Home’s Energy Dedication Spell [Spell Saturday #54]

Spring cleaning? Just moving into a new place? You’ll want to make sure that home is happy, right?

This spell is good for people who want to bring their lives and homes into focus. Some people create their homes to be an oasis of something – productivity, happiness, zen-like peace, relaxation, or fun.  If this sounds like something you want to do, then this spell will help dedicate your home’s energy to just that. You’ll still be able to live and work as normal but there will be a definite air towards whatever you want to focus on.

Home Energy Dedication Spell by This Crooked Crown

What you’ll need:

  • A representation of the key focus of your home
  • Sunshine water (optional)

The first thing you’ll need to do is to consider what is the key focus of your home and how you want to represent it. Do you want to have fun? Then a printed photo of you having fun is a good choice. Want to bring peace, then write down a meditation instead. Want to be known as the neighborhood baker? Write your favorite recipe down. How about studious? Print out a school curriculum. You get the idea. It needs to be a piece of paper that represents what you want to do most in your home. If you’re a business owner and casting this spell on your shop space, then use paper money.

Whatever you choose to use, make sure that you spend a lot of time thinking and remembering good times when writing it down. If you’re using a photo, then write on the back of the printed copy what you loved about that time. If you’re using money, cleanse the bill and hold the money thinking or telling the bill how you want to bring more money into the business / home.

Once you have your representation, clean and cleanse your home. Use whatever techniques you want. You just want your home in the freshest possible condition.

Stand in the heart of your home. This will be the place where you spend the most time and are happiest. Where your family and housemates will meet up. It could be the living room, kitchen, etc. For business, it should be the place where you create your products or your counter where sales are packaged up.

You can write down the representation onto the floor / wall / permanent counter in the sunshine water. (Make sure that water doesn’t actually show on the floor / wall / counter, as it sometimes can.)

Once you finish with the sunshine water, you can slip the paper into the ceiling or under the floor. (Try the basement or attic). If none of those options are available, place it under or on top of a piece of furniture that doesn’t move from that room.

Now stand in the middle of the room (as much as possible) and spend time with the home’s energy. You can meditation, say a prayer, or chant a happy home. The dedication is done.

Notes:

  • Sunshine water is water that has soaked up sunshine. It’s super easy to make. You get a clear jar of water and stick it in direct sunlight where it cannot be touched by shadow. Bring it in before dark.

Happy casting!

Alarm Spell [Spell Saturday #53]

I am not a morning person. When I have a deadline to reach or an appointment to get to, I will need all the alarms in the world in order to get me out of bed. It’s a Thing.

This spell will probably not help with that.

But this spell can be used to let you know when something’s going down. It can protect your room from trespassers or let you know someone’s poking around where they shouldn’t be.

 

Alarm Spell by This Crooked Crown

 

What you’ll need:

  • A trigger item such as a ring
  • The place or thing you want to guard or be alerted to
  • Mugwort-rose infused oil (optional)

 

First, create a infuse mugwort and rose infused oil. This is an optional step but it can be a useful one. If you can’t or don’t want to do this, just skip to the next step. To create the oil, steep mugwort and crumbled rose petals in a light oil like sunflower oil for about a week. You can steep them for longer if you like. When the oil is ready, dress you trigger object with the oil. You can also use water instead of oil, steeped and boiled like a tisane tea if oil will damage your trigger item.

Go to the place that you want to protect. Sit comfortably with the object or place you want to protect. Allow your energy to flow out and encompass the space or wrap around the object in question, such as a diary. Focus on creating positive thoughts and creating a warm, safe, and secure place.

When you feel like you’ve done this, swoop your hand to circle the room, feeling the energy you’ve created. Once you’ve come full circle, touch that hand to the trigger object.

Say or think the following with your hand still touching the trigger object:

 

When you sound, I will know

Chime, ring, echo, call, tremble, or bellow

Make whatever sound you can in haste

To let me know someone trespasses in this space.

Allow your energy to dissipate and carry on with your day.

When the spell is activated, you should “hear” a sound. it might be an actual sound, like a ring clacking on a counter more loudly than it should or it might be something telling you in your heart that something’s wrong, like something tugging at your attention. You may also suddenly notice that trigger object when it shouldn’t really be the center of attention. (Example, if the trigger object is a bracelet and you wear several bracelets but suddenly all eyes are on that singular bracelet.)

Note:

  • The trigger object can be anything you like but is most commonly a piece of jewelry of some kind.
  • The trigger object can even be a piece of skin or your own body. You can use a finger as a trigger object and if that finger suddenly hurts or itches, then the spell’s been activated.

Happy casting!

 

 

Starter Plants for a Witchy Garden

Starting a witchy garden? Or maybe you’re just trying to add more magic to your cooking with fresh herbs? It can be so hard to know which plants to start with and which herbs to keep on hand.

Starter Plants for a Witchy Garden by This Crooked Crown

 

This “must haves” for your practice is going to vary wildly. It’s even going to vary on what purpose you might have for those plants. Are you keeping them around for their herbal benefit or magical?

Many people try out green or kitchen witchery only to run away from it or struggle with it. This largely comes from difficulties in knowing complimenting flavors and tastes (remember to taste your food when cooking folks!) and accidentally killing your plants.

I get you. I really do. I have a light green thumb – I can keep things alive but sometimes they just kick the bucket. My best plant right now is my aloe which I leave alone and it’s happy.  When it comes to kitchen witchery, rest assured, I’ve made plenty of stupid mistakes there too. I’ve heard the song of the fire alarm plenty of times.

Knowing what to start with and what to try is super difficult, especially when you’re just starting out. Here’s some tips for you new witchlings (and maybe a gentle reminder for us old-timers)

 

 

Start small

Those big beautiful gardens you see on Pinterest? Yeah, they’re not created in a single season or even a single year. Same thing with indoor gardens. Pick a plant or two tend to them. If they’re still alive and kicking a few months later, add on another plant. Plan for what you want. This also allows you to save up money for garden because it is not a cheap hobby.

If you have such a black thumb that you can kill off a plastic plant, rest assured that you’re not without option. You can use fresh spices. A farmer’s market is your best friend. Some farmer’s markets operate all year around and others are only seasonally. Check out your local ones and see what they offer.

Protip: Take a day and visit both your farmer’s markets and grocery stores. Sometimes farmer’s markets actually partially stock from farmers that also sell to your grocery stores. Or you’ll find that you don’t like that specific potato sold at that farm or discover that while the grocery store is cheaper then farmer’s market tastes better. Figure out where’s the best places to get certain things and you’ll save yourself the heartache of “aw, the radishes are so much better at this farmer’s market!”.

 

Growing versus buying

If you’ve been to online communities you may have run across the idea that plants you grow are more useful than buying herbs. This is only kind of true. (If you’re making a face, keep reading.)

My experience is this: If you’re a spirit worker, the plants you grow develop bonds and relationships with you because you’ll probably talk to that spirit. That plant will be infinitely more powerful – but probably only for certain things. You might discover that the plant you grow is really only good for protection spells. It’s not really going to help you with a luck spell.

But the same fresh or dried herbs you get from the market or store? Those babies can be used for anything they’re associated with rather than being shoehorned into whatever the plant wants to be used for. So they’re infinitely more useful even if you can’t control their quality.

That’s the other main argument: you can’t control the growing conditions, ethical conditions, and quality if you buy. This it true so I highly suggest to look into farmer’s markets to circumvent these things. You can also quickly google on your phone farms the food comes from to see how controversial or unlikable they are. You might be the weirdo standing there for five minutes staring at a head of cabbage but isn’t that better than working with something you don’t agree with?

Growing is, of course, cheaper except for the initial investment. But growing also requires a lot of…

 

Research

I feel like a broke record but research your stuff! This is especially true if you’re growing things. Just some simple research in how certain plants grows (or even that specific breed of plant) can entirely change how I care for a plant.

Research can also change how and why you grow a plant. I don’t use a lot of lavender in my practice but I do for my herbal medicine. So I’d rather grow it outside and harvest it than keep it inside. I use citrus in my craft for cleansing and for my herbalism. I grow mini trees in pots. Same thing with peppers. I grow them in pots so I can have fresh peppers for protection spells and curses.

Research can also tell you on whether or not you actually need a bunch of that plant. If you never use mint in spells but for rare occasions and never cook with it… then why are you growing it? Why waste that time? So what if everyone recommends it or uses it in their spells? YOU don’t and that matters. Develop your own list and needs for what you use in your practice. look through your spells and decide for yourself.

 

 

Those are some super basics. Ready for my go to list of plants for basic witchcraft?

Basil

Sex or sexual attention,  soothing fights between couples or family, dieting or fasting, health and healing, the home, sympathy, harmony, increasing money, good luck, to curse others, fire element, fertility, weddings, romance or romantic love, for attractiveness, exorcism or banishing.

Lemon Balm

For improving memory, easing depression or grief, lifting one’s spirits, for romantic love or romance, for clairvoyant dreams, health and healing, and youthfulness.

Lavender

To see ghosts or spirits, to attract men (especially sexually), for women’s strength or sexual attractiveness, to calm, to calm nerves or anxiety, against unwanted sexual attention, fertility or childbirth, for sleep, healing and health in general, air element, divination, purification or cleansing, for sex or sexual attention, easing depression or grief, relaxation, and for romantic love or romance.

Mint

For increasing money, prosperity, wealth, trade or increasing business, dieting or fasting, cleansing or purification, clairvoyant dreams, divination, relaxation, easing anxiety or nerves, health or healing in general, for improving memory, air element, for sex or sexual attention, romance or romantic love, and creating change or a catalyst.

Rose

Protection, peace, harmony, romance or romantic love, sex or sexual attention, soothing fights between couples or families, for newlyweds, for weddings, for women’s sexual attractiveness or strength, for sleep, healing or health in general, attuning or aiding psychic powers, for clairvoyant dreams, divination, clairvoyance or second sight, and against or wards off negativity, bad luck, spells, curses, or malevolent spirits.

Rosemary

Cleverness or mental clarity, focus, for confidence, against thieves or trespassing, for courage or against fear, purification or cleansing, improving memory, against nightmares, for rejuvenation or power / energy, youthfulness, women’s strength or sexual attractiveness, for beauty, for physical strength or endurance, romance or romantic love, to attract friends, healing or health in general, exorcism or banishing, protection, protection at sea, to invoke the sea, against unwanted sexual attention, boosting the five senses, clairvoyance or second sight, and against or wards off negativity, bad luck, spells, curses, or malevolent spirits.

Thyme

Wards off fatigue while traveling, victory, to win a battle or overcome an enemy, ease depression or grief, for courage or bravery, wards off fear, wards off nightmares, healing or health in general, for sex or sexual attention, to see faeries, funerary rites or to send off the dead, purification or cleansing, hex / curse breaking or spell breaking, for rejuvenation or power / energy, clairvoyance or the second sight, and against or wards off negativity, bad luck, spells, curses, or malevolent spirits.

Sage

Youthfulness, prosperity, wealth, trade or increasing business, health or healing, for improving memory, easing depression or grief, and earth element

Apple

Youthfulness, to know or enter the underworld or land of the dead, for romance or romantic love, for sex or sexual attention, water element, relaxation, for happiness or joy, for success, for gardening success, for rejuvenation or power / energy, health or healing, to use in place of a poppet or for image magic, and wood can be used to create magical tools.

Mugwort and/or Wormwood

Divination, scrying, to strengthen divination tools, for magic mirrors, for clairvoyant dreams, clairvoyance or second sight, to see ghosts or spirits, to contact or manifest spirits, air element, health or healing, for protection while traveling, wards off wild animals, wards off fatigue while traveling, and purification or cleansing.

Yarrow

Divination, clairvoyance or second sight, attuning or aiding psychic powers, romance or romantic love, for weddings, health or healing in general, sexual prowess or fertility, water element, for fair weather, for courage or bravery, wards off fear, for wisdom, purification or cleansing, for rejuvenation or power / energy, exorcism or banishing, and against or wards off negativity, bad luck, spells, curses, or malevolent spirits.

Peppers in general

Protection, against envy or jealousy (both directed at you and your own), exorcism or banishing, for curses or hexes, and fire element.

 

 

What did you notice about that list? Most of the list can be bought in stores or probably grows locally to you. All of it can be eaten (but please check your allergies and health warnings first!) It’s an excellent start and it covers a lot of things you might be trying to do.

(Side note, my list is from various numerous sources. Too many to list in a blog post. If you want to know where I got a piece of lore from, drop me a line and I’ll give you the source.)

Also, every single one of those plants can be grown in pots at least for a few years. Yes, even apples. There’s some intrepid farmers that make dwarf apple trees but you’ll probably do much better just planting it in the ground. Cayenne peppers, lavender, and roses will need fairly large pots in order to thrive (and do yourself a favor and put them on little rolling plant trays). Most of the rest can be kept in your standard windowsill.

Again, what you grow or keep around entirely depends on your personal practice and needs. Good luck with your gardening!

 

Money Powders

Money powders are an often under utilized magical tool that is so easy to create and use. I use money powders quite often in my money spells and in general day-to-day money handling.

For All Sorts of Money Powder by This Crooked Crown

First, let’s cover what a money powder is. Simply put: it is ground magical ingredients enchanted to bring money or financial boons to where-ever it’s placed. So if you sprinkle money powder on a spell candle, that spell will be affected. If you sprinkle money powder on the floor or in your laundry, then your home and laundry will be affected. Simple, right?

Money powders have endless combinations and composition. Pretty much any ingredient under the sun can be used in money related spells in some way or another. Deciding what to put in a money powder and how many ingredients to put into it will entirely come down to preference.

Want to know my secret for money powders? Here it is: You need to believe it. Not necessarily that the magic will work or the spell is working. Or even in the powder itself. Here, belief is more about knowledge. You have to “know” the ingredients are good for money magic.

 

 

For example, roses aren’t super well-known for money magic but I do sometimes use roses in a money spell, especially when I want to increase money for an art-related thing or for personal beauty. But I wouldn’t use it in a money related spell for gambling. I’d probably pick cinquefoil and clover.

There’s also a difference what kind of money you need. If you start looking at herbal folklore texts, people didn’t always use the same ingredients for personal wealth versus business wealth. This may come down to how that piece of folklore is written down and shared but in a comparison of seventeen herbs pulled from three different sources only mint and cinquefoil was on both lists. Also, spells to find employment only share ingredients about half the time, I’ve found.

By the way, those seventeen herbs are as follows: For increasing money Scott Cunningham in Magical Herbalism suggests almond, basil, hyssop, mint, bryony, ciquefoil, High John the Conqueror, honeysuckle but for business pursuits he recommends mint, peony, cinnamon, benzoin, and cinquefoil. Almanac.com suggests sage for increasing business and Miranda Seymour in her delightful little book A Brief History of Thyme and Other Herbs also suggest sage but adds valerian and dill to the business increasing list.

 

Common Money Spell Ingredients by This Crooked Crown

 

That being said, sometimes you might just need money from any source and you don’t care where that money comes from. For situations like that, an all-purpose money powder is your go-to. For our purposes, a business related spell or money powder is directly you selling goods or services for money. it may cause your job to get a big new client or for you to get a raise. Personal wealth spells may cause any of those business related things to happen but it’s also likely to have you find twenty bucks in a forgotten pocket or have someone pay you back for lunch from five years ago out of the blue.

My favorite way to use money powders is to sprinkle them across the threshold of my work-space or even on my desk overnight. In the morning, I simply sweep them up and toss them in the compost. I keep a jar of all purpose money powder at the ready for candle spells and throw a pinch of non-dying powder in my laundry for events.

 

For All Sorts of Money Powder by This Crooked Crown

 

Ready for a recipe? Straight from my own recipe book, here’s two. All you need to do is to ground the ingredients together in a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. Or take the smart route and buy the ingredients pre-powdered such as ginger powder or almond flour.

 

For All Sorts of Money (All-Purpose Money Powder)

  • Basil
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Sugar
  • Mint
  • Clover
  • Cinquefoil

 

For Personal Wealth (Non-Business Money Powder)

  • Basil
  • Sugar
  • Mint
  • Cinquefoil
  • Cinnamon
  • Almond flour
  • Ginger

 

For Increasing Business (Non-Personal Wealth)

  • Basil
  • Salt
  • Mint
  • Cinquefoil
  • Cinnamon
  • Sage
  • Coffee

 

For All Sorts of Money Powder by This Crooked Crown

 

Of course, if you’re not into the mixing and grinding, you can always pop over to my shop and buy an ounce for yourself.

Remember that the recipes above are just a place to start. You get to have fun and personalize your recipe according to your own preferences and practice. Experiment with what you can create and see what kind of magic can happen!

You Hold No Power Over Me [Spell Saturday #52]

Illusions are one of those types of spells that everyone hears about in fantasy games or novels but rarely sees in the magical community. Save for glamours, which are a type of illusion, this sort of spell work is rare.

But rare doesn’t mean it can’t be troublesome. Illusion magic is not unlike a curse in that you may find yourself disoriented or lost and not sure how that happened. Confusion and an irresistible but unexplained draw to something you normally wouldn’t be drawn to is also common.

Here’s a simple spell to ward off illusions and to disperse them from you. It works excellent on glamours and, better yet, is extremely low key. Perfect for date night. Make sure to check the notes for some useful tips.

You Hold No Power Over Me by This Crooked Crown

 

What you’ll need:

  • A clear drinking glass
  • Drinkable water or drinkable liquid

 

Get a clear glass of drinkable water. It you’re out in public, simply order a glass of water. There should be light shining through your drink and drinking glass so you may need to move around a bit until this happens.

Keep your target in sight and run your finger around the top rim of the drinking glass.  As you do this, think or say softly,

“You in my sights

I see through your charms

I see through your spells

I see through you

You are as clear to me as glass

You hold no power over me”

Since the above verse is a bit long to say, you can shorten it the following but I find that it isn’t as directed and thus isn’t as useful as the full above verse.

“You in my sights

You hold no power over me”

No matter what verse you use, take a drink from your glass while keeping your target in sight at the end of the verse. You should  become disillusioned from the target now and they may seem less attractive or less desirable than before. If nothing happens, you may need to ramp up your spell casting to a cleansing or analyze whether what you’re feeling in genuine interest in that person.

Chocolate Rose Tea Love Philter by This Crooked Crown

Notes:

  • The drinking cup should be clear-ish. Tinted glass won’t change the spell but opaque glasses such as solid plastic cups will.
  • Water is used in this spell but any drinkable liquid is just fine so long as it reflect light a bit. You can definitely cast this spell with an alcoholic beverage.
  • If you really can’t get your hands on a clear drinking glass and you need this spell in a hurry, tilt the cup back and forth until your drink reflects in the light. Do this a few times and carry on with the spell. It’ll work in a pinch.
  • This spell could easily be used for other spell dismissing or even a way to separate yourself from someone overbearing.

Happy casting!

March Round Up

We made it to the other side of March. Yay! This month has been truly insanely busy for me between medical appointments (everyone’s OK, no worries!), caring for sick people, chasing after paperwork, birthdays, funerals, and a small snowstorm. I signed up for a bunch of stuff that I’m now scrambling to complete because I can see the end of March and those deadlines are looming.

When it comes to the blog, I unintentionally took the first week of March off. I needed the rest but I truly dislike leaving everyone without content to enjoy. I’ll try not to let that happen again. The posts that did make it were more on the spiritual side of things.

 

Secular Witchcraft Defined by This Crooked Crown

 

Tumblr followers know I identify as a secular witch and this month tackled how I define and work within my paradigm to some degree. Secular Witchcraft Defined proved to be an interesting read and one I hope will help out new witchlings in understanding this newer form of witchcraft. To counter this, I talked about my current focus of Getting Back to My Roots on a spiritual level. I even offered an Awakening Spring Ritual for some ideas on how my witchcraft and spirituality are separated. For those thinking about working with spirits, which is a bridge between my witchcraft and my spirituality for me, How to Know What Spirit You’re Talking To might offer some insight for you. If you’re looking to see those beings, check out Enchanting Objects for Second Sight for a helping hand.

Spring is here in the Northern Hemisphere although the snow storm and cold snap recently sure doesn’t feel like spring here in Rhode Island. If you’re trying to counter the final winter push, try the spell Burn Away the Winter Blues.  If you need a push to get over that winter lethargy, give the Forged in Fire spell a look. It’s mean to kick procrastination in the ass and celebrated fifty Spell Saturdays. (There, uh, should be more but let’s celebrate our victories and not failures, OK?)

We also saw the Curse and Blessing of the Sun which is a spell that can be a curse or a blessing, depending on your intent. My brother the Necromancer has really been into the Sun as a being of worship recently so I’ve been inspired to create a shrine for him and some spells. By the way, the Curse and Blessing of the Sun has been updated. I originally said that you should create two boxes if you want a curse and a blessing at the same time but I don’t know what I was thinking. Clever wording can create both in one box so check out that spell for new tips.

 

The Curse and Blessing of the Sun Spell

 

I don’t really work healing spells too much so I rarely post them but the Sand Healing Spell is specifically designed for those with chronic illnesses that spend a lot of time in one place. It’s a jar spell and one that’s very low key. It’s not designed to heal you but rather focus on alleviating pain and symptoms. I hope it helps!

On a more practical and mundane front, I wrote a guide on Where to Buy A Tarot Deck which is a question often asked to me and others on social media. We also saw two reviews this month, one on the beautiful Scrying Ink Lenormand deck by Siolo Thompson, the creator of the Linestrider Tarot. There was also the book view for The Soul Searcher’s Handbook by Emma Mildon which scored a 4.5 out of 5. I love both of these things so I’m really happy to recommend them to you all. Speaking of things I loved I started a new mini series I’ve nicknamed “Obsession” which dives into what I’m currently working on or obsessed with right now. I hope this gives a fun insight into the everyday workings around here.

 

Heart

Heart from Scrying Ink by Siolo Thompson and Nourish the Sacred Feminine from Sacred Creators by Chris-Anne Donnelly | thiscrookedcrown.com

 

Other quick news for This Crooked Crown:

  • I recently changed up my newsletter to come out twice a month – once at the full moon and again at the new moon.The newsletters are smaller but contain mini divination readings for the current moon phase which is always fun.
  • Flying Salves arrived in the shop at the end of February and quickly sold out. I hope to have them in again by the end of May, if not sooner.
  • We reached out first goal over on Patreon. I’m always, always floored by the support I receive from everyone and cannot thank you all enough.
  • I received the absolutely amazing  Idiosyncradeck Tarot and the Amethyst Oracle from Jessica Bott who is probably better known as Cracked Amethyst. I’m absolutely in love with them both and can’t wait to do more readings with them.

 

Getting Back to Your Spiritual Roots by This Crooked Crown

 

So that’s what was up this month at This Crooked Crown. It was super busy in a way I wasn’t expecting but I’m thinking I’ve made the most of it. What were your favorite posts? What do you want to see more of? Planning on trying any of the spells? See you in April!

 

Sand Healing Spell [Spell Saturday #51]

This is healing spell designed specifically for chronic or long-term illnesses. Will it heal you and solve your illness? Probably not. Will it alleviate those troublesome symptoms so you can actual feel like yourself again. Hopefully.

Sand Healing Spell by This Crooked Crown

What you’ll need: 

  • A open bowl or jar (no lid)
  • Safe place to put your jar near your bed (the floor totally counts)
  • Sand
  • Healing crystals (optional)

Find yourself a jar, bowl, or other clear container without a lid. Clean and cleanse it on a day where you have lots of good energy. Let it dry completely.

Fill it full of sand. Where this sand comes from is up to you. You can buy it at a craft store or pick it up off a beach. Up to you.

Add in crystals and stones devoted to healing. You should completely connect to the stones you’re putting in the jar. Don’t pick something that feels weird to you but is suppose to be good for your illness. Put only good things in this jar.

Stand over the jar and say the following:

“Precious sand, you are like time,

Alone you are small like seconds, 

But together you are great and are eternity.

Do not allow my time to be wasted,

Take my pain, my fear, my exhaustion.

Bind it to a single piece of you,

And sink it to the bottom.

Take it away and lift me up,

Let me rise.”

Keep the jar next to your bed or where you hang out the most when feeling ill. If you need a boost, touch the sand. If the sand starts feeling gross, just bury it outside or toss it in a water. Clean and cleanse the jar and repeat the spell. Remember to give yourself time to deal with your illness and recover!

Happy casting!

Enchanting Objects for Second Sight

If you’ve hung around fairy tales long enough, you’ve run into the concept of using objects to achieve second sight.

Second sight is the ability to see things that are beyond normal perception such as spirits or energy. Some people are naturally gifted at this and others train themselves to use it. It sits firmly on the line between psychic ability and intuition.

Enchanting Objects for Second Sight by This Crooked Crown

Let’s be clear on one thing – just because someone has the second sight does not mean that they’re seeing spirits all the time. It doesn’t mean that they’re able to see all spirits. It doesn’t mean that they are always seeing spirits with their physical eyes. Spiritual beings aren’t always able to be perceive with physical eyes. It’s far more minute than “can you see that ghost?” even if it doesn’t seem like it.

There’s lots of folk information on how to achieve this. Looking through a hagstone or enchanting object are just one of the ways. You can use sandalwood, wisteria, wild thyme, and a number of other herbs to see what’s beyond normal vision. Trance inducers like flying ointments also work in this manner.

Look through a hagstone or doorway is another way to see these things. It’s about threshold crossing which is known to allow one to step between the worlds. (Hence the word “hedge-crossing”). Using this method, you’ll look through a hagstone (a stone with a natural hole in the center but shells with holes in the center work well too) and see what there is to see. Threshold crossing can be any kind of threshold. Stepping between two poles could be a threshold. Crossing between a wall and a hedge could be a threshold. There’s tons of ways to cross like that.

Weirdly, enchanting objects to allow you to see things is common in folk stories and fairy tales but not a common technique shared in modern day. I have no idea why this is.

In order to enchant an object to see what’s beyond normal sight, you’ll first need to pick an object that can be held up to your eye. Eyeglasses and sunglasses are absolutely the easiest and more available for this. A camera could also be used. You may want to pick a necklace you can hold up to your eye. This will be a constant spell so it’ll always be working.

That could actually be a problem. Anyone who has the second sight can tell you that it can be really distracting to see stuff that isn’t there. I’ve braked suddenly while driving thinking I was going to run over a dog that wasn’t there. I nearly jumped out a chair just last night because I thought something ran across the wall directly next to me – but nothing was there. If you’re not use to seeing these beings, you can absolutely end up looking a bit weird. It’s not a consistent thing but at least once a week I end up being startle by some spirit shenanigans that I wasn’t expecting and no one else can see.

You could also pick an object that you wear in order to give you second sight. This gives you more control over the ability. A pair of earrings is a good choice but a necklace or even an article of clothing can be a good choice too.

The technique is very simple but gathering the ingredients can be very complex. It can take up two or three months to set this up if you don’t have any of the materials on hand. For best results, it could take years because you should collect the water and plants on the first of May and then cast the enchantment then as well – which could be difficult if the moon’s not working with you. You could, alternatively also or exchange May Day for October 31st or some other spirit important holiday. I don’t bother because that’s a lot of hurry up and wait for me but to each their own.

First gather water from an old water source – an old river, well, the ocean, etc. I specifically mention old as a pond newly made in a golf course isn’t going to have the same kind of results we want.

Gather the first morning dew for about seven days. You can do this by placing a jar outside overnight and picking it up as the sun rises the next morning. It probably won’t amount to much but that’s OK.

Create full moon water and new moon water by placing jars of water in window sills under the moonlight (or lack of moonlight).

Pour water from each of these sources into a bowl and place any of the following into it: calendula petals, wisteria leaves, powdered sandalwood, mugwort, ash leaves, violets, wild thyme, lavender, or woodworm. Pick as many or as few as you’d like. Let this sit under the full moon for a full night but remove it from sight before the sun rises. You can strain this water now, if you want.

Cleanse the object you intend to enchant. Wash the object with each water source. Make sure that you concentrate on the surfaces of the object. For a pair of glasses, you’ll trace the water along the eyeglass frame then wash the lenses on both sides. Repeat once more with the herb infused water.

Sleep with the object at your side on the night that you wash it. Then it’s ready to use. To use it, concentrate on what’s before you with your mind to see if there’s anything there for you to see. This should allow you to see spirits and energy far more frequently than before. As stated above, you may not physically see things with your eyes all the time but you should be able to sense things and see glimpses more easily.

In addition to the problem mentioned above with reacting to things as if they’re physically in front of you, there’s another thing to be aware of. When spirits begin to notice that you’re able to see them, then they start paying attention to you. This can be fun for some people and terrifying for others. It depends on the beings you end up meeting and how you interact with them. If you’re not thinking about spirit work, then you might want to consider against this entirely. In the end, that’s a choice you’ll have to make.

It can be difficult to see spirits. Sometimes they simply don’t want to be seen or the circumstances aren’t right. Or maybe they don’t even have a physical form for you to see. You may need to just roll with whatever they give you. Good luck!

Forged Through Fire Spell [Spell Saturday #50]

This is a spell to change aspects a specific aspect of your life. It’s not meant to be a gentle, guiding spell but a rather a boot in the ass kind of spell. It’s meant for you to cut the shit and actually change an aspect of your life. It’s for when you need to say to yourself “Quit the procrastination and just go do the thing already”.

Forged in Fire by This Crooked Crown

 

What you need:

  • Two pieces of paper
  • A red double ended candle or a single red candle
  • Fire safe smooth dish
  • Fire safe bowl (if not using a double ended candle)
  • Your honesty
  • Herbs, oils, and candle-dressing materials (optional)

 

Write down exactly what you want to happen. You want to go to the gym three times a week and get totally serious on your health? Write that down in explicit detail. You want to stop procrastinating on finding a new job and just go find one that you actually like? Write that down. Want to start that project (or finish it?) Write that down. You need to be completely honest with yourself.

If you’ve been procrastinating because you’re lazy or want to watch reruns of Supernatural instead write that down. Be completely and totally honest with yourself. This isn’t about the legit reasons why you might not do something. If you weren’t able to work because of illness or obligations, then this spell isn’t for you. This spell is to combat procrastination rather than just giving you a boost.

Once you’ve written down what you want to happen and what the problem is, get your candle and dress it for power and energy.

Place the paper for how you currently are on your non-dominate side (so if you’re left handed or your left hand is your power hand, put the paper on the right side). Place the paper for how you want to be on the opposite side. The candle and fire-proof bowl should be between the two. Light the candle.

 

spells and herbs

 

If you’re using a  double ended candle, light the candle on the side with the paper with your current state or being/ the problem. Burn that paper and let is go completely to ash. When the paper is completely gone, blow out that end of the candle and declare that how you were is over. Light the other end of the candle and burn the paper with your intentions in it, affirming to yourself that this is how you’re going to be.

If you’re using not using a double ended candle, then burn the paper with how you use to be in the fire proof bowl. When the paper is ash and you have nothing but embers left, declare that how you were is over. Light the candle and burn the paper with your intentions on it, affirming to yourself this is how you’re going to be.

In either case, as the intentions paper burns,  let the wax from the candle with your intentions drip onto a smooth, fire proof dish. Let it cool so it’s cool enough to handle but so not cool that it isn’t malleable. roll the wax between your fingers to form a small ball and carry that wax ball with you each and every time you try and do the thing.

Once the intentions paper has burned, you can blow out the candle. Keep and use whenever you want to reaffirm yourself to you intentions.

Red Candle by This Crooked Crown

Notes:

  • The candle can be scented or dressed in any of the following oils, scents, or herbs: Allspice, apple, carnations, cinnamon, hyssop, vanilla, rosemary, cinquefoil, dragon’s blood, lemon verbena, marigolds or calendula, thistle, and thyme. If you use any of these scents/oils/herbs you should definitely use them to remind yourself in the future to go do the thing. So if you used apples, then an apple colored gym bag or aromatherapy oil should be motivating.

 

 

The Curse & Blessing of the Sun [Spell Saturday #49]

The sun is normally considered a Very Positive Thing but… it’s not always? Anyone who has hated mornings, is light sensitive, or has sensitive skin has cursed the sun. (Or, if you’re me, you’re all three and everything is terrible lol).

This is a spell that can be used as both a blessing and a curse. The set up is exactly the same but it’s the intent and words behind what you’re doing that matters. It’s also a spell that can be set up well in advanced and used in an extremely subtle and low-key fashion.

The Curse and Blessing of the Sun Spell

What you’ll need:

  • A sunny, hot day
  • An opaque box with lid or top.
  • Writing utensil (Sharpies and paint works well)

Find a box that is completely solid and opaque. A black is probably best but you can choose any color so long you can’t see what’s inside. It must have a lid or top that isn’t easily knocked off. You should be able to write a sentence on the interior bottom of the box.

Cleanse and clean the container. Let it dry completely.

Think up a phrase that you can slip into conversation that has to do with the sun. A good example might be “may the sun’s blessings be upon you” or something like that. This will entirely depend on your speech patterns. You may want to use a double meaning and associate another word with the sun, such as sunshine. Make sure that you pick several words or a fairly long phrase. You will not be able to use these words or phrase without cursing or blessing who you’re speaking to.

You can set this up in several ways. You can use a specific phrase such as above or you can pick several words and work them into a conversation. Those words must be said in whatever order you’ll write them down in inside the box. Whatever words or phrase you pick will be used only for this curse or blessing so don’t pick things that you’ll accidentally say.

Once you’ve worked out the words or phrase, write them on the interior bottom of the box. Take the box outside where the sun can directly hit the bottom of the box between sunrise to sunset. Be sure to watch the sun during this time. You don’t want a bit of darkness or shadows to touch the words if possible so you might need to move the box around or put the box away before the sun sets, depending on your environment ad situation. The box should sit in the sun for at least three hours.

When you’re ready to bring the box in, quickly put the lid on the box (remember, you don’t want shadows in the box while there’s also sun shining in it). Once the lid is on, tell the box (and the sunlight inside the box) exactly what you want to happen. Maybe you want to curse your targets with sunburns or bless them with warmth. It’s up to you. Make sure to include that trigger phrase or set of words in your instructions.

Keep the box sealed and out of the way. Stick is on a shelf or under your bed. When you want to curse someone, say the words in order or the phrase. This will trigger the spell and curse or bless the target.

Once you use the trigger words or phrase, you have to reset the box spell. This means you’ll have to put the box outside and let it soak up the sun again, repeating the set up for the spell. The good part of this spell is that it will get more powerful the more you reset and use it so it’s actually really handy that way.

Notes:

  • A small jewelry box or a cardboard gift box is perfect for this spell
  • Do not use the same box for a curse and a blessing. If you want to use this spell to create a blessing and a curse, cast it twice on two different boxes.

UPDATE:

You absolutely can use the same box for a blessing and a curse. Clever wording and intention can create totally different results. For example, you might say something like “may the sun’s warmth find you” to bless and curse someone. Emphasizing the word “warmth” might bring comfort as a blessing but the word “find” could bring nightmares or insomnia and “sun” could bring sunburn or even a fever.

You’ll have to play with wordings and intention well before you set up the box. You want the sun to realize that you want both so focusing on the duality of things is probably a good idea – the sun brings warmth but too much can burn, for example.

Happy casting!