Magical Properties of Fuchsite

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

How to Celebrate Vetrnætr/Winter Nights for Modern Heathens

Winter Nights begins on the first full moon after the Autumn Equinox and lasts three days. This places Winter Nights starting on October 17th and ending on October 19th, 2024. Using the Eddas, archeological research, and historical records, Winter Nights included three blots, or sacrifices: Alfablót, Disablót, and Haustblót. 

Alfablót and Disablót were believed to be celebrated more privately while Haustblót was a community event. There is some suggestion that Disablót was also celebrated publically, and in some parts of the world, it still is. I, however, have chosen to make this a private celebration. Alfablót and Disablót are both celebrations of our ancestors, local spirits, and deities, each focusing on a different group. Alfablót celebrates our male ancestors, spirits, and Álfar, while Disablót celebrates our female ancestors, spirits, and Dísir. Haustblót, on the other hand, is more of a thanksgiving to celebrate the abundance of the final harvests, give thanks, and honor the spirits and deities that made such a bountiful harvest possible. One last hurrah before the cold sets in and the earth withers.

Modern Heathens can celebrate Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) in various ways that honor both traditional Norse customs and contemporary pagan practices. As with any celebration, your rituals, feasts, and sacrifices should be personal. If there is an ancestor you do not wish to work with and celebrate, don't. You are not required to include problematic ancestors in your rites and rituals. If you are unable to have a bonfire, light a candle or turn on a video of a fireplace burning. Don't eat meat (like myself) or drink alcohol, and therefore don't feel comfortable buying it as a sacrifice? Offer a hearty mushroom and root vegetable stew or grape juice instead. Your celebration methods are valid, even if they aren't "historically" accurate. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

With that said, how can you celebrate Winter Nights? I have broken this list down into what you can do each night, starting with Alfablót and ending with Haustblót. There is significant overlap between Alfablót and Disablót as they are very similar holy tides, so I have grouped them up for this list and made a note if an idea is better suited for one or the other.

Alfablót and Disablót

Honoring the Álfar and Dísir

1. Honor Your Male & Female Ancestors with Offerings 

Honor your ancestors by preparing a special meal and offering food and drink to them. You can create a small altar with photos or symbols of your ancestors and leave offerings such as mead, bread, or seasonal foods. Hold a blót (sacrificial rite), symbolically offering food or drink to the gods, spirits, and ancestors, and share a portion with them. 

Offering Ideas: Mead, bread, smoked meats, hearty vegetable stew, or honningkaker (honey cake/cookie)

2. Light a Sacred Fire or Candle 

Light a fire or candles to represent the transition from light to darkness as the days grow shorter. Fire is symbolic of protection and warmth, driving away the cold and spirits of the dark season. Sit around the fire for storytelling, sharing tales of ancestors or myths from Norse sagas. 

Alternative Ideas: If you cannot light a fire or candle, use an oil warmer or space heater, or pull up a video of a fireplace.

3. Peform Rituals for the Álfar & Dísir 

Honor the Álfar, protective male spirits or ancestors, and the Dísir, protective female spirits or ancestors. This was traditionally done with offerings of food, drink, or symbols of respect. A quiet, reflective ritual for each can be held to seek their guidance and protection throughout the winter months.

Ritual suggestion: Cleanse and clear a space for your working. Set up a simple altar with images of your ancestors, spirit guides, and deities. Light a candle and invite your ancestors to join you in your ritual. Ask them for guidance and protection and to send you messages through the flame of your candle. Focus on the candle flame and record any visions or insights you receive. Leave an offering of thanks for their assistance and guidance.

4. Cast Runes during Disablót

Practice divination by casting runes to gain insight into the coming winter or to seek guidance for the season ahead. Ask questions about your future, challenges, or personal growth during the dark season. Divination is particularly powerful during Disablót because such a practice was considered "women's work" and because the Dísir include the Norns (the Fates) and Freya (goddess of divination and magic).

Runic Spread Suggestions: Three Norns Spread (Past Actions, What Will Likely Happen, Influencing You Now) or Runic V (7 rune spread).

5. Meditation and Quiet Reflection 

Set aside time for meditation or quiet reflection on the shifting seasons, your connection to nature, and your place in the cycle of life and death. This can be done outdoors or at an altar, focusing on the themes of transformation, survival, and rebirth.

6. Reflect on Cycles of Death and Rebirth 

Use Vetrnætr as a time to reflect on personal transformation. As winter symbolizes death and renewal, consider meditative rituals focused on releasing old habits, behaviors, or aspects of your life that no longer serve you, and setting intentions for growth.

Ritual Idea: To break a bad habit, combine chili powder, ginger, ground cinnamon, and rosemary to create an incense. Light a black candle and a charcoal disk. Add your incense to the charcoal disk. Take a flammable image or other flammable representative of your bad habit (such as a written description or cigarette) and tear it up. As you do so, visualize the bad habit leaving you for good. See yourself happy and healthy without the habit. Place the destroyed habit on top of your charcoal disk and incense and say, "I release this my bad habit of [insert habit name here]. I banish it from me to be rid of it forever and always. I am transformed and free, so it shall be." End your ritual by cleansing yourself with smoke or water. Allow the candle and charcoal to burn out completely. Bury the spell remains away from your home or throw it in the trash away from your home.

Haustblót

Celebrating the Final Harvest

7. Seasonal Feast with Family & Friends

Prepare a feast with seasonal foods, particularly hearty dishes like meat, root vegetables, and grains. Traditionally, this time marked the end of the harvest, so incorporating harvest themes into the meal is symbolic. Invite family, friends, or members of your kindred to share in the meal, fostering community, warmth, and gratitude.

8. Perform a Group Ritual Outdoors

If you have access to natural settings, consider hosting an outdoor ritual. Offer libations (such as mead or ale) and seasonal fruits or grains to the land spirits (landvættir), asking for their blessings during the winter months. Make a group sacrifice to say thanks to the land and gods for providing you and yours with such abundance and ask for their blessing and protection in the coming harsh, winter months.

Offering Ideas: Mead, ale, smoked meat, honey, apples, stew, bread, grains

9. Seasonal and Ancestral Crafting

Engage in seasonal crafting as part of your celebration. Making handmade items like rune sets, wool garments, or seasonal decorations can connect you to the traditions of your ancestors, who prepared for the harsh winter with practical and creative work. This is the perfect time to can, smoke, and otherwise prepare foods to store through the winter months.

