Magical Properties of Garnet

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Book Review: The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers by Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano

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. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I find nothing quite as fascinating as plant folklore. I've always been strongly attracted to plants, the energy they carry, and the spirits that reside in them. When I was asked if I wanted to review a copy of The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: 26 Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias by Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

This hardcover book is absolutely stunning. Each page is fully illustrated by Ottaviano, creating a sort of herbal grimoire. It's so beautiful that I would place this book on a coffee table to proudly display rather than out of sight on a bookshelf. Furthermore, the pages are bogged down with tons of information, making it a quick read and this enjoyable for guests looking for something to occupy their time during a visit. Don't let this shortness of the information deter you, however, for what is there excellent and well worth the read.

The book begins with a basic introduction to green witchcraft, including tools and supplies and ten ways to begin your green witch journey. The list encourages basic witchy practices like researching, creating a grimoire, grounding, and meditation, all great practices for beginner and expert witches alike. Sometimes the seasoned witch needs to be reminded of the basics. The book then moves on to cover 26 plants and flowers for magic and love including their magical uses, spells, rituals, and recipes for each. While the book is geared toward love spells, Young makes it clear in the introduction you don't have to have a love interest in mind to practice the spells in this book. It's okay to love yourself and use these spells, rituals, and recipes for healing. Furthermore, all the spells, rituals, and recipes are completely vegan and cruelty-free, which I greatly appreciate.

For each plant, there is a brief overview of its history and folklore, a "2 Green Witches Sayeth" which is reminiscent of old wives' tale rhymes, a spell or two, a recipe (if edible), magical properties, magical mindfulness tip, growing recommendations, and a "Did You Know?" fact. Despite its small size, this book of full of excellent information, including new recipes and spells I am interested to try. I even learned something new with several of the "Did You Know?" facts and have some new ideas for magical mindfulness I wish to incorporate into my own practice. I am most looking forward to trying my hand at Queen Anne lace jelly and the strawberry tart.

The book ends with a dinner-for-two menu which I am 100% on board with trying, especially the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and truffle oil (chef's kiss), additional plants for love magic not mentioned earlier in the book, and even how to break a love spell. I think this last part is an extremely important and often overlooked aspect of magic. What happens when you want to break the spell, especially if it's started going sideways? I appreciate Young and Ottaviano covering this crucial detail.

While I overall greatly enjoyed the book, there were a few things I didn't like. In "What is Green Witchcraft?" Young suggests that magic is only used for good and positivity. I highly disagree with this. While it certainly doesn't seek to harm the environment and the natural world, green witchcraft is often used to fight oppressive systems. The idea that everything is good and positive wreaks of Wicca, not witchcraft. I also hate how short this book is and how small it is. I would love for this book to be larger, cover those plants mentioned at the back of the book, and may go into a little more detail, but I understand this is an overview and not an encyclopedia. Honestly, I would love for Young and Ottaviano to write another book or two on plants and flowers for protection, abundance, etc to add to this stunning book. Maybe create a whole collection?

I recommend The Green Witch's Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers: 26 Love Spells from Apples to Zinnias by Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano for anyone looking for some new spells, rituals, and recipes for love. It's a beautifully illustrated, enlightening guide to 26 commonly used plants and flowers every green witch needs.

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Litha/Midsummer Solstice Altar 2023

The Midsummer Solstice or Litha is a time of celebrating the Sun in all His glory. Being the longest day of the year, this is the time full of strength and power of the Sun, which will begin to wane from this night forward. The Summer Solstice has long been celebrated by our ancestors with bonfires, feasts, festivals, and more. It's a time of reds, oranges, and yellows, as well as a time of fertility, bountiful harvests, marriages, and births. At this point, many of the first crops are coming in strong. Here in Georgia, we get the first of the summer squash, blueberries, blackberries, watermelons, peaches, tomatoes, and even corn. My wild blackberry bushes are full of juicy, ripe berries and Tony and I plan on venturing to the park this week to pick as many as we can to make jams, cobblers, and more. With these themes in mind, I put together this year's altar, honoring the Sun and the life He brings to the fields, especially my little garden in my backyard.

1. Sun Wheel- I put this sun wheel on my Midsummer Solstice altar every year. It's one of my favorite crafts I've done over the years and it was so simple and easy to make. It represents the Sun, which is most prominent on the Summer Solstice, masculine energy, light, and fertility. Being that the summer solstice is the longest day of the year, it is only fitting to represent the Sun in all His strength. Sun wheels were commonly created by our ancestors as a form of sympathetic magic by helping the Sun remain strong through the rest of the growing season, which was needed to ensure a bountiful crop to make it through the darkest and coldest months of the year. (Where did I get it: I made it; Cost: Under $5)

2. Grapevine- Around my shed, I have a wild grapevine taking over. Every other year I have to cut it way back and this year is one of those years. They make a perfect addition to this altar, representing abundance, fertility, and growth. Grapevines are also said to attract the Fae, which are known to make an appearance during midsummer celebrations. (Where did I get it: My Garden; Cost: Free)

3. Yellow Candles in Holders- I went with yellow candles this year to represent the Sun, strength, warmth, happiness, and creativity. Midsummer is a time to celebrate, a joyful occasion, and one that encourages creativity and frivolity. The flame is a sympathetic form of magic to encourage the Sun's strength while also representing His energies on this altar. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree 2019 & Amazon; Cost: $4)

