#cunningfolk

[spiralhouseshop]

RESTOCKS!

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folklore from Appalachia by Jake Richards

Silent as the Trees: Devonshire Witchcraft, Folklore & Magic by Gemma Gary

The Witch at the Forest's Edge: Thirteen Keys to Modern Traditional Witchcraft by Christine Grace

#traditional witchcraft #modern traditional witchcraft #folkloric witchcraft #folk magic #folk witchcraft #witchblr #southern cunning #cunningfolk #silent as the trees #backwoods witchcraft #witch community #witchcraft #witchcraft books #pagan books #genna gary #jake richardson #aaron oberon

[of-the-full-moon]

Io Saturnalia! Bright Solstice! ☀️ To those whose eyes are still able to see the Light, to the Sol Invictus and to the bearer of True Light - bright Winter Solstice! ☀️ #wintersolstice #wintersolstice2022 #solstizio #solstiziodinverno #saturnalia #smokeyquartz #smokeyquartzcrystal #iosaturnalia #witchcraft #theoldone #hornedgod #thehornedgod #stregoneria #spellcraft #cunningfolk #yule #yuletide #hornedone #saturno #sunstone #solinvictus #folkwitchcraft #folkwitch #gr3x #griiix #goldenhealer #goldenhealerquartz #tangerinequartz #evergreenplants https://www.instagram.com/p/CmdEbeuS59A/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#wintersolstice #wintersolstice2022 #solstizio #solstiziodinverno #saturnalia #smokeyquartz #smokeyquartzcrystal #iosaturnalia #witchcraft #theoldone #hornedgod #thehornedgod #stregoneria #spellcraft #cunningfolk #yule #yuletide #hornedone #saturno #sunstone #solinvictus #folkwitchcraft #folkwitch #gr3x #griiix #goldenhealer #goldenhealerquartz #tangerinequartz #evergreenplants

[poisonerspath]

These are too pretty not to repost 🍄 Posted @withregram • @the_scarlet_wytch Hand Embroidered Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) half way finished !. I'm particularly excited about this piece and it's certainly been a journey working with the energy of Fly Agaric ! More on that when it's complete 😉. . . . . . . . . . . #poisonpath #darkembroidery #veneficium #poisonwitch #traditionalwitchcraft #tradcraft #folkmