Category: Festivals and Holidays

Festivals, holidays, celebrations, etc. This will include posts on personal, local, regional, national, or international holidays or festivals.

New Year Magical Reset

It’s the new year! Here’s a quick list of tasks you can tackle to set yourself up for a great new year.

Cleansing yourself.

Taking time for yourself at the beginning of the year can really help set yourself up for a continuing habit of making space for yourself for the rest of the year.

A cleansing bath or shower is a great start, but you can tailor this to your preferences. Maybe a kickass ritual or dance party is a cleansing method you’d prefer.

Cleanse and reset your space

Cleanse your home, your workspace, your altar or magical workspace, and your vehicle. Use any method of cleansing that you’d prefer. Citrus and uplifting scents are especially good, as they can lift the moods.

Update and organize your altar as needed

Most practitioners update their altar or magical workspace seasonally or at their holidays. Resetting it at the new year is also a good idea, as it gives you a chance to organize, clean, and repair altar items when you’re not scurrying to set up your altar for the next holiday.

Toss out any out-of-date herbs and spells

This is a great time to go through your herbal cabinet and toss any ingredients that are no longer usable. Even dried herbs have experiation dates and even if you don’t consume them, really old herbs aren’t best practice for spellwork.

Especially toss out or compost the expired herbs if you make potions or other edibles.

If you use spell jars or other spells that have some sort of component sitting on a shelf, weed through that too. Do you really need that candle stub from three years ago?

Rehome any magical tools that no longer resonate with you

Magical practitioners can turn into dragons, hoarding magical tools they haven’t even looked at in five years. This is a great time to rehome those magical tools. Sell, donate, or give away decks of cards, crystals, books, magic mirrors, excess jars, brooms, witchy jewelry and clothing, and so on.

Renew your protection spells

Most long-term protection spells will need a renewal of some kind. Might as well do it on the new year so you don’t forget to do it at all.

Self-care spells

Like the cleansing yourself section, this is a great time to focus on self-care, beauty, and self-improvement spells.

Motivation spells (for those new year resolutions)

Cast motivation spells so you can stick to those new year resolutions or intentions. It’s also good to tackle that long-due project that needs doing.

Good Luck Spells

The new year is an excellent time to cast good luck and lucky spells.

Health spells

Wishing someone good health for the new year is very common. Health boosting spells are always a good choice for spells at any time of year, but it’s especially nice at the start of the new year.

Make herbal bath salts

A craft that’s easy to do and personalized for you. Bath salts can be used for self-care, but they can also be used as prep before a big ritual or to give a bit of magical intention to your day without doing a big spell.

Bath salts that boost health, good luck, motivation, and so on double up on your potential new year tasks.

Set up your (witchy) journal or planner

Make note in your journal or planner the full moons, new moon, other astronomical or astrological events, and each holiday you celebrate.

There are ready-made journals and planners out there, but you can also make some for yourself or doctor up an online calendar for your purposes too.

Intentions or Resolutions for the year

If you make a resolution or intention, this is the time to declare it. Make a post-it note or something similar and place it on your fridge or in your bathroom to remind yourself of your goals.

New Year Rituals

New Year Rituals tend to be about renewal. They can also be about closing out the previous year, gaining new opportunities, or bringing good luck and fortune for the new year.

Divinations

Many divinations are traditionally casted on the new year. It’s also a great time to grab a reading to predict how your year is going to go.

What other tasks do you complete during the new year?

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13 Easy Spells for Halloween

13 Easy Spells for Halloween

Happy Halloween! Here’s 13 spells to use on Halloween. There are many spells that are suppose to work best on Halloween. There’s wishing spells, love spells, luck spells, divination, and more. Most I’ve pulled from Judika Illes’ The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells and I’ve included the sources when possible.

I’m mostly sharing spells that would be fun to try in a secular context, spur of the moments, or with little prep. Most of them are easy enough beginners, laypersons, or the curious can try with little to no knowledge or tools. A few can even be tried at parties or with children.

Additionally, dumb suppers or dumb dinners are very common on Halloween as a means of ancestor worship. Depending on the tradition, either a table setting is placed for the person you wish to invite at your regular sit-down dinner, or a special meal is planned with the exact intention of inviting a spirit or spirits or ancestors. A more casual approach would be to set a plate, glass, and  utensils off the side at a party so the spirit may help themselves. There’s lots of rituals posted about this rituals, so have a quick google to see if one of these rituals is right for you.

Fallng Leaves Wish

“If you can carch a leaf falling from a tree before it touches the ground, on Hallowe’en, you can have a wish.”

Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionry of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 230

Note, other versions of this supersition say it can be done any time of the autumn season and that it grants good luck, a good day, or a good year instead of a wish.

Halloween Wishing Spell

“At midnight on Halloween stand naked before a mirror in a room lit only by a single candle. Silently make your secret wish. Don’t speak until morning.”

Source: Illes, Judika. The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Harper Collins 2008 edition. Page 763.

Halloween Apple Luck Spell

“After nightfall on October 31st, each member of the household receives and apple. Apples may be distributed by hand or you may bob for them, as desired. Everyone must eat their one for a year of good luck.”

Source: Illes, Judika. The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Harper Collins 2008 edition. Page 738

Halloween Candle Luck Spell

“At midnight on October 31st, burn orange and black candles. Allow them to burn out naturally to receive a year of good luck.”

Source: Illes, Judika. The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Harper Collins 2008 edition. Page 738

Halloween [Love] Spell

“1. Write your romantic affirmations and aspiration on a piece of paper.

2. Fold it up over either a lump of dragon’s blood resin or some dragon’s blood powder.

3. Toss it into the fire on Halloween night. “

Source: Illes, Judika. The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Harper Collins 2008 edition. Page 639

Pricking a Candle on Halloween

“Get a candle, set it up, and light it, and stick pins in it – every pin has to have a ‘ditty’ said (this ‘ditty’ is forgotten, unfortunately, but each pin seems to stand for a separate man known to the charm worker.) The candle burns down first to one pin then to another ehen it gets to the right man the door will open and he will appear.”

Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 55

Three Dishes Divination

“Take three dishes, put clean water in one, foul water in another, and leave the third empty: blind-fold a person, and lead him to the hearth were the dishes are ranged; he (or she) dips the left hand: if by chance in the clean water, the future husband or wife will come to the bar of Matrimoney a maid; if in the foul, a widow; if in the empty dish, it foretells, with equal certainty, no marriage at all. It is repeated three times, and every time the arrangement of the dishes is altered.”

Souce: Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 120

Wind Divination

“According to Welsh tradition, anyone going to a crossroads on Hallowe’en and listening carefully to the wind may learn what the next year has in store and, when the church clock strikes midnight, will hear a list of the names of those who are to die in the locality over the next twelve months.”

Source: Pickering, David. Cassell Dictionary of Supersitions. Cassell 1995. Page 125-6

Ivy Leaf Divination

“The following Hallowe’en charm was practised recently, to satisfy a morbid desire to know if any member of the family would die during the coming year. An ivy leaf was taken for each one and placed in a bowl of water, to remain all night. The leaves were marked, so that each person knew his or her own, and it was believed that any to die soon would have a coffin marked on the leaf in the morning.”

Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 214

Love Oracle (13) Halloween Daphnomancy

“1. Sit before a low but steady fire in the fireplace. Gaze into the flame.

2. Focus on your beloved or on your desires. Formulate your question.

3. Have a small supply of bay leaves at hand. Without taking your eyes off the fire and your mind from your desire, toss a small handful of bay leaves into the fire.

4. Chant:

“Laurel leaves that burn in the fire.

Draw to me my heart’s desire.”

5. Once the flames die down, repeat again for a total of three repetitions.

If the flames shoot up, or leaves crackle and pop, you’ve received very auspicious signs: your wishes will be fulfilled. However, quiet leaves and dim flames counsel patience or perhaps a change of plans.”

Source: Illes, Judika. The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Harper Collins 2008 edition. Page 319

Mirror Divination to See Your Future Spouse

“Take a candle, and go alone to a looking-glass; eat an apple before it and some traditions say, you should comb your hair all the time; the face of your conjugal companion, to be, will be seen in the glass, as if peeping over your shoulder.”

Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 252

“Stand before a looking-glass, combing your hair with one hand and eating an apple held in the other, when the face of the man you are to marry will be seen in the glass looking over your shoulder.”

Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 252

“Superstition suggest that, if a girl stands before a mirror while eating and apple and combing her hair at midnight on Hallowe’en, her future husband’s immage will be reflected in the glass over her left shoulder.”

Source: Pickering, David. Cassell Dictionary of Supersitions. Cassell 1995. Page 126

Note, this is a very common divination mentioned throughout history.

Garlic Protection

“Garlic, hung about the house on All Hallows Eve, will keep away evil spirits.”

Source: Opie, Iona & Tatem, Moira. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press 1992 edition. Page 172

Pacify Ghost Halloween Spell

“At midnight on Halloween bury apples at crossroads to feed hungry ghosts.”

Source: Illes, Judika. The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Harper Collins 2008 edition. Page 281

Hope you have a happy Halloween!

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Bell Cleansing New Year Spell (Spell Saturday)

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Happy new year!

I don’t know about all of you, but sometimes a cleansing is exactly what you need to start the new year fresh. If you don’t get the chance to do a cleansing before the turn of the calendar year, that doesn’t mean all is lost. Just do it now (or as soon as you can).

What you’ll need:

  • A bell with a good, clear, pleasant sound

Ideally, you should use a bell made from materials appropriate to cleansing and then blessed. But not everyone’s sinking their cash into a bell unless they really want to. I find this type of cleansing works perfectly well using any kind of bell, even a bell sound from your phone. My only real qualifications is that the bell has to sound clear and pleasant to you.

Once you’ve acquired your bell or bell sound, go to each door of your house, including the front and back door, and open them all.

Standing on the threshold of the door, start by ringing the bell and “chase” the old year out of the house. Move in a flowing motion through each room of the house, ringing the bell as often as you like.

I usually do three times for ever space I enter and I usually start with rooms to the east of my house, but the flowing motion of the rooms is more important than the actual direction for this spell.

With each ring of the bell, say “I chase you out [year]!” But you can also say something like “Begone [year]!” and “Get out [year] and take the baggage with you!” You can also say things like “Leave ill omens!” or “I cleanse this room and my luck.” Whatever feels best for you. Go with your instincts here.

As you leave each room, shut the door behind you firmly. Chase the old year out the back door of your house. Stop at the threshold of the door and shut it without stepping outside.

Notes:

  • If you live in a home with only one door, then chase the new year out of the front door, but make sure you make a complete circle of the house first.
  • If you live in a home with a fire escape rather than a back door, you can safely use the fire escape as a “back door” instead of the front door, if you prefer.
  • If you have more than two doors, then the final door of the spell should be the one furthest from the first door of the house.

First Days, a New Year’s Week Tradition

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Have you ever heard of the ritualized idea that what you do on the first day of the new year will continue on for the rest of the year? If you spend a lot of January first sleeping or arguing, the rest of the year will contain that.

I first heard of this from my friend Ginandjack. Eventually, I changed the tradition to a week long ritual of sorts. I LOVE the concept of it and I find that it really does work. Here’s my eight day long ritualized tradition.

December 31st, Day of Regret

  • Do things I don’t want to do in the new year but absolutely must get done.
  • Reflect and journal as needed
  • Divination for lessons learned, if needed
  • Clean the entire house
  • Food shopping
  • Settle debts, return borrowed things, lend things out as needed.
  • Schedule or pay bills early if possible
  • Contact people I want to see LESS of next year

January 1st

  • Do only the things that you want to spend most of the year doing.
  • Life a healthy lifestyle.
  • Do things that I want to encourage more of moving forward
  • Do not spend money (unless something MUST be paid for today and cannot be paid for earlier)
  • Eat foods that are considered good luck such as long noodles, circular foods, and so on.
  • Avoid doing chores such as laundry, dishes, and so on (unless necessary)
  • The first “random” song I hear during the New Year (ie, not one I know is coming or expect during New Year celebrations) can be taken as a prophecy.
  • The second song I hear should be one I choose that I want to be thematic for the upcoming year.
  • Divination is king
  • Visit or talk to people I want to see more of. (Sometimes I’ll bring food or salt with me as a New Year’s Luck Gift)
  • Nothing leaves the house (items)
  • Do not lend or borrow anything out.
  • No tears or you may cry for the rest of the year.
  • Wake up and get moving early (for me) in the morning.
  • Make bread
  • Make offerings
  • Watch the sunrise
  • See midnight in my region
  • Start routines I want to continue

January 2nd

  • Pay bills or schedule bills
  • Buy things I want to spend money on this year (vegetables or fruit are a great example), if I want to or need to. I prefer to try going to entire week without spending any extra money, but that’s just me.
  • Accomplish tasks I want to do more of, but don’t necessarily feel are as important as the things I wanted to do yesterday. An example might be I read a book yesterday and watched TV today)

January 3rd-7th

  • Continue what I’ve already started
  • Keep doing tasks I want to do more of during the year, but didn’t get to the days before.
  • Hop back on the bandwagon for things I intend to do everyday or on a schedule but already missed a day.
  • Remember to live my best and most healthy for me lifestyle

Obviously, this is a lot to observe and some of it requires prep. For example, if I intend to do New Year’s visits and bring gifts, I will actually prep them on the 31st and leave them in my vehicle or put them in a gift bag which clearly indicates what it’s intended purpose is. All of those items are things I won’t want back – like tupperware and so on.

I have noticed that the order in which I do things matter. For example, one year I decided to wait until the fifth day of the year to pay all my bills (my bills are all due at the middle or end of the month). For the rest of the year, I almost never paid the bills earlier than the fifth and a few times only just remembered to pay them before the due date. I normally always pay them on the second, so this was an odd change for me. The next year I switched back to paying them on the second and the other eleven months followed suit.

I also like to make sure I’m making changes from my previous routine if I decide I don’t like that routine. A good example would be changing to “work from home” clothes rather than just straight up pajamas or wearing the kind of style that you prefer rather than what’s “easier” (like you prefer cottage core but your easier style is sweat and a tee).

There are, of course, some things that I’d like to do more of but can’t. Swimming is one of my most favorite things in the world to do. However, I don’t have access to a pool in the colder months so I sometimes but on a bathing suit and listen to a water based soundscape for a while or I’ll take an extra long bath. If it’s warm enough, I’ll even drive to a beach and stick my feet into the freezing water.

(Did you know Rhode Island, where I’m from, does a polar plunge each year? A polar plunge which is when people go for a swim on the first of the year. Spending the first of the year on a beach is always nice. It’s a life goal to participate in that one day).

I know a lot of people do the first day of the year thing, but I like to extend it for the full week, to get any new routines off to a good start. Plus, then there isn’t as much guilt if you skip something due to lack of time or energy or whatever.

Anyway, that’s what I like to do during the first week of a new year. I find the tradition does tend to represent the rest of the year, but maybe that’s just me. What do you all think?

Welcome to 2019!

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Welcome to 2019! I hope your year is completely fantastic and full of bright blessings. I hope for a waning or even removal of all unwanted things for you. I hope for a brilliant start and a better finish with a good, solid middle. I hope and wish for your story to be amazing this year.

I know I’m not alone in being extremely glad to see the back of 2018. It was, in short, a horrific fucking year for me. And a fallow year on top of that where most ambitions didn’t pan out. In fact, it was only around Halloween where I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Extremely frustrating and I know many others felt the same way.

But it’s over now! Which is the best thing ever and that means that it’s time to get the new year off to a great start.

I have this ritual I do. A friend of mine brought the idea to my attention years and years ago and I’ve since expanded it and made it my own. The idea is this: make the first day of January, the first day of the year, how you want to spent the rest of the year.

I take this even farther. I spend the whole first week, the first seven days of the new year, doing things I want to do for the rest of the year. I also avoid doing things I don’t want to do for the year during those seven days.

The first day of the year (today) is spent largely on things I consider really important to me. So I usually do some reading, writing, work, and things I enjoy. I also add whatever I want or need to do this year to my to do list. Usually that includes typically less fun things like editing, exercise, and so on. Even if I only do it for a few hours, I try to fit it all in. It depends on what I need in my life for the future, but I like to keep it to a handful of things each year.

That does mean that the days before the new year are spent scrambling to make sure that I don’t need to wash dishes, do laundry, or any other onerous tasks during that first day. The prep is worth it, to be honest, because I’ve skipped the prep before and did laundry on the first and the new year had SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY. SO MUCH. Now I take the prep seriously.

Anyway, I do find that how I spend that first day and week reflects strongly with the rest of the year. Years I do very little during that time, the year has little happening. The days I spend focusing on bringing the best of my life forward, the better the year I have.

Speaking of years, what will 2019 be like? I, like every other practitioner, drew some cards to find out.

2019 New Year Reading by This Crooked Crown | thiscrookedcrown.com | Decks featured: Girls Underground: A Story Oracle by Sarah Kate Istra Winter © (left and right top), Witchlings by Paulina Cassidy by © US Games Systems (middle top), Sacred Creators Oracle by Chris-Anne Donnelly © Chris-Anne.com (left bottom), Rebel Deck © Shannon Gomez (right bottom)

What 2019 will be like? She gains a boon + She opens a door

Expect great opportunities and change in the future. 2019 is your chance to make things happen. It’s your chance to take and create opportunities for yourself.

It’s time to stop planning for the future and actually DO something. Action is not only required, but it’s happening. The wheel has started turning and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Any hesitation you have in 2019 will only be stagnation. It will be a pause or halting. No forward progress will occur. Instead, take some chances. Embrace the opportunities set before you. There’s going to be quite a few, including a major boon of some kind. This good thing might be a new job opportunity, new housing becoming available to you, a new lover, or something else that’s really exciting. Once you see this opportunity, seize it. It’s time to set the past aside and give yourself a chance to shine.

What should be encouraged for 2019? Euphoria: Euphoria is a cosmic connection to the magick within and around you.

Fall in love with your magic once again. You have a power inside of you. Your magic, your passion, your life. At some point, that spark full of love for those things waned, like a sky full of stars hidden by dark rain clouds. Those rain clouds have passed.

This is a new year. this is the best time fall back in love with your special brand of magic and passion. Maybe you’ll return to basics, reliving some of those original inspirations that urged you onto the path you once loved. Or maybe you’ll just let the flow take you back to what feels safe, comfortable, and beloved.

Allow yourself to love things. Allow yourself to love people and situations. It’s so easy to become apathetic. It’s so easy to become jaded and worn when the world seems to want to tear you apart. Add more love to your life any way you can, reconnect with your inner magic and inner self, and see what you can accomplish when you motivate yourself with your internal, inner power rather than wage war against the external world.

What will bring success for 2019? The now

This is your wake up call. You’ve been sitting on plans for a while now. You’ve been sleeping and waiting for something to change. This is that change. This is exactly the sign you’ve been looking for. Yes, really, it is.

There will never be enough money, enough time, enough love, enough done that will let you accomplish your goals. That’s the lie about life. It is never done until death comes. So why are you putting off living because some previous goals or thresholds haven’t been met?

This is your chance. This is your time to take a risk. Trust yourself and do it.

What needs to be known for 2019? You got a feeling you just. can’t. shake. + That little voice inside you? Listen to that shit

Your instincts, intuition, and gut feelings are going to be your guides this year. This is all about following that base instinct that says, “do this, run here, fight this, sacrifice this, sleep now, you’ve done enough, rest, rise and seize the day”.

That’s what you need to focus on for 2019. Plans are all well and good, but you need to spend a good chunk of this year just winging it (as safely as possible. I mean, don’t ruin yourself on a whim unless you’ve got some semblance of a backup plan. There’s risk and there’s recklessness. Take the risk, but skip the recklessness.)

Still. This year, 2019, is about closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, and listening to what your heart, spirit, and soul wants. It’s about releasing your held breath and taking the plunge. Try this year. Do something that makes you happy. It’s time to stop punishing yourself and fighting against the tide. Instead, try swimming out to sea. You might find a wondrous adventure there instead.

I hope your 2019 is magnificent!

Hello 2018!

Welcome to 2018! How are you spending your first day of the new year?

2018 new year

I always spend my first week of the new year doing exactly what I want the rest of my year to be like. So the last days of the year are flurries to try and get stuff like laundry out of the way so I don’t have to do it often during the first week of the new year. Instead, I’ll spend time with my family, write, divine, visit spirits, and talk to friends. I’ll play video games, bake and cook, and work out. I make it a point to do the things I love and want to do more of during this time.

I have several goals for the new year, some of them more personal like baking and cooking more a week to more grand things like launching a witchcraft 101 course or publishing another novel.

Yeah, you read that right. A witchcraft 101 course and another novel. More on both of those at a later date.

Anyway, I’m not big on resolutions so I’ve started to pick words or themes to define my new year. For 2018, I’ve selected Empowerment. I don’t want opportunities handed to me, I want them to be forged. I want others to feel powerful and strong too. This is something I want to share with the world.

Empowerment also is a great word for witches because it indicates using magic to create our own future with our own hands. I want to do that with 2018. I want to make it my year because I have the power to do so.

If you want to make it your year, here’s a selection of spells you can use to do just that:

 

I hope your 2018 is a wonderful year filled with many great and wonderful things. Happy new year!

Goodbye 2017!

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I don’t know about you but I’m really happy to show 2017 to the door. I had a great year but it’s been SO FREAKIN’ BUSY. I’m so ready for a fresh start.

While I’ve spent the last few days finishing up business and setting up the things for next year. I figured set up a rock solid January rather than randomly posting throughout December.

Quickly, so you can get ready for your new year’s parties, here’s some highlights for 2017 for This Crooked Crown.

Pros:

  • Published my first novel Spirit Walker
  • Published the free online sourced correspondence lists.
  • Fantastic solar eclipse
  • Won a Camp NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo (meaning I wrote two books)
  • New eyeglasses & met some fitness goals
  • Got a new monitor and hard drive for the shop
  • Renovated my mom’s kitchen
  • Had some really great spells, crafts, and baking results.
  • Read so many books.

Cons:

  • Absolutely terrible year socially and politically in my part of the world. (Elsewhere wasn’t haven’t a fantastic time either)
  • Broke my schedule for posting online
  • Had to push back a major thing for the third time.
  • Wasn’t able to put out a few projects I wanted to complete.

 

So it’s actually been a pretty good year on the surface for me but there’s a lot of back end stuff that didn’t happen. That being said, I expect that 2018 will be far better as several projects are coming to fruition there.

Before you go, here’s some last minute witchy ideas to ring in the new year:

  • Use a sugar or salt scrub to “wash away” the old year and enter the new year with “fresh skin”.
  • Wear a color that represents what you want the new year to be like tonight. Wear sexy red pajamas to bring more sex or romance into your life. Wear black and blue to protect yourself or green and gold for wealth and prosperity.
  • Make the first meal you have in 2018 something that you want to eat all year. So if you plan on hitting the gym, snag a celery stick instead of a chip for that first bite.
  • Stir your drinks towards you to bring things towards you after midnight but stir away from you before midnight to send things away.
  • Spend the first day of the new year how you want to spend the rest of the year, if you can.
  • Set up full moon rituals in advance, rolling them together so each full moon has a little of that newness power to it. The first is also the first full moon of 2018.
  • No special someone to kiss in the new year? Place that first kiss on a pet, platonic consenting friend, or on an idol for your deity or spirits.
  • Ring a bell at midnight to dismiss the old year (and all its negativity) and bless the new year.

Happy new year! I’ll see you tomorrow in 2018!

5 More Ways to Bewitch Your Holiday Shopping

We’re back for round three of the Bewitch Holiday Shopping. Check out Bewitch Your Holiday Shopping and Bewitch Even More of You Holiday Shopping for more tips. Well, here’s some more.

01 Enchant Your Soles

If you aren’t already doing this, then this is the chance. Enchant the soles of your most comfortable shoes with a guiding spell. Ideally, the spell should lead you towards the things you’re looking for.

02 Clear Mind

Have you ever been shopping, with a list of things to get, and about halfway through you’ve completely lost your head? I do all the time. I’m easily distracted so I usually loose my head halfway through a shopping list unless I have few errands or a very strict list.

Get a glass or plastic bottle, or even a ziploc bag, and put a quartz crystal, rosemary, citrine, apple slices, coffee, and cinnamon. Eyebright, green tea, or gotu kola are good additives too. Carry this with you when you go out to keep yourself focused.

03 Money Savings

Want to save some extra cash? Carry some basil, clover, and mint in your wallet or purse. When you add them to your wallet or purse, envision putting money into your walet instead of herbs.

04 Make and Pack a Snack

Making granola bars is actually extremely easy. You just need the ingredients, a dish, a bowl, a spoon, a knife, cling wrap, and a fridge. The ingredients are usually peanut butter, oats, honey or agave, and additives, like diced chocolate or nuts. There’s TONS of recipes for granola bars so do a quick google search for a good recipe that you like. Once you have a recipe, you can start the magic.

As you stir the ingredients, say, sing, speak, think, or envision you having fun and getting your goals accomplished in your shopping trip. When you spread out the granola, pat it down and pack it in nicely. As you pat it down, think of you patting your full wallet at the end of the trip. Chill the granola for at least an hour before cutting. Store in a plastic bag and carry with you when you go out.

05 Protect Your Purchases

Theft of items from vehicles is really common during the holiday season. There’s so many expensive items being bought that are desired under the tree. So it’s really important to protect your purchases and vehicle. Place protection charms, amulets, and spells over your vehicle and purchases. THe best way to make sure that your stuff’s protected is to set up a spell ahead of time. Maybe the spell’s been cast and every time you relock the door, the spell gains strength. There’s a lot of things you can do and it’s definitely something to consider, depending on what you really want to use on a daily basis.

So what do you think? What witchy techniques do you use to make your holiday shopping easier?

Witchy Shopping Gift Guide

Wondering what to get your witchy pals for Yule? Need to grab some gifts for your coven or are clueless about what to place under the tree for that crazy new age boho hippie aunt? Or maybe you have a little spare cash to get yourself a gift from Santa. Almost all of these gifts are perfect year round so refer back to this list and these shops for Beltane or your bestie’s birthday.

I’ll be honest, many of these items are customized or made to order. They’re all indie artists or small businesses from around the world, including shops in New England.

Under $10

Bunny and Bird Tarot Deck Bag

Tumblrite Cracked Amethyst is known for their decks and art but they also make deck bags. I highly recommend grabbing the Amethyst Oracle deck while you’re there because it’s amazing.

Skull and Succulent Enamel Pin

If you haven’t seen Evil Supply Co. I don’t know what to tell you but you’re missing out. They started as a stationary company and have expanded to mugs, pins, and shirts. They’re also responsible for an incredibly popular tumblr blog. If you read my tumblr blog, you’ve seen Evil Supply Co’s work. I recommend them entirely and I actually had a hard time to find something that wasn’t under $10.

Winter Court Tea

Dryad Tea sells loose tea blends by the ounce. Inspired by fairies, books, and musicians (such as pagan musician S.J. Tucker and Jim Butcher’s Dresden series), these teas are great for fans and practitioners alike. Be sure to check out the shop fo the whole selection.

Horn Hair Comb

Hair is often considered sacred within various religions and practices. Horn combs help distribute your hair’s natural oils an can help reduce static in your hair. This comb is handmade in Vietnam by local artisans there and sold by those same artisans. Plus, you can get this comb for under $10 – including shipping. Pick up some other horn jewelry as well. Remember, horn was a traditional crafting material so it can make a lovely offering or representive piece to the gods.

Brass Die

A solid brass die hand made in Poland and reconstructed from an actual historical find in Lowick, England. The rest of Sulik’s shop is full of treasures hand crafted after actual archaeological and historical finds. Perfect for your reconstructionist pagan friends, LARPers, or board game fans.

Under $15

Magician Tarot Card Necklace

Made of brass, this necklace is perfect for your card slingin’ buddies. It can be personalized. Check out the other shop items as there’s lots of other tarot card goodies, Soloman seals, and other pagan symbols to adorn yourself with.

Pastel Skull Candle

You totally read that right. Soy candle made in your choice of scent and color. You can grab a matte black or plain ivory white if you’re feeling less pastel. Grab a larger skull for your ancestor altar too.

Mandrake Enamel Pin or Krampus Holiday Enamel Pin

I couldn’t decide which one to showcase so you get both! The Krampus and the adorable mandrake come from New England neighbor The Bower Studio in Massachusetts. Check out the shop for beautiful plantable nature art prints and cards. There’s also scarves and other goodies. If you’re in Pulham, Mass. check out their store since they’re herbalists too!

Meditating Do Not Disturb Door Hanging Sign

Have you ever shared a house with someone and you’re trying to meditate and they either knock or just barge right in, completely ruining your mood? Yeah me too. Hang this sign up to let people know to come back later. Check out the shop for more signs like yoga, reiki, or praying in progress. Ther’s also “don’t let the cat out” which for anyone with indoor guests and lots of visitors. All perfect for shared spaces.

Under $20

Crystal Grid Board

Double sided birch cystal boards are perfect for your crystal loving friends. Also check out the shop’s large boards, altar pieces, and crystals.

Moon Phase Mortar & Pestle

Hand painted triple moon mortart and pestle. Ceramic mortars and pestles are great because they’re easy to clean. They’re also accessible and good for most grinding purposes.

Salem Witchcraft Trials Candle

Burke & Hare Co is a Rhode Island local like myself and makes fantastic occult inspired candes. Burned At the Stakes, oujia board, death tarot card, and other delightful candles. Definitely check them out if that’s your thing.

Petite Water Moon Lights

OK, these are actually $20 but they are waterproof, LED glowing lights. So tiny and cute and shaped like the moon. ALSO for all you Welcome to Night Vale fants, the same shop TheCloudLady has hanging glowing cloud lights so you can hail the Glow Cloud.

Divination Classroom candle

Frostbeard candle company specializes in creating soy candles to mimic book lovers’ favorite settings. Harry Potter fans will adore Divination Classroom, Headmaster’s Office, and Wizardy Buttery Drink among others. There’s many other lovely scents and they’re all made in small batches in Minnesota.

Under $30

Wooden Magic Wands

Gray Magic might be the next Ollivander’s. The wands here are so beautiful, each unique with such character. Oh, and they’re handmade and WOOD, making them absolutely perfect for magic. One of a kind too which makes them very special.

Tabletop glass fireplace

It’s pretty much a Sterno gel fuel but with a great wooden and glass base as well as sand and lava rocks. Great for when you want a fire but don’t have the space for a fire pit or firepace. Remember your fire safety!

Pressed Flower Pendant

This artisan makes really beautiful earth pressed glass, crystal, metal, and earth-based jewelry. It’s actually very fairy tale forest feeling. Delicate, refined work. Perfect for your green witches and crystal hoarders. But there’s something nature inspired for just about everyone.

Scrying Mirror Grimoire Bookmark

Lovely metal bookmarks that are perfect addition for your grimoire. Pewter, glass, brass, and onyx are combined to create something worty of touching your sacred grimoire.

Under $40

CinniBird

This is a tiny handheld device that allows you to create elaborate designs with powdered spices. It’s suppose to be used for making fancy lattes or baking but let’s be for real here – it is literally perfect for witchcraft. Make a sigil out of powdered cinnamon for money or draw a middle finger with cursing powder as a less-than-subtle fuck you curse.

They also have another device called the HocuSpoon on the same website that uses stencils to create images with powdered spices.

DIY Coffee Reading Kit

Tea leaf divination, or tasseomancy, is well-known but you can divine with coffee grounds too. This DIY kit allows you to do just that. Coffee not your thing? There’s lots of DIY kits from Arterno from DIY soap, lip balm, tea, mugs, and more.

Map Cuff Bracelet

Perfect for urban practitioners and witches who work with the local environment. I can definitely see using this bacelet to connect to your homeland or a sacred place where you’ve had amazing experiences in.

Clear Quartz Mini Skull Pipe

Smoking herbal blends is very common in new age practices. If that’s your thing, then you may want to pick up a crystal pipe. Rose quartz are the most popular but there’s a lot of choices of there to choose from.

Under $50

Corked Constellation Ceramic Jar

This is a beautifully created ceramic jar with zodiac constellations on it. Witches love jars so a jar is always a beloved gift. These jars, and the rest of the shop for that matter, are perfect for someone who is looking for a special altar plate or a jar to hold something treasured.

Persephone Pomegranate Seed Earrings

Sterling silver pomegranate seed earrings are absolutely beautiful way to honor Persephone, the dead, and the realm of spirits in general. This shop has fantastic fairy tale and elven inspired jewelry.

Deer Antler Hair Pins set

Hand made brass hair pins turn you into a wood nymph. Their shop had beautiful brass jewelry, hair pins, and spoons inspired by forests in the Ukraine.

Japanese Koi Statement Necklace

Painted and gold, this layered wood necklace is beautiful. The rest of Birch Please is gorgeous too. Seriously, I absolutely love this jewelry artisan. Check out the florals or the adorable Axolotl necklaces too.

Under $100

Moon Phase earrings

Shout out to local Rhode Island artistian jewelry maker AlmanacForJune, these sterling silver set has four adorable post earrings. Match your jewelry to the moon. Also check out the rest of the shop for more moon phase goodness and other new age-y preciouses.

Urin the Gingerbread Mandrake Root Plush

The Beast Peddler sells adorable stuffed mandrakes and other familiar friends. Some of these plushes are seasonally based like this mandrake root and there’s also clothing for your new companion. Each one of a kind, they go fast so be sure to check out their tumbr and social media for posting updates so you can acquire a new friend.

ASK the Cards leather tarot card holder

If cloth isn’t good enough for your cards, or you spend a lot of time travelling with your cards, a hevy duty pouch is a must. This leather tarot card holder has a locking clasp to keep your cards nice and safe and can be customized to add a belt loop or colors as desired. Check out the shop for other deck holders like this one or some unique belts, purses, or other oddities.

Irridescent Stain Glass Aura Quartz Crystal corner piece

Deck your halls with stain glass crystals for the corners of archways and we-never-close-this-door-why-do-we-even-have-a-door-here places. Check out the shop for different colors, spider webs, or moon phase garlands of glass. They’re absolutely beautiful.

$100 +

Moth Wing Cape

Costurero Real creates beautiful butterfly wing capes, velvet capes, skirts, deer antler headbands, and more. I actually selected one of the more expensive items in their shop. You can find some beautiful items here for under $40 but they’re well-known for their butterfly capes.

Folium Oak Wood Pendant

Hand-carved from wood. I can’t even with this artist. I’m convinced they’re actually some sort of tree spirit come to grace us with beauty. Definitely one of a kind.

Crystal Ball Necklace

Quartz crystal balls are lovely for scrying so this necklace not only doubles as a beautiful jewelry piece, it’s also a really low-key divination tool. Perfect for diviners on the go or witches still in the forest (not public or out with their practice).

Diarn Xaghnis

Beautiful hand made wire jewely made with unbeleivable skill. Lunarieen makes so many beautiful pieces worthy of queens.

Hobbit Hole

Ever watch or read Tolkein and think, “damn, I wish I lived in a hobbit hole”? Well, now you can. Kind of. With this kit, you can build your own playhouse, shed, workshop, or chicken coop shaped like a hobbit hole. For about the same cost of a regular shed (or slightly more), you can build your hobbit hold complete with round door and windows. I’ll be honest, I’m eyeing one of these for myself down the road.

Hope the list helps give you some inspiration for your gift giving! Oh, and don’t forget to pop into my own shop This Crooked Crown for one of a kind charm bottles among other magical goodies.

79 Tips, Tricks, & Spells for Halloween 2017 + Sale!

Bonfire by This Crooked Crown

Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain!

I hope you have some amazing plans this Halloween! I don’t personally celebrate Samhain but Halloween is my household’s favorite holiday, hands down. We have as much stuff to decorate for Halloween as we do Yule and it’s not enough.

I’m having a pretty low-key holiday myself. A fabulous witchy dress and hat, of course, but otherwise it’ll be filled with baking, some woo stuff, and passing out candy. It’s sort of a relief to have a quiet holiday. It’s been a crazy couple months and I just got back from a work vacation this weekend. I’m actually super happy to simply have electricity as many people nearby don’t.

Side story: I thank the dead for the fact that I usually have power when my neighborhood doesn’t. My house is, for some reason, on the same power grid as the funeral home across the street and no one else is? So while our power flickered, we didn’t lose it despite the massive storm that took out power for a good portion of our city.

Anyway, what I love about blogging around this time is EVERYONE is posting about spirits. It’s great. I can pick up all sorts of new tips and folklore that way. It’s also prime time for magical rituals and spells. This roundup guide offers tips, tricks, and links on what you can do to to make your night a little more magical.

 

Halloween 2017 Pin

Before you start

Before you get started with your spooky or woo related shenanigans, there’s probably some steps you need to take. My top seven tips and tricks for making contact or dealing with serious spell casting follow.

  1. Make a snack or meal to consume after your working. Carb-y food or sugar-y food is ideal. I typically grab a thick slice of hearty bread or some pasta when I need carbs and a big bowl of fruit and chocolate bits when I need sugar. Make both ahead of time.
  2. Drink water on hand. Getting thirsty during a working is the worst, especially if you’re chanting. Be well-hydrated before you start and make sure you hydrate afterwards. If you’re using alcohol to induce a trance, make sure you have water on hand after your session to hydrate.
  3. If it gets weird, get out. If you’re ghost hunting, contacting a spirit, or any other activity, you can probably leave right away. Thank any spirits for their attention and get out. If you’re in the middle of a spell, quickly but thoroughly finish it and leave the area immediately. Drink some water, take a bath, cleanse yourself, then go do something totally and completely mundane.
  4. Trance safely. Before you use any entheogens, psychedelics, or other trancing method, make sure that you write down what you’re taking and how much. Write down why you’re taking it. Leave a small sample of the consumable along with these notes. This allows emergency medical services to treat you quickly and accordingly if something goes wrong. It also allows you to recreate the circumstances again if you have a good experience that you want to replicate.
  5. Don’t go alone. If you’re doing an outside ritual, traveling, or ghost hunting, go with someone else. Bring a friend who can chill while you do your thing nearby if they’re not willing to lend a hand. Solitude more of your thing? Then make sure to text a friend where you’re going or when you’ve left. There’s a lot of people out there on Halloween and accidents are very common. Be safe.
  6. Practice fire safety. Candle magic is incredibly popular and common. However, practitioners can get carried away. Make sure that you’re practicing fire safety. If you have more than 5-7 candles going at once, keep a fire extinguisher or similar items on hand.
  7. Keep pets indoors. This is more of a Halloween-centric tip than a general one but with so many people out and about on Halloween, it’s a really good idea to keep your pets indoors during this time. I recommend keeping pets inside during outdoor rituals anyway – a dog barking during your chant can really break the mood.

Following those tips can help you out immensely, especially if things get weird and/or powerful. Another good idea is to go armed with lots of information. Here’s a bunch of posts that can help. I’ve also added some posts geared towards “new year” because for some people, they start or end their magical year on Samhain.

 

 

Hearth by This Crooked Crown

Constant vigilance!

Protecting yourself from dangers while cast spells or contacting spirits is important – but it can also be a hindrance. If you’re protected from spirits, then spirits will have a more difficult time communicating with you.

I do recommend protection spells but it’s not a requirement. I don’t use them on myself personally 99% of the time and never when I’m working with spirits or casting spells unless I feel like I’m in danger from something. But, uh, I’m reckless so it’s probably best to not be me and to cast some protection spells before you go out and about with your shenanigans tonight.

Candle Smoke

Getting in touch with a spirit

Getting in touch with spirits can be difficult, especially if you’re not use to it. Samhain often is said to be a thinning of the veil between the spirit realms and the physical world. While the veil between the worlds happens multiple times a year, this one’s pretty consistent.

The following posts should give you some tips to make contact to a wide variety of spirits and beings. They’ll also help you have a good experience and offer some pretty good advice too.

 

Spell and Herb Candle by This Crooked Crown

Spells to cast

You can cast any spell you want any time you want, according to my practice. Here’s a good long list of spells you can give a try.

 

For All Sorts of Money Powder by This Crooked Crown

Cleansing time!

Cleansing yourself after powerful magic or spirit contact is recommended but, again, not a requirement. I often recommend it especially if you’re dealing with multiple energies, like doing group tarot card readings or going to a haunted place with many spirits. It’s also just a good idea in general.

A Cleansing Ritual For House & Home (Spell Saturday #35) – A walking cleansing ritual for your house and physical spaces.

The Curse & Blessing of the Sun (Spell Saturday #49) – A spell that can be used as a curse or as a blessing, using the power of the sun.

 

Cleansing & Cleaning 101 – Because cleaning is a form of cleansing too!

Cleansing Yourself – Post on various methods to cleanse yourself from baneful energy, static energy, or other unwanted things.

Crown’s “Fuck All the Things!” Cleansing and Banishment [tumblr repost] (Spell Saturday #14) – Two spell variations used for cleansing and banishing both spirits and humans.

Simple Water Glass Cleansing for the Witch on the Run – A very simple but effective way to calm and cleanse the self with just a glass of water.

Uncrossing Oneself – Sometimes we repeat baneful or static patterns that are harmful to ourselves. Uncrossing is breaking that cycle.

 

Wheel of the Year wikipedia

Whew! That was a lot of links. I should be back to regular blogging in November. My burn out has abated so I’m back to writing, full-steam ahead. Which is good because NaNoWriMo is less than 24 hours away.

Speaking of writing, if you haven’t, go pick up my novel Spirit Walker. It’s about astral travel and revenge.

One last thing before I let you get back to your candy and binge-watching Hocus Pocus, This Crooked Crown is having a 10% off flash sale. Today (10/31) only. All readings and items in the shop are on sale, including the new reading Taming Your Inner Demons.

Happy Halloween & Samhain!