4. Cicadas- Cicadas are associated with transformation, renewal, growth, and immortality. Their song is a staple here in Georgia during the summer, with some years being so loud it's hard to sleep. While this year is much quieter (last year was a 17-year cycle), there are still plenty making their presence known to the world. I collected these gorgeous specimens, one male and one female, last year. They represent not only the aforementioned correspondences, but also masculine and feminine energy and the union between the Sun and Earth that results in a fruitful harvest and new life. (Where did I get it: Found; Cost: Free)

5. Carnelian, Citrine, Garnet, and Clear Quartz Tower- I added several crystals this year to represent the correspondences of the sabbat. Carnelian, citrine, and garnet in their reds, oranges, and yellows, are all associated with the Sun, strength, happiness, vitality, and growth. The clear quartz tower in the center adds additional strength to this altar dedicated to the Sun, while also representing the subtle energies of the feminine, balance, and focus. (Where did I get it: Metaphysical Stores; Cost: ~$14)

6. Pink Flower Incense Holder- In the center is an incense holder to represent fire and air, as the incense requires fire to burn and produces smoke or scented air. Being pink, it represents love, which results in the flowering fruits so abundant at this time. There is no incense currently featured in this picture, but during my midsummer celebrations, it will be adorned with rose and cinnamon incense, which represent love, lust, fertility, friendship, abundance, and wealth. (Where did I get it: Five Below 2019; Cost: $3)

7. Calendula Flower Petals- Calendula is deeply associated with the Sun, it's orange and yellow blooms looking like a sunburst. As such, calendula represents the Sun, strength, vitality, health, happiness, and abundance. As with other elements on my altar, the calendula petals work sympathetically to strengthen and empower the Sun to ensure continued abundance and prosperity for the remainder of the season. (Where did I get it: Apothecary At Home; Cost: ~$0.10)

8. Deer Antler- The antler represents the masculine and is associated with vitality, strength, and fertility as male deer use their horns to win a mate, all of which are aspects associated with Midsummer or Litha. Furthermore, deer are said to be spirit walkers, able to cross between our realm and the Otherworld. Midsummer, like all sabbats, is a liminal time, allowing for easy astral travel. As a hedge witch, I often engage in hedge riding during the sabbats, making the antler a meaningful addition to my altar. (Where did I get it: Found; Cost: Free)

TOTAL COST: ~$26

Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found, made, or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. I hope you find this sort of breakdown helpful, especially for those of you looking to create Instagram-perfect altars on a budget! You will also notice that I brought back my labeled altars. I strongly feel this type of breakdown is helpful to beginner witches who are learning correspondences and to seasoned witches looking for inspiration.

I hope each and every one of you has a fantastic Summer Solstice. May it be filled with friends, family, and good food. 

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10 More 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. If you haven't read it already, be sure to check out my first post in this series, 10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have. The first post introduces 10 basic crystals to cover all of your witchy needs. That list is perfect for new and beginner witches, but what about when you want to level up your craft and start introducing something new? Well, I got you covered with 10 more crystals every witch should have. 

Like the first list, these crystals are very common and ones I use often. I use several of these crystals far more often than I use many of those featured on my first list. Furthermore, they tend to be reasonably priced and easy to find ethically sourced so they are accessible to most witches. Just like before, I offer 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.

Black Tourmaline: This is my favorite crystal of all time. Black tourmaline is an absolute must-have, much like clear quartz, because of its versatility for protection, shielding, and grounding. Not only that, but tourmaline also brings stability, aids in transitions, and brings a sense of peace. This is my go-to crystal for protection during hedge riding and grounding when I come back. It's the crystal I carry on me when I am anxious, traveling, or when I am feeling down. I haven't found another crystal that can clear space and reset a room's energy like black tourmaline.  Suggested Alternative Crystal: Black Kyanite

Carnelian: This is yet another quartz crystal, its red-orange hue associating it with the Sun, strength, vitality, courage, success, and empowerment. I often use it on my altars to represent the Sun and fire or during goal-setting spells where I need the strength and courage to complete my task. Carnelian is a great motivator, dispelling apathy and promoting positive life choices. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Red Agate or Red Calcite


Lapis Lazuli: This rich blue and gold speckled crystal is associated with truth, intuition, and past life explorations. It's able to greatly increase your psychic ability, much like amethyst, while also helping you to overcome emotional obstacles that may be preventing you from reaching your full potential. Furthermore, it aids in communication, making it the perfect crystal for diviners and those communicating with the spirit world. This is a crystal I often carry in my hedge riding sachet, especially if I am struggling to hear the messages spirit has for me. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Amethyst, Sodalite, or Azurite

Hematite: Much like black tourmaline, hematite is very grounding and protective. It too brings balance, but also acts as a source of strength and clarity. While most witches use hematite for grounding and protection, I find it most useful during tarot or rune readings when the messages are unclear. It also inspires courage, promotes trust, and increases focus and concentration. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Black Tourmaline, Magnetite, or Lodestone

Moss Agate: Green witches, this crystal is for you. Moss agate promotes growth, especially for plants, encourages abundance, and attracts success and new beginnings. It also helps open lines of communication with nature spirits, whether they be spirits of place, plant spirits, or other nature-based spirits. Place it in plant pots to encourage growth or even carry it on you to encourage personal growth and success. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Tree Agate or Green Aventurine

Garnet: Garnet is often a deceptive crystal, sometimes appearing black in certain settings. However, garnet is not black, but deep, luscious red. Like carnelian, it's associated with strength, energy, and success, but unlike carnelian, it's also associated with love, lust, passion, and sexuality. This crystal is the perfect combination of carnelian and rose quartz, combining the features of both into one. It can also be used to aid in women's health, particularly related to menstruation, as well as aid in protection. I tend to use this crystal most often around Yule as a representation of the Sun being reborn from darkness. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Rhodochrosite, Ruby, or Rose Quartz

Howlite: This white, chalky crystal encourages expression and communication, while also being incredibly calming. This is the perfect crystal when you are trying to communicate clearly and effectively, despite being upset or emotions being high. It's also a crystal of wisdom and awareness, allowing the user to attune to their higher self as well as open communication with the spirit world. This is the first crystal on my list specifically for wisdom, making it unique to others on the list. Furthermore, howlite can aid in sleep and in the release of unwanted attachments, making it fairly versatile. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Magnesite or Sodalite

Green Aventurine: Whenever I read or hear 'aventurine' I always think of adventure, which isn't far from the truth. Green aventurine is associated with independence, career success, and otherwise blazing your own trail. It's also associated with creativity and imagination, as well as money, abundance, and growth due to its green color. Like moss agate, aventurine can be used to encourage plant growth but is more helpful when gambling to ensure you win. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Malachite, Moss Agate, or Green Jade

Smoky Quartz: I think this about does it for the quartz crystals. I mean, there are a few more, all of which are awesome, but I think this is the last of the big ones. Smoky quartz, as the name suggests, is a smoky color, ranging from light gray to almost black. This is due to irradiation and traces of aluminum. Like other dark-colored crystals, it's used for protection, grounding, and dispelling negativity. However, smoky quartz is also associated with transformation as it can help remove obstacles and painful memories that may be preventing you from reaching your full potential. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Black Tourmaline, Hematite, or Obsidian

Blue Kyanite: In its raw form, kyanite appears to be fibrous, its individual crystal protrusions making it susceptible to breaking. Don't let that deter you from using this powerful crystal ally though. Like all blue crystals, blue kyanite is perfect for communication. It's also perfect for lucid dreaming, channeling, visualization, and reaching an altered state of consciousness. It promotes rational thought and logic, as well as calms and relieves stress. Suggested Alternative Crystal: Sodalite, Chrysocolla, Celestite, or Blue Lace Agate



As with all things, you don't need crystals to be a successful witch and spellcaster. I personally love crystals, rocks, stones, and fossils, and have a large collection because I love the energy they bring to my practice. Should you feel called to work with crystals in your practice, this list, along with 10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have is a great place to start. These 20 crystals are more than enough to cover all your magical bases, including love, communication, protection, abundance, joy, psychic abilities, growth, elemental representation, and seasonal connection, so you shouldn't need to purchase rare and obscure crystals unless, of course, you want to. 

Did I leave off a crystal you use often? Disagree with something on my list? Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments! I am thinking about putting together a rare and obscure crystals list as well. Would this be of interest to anyone? Please comment below if you'd like me to cover this topic or if you have another crystal topic you'd like me to cover.

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The Transforming Witch: A Comprehensive Guide to Shapeshifting in Witchcraft

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Shapeshifting has long captivated the human imagination, holding a prominent place in the realms of witchcraft and the occult. In fact, the myth of the shapeshifting witch can be found in folklore around the world and across multiple cultures, from the British Isles to the Americas to Asia and Africa, where witches were reported to turn into rabbits, cats, deer, mice, owls, ravens, and wolves. Shapeshifting is an intriguing practice that involves altering one's physical form, or at least one's perception, and is often associated with mystical abilities and spiritual connections. In today's article, we delve into the depths of shapeshifting in witchcraft, exploring its historical roots, role in hedge riding and other contemporary applications, and how modern witches can engage in this transformative practice, including spells and rituals to help you transform! This is a hell of a long post, so buckle up witch!

What is Shapeshifting?

Shapeshifting, in the context of witchcraft, refers to the belief and practice of altering one's form or perception through magic and ritual and can take place in the Otherworld or on our current astral plane depending on the needs of the witch. It encompasses the idea of undergoing a physical or metaphorical transformation, allowing witches to embody different beings, animals, or even objects. Often times this occurs when the witch wears the body of an animal, such as a skin or mask, but it can also happen through ritual trance work. As much as many of us wish to physically transform into an animal, we know literal transformation is not possible, but it can certainly happen on an energetic or spirit level. This can occur in one of two ways: the witch's spirit transforms into the spirit of an animal or the witch's spirit 'rides' a living animal or external spirit on the physical plane or in the Otherworld. In either case, both are considered shapeshifting and can be used for the same purposes.

The History of Shapeshifting

Throughout history, shapeshifting has been a recurring theme in witchcraft and occult practices. Mythologists from different cultures are replete with tales of witches, sorcerers, and enchantresses who possess the ability to shift their shape at will. In folklore, we encounter stories of witches taking the form of animals, such as the witch's fetch or the lycanthropic legends of the werewolves. These myths and folklore are so widespread and prevalent that it's hard to cover them all, but I'll do my best to sum them up here.

Starting with prehistoric records, we have possibly the earliest record of shapeshifting found in the Cave of Trois-Frères in southern modern-day France. Among the drawings is one named "The Sorcerer," which looks to be a mix between a human and a deer in mid-transformation. While the image is debated, many scholars believe the image is a reference to a belief in the ritual of transformation.

The Sorcerer, drawing of the cave art, Cave of the Trois-Frères, France.

Later, in Ancient Rome and Greece, we see a number of classical writers reference shapeshifting, sometimes by choice and other times as a punishment. In the Odyssey, Circe punishes Odysseus and his men by turning them into swine while in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Jupiter punishes Lycaon by turning him into a wolf (lycanthropy anyone?). However, not all transformations were punishments. In The Golden Ass by Apuleius, Lucius uses a magical ointment to accidentally turn into an ass while attempting to transform into a bird. This is likely a precursor to later flying ointments, used by witches during astral flight and hedge riding. Among the gods, Zeus is known to shapeshift into countless different creatures and even turn others into animals as both punishment and for fun. Other gods and goddesses are noted as doing the same, such as Demeter transforming Ascalabus into a lizard for mocking her sorrow and King Lyncus into a lynx for attempted murder. Medusa is turned into a gorgon for having sexual intercourse, whether consensual or not, in Athena's temple. The list is honestly endless. Other times, women were transformed to escape being raped, such as Daphne being turned into a laurel, Corone into a crow, or even Demeter into a mare. These transformations were aided by the powers of the gods, whether invoked or not, suggesting that one could not change without magical or divine intervention.

Across the way in Scandinavia, the Nordic Völsunga saga also includes multiple tales of shapeshifting, sometimes by choice and sometimes due to a curse. In the tale of Sigmund and Sinfjötli, both are able to turn into wolves using wolf skins stolen from the sons of the king who were believed to be skilled in witchcraft. Unfortunately, after donning the skins, they are unable to transform back, becoming werewolves themselves. In yet another tale, Björn, the son of King Hring, is punished by the queen who strikes him with a wolf skin glove and curses him to become a rabid, wild animal who can eat only his father's sheep. He is later hunted down and killed by the king's men and the queen has his remains cooked and eaten during a feast. The idea of wearing an animal skin also appears in the Vælundar kviða where young maidens are said to wear the skins of swans to fly. There are also references in the Faroëse song of Finnur hin friði, where Finn turns into a werewolf after being cursed and in the second Kviða of Helga Hundingsbana a curse is said to turn people into wolves. Of course, Odin too, much like Zues, is mentioned on multiple occasions as turning into a bird, beast, fish, or woman, as well as Loki, for various purposes. 

Apart from references in songs and literature, there is also the eigi einhamir in Nordic and Icelandic folklore. The eigi einhamir, which means 'not one skin', were men who could take on the bodies of another and assume the nature of that body, usually a beast. They are only recognizable by their eyes, which cannot be changed despite the rest of their form shifting. How this shapeshifting occurred varied. Sometimes the skin of the animal was worn, other times the spirit left the body behind to inhabit or transform into a second form. It could also occur through incantations or charms, much like the charms found in Celtic countries.

German woodcut of werewolf from 1722

Much like the rest of Europe and the world, the British Isles have a host of shapeshifting myths and legends, as well as well-documented spells for shapeshifting. These tales mirror those found in Greaco-Roman and Scandinavian folklore and include such tales as the selkie wearing seal skin, kelpies disguised as horses or women, or the puca who can transform into multiple terrifying forms. There are also countless tales of people being transformed as a punishment, including Aoife who turned her stepchildren into swans to get rid of them, or Blodeuwedd who was transformed into an owl after betraying her husband. 

Apart from these tales we also have references to spells used for shapeshifting. Fīth-fāth (pronounced 'fee-fuh') is a Celtic shapeshifting spell, which is believed to render the user invisible to mortal eyes or transform them completely. Fīth-fāth has many different potential translations, including "shapeshifter," "effigy," and "words of magic," all referencing its use as a charm. Traditionally, it's believed these charms were spoken aloud with invocations for protection. It was often used by hunters, warriors, travelers, and smugglers wishing to render themselves unrecognizable to others, thus being used to make them 'invisible.' However, one translation of fīth-fāth is "the deer's aspect" leading some to believe the charms were first used by hunters to make them invisible or transform them into deer. The Carmina Gadelica references the latter in the story of Ossian who comes across a beautiful deer while hunting. This deer turns out to be his mother who says, "Do not hurt me, Ossian. I am thy mother under the 'fīth-fāth,' in the form of a hind abroad and in the form of a woman at home." This same text offers a shapeshifting spell, seen below, to render the user invisible or turn men into horses, bulls, and stags, and women into cats, hares, and hinds.

FATH fith (English Translation)
Will I make on thee,
By Mary of the augury,
By Bride of the corslet,
From sheep, from ram,
From goat, from buck,
From fox, from wolf,
From sow, from boar,
From dog, from cat,
From hipped-bear,
From wilderness-dog,
From watchful 'scan,'
From cow, from horse,
From bull, from heifer,
From daughter, from son,
From the birds of the air,
From the creeping things of the earth,
From the fishes of the sea,
From the imps of the storm.

More famous incantations come from Isobel Gowdie during the 17th-century witch trials. During her confessions, Gowdie named two charms: one for transforming into a hare and one for transforming back into a woman.

To transform into a hare:

    I shall go into a hare
    With sorrow and sych and meickle care;
    And I shall go in the Devil’s name,
    Ay while I come home again.

To transform back:
    Hare, hare, God send thee care.
    I am in a hare’s likeness now,
    But I shall be in a woman’s likeness even now.

Other witches reported similar shapeshifting incantations as seen below.

To transform into a cat:
    I shall go into a cat,
    With sorrow and sych and a black shat;
    And I shall go in the Devil's name,
    Ay while I come home again.

To transform into a crow:
    I shall go into a craw,
    With sorrow and sych and a blak thraw,
    And I shall go in the Devil's name,
    Ay while I come home again.

By the 13th century, it was wildly believed witches could turn into animals at will. Witches were believed to turn into hares, toads, dogs, cats, and other animals to steal milk from their neighbors, curse livestock, and otherwise create mischief and mayhem. In many cases, the harm done to the animal form caused similar wounds to the human. In 1649, John Palmer of St. Albans, England confessed to transforming into a toad in order to torment his neighbor. The neighbor reportedly kicked the toad and Palmer complained about sore shins afterward. Guazzo tells a similar story about a man encountering a toad after refusing to pay his tab at a local bar. The man believed the barmaid had overcharged him and thus left without paying. His traveling companions sliced the toad's throat and the barmaid was stricken with the same wound. Similar stories appear in American folklore, including Aunty Greenleaf who was said to take on the form of a white doe to torment her neighbors' livestock. When the doe was shot with three silver bullets, Aunty Greenleaf was said to later die with three silver bullets lodged in her spine.  

Of course, shapeshifting myths and folklore don't end there. We also have the Navajo skinwalkers, the American loup-garou, Korean kumiho, Japanese yōkai, the kitsune, Tatar's Yuxa, and the Mexican La Lechuza. As much as I would love to dive into every single region's shapeshifting myths and folklore, it's simply too much. I invite you to read up on the myths of your ancestors and the region where you now reside. There is a plethora of shapeshifting lore out there, you just have to go looking for it.

Modern Uses of Shapeshifting

In contemporary witchcraft, shapeshifting has taken on metaphorical and symbolic significance. Modern witches utilize shapeshifting as a tool for personal growth, empowerment, and self-discovery. Through the exploration of different archetypes and primal instincts, witches seek to deepen their understanding of themselves and their connection to the natural world, develop a relationship with an animal guide or totem, and even gain new perspectives on a problem. Shapeshifting becomes a means to tap into hidden aspects of the psyche and embrace transformative experiences. This can take many forms, including calling upon different animal spirits during spell work, meditating on different animal aspects, working with animal spirits, journaling, ritual dance, etc.

Reproduction of a woodcut from Ulrich Molitor's 'De Lamiis' (1489) showing 3 animal-headed witches flying on a forked stick (or stang). Shows how witches sometimes 'shape-shift' into animal forms when flying.

Shapeshifting also shares a deep connection with shamanic journeying and hedge riding, a practice in which the witch traverses the different realms of the Otherworld for spiritual insight and healing. Within hedge riding and other shamanic traditions, shapeshifting serves as a means to enter other dimensions, communicate with animal spirits, and tap into their wisdom and attributes. By assuming the form of a particular animal, the shaman can embody its qualities, accessing unique perspectives and guidance on their journey. An animal form is also often taken as a form of protection during otherworldly travel, as animal spirits are often able to traverse undetected, acting as a form of invisibility, much like the Celtic fīth-fāth incantations. An animal form also allows the witch to travel more quickly and, in some cases, access areas previously unreachable, such as high mountain tops, deep within the ocean or lake, or even burrowing underground or into tight spaces.

To summarize, modern witches often incorporate shapeshifting to

• explore different archetypes and primal instincts
• deepen one's understanding of self
• connect with the natural world
• develop a deeper relationship with an animal guide or totem
• gain new perspectives on a problem
• traverse the Otherworld quickly
• protect against prying eyes or make one invisible during otherworldly travel
• gain animal wisdom and guidance
• access previously unreachable places
• access certain qualities associated with an animal
  
  

How to Shapeshift

Modern witches engage in shapeshifting through various techniques and practices. Visualization exercises play a significant role, where witches create vivid mental images of their desired form or archetype, often coupled with ritual work such as wearing animal skin, dancing, drumming, or incantations. Through meditation, you can enter a state of deep focus and receptivity, allowing yourself to embody the essence and qualities of the chosen form. Energy work, such as harnessing personal energy or working with elemental forces, can serve as a catalyst for the transformation, although most witches find it easier to use a mask or skin or use an ointment to prompt the change. Needless to say, there are multiple approaches to shapeshifting and you need to experiment to find which method works best for you. Below are several ways you can engage in shapeshifting from both folklore and modern witchcraft.

1. Incantations and Charms

This is probably one of the most commonly cited historical ways to shapeshift with the incantations from Isobel Gowdie and her fellow witches being cited most often found in the History of Shapeshifting section above. These incantations can be modernized and adapted to turn you into any animal you desire. Since most modern witches do not incorporate God or the Devil in their craft, you can change these titles to whatever deities you do believe in, such as Lord, Lady, Horned God, Hekate, etc. Pagan musician Damh (pronounced "Dave") the Bard does an excellent job of this in his song Fith Fath Song where he says,

I shall go as a wren in spring
With sorrow and sighing on silent wing
And I shall go in our Lady’s name
Aye, ‘til I come home again

Then we shall follow as falcons grey
And hunt thee cruelly for our prey
And we shall go in our Horned God's name
Aye to fetch thee home again

Then I shall go as a mouse in May
Through fields by night and in cellars by day
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye ‘til I come home again

Then we shall follow as black tom cats
And hunt thee through the fields and the vats
And we shall go in our Horned God's name
Aye to fetch thee home again

Then I shall go as an autumn hare
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye till I come home again

Then we shall follow as swift greyhounds
And dog thy steps with leaps and bounds
And we shall go in our Horned God's name
Aye to fetch thee home again

Then I shall go as a winter trout
With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye till I come home again

Then we shall follow as otters swift
And bind thee fast so thou canst shift
And we shall go in our Horned God's name
Aye to fetch thee home again.

Of course, writing your own incantations works just as well, if not better, than using others' work.

2. Wearing Animal Skins or Masks

Apart from incantations, many witches engage in shapeshifting by animal skins or masks to encourage a transformation. This is often coupled with ritual dancing and drumming until an altered state of consciousness is reached. In her books Fang and Fur, Blood and Bone and Skin Spirits: Animal Parts in Spiritual and Magical Practice, Lupa dives deep into the practice. Lupa more often transforms into a wolf by wearing wolf skin and dancing around a fire. During the dance, she allows the animal's spirit, the spirit within the pelt, to take over her body leading to her total transformation. Wearing an animal mask also can prompt such changes.

In Call of the Horned Piper, Nigel Jackson describes a similar ritual to that of Lupa's. In order to shapeshift, the initiate would undergo a symbolic death by undressing and crossing a lake or other body of water. Upon arriving on the other side, they would don a wolf skin or belt and enter into an altered state of consciousness to "be projected forth in the form of a wolf." This same practice can be replicated with any animal skin or mask using a cold shower as the bridge to "death" should you not have access to a river or lake and privacy.

Witsen's Shaman, late 17th century. The earliest depiction of a Siberian shaman.

Of course, not everyone has access to animal skins and some skins and body parts are illegal to own. Remember to always check with your local laws to figure out what you can and cannot own. While animal skins are often cost-prohibitive for many, owning other body parts can be just as effective, such as teeth, feet, skulls, and other bones or fur/feather pieces. Turn these remains into talismans by creating jewelry, charm bags, belts, or other ritual garbs that can be worn during your shapeshifting rituals. Some reports suggest using salves made from the fat of the animal also works, but I have not tried this method. If you can't access actual remains, I encourage you to make your very own animal mask. There are multiple ways to do this, but as you create your mask, be sure to ask for the animal's aid and infuse their essence into the mask.

3. Trance, Meditation, and Visualization

Reaching an altered state of consciousness coupled with one or both of the aforementioned methods is the key to actual transformation. Reaching an altered state of consciousness can be done in a variety of ways, including ritual dancing, drumming, humming, consuming psychoactive plants, or using ointments. You can read more about these different methods in my posts on hedge riding or try my hedge riding tea. Unlike with hedge riding, however, the goal of reaching this trance state is to shapeshift. With that intention firmly in your mind, you can visualize yourself shifting into your animal form, your consciousness slowly becoming that of an animal. You may find walking/crawling on all fours, growling, hissing, or otherwise behaving like the animal aids in this transformation. Become the animal you wish to transform into.

If you are looking to shapeshift while hedge riding, visualizing the shift, reciting an incantation, and donning your animal garb within the Otherworld will also work. I routinely shapeshift into a fox while traversing the Otherworld using a combination of these methods. Unlike on our plane, you don't need to shift your consciousness again, as that has already occurred. While you don't necessarily need anything physical to do this during hedge riding, having real animal remains or a mask on your person prior to hedge riding will greatly aid you in your work on the astral plane.

There are a couple of rituals that combine these three methods into one, including The Red Meadow's Lycanthropic Ritual, Denny Sargent's shapeshifting ritual (which is outlined more completely in his book Werewolf Magic), and Yasmine Galenorn's Mirror Spell for Shape-Shifting found in her book Totem Magic: Dance of the Shape-Shifter on pages 119-121.

When you are first starting out, start small, shapeshifting for very short periods of time. Experiment with a variety of methods, combing them into a ritual that works for you. However, as with all things magical, shapeshifting can be dangerous.

Shapeshifting Safety

As mentioned in the History of Shapeshifting, there are dangers to shifting into an animal form. This includes not being able to return to your body because you have forgotten you are human, forgetting which realm you belong to, journeying too far, being captured, injured, or killed while within the Otherworld or while riding a 'live' animal. There are many tales of witches traversing the world as an animal and being injured only for the same wound to appear on the witch's human form. These injuries often resulted in the death of the witch, so you should be mindful of these hazards while shapeshifting. So what can you do to protect yourself?

1. Set clear and firm boundaries and time limits for travel. Setting an alarm or using a musical cue can help pull you back from your trance.
   
   
2. Have a spotter that can help rouse you should you not come back when originally planned. This is especially important if you are just starting out. If you don't have someone that can spot you, send a really loud, obnoxious alarm to alert you when it's time to return.
   
   
3. Have a safe word or incantation that when spoken pulls your spirit back into your body. You can use Isobel Gowdie's charm, write your own, or pick a safe word/phrase important to you.
   
   
4. Use a red witch's thread tied around your finger or arm to anchor your spirit to your physical body. If you get lost, follow the thread back to your body.
   
   
5. Carry or wear protective charms that will prevent your spirit from being stolen or harmed while in the Otherworld. Your familiar or even household pet can also act as a protector of your body, sitting on or near you during shapeshifting to ensure nothing else tries to inhabit your body.
   
   
6. When you are finished shapeshifting, make sure you are completely grounded in your human body by grounding and centering and enjoying some food and drink.

You can find more useful tips in my post, Hedge Riding Safety Tips if you are using shapeshifting in the Otherworld. Many of the same tips are useful during shapeshifting.

Shapeshifting in witchcraft remains an enigmatic and alluring practice, intertwining myth, history, and contemporary spirituality. It offers a gateway to explore the depths of our own selves, connect with the primal forces of nature, and embark on transformative journeys of self-discovery. Whether through the exploration of archetypes, communion with animal spirits, or embracing the hidden aspects of our being, shapeshifting provides a mystical transformation that resonates with the essence of witchcraft. With a few precautions and plenty of practice, I hope you'll find shapeshifting to be a profoundly magical experience. Until next time!

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Book Review: Curse and Cure by Sabrina Scott

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. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In case you missed the memo, I love supporting small businesses, artists, and authors and I am always excited to share their work. Today's book review is by a self-published author, but don't let that deter you from purchasing the book because it's well worth the read.

Curse and Cure by Sabrina Scott is an excellent, secular introduction to witchcraft, covering everything from the basics of magic and consent, energy work, ritual, and magical timing, as well as cultivating spiritual relationships with the land, objects, and other witches. Scott covers all the basics in a fun, light-hearted way, using a conversational tone throughout. It was really like talking with a friend. Not only does Scott do a great job covering everything new witches need to know, but she also fills the pages with stories from her own life, building a deep connection with the reader in the process. I've mentioned before that I love author stories and examples throughout books because it helps me visualize what the author is discussing. Having a reference point for your own magic is extremely helpful, especially for beginner witches and Scott does an excellent job providing this reference point. Furthermore, Scott is incredibly inclusive, culturally aware, and ecologically responsible throughout her book, welcoming readers from all walks of life. I greatly appreciated this and know many of you will as well. Inclusive books are slowly making their way into the mainstream, which is a great shift within our community.

Not only is the book packed, and I mean PACKED, with information, but it's also artfully designed. Scott includes her own handwriting and drawings throughout the book, making the book appear more like a letter to an apprentice than a tomb of knowledge. I will say that this may detract from the text for some readers. Scott's handwriting (I am assuming it's her handwriting) can be difficult to read, especially if you have dyslexia or impaired vision, but the main text is all in a legible font, albeit a very small font. The font being tiny may also make it difficult to read for those with impaired vision and there are no audio or digital options currently available, so keep this in mind. Furthermore, because it's self-published, some of the formatting is awkward, but it's easy to overlook considering the breadth of knowledge covered within the text. My only other gripe is with the Table of Contents also being written in Scott's handwriting, with scribbles and scratches and doodles and all, which took about 10 pages to complete and made it difficult to quickly reference chapters. As a highly organized, Type-A person, the Table of Contents made me livid, but I know it probably won't bother other people. I know a lot of people don't even look at the content pages and instead use their own marking system to make notes of information.

Apart from a couple of formatting complaints, I have nothing negative to say about this book. Scott covers everything a new witch needs to know and even some things old witches may need reminding of, especially as spirituality changes globally to be more inclusive and respectful. Part of decolonizing our practices means understanding consent and the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation, both topics Scott covers in Curse and Cure. The multiple sections on consent made my heart flutter because we often forget that as animists, all living and nonliving things vibrate with spirit and not all of them want to work with us. Just because you can take and use something, doesn't mean you should.

If you are a new witch, or an old one looking to reevaluate your practice, I highly encourage you to support Scott's work and pick up Curse and Cure today. This is one of the best self-published books I have read. It's clear Scott took her time with writing, editing, and designing this book, and just because she isn't tied to a large publisher doesn't mean her work is not valuable. You can also check out her graphic novel, Witchbody, her first self-published book!

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Ripe for Success: A Strawberry Moon Ritual for Abundance and Prosperity

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.

June's full moon is commonly known as the Strawberry Moon due to the abundance of strawberries being harvested during this time. Here in Georgia, strawberry season is just about over, our warmer weather pushing the peak of the season ahead into late April and early May, but the themes are still the same. This is a time of abundance after a long rest and the perfect time for manifesting prosperity and abundance in your own life. This ritual should be performed the three days around the Strawberry Moon, or during the peak of the full moon. This ritual also pairs well with my Strawberry Moon Worksheet.

