Tag: home and household spells

New Year Magical Reset

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

Cleansing yourself.

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

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

Cleanse and reset your space

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

Update and organize your altar as needed

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

Toss out any out-of-date herbs and spells

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

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

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

Rehome any magical tools that no longer resonate with you

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

Renew your protection spells

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

Self-care spells

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

Motivation spells (for those new year resolutions)

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

Good Luck Spells

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

Health spells

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

Make herbal bath salts

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

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

Set up your (witchy) journal or planner

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

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

Intentions or Resolutions for the year

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

New Year Rituals

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

Divinations

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

What other tasks do you complete during the new year?

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Good Sleep Spell

This spell’s intention is to help you get a good night’s sleep. It’s not intented to keep you asleep or cure insomnia. It’s more of a “I have a job interview and want a good night’s sleep”.

What you’ll need:

  • Lavender flowers
  • Vervain
  • Mugwort (or wormwood)
  • Calendula
  • Chamomile
  • Cloth bag

Gather the above ingredients and place them in the bag but don’t close it yet. Say the following:

“Good sleep, find me“

Wrap me in warmth and darkness and dreams“

Close the bag up and say the following:

“I wake at my desired hour

Full of good dreams and energy

Full of life and vitality

Good sleep, find me.“

Notes:

  • Do not use anything you’re allergic to. I feel like this should be obvious, but it needs repeating.
  • If you like, you can swap some of the iggredients out for sweet smelling flowers you like or herbs that make you feel sleepy. Think, sleeping in a warm field (but safe from bugs and other pests).
  • This cloth bag does not have to be special. It can be hot glued or stapled together. It can be that one lone sock that the Sock Monster in the Laundry Room ate the pair to. It has to be something that’s soft to go under or near your pillow but also not a jar.

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13 Easy Spells for Halloween

13 Easy Spells for Halloween

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

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

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

Fallng Leaves Wish

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

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

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

Halloween Wishing Spell

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

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

Halloween Apple Luck Spell

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

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

Halloween Candle Luck Spell

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

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

Halloween [Love] Spell

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

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

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

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

Pricking a Candle on Halloween

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

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

Three Dishes Divination

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

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

Wind Divination

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

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

Ivy Leaf Divination

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

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

Love Oracle (13) Halloween Daphnomancy

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

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

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

4. Chant:

“Laurel leaves that burn in the fire.

Draw to me my heart’s desire.”

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

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

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

Mirror Divination to See Your Future Spouse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Garlic Protection

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

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

Pacify Ghost Halloween Spell

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

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

Hope you have a happy Halloween!

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Motivation Stone Spell

The purpose of this spell is to create a gentle push to motivate you. It’s like a like a friend reminding you to do something you promised to do. This is excellent for helping keep New Year’s resolutions, promises, or just regular motivation for tasks that you keep dropping the ball on.

Acquire any of these stones for motivation:

  • Carnelian
  • Garnet
  • Tiger’s Eye
  • Black Onyx
  • Labradorite
  • Natural Citrine
  • Red Jasper

Get one of these stones and ensure that you connect well to the stone. This stone doesn’t have to be a polished stone – it can be a piece of jewelry, beads, or anything else. 

Sit and hold the stone, breathing deeply and evenly while allowing your energy to flow into the stone and the stone’s energy to flow into you. 

If you can’t feel the energy moving, that’s okay. Just keep holding the stone and breathing even, calm breaths. 

While you do this, think about what you want to motivate. Visualize or speak aloud or think clearly in your head what your want to motivate and what that person or object looks once it has been motivated successfully. 

Here’s some examples:

Regular exercise routine – Imagine yourself regularly exercising while looking the way you wish to look. Imagine yourself doing an exercise that you currently consider difficult with ease. Picture yourself months down the road, still exercising and enjoying it.

Doing schoolwork – Imagine yourself enjoying the schoolwork you’re doing, being interested in what you’re learning. Imagine getting the grades you want. Imagine your friends, classmates, and loved ones being impressed by your knowledge. You may eve imagine asking for tutoring or getting rewarded for good grades.

Cleaning the house – Imagine your home as you dream it could be. Maybe you have different furniture or live in a different place. I bet it’s clean though. Focus on the details – the counters are likely clear, the floor shine from being washed, and so forth. Focus on how much you would like that.

Take some time to really detail what you want to motivate in yourself. If your thoughts wander, don’t worry. Just bring your thoughts back to the stone and what you’re trying to motivate in yourself.

When you’ve got the imagine very clear, say the following,

“With the power I grant to you, inspire and motivate me to succeed.

Push me forward to my goals, dreams, and desires.

With the power you grant me, I am motivated to achieve my goals, dreams, and desires.

The power flows through you into me.

I am motivated to do all I need to do.”

Keep the stone with you, near your bed, or in the bathroom where you see it first thing in the morning. Or you can keep it with whatever stuff you bring with you to do what you need motivation for (gym bag, school bag, etc).

Recharge the stone on the full moon by sitting with it in your hands.

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Confidence Mirror Spell

This spell is to boost confidence. It’s good for events and situations where you need to be a little more confident, such as job interviews, dates, and so on. 

What you’ll need:

  • Mirror
  • Water, divided
  • Sea salt
  • Rosemary
  • Roses
  • Hydrangea
  • Nasturtium
  • Two bowls
  • Dahlia
  • Paper towel or rag 

In one bowl, mix half of the water with sea salt until the salt dissolves. Wash the mirror with the salt water to cleanse the mirror.

In another bowl, steep rosemary, hydrangea, roses, nasturtium, and dahlia petals in the other half of the water. Wash the mirror again with this water to enchant the mirror with confidence boosting. You can say the following chant or similar affirmations.

"I am confident 
I am strong 
I am blooming 
I am powerful 
I am unshakeable 
I am confident."

When you’re ready to activate the spell, flick some water at the mirror and repeat the above chant or similar affirmations.

Notes:

  • Any “showy” flowers would work for this spell. Pick your favorites.

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Magnetic Charisma

A spell to boost your charisma. It’s ideal for people that are making speeches or presentations, but it could also be excellent if you’re going for a job interview or something similar.

What you’ll need:

  • A magnetic piece of jewelry 

Hold the magnetic jewelry in your hand and imagine anyone who looks at it will be drawn to you and your words like a magnet. Once you have that image cemented down, say the following,

"My words are heard 
You follow my lead 
You're drawn to me as if I am the sun 
My charm is endless 
I'm filled with cheer, charm, and grace, 
Do as I suggest and say 
My charisma holds you in sway."

Simply wear the jewelry when you need to be extra charismatic. 

Notes:

  • Magnetic jewelry can take any form, such as a bracelet, necklace, rings, anklets, earrings, cufflinks, shoelaces, sunglasses, tie clips or tacks, etc. Magnetic ties, shoes, or other pieces of clothing would also be fine.
  • You can alternatively use magnetic therapy sport wraps or anything else magnetic that would be visible to the audience.
  • A simple refrigerator magic would work, but it should be visible to your audience. 

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How to Make a Good Dream Jar

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Ever have dreams keep waking you up at night? Not just nightmares, but dreams that were stressful or so hectic that you feel exhausted in the morning? Or have you had such poor sleep and you think it might be dreams or nightmares causing it, even if you don’t remember the dreams in your waking hours?

When dreams, especially unwanted dreams, cause problems, it can be a difficult battle. This jar can help mitigate that. It can also be used to bring about good dreams even if you aren’t struggling against bad dreams. It’s an excellent way of just having a peaceful night’s sleep.

What you’ll need:

  • Mugwort
  • Lavender
  • Jasmine
  • Rose
  • Rosemary
  • Glass jar with lid or cork
  • Candle or sealing wax in blue or light purple

Cleanse your glass jar. Begin to heat your candle or sealing wax.

Layer your herbs in the jar in any pattern you find pleasing. As you add each in, think of the good, peaceful dreams you wish to have. You may speak aloud or simply think it.

Put the jar’s lid on top. The candle or sealing wax should be ready now. Pour it over your jar lid and say,

"Good dreams fill this jar 
Nightmares are barred 
I will sleep peacefully all night long."

Let the wax harden. Place the jar beside or under your bed.

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Eloquent Charm Spell

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When you need to be eloquent, charming, and fine with your speech, this spell is your helping hand.

Excellent for times where you need to make a public speech, have a job interview, important presentation, or any time where your words will make or break what happens next.

What you’ll need:

  • Indian crepe myrtle flowers (lagerstroemia indica)
  • Cream colored rose (any kind)
  • Ylang-ylang essential oil (cananga odorata)
  • Fennel
  • Cardamom
  • Sugar
  • Agate, especially blue lace or sardonyx
  • Sun water
  • Yellow paper and black marker
  • Cloth bag, preferably yellow

Gather up all of your ingredients and prep or cleanse them accordingly.

Draw in an arrow on the yellow paper. Anoint it with a drop of ylang-ylang essential oil and a drop of sun water. Let dry.

Place the flowers, herbs, sugar, agate, and the dried paper in the cloth bag. As you add each item, say,

"With you, I am charming and eloquent.
People heard my words and listen to me."

When done, hold the bag between both hands and blow into it, saying,

"My breath carries my power and words,
My meaning and intent comes across to all who hear them clearly."

Close the bag and press a kiss to the knit tying it close.

"My words are heard, 
My eloquence is clear for all who can see and hear."

Carry the bag with you. Before you go out to make your speech, press the bag to your throat, breath across it and/or press a kiss to it saying,

"I am eloquent. Hear my words."

Notes:

  • You may swap in yellow jasmine flowers to replace the Indian crepe myrtle or ylang-ylang
  • If you have access to ylang-ylang flowers, use that instead of the essential oil and omit the step with the essential oil.
  • You may wish to enchant the cloth bag so it isn’t noticeable, but that’s up to you.
  • Instead of a cloth bag, you can easily swap this for a locket necklace or spell bottle.

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Family Unity Spell

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No matter how well you get along, families sometimes fight. My household is made up of all adults – my mother, younger brother, and uncle. Even our pets are ten plus years old. And although we all are adults and we get along well, we still fight sometimes.

This spell is perfect for when your family all has their own things going on and just needs to work together to keep living in the same household. This is also good for roommates or similar situations. This is good for people who live with you, but I could see it being useful for people who are constantly in and out of someone else’s house (like a best friend, relative, etc).

This spell is perishable and so it should be renewed every six months to year. (Earlier is good too.)

What you need:

  • A dry, cool place
  • Onions or garlic with stalks intact (whatever you prefer)
  • Decently strong kitchen string or twine

First purchase or grow onions or garlic and make sure to keep the stalks intact. If you can’t find onions or garlic with the stalks intact, try a farmer’s market. Growing them yourself is a great way to get them as well.

Take a week to two weeks to dry out the garlic and onions. You want the stalks not squishy but not too dry.

Select your three largest garlic or onions and place them on a table with the stalks facing the same direction. Tie a piece of string around the stalks, envisions or speaking how you’re uniting or tying the members of the family together. These should be three members of the household who get along the best or are the “foundation” of the household. Maybe whoever is on the apartment lease, pays the most important bills, or is a good mediator.

Next, start braiding the stalks. If you don’t know how to braid, I’ll link some tutorials for braiding garlic and onions a little further on, but I’ll explain it quickly. Take the left stalk (or strand of hair or whatever) and cross it over the middle. Then you take the rightmost stalk and cross it over the middle (which was once the leftmost stalk. Then you take the current leftmost stalk (what was once the center stalk in the beginning) and cross it over the current middle stalk (once the rightmost stalk). Then repeat, back and forth until done.

To add more onions or garlic to the braid, you pick up the garlic/onion and place it wherever you like and add the stalk to whatever side you’re putting it on. So rather than one stalk, there’s two stalks for one “strand”. Braid a bit more to secure than add a garlic or onion to the opposite side. Keep going to fill out the braid.

You can name the garlic or onions you’re adding, representing each person and animal in the household. Towards the top, you may even wish to add people who are not part of the household but are frequent visitors, like a significant other or a best friend. It doesn’t have to be a large braid. If you only have a handful of onions or garlic, that’s okay.

When you’ve added all the garlic/onion you want to add, then braid up the stalks to give it a good base and use a piece a string to tie it off, confirming that you’re uniting these people under the same roof for good harmony or whatever.

Store the onion / garlic braid in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use it. Or just hang it somewhere in your kitchen away from the sink.

You can use the onion and garlic in your cooking. When you break off or cut the onion/garlic off, say something like “I cut away our disharmony” to counter the act of removing the onion or garlic from the braid. Watch to make sure that there isn’t disharmony directed towards or from this person after you cut off their onion or garlic. Depending on your style of magic, you may find that the braid can only be used decoratively and not practically.

I’ve given some simple steps to do this, but there’s more in-depth tutorials for this sort of thing out there. Here’s how to braid garlic. And here’s how to braid onions.

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Gifting Apple Spell for New Beginnings

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Apples are often a traditional gift. Fresh fruit was, and still is, considered a good gift because your average person, historically, didn’t have regular access to fresh fruit often. And apples travel well and last much longer than most fresh fruit.

There’s a tradition of gifting (or bobbing for) apples on Halloween night to grant luck to each member of a house. Halloween is sometimes used as a the end of the year, so this spell sort of falls into a similar category, but isn’t really the same thing.

This spell can use any fruit you want. I’ve chosen apples because it’s a common gifting fruit, but oranges are popular too in some regions of the world. I tend to choose the fruit depending on the person I’m gifting it to. You can also gift many fruits at the same time with this spell. Just repeat the spell on each piece of fruit.

You can also do this spell outside of the calendar New Year. It’s intended for new beginnings, so it can be for any time – someone buying a house, moving in together, a baby, etc. I’ve used it for college students too, who could probably use a bit of fresh fruit in between the usual coffee-pizza-beer diet. It’s also a lovely way of marking your calendar year when it doesn’t match up with the standard Gregorian calendar year.

Of course, one should remember that you are gifting enchanted food – so make sure the party you’re gifting it to will appreciate it for what it is and knows what to expect. And don’t forget to check the notes after the spell!


What you’ll need:

  • Apples or fruit
  • Sun water
  • Moon water
  • Purified, clean drinking water (see notes)
  • Cloth or towel to dry the apple with

First, pick the best apples for your gift. This is purely personal choice, but you may wish to take into account the flavor of the apple, texture variations in the varieties of apples, and the apple color.

Make sure to wash the apple’s skin, prepping it for eating. You can use the purified drinking water for this step, if you like, but tap water is fine too.

Pour sun water over the fruit, saying “I douse this apple in the sun’s warmth, so it brings joy, abundance, and light to the one who eats it.”

Pour moon water over the apple and say, “I douse this apple in the moon’s light, so it brings power, strength, and courage to the one who eats it.”

Wash the apple with the purified drinking water and say, “I clean this apple in pure water, to bring health and clarity to the one who eats it.”

Dry the apple off with your cloth and say, “The one who eats this apple is gifted all the opportunities they want and need to take advantage of this new beginning.”

Then simply gift the apples to your intended recipient.

Notes:

  • As said above, any fruit can be used, but fruit with skin like apples or oranges fair better than softer fruits that may be damaged by so much water.
  • Sun water is simply water that is has been infused by pure, bright sunlight.
  • Moon water here refers to full moon water, water that is infused under the light of a full moon
  • The purified drinking water here serves as an important step. Not only does it bring health as an additive to the spell, but it also cleans off the sun and moon water, which may be stagnate and not the healthiest water to drink/eat.

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