“I’m a baby witch! What do I start learning?”

Here’s a quick-and-dirty list of things that I think sets up a good foundation for someone moving forward with magic work and why. They’re also in order of what I think is best approached first. (For a time reference, I recommend the whole thing taking at LEAST a year, but individual steps and overall length will vary in each person.)

Learn basic magical theory. What is happening when you cast a spell? What is grounding? How do correspondences work? Why is X step or tool important? Learn about what it is you’re doing before diving into actual casting. Have a basic grip on how it works.
Some form of divination, even if it’s something as simple as a pendulum. Other people won’t always be there to help you answer questions, validate your interpretation of something, or offer direction. Having some form of divination under your belt helps you avoid dependency on other people. You can more easily answer your own questions, check your own intuition, and take matters into your own hands.
Protection and Cleansing. No matter what path you go down or what type of magic you end up doing, these are two things that every magic worker needs to know how to do, and know how to do it well. They also tend to be fairly straightforward to learn. Cleanse your space, cleanse yourself, cleanse that object, cleanse your grandma. Then protect them. Learn how to set up wards and shields, which brings us to….
Basic energy work. You’ve probably already run into it a lot by this point and it’s fine if you’ve already picked up some things. But now is the time to really focus on it and get comfortable with it. Learn how to confidently sense what’s around you and interact with it, fix gaps in your wards and shields, project your intent into things, you get the idea. Energy work will always be there in a pinch and requires no materials besides your body, and is extremely versatile. Plus, most paths really require at least a base-level understanding of it these days. Can’t hurt.
Start honing your specific path. Here’s where the cookbooks, the old graveyards, the skulls on the shelf, the fairy figurines start really coming into play. If you have an idea of what sort of path you’d like to follow, start really getting into the meat of it! What does it look like? What are the first steps to that type of magic? If for now you’re still eclectic or aren’t sure, then just read what interests you or try more advanced general spells than you have so far.
Go back and do it all again. That’s right. You can also put time into your path or your regular research, but go back and pick up those old books from step one. Read the old articles. Return to the basics and see how your views have become more nuanced, or how you disagree. What details flew over your head the first time? Can you pick up a new form of divination or try something new with your main form? Could those wards and shields be stronger? You get the idea. Once you’ve revisited it, you should have a really solid foundation that will help you no matter what direction you take next!

Other stuff to study on the side: Local folklore, mythology, and types of spirits. You may not want to work with spirits, but sometimes spirits want to work with you! So it’s good to have an idea of what to do if they pop up. What plants grow in your area? What‘s edible? What is used in healing? What plants are NOT edible in your area? What’s poisonous?

If you think there’s another important step that you recommend that I didn’t include, feel free to add it! :)

#witchtips #witch #tips #reference

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will-o-the-witch

Good Things to Research When You Don't Know What to Research

They don’t exactly teach this stuff in schools. This list is designed for the beginner witch, who keeps hearing the advice “Research!” but wants some better specifics on what exactly that means.

Now, you don’t have to be a complete expert on all of these or even most of these! You don’t even have to incorporate all of them into your practice. They’re just some stuff it’s good to have a basic working knowledge of in the Craft.

🌻Planetary Correspondences- Even if cosmic witchcraft isn’t your thing, a lot (and I mean a LOTTTT) of correspondences in any other category are going to eventually lead back to the planets. Having a basic understanding of what each planet governs is extremely helpful when learning the correspondences of basically anything else.

🌻Herb Correspondences- Herbs and spices are incredibly useful! They’re probably one of the most versatile of the “big categories” since they can be used in herbalism and kitchen witchery, as well as a great add-on to any other variation of witchcraft. It’s good to have a working knowledge of what herbs you can use in a pinch, especially the stuff you already have in your kitchen. When an emergency calls, it’s good to know how that chili powder can help you.

🌻Crystal Correspondences- This is another great add on! Crystals can often be used to enhance and focus the energy of a spell, as well as cleanse any ritual tools you have. Besides, who doesn’t like pretty rocks? Crystals can be particularly great for the witch who has a tactile mind, and likes to have things they can feel and roll around in their hand.

🌻Days of the Week- Knowing the right time to cast a spell can be very important! Casting a love spell on a Friday gives it an added boost, or at the very least creates a path of least resistance. Besides, there’s only seven of them, so it’s easy to learn quickly. You get a lot of bang for your buck!

🌻Phases of the Moon- We have a really big collective crush on the moon, it seems. And for good reason! The moon is a great source of power and mystery even in a completely mundane setting! Understanding the phases of the moon and how it can affect your craft is extremely important. (Hint: you can cast spells even when it isn’t the Full Moon.)

🌻Basic Mythology and Lore- This is an absolute must if you plan on going into any type of spirit work. Even if that isn’t your thing, it’s good to know a little bit. Firstly, because you may draw unwanted attention from spirits, and it’s good to know how to deal with them if it happens. Secondly, because if you draw from a path with any history behind it, it’s good to know how the rules go down on their turf.

🌻Basic Divination- Not everyone has the money or the time to pick up and learn how to read a 78-card Tarot deck, but things like scrying and pendulums are pretty easy to figure out quickly. What’s more, they can be done on little to no budget. Divination’s a useful tool to have on your utility belt, and who wants to pay someone to use a pendulum for them when you can learn it yourself?

🌻Anthropology of different cultures/religions- You don’t have to be a religious witch at all, but witchcraft still has its roots as a religious practice! Lot’s of practices have a cultural context as well, which can be important to know in order to fully understand the action you’re performing. A lot of correspondences, traditions, and rites come from cultural or religious roots. It’s good to know not only what people did, but why they did it! Does X tool have some symbolic meaning or was it just what was available at the time? What was simply a product of the culture around them?

🌻Science- It’s a HUGE category, and I left it that way on purpose. If something interests you, look at the mundane side of it as well! Do you like kitchen witchery? Read up on food chemistry and how different nutrients affect the brain. Into crystals? Learn about how they’re formed! Read about gardening or psychology, anything that can help enhance your path.

Happy researching!

GIF by longshankstumblarian

#witchtips #tips #witch tips #reference #grimoire #book of shadows #bos

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making-a-ru

Things to do as a Broke Witch

Copy all those spells you’ve been saving online into your Grimoire

Tidy up your altar, if you have one

Reset your crystals with new intentions

Go on a walk, in nature or city, reconnect with your environment’s energy

Meditate

Look up upcoming moon phases and mark them in your journal/planner, plan out your rituals and readings for them

Purifying/Cleansing bath with just water

Go through your tarot journal and find any cards that keep popping up in your readings, do a “stalker reading” to figure out why the card being a creeper

These are just some things I do when I’m broke af but want to progress with my craft.

#reference #witchtips #witch tips #witch #tips

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lirimaerspiritualgatherings

diaryofadaringwitch

10 Daily Witchy Things

Cleanse your bed in the morning when you make it- to remove the stress and negativity of the previous night and have a peaceful sleep the next night.
Make a cup of tea and charge it with positive energy to get you through the day.
Clean your desk/workspace/wherever you do creative things and draw productivity sigils on it in cleaner or keep a clear quartz nearby to focus energy.
Bless your keys before you get in your car for protection on the road.
Use a special scrub or face mask in the shower for a glamour spell.
Spend time outside, or keep your blinds open to allow sunlight in.
Take a walk outside, if you can, and ground yourself with each step.
Use wax melters, incense, or other scented items to fill your space with an intended scent.
Cleanse your phone/other electronic devices- clean out the old apps and photos, clean out the negative people from your contact list, and reset your ringtones and wallpaper to increase positive energy.
Before you go to bed, take ten minutes and thank your deities (if you have any) and reflect on your day. Before you fall asleep, think of one thing that was good about the day, no matter how small, and be grateful.

#witch #tips #witchtips

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honeycatsabi

Tarot Tips for Beginners 🎴

So you just decided that you want to read tarot, and perhaps invest in your very first deck. Here are some tips that I found useful when I was just starting out with reading tarot cards!

GIF by alyssafoote-blog

Uses for tarot cards:

Divination
Spirit Communication
Deity Communication
Spellwork

Choosing a deck:

Choosing a tarot deck for the first time can be somewhat overwhelming. There are thousands of decks out there, with varying art styles and card sizes.
I chose my first deck solely because it came with a guidebook and because the art style was similar to that of the traditional Rider-Waite (the art style wasn’t too gaudy, and the cards were clearly labeled).
I would suggest choosing a deck whose cards list the suit, number, and name on the card, just to make things easier for you.
Another thing to consider is size - there’s a “standard” size for tarot cards, but some authors stick to playing card size, and some make theirs quite large. I have small hands, so the larger sized cards would be uncomfortable for me to use and shuffle. Keep that in mind.
I would also suggest that if your first deck doesn’t come with its own guidebook to invest in one.
A lot of readers will choose the deck that calls out to them the most, or one that they click with. You can go that route, or simply choose the one you like the most based on aesthetics. It’s somewhat difficult to gauge the energy that the deck is putting out if you’re like me and prefer to order online, but if you can get to a bookstore or metaphysical shop to pick out your first deck, spend some time with them and pick the one that resonates with you.

Tips:

Cleanse your deck before you use it for the first time - this helps get rid of any lingering energy that may be left by anyone else who touched it before you obtained it. You may choose to cleanse your deck between readings, or whenever you feel as though your readings aren’t making sense, though these things are not mandatory.
Charge your deck - some readers do this and some do not, but I have personally found that actively charging my deck with an outside source of energy helps gives me an extra boost and reduces the amount of personal energy I have to put into doing readings. Selenite is both a cleansing and charging stone and can be set on top of your deck to do both of those things simultaneously.
Draw a card a day for personal readings, and record your findings in a tarot journal - this will not only help you learn the meanings of the cards, but also to bond with your new deck.
Not into journaling or writing? Create an Excel or Word document to record your personal experiences and findings. This can also be useful for jotting down card meanings (ctrl + f is a lot easier than digging through a book IMO).
Practice readings with your friends or significant other. This will help you decipher card meanings and learn to read intuitively. When we are personally looking for answers, we tend to come up with any reason why the cards are relevant to our own lives, but performing readings for others will really show how accurate the cards are.
Seek answers from the guidebook that your deck came with, if it came with one. There’s nothing wrong with looking up the meanings of cards, especially if you’re just starting out. If it didn’t come with a guidebook, I would suggest biddytarot online for learning card meanings, or even the Galaxy Tarot app for your phone, which also includes card meanings and is a great way to read tarot on the go.
Come up with personal associations for the cards that relate to your every day life. For example, the Death card popping up in a reading can be startling at first, but it doesn’t necessarily mean physical death: in most cases, it can relate to rebirth or transformation. The same applies for cards that signify fertility or birth - this may simply allude to new beginnings. Figure out how the cards relate to you, personally.
Don’t overwhelm yourself with lengthy spreads like the Celtic Cross - stick with short spreads that only involve a few cards and work your way up to bigger spreads.
Readings are not set in stone, they are meant to be used for guidance. That being said, you and you alone have the power to change the outcome of any reading you do. Tarot readings are not the “be all end all” for life events.
Once you have an idea of what the cards signify, you can use them for other things such as spirit and deity communication or spellwork!

Common Myths about Tarot:

You must receive your tarot deck as a gift
You must keep your tarot deck in a [black] silk bag
You have to be a witch to read tarot
You must be psychic to read tarot
You shouldn’t read tarot while you’re pregnant
Don’t let others touch or look at your tarot cards
Tarot cards are evil
Tarot cards are “the Devil’s work”
You can’t read tarot for yourself
The Death card means you or a loved one are going to die
Reversed cards are always bad

Source: lunaesteria

#tarot #divination #tips #reference

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a7phrodite

lurosebud

witchy grimoire ideas🌙🌹

for those of you that do not know, a grimoire is a book/collection of information regarding your craft. these are just basic topics you can mention, however, your path is your path and it is beautiful regardless. another disclaimer: your grimoire doesn’t have to be flashy and ancient looking. it can be a composition notebook. it can be a collection of paper held together by staples. as long as it is functional, it just as valid. because you put the time and the positive energy into making it.

GIF by virtuous-thing

grimoire ideas

🌞your beliefs 🌙any daily rituals 🌞written spells 🌙moon phases 🌞info on herbs 🌙herb correspondances 🌞chakras 🌙auras 🌞color correspondances 🌙divination 🌞moon water 🌙sun water 🌞mythology 🌙tea magic 🌞constellations 🌙dream log 🌞a list of elements 🌙essential oils 🌞oil correspondences 🌙spirits 🌞crystal correspondences

remember, this is just a list of things you can write! there are far more things. if anyone would like to suggest something to add to the list, just let me know <3. much love, –mikey

#witch tips #witch #tips #reference #ideas

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vvitchella

You Don't Have to Preform Ritual on a Full Moon.

You don’t have to have a nice planned and organized ritual on a full moon. Maybe you’re just not up for it this time around, don’t feel well, or there’s something else in your life that needs to be focused on. There are plenty of alternatives to celebrating a full moon:

🌕You can just sit and journal with your deities or spirits. 🌕You can listen to Pagan music, or whatever puts you in a meditative or spiritual state. 🌕Cook a nice dinner, maybe bake a nice desert. Offer some. 🌕Spend time with a pet, appreciate them, be thankful for them. 🌕Same goes for a friend or family member. 🌕Watch pagan YouTubers, read pagan blogs. 🌕Study your craft, maybe research something new. 🌕Draw, paint, or create something. Channel the lunar energies through yourself and make something spectacular for the gods. 🌕Reorganize all your pagan supplies. 🌕Clean your room, or home. Clean out all bad vibes. 🌕Rest. The moon is so tranquil, you deserve to be also.

#witch #tips #witchtips #reference

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lirimaerspiritualgatherings

🌙 Lazy Witch Tip: As you softly call upon the elements, write your spell on the air with either the tip of your finger or a crystal point. When you’re finished, gently blow your spell into the universe. Feel the breeze against your skin and be at peace.

#witchtips #tips

mystikalwolf reblogged

gainux

Anonymous asked:

Tips on good meditation?

gainux answered:

🌱 stretch first or do yoga

🌱 remove uncomfortable clothing and jewelry

🌱 put your electronic devices on silent out of reach

🌱 create a meditation space, somewhere relaxing and beautiful

🌱 focus on your posture

🌱 sit or lie in a comfortable position

🌱 become aware of your surroundings

🌱 live in the present, don’t lose yourself in thinking of the past or the future

🌱 become mindful of any discomfort you feel during meditation, try your best to ignore it or fix it with the least amount of movement possible

🌱 focus on breathing deeply and comfortably

🌱 become aware of each piece of your body, the flow of your being as part of the universe

🌱 slowly relax every part of your body separately from the toes up

🌱 try to do just a 5 minute meditation starting out

🌱 try to meditate in silence or using only nature sounds

🌱 close your eyes or at least allow your gaze to soften

🌱 focus on your inner self, explore your own mind

🌱 if you find yourself falling asleep during meditation, it is probably best to just sleep and try mediating once you are rested

🌱 dismiss any negative, angry thoughts by distancing yourself from them

🌱 allow your emotions to become placid

🌱 allow your mind to wander, but steer it away from negative thoughts towards happy ones

🌱 you can repeat a mantra in your head if you do not wish to allow your mind to wander

🌱 find happiness when you meditate

🌱 don’t try too hard, meditation should be relaxing

🌱 get up slowly after meditation, take your time to come back

#meditation #tips #witchtips #reference

mystikalwolf reblogged

romularunning

Witch Tip

While things may have a long history of different correspondences (rose quarts, roses, pink, all relate to love for example) don’t down play what something means to you. If you hate the smell of roses, maybe they make you think of funerals or something- Probably best not to be using it in self-love spells. Use things in a way that makes sense to you.

#witch #tips #witchtips

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blooming-daydreams

moongemi

🔮Tarot Reading Tips🔮

Some tips that can help us tarot readers with finding and connecting the meanings of the cards in a spread!

Meditate on the cards for a while if you don’t know the meaning. Crystals present during the reading will also aide you in getting answers. I like to use my Amethyst crystal during readings to get answers.
Try to feel your way throughout the whole spread, this helps with developing intuition and psychic abilities.
Look at the colors on each card. What color is most present throughout the spread? Do they mean anything? What do you feel it means?
If characters are present in your spread, look at the direction they are all facing. Are they looking at each other or away? This helps with finding their connections in the spread. I find that it also helps me in partner spreads as you can tell how one person feels about the other.
Recurring themes throughout the spread is also important to note. For example, if cups keep showing up in a spread this can mean that emotions are very present relating to the situation.
Seeing what card lies on the bottom of the deck usually helps me as it shows the past feelings or it may even be the foundation of the spread. May also be the current feeling that is present for a person.
Most of all use your own gut feelings to interpret. Combine both the meanings of the cards with your own intuition and you will be on the right path of interpreting!

#divination #tarot #intuition #tips #witch #witch tips

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lirimaerspiritualgatherings

wandsbrewsandbroomsticks

Witch Tip: Pendulum

You can use your Pendulum to see what kind of energy an object or person, and how strong it is. Ex. Counter-clockwise: Negative Clockwise: Positive The fast it swings and the bigger the swing is, tells you how powerful that energy is.

GIF by neaarty

#divination #pendulum #energy #energy work #ref #reference #tips #witch #witch tips

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sandcraft

🌙Witch Tip🌙

If you use stim/fidget toys, enchant them for calmness and focus!

#witch #tips #witchtips

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will-o-the-witch

Small Devotional Ideas

🍷 Make a playlist of music that makes you think of your gods, or listen to someone else’s playlist

🍷Wear clothing or jewelry with colors or symbols related to your gods

🍷 Write a story, base the characters off of your gods

🍷Make your room spotless and pleasant atmosphere, play soft music, open a window, etc. invite them to enjoy this pleasant moment

🍷Pick a time at random to see how many aspects or workings of your gods you can spot just around you. Thank them for all they do even in these mundane moments

🍷Set art of your gods as your screen background

🍷Sit by your altar or home-base, and tell the gods about your day. Share your joys and concerns.

🍷Draw pictures of your gods, even comic strips of them being awesome

🍷Try eating or preparing a new food that is favored by the gods

🍷Listen to modern music/watch movies from the god’s country of origin

#witch #pagan #devotion #tips #witch tips #reference #ref

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blooming-daydreams

mitten

mitten.tumblr.com

Source: ultimate90s

#diy #tips #witch #witch tips #grimoire #reference #ref

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blooming-daydreams

wantingwitch-blog

Art Witch Activities

- Use moon, sun, or storm water or even a crystal elixir (amethyst works super well!) to clean your brush when painting with watercolors. - Use paint water for curses or washes to antique pages in your sketchbook or grimoire. - Create collages for deities or parts of your craft such as favorite herbs, crystals, animals, etc. - Collect wildflowers and herbs and draw them in your sketchbook. - Draw, paint, or doodle sigils for creativity or motivation in your free time. - Use color correspondences in your artwork to infuse it with your intent. - Use knot magic to create macramé, friendship bracelets, knitting or crocheting projects. - Sew poppets in different shapes and sizes! - Paint images of your deities, spirit guides, familiars, etc. for altars or as devotional acts. - Wear orange! Orange is the color of creativity! - Color in coloring books to aid in meditation. - Create small clay figures (animals, people, or even simple shapes with sigils carved into them), offering bowls, and candle holders as offerings or decoration for your altar. - Enchant pens, pencils, or other drawing implements to encourage creativity and motivation. - Use paintbrushes, pens, or pencils as wands to channel your energy! - Turn sketchbooks into altars or grimoires! - Create your own pendulum board. - Seal spell jars/bottles with melted crayon wax instead of candle wax. - Scry using wet paper and watercolor (look for images as the paint spreads over the damp paper). - Make your own salt dough (the water and salt in any salt dough recipe are wonderful for purification) to sculpt with. - Make your own paint/ink using natural materials or ash from burning sigils or incense.

#diy #tips #witch #witch tips #grimoire #reference #ref

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themanicnami

Witchy Sleepover Ideas

A bunch of fun witchy activities that can be done with friends at sleepovers or when just hanging out.

GIF by thepumpkinqueenn

Cleanse the house using salt or incense, good thing to do before anything else witchy
Turn a recipe for food or baked goods into a magical one and make it together
Decorate cookies or cupcakes with sigils that will activate when you eat them
Make flower crowns with fresh or fake flowers
Practice tea magick and then give each other readings from the leaves (tasseography)
Practice palm reading on each other
Do some tarot readings, oracle readings or other cartomancy techniques especially if everyone brings their own deck
Get some rounded wood pieces and some paints and make yourself some homemade simple runes
Practice knot magick by making each other friendship bracelets
Use beading supplies and charms to make other types of jewelry with intent corresponding with the colors, shapes, and charms of the jewelry and then enchant them to make them even more magickal
Make your own poppets with cloth, stuffing, rice, buttons and other ingredients to be used for positive purposes such as self love
Enchant each other’s favorite plushies or stuffed animals
Make homemade bath bombs, salts, and/or bath potions
Do each other’s make up hiding sigils in it and/or practicing glamours
Do each other’s nails using color magick, sigils, and other symbols
Make homemade magickal candles
Watch witchy movies!
Decorate binders to make unique new grimoires using paper, glitter, stickers, felt and other materials
Work out each other’s natal charts
Practice group energy work and aura reading
If everyone is comfortable make a homemade custom Ouija Board/Spirit Board and use it (please note that only do this if everyone is emotionally ready and before I get backlash for suggesting this check out @theouijagirl‘s blog)
Make homemade wands using crystals, beads, wires, and paint
Make pendulums or dowsing rods
Make sachet or jar spells for one another or together
Write a brand new spell!
Listen to music and use lyrics to write spells, incantations or chants
Do witchy arts and crafts like enchanted flower pots using sigils, rock charms, witch’s ladders, pine cone/acorn charms, acorn/seashell candles, ceremony/ritual masks, jewelry, sensory bottles/jars, enchanted slime, witch’s web, offering bowls, etc
Make a camp or bonfire and burn some (safe to burn) herbs (practice fire safety and only do this if you have a safe place to make a fire)
Soap making/carving
Make collages of things that make you feel witchy to put into your grimoires
Work on grimoires together and make custom pages, calenders, charts, illustrations, pressings, etc
Use erasers and x-acto knives (carefully) to make custom stamps of sigils, animals, words, etc
Dream interpretation the next morning
Make witchy tea and coffee together
Have fun!

#masterpost #witch #tips #witch tips #master post