What You'll Need

• 1 green or white candle with a candle holder (or try House of Intuition's Money Magic Candle)
• Toothpick or another tool to etch
• 1 teaspoon dried strawberry leaves or fresh strawberry 'caps'
• 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2-3 drops of honey
• Match or lighter
• 3 strawberries (9 total for 3 nights)
  
  

What to Do

During the first night of the Strawberry Moon, begin by cleansing and consecrating your space using your preferred method. If you wish, cast a circle and invite any spirits or deities associated with prosperity, money, and abundance.

After your space has been cleansed and consecrated, etch the Fehu rune into your green or white candle using a toothpick or other etching tool. Combine the dried herbs on a plate or flat surface and hold your hand over the top of them and say, "Strawberry for luck, basil for money, and cinnamon for good fortune. Combined I ask you to bring prosperity and abundance to my life so I shall never want." Dress the candle with 2-3 drops of honey then roll it in the herb mixture, making sure to lightly coat the entire surface. Do not overdress your candle as this can create a fire hazard. Place the candle in your candle holder in the center of your workspace.

Pick up the first strawberry and hold it in your hand. Close your eyes and think about your past abundances and prosperities. What are you thankful for? What have you previously had enough of?  Allow these memories to wash over you and fill you with joy and gratitude. Feel that energy move into the strawberry. Place the strawberry to the left of the candle.

Pick up the second strawberry and hold it in your hand. Close your eyes and think about your present abundances and prosperities. What is currently in your life that you are thankful for? What do you currently have enough of? Allow these memories to wash over you and fill you with joy and gratitude. Feel the energy move into the strawberry and place it in front of the candle closest to you.

Finally, pick up the last strawberry and hold it in your hand. Close your eyes and think about your future abundances and prosperities. What do you want more of in your life? What will life be like with more of those things in your life? How will your life change? Allow these visions to wash over you and fill you with gratitude and contentment. Feel that energy move into the strawberry. When ready, place the strawberry to the right of the candle.

Light the candle and say, "My past, present, and future are full of abundance and prosperity. I am thankful for all that I have and shall never want in the future. I draw wealth, success, and good fortune to me always."

As the candle burns, continue visualizing your past, present, and future abundance and prosperity. When ready, consume the first strawberry (past/left). Feel its energy coarse through you, strengthening and nourishing your body, mind, and spirit. Repeat this process with the other two strawberries, allowing the candle to burn as you do so.

When you have finished consuming the strawberries, snuff out the candle and complete your ritual by releasing any energy, deities, or spirits you called upon. Repeat this spell for the next two nights for three nights total, allowing the candle to burn down completely on the third night. Bury any eco-friendly spell remains near your front door for good luck.

Why You Did It

Understanding the why's of a spell are just as important as performing it. It helps you understand the process so you can modify the spell or ritual to suit your needs and helps guide you to write your own. It's my intention that by providing these explanations, you can build a better understanding of how spells are written and executed so you can modify and build your own spells (the goal of my Spellcrafting Series). 

First, this spell is conducted during the Strawberry Moon, June's full moon which is associated with wealth, prosperity, abundance, fertility, and fullness of life. The full moon in general is also associated with manifesting, making this the perfect time to manifest abundance and prosperity, especially that related to money and food. The full moon generally lasts 3 nights, and three is associated with good fortune as well as action. By performing this spell during the full moon for three nights, you reinforce your intention, although you can also perform this spell just once or during the waxing moon which is also associated with growth and manifestation.

Next, a green candle was chosen to represent money, wealth, and abundance. White, on the other hand, is associated with new beginnings and high vibrations. The Fehu rune was carved into the candle to empower it with wealth and abundance. Fehu means "wealth" particularly 'mobile' wealth, a reference to cattle or sheep which brought their owners a comfortable living. It helps ensure the prosperity you experience is long-lasting and stable. The candle was then rolled into a mixture of strawberry leaves, basil, and cinnamon, all herbs associated with luck, prosperity, good fortune, money, abundance, and wealth. Honey was chosen to bind the herbs to the candle to sweeten the deal and bring wealth. Honey was often referred to as liquid gold, its color and richness of flavor being associated with abundance and wealth.

Three strawberries were used to represent your past, present, and future abundances. Part of manifesting is recognizing that what you want already exists in your life. By showing gratitude, you recognize how much you already have and are able to attract more of it toward you. There is a strong correlation between  gratitude and manifestation. The strawberries were filled with these energies and then eaten to imbibe you with their strength and intention so that you may take the actions needed to bring more abundance into your life.

Finally, any eco-friendly spell remains, which were likely the remaining herbs, were buried near your front door to bring good luck and fortune. The spell remains buried close to your front door are said to draw things toward you, in this case, your spell's intention.

Wish to break this spell? If you are getting more than what you initially bargained for, thank the Universe for all it has given you and let it know you are satisfied. If you have attracted unwanted attention from this spell, you may need to conduct a spell to turn away prying eyes or make you invisible. If you have attracted the unwanted attention of a lover, you may need to banish them or do a chord-cutting ritual. Breaking this spell is completely dependent on what you have too much of.

Remember to record this ritual on your ritual/spell worksheet or in your Book of Shadows for reference later.

***

Remember, the Strawberry Moon is a time of prosperity, abundance, fertility, and love. No matter what you decide to do this full moon, I hope it's full of magic!

Interested in learning more about the full moon, Strawberry Moon? Below are some resources to get you started.

June Strawberry Moon Ritual Planning Worksheet

Moon Phases

Monthly Magical Moons

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