Tips for Crossing Over, Being Safe and Coming Back (tumblr repost)

Breathing life into an old post. Tips for Crossing Over, Being Safe and Coming Back  is one of my more popular (and important) posts I wrote about two years ago. So here it is again.

ruiner85 asked: My bestie (thesecretlifeofpyris) recommended asking you about a reliable and safe way to contact spirit guides, I’m hoping to start out slowly & build a rapport so that I can go with my eyes open before even attempting anything astral. I’ve looked on-line and saw a lot about getting to the astral, but very little on staying safe or getting back. We’re currently researching formal rituals for contact and would appreciate any information or guidance you may be able to provide. Thanks

Hi! This is long and rambly. Hope your research is going well and sorry for the wait.

Unpopular opinion time! I don’t use spirit guides. I never have and, not to sound like an asshole, never saw the point in them. I still don’t. Logically I get it but…, eh, not really. To be honest, I don’t trust spirit guides. I don’t trust anyone who says they’ll helping someone just because they can. That sounds like a load of bullshit and I’ve NEVER met a spirit that’s acted like that. Ever. Even spirit guides get something by dealing with you, even if you don’t know what you’re giving them.

You don’t need them. Exploring the astral is like going to a large foreign city. You might speak some of the language but not all. It’s a weird culture and you don’t want to offend people so you’re super cautious because ajfdjalsj you don’t want to be an asshole but you also don’t want to be taken advantage of. Actually, I’m going to quote Doctor Who, since it’s always relevant on my witch blog:

“You can’t just read the guide book. You’ve got to throw yourself in, eat the food, use the wrong verbs, get charged double and end up kissing complete strangers – or is that just me? Stop asking questions. Go and do it”

– Ninth Doctor, Doctor Who, Episode 7, The Long Game.

All of that being said, the other side is a dangerous place and you have to be willing to accept that danger by going into it. Prepping yourself for it is a BRILLIANT IDEA THAT EVERYONE SHOULD TRY TO FOLLOW.

How to Stay Safe:

  • Remember that the astral/other side/spirit realms/faery land/whatever the fuck you call it IS DANGEROUS. IS NOT SAFE. IT IS DANGEROUS. I literally cannot stress this enough. It is not a playground.
  • Be flexible and adaptable. You were planning on heading towards a wheat field but ended up in a desert? Roll with it.
  • Don’t be aggressive (unless necessary). That’s pretty much asking for a brawl.
  • You have the right to defend yourself. And sometimes the best defense is offense. And running away is almost always an option, even if it isn’t the best option.
  • Remain vigilant and doubt everything. This sounds like a terrible way to live and it is. But this had saved my ass more times than I care to tell you.
  • Train yourself. Your body over there doesn’t have to be the same way here. Some people change shape depending on their mood, location, or job. I’ve met a few folks who never stop shifting, always moving. Others become their true selves. And more still just have little subtle changes in how they best reflect themselves. With this new ‘body’ you can do whatever you like. I recommend training your body to be respond yourself best. Maybe even train yourself with a weapon if you notice yourself getting into trouble.
  • Don’t get caught up on deciding what’s a spirit, fae, demon, god, etc. The lines get blurred. And really, what does it matter? They’ll either let you know or you can figure it out via context. And if you can’t, then it’s probably not important to know anyway.
  • If you’re paranoid then come up with a way to banish each and every being you meet.Seriously. If you’re that concerned about it, take the precautionary step. But if you are that concerned then you may wish to reconsider traveling to begin with. It’s not necessary. You can do witchcraft without it.
  • Don’t eat anything. This should be obvious. Sometimes you wander into faerie realms without knowing it. Accepting food offered (or eating random shit you find) is unwise and best and can get you seriously fucked up at worst.
  • Assume everyone’s out to get something. I have never met a spirit that isn’t looking for something. I know they might not say anything and maybe they’re acting really nice and generally are, but they ARE getting something. Maybe they’re studying humans. Or maybe they’re leeching energy off you or selling information about you to someone. You don’t know.
  • They are not human. Do not forget that. [UPG Alert!] I’m of the belief that many spirits don’t think the same way we do. They don’t hold things to the same level of importance, they certainly don’t seem to value the same things or have the same morals or ethics. You can’t expect them to act a certain way or do something in a particular fashion. It’s like expecting an alien from Pluto to be able to know all the intricacies and eccentricities of your culture.
  • Avoid politics. Politics is a game no matter who is playing it or what field it is on. A deadly, horrible, necessary game. Try to avoid it if possible. If you can’t (as many constant travelers cannot) at least keep your wits about you.
  • Know who’s top dog. There are a lot of spirits out there that  have territory. Some of those spirits are just holding that territory for someone bigger and badder than they are. And some of those territories have land that translates into a place on the physical realm. Yeah, you can literally walk into a spirit’s territory here by accident and have to deal with it over there.
  • You are not at home. Stop acting like it. You’re traveling. Tra-vel-ing. No one owes you a thing (unless they do) and acting like they owe you secrets and knowledge is a great way of getting no where fast and pissing everyone off. And ruining the party for everyone else.
  • You can get hurt. Spirit wounds happen. All the time. Sometimes it’s bruises, scratches, or random aches and pains that shouldn’t be there. I’ve woken up with visible six fingerprint and one thumb-sized bruises on each ankle even though I was in the house alone except for the cat and slept only three hours. I’ve noticed these tend to appear overnight and will last for much longer than normal, despite any treatment towards it (although, spells do seem to soften them). Hint: treat the wound on the spiritual realm as well as the physical.
  • Prepare yourself for the morning after. Using the assumption that you intend to travel at night, prepare your morning as you would if you expected a hangover. A hearty breakfast, lots of fluids, headache and nausea remedy. Sometime the herbals used to cross over will you give a hangover type feeling. This occurs even if the herbal is consumed via oil, ointment, or smoke. If it does occur, keep records and test it. Some people react to certain herbs that way, others discover it’s because they gave themselves too much or combined it with something.
  • Keep records. As mentioned above and previously, keeping records is highly important. I don’t even note in my records what I do (although that’s a personal preference). I just note that I crossed over at what time, what I took with the dosages (leaving a sample aside nearby my notes in case something goes wrong), and when I return what time I did that. This is also useful if you find yourself crossing over at random. Some folks get triggered by shit. It’s best to keep the records so you learn from it all. Do as you will. Most people keep everything in a journal. I keep mind in a binder and have a form I fill out each time, similar to a lab report. Ugh, paperwork but brilliant at the same time.
  • Your UPG is as valid and true as everyone else’s. UPG [unverified personal gnosis or some form thereof] means that what you’ve experienced is real to you. It’s valid and true if you say it is. No one should be able to deny your experiences (if they do then call them out although if you’re operating on historical or mythological fallacies someone will call you out on that.) That being said, your UPG does not have to match anyone else’s UPG. Sometimes they match up and that’s awesome. Others times you’re all by yourself. That’s awesome too. Just remember that just because you’ve experienced something and someone else experienced something else entirely, does not mean both of you aren’t correct. Treat other people’s UPGs as you’d like yours to be treated.
  • Spirits lie. They’re also assholes. All the time. Some they lie about who or what they are. They do it for reasons you can’t understand, for their own personal agenda, just for laughs, or to fuck with you. Gods are not exempt from this.

Getting back depends on how you got there in the first place. A lot of just ride it out till they come back. Others have a series of techniques like the ones below. It’s a good idea to keep trips short until you can find your way back without trying to (although, some people never get to that kind of familiarity with this so YMMV).

How to Get Back:

  • Return phrase. Some people have trained themselves to return to their senses when they utter a particular word or phrase. (Likewise, some people have trained themselves to cross over with a different word or phrase)
  • Alarms. If you travel while asleep or fall asleep while traveling, setting an alarm will shock you out of whatever realm you’re in, most of the time. This isn’t exactly recommended because it’s really disorienting. It’s best to use an alarm that starts softly and gains volumes as it goes. (You can usually find a digital one in a department store for around $12 USD, last I checked.) You can likewise try to use an mp3 that starts soft and gets loud to do the same thing if that works better for you.
  • Tether yourself. If you can, when you first cross over, try to extend yourself back and feel where your body is. Keep that feeling in the back of your mind and you’ll be able to find it again. You can make a “physical” reminder of this by wearing a rubber band or bracelet, ring, whatever, to remind yourself. Ensure that you appear on the other side with it.
  • If you travel with a spirit, that spirit can shove you back. (It should be noted that other spirits can do this too and will sometimes do it to be assholes). In non-allies, it’s a dominance play. Also known as a dick move.
  • Have someone sit by and wake you at a certain time. Switch out who watches who to make things even. And give that watcher something to do. It’s boring watching a sleeping or meditating person most of the time.
  • Have a start zone. Find a place where you will always first visit when you cross. If you appear anywhere else first, go directly to the start zone. This way, you will feel best connected to that spot and will feel most closely connected to reality there. Then you can jump back and forth as much as you’d like.
  • Food. This is going to sound weird. Traveling is draining to many people and I always recommend prepping a carb-filled or grounding food for yourself for after. If you eat the same thing after each trip (like ritual bread or whatever), remembering that smell, taste, texture, sight, etc can bring you back.
  • Keep records. As stated above. Not a way to get back but something to keep in mind.

I rambled a bit there and sounded a bit like a arse but I hope this helps!

[Originally posted here.]

Basil, King of Herbs, Continuous Money Spell (Spell Saturday #4)

This is an original spell of my own creation. I don’t know where I first heard basil is the king of herbs but it’s an incredibly common plant used in money spells.

Some of the ideas you’ll see in this spell do appear in other works. They’re scattered like rambling thoughts throughout European spells. Just a glance through the money spells section in Judika Illes’ Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells would reveal this. I’ve combined some of the best ideas into one mega spell for continuous wealth and money.

The idea behind the spell:

Ideally, this spell will “grow” your money. As long as the basil plant lives and is cherished, money will continue to grow and come into the home. If the basil dies or is destroyed, cleanse the home and start again.

What you’ll need:

  • Flower pot (any is good but it should be well-draining)
  • A sunny place in your kitchen, near the front door, or the heart of the home
  • Dirt. Can be bought but put at least a small handful of dirt from the property should also be added.
  • Small slip of paper and a writing utensil
  • Coins with the year of your birth. Find additional coins for each member of your household with the years of their birth. You may also want to add a coin from the year your family or business moved in.
  • A basil plant. You can buy one, transplant one, or grow from seed.
  1. Write down your desire for the spell. If you want a certain amount to come in each week, then write that. If you want money to just come in steadily, write that instead. Example: Every full moon this plant see will double my bank account or As this plant grows so does my money and wealth and when this plant dies, my debts die with it.
  2. Layer some dirt in the bottom of the flower pot. Then intermittently layer dirt and coins until about 1/3 of the pot is full.
  3. Fold up the piece of paper and put it in the center of the pot. Place the plant on top of the paper. Fill in with soil. Place the plant in that sunny spot and enjoy!

What results to expect:

As long as the plant grows, so will your money. You’ll probably begin to see a slow but steady increase of work hours, customers, or just extra money. Random checks from miscalculated bills in your favor may appear or a really sweet coupon or you could even find $20 in an old pair of shoes. This should be a steady stream and will continue to grow so be sure you can handle the extra hours of work being thrown at you if necessary. I noticed the proximity of the basil to my work desk would increase the chances of more clients. When I’m booked, I’ll move the basil plant somewhere else for a little while and the pressure seems to wear off a bit.

Notes for the ingredients:

Flower pot: I tend to prefer terracotta flower pots but that’s mostly aesthetic. Smaller pots are better for windowsills but really, it depends on where you’re growing your plant. Remember that you can always add symbols, sigils, and other magical drawings or written spells to both the inside and outside of the flower pot to help the plant and your money grow.

A sunny place: I specifically say places such as the kitchen, front door, and the heart of the home. The heart of the home will be the center of the home or the place where the family is most often. (Or where you do the most work if you’re a business). The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home but this may not be true for you. Near the front door is a great place to put a basil plant for a business but if you most commonly come in through the back door, then that location isn’t very useful in the home. Pick a spot that is the most powerful and yet undisturbed in your home. For me, I grow several plants, one in my office area, one in my green house, one on my front steps, and one in my mother’s kitchen. I’d put one in my own but I don’t get enough light. So pick your spot with both the power of the home and the plant’s needs in mind.

Dirt: I have crappy soil in my current home so I buy soil in 50 pound bags. When I do this spell however, I add a handful of dirt from the richest, most lush part of my yard. When I lived in an apartment, I added some dirt I snagged some the apartment’s driveway as there was no grass on the property. Similar spells sometimes ask for graveyard dirt or crossroads dirt. These requirements puzzle me as they don’t explain why you would need that earth. Tradition maybe. The graveyard dirt might be useful if you want to encourage spirits to aid your home’s wealth or if you want to ask ancestor’s to bless your home financially. Crossroads dirt might be useful if you want to scatter debts to the wind (but that’s kind of a different direction to take this spell), to borrow the power of the crossroad, or if you work with crossroads spirits. I’d pick a crossroads where businesses sit on all four roads if only so you can draw in the energy and wealth from their businesses too. I also add some used coffee grounds to the flower pot to give the spell a kick of energy and to speed along the process.

Small scrap of paper and writing utensil: You might want to use organic paper and magical ink. I usually use scrap paper and a sharpie. Sometimes I’ll write my spell in blood. It depends on my mood. Using blood or magical inks would give the spell and extra kick but the spell works just as well if you use a crayon and notebook paper, to be honest. Just avoid putting post it notes in the soil. The adhesive usually isn’t good for the plant.

Coins with the year of your birth: This is an older tradition from where I don’t know. Maybe it’s just one of those things that crop up. I tend to pick coins that are the largest denomination with my birth year that I can find, or even add a handful of coins. Then I select the same for anyone living in my house (or your employees). I might even toss in some coins for friends, depending on my exact purpose and mood at the time. You could even use paper money, if you want but searching the couch for coins is probably easier than watching a $20 be buried under soil. Add as many coins as you want but don’t cover the bottom entirely as the flower pot won’t drain. You may also want to dress the coins with money-drawing powder, oils, or herbs.

A basil plant: I’ve transplanted basil, bought it, and grown it from seed. I’ve been given it by friends. Basil is known as the king of herbs traditionally and it’s well known for prosperity and increasing things. It’s also used for fertility, romance, and to increase wealth. It’s been used in funerary rites and is sacred to a few deities. You don’t have to grow just basil though. You can add other plants like marigolds (for sunny wealth), thyme (another traditional money plant), cactus (because it doesn’t die), or whatever else you’d want to use.

Other suggestions:

Bless, cleanse, and consecrate your tools as needed. You might want to bless the coins or cleanse them for example. You can enchant each tool and ingredient to bring in wealth and money.

You may also want to meditate with the plant to see if you can speak to it’s spirit and tell it the purpose of the spell and ask for it’s aid. This is especially true if you’re an animist. I tend to talk to the plant while casting this spell, especially when messing with the soil. Dialogue usually sounds like this: “You’re going to be the biggest, best basil plant ever and each leaf you grow will bring me so much money. It’s going to be great. You get water and love and I get to pay all my bills comfortably AND buy stuff AND save money. Fuck yeah, you’re the bestest basil plant ever.” It might not be the witchiest verse ever but it works for me. Do what works best for you.

I didn’t mention intent above but if you use purposefully intent in your spells you’ll want to see yourself comfortably paying your bills, stopping off for a luxurious coffee, buying something you want in a store without worrying about bills, and being pleased with money in your savings account. For businesses, you’ll want to see that you’re in the black and a steady stream of customers. You’ll also want to envision this happening immediately, in the season you’re in and with the way things are now.

You may want to wait for the right astrological correspondence. For this spell, I believe it’s Wednesday and the full moon.

Watering the plant? Every so often steep basil in water like a tea and once cool use that to water the plant. Don’t do this every time as plants prefer clear, clean water but it can give the spell a kick.

Google up some basil plant care instructions so you know how to best handle your basil plant.

Happy casting!

Anti-Nightmare Workings, Spells, and Cures (repost) (Spell Saturday #3)

Happy Spell Saturday!

Today’s spell is a collection of anti-nightmare fixes reposted from my original tumblr blog. I think nightmares tend to start up more often since we’re moving into the Halloween and horror movie season. Enjoy and sweet dreams!

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Firstly, as much as we’d like to say that dream dictionaries help, they really don’t. I check them occasionally just to see what they say out of curiosity but I don’t hold much stock with them. No one can really tell you what your dreams mean besides you. You know your mind best and you know whether you view a specific symbol as one of warning or joy. You’ll have to figure it out for yourself. But, maybe this will give you something to think about. Check with your symbology, folklore, superstitions, mythology, favorite books, movies, video games, etc. Anything that has meaning to you might give some insight to the dreams.

As for anti-nightmares… I usually find throwing together a quick sachet and hiding it in my pillow works great. I’ve also hung it nearby or put it on a table. Works great. I’ve also heard under the bed works well too.

For anti-nightmares or nightmare cures…

From Scott Cunningham’s Magical Herbalism

NOTE: Scott Cunningham sometimes is on the ball with his shit and sometimes he is absolutely horribly fucking WRONG or doesn’t explain why the fuck he does what he does (And it’s hard to ask now, since he’s dead). Example: He considers comfrey a protective herb only which is really fucking weird since comfrey is known by herbalists as a healing herb. It’s even used in medications. Consider this with the information I now give you.

Anise (Cunningham, Magical Herbalism, pg 138) – “A good, general cleansing bath is made with a handful of anise seed and a few bay leaves. This is especially effective if you have (accidentally or intentionally) killed something. A pillow of anise keeps away all nightmares”

Betony (Cunningham, Magical Herbalism, pg 143-144) – “… Stuff a pillow with the herb and sleep on it to prevent nightmares.”

Hyacinth (Cunningham, Magical Herbalism, pg 169) – “Sachets to ease childbirth, protection and a guard against nightmares.”

Thyme (Cunningham, Magical Herbalism, pg 202) – “A pillow stuffed with thyme cures nightmares.” [Crown’s note: he claims thyme is used for clairvoyance but doesn’t list any uses for it as such.]

Vervain (Cunningham, Magical Herbalism, pg 205) – “Hang up o the bed to keep you free of nightmares.”

From Judika Illes’ Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells

NOTE: Illes collected her stuff from all over the place and doesn’t source it (bibliography but each speck of information isn’t directly sourced) so it’s hard to trace. And her history is shoddy beside the culturally based spells and workings taken out of context…. Anyway, she’s got a whole section (pg 380-388) but I’ve selected a few of them for various reasons.

“Nightmare Spell (2) Anti-Nightmare Garden” (pg 382)

… The Primary botanical nightmare-repellant is rosemary. Given the opportunity it flourishes and grows wildly. Other suggestions include:
Mimosa
Mint
Mugwort
Poppies
Roses
Rowan
Saint John’s Wort
Snake Plant
Wormwood

[Crown’s Note: I think this is a lesson is what not to use? Most of these plants are used in clairvoyance and divination. If you’re hoping to prevent nightmares or dreaming in general, I’d say avoid these. YMMV though.]

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“Nightmare Spell (6) Betony” (pg 382)

“Gather betony in August without the use of iron. Dry the plants and then grind the leaves and roots. Cast a circle around your bed with this powder to protect against nightmares.” [Crown’s note: Or make a sachet or pillow, hang the plant, grow it next to you….]

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“Nightmare Spell (9) Crystals” (pg 383)

Certain crystal gemstones repel and relieve nightmares:
– Blue crystals in general, especially angelite, lapis lazuli, and turquoise
– Black crystals, with the possible exception of onyx
– Chysolite
– Citrine
– Topaz”

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“Nightmare Spell (11) Silver Bell Dispersal” (pg 383)

Keep a bell made from real silver on the nightstand, and ring as needed to dispel a nightmare and cleanse the atmosphere.

[Crown’s note: I love bells. I don’t see why a silver one’s necessary. Any bell with a clear sound should suffice. I like using brass bells because of the sound they make.]

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“Nightmare Spell (32) Water Absorption” (pg 388)

1. Leave a glass of water by your bedside.
2. For extra strength, add camphor, but be sure not to drink the water!
3. In the morning, flush the water down the toilet.
4. Reserve the glass for this use only and repeat as needed.“

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Illes also lists the following herbs on pages 386-388 in separate spells. Since I’m not going to type out the whole section of the book, I’ve listed them with their page numbers and spell titles so you can look them up yourself.

– Amaranthus (“Nightmare Spell (18) Flower of Essence Relief” pg 386)
– Gray Spider Flower (“Nightmare Spell (18) Flower of Essence Relief” pg 386)
– Saint John’s Wort (“Nightmare Spell (18) Flower of Essence Relief” pg 386)
– Juniper Berries on yucca thread (“Nightmare Spell (19) Ghost Beads” pg 386 *watch for cultural appropriation!)
– Peony Roots (“Nightmare Spell (24) Peony Roots” pg 387 and “Nighmare Spell 25 Peony Root Beads” pg 387)
– Agrimony (“Nightmare Spell (26) Protection (1)” pg 387)
– Betony (“Nightmare Spell (27) Protection (2)” pg 387)
– Purslane (“Nightmare Spell (28) Purslane Protection” pg 387)
– Vervain (“Nightmare Spell (31) Vervain” pg 388)

Crown’s Additions:
– Iron. Iron anything under the bed, pillow, between the mattresses, next to you, whatever.
– I love the idea of the bell as written above.
– Betony is a good keep-away for spirits, dreams, and generally everything as far as I’ve seen. YYMV.
– I personally use rosemary and thyme or rosemary and chamomile when I want to be left dreamless.

Original post from my tumblr blog here.

Protection Wreaths (Spell Saturday #2)

Happy Spell Saturday!

Wreaths are fussy things aren’t they? I use to dislike them. They felt old, fussy, and traditional. I didn’t understand the point of them so I never had them around. Until I fell in love with a black feather wreath. The feathers were small, but soft, shiny, and elegant. I adored it and brought it home and hung it on my door immediately.

Since then I’ve changed my mind. I still don’t tend to like many wreaths but I do find some beautiful and I even have one hanging on my wall right now made from vines from my garden and a twine.

Purpose: To create a magic wreath to protect the home.

Ingredients:

  • Base wreath form and any covering for the wreath form if necessary
  • Any protective plants such as the following: Peony, cinquefoil (five finger grass), fennel, garlic flowers, geranium, mugwort, parsley, hydrangea, roses, sunflowers, yarrow, rosemary, juniper, dill, bay laurel, angelica, Saint John’s wort, caraway, cumin, rowan, elder, ash, oak, purslane, rue
  • Iron nails, crystals, holey stones, bone and wood beads, feathers, fabric, and shells
  • Twine, ribbon, or wire

Select your wreath form and add any covering to it by wrapping or tying your covering around it.

Carefully arrange your base material in an aesthetically pleasing way. Depending on your design, your base material might be feathers, plants, wood, or whatever else. You should also consider adding other ingredients such as shells, iron nails, crystals, beads, stones and crystals, fabric, or whatever else to add to your design. As you tie, twist, or wrap the ingredients to your wreath, say the following:

With each element I add

I protect my home, my business, my loved ones, and my life

With each element I add

Protection from all who would wish harm to me

Be warned those who would do harm

You are not welcome here – be gone

I am protected so be gone

Once done, bless your wreath and dab it with holy or blessed water or protective oils/waters and hang it on your front door or walls.

Notes:

  • This is an art project so mix and match your ingredients to match your aesthetic, desire, and available ingredients.
  • Base form can be vines, a store-bought foam, cardboard, wicker, metal wreath form frame or even twist the plants into crown form. You can even use a thin pool noodle if you want! Rowan, elder, ash, and oak branches could make excellent forms. I like to use local vines from my garden to form my wreath frame.
  • Select any plants that you think of as protective. There are thousands upon thousands of plants that serve as protective guardians. Pick whatever works for you.
  • I like to use white cotton twine, leather straps, or red thread for my wreaths. Use whatever works best for you. Florist wire is certainly worth consideration if you’re working with especially large or tough materials.

Happy casting!

Book Review: Easy Instant Astral Projection by Alan Marx – 3/5 Meh

Easy Instant Astral Projection by Alan Marx – 3/5 Meh

It does what it says it does. It will tell you one easy way to get into the astral. No muss, no fuss. However, it has three major problems I’ll elaborate on below but most readers won’t be put off by the issues.

Continue reading →

Free Twitter Tuesday Tarot Reading at @crookedcrown

Did you know I have a twitter? Well, I do! Mostly it contains community comments or shop updates but is it legit the fastest way to find out what’s up for This Crooked Crown at the moment.

But what if it was more?

ONE free tarot or oracle card reading will be given away every Tuesday for FREE via twitter @crookedcrown. Check @crookedcrown every Tuesday to see if you got this week’s free reading!

Each reading will be about 100 characters so they are going to be super mini readings! If you’re looking for something more in-depth, you’ll want to consider buying a larger reading.

How do you sign up for this kind of awesome?

Step 1: Sign up or log into twitter and find my twitter account @crookedcrown

Step 2: Send a private message to me via twitter (direct message) with your question and the acronym FTTTR so I know it’s for Free Twitter Tuesday Tarot Reading and not just you sending me a random question.

So a potential message might look like this: “Hi! FTTTR pls Will I get this promotion? TY!”

Step 3: Wait to see if you’re selected for that Tuesday’s Free Twitter Tuesday Tarot Reading!

That’s it!

If I don’t have any requests that week, then I’ll just pull a card for my followers as a whole. So it may still apply to you.

I have the right to select from the questions which one I want to answer that day so it’s somewhat first come first serve but also depends on my mood. I may not answer your question at all if I don’t feel it’s appropriate. Generally speaking, if you send in a question, I will eventually get around to answering it.

I do not accept questions on any other medium source nor do I give readings away anywhere else. This is it. This is your chance for a free reading. Please do not send a tumblr ask, email, or paper airplane with your question. I won’t answer it.

Candle Spell (7) Money Growth (Spell Saturday #1)

Happy Spell Saturday!  I always say that the best place for a practitioner to start is with a money spell so we’ll start Spell Saturday off with one! This spell is straight out of Judika Illes’ Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, page 809.

To grow your money and reach a monetary goal.

green-candle

What you’ll need:

  • A green candle. perhaps dressed to your desires.
  • Something to carve the candle with such as a knife
  • Large based candle holder or saucer.
  • Enough coins to circle the candle and fill the candle holder or saucer.
  • Something to light the candle with

The spell is written as thus:

1. Carve and dress a green candle to express your desires

2. Place it on a saucer

3. Arrange coins around the base of the candle.

4. Light the candle and chant:

Money grown, money flow

Candle burn, watch me earn

Money grow, money flow

Flame shine

What I want is mine!

Expected results:

Usually after this spell I’ll see an immediate bump in my shop sales or will suddenly find really good deals in things I want to buy or even be given money. It usually starts within a few days of the spell and fades out in a couple of months.

spells and herbs

Notes:

You can use a white candle in exchange for a green one. I tend to use votive candles because they’re thick enough to take being carved but burn fairly quickly. You can dress the candle with money drawing oils, waters, powders, or herbs. If you’re going to use herbs or powders, make sure only the candle wax near the edge of the candle and away from the wick has the herbs or powders or you risk setting the whole spell ablaze. Carve the candle with what you want to happen. Example: I’ll have enough money to pay rent, bills, and buy food each month and have a little extra left over. 

Candle plates are a great investment for practitioners but any stoneware plate or metal container can be used for this purpose.

The coins can also be dressed with money-drawing herbs, powders, oils, and waters. I like the use the largest denomination of coins I can find with my birth year.

You can also add herbs or incense to the bottom of the plate to help out your spell.

I find the above chant to be a little too… much for me when I cast it. I also feel it isn’t specific enough. You can add clauses of when this spell starts and ends at will. I tend to alter the chant as follows:

As this candle burns, money will flow in my direction

When this candle dies, my money will continue to grow

Money will flow to me, my money will continue to grow.

If you use intent specific envisioning, you’ll want to envision your bank account growing and that your carved desire coming to life.

Happy casting!

Introducing Spell Saturdays!

With witches comes spells right? (Well, usually).

Spells are extremely commonplace in most witchcraft practices but finding the right spell for the job is one of the most difficult task a practitioner can have. Everyday I get spell requests from both practitioners and people looking just to dip their toe in magic. Some folks don’t know where to look for spells, don’t know how to write a spell, or just want another practitioner’s opinion on if a spell would work.

So I’m really excited to announce Spell Saturdays! Every Saturday This Crooked Crown will be publishing a spell. This spell might be on any topic from money spells to love to curses. The spells will be sourced so you can look them up later if you want but they may also be original works. Each spell will be tagged accordingly and added to appropriate pages so you can find them later.

Spells can be easily found but do they work? How to you adapt them? Where did they come from? Can you substitute X for Y? These questions may very easily crop up when looking at spells. So, I’ll only post spells that have been tried by myself or trusted colleagues. With these spells will includes notes we made while casting those spells as well as suggestions for each spell on how to adapt it for your needs!

I hope this will be a really fun experience for everyone. Finding spells can be really difficult and sometimes just knowing what to expect and how someone else has adapted a spell can make you feel so much more confident in casting the spell to begin with. Happy casting!

 

 

50 Tips and Suggestions for Magic Practitioners’ Events This Summer

Summer is here and many of us have events like Pagan Pride and local coven parties to attend. Or, you’re thinking of maybe throwing together a witchy cookout or get together. But events can go wrong very quickly when there’s a lot of people involved. Here’s some things to consider.

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Rhode Island Pagan Pride 2013

17 tips and suggestions for planning, setting up, packing for the event, or getting to the event

  1. Be really clear on on the dates, locations, and directions. Ask a five year old if they can understand it if you’re unsure. Also be clear where to buy tickets, if tickets are necessary, what, where, and to whom donations can be made (whether food or money).
  2. Arrive early vendors and make sure your paperwork is covered. Bring extra water, food, and a spare chair in case something tragic happens to yours or a friend stops by. Be very clear on whether you are cash only, card only, or both. Have cash on hand just in case. And don’t forget to set online shops to vacation or whatever/watch the inventory so you don’t oversell and disappoint customers.
  3. Carpooling is a great as parking is usually a mess. However, be super cautious when carpooling with strangers.
  4. Double and triple check public transportation routes and fares. You might want to even consider emailing, calling, facebooking, or tweeting your public transportation folks to ensure that the area is being serviced.
  5. If you’re going somewhere alone, let someone know where you’re going to be. Even if it’s just your internet friends.
  6. Park in well-lit areas if possible and lock up your car’s windows, trunk, and doors. Keep valuables out of view of windows. Yes, anti-thief spells are nice. But so are locks.
  7. Bring a device charger. Solar chargers are getting better and better now and they’re priced just about as much as a regular charger. If not, at least bring one to plug into a wall. Even if the event is at a campground there’s bound to be someone with something you can plug into to charge your device with.
  8. For the love of the gods and spirits, wear sun protection like sunblock, hat, sunglasses, and so on. And hey, bug spray usually won’t go amiss either.
  9. Bring cash in small bills. Many shops do take cards now but cash is often appreciated.
  10. Biodegradable serviceware! I’m not just talking about cups. Everything from plates, bowls, forks, knives, spoons, straws, take-home boxes, delivery boxes, and yes cups are made with biodegradable plastics or materials now. Some are better than others so do your research. But this is HUGE and I’m SUPER disappointed I don’t see this more at events. Like, do you know how easy it is for a practitioner to pick up your used cup and use it as object in a spell? Having a biodegradable cup can really muddy the waters when trying to do a spell (especially if the cup is made with seeds). Plus it helps the environment! Yup, it’s more expensive (usually) but then you don’t have a plastic cup sitting out there for years if you missed it during clean-up.
  11. Do not put non-edible things in community shared food. It’s one thing to do it at a private dinner where it’s expected but it’s entirely another where it’s a community event and you can’t be sure you’ve told every single person not everything is edible.
  12. Write down ALL ingredients included in a recipe. Also write down if you enchanted it or if those ingredients used have been enchanted (like if you grew the plants in your garden and poured fertility magic into it… uh, mention that?) This isn’t just for magical needs but also for things like allergies, medical disorders, or religious observances.
  13. Wear sensible shoes. Actually, just wear shoes. I personally love/hate shoes and yet they stay on my feet at events. Amazing concept.
  14. While first aid kits, safety kits, and properly trained attendants of first aid centers essential for community events, this leaves aside the whole aspect of magical needs. What if someone can’t find a lighter for a ritual to be performed in five minutes in front of the whole community? What if someone is super negative and you need to cleanse yourself right there and then? What if you need a spell, stat? What if your special event garb rips? Build an emergency kit to cover your needs. It can be as small as an Altoid’s tin or as large as a whole bag.
  15. Note keeping is rarely mentioned in these lists and it’s a shame. A lot of fun ideas and information is thrown around at these events. Keep a small notebook and pen on you to write down information like website names, emails, phone numbers, or terms to research later. You can also use your smartphone by texting yourself or a note keeping app.
  16. Casting some spells to find your things, look more attractive, be confident, or draw customers? Don’t go overboard. If your spells are super forceful, people will feel that and either ignore you (because rude to do that) or can even become ill.
  17. Bring drinks. Yes, you can usually buy something there but BRING DRINKS. And if you bring your vendor friends’ coffee they will probably thank you immensely.

Food and magical practitioners have a long, long history. Many of us love food and drink and often incorporate it in our magic. Some even work solely in the kitchen. But there’s a downside to this: we don’t know if anyone’s enchanting our food or drink without permission. Many practitioners are somewhat wary about dining with other practitioners, especially when food is being brought in or privately made. Here’s some more magic related tips to consider when planning an event.

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Rhode Island Pagan Pride 2013

18 tips and suggestions for how to act while at the event

  1. Never, ever leave your drink or food unattended. If you can’t take it with you, leave it. If you leave for some reason and plan on coming back, as a trusted friend to watch it. And even then that should be avoided.
  2. This community, like all communities, has our assholes and predators. Call them out on it as needed and ensure the safety of everyone around you. If you feel creeped out, tell them to go away. And don’t be afraid to call or scream for help if you need to. If they insist on contact information, give them a fake. You are NEVER obliged to give out your information or anything. Not even the damn time. Never.
  3. Do not feed the wildlife. Do not litter. Do not spray the environment with chemical sprays unless explicitly told you can. And watch for poison ivy, oak, and sumac.
  4. Help each other out. Seriously, if someone is uncomfortable looking talking to someone, go over and join into the conversation. At worst you’ll be considered rude and told to butt out. At best you saved someone from a harmful situation. This is especially true with minors.
  5. Remember not everyone has perfect physical mobility and just because someone looks healthy doesn’t mean they are. Ask if they would like help and don’t help if they say no.
  6. Do NOT touch someone’s clothing, hair, body, animals, or things without their explicit permission. This is basic common courtesy.
  7. Community elder does NOT mean they are entitled to anything, least of all special treatment, discounts, or even your respect. Treat them as everyone else and let them earn your respect with their actions and wisdom rather than be expected to comply because they’re a pillar of the community.
  8. Keep an eye on your weaponry. Yes, that athame is very pretty. Yes, it’s very much part of the ritual you plan on performing as a part of the event. No, it should not be swung around like you’re in a hack and slash game and it should not be handed to children.
  9. You are not at home. Don’t treat it that way. Please shower and by hygienic when you arrive. Please remember your manners. No, not everyone is family and you shouldn’t treat strangers with familiarity like that unless they say it’s OK.
  10. Tip your fortune tellers. This depends on the event and reader. Often times if you’re paying the reader individually, then it’s not often expected. If they’re being paid by the event, the event takes a cut, they squeeze you in, or they’re doing it for donations/fun then tip them. Even a dollar or pocket changes goes a long way.
  11. Do not ask someone to do a psychic reading or perform for you. It’s ridiculously rude unless that person offers or are selling their services. Furthermore, why would they open themselves up at an event where there’s so much energy being thrown around? Why would they do that to themselves. Don’t be afraid to say no, if you’re the person being asked. You also don’t have to agree to have such a service performed if you don’t want it.
  12. Be mindful of minors when holding discussions that involve graphic sex or violence descriptions. And yes, some of them probably do need to be there. If your parent is working the event and can’t find a babysitter for a Saturday, guess who’s tagging along at said event? I’m not saying don’t talk. I’m saying don’t tell someone in graphic detail about your sexcapde the night before in a public forum unless that forum is specifically for adults and/or a community catering to that.
  13. Not everyone is an extrovert. Some people really do just prefer sitting back and watch than participating in an event. They like it even. Do NOT pull someone into an event if they don’t want to be.
  14. Be nice to the beginners, children, teenagers, and newbies; they’re learning. That being said, you don’t have to correct them, you don’t have to be nice, and you don’t have to teach them, especially if they’re toxic to you. Some people need a hard truth to learn. Also, not all beginners are young. Some people come into this much later in life.
  15. Remember, some people simply do not want to learn or change. You might as well be arguing with a wall. Learn when to disengage and walk away. Let them win. Fools never recognize when they’re wrong.
  16. Remember not everyone practices the way you do. While your religion may say you can only practice one way and there’s only one truth, that does NOT mean you get to degrade, bully, insult, or be an asshat to anyone else. Also, bashing other religions like Christianity is petty, unnecessarily, and absolutely spreading the same toxic behavior you’re claiming they’re giving you.
  17. Burning incense or candles at an event? Be kind and post a little sign on what you’re burning! Not only is it great for businesses to advertise that you sell it but you can also popularize the smell. Scent and smoke sensitive folks will especially thank you.
  18. You are not entitled to ANY information from anyone. You are not entitled.

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Rhode Island Pagan Pride 2013

15 tips and suggestions for after the event and clean up

  1. Clean up the grounds after your event. Even the trash that isn’t yours. This includes your animal’s deficantions.
  2. Check for all your stuff and money before you leave the event. Often times if you lose something you won’t have access to that site to even look for it later.
  3. Just because you met someone at an event doesn’t mean you’re entitled to talk to them again, have their time, or their attention.
  4. Update websites after the event is over, community organizers. Apologize for things that went wrong, list any shops that made an appearance, and consider a missed connections forum of some kind so people can reconnect after the event.
  5. Take down any photos of people who request them taken down and ask give names to people and events so others know what was happening when and who was there.
  6. Do not include people in your prayers or workings if you met them at the event. Ask them again in private outside of the event if they want to be included.
  7. Ground and cleanse yourself after the event as needed. Some amazing energy can be raised there and some really crappy energy can be as well. Do it to your tools and things too.
  8. Do not be a creep and try to excessively hit on, stalk, or harass someone you saw at the event. Especially do not do this to minors. It’s one thing to contact someone and follow their social media but it’s wholly another to continually contact them when they don’t respond or ask you to go away.
  9. Shop owners, do an inventory. Yes, right away. That night or the next day. If you don’t and find out you’re missing a whole box of stuff two weeks later there is incredibly little that can be done about it.
  10. Reconnect with people that interest you or groups. Maybe group work isn’t your thing or their style isn’t what you thought it would be but supporting your local community is often the best way to connect with them.
  11. Supporting your local community is a strong ideal. However, you do not have to support a local community if it won’t support you or has toxic behavior.
  12. Didn’t see a shop or person at an event and think that’s weird? Check out why. It could be some personal drama or that person could have a real serious reason why they didn’t attend right down to what the event supports or the event excluding someone for some reason. Knowing your community politics is a good way of avoiding being dragged into them.
  13. Give feedback! Make suggestions on what you’d like to see next year and what events you really enjoyed.
  14. Some traditions or covens are specific on who can join in. Just because they did an event doesn’t mean that they’re looking for new members or you’re eligible to join in.
  15. Just because someone’s culturally appropriating something doesn’t mean that you can do that too. Nor does it mean you should instantly berate them. Inform them after the event is done so you can provide insight from the cultures involved and links for additional information. Starting an argument onsite it not the way to go about it and puts someone immediately on the defensive. The exception to this is if they’re being racist or extremely toxic in some way.

There you have it! 50 tips and suggestions for magic practitioners to keep in mind this summer. Some of these are super general and can be applied to any event and others are more specific. So followers, what tips, tricks, suggestions, and secrets do you have to share about event going?

The Goddess is in the Details by Deborah Blake Book Review 3/5

3 Comments

3/5 – Meh.

Total review length: ~2500 words. See more about my review system here.

Warnings for casual religion and Christian bashing, Wiccan=Witch=Pagan, “we all revere nature/the God/Goddess/divine”, inconsistency, slight misunderstanding/shaming on lesser known subjects such as BDSM and satanism, generalization for all pagans/wiccans/witches, “the gods know what’s best for us” thinking, slight victim shaming, and in one stance flat-out false information with the word “cowan” (likely unintentional but still false)

The book has a lot of good ideas but nothing new is being shared here that hasn’t been said before. Blake isn’t quoting the Rede for you but is decidedly in the neo Wicca camp. Advanced practitioners may find the second half of the book an interesting read but many ideas could be fleshed out further. The book was a quick read for me (four hours give or take) and is 227 pages. My copy was from the library and is the 2011 printing. The book’s marketed for intermediate or advanced practitioners so I think much of the beginning information is kind of unnecessary but nice to know where Blake is coming from. The “something to try” at the end of each chapter is interesting but the real bonus is the sourced footnotes within the material, although it is somewhat inconsistent. (Not every idea is sourced but there’s a bibliography in the back).

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