Craft ideas: Make runes, can seasonal vegetables, prep freezer meals, tan hides, dry apples and oranges to make a garland, or decorate pinecones with peanut butter and seeds for wildlife.

10. Craft Seasonal Charms or Wards 

Create protective charms or wards to safeguard your home and family during the darker half of the year. These can be made from autumn herbs, plants, or natural materials gathered during the season, such as dried leaves, acorns, or pinecones. This is also a great time to redo any protection wards you may already have. Take them down, perform a cleansing ritual, then put them back in place. Remember, wards trap things inside so you want to occasionally take them down to let any built of negativity or unwanted energy leave.

Charm Ideas: Create protective bind runes and draw them in protection oil on your doors and windows or create them out of sticks and hang around your home.

11. Set up a Seasonal Altar 

Design an altar for Vetrnætr that incorporates symbols of autumn and the coming winter. Use candles, seasonal herbs like mugwort or yarrow, and animal totems associated with the season (like ravens or wolves). Add offerings to the gods or ancestors. 

12. Storytelling and Saga Share

Storytelling is a way to pass on wisdom, entertain, and bond with others during the long nights. You can gather with loved ones or your kindred and take turns reading or telling stories from the Eddas or other mythic tales. This is also a great time to just talk and visit, sharing stories from your life and learning about the lives of others. If you are celebrating alone, why not read a book or watch a movie?

14. Hold a Sumbel or Symbel

A sumbel is a drinking ritual in which a horn or goblet of mead or other alcoholic drink is passed around. A series of toasts are made, usually to the gods, ancestors, or heroes followed by boasts of great deeds performed throughout the year, and oath-making for the future year. As with all things, be careful of the words you choose, as any oath made during this time will turn the wheels of fate. A sumbel is a ritual that celebrates and strengthens the community but can also include a blot or sacrifice to the gods if a sacrifice of mead is also made to them. (I plan to post a complete guide to symbels/sumbels in the future so keep an eye out for it!)

Other drink suggestions: Beer, ale, wine, cider, juice, sweetened milk, or tea

15. Hail the Gods and Goddesses with a Ritual Sacrifice

During Vetrnætr, you can honor specific gods or goddesses who are associated with the season, such as Freyr (for fertility and harvest), Hel (goddess of the underworld), or the Norns (weavers of fate). Include offerings and prayers in their honor during your ritual. Winter Nights is composed of three blots, or sacrifices. This sacrifice can be an offering of blood (fresh meat, prick your finger, etc) or a sacrifice of something of value to you, such as food, money, or your time.

Again, how you celebrate Winter Nights is entirely up to you, but it should honor those you have loved and lost and give thanks for the blessings you have received. I am excited to celebrate my first Winter Nights this year (which happens to fall right at my birthday, ha!). Remember, plan early and thoroughly so you don't feel rushed and out of sorts when it comes to celebrating. This does not have to be an elaborate or over-the-top sort of celebration. Quiet and thoughtful is just as powerful as loud and raucous.

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

What is Vetrnætr or Winter Nights?

The Norse, like all peoples, celebrated seasonal and astrological changes. What these celebrations were and how they were celebrated has been largely up for interpretation, relying on the Sagas, archeology, and surviving traditions to inform scholars and modern Norse pagans. In Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga by Snorri Sturluson, three great sacrifices are mentioned.

Þá skyldi blóta í móti vetri til árs, 

en at miðjum vetri blóta til gróðrar, hit þriðja at 

sumri, þat var sigrblót.

There should be a sacrifice at the beginning of winter for a good year, 

and in the middle of winter for a good crop, the 

third in summer day, that was the sacrifice for victory.

While not mentioned specifically by names like Sigrblót, the beginning of winter sacrifice is believed it be Vetrnætr or Winter Nights, while the mid-winter sacrifice is Yule. While most modern pagans are familiar with the lore and traditions of Yule, Winter Nights is less well known, especially by those practicing a Wiccan-inspired Wheel of the Year. So, what exactly is it?

Northern latitude countries, such as Iceland, Sweden, and Norway, experience much harsher winters that tend to come sooner rather than later compared to more southern latitudes like the United States. This pushes their slaughter season forward to mid-October instead of mid-November. The final three days of Haustmánuðr (Autumn Month) and the beginning of Gormánuðr (Slaughter Month), often marked as the first full moon of October or 28 days after the autumn equinox, were dedicated to celebrating the beginning of slaughter season and the final harvests.

We know Winter Nights lasted three days and what happened during these three days by analyzing the Sagas. In Valla-Ljóts saga 3 there is mention of hinar þriðju vetrnætur, “the third Winter Night,” suggesting that Winter Nights lasted at least three days. While further literature is contradictory, there are plenty of references to Haustblót occurring during Winter Nights. In Eyrbyggja saga 37 we see the following passage:

"Annað haust eftir að veturnóttum hafði Snorri goði haustboð mikið og bauð til vinum sínum. Þar var öldrykkja og fast drukkið."

...at winter-nights, Snorri the Priest had a great autumn-feast, and bade his friends thereto. Ale drinking they had thereat, and folk drank fast and were very merry with ale.

Gisla saga 15 further supports Haustblót being part of Winter Nights in its description of Thorgrim's Haustblót celebration.

Þorgrímr ætlaði at hafa haustboð at vetrnóttum ok fagna vetri ok blóta Frey ok býðr þangat Berki, bróður sínum ok Eyjólfi Þórðarsyni ok mǫrgu ǫðru stórmenni. Gísli býr ok til veizlu ok býðr til sín mágum sínum ór Arnarfirði ok Þorkǫtlum tveimr, ok skorti eigi hálft hundrað manna at Gísla. Drykkja skyldi vera at hvárratveggja, ok var strát gólf á Sæbóli af sefinu af Seftjǫrn.

Thorgrim intended to have an autumn gathering at Winternights and welcome winter and sacrifice to Freyr, and he invited his brother Bork and Eyjolf Thordarson and many other prominent men. Gisli also prepared a feast and invited his kin from Arnarfjord and the two Thorketills. There were no fewer than half a hundred men at Gisli’s home. There was to be drinking at both houses, and the floor at Sæbol was strewn with sedges from Seftjorn.

Here we not only see Haustblót 's inclusion in Winter Nights but also get a glimpse into how the holiday would have been celebrated. These celebratory practices are further discussed in Óláfs saga helga 107:

Þat haust váru sǫgð Óláfi konungi þau tiðendi innan ór Þrándheimi, at boendur hefði þar haft veizlur fjǫlmennar at veturnóttum. Váru þar drykkjur miklar. Var konungi svá sagt, at þar væri minni ǫll signuð Ásum at fornum sið. Þat fylgdi ok þeiri sǫgn, at þar væri drepit naut ok hross og roðnir stallar af blóði ok framið blót ok veittr sá formáli, at þat skyldi vera til árbótar.

That fall, the tidings were told to King Olaf at Thrandheim that the freeholders had held a feast attended by many at Winternights. There was much drinking there. The king was told that there was minni-ale blessed to the Æsir according to the old custom. The story continued that cattle and horses were killed and the altars reddened with blood, and a blót carried out, and the prayer performed that had to be made for better seasons.

Here we see that not only was Haustblót celebrated with communal feasting, drinking, a toast to the gods (sumbel), and general merriment, but also marked by a ritual sacrifice, in this case of cattle and horses. Prayers were performed over these sacrifices in hopes of ensuring a quick winter and a bountiful harvest in the coming year. I have said it before and I will say it again, our ancestors relied heavily on their harvests to ensure they survived through the winter. A failed crop or loss of livestock ensured a family's demise, especially if their community didn't come to the rescue. These sacrifices were made to the gods as a thank-you for the abundance they had received and to ensure they wouldn't go without in the coming year.

There are also indications that sporting contests were also held during Winter Nights. Both Eyrbyggja saga 43 and Hallfreðar saga vandræðaskálds 2 mention annual leikmóts or sporting contests being held at or around the time of Winter Nights, suggesting that not only did the community celebrate with feasts, drinking, merriment, and sacrifices, but also with contests and games. The most commonly mentioned game in the sagas is knáttleikr, a game similar to hurling or shinty that could be played on either land or ice.

But what about Disablót and Alfablót? Again, there are contradictions in the texts, but in general, most agree both of these celebrations and sacrifices occur on or around Winter Nights. In Víga-Glúms saga 6 it says:

Þar var veisla búin að veturnóttum og gert dísablót og allir skulu þessa minning gera. Glúmur situr í rúmi sínu og gengur eigi til. Og er á leið kveldið er menn voru komnir þá var eigi svo mikil gleði sem líklegt mundi þykja fyrir fagnaðar sakir og vina fundar er þar voru margir saman komnir. Og þann dag er menn höfðu komið til boðsins hafði Glúmur eigi út gengið í móti mönnum og bauð engum að sitja hjá sér eða í hans rúmi.

A party was held there on a winter's night and an oath was taken, and everyone should remember this. Glúmur sits in his bed and does not move. And as the evening wore on, when the men had arrived, there was not so much joy as might be thought for the sake of rejoicing and the meeting of friends, where many had gathered. And on the day when the men had come to the invitation, Glúmur had not gone out to meet the men and did not invite anyone to sit with him or in his bed.

Egils saga 44 further corroborates that Disablót was held near winter's beginning with "much drink." Most famously, however, is Disablót's mention in the Heiðreks saga. In this story, King Álfr of Álfheimr holds a great Disablót celebration where his daughter, Álfhildr conducts the rites. Álfhildr is kidnapped while she is "reddening a horgr with blood" which suggests the ritual sacrifice during Disablót was performed by women. Other passages, such as the Ynglinga saga suggest men were capable of performing these rites as well, but disa is often connected to Disir making it a time to celebrate feminine spirits, deities, and ancestors. Whether or not women performed the rite is not particularly important as long as the Disir are being honored and celebrated.

By August Malmström - Alf Henrikson (1985) Ända Från Vendelkråka. p. 23, Public Domain

Alfablót, like Disablót is mentioned as being in the autumn in Austfararvísur, where Sigvat, a traveling poet, is denied hospitality as the family is holding Alfablót:

'Gakkat inn,’ kvað ekkja, 

‘armi drengr, en lengra; 

hræðumk ek við Óðins 

— erum heiðin vér — reiði.’ 

Rýgr kvazk inni eiga 

óþekk, sús mér hnekkði, 

alfablót, sem ulfi 

ótvín, í bœ sínum.

Do not come any farther in, wretched fellow’, said 

the woman; ‘I fear the wrath of Óðinn; we are 

heathen.’ The disagreeable female, who drove me 

away like a wolf without hesitation, said they were 

holding a sacrifice to the elves inside her farmhouse.

This passage also gives us a glimpse into what Alfablót was, "a sacrifice to the elves." Alfar translated to "elves" but is also believed to be deceased ancestors, as Frey/Freyr, who is also mentioned in Gísla saga 15 is the lord of Álfheimr, aka lord of the dead in their mounds. Furthermore, in the district of Geirstaðir, harvest sacrifices were made at the burial mound of the Norwegian king, Olaf, in hopes of bringing prosperity and good harvests. This further suggests Alfablót's connection with celebrating and honoring the dead. Today, some modern Norse pagans honor protective land spirits during Alfablót while others choose to honor their male ancestors. The sagas suggest both are accurate so it's entirely up to you what to honor during this time. The same is true of Disablót, but Disablót's clear connection with the disir suggests it is both a celebration of female ancestors and feminine spirits and goddesses alike.

Not only do these above passages suggest that Disablót and Alfablót were held during Winter Nights, but they also suggest both of these sacrifices were held privately with family and close friends, unlike Haustblót which was celebrated by the community at large. Neither Disablót nor Alfablót was necessarily a celebration, but something that you did during Winter Nights to honor ancestors, gods, and land spirits. Being a blot, we know a sacrifice of blood would have been made and perhaps followed by a small family dinner with drink. Some have suggested Alfablót is similar to Samhain, but there are very limited similarities between the two. While both celebrate the dead, there were no carved gourds, costumes, or such rituals during Alfablót.

