Tag: herbal spell

A Plant’s Curse [Spell Saturday #46]

Plants are usually seen as healers or helpers in magic. It’s not rare to run into a plant that can also be used for cursing. Added to that, most plants used in cursing are used dry and only a bit of it. This spell is not one of those.

This is a spell that only grows in strength. As the plant grows stronger, your target’s success and life begins to fall apart. It’s a serious business curse. It’s not the kind you use when someone’s a jackass but when someone truly deserves to have their life ruined.

What makes a person deserve such treatment? I leave that up to you to decide.

 

A Plant's Curse by This Crooked Crown

 

What you’ll need:

  • A plant you can keep alive
  • A picture of your target
  • The name of your target
  • A piece of your target’s hair (optional)
  • A pot for the plant
  • Soil for the plant
  • Rocks for drainage for the plant (optional)
  • Chalk or sharpie

First thing you’ll need to do is to get a plant you can keep alive. The easiest choice for this spell is a cactus with spines. Poisonous plants are a fairly obvious choice as well. The second choices could be any number of poisonous plants. I think roses would be a great choice if you were cursing an ex-lover. Cuttings from your target’s yard or re-potting a plant that was a gift from them would also be good. Or you can just pick something that you know you can keep alive. The only real requirement is that the plant must be grown in soil. Do not pick an air plant or a plant that grows primarily in water.

Once you have your plant picked out, pick an appropriately sized potted plant, soil appropriate for the plant, and rocks for water drainage if necessary. Do yourself a favor and spend ten minutes googling your plant’s requirements for soil, water, light, and drainage before you buy it. I’ve spent twenty minutes standing in the middle of a greenhouse staring at my phone to make sure I had everything I needed for a plant’s survival. Since the plant’s life is immediately tied to this spell, it behooves you to make sure you can keep the plant alive to the best of your ability.

 

 

Next gather the items related to your target. Print out a picture of your target and make sure you have their full name. If you can, get some of their hair. Be careful with how much hair you grab. Roses, for example, love calcium so a hank of your target’s hair is absolutely perfect for a potted rosebush. They’ll love you for it. But some plants want different soil requirements so if you add calcium to the soil, you’ll change the pH levels and risk killing the plant. A few strands of hair won’t hurt your plant but double check your plant’s requirement before dropping a handful in there.

Write on the interior bottom of the pot your target’s full name. Use chalk or a sharpie. Place a few rocks at the very bottom for drainage, if needed. If not, put a thin layer of soil there instead.

Next, rip up the photograph into as small of pieces as you possibly can get. Sprinkle them into the pot. Now place the rest of your rocks for drainage on top of the paper and layer a very thin layer of soil on top of the paper until there’s none showing.

Wet the soil and rocks a little and gently pick up the plant, massaging the roots (without breaking them!) as much as possible and say,

“Little plant

You’ll grow so strong

And all you’ve got to do

Is to take from [target’s name]

Take your strength from their success

The weaker they grow, the stronger you’ll grow

Ruin their life so you can thrive.”

Finish potting the plant, watering it as needed, and place it in the best place for the plant to grow. Ideally, the plant will grow big and strong while your target’s life will slowly fall to ruin. If your plant needs re-potting, simply repeat the spell with new soil, target’s name, picture, and hair.

Make sure to take care of the plant really well. If the plant dies, so does your curse.

 

 

If you want to cancel this curse, you have two choices. And neither are guaranteed to work. The whole curse is based on the plant growing and so does the curse. Canceling that is going to be tricky.

The first choice is to uproot the plant. Either let it dry out in the sun or burn it. Scatter the soil from the plant at a crossroads and cast the stones used for drainage into living water. The picture and hair, if any traces of it remain, should be burned in a different fire than you used to burn the plant. The pot should be smashed or otherwise destroyed.

The second option relies entirely on your confidence to cleanse things. If you’re very competent at cleansing, then take the plant out of the pot it’s currently in and place it on the ground or on a plate temporarily. Cleanse the plant. Reach deep and make sure the plant understands that it no longer derives strength from your target. Give it another source to derive power from, like water, fertilizer, or the sun. You can reuse the pot and drainage rocks but scatter the soil at a crossroads. Re-pot the plant in a new batch of soil. Once again, remind the plant of its new magical source of energy as you re-pot it.

 

 

Notes:

  • If you need to scatter the soil during re-potting, feel free to use as many crossroads as possible. No one’s going to want to see a mound of dirt in an intersection so you’re better off taking a walk or drive and tossing dirt here and there along the way.
  • The stronger the connection you have to the plant, the stronger the curse will be – and the more likely that the plant will be able to cancel it at a later date using the second method.
  • Using hair is the best option here. Skip fingernails as they take longer to break down. Blood could also be used but that’s far less sanitary. Avoid urine or other bodily fluids and they could kill the plant.
  • Plastic’s way cheaper and lighter than a terracotta or ceramic pot but they can be harder to break. Consider this ahead of time.
  • If you’re particularly malicious feeling, you can give your cursing plant to your target as a gift. Only do this if you know they’re going to take care of it.

Happy cursing!

Chocolate Rose Tea Love Philter

A philter is a magical potion geared towards inducing love. This Love Philter is a tasty treat that you can share with your partner or drink yourself to encourage self-love. It can be served hot or cold and adjusted to your taste.

I actually do a ton of baking but I don’t tend to share recipes. Something about sharing something that you’ll consume makes me cautious, even if the food is perfectly normal. Kinda weird, right?

Anyway, make sure you read the recipe through entirely and the notes before giving it a try. Remember: ask for consent before giving a loved one this drink!

 

chocolate-rose-tea-love-philter

 

Ingredients:

  • 2 level teaspoons black tea of choice
  • Small handful of organic rose petals
  • 1 cup water
  • 3-5 strawberries
  • 2 level tablespoons cocoa powder or powdered hot chocolate
  • Sugar or sweetener of choice  to taste
  • Strainer

Mix two teaspoons of your favorite black tea and rose petals and steep it in a cup of water for at least five minutes, 10 minutes is optional for this philter. Strain and keep the liquid. While you do this, whisper to yourself what kind of foundation for love you want to have. Maybe you want the evening to be sexy and fun or you want to love your body more.

Wash and cut the tops off your strawberries. Puree them in a blender with the liquid tea until smooth. While you do this, imagine treating each other to something special with your lover or treating yourself kindly.

 

chocolate-rose-tea-love-philter-01

 

Add in cocoa powder or hot chocolate powder. Blend well. Add in sugar/sweetener to taste and blend well. Envision having fun and enjoying yourself or yourselves. You should be getting what you want in this imaginary scenario.

Strain drink into wine glasses (chilled) or teacups (hot) and serve. As you create this, make your final requests such as “we will have a great night”, “I love you”, or “I love me”.

If you want to get super fancy, top with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Serve with chocolate covered strawberries or a delicate dessert.

 

chocolate-rose-tea-love-philter-02

 

Notes:

  • This can be served hot or cold.
  • You can use any black tea you want. I tend to go with Ceylon but Lady Gray’s a good choice too. If you have a Valentine’s or love themed tea, give that a try.
  • I tend to use honey for a sweetener but you can use whatever you have on hand, even granulated sugar. If using granulated sugar, remember to mix very well or the drink may be grainy.
  • Remember to tightly secure the blender cover before turning on the blender. This is a “well, duh” kind of thought but seriously, remember to do this. You don’t want to have to clean up the mess.
  • “Level tea/table spoons” is specified here. When something calls for a teaspoon or tablespoon of whatever, it almost always means a level teaspoon or tablespoon. A level spoon means that it’s not a heaping spoonful but the same level that soup broth would be at if it filled the spoon.

 

 

Drink up!

Decks featured:

  • [Instagram photo] Scrying Ink Lenormand Oracle by Siolo Thompson © Bay & Willow

5 Love Divinations to Reveal Your Sweetheart

Love divinations is one of the most common types of superstitions in the world. Everyone can probably vaguely recall at least one type of superstition that’s suppose to reveal whether or not someone loves you or will love you. Open to any page in a superstition dictionary and you’ll probably find a love related one. It’s that ubiquitous and it’s the number one question I get asked about as a professional reader.

That’s not a bad thing. People want to feel loved and there’s so many different culturally specific charms that have developed to reveal love to you. Here’s fourteen of my favorites for you to try and enjoy:

 

SONY DSC

 

01 Apple Peels

Apples are, without a singular doubt, associated with love. From the golden apple that started a war to numerous divination methods, apples are commonplace in love rituals. While there are methods of divining a future love from pretty much any part of the apple, we’ll look at the peel itself.

Peel an apple in one singular piece as much as possible. Move slowly and take your time so you get it right. Toss the apple peel over your left shoulder and see what letter the apple peel formed on the ground. The letter should stand for the first letter of the future lover’s surname or Christian name. (1)

 

 

02 Plucking Daisies

Ever pluck the petals of a daisy to find out if they love you? You knot the charm “They love me. They love me not.” After each sentence, you pluck a petal and when you run out of petals you have the answer you seek.

Did you know that’s there’s another usage for this verbal spell? It’s used for determining whether your lover is faithful to you. Supposedly that’s why you say “he loves me, he loves me not”. Apparently, performing this little rite should be done around noon, facing the sun. (2)

There’s another verbal charm that could be said “Rich man, poor man, farmer, ploughman, thief” and whichever you say when you run out of petals, reveals the kind of person you’ll marry. (3)

 

 

03 Hair & Fire

Find a single a friend and sit together by yourselves from midnight to one in the morning in complete silence. During this time, you both pluck the hairs from each others’ head to match how old they are. So if you’re nineteen and your friend is eighteen, you should pull eighteen hairs from your friend’s hair and they’ll pull nineteen from yours. Toss the hair one by one into the fire while saying,

“I offer this my sacrifice to him most precious in my eyes,

I charge thee now come forth to me that I this minute may  thee see”

The vision of the future spouse will appear. (4)(5)

Interestingly, the wording is almost exact no matter where I read the superstition. This is because it originally comes from page 215 of Popular Rhymes and Nursery Tales by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillip. Where he got it from is unknown but that’s where the wording originates from.

Not willing to pull out a friend’s hair? There’s an updated version published where you sit alone in silence and between midnight and one by one pluck your hair from a hairbrush to match your age (so nineteen hairs for nineteen years old) and put it on a scarf in a row so you can see each hair. At one in the morning, turn over each hair and say,

“I offer my hair as sacrifice,

To the one most dear in my eyes.  

I call on you now to come to me

And this minute you I will see.”

And then the misty vision will appear to you. (6)

While I like the updated wording and the ability to cast the spell by myself, I’d probably use the fire and burn the hair plucked freshly from my head. Because that’s how I roll. But having other variations is nice too.

Speaking of variations, there’s a variation that the hair is to be burned in a linen cloth along with some of the herb true-love. The True-Love herb mentioned here is herb-paris, true lover’s knot and known scientifically as Paris quadrifolia. (7) Be careful if you decide to hunt up herb-paris. It’s name is derived because of it’s shape appears to be paired like lovers and looks like a lover’s knot but it’s poisonous.

 

 

04 Names

Names and words have long been recognized for their magical importance. Love divination by names is no different.

One continuing divination method is to take the name of potential lovers or a bunch of current lovers and write them on separate pieces of paper. Then paper is then wrapped each paper in clay and tossed into water. The first to rise back up will be their valentine.(8)

This one has a very great many variances out there. Some people will burn the names to ashes, lay the ashes on a mirror, and they’ll dream of their lover. Or they use bread instead of clay. Or they use the alphabet rather than names. There’s even a method with holly twigs and blood. (9)

This one is perhaps one of the most varying out there but the theme remains. Gather the names of potential lovers or the alphabet if there are no potential lovers available. If you’re using the water method, they wrap the name in something that floats, toss it in the water, and see which one comes up first and closest to you. That will be the initial or name of your lover. If using the fire method, you can use smoke divination from the burning process, or spread the ashes out in front of you to find letters or names spelled out.

 

05 Nuts

Nuts are often cited as a fertility ingredient and therefore are often used in love spells. There’s an interesting evolution in burning of nuts. Essentially, you lay out a nut or nuts on the hearth of the fireplace while saying the potential lover’s name. If the nut flies away, they return your affections. If the nut stays still, then they don’t. The verbal charm “If you love me, pop and fly. If you hate me, lie and die.” (10)

Another variation exists where if you already have a lover you can check their faithfulness depending on how the nut reacts. If it jumps away, then they’re unfaithful. (11) What’s interesting is this version may have been the original version used before the “pop and fly” became popular. So if the nut jumped away, the lover wasn’t interested rather than the current superstition of the jumping nut revealing a passionate lover.

Hazel nuts or chestnuts are often used but I heard this superstition using walnuts as a young girl.

 

 

There’s tons and tons more ways to divine who your future lover might be and it’s a popular (and fun) game to play as Valentine’s Day approaches. While cartomancy like tarot or palm reading are always popular, these folkloric methods are usually low key but culturally powerful ways to foretell the future. They might be silly now but they’ll well beloved and worth considering if you’re looking to do a love reading for yourself.

What kind of love divinations did you do as a kid? Did you recognize any or have one that was super common where you grew up?

 

  1. Oxford Dictionary of Superstitions. Opie, Iona and Tatem, Moira. Oxford Press. 2005. Page 3.
  2. Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions. Pickering, David. Cassell Wellington House. 1995. Page 79.
  3. Oxford Dictionary of Superstitions. Opie, Iona and Tatem, Moira. Oxford Press. 2005. Page 115.
  4. Ibid. Page 185.
  5. Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions. Pickering, David. Cassell Wellington House. 1995.  Page 124-125
  6. The Fortune-Telling Book. Kemp, Gillian. Little, Brown and Company. 2000. Page 98.
  7. Oxford Dictionary of Superstitions. Opie, Iona and Tatem, Moira. Oxford Press. 2005. Page 185.
  8. Ibid. Page 246-277
  9. Ibid.
  10. Ibid. Page 289
  11. Ibid.

Strengthening Love (Spell Saturday #42)

A spell for strengthening love between two consenting partners. Ideally, both parties are already in a committed relationship together.

It’s a simple knot spell that can be done simply or can be done in an incredibly complicated and research intensive way. Up to you. Be sure to read the spell entirely before starting.

I mean to share this spell with a specific person who emailed me but their emails disappeared from my inbox. I hope they see this!

strengthening-love-spell-by-this-crooked-crown

 

What you’ll need:

  • Red or pink dye
  • White rope or fabric

 

First, find yourself white cotton rope or fabric. It must be capable of absorbing dye and should be about two feet long and at least a finger’s width in diameter. The thicker your rope is, the longer it should be. White fabric such as silk or wool can be used instead of cotton.

Pick something that either fits your bedroom decor or can be hidden on/under/above/around the bed. Pillow cases for decorative pillows are a great choice but even a scrap of cloth can work. A piece of rope could easily be twisted into a decorative shape or macrame object. A white blanket would be incredibly ideal for this spell but could be very difficult to dye. If trying a large item such as a blanket, you’ll need to either spread the dye by hand, risk the bathtub (not recommended), or buy a huge plastic tub and dye your material in that.

 

 

Next, select a dye. A standard fabric dye can be purchased at a craft store and is by far the easiest way to go. Make sure to read the instructions included with the dye and ready whatever you need to set the dye like a heated iron.

If you want to complicate things for yourself, try a plant based dyes. Raspberries, cherries, beets, strawberries, avocado seeds & skins, madder, chochineal, radishes, coreopsis, hibiscus, or pomegranates give some good results in the color range we’re shooting for. There are other materials you can use (hydrangea gives a pretty light pink color) but remember to combine your materials with plant symbolism.

Mordants will be needed to set a natural plant dye. You can skip a mordant but the color will fade quickly and you’ll have to re-cast and re-dye the spell again, risking the spell fading. Different mordants can affect the colors differently so be sure to do your research.

You’ll also need to work out how long the fabric or rope needs to sit in the dye. Overnight is probably a good bet but if you’re aiming for a specific shade, you’ll have to play with the times and watch it closely.

Test your dye choices with a scrap of the same rope or fabric. You’ll want to know that these are the right color choices and that the color is what you want it to be after it sets.

 

 

Once you’ve worked out the logistics of what you’re dying and how you’re dying it, you can start the spell. Cleanse your material. Cleansing water is a good choice but may mess with your dye. Letting the fabric sit in the sunlight or moonlight is another good choice but the cleansing method is entirely up to you.

Dye your fabric or rope. Let it dry completely. You can add a chant or intention in while you’re dying the material if you like. It’s wholly up to you.

Once completely dry, you and your partner should stand together in your bedroom and make vows and promises to each other while knotting the materials or rope. It’s ideal that you set the mood for this stage. Make it a romantic night of it. If you’re using something like a blanket, dye thread along with the blanket and stitch something small together. Running the thread through the blanket, making a knot, then running it through the blanket again is also good. Be sure that both of you touch the material while working this spell.

 

 

Re-dye the material if it fades. You may need to do this periodically, depending on your dye choice. Make sure to do this if it does fade as it risks the spell fading as well.

If you want to end the spell, either un-knot the material. Re-dye the material to white before dying it another color. (Even if you’re selecting a color like black, re-dye it back to white first).

Remember to wash the dyed rope or whatever you’re using in cold water by itself. You’ll entirely regret washing it in warm water with other things unless you want to ruin your laundry.

 

 

Notes: 

  • You can do this without your partner’s assistance but it should be done with their informed consent. Ideally, you both should have a hand in this spell.
  • If you’re not crafty, then aim for the store-bought dye. It’s far easier to use without messing with the plants.
  • The stitching for large items like a blanket can be on the inside, underside, or along a seam, hiding the stitching from the naked eye.
  • Picking flowers or the plants together to create the dye is another good step to empower this spell with love.
  • You can rehearse what you want to say to one another or you can wing it. It’s up to you.

Happy casting!

 

Yule Candle (Spell Saturday #38)

This is called a Yule Candle. It’s a strictly holiday based spell. Traditionally, it’s lit during dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but this is kind of one of those traditions that’s not based in any particular religion so you an easily adopt it to your own traditions.  So this can be lit during your designated big  winter holiday meal.

 

yule-candle-by-this-crooked-crown

 

This is pretty much the easiest candle spell you’ll ever see. Everything is optional. The colors are up to you. It’s comes down to one, singular rule: Light the candle before you sit down to eat and don’t let it go out until you’re done eating. That’s it. That’s the spell.

Following the Yule Candle rule will allow you to avoid bad luck. It’s a pretty adaptable spell so you can do what you like but this spell will combine blessings, safety, prosperity, good luck, and security (enough food, enough rent money, job security, etc.).

I lit mine during my family’s Christmas Day brunch but sometimes I’ll also light it if we don’t go out for dinner on Christmas Eve. Depends on what we’re doing that year. (For reference, my family does a secular gift exchange on Christmas. Religion’s checked at the door for us.) Typically this is lit and left on the table among the family but I like to leave it off to the side or even in the kitchen (within sight of the table) so it doesn’t get knocked over.

What you’ll need:

  • A candle that can last the length of your meal, any color
  • Sturdy, stable candle holder appropriate for the candle size
  • Cinnamon, powdered
  • Clover, diced
  • Clove, powdered
  • Nutmeg, powdered
  • Sage, powdered
  • Rosemary, diced
  • Thyme, diced
  • Ginger, powdered
  • Lavender, crushed and crumbled
  • Rose petals, crumbled
  • Pine needles (optional)
  • Drawing oil or flame

 

common-money-spell-ingredients-by-this-crooked-crown

Mix your herbs together and spread them out on a plate. Get your candle and make sure to remove any labels for it. You may wish to rough up the sides a bit too with a knife or your fingernails to make the herbs stick better but that’s optional

Coat your candle in drawing oil. You can even use something like vegetable oil or olive oil if you don’t have a designated drawing oil. While the candle is still oily and wet, roll it in the herbs, coating all the sides.

Alternatively, if you want to skip the oil, slowly and carefully heat the sides of the candle up and roll the hot wax in the herbs. This techniques requires more patience and a severe eye for fire safety so you don’t burn yourself but the herbs literally become the candle.

A third option is to melt the candle down, add in the herbs to the melted wax, and pour the wax into a fireproof container or candle mold. Make sure to include the wick and check to see if your newly made candle can fit in any candle holder you own.

Once your candle is dressed, store it in a sunny window or in your kitchen until it’s time for your big holiday meal. Right as people are getting ready to sit down and eat, light the candle. You don’t need to say anything but you can if you wish.

Let the candle burn throughout your entire meal and when everyone has left the table, blow it out. You can discard the candle alongside your meal or holiday decorations or you can save it until next year, using the leftovers to forge a new candle.

Notes:

  • Pillars, tapers, and jar candles are really good for this spell. Large pillars can even be stored in a box or bag and used annually.You can use votive candles, as shown, if your meal isn’t going to be a huge affair.
  • The herb choices here will be largely personal. I have orange zest, ginger peel, and hydrangea petals in my mix for personal reasons. Go with your instincts here. Add dried florals or herbs from your garden or pick a dried herb that screams your holiday to you.
  • Pine needles are included here under the assumption you’re using a holiday tree. If you’re not, skip it.
  • When you blow out the candle will depend on your family. For example, my family doesn’t serve dessert at the main meal – we eat it hours later. But we do sit down and play games after we clear the table from dishes. While we’re clearing the table of dishes, I blow the candle out. Your family’s probably different so trust your instincts here.

Happy casting!

Foundations of a Happy Home Bottle Spell (Spell Saturday #37)

 

This spell’s intent is to bring happiness to your home and house all year round. It’s what I call a cornerstone witch bottle. My definition of this is a witch bottle can be temporary – like to draw new friends or lovers –  but a cornerstone witch bottle has the intent to permanent work it’s magic. You’ll touch it up and return it to it’s place, like the cornerstone of a house. If you move, you will leave the bottle there.

foundation-of-a-happy-home-bottle-spell

You’ll need:

  • Dirt or dust from the four corners of your property or home.
  • Bottle or jar (any kind)
  • Calendar of some kind
  • Dried citrus rinds
  • Dried flower petals, preferably in yellow, orange, light pink, or other bright cheerful colors
  • Sand
  • Rice (any kind)
  • Flour (any kind)
  • Quartz crystal small enough to fit into the bottle
  • Wishes for happiness (optional)

 

First, gather dust or dirt from the four corners of your property. If you home has wonky corners or edges, go ahead and collect some dirt or dust from there too. It doesn’t have to be much.

Fill a small to medium sized jar halfway with sand, rice, and flour. I’d recommend using less flour than rice or sand. Now add in your dirt or dust. Then the quartz crystal, citrus rings, and flower petals.

If you have something specific that you want to brig happiness to your household that year, write it on a piece of paper and include it in the jar as well. This wish could be something like “I want us to be safe and secure” or it could be “I wish for more joyful laughter in our house”.

 

 

Seal up the jar. You can just twist the cap tightly or use a wax or tape seal. Up to you. Remember that you will need to open this jar again so don’t be too aggressive with it.

Bury the bottle somewhere memorable but as close to the foundations as possible. Under the steps, in a flower pot, under the third zinnia. Whatever. You get the idea. Somewhere close to the base of the house. If you live in an apartment, you can totally do this too. Leave the jar in the back of a bookcase or shoe rack near the front door. Whatever you select, it should be as close to the ground as possible.

Mark the date. Make it a reoccurring google date on the computer, set it up on your phone, circle it in red on your calendar.

In a year, dig it up, pull everything out, and bury all of it except the quartz crystal. Was and cleanse the quartz crystal. Let it dry completely and repeat the spell, using the same bottle and same quartz crystal. Repeat annually for best results.

Note:

  • You can absolutely use plastic jars or bottles for this spell.

 

Happy casting!

Cash & Fortune Money Spell (Spell Saturday #36)

3 Comments

This spell is based off one of my personal money spells. It works well and has a tendency to work fast. Be sure to read the notes before beginning.

cfms

What you’ll need:

  • Mint (any kind)
  • Sea salt
  • Clover
  • Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon
  • Sugar
  • Coffee
  • A lock of your hair (or appropriate sacrifice)
  • Candle (any color)

Gather your herbs and ingredients except the sacrifice and candle. Lightly powder them and put them nearby. Light the candle and say,

With this candle

My magic will find a way

To bring money to my side

And keep my debt away

With these herbs I plant

The seeds for which my fortune will grow

Together to me cast will flow.

Sprinkle some of the herbs over and onto the candle. Pick up your sacrifice and hold it over the herbs.

With this sacrifice, I power my spell

Bring to me what I am owed

Bring to me coin and cash

So my wealth may last.

Split the sacrifice and put a little on top of the candle and the rest with the herbs. If that’s not possible, put your sacrifice with the herbs. Go to your exterior door and bury it at the base. If that’s not possible, plant it in a pot, at your place of employment, or on your property somewhere.

Notes:

  • You can use any seven ingredients you’d like to bring money to you.
  • Your sacrifice doesn’t need to be your hair. What’s key here is that it’s a personal sacrifice – a piece of you. A fingernail, hair, or blood are usually easiest but be safe in acquiring your sacrifice.

Happy casting!

A Cleansing Ritual For House & Home (Spell Saturday #35)

When it comes to cleansing I’m more of a low-key kind of practitioner. I’ll enchant my cleaning supplies to cleanse and go clean the house. But sometimes, you just need a ritual to get it done.

cleansingritual

The problem comes with many cleansing rituals using smudge sticks. The issue with smudge sticks is this: burning plants tied together in a bundle is seen in a variety of places in the world. That being said when someone says the words “smudge stick” an image of white ceremonial sage, maybe an abalone shell, and Native Americans are conjured. The thing is, that specific ritual does belong to the Native American peoples. And that term is ubiquitous with that image.

So. While you can use herb bundles for your cleansing and incense, you shouldn’t adopt that ritual. It belongs to a closed culture. It’s cultural appropriation to use it when you’re not part of that culture. Additionally, and really this is an aside, white ceremonial sage (salvia apiana) is considered an at-risk plant. Meaning that it’s over-harvested and care should be taken to preserve the species.

This ritual avoids all of that and still gets your home cleansed.

What you’ll need:

  • Candles for each room you’re cleansing. (See notes)
  • White taper candle
  • Dust from each of the rooms you’re cleansing (see notes)
  • Sacred or holy water or cleansing wash water
  • Anointing oil for blessings or cleansing (optional)
  • Cleansing herbs (optional)

Bath your white taper candle in sacred or holy water. Or you can use water enchanted with cleansing properties. Dry the candle thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel. Let sit out for a full day in the bright sunlight and again a full night under the bright moonlight.

Rub the anointing oil over the candle. If you don’t have an oil you’d like to use, you can skip this step.

Roll the candle in cleansing herbs. If you’re not using an anointing oil, you can slightly melt the sides of the candle with a lighter or flame and roll the softened candle in cleansing herbs. If you’re using a votive, you can just sprinkle the herbs on top instead.

Now let the candle rest for a full day of sun again. Once more let it rest for a full night under bright moonlight.

Lay out a candle in each of the rooms and spaces you’re cleansing. You can leave the candles there until they collect dust or you can sprinkle a pinch of dust onto the candle from the room.

Now it’s time to cast the spell. Open your front door and step outside. When you’re ready to being, light the taper candle and step through the front door, holding the candle in front of you. Go to each room candle and working in a circle as much as possible and light each room candle with the taper candle. Allow the white wax of the taper to drip onto the room’s candle. One drop is enough but you can do more if you like.

Do this for each and every room candle. Once you get back to the front door, blow out the white taper and carry it through the house in the same route you used to light the candles and gently blow out the room candles.

Pay attention to any candles that went out on their own. That room might need extra cleansing.

When all the candles are out, break the white taper in half. Collect the other candles and throw them all out. Then take the trash outside. You don’t want to leave the candles inside the house at the end of the spell.

acrfhh

Notes:

  • Tealights work perfectly for this spell for the room candles. I highly recommend a taper for the lighting candle as they’re easier to drip.
  • Be sure to include spaces in your candle count that aren’t exactly rooms. So you might need a candle for your living room, bathroom, bedroom, hallway, and attic or basement. If you used your porch, patio, or outside space often, make sure to light a candle for that too.
  • The room candles can be any color you want. The idea is that you’re putting the cleansing candle (the white taper) over the room candle. It has more of a visual impact if the candle’s a different color.
  • This spell is especially good if you burn candles in those rooms for decorative purposes. If one of those candles are almost done, use that in this spell instead of a tealight. (Example, I might burn a cinnamon candle in my kitchen to make it smell good and use that candle to represent the kitchen in this spell)
  • If you grow plants in specific rooms, you can use a crumbled leaf or petal from those plants instead of dust. Similarly, if you keep charm bags of herbs in those rooms for protective purposes, you can use a pinch of those herbs powdered in the candle instead of dust.
  • This doesn’t have to be done during the full moon. It just has to be a clear night where the moon is very visible.

Happy casting!

Cleansing & Cleaning 101

Cleansing is kind of the metaphysical version of “did you turn it off and on again?” It’s sort of the ubiquitous answer for when things are off-kilter. But let’s get some real talk going.

cleansingcleaning101

Cleansing works because it clears the air. Cleansing works more on a spiritual and emotional level. But it can only do so much. Want to know what the biggest form of mental clutter is? Actual clutter. Yeah, really.

You can actually test this right now. Look around right this very second. Do you see a pile of stuff you don’t know what to do with? Magazines or catalogs you haven’t recycled yet along with a random book you’re not finished reading but aren’t totally into. It’s probably right next to that thing someone gave you that you don’t particular like. Or look elsewhere and see where you continuously leave that jacket or drop your mail when you enter the door. How about that sink or fridge? Stacks of dishes or old take out containers? Clutter.

We, as a civilization, hoard things. It’s really because we’re a civilization that it happened. We’re sedentary, stationary. So we keep stuff because we can. And that tends to keeping stuff that is no longer needed or wanted.

What use is cleansing yourself of negatively spiritual when you haven’t physically cleared out all that crap that you have negative connotations for? What good is cleansing the air when there’s a sink full of dishes and the counter is a mess?

Cleaning and cleansing should go hand in hand. It sucks. Trust me I know. There’s nothing worse than feeling like crap and having to scrub your toilet. But it gets the air moving. It gets the place you live in to clear the air for you. And it helps shake up that energy again. Energy gets stale, like air. Cleaning wakes it up again.

Cleaning can be really hard for some people. It’s stressful, even, especially if you’ve let it go for so long. But! I have some inspiration for you:

Unfuck Your Habitat (also here on tumblr) can be a huge motivator for cleaning. Not only are inspiring stories shared, but there’s lots of tips for cleaning and keeping your place clean. There’s even checklists, challenges, and basics in case you’re not sure what to do (hey, don’t be embarrassed. It’s not a skill everyone learns). It’s also available on tumblr, an app is available in the iOS and Play Station, and there’s an upcoming book.

Apartment Therapy has so many articles on cleaning and decluttering. So many. Just, expect to be there a while. It’s one of those sites where I go for one article and end up thirty articles later reading about something that doesn’t even apply to me. It’s kind of hard to find what you’re looking for but The 2016 Healthy Happy Home project has monthly checklists and with January a month away, The January Cure is something to sign up for.  (Both these projects are annual on AT but the previous years are posts so you can just use those as a guide).

How to Grow the Fuck Up is a tumblr blog but it is massively useful to anyone who has been told to do an adult thing… but never knew how to do that adult thing. From what you need in a first apartment to how to write a resume, it covers the gambit. I recently just used it to double check how to write a check. I never write checks so it was nice to have that post and image to calm my anxiety down. While HtGtFU does cover cleaning and stuff like that, cleaning and cleansing is more than “I washed some dishes and burned some incense”. Getting your finances in order can be a huge cleansing/cleaning move that reduces major stress. Expand the cleaning/cleansing box!

Habitica is fantastic is you need incentive and like video games. I’m a big gamer and using the website as a sort of daily check-list has made sure that I get my shit done by 300%. Since it also allows you to set long-term goals I can post reminders of my to do list and, you know, feel super accomplished by doing that thing. (It usually helps me get those things done, save for replacing the clothesline has been on that list for over a year now. Sigh.

cmccr

So those are some sources for you. But having a little magical help can’t hurt either, right?

Enchant your soap

I enchant my dish soap with cleansing powers. When I put it on my sponge or cleaning cloth, I trace a sigil I use to cleanse the space. Then I just scrub as normal and call it a day. I tend to use/make my own cleaning agents so I can use magic that way. But on the off-chance I use something chemical or non-handmade, I’ll enchant that too.

You can also toss a pinch of cleansing herbs in a bucket of wash water. You can even add some into the washing machine (watch for staining from herbs or stick the herbs in an old sock and tie it off.) You can do a lot of low-key stuff like this than can make a major difference.

Wash water

I mentioned it above but it deserves its own category. Here’s my not-so-secret recipes for cleansing-cleaning.

All-purpose wash water

To be used on floors, walls, and general cleaning. Don’t use on wood furniture or things that react to citrus.

  • 1/4 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp orange juice
  • 1/4 tsp basil
  • 1/4 tsp sage
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2-3 gallons of water

Mix and use immediately. Dump what you don’t use. Hot water and fresh juice is best but use what you’ve got.

Furniture wash water

Great for cleaning wood and things sensitive to citrus water

  • 1/4 tsp basil
  • 1/4 tsp sage
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1-2 gallons water

Mix and use immediately. Dump what you don’t use. Hot water works but I tend to let it cool to warm before use.

Glass cleaner

  • 1/4 tsp basil
  • 1/4 tsp sage
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 1/2-1 gallon water

Mix and use immediately. Dump what you don’t use. You might want to don on some gloves for this one. Wipe clean with newspaper or old printer paper.

cr+fs.jpg

Cleansing sprays

I’ve mentioned this before but I love this stuff so I’m mentioned it again. You can enchant your room air fresheners or fabric fresheners to keep the scent longer or for a specific purpose. (Like to calm anxiety, better sleep, etc)

You can also make your own. The recipe below can be used on anything from fabrics to the general air itself. It’s a water mist so, you know, too much will make things wet. Go figure.

Cleansing spray

  • 5-10 drops of chosen essential oils or fragrance oils
  • Half a pinch of sea salt
  • Distilled water to fill

Fill your spray bottle halfway with warm or room temp water, add a tiny bit of sea salt and swirl until the salt dissipates in the water. Then add in your chosen essential oils or fragrance oils to taste and strength preference. I’ve used both distilled and purified water for this and noticed no real difference but I go through a 6 ounce spray bottle in less than a week so maybe I use it too fast. I recommend the distilled water just in case.

Cleaning and cleansing is a pain in the butt. I won’t hide that truth from you. No one likes washing kick boards on the cabinets or the trim behind the couch. I sometimes sing or talk my way through with a spell. In Yule: A Celebration  of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison (review coming soon!) there’s a fantastic cleansing + cleaning informal ritual with little charms to say. Check it out if you’re interested.

cdncs

My biggest personal tips

Make sure you’re in the groove and mildly enjoying yourself. Once you get to hating the process, switch to some other, more fun chore. Has the reality of scrubbing tiles set in? Get up and fluff couch pillows or do laundry instead. It’s still cleaning but you don’t come away absolutely miserable. Just remember to go back later.

Take your time. Unless you need to do stuff today OR ELSE, then do a bit here and there. I tend to do most of my cleaning while waiting for water to boil.

Check lists are your friends. I’ve given some suggestions in the links above but here’s my cleaning schedule for each and every month. Surface clean is dusting, sweeping, picking up stray items, and watering plants as needed. Deep clean means all the surface cleaning stuff plus going through drawers and closets, wiping down electronics, washing floors, surfaces, baseboards, and so. The first month or two is kind of brutal but once you get do it a month or two, it’ll be much easier to keep up after that.

  1. Surface clean living room and kitchen and review gardening to do list
  2. Clean bathroom
  3. Surface clean bedroom
  4. Clean “extra” room (study, hallway, playroom, etc)
  5. Surface clean living room and kitchen
  6. Deep clean bathroom
  7. Clean windows
  8. Clean floors (sweep, mop, wash rugs)
  9. Surface clean bedrooms
  10. Deep clean living room and kitchen
  11. Clean bathroom
  12. Clean closets (hallway, linen, bathroom, bedrooms, storage areas)
  13. Clean “extra” room (study, hallway, playroom, etc)
  14. Deep clean bedroom (bedroom closet too, if not done)
  15. Surface clean living room and kitchen
  16. Deep clean bathroom
  17. Clean door knobs, light switches, cell phone covers, remotes, etc.
  18. Clean fridge and pantry
  19. Clean entryway and/or porch (hallway too, if needed)
  20. Surface clean living room and kitchen
  21. Clean bathroom
  22. Surface clean bedroom
  23. Clean floors
  24. Clean storage areas (garage, attic, junk drawer, etc)
  25. Surface clean living room
  26. Deep clean living room and kitchen (yes, again)
  27. Clean bathroom
  28. Surface clean bedroom
  29. Clean a “much needed space” (that area you’ve been ignoring or isn’t covered elsewhere
  30. Clean floors
  31. Clean outside spaces (driveway, garage, patio, porch, yard, etc)

My daily check list before bed is far less structured. It makes sure I do basic stuff but it’s full of things that might be skipped. And I have all day to complete it. I sweep often because cats and copious electronics.

  • Make bed
  • Do all dishes so the sink is empty
  • Clear off kitchen counter and/or table
  • Pick up obvious stray items
  • Write out tomorrow’s to do list
  • Plug in / turn off electronics (phone, computer, so on)
  • Personal care (brush hair/teeth/shower/etc)
  • Sweep

I don’t follow these schedules super rigorously. If I miss a day, oh well. I don’t go back and make up for it.

December may be a weird month for a post like this but it’s actually the perfect time for it. Winter holidays are here and you’re probably going to have guests over. Or you’re getting new stuff as gifts or scored on some super sale. Or guests are leaving and you really need to reclaim your space.

Cleansing during and directly after the winter holidays can save your sanity. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come home from a holiday party and just needed to air out my life. It gives you back control and it makes your life lighter.

Here’s some other good posts on cleansing:

Good luck, stay safe, and have a happy December!

Still Waters Protection Spell (Spell Saturday #34)

Sometimes we get involved in situations that are so wildly out of our control that we’re holding on with the skin of our teeth. Stress and anxiety are constant companions and you just want t be safe and at peace.

This spell is for those times.

swps

You’ll need:

  • A body of water hosting a spirit (see notes)
  • A clipping of hair
  • A small handful of elderberries
  • A shiny coin

Once you’ve located the water in question, go to it under the light of a full moon. Look out onto the water’s stillness and wait until you feel the spirit’s presence.

Place your hair in front of you and ask the spirit for protection, serenity, and strength in the coming days. You’ll have to be sincere and heartfelt. Don’t offer reasons or explanations. Say as much or as little as you want.

If the spirit doesn’t attack or seem aggressive, throw the elderberries into the water. Wash your hands, face, and hair in the water. Bury the coin on the shore or beside the water.

You can leave right away or stay and look out at the stillness of the water until you’re ready to go.

Notes:

  • For this spell, use a lake, pond, or well. A slow moving river, creek , or stream could be used as well.
  • The spirit in question must be a peaceful spirit. You’ll have to figure this out before you attempt this spell. The spirit should, ideally, haunt the body of water and is benevolent or pleasantly apathetic to you. Genus loci or nature spirits are usually perfect for this spell.
  • Some bodies of water may not need to be haunted. If the water is considered sacred or holy in some fashion, that will work in place of a spirit.
  • This spell works because you’re seeking a particular kind of blessing from the spirit or water itself.
  • Alternatively, if you don’t want to wash your hands, face, and hair in the water use a clipping of your hair or fingernails instead. If you do this, make sure to take the clippings with you and carry them as a talisman.

Happy casting!