. In fact, I ran through the park almost every day when I lived nearby. Its the only thing I miss about Atlanta.

Once I realized the mounds and Stone Mountain were both along ley lines, I started looking at where I have chosen to live as an adult. My current house and the one by Stone Mountain are either directly on a potential ley line or close enough to one to feel its power. I find it interesting that I was naturally drawn to these areas, and you may very well find something similar.

What were you able to find on your search?


There are a number of ways you can connect with the element Earth, but one of the best ways is to go outside and touch the Earth directly. However, I recognize not everyone can do that, so I have designed a ritual that can take place indoors or outdoors depending on your needs.

Ingredients:
  • Quiet place outside in direct connect with the Earth or a bowl of Earth (soil or salt)
  • Blanket (if you are concerned about your clothes getting dirty or ants)
  • Quartz crystal
Directions:
Begin by sitting quietly in your chosen spot, whether this be in a field, deep within a forest, or in the comfort of your own home at your altar. If possible, place your feet and/or hands flat on the ground or in the bowl of Earth. Feel the coolness of the Earth on your body. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly as the coolness slowly embraces you. Imagine roots sprouting from your feet and hands, sinking deep into the Earth. Follow these roots in your mind's eye, watching them penetrate deep into the Earth. When they stop growing, send out your energy and ask for the Earth to nurture your soul. Feel the nutrients from the soil enter into the roots you have placed and traveling through to your mind, body, and soul. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly, embracing the calming, stabilizing energy of the Earth. Continue this visualization for as long as you can, soaking up the nutrients and nourishing your spirit.

When ready, retract the roots back into your body and open your eyes. Hold the quartz crystal between your hands until you feel it warm with your energy. Once warm, blow lightly on the quartz, further infusing it with your energy. Bury the quartz in the soil nearby or in the bowl of Earth as a thank you. Thank the Earth for her loving embrace and if possible, spend some time exploring the area or sitting quietly with the Earth on your altar. Be open to receive any communication Earth may have for you. The lessons She has to teach us are different from witch to witch, so I cannot say exactly what you will experience, but know the message She has for you is important.

When you are finished, take a deep breath, thank the Earth for its time and be sure to journal about your experience. Keeping detailed notes is an integral part of any practice, and will help you keep track of your elemental magic journey should you need to come back to parts of it later. The messages you may have received during your ritual should be written down immediately and may require some research on your part.

You can repeat this ritual over and over and over again as needed. In fact, what we have done is called grounding, but it is an extremely powerful method of connecting and building a relationship with Earth. Honestly, I see no better way of developing a relationship with Earth other than to spend time in nature, touching Earth, and feeling her loving, calming embrace as often as possible. 


I love altars. I like designing them. I like looking at them. I like using them. Altars, especially when placed somewhere you frequent, are a great reminder to practice magic daily. They are also a great way to build a relationship with something, such as an element. Once you have established a connection with Earth through the ritual above, you need to continue to nurture it so it may grow and one of the best ways to do that is with an altar dedicated just to Earth.

Plan to have your altar dedicated to Earth for the next couple of weeks. How you set up your altar is completely up to you, but I encourage you to place a bowl of Earth on your altar as well as other symbols associated with Earth. Below are some ideas of items to include:
  • a bowl of dirt or salt
  • local rocks, stones, or crystals
  • pentacle or coin tarot cards
  • acorns, bark, lichen, moss, oak, honeysuckle, sage, magnolia, ivy, oak, or cedar
  • antlers
  • emerald, peridot, slate, iron, granite, quartz, tiger's eye, jet, tourmaline, moss agate, or jasper.
  • branches, flowers, and leaves
Once you have set up your altar, spend about 15 minutes a day lightly meditating about Earth and the ritual experience you had. Touch the Earth on your altar daily and feel the grounding energy it possesses. Use your crystal of choice to draw an upside-down triangle with a line through it around on the bottoms of your feet to connect with Earth more intimately. 

***

And there you have it! Let me know how things went in the comments below.

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Monday, May 18, 2020

13 Smoke-Free Ways to Cleanse Your Space and Objects

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When it comes to cleansing space, the go-to in the witchy world is almost always white sage, followed by palo santo. Both of these methods, while effective, use smoke to cleanse a space or object of stagnant energy, unwanted negativity, and unwelcome spirits which is not always an option for witches, whether it be because of pets, health issues, or housing restrictions. Thankfully, there are a number of other ways that you can cleanse your space and items that do not require smoke or flame.

1. Herbal Cleansing Spray
This form of cleansing has become increasingly popular as of late. Herbal sprays often contain essential oils from cleansing herbs in an alcohol base, but they can also be made from herbal infusions. There are a host of amazing herbal cleansing sprays on the market, or you can make your own at home using about 2 ounces of 91% isopropyl alcohol or vodka with 30 drops combined of essential oil from plants such as rosemary, sage, cedar, lavender, cinnamon, or patchouli. Please be aware that cinnamon and lavender essential oils are toxic to cats, but all other essential oils are safe for cats while all of those listed are safe for dogs. To cleanse an object or space using an herbal cleansing spray, simply spray the area with the spray. Feel free to turn this process into a ritual or combine it with visualization. (Looking for a great recipe? Solstice Sisters have an excellent High Vibration Cleansing Spray recipe on their blog!)

2. Asperging (asperges)
This is one of my favorite ways to cleanse a space that does not require smoke or candles. Asperging is the practice of cleansing a space or object using sanctified water. In the Catholic tradition, this is usually holy water, but many witches use water that has been blessed with salt. The water is then sprinkled around the space to cleanse the area, usually using a tool of some sort. You can use your fingers or an herb bundle to sprinkle the water. I prefer the use of rosemary, but cedar, sage, or lavender will also do the trick.

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3. Sound
There are a variety of sounds you can use to clear space and cleanse objects. Clapping, singing, chanting, singing bowls, bells, banging pots and pans while screaming GTFO all work. I personally prefer the last one, especially if it involved spirits of the physical kind. But in all seriousness, sound creates vibrations that stir up energy, making it easier to remove. Negativity also doesn't like positivity, so sounds that bring you happiness and joy will force the negative energy out of the space. Walk counterclockwise around your space while using your preferred sound method to cleanse the space.

4. Blowing
This is my favorite method for cleansing objects, especially crystals. When you blow, you are physically removing dust and debris from the object or space, much like you use a leafblower to remove yard waste from your lawn or driveway. However, when you use your breath to cleanse an object, you also fill the object with your energy and intent. This is why I love this method so much for crystals. Whenever I buy a new one, I hold it in my hand until it is warm then close my eyes and blow lightly, removing any lingering energy from before it came to me and infusing it with my energy, thus attuning it to my craft. 

5. Sweeping
Sweeping with a broom is also a super common way to cleanse a space, and probably one of the most useful because not only does it remove stale and negative energy, it also physically cleans the space as well. I encourage you to sweep the area using a mundane broom first to physically cleanse the space, then ritually sweep to remove energy. Be sure to do so counterclockwise (banishing) and sweep the energy out your front door. Combine this with a chant or visualization and some salt, and you got yourself a powerful cleansing ritual.

6. Sunlight
Sunlight is the ultimate cleanser, especially for objects. UV radiation kills bacteria and viruses, as well as removes unwanted energy by raising a space or objects vibration. If you are looking to cleanse a space, open windows, and use mirrors to reflect more sunlight into the space. If you are cleansing an object, place it in direct sunlight or someplace it will receive indirect light. Not all objects fair well in sunlight, so use with caution. Moonlight is also powerful, its reflected sunlight after all, and is best for crystals such as citrine and amethyst that fade in sunlight. Let them bathe in sunlight or moonlight for at least an hour, if not all day/night.

7. Crystal Grid
Crystal grids can be used for a variety of purposes, including cleansing a space. Simply create a crystal gird using cleansing crystals such as lodestone, black tourmaline, smoky quartz, and selenite. Create a pattern that speaks to you, or use sacred geometry to create your grid. Charge each of the crystals with your intent and place the grid in the space you wish to be cleansed. Allow to sit for 24 to 72 hours. You can leave the crystal grid permanently in a space, but be sure to cleanse and charge the crystals often to ensure it continues to work.

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8. Salt Bowl
Salt is a natural purifier, hence its use to preserve meats and other food longterm. It is naturally antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-negativity making it a potent cleanser. Cover an object in salt or place salt bowls around the space you wish to please. Allow to sit for 24 to 72 hours. Be careful about which objects you place in salt. Crystals with fine cracks or high moisture such as turquoise, malachite, calcite, amber, moonstone, and selenite, should not come into contact with salt. 

9. Onions
Onions, like salt, are also natural purifiers. Simply cut an onion in half and place the halves around the space you wish to cleanse. I personally wouldn't use onions to clean an object, but that's mostly because I don't want all my belongings smelling like onions...

10. Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
This is a ritual commonly used in high magic to cleanse a space, object, or person. Traditionally a dagger or athame is used, but your finger is also just as good at directing your energy. You can find a complete guide to performing the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Petagram here. For those of you looking for a more involved ritual for cleansing, this may be right up your ally.

11. Tornado Jar
Tornado jars use storm magic to cleanse and purify a space, just as tornados tear through an area allowing new life to flourish. To create a tornado jar, combine stormwater and cleansing essential oils such as lemongrass, patchouli, and tea tree with obsidian, black tourmaline, and clear quartz with a pinch of salt into a clear glass jar. Swirl the jar to create a tornado while chanting "By the power of the elements all negativity this jar shall ensnare. This house will be rid of all ill intent and evil beware. With crash of thunder and howling winds, this house is protected and those within. No more hurt or ill will remains. Happiness and love are all that may gain. By my will, the spell is done. Until I will it, it shan't be undone." Place the jar in a prominent place in your home or on your altar. Give it a swirl every once in a while to gather up any stagnant or negative energy that has settled.

12. Vinegar Steam
Vinegar is a potent preserver and remover of negativity and stagnant energy. Steam combines both Fire and Air, using the combination of these elements to cleanse a space. According to Chinese tradition, rice vinegar is boiled and the pan is carried around the house, allowing the steam to cleanse the area. This is traditionally part of a weekly cleaning regiment but can be used any time you feel the need. Furthermore, any type of vinegar will work depending on your tastes.

13. Floorwash
Floor washes, like sweeping, removes both energy and physical debris. You will want to physically clean the floors first, including washing them with your standard floor wash then finish off with a magical floor wash to remove negativity. You can see a full breakdown of my favorite magical floor wash here.


No matter how you decide to cleanse your space and objects, know that they are all equally powerful if you will it so. While there is more to spell work that just intent, intent goes a long way when it comes to cleansing a space and you don't need smoke to do it. Remember, when you are cleansing, open windows or doors to allow the negativity a way to leave. While energy can travel through walls, why not give it a designated exit? Walls also have a habit of keeping things in, even when we don't intend them too. Good luck cleansing your spaces and objects, witches!



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Thursday, May 7, 2020

Elemental Magic: A Complete Guide to Earth Folklore & Correspondences

earth magic, witchcraft, earth witch, earth folklore, earth correspondences, elemental magic

The second stop on our elemental journey is Earth, the element of stability, grounding, and steadfastness as well as fertility, rebirth, and death. It is the perfect element to work with during the spring and early summer months because it is during this time that the Earth is coming back to life and we can venture into Her depths once more. After working with Water, you likely opened some emotional doors, whether you intended to or not. Such work often requires us to ground and center, using the Earth as our loving Mother. In today's post, I will discuss the element Earth in all her glory, from her history to her correspondences to how she works with the other elements. Unlike the other elements, however, Earth has very little folklore dealing specifically with the physical Earth. Much of our Earth folklore deals with trees, plants, and individual crystals, which is not what I wish to focus on in this post. Nevertheless, I've put together as much folklore as I could for your learning pleasure!


When it comes to the Earth, much of the focus of our folklore focuses on how our planet was actually formed. These myths shed a great deal of light on our magical associations with the element Earth, especially in regards to rebirth, fertility, and death. The name Earth comes from the Norse goddess Jord, pronounces "yurdth," who was a personification of Earth. While she is not an official goddess of the Norse pantheon as she was a jotnar, it is believed she coupled with Odin to bear a son known as Thor. Jord was believed to be the life force of the planet, causing trees to fruit and seeds to sprout at her touch, thus strongly associating her with fertility, birth, and new beginnings. Her personification was adopted by a number of cultures across Europe and eventually became known as Mother Earth or Mother Nature. Greek Mythology has a similar goddess known as Gaia. According to Greek creation myths, Gaia (the Earth) emerged from Chaos. Without assistance, she bore Uranus the Sky who then fertilized her. From this union, the Titans were born of which the Gods and Goddesses were born. As such, Gaia is the personification of Earth, the mother of all life. In Roman mythology she is referred to as Terra, meaning Earth. Similar myths can be found in every culture around the world, but they all have two things in common, the Earth is usually a feminine figure associated with birth and life.

Apart from creation myths, Earth also appears as the golem. According to Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated human-like creature made of mud and clay. Through ritual work, a creature could be brought to life using clay and mud to do the life-givers bidding. Some reports say to bring the golem to life, the Hebrew equivalent of the word "shem" was written on a piece of paper and placed in the golem's mouth while other reports say "emet" which means truth was written on the forehead of the golem. To "kill" the golem the paper was removed or the last letter of the word truth was removed to turn the word into dead. In Prague, Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel brought a golem to life to protect the Prague ghetto from anti-Semitic attacks. The golem was believed to be able to communicate with and summon spirits as well as go invisible. He kept the ghetto safe for quite some time and every Friday evening, the Rabbi would remove the shem from the golem's forehead to allow it to rest without spoiling the Sabbath. However, one Friday he forgot to remove the shem and the golem went on a murderous rampage. The Rabbi managed to pull the shem from the golem's mouth in front the synagogue where the golem fell apart. Supposedly the remains of the golem are stored in the attic of genizah of the Old New Synagogue waiting to be restored should the need arise. There are many similar legends across Eastern Europe featuring golems that were originally created to protect or carry out menial tasks. However, many end in the golems becoming unruly and needing to be tricked into their demise. Either way, the creation of a golem from nothing but Earth lends to the belief that Earth is the giver of life and a protector, much like the Cherokee creation myth which suggests the Earth and all Her life was created from mud.

The rest of our Earth folklore focuses on ley lines, a grid of Earth energies that circle the globe that connect important sacred sites. In the British Isles, these lines were sometimes referred to as "fairy paths" and it was believed to be dangerous to walk along them for fear of being snatched by the fairies. In general, these lines not only connected sacred sites, but also certain hilltops in the countryside, and were liminal places between realms. We still view them as such today, recognizing the energy found among them is potent as well as liminal. Alfred Watkins, a landscape photographer, was the first the describe ley lines in 1921 when he noticed that our ancestors built and used prominent features in the landscape as navigation points and that these landmarks could be connected in straight lines. These scared sites include standing stones, such as Stonehenge, stone circles, barrows, fairy mounds, hill forts, ancient moats, pre-Reformation churches, crossroads, and prominent hilltops across the British Isles. But its not just in the British Isles that we see this. In fact, all major historical sites, such as the pyramids, line up in straight lines around the world. Watkins did not believe ley lines were magical or mystical but instead believed them to be routes that were followed by our ancestors for religious rites or trading. However, while Watkins coined the term, he wasn't the first to describe the phenomena. In 1870, William Henry Black theorized there were "grand geometrical lines across the country" that connects monuments in western Europe. While there is no scientific evidence supporting that these areas are any different from the surrounding areas, energy work and dowsing usually connect one with them quite quickly. Captain Robert Boothby and Reginald Smith of the British Museum apparently linked ley-lines with underground streams and magnetic currents using dowsing, concluding that areas where "positive" and "negative" lines crossed correspond with sacred sites. Despite the fact that many scared sites align, the biggest challenge facing ley lines is that not everyone considers the same sites holy; what one local region designates as a holy place, may not be considered holy elsewhere. This makes it difficult to plot all scared places along ley lines. Furthermore, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line and most trackways were in straight lines where possible historically so it makes sense that such sites would be aligned in a straight line. No matter what you believe, however, most find these areas to be teeming with Earth energies, using them to reinforce magical workings regarding the Earth, to amplify magic, and as a way to connect with the Otherworld.



Below is a quick correspondence guide for water, including a free printable page for your Book of Shadows!

Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus, Saturn
Time: Midnight
Season: Winter
Direction: North (although if the closest body of earth to you is a different direction, use that instead)
Tarot Cards: Pentacles, Coins
Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Symbolism: Grounding, strength, healing, success, stability, sturdiness, steadfastness, foundations, empathy, fertility, death, rebirth, wisdom, nature, animals, plants, money, prosperity,
Symbols: Rocks, plains, soil, caves, fields, stones, trees, gardens, canyons, forests
Deities: Cerridwyn, Demeter, Gaia, Terra, Jord, Ceres, Rhiannon, Persephone, Epona, Ptithivi, Pan, Herne, Cernunnos, Thoth, Adonis, Tammuz, Dionysus, Athos, Mah, Nephtys, Marduk, Athos, Arawn, Cybele, Leimarel Sidabi, Opes, Proserpina, Mat Zemlya, Pachamama, Houtu, Umay, Sif, Mother Earth, Mother Nature, Geb, Asintmah, Zemes mate, Mlande, Mlande-Ava, Nerthus, Veles, Mokosh
Nature Spirits: Gnomes, fairies, trolls, dwarves, dryads, faun
Colors: Green, brown, black, gold
Food and Drink: Beer, vodka, whiskey, bread, salt, garlic, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, nuts, rice, oats, butter
Herbs: Oak, cedar, cypress, honeysuckle, ivy, primrose, sage, grains, patchouli, nuts, magnolia, comfrey, vetivert, moss, lilac, lichen, roots, barley, alfalfa, corn, rice
Crystals and Gemstones: Emerald, peridot, amethyst, jet, tourmaline, granite, quartz, salt, jasper, azurite, onyx, bedrock, tiger's eye, rutilated quartz, fluorite, slate, lead, iron, moss agate, tree agate, coal
Animals: gopher, bear, wolf, ant, horse, stag, deer, dog, cow, bull, bison, snake, worms, moles, voles, grubs

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How does Earth work with the other elements?

Earth with Fire: Earth can be used to smother Fire, while Fire can be used to melt Earth into magma or reshape it into precious crystals.
Earth with Water: Earth is fertilized by Water, bringing it lifegiving properties for plants, while Earth can pollute Water, making it unsuitable for life. Earth also hold Water, giving it a place to reside.
Earth with Air: Earth can be eroded and carried by Air, while Earth often remains steadfast, even during the strongest winds.


Your task for the next week is to find ley lines in your area. There are many ways to do this, but I suggest you pull out an old fashioned map first and circle some historical sites of religious or spiritual importance. Use sites indigenous people found sacred, not areas colonizers picked. Indigenous people were much more in tune with the land and naturally followed these lines of power, compared to colonizers whose only goal was to tame and conquer the wild world. Once you have found some spots in your local area, see if any of them match up in a perfectly straight line. If they do, you have likely found a ley line. If not, it may be you have found spots on different ley lines. Finally, pull up a map of ley lines in your country and see if any of these maps correspond with what you found. The reason I want you to check Google last is because I am encouraging you to develop a more local practice. By learning about local history, sacred sites, and whatnot, you are slowly developing a more localized practice and becoming more in tune with the world in your area. These steps are necessary for working with the Genius Loci or spirits of place. 

Next week I will dive into how to connect more deeply with Earth using a simple yet effective ritual. I'll also share my ley line research and follow up the post later in the month with tools of Earth and finish out with Earth spells and rituals you can easily perform from home!


Interest in the rest of the series? Here's what's to come!

Elemental Magic Series

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Monday, May 4, 2020

May Flower Moon Worksheet

full moon, esbat, ritual, witchcraft, moon magic

May's Full Moon, commonly known as Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon, or Mother's Moon, is a time for transformation. The Flower Moon is strongly associated with Fire, as it usually falls around Beltane, one of the Fire festivals. The seeds planted the month prior are taking root, bringing about the change you are seeking. As such, this is the perfect Moon for magical work regarding careers and jobs, as well as for burning down blockages and barriers so you may flourish. Furthermore, this is a time of passion and fertility, again think Beltane, so magical workings related to these are also perfect.

This month's Full Moon worksheet contains the usuals of my past Full Moon worksheets, including a to release and cleanse section, a box for your intuition, and a tarot spread. Unlike past worksheets, however, this one can be used every May, as it is based on the correspondences of the moon itself and not other astrological events. The tarot spread for this month features 7 cards to help you recognize what transformation needs to occur and how do go about doing it.

full moon, esbat, ritual, witchcraft, moon magic

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