The Stentoften Stone, bearing a runic inscription that likely describes a blót of nine he-goats and nine male horses bringing fertility to the land. By Henrik Sendelbach, CC BY-SA 3.0

This year (2024) Winter Nights begins on October 17th and concludes on October 19th. The order in which you celebrate these three blots is entirely up to you, as nothing suggests their order in the sagas. I have chosen to celebrate Alfablót on the first night followed by Disablót then Haustblót. Much like our forefathers, I plan to spend the first two nights privately celebrating those we have loved and lost while simultaneously celebrating and thanking the spirits of the land for their continued protection and support. All of this will crescendo on Saturday with a larger celebration and feast with family and friends. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on ways to celebrate Winter Nights, my sacrifice suggestions, feast recipes, and altar inspiration! Until then!

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Book Review: Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic by Amy Blackthorn

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.

Amy Blackthorn is certainly a growing household name among green witches and pagans. She has written several amazing books on incorporating plants into your magical practice, from protection to wellness to recipes. Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic: Spells, Rites, & Rituals for Living an Aromatic Life seems like a culmination of all of her hard work, crescendoing into a must-have guide, recipe book, and ritual journey in one.

Like many occult books nowadays, Blackthorn's Book of Scared Plant Magic is divided into two sections: Creating Relationships with Plants and Deeper Connections. The first section is a hodgepodge of information on developing relationships with plants, plant families, botanical divination, and ritual mindset. The information is excellent but incredibly disjointed. This made it difficult for me to read chapter to chapter as the information didn't flow well. If I am being completely honest, the information didn't always flow well within a chapter either. There were random asides and a bit of rambling at some points. While I love the information Blackthorn presents in all her books, I do not like her writing style. I know others adore it because it sort of feels like having a conversation. It's not for me though.

Despite my qualms with her writing style, the information is sound, in-depth, and unique from what I have found in many other occult books. I am so thankful for new information, ideas, and insights as it is exhausting reading about the same thing time and time again. The information is not Wiccan-inspired (thankfully) and rooted in sourced material and personal experience. Blackthorn is big on building your own personal practice and associations, as I am. I appreciate this approach, especially in light of the rampant cultural appropriation in our community.

Blackthorn discusses building relationships with plants in great detail in the first half of the book, from growing them yourself to cooking with them to making flower essences to traveling to the Otherworld to speak with them. She offers her approach to entering into a trance, which some of you may find useful, especially if you are struggling to reach an altered state of consciousness in the first place. She also offers detailed instructions and exercises along with tips, recipes, and spells woven in, allowing the reader to practice as they learn. I always enjoy this approach, especially for new witches or those looking to transform their practice. This is especially true for creating flower essences and using essential oil bottles like tarot or oracles cards. Yes, you read that correctly--essential oil bottles for divination. This approach is fascinating and has my mind reeling on what other objects I could potentially use to divine. I know we are all accustomed to runes, tarot, oracle, and even bones, but essential oil bottles? Or the plant itself? Fascinating!

As for flower essences, I think they are highly underutilized in the witch community. While I slightly disagree with Blackthorn on its appropriate uses, I do believe we are sleeping on some potent magic, especially if you are allergic to a plant you want to work with. There is a short discussion of homeopathy, but Blackthorn fails to definitively state that homeopathy does not work medicinally. There are no concrete studies supporting their use in medicine, with most pointing to any change in health being due to the placebo effect. Magically, however, flower essences are useful. According to animism, all living things have a spirit or energy. That energy can 'rub off' on things around it, particularly water. Even if a plant never physically touches the water, you can set a glass of water on top of the leaves, roots, or flowers or next to a living plant to allow the plant's energy to infuse into the water. Similar techniques are used to make crystal elixirs, especially for those that are toxic or break down easily in water.

My absolute favorite part of Blackthorn's Book of Scared Plant Magic, however, is the Botanical Listings A to Z. I love this sort of information! Like love, love it. Blackthorn presents correspondences, history/lore, and an abundance of spell ideas to incorporate the listed plants into your magical practice with a heavy emphasis on using their essential oil. Each listing ends with an essential oil recipe to help you get started. My only complaint is that the chapter was so short! I realize this is due to the constraints of the book, but I could always use more information on plants. Reading how others work with plants in their own practice provides valuable insights into how I can better work with them on my own. It also sparks my creativity, leading to new spells, rituals, and recipes for an abundance of needs.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and know I will make reference to it time and time again, even if I am not a super huge fan of the writing style. This is a must-purchase for any and all witches, new and old alike. Even if you are not super into working with plants, I promise there is information and insights in this book that will make you a better witch. You can order your copy of Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic: Spells, Rites, & Rituals for Living an Aromatic Life now, wherever books are sold!

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Magical Properties of Celestite

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

How to Create a Purification and Abundance Simmer Pot for Your Home

As the wheel turns and the days begin to shorten, you may notice your home's energy begins to grow stagnant and even chaotic. The weather here in Georgia is still beastly hot, thus preventing me from opening my windows to allow in fresh air without smothering all of us in the process. I hate the feeling of trapped energy but hate being hot and sweaty even more. So what's a witch to do? Enter the simmer pot!

Simmer pots are essentially boiled potpourri and are an excellent, non-toxic way to remove stagnant energy, uplift vibrations, and bring those autumnal scents everyone loves into the home without needing a candle. Don't get me wrong, I love a good candle as much as the next witch, but burning them too often can result in wax residue on your walls and furniture, reduced air quality, lung damage, and even death of your pets. Simmer pots, on the other hand, not only safely bring comforting fragrances into your space, but may also bring health benefits such as improved digestion, increased immune function, improved mood, and stress reduction! Furthermore, simmer pots containing whole ingredients are generally pet-safe, even those that include citrus. To ensure your and your pet's safety, avoid using essential oils or perfume oils.

This particular simmer pot is a wonderful way to purify your space, attract abundance, and uplift the energies in your home using the power of aromatics and intention. To top it all off, your home will smell of cozy autumn vibes in no time!

What You'll Need

• Pot of water
• 1 lemon slice
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 basil leaves
• 3 apple slices
• 2 orange slices
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  

What to Do

Begin by asking the spirits of your ingredients for their assistance in fulfilling this spell. If for whatever reason they deny your request, find a different plant to work with or a different individual to work with. Once you have secured the assistance of your plant allies, fill your pot three-quarters of the way full and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer. 

Add your ingredients one at a time while saying, "Lemon to clear all negativity and blockages from this space; cloves to protect and purify this home; rosemary to heal this space and clear away all stagnant energy; bay and cinnamon to draw abundance and success while protecting those within;  basil to attract wealth; apple for love and prosperity; oranges to bring joy and happiness to this family; and vanilla for peace, luck, and a home full of love."

Stir the mixture clockwise while visualizing a home full of wealth, health, and good fortune. As you continue to stir clockwise say, "With this scent, I cleanse and renew, abundance flows to me true." Let the mixture simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, adding fresh water as needed. Stir occasionally, repeating your affirmation above.

When finished, you can either strain the mixture (disposing of the whole plant parts outside) and use it to mop your floors or pour the cooled mixture outside, allowing it to return to the earth.

Modifications/Alternatives:

• If you are allergic to any of the above ingredients you can replace them with the following: hyssop (purification, cleansing), mint (wealth, abundance), lavender (protection, peace), calendula (harmony, health), pear (abundance, joy), nutmeg (luck, money), allspice (uplifting, health, strength), or star anise (luck, fortune).
• If you have no pets and would prefer to use an essential oil blend, combine 2 drops of sweet orange essential oil, 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil, 2 drops of clove essential oil, and 1 drop of lavender essential oil.

Why You Did It

Understanding the whys of a spell (or recipe) is 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 in writing 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). 

This spell begins with requesting the assistance of your plant allies. I often leave this out of my spells instructions because it should be a given, but knowing that beginner witches are reading my blog, I figure I need to start adding it in or hinting at it to encourage new and old witches alike to remember we are not here to use, but instead to work with ingredients. Everything resonates with spirit and it's those spirits that lend their aid to our magical workings. Asking them for their assistance is vital in ensuring the spell goes according to plan. An unwilling participant can cause the spell to flop or backfire.

Next, the pot was filled with water, not only as a place for the spell to occur but also because water is naturally purifying and detoxing. It helps wash away negativity, sluggishness, unwanted energy, and everything else you can imagine, leaving a clean slate. Simmer the water, which releases water vapor, combines the power of water with that of fire, which is used to burn away the old, allowing the new to grow in its stead.

The plants chosen for this recipe, as mentioned in the chant, as specifically designed to purify, cleanse, protect, and attract different types of abundance into your life and home. The order in which they are placed is important as we start with cleansing and finish by attracting what we want to replace the energy in our now purified space. Lemon, cloves, and rosemary help to clear the space, removing stagnant and unwanted energies from your home. Lemon also helps to remove any blockages that may be preventing the energies from leaving or people from moving on. Cloves, on the other hand, not only purify but also protect against negative, unwanted energies from returning, while rosemary helps heal any wounds. Cinnamon and bay attract monetary abundance and success, all while protecting the home. Basil also attracts monetary wealth, while apple brings love, orange happiness and joy, and vanilla peace and luck. By chanting what it is you ask of each plant, you are telling them exactly what you want from them. All of these plants have multiple correspondences so simply adding them without declaring your intention can result in attracting or banishing the wrong things!

Once the ingredients are all added, the mixture is stirred clockwise to attract or pull things toward you, in this case, abundance, prosperity, wealth, happiness, joy, peace, love, and a cleansed space. You could also start by stirring just the lemon, cloves, and rosemary counterclockwise to banish, then follow up with the remaining ingredients and stir clockwise to attract what you desire to your home. It's completely up to you and I encourage you to modify this spell to suit your specific needs. Stirring occasionally and restating your affirmation while visualizing your desired outcome further empowers the spell as it progresses.

Afterward, you can strain the water and use it to mop your floors or clean surfaces, or you can simply pour it outside to return it to the earth, symbolizing a release of old energy and the welcoming of new abundance. Using this mixture as a floor wash is a great way to wash away the old and bring in the new, ensuring your home is cleansed and open to abundance.

Wish to break this spell? There is no way to break this spell, but it will naturally wane over time. 

Remember to record this recipe in your Book of Shadows or use my Spell/Ritual Worksheet for reference later.

***

We are officially in autumn and what better time to cleanse and recharge a space than at the beginning of a new season? Simmer pots always make me feel so cozy and bring a sense of warmth that other spells simply cannot. May your autumn be full of abundance, love, and joy as we head toward the longest night.

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Harnessing Autumn’s Magic: Herbal Allies for Health and Witchcraft

If I haven't already made it abundantly clear, working with plants is one of the key tenets of my magical practice, just like the hedge witches who came before me. The relationships I have built with the plants in my garden and around my home are precious, allowing me to cast spells, develop rituals, and create healing medicines. As the seasons change, so do the plants I work with. Part of practicing local, animistic witchcraft means shifting with the seasons and relying on what is available. That isn't to say I don't bring in some plants that aren't necessarily prevalent this time of year, but I am definitely more cognizant of my choices each season.

Seasonal plant allies are an excellent source of magic and healing, bringing a potent natural element to your work. But what is a plant ally exactly? 

A plant ally is a plant that you have a close relationship with, much like that of a close friend. Just like real friendships, your plant allies shift and change as you grow. Some will be fair-weather friends, while others will stick with you through the thick of it. They come into our lives to guide us, challenge us, and encourage us to face life's challenges and adventures.

How you connect with your plant allies is entirely personal and a topic for another post, but developing these relationships is critical for those interested in working with plants in their magical or healing practice. We are but one spirit in the cosmos, no greater or smaller than others. Respecting others is paramount to an ethical practice, and I take it quite seriously.

Like many witches, autumn is my favorite time of year. I was born during the autumn months; my legal middle name is Autumn; I love the cooler weather, the misty weather, the changing leaves, and the all-around coziness and sense of community that comes with autumn. Autumn is such a liminal time, allowing us to tap into deep wells of magic otherwise inaccessible to most. The plants I tend to work with during autumn help me do just that, while also ensuring that despite moving indoors and into crowded spaces, I remain relatively happy and healthy.

In today's post, we will journey together to get to know the plants I rely on most during the autumn months for witchcraft and healing. I have grouped the plants based on need and offered alternatives where possible. You'll notice there is overlap with the plants and ailments mentioned in Transitioning for Summer to Autumn: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness. After all, why wouldn't there be?

For Tending to the Future

I always associate autumn with wisdom and planning ahead as students return to the classroom and store rooms are checked to ensure a family's survival through the winter. There was nothing worse for a family than failure to thoroughly plan for the months ahead. While many of us are now privileged enough to not have to worry about stocking our pantries prior to winter, we still require the wisdom and forethought that went into such a process.

The herbs on this list are magically and medicinally associated with brain health, memory, strengthening resolve, and replenishing energy.

Milky Oats (Avena sativa): Generally gathered in August after the rye harvest, milky oats are an incredible nerve tonic, supporting the nervous system and adrenals by aiding in stress management. These actions make it especially helpful for those struggling with chronic stress and fatigue as it acts as a stimulant and relaxant. Magically, milky oats are associated with clarity, tempering reactivity, prosperity, and abundance due to their generous nature. Add to spells, rituals, and remedies to clear your mind, give you strength, and ensure a prosperous remainder of the year.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): Like milky oats, rosemary is a powerful nervine stimulant that clears brain fog, improves memory, and soothes depression. While generally harvested in the summer, rosemary dries and keeps incredibly well, making it perfect for use out of 'season.' Magically, rosemary is associated with wisdom, clarity, cleansing, and purification. It can rid you of blockages and aid you in developing a working plan (not just a concept of one). Add rosemary to spells, rituals, and remedies to increase focus, remove brain fog, and bring clarity and wisdom to a situation.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Oh peppermint...while most people associate peppermint with winter (and rightfully so), it's also a potent ally for autumn. Peppermint is incredibly aromatic, acting as a nervine tonic for anxiety, tension, and 'hysteria.' It is known to help clear brain fog, stimulate memory, and awaken the mind so you can see a clear path forward. It's incredibly energizing, giving you that push you need to plan ahead. Magically, peppermint is associated with abundance, increasing psychic powers, and overall health, making it perfect for planning ahead. Add peppermint to spells, rituals, and remedies to combat fatigue, reduce tension, and energize.

Other potential plant allies for planning ahead, wisdom, and overall brain health include sage (Salvia spp.), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and ginkgo (Gingko biloba).

For Battling the Growing Shadow

As summer wanes, the shadow begins to grow over the Earth, leaving us with less and less daylight as the seasons turn to autumn and then winter. Feelings of melancholy are common during this shift and while herbs alone will not cure your depression or anxiety, they can certainly help. However, there is so much more to this darkness this time of year. As the veil begins to thin, unwanted negative entities find their way into our realm, and sometimes into our homes. Dispelling, fortifying, and protecting the home becomes critical this time of year, as darkness begets darkness.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): I adore lemon balm for its protective and uplifting nature. Harvested from June through September, lemon balm is a potent natural antidepressant, its sedative oils helping to relieve depression, anxiety, and tension. It also causes mild vasodilation, allowing blood pressure to lower and therefore reducing stress. Magically, lemon balm is associated with happiness, renewal, and cleansing. Use lemon balm in spells, rituals, and remedies to bring happiness, dispel negativity, and renew the positive energy in you or your home.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia): What a suiting name for an autumnal herb that fights off depression and negativity! Skullcap is a sedative, nervine tonic that helps reduce nervous tension while renewing and revivifying the central nervous system. It is often used to treat depression, especially depression that includes exhaustion and fatigue. It is commonly harvested from August through September, making it perfect for this time of year. Magically, skullcap is associated with peace, calm, devotion, protection, and exorcisms. Use it in spells, rituals, and remedies to remove negative energy and bring peace and calm to any situation.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): Unearthed in late fall, valerian is a well-known sedative that has not only been used to treat insomnia, but also reduce tension, anxiety, and depression. It combines well with skullcap and lemon balm to create a potent antidepressant. While its most often magically associated with sleep, it's also associated with peace, relaxation, and even protection against lightning and evil. Use valerian in spells, rituals, and remedies to dispel depression, anxiety, and tension and bring peace and relaxation to your life.

Other potential plant allies for combating depression, anxiety, fatigue, and negativity include motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), vervain (Verbena spp.), and St. Joan's Wort (Hypericum perforatum).

For An Ounce of Protection

Cooler weather means more time spent indoors and therefore more opportunities for pathogens to spread. While the cooler weather doesn't weaken our immune system, changes in our environment that increase stress and fatigue certainly do. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure" which is exactly what this recipe is. Preventing illness before it starts is far easier than trying to cure an illness once it starts.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): Elderberry is a favorite among herbalists for its wide array of uses, particularly its ability to fight off and prevent colds, fevers, and the flue. The bark and berries are collected from August through September and can be easily dried or made into a syrup that stores easily through the winter months. Magically, elderberry is associated with health (duh!), exorcism, purification, and protection. Include elderberries in spells, rituals, and remedies for protection, general health and wellness, and to remove unwanted illnesses, negativity, or other unwanted entities from you and your home.

Garlic (Allium sativum): Commonly used in fire cider, garlic is a powerful healer and protector. Garlic is a natural antiseptic, helping prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even fungi. It is used to treat and prevent colds, flu, coughs, and upper respiratory infections, reduce blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels. It being a basic component in many recipes makes it even easier to consume and there are no known downsides to daily consumption. Magically, garlic is associated with protection, exorcism, dispelling negativity, and cleansing. Use it in spells, rituals, and remedies for protection, health, wellness, and the removal of anything unwanted and unwelcome.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): Collected between July and October, nasturtium is a powerful antimicrobial, both topically and internally. It helps fight off and prevent the common cold and the flu as well as fight upper respiratory infections. Magically, it is associated with vitality, longevity, and balance. Use in spells, rituals, and remedies to prevent illness, strengthen your immune system or resolve, and bring balance internally and externally.

Other potential plant allies for an ounce of protection include milky oats (Avena sativa), echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).

For A Breath of Fresh Air

With cooler weather comes drier, harsher air and respiratory infections. On top of the weather, we also see an increase in allergy symptoms as an entirely different set of plants is blooming this time of year. Supporting respiratory health becomes paramount this time of year, as does speaking our truth. Just because the sun is waning and there is a chill in the air, does not mean that our voices should be silenced. As such, these plants will not only help you breathe easy, but also find that voice of yours.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Harvested in late fall, licorice root is an expectorant, demulcent, and antispasmodic, meaning it's perfect for treating bronchial problems such as bronchitis, coughs, and other respiratory infections. Magically, licorice is associated with love and lust, but also control, domination, and increasing magical power. As such, it can be used in spells, rituals, and remedies to remove obstacles, bind negativity, and control one's breath and voice and potentially that of another.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Thyme is an extremely common and easy plant to grow. The flowering branches are best collected between June and August, and dry very well, allowing it to be used for months after harvest. Thyme is an antimicrobial expectorant, making it perfect to treat laryngitis, tonsillitis, sore throats, bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma. Magically, thyme is used to invoke courage, banish negativity, heal, and attract happiness. Use thyme in spells, rituals, and remedies for finding and strengthening your voice, breathing easy, and removing negativity from your life.

Elecampane (Inula helenium): The rhizome of elecampane, also known as horse-heal or elfdock, is unearthed and harvested from September through October and used as an expectorant to treat coughs and bronchitis, especially among children, allowing for the removal of phlegm and catarrh. Elecampane contains chemicals that reduce inflammation, soothe irritation, and kill bacteria commonly associated with whooping cough and bronchitis. It has even been used to treat tuberculosis! It's incredibly fast-acting, reducing symptoms quickly and allowing the ill person to rest peacefully. Magically, it's associated with sustaining the spirit, protection, neutralizing negative energy, enhancing psychic abilities, and even aiding in trancework and shapeshifting. As such, elecampane can be used in spells, rituals, and remedies not only for lung support, but also to remove, protect against, and otherwise hide from illness, negativity, and other untoward creatures.

Other potential plant allies for supporting lung health, breathing easily, and finding one's voice include goldenrod (Solidago virgauria), mullein (Verbascum thapsus), plantain (Plantago spp.), and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).

***

As the wheel turns toward autumn, these plant allies can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. Magically, they can empower and enrich your spells and rituals, timing them with seasonal changes and encouraging a bright and prosperous future. How you work with these plant allies is entirely up to you, but remember to always ask them for their assistance and thank them for whatever they provide for you in return. Maintaining these relationships is important and worthwhile.

Is there a plant you like to work with during the autumn months that I failed to include on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Transitioning From Summer to Autumn: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

Keats famously coined autumn the "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness," a time characterized by the final harvests, changing leaves, cooling temperatures, and lengthening nights. Shifting from summer to autumn reminds us that all things are fleeting and that nothing lasts forever. It is a time of balance, reflection, transformation, and reaping the rewards of hard work as the final harvests are brought in. Like all in-between spaces, the transition between seasons is deeply liminal and can leave us feeling tired, drained, and out-of-sorts. This makes it a great time to work with plant allies to bolster and fortify your body, mind, and spirit for the changes ahead as well as get in touch with the magic of the season.

In today's post, I offer 3 herbal recipes to aid your transition from summer to autumn. These recipes can be used to create a variety of remedies including salves, oxymels, steams, baths, tisanes (teas), or tinctures. It's completely up to you how to use these recipes, but I encourage you to consult with the spirits of the plants, your intuition, and even your ancestors or spiritual guides to determine which preparation method is best for you. While taking it as a tisane may be best for me, you may need to use it as a steam.

For Tending to the Future

I always associate autumn with wisdom and planning ahead as students return to the classroom and store rooms are checked to ensure a family's survival through the winter. There was nothing worse for a family than failure to thoroughly plan for the months ahead. While many of us are now privileged enough to not have to worry about stocking our pantries prior to winter, we still have need of the wisdom and forethought that went into such a process. This recipe combines milky oats (Avena sativa), nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) to create a potent tonic that clears the fog, strengthens resolve, and replenishes diminished energy.

2 parts milky oats (seeds)

1 part nettle

1/2 part red clover

1/2 part rosemary

For Battling the Growing Shadow

As summer wanes, the shadow begins to grow over the Earth, leaving us with less and less daylight as the seasons turn to autumn and then winter. Feelings of melancholy are common during this shift and while herbs alone will not cure your depression or anxiety, they can certainly help. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is well known for its ability to elevate one's mood, soothe anxiety, and even fight off minor colds. Peppermint (Menta piperita), like lemon balm, also improves mood and increases calmness, while also leaving you alert and self-confident.

1 part peppermint

1/2 part lemon balm

For An Ounce of Protection

Cooler weather means more time spent indoors and therefore more opportunities for pathogens to spread. While the cooler weather doesn't weaken our immune system, changes in our environment that increase stress and fatigue certainly do. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure" which is exactly what this recipe is. Preventing illness before it starts is far easier than trying to cure an illness once it starts. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) is famous among herbalists for its immune-boosting properties which not only fight off infections but prevent them as well. Combined with echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), this herbal remedy is a surefire way to ensure you and your family stave off illness this autumn. While you can take this remedy in many forms, a syrup or oxymel is best.

1 part elderberries

1/2 part echinacea root

1/4 part goldenseal root

***

As the wheel turns toward autumn, these recipes can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. If you are like me, autumn is your favorite time of the year and there is nothing worse than squandering the season sick, depressed, and in a haze. This is a time of change and final harvests, a time when we can see the fruits of our labor finally come to pass. Move toward the future with the help of these plant allies and enjoy the season to its fullest.

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Magical Properties of Blue Calcite

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Magical and Medicinal Uses of Dill

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Mercury
Element: Fire
Powers: Lust, Love, Money, Protection

Magical Uses and History: Sometimes referred to as "the magician's herb," dill has long been used in magic for a variety of purposes, most often protection. Its speculated its protective properties are due to its strong smell. In Ancient Rome, gladiators would sometimes rub dill over their bodies prior to engaging in mortal combat to ensure the user would make it out alive. It was also often added to their food to inspire courage and valor, as well as for protection against bodily harm. During the Medieval period, the saying, "Therewith her Vervain and her Dill, That hindereth witches of their will." became popular, especially among magicians who prescribed it to treat curses and protect against witchcraft. This led to numerous protection spells against witches over the centuries. It is said that drinking a cup of dill water reverses a witch's spell while placing it above the door or windows to prevent evil from entering. It was also placed under cribs to protect children and even carried on a person to prevent harm from befalling the bearer. In Germany, it was hung above the door to prevent envious people from entering your home and therefore bringing negativity and ill will inside with them. In other regions, dill was nailed to a door to trap ill-disposed individuals or negativity inside a dwelling. As such, dill makes an excellent addition to spells not only for protection but also to trap negative energy into a place or object. The Polish commonly used dill to defend against and even vanquish nightmares, further adding to dill's laundry list of protective uses. In addition to the aforementioned uses, you can also add dill to protection spells by anointing candles in dill oil or rolling them in dried dill, adding it to protection sachets, burning it as an incense, or using it in a protection bath tea. The seeds can also be placed in a sachet or pouch and worn over the heart to protect against the Evil Eye or the seeds can be scattered around your home for the same purpose.

Apart from its abundant protective uses, dill is also associated with lust and love. Dill is a mild aphrodisiac and has been used for such purposes since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Ancient Egyptians used dill oil to enhance arousal and sexual desire while later in Germany and Belgium, dill was added to wedding bouquets or affixed to wedding dresses to ensure a loving and happy marriage. However, some brides would combine both mustard and dill seeds not only to ensure a happy marriage but also to ensure the wife's dominance. The seeds were hidden within the bride's dress while she said, "I have you, mustard and dill, Husband, when I speak, you stay still." Honestly, I love this for women because historically they held very little power in society, at least on the surface. On the other hand, the ancient Greeks called dill "Herme's Semen," due to its prolific nature and abundance of seeds, and is therefore deeply associated with fertility and lust. As such, dill leaves and seeds can be used in spells and rituals to attract a lover, induce lust, ensure a happy marriage, or to ensure your spells or actions are fruitful. Bathing in dill oil or water is said to make the bather irresistible, and supposedly can turn platonic love into passion.

Its abundance of seeds also connects dill with wealth and prosperity. Carry dill seeds in your purse, wallet, or cash register to ensure you will always have plenty of money, keep a pouch of dill seeds in your pantry so your family will never go without, or add to any spells and rituals to attract wealth, abundance, and prosperity to your life. Contrary to this belief, European monks believed dill had the opposite effect, reducing fertility and hindering lust. They believed dill's potent smell could drive away incubuses who preyed on sleeping women and prevent them from becoming pregnant with a demon's baby. If you ascribe to such beliefs, add dill to spells to ward off sexual advances or prevent others from being fruitful in their endeavors.

Finally, dill derives its name from the Norse dilla or dylla meaning "lull" or "soothe." This is most commonly attributed to dill's ability to treat cramps, stomach upset, and flatulence, especially among children. Dill is sometimes called the "meetinghouse seed" as it was chewed not only by adults to keep them awake, but by babies and children to prevent them from crying, either from colic or hunger. "Gripe water," which is made from dill seeds, was also commonly given to children or adults suffering from stomach upset to reduce stomach cramps and flatulence and ensure a restful night's sleep. As such, dill can be added to spells to soothe a situation or bring calm and quiet to the home after a major upset.

Dill can be used in a number of spells including:

   Happiness Spells

   Marriage Spells

   Dispelling Negativity

   Protection Magic

   Prosperity and Abundance Magic

Medicinal Uses: While most people use dill leaves and stems in cooking, their seeds are commonly used medicinally. Dill is a natural carminative and antispasmodic, making it great at treating flatulence, cramps, and bloating (and associated colic), especially in children. Dill can also be used to stimulate milk production in lactating persons. The seeds and leaves are also anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory help to ward off infection, reduce arthritis symptoms, and even treat halitosis. Dill is also a natural diuretic so take it with plenty of water.

Preparation and Dosage: To create an infusion, combine 1 cup of boiling water with 1-2 teaspoons of gently crushed dill seeds. Allow the mixture to infuse for 10-15 minutes before enjoying. Alternatively, combine 1-2 teaspoons of freshly chopped dill with 1 cup boiling water and infuse for 20 minutes for the same effect. If treating flatulence, drink this infusion prior to eating. As a tincture, take 1-2 milliliters up to three times a day. To treat halitosis, chew on a few dill seeds.

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar. 

Book Review: Living Conjure by Starr Casas

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.

Earlier this week, I finished Living Conjure: The Practice of Southern Folk Magic by Starr Casas. Casas is a long-time Conjure practitioner, having learned from her family in the mountains of Kentucky. As a Northerner living in the South, I am fascinated by the practices of those outside of the cities, especially those in Appalachia where I live. There is something special about those mountains and the people that live there, and Casas does a great job of giving readers a glimpse into that culture.

Living Conjure is broken into five parts which build on each other. The first 2 parts lay the foundation for conjure and briefly introduce the practices conjurers use every day. Casas then goes on to introduce symbols and signs, tools such as herbs and curios, and finally how to make oils, washes, powders, and candles. It was the final part that I found most interesting because it included the actual "spells" and rituals that you can use in your conjure practice. Part 5 is full of so much useful information, unique perspectives, and practical applications that any occult practitioner can benefit from reading.

I appreciate that Casas has taken the time, despite the naysayers, to preserve this knowledge for future generations. She mentions multiple times that the Elders are dying without passing on their knowledge to others. While Conjure has largely been secretive, the need to preserve the culture outweighs the secrecy. Does this mean Conjure is open to anyone willy-nilly? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean others can't pick up this book, learn about the culture, and develop a respectful practice of their own. Casas also does an amazing job recognizing the roots of Conjure and how struggle, perseverance, and trauma informed the practice as a whole. You cannot separate Conjure from its past, let alone the history and culture from which it arose and for what purpose. Witchcraft has always been an act of resistance, and Conjure is no different. Lately, I have been extremely frustrated with the occult community for saying things like "keep politics out of witchcraft." Anyone saying shit like this is clearly performative and has absolutely no business practicing or educating others about witchcraft because they haven't learned our history.

While there are many parts of Living Conjure that I enjoyed, I did not like the writing style. This is a personal preference as Casas writes like she speaks. This book is a conversation and I am not always a fan of conversations. It's very likely the rest of you will love the writing style, including the repetition. It just wasn't for me. Furthermore, Casas includes a list of herbs and their uses but doesn't include scientific names. She relies heavily on cultural folk names and if you are unfamiliar with these folk names, it's going to make it difficult for you to figure out which herbs to use for which recipes.

Living Conjure is a very simple introduction to Conjure, scratching just the surface to give those interested in potentially dabbling in Conjure an idea of what to expect. This is not a complete guide and should not be treated as such. Instead, it should be paired with other books such as Doctoring the Devil: Notebooks of an Appalachian Conjure Man by Jake Richards, Mountain Conjure and Southern Rootwork by Orion Foxwood, or New World Witchery by Thomas Hutcheson. Combined, these 5 books will give you an excellent foundation and provide you with everything you need to be truly successful. Living Conjure is available wherever books are sold.

If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar.