Anyone familiar with the superstition of knocking on wood? The superstition is intended to ward off jinxing yourself. Especially if you say something you don’t want to happen. It’s to avoid tempting fate or mentioning anything negative that could hurt you.
For example, “I’m sure it’s not going to snow tonight.” Whether said sarcastically or not, I’d knock on wood. Talking about your own death or something similar is another reason to knock on wood.
In some parts of the world, it’s done to avoid changing something good that has or will happened. For example, if you got a job promotion, you’d knock on wood.
Typically, the person knocks on a tree or wood surface three times. Depending on where you’re from, the number of times you knock on the wood, what else can be knocked on (such as your own head), what CAN’T be knocked on, what’s said at the same time, or what this is even called depends on your region.
The origins of the superstition is a bit unknown. It’s popularly believed that the point of knocking on wood is to ask the spirits of the wood or tree or fate for protection or to shake off the intended jinx. However, the widespread usage has some folklorists suggest a connection to the crucifixion cross or even the playground game of tag.
Not everyone that knocks on wood actually believes in the superstition. It may be more of a social or cultural habit. Everyone around you does it, so you do too.
In it’s most basic form (knocking on wood for superstitious reasons), this superstition is seen widely aroud the world.
I use this superstition often and knock on a wooden beaded bracelet I wear to facilitate it. However, I keep my jewelry minimal when I’m working on a computer or staying home. That means I sometimes get caught without wood to knock on within easy reach.
But… what’s the definition of wood here? I learned the superstition without any exemptions, so for me, I just knock three times. Any kind of wood.
So… do plants count? Trees count. That’s often considered the origin of the superstition. If living trees count, then do the stems of plants? The leaves? Anything made from plant fibers?
Can you knock on a book? Paper itself? A walnut? A peacan pie? Can you knock on a sweatshirt made from plant materials? How much plant material’s necessary to qualify for the superstition? This isn’t a practical question – it would be nearly impossible to test this. It’s down to personal opinion and practice. How much wood or wood-like substances count before the meaning is lost?
Personally, I’ve knocked on books, paper, a variety of nuts, and in a moment of half-joking desperation, a sweatshirt made from mostly bamboo fiber and plant-based fiber.
What do you think? How far is too far until the superstition loses meaning to you?
A spell to create a temporary protective bubble around an object or person.
There are many types of protection spells out there – wards, barriers, and so on. This spell is essentially an energy barrier. It’s intended to be raised quickly, burn on energy expended to create it, and then dissapate over time. A couple of hours or maybe a few days at most.
If you’re particularly skilled in energy manipulation, you can create energy barriers quickly without the extra steps this spell offers. It’s more of a technique than a spell. For example, I can take the roof of my car twice to create a barrier around the entire vehicle, making sure I arrive safely despite the snow storm I’m driving through. I do this very regularly, as I’m often driving through crappy weather in the dark. It lasts less than fifteen hours or so when done without any extra effort and has a risdual protective effect for another few days after that. Then I’d either renew it, as needed. After a while, the object that is continually protected (the car, in this example) will contain protective energy for longer periods of time. It may even eventually become passively protective and require no renewal processes.
Regardless, that’s not the point of this spell. This is the spell version of that energy manipulation technique.
What you’ll need:
Clear ball of any size and made of any material (plastic, glass, stone, etc ) that reminds you of a bubble. [see notes]
This first step can be skipped. If you’re skilled at energy manipulation, casting your energy over and through it, making it familiar to you. You do not wish to warm it. The energy should be slightly cool. By this I mean the energy cast should be directed or forced so much as passively passed to the item. Rubbing it or simply holding it should do the job. If the energy is warm, don’t worry about it. Leave it sit for a few hours until the energy feels cool and slightly less active then continue with the spell. The idea is to remind you of a cool, protective, slightly irridescent bubble when you look at this object.
On a full moon night, take the clear ball in your hands and hold it up so the full moon is visible through the clear ball. Say the following:
“This is a bubble of moonlight.
It protect all it encircles.
By my power and the power of the moon.”
Dip the clear ball into the full moon water. You can, alternatively, pour, sprinkle, or brush the water on instead.
Let the clear ball dry in the moonlight. Take it away before sunrise.
When ready to deploy the spell, take the clear ball in your hand and say:
“Moonlit bubble,
Encircle this [target]”.
Place the clear ball inside or on top of the object you’re protective. If it’s a person, they should hold the clear ball or stick it in a pocket. If it’s a car, then it should be placed somewhere in the vehicle, like the middle console or a pocket behind the seat.
Ideally, what should happen is the target now has a bubble-like protection spell around them. It will keep them relatively safe from all types of harm for a short period of time. The more damage the spell takes, the faster the spell will die.
The spell is not intended to be used for long-term. After the usage or several usages, the clear ball will need recharging. Cast the spell again.
Notes:
The clear ball here is to imitate a bubble. Clear irridescent coated glass would be perfect for this, but plastic is probably the more practical (and cheaper) choice. Any clear ball of whatever will work though – even a small round quartz crystal bead would be good. For most practical usages, the smaller the better to make it easy to carry and use. Ornaments (like the ones used for holiday trees) are probably the easiest to acquire cheaply in whatever size you want.
If you use clear plastic ornaments, the kind tht are hollow inside, you could even fill the ball with protective herbs or sigils, BUT the whole point of the clear ball is to resemble a bubble. If the ball is full, it no longer looks like a bubble, so you may want to avoid filling it. Use your own discretion here.
You could use bubbles themselves as the clear ball here. I chose to use a more physical object because that’s easier and less messy than bubbles are. But this spell totally works with actual bubbles.
When it comes to moonlight, the more direct the moonlight, the better. Do as best you can.
This spell can be cast for you by This Crooked Crown.
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.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.
This is protection from metal blades. Inspired by a spell from The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes, found on page 881 under the title “Blade Proof Spell”.
What you’ll need:
Edelweiss
Borage
Nettle
Rowan wood
Ash wood
Ash from a fire (especially a fire used to forge a blade)
Black charm bag or bottle with stopper and black sealing wax
Gather together your plants and fire ash. Stir them together and say,
"Protect me from fireProtect me from bladesProtect me from the forgeProtect me from malicious intentProtect me from sharp edgesProtect me from dull brandsProtect me from all harm."
Pour the mixture either in a black charm bag or a bottle with a stopper. If using the bottle, you should seal it with black wax over the stopper.
As you tie the charm bag or seal the bottle, say,
"Fire made you, bladesBut you cannot harm meI am safe from all harm."
Note:
You could easily add a horseshoe charm, shavings from sharpening a blade, or a piece of forged metal in with the fire ash for extra protection.
Write on the bottom of your candle jar your target’s name.
Light the candle and speak or think what you want to protect your target from.
Be as specific or as general as you like with your protection chant. Just be heartfelt about it.
Let the candle burn while you speak and blow it out when you’re done.
The next day, light the candle and repeat the protection chant. Continue until the candle is entirely worn through.
When done, toss out the unusable candle wax with a thank you.
Notes:
Hot soapy water and a rough sided sponge should clean the marker or paint off the jar. This is useful if you want to reuse the jar once the candle is used up.
This is a spell to protect you from harmful authority figures.
This could be a police or military force, but it may also be landlords, teachers, employers, or even parents. Anyone who has control over you in some way. Sometimes the people that are meant to protect us are exactly the thing we need protection from. This spell is intended to do just that.
What you’ll need:
Eggshells
Fennel seeds
Rosemary
Clover
Comfrey
Bay laurel
Mugwort
Burdock
Betony
Oak leaf
Dark blue or black candle
Fire-proof dish
Protection dressing oils (optional)
Combine the eggshells with the herbs and grind all of them into relatively the same size. Place them in a fireproof dish.
Dress the candle. Light the candle and say,
"Where I venture, danger lurksIn the dark and in the light,I am safe from all harmThose with power over meCannot see meCannot know meWill not catch me.I am safe from all harm."
Sprinkle a bit of the herbal mixture over the flame but be careful not to start any fires.
Pour some wax into the fireproof dish over the herbal mixture and slowly roll into a ball when it’s not too hot to touch. Add more wax as needed to secure all the herbal mixture in the ball.
Set aside and let cool entirely. Carry it with you to avoid authority figures.
Notes:
To dry eggshells properly, you need to boil the eggs to a hard boil state. Peel the eggshell from the hard-boiled egg and then the membrane from the eggshells. You want the shells by themselves. This can be a painstaking process, but it’s worth it as you only need a little bit for most spell work.
A thick ceramic or glass baking dish is good for this spell. You could also use a silicon mold, especially one in the shape of an oak leaf, bear, or boar.
The wax ball can be a bit sticky and will break apart in heat – especially body heat. You can protect this by tucking it in a cloth bag or even plastic bag.
This is a spell to escape any kind of enemy. A stalker, attacker, bully, or worse are prime examples. This is excellent for people to carry who do a lot of solo traveling, but it was originally designed to help someone get away in a dangerous situation – a warzone or avoid someone who would be violent towards you.
What you’ll need:
Juniper
Nettle
Clove
Vervain
Bay laurel
Celadine
Wormwood
Mullein
Cloth bag
Gather together the herbs and place them in a cloth bag. Close up the bag and shake it before holding it close to your heart and say the following,
"I escape all harmEnemies will not know meEnemies will not stop meEnemies will not stand in my wayI pass by all who mean to harmLed to a place of safety and calm"
Carry the charm bag with you everywhere until you are free from your enemy. Pass it on to someone who might need it or bury it in your yard for protection.
Notes:
The cloth bag can be any color, but protective colors are a good idea. Black or gray are good choices.
You can roll the herbs in a warm bit of wax rather than use a cloth bag. This is an especially good idea when you have a candle leftover from a protection spell.
You can make this charm for other people by swapping out the “I” with “them” or appropriate pronouns. If you’re making it for an unknown person, use “the carrier of this charm”.
This Crooked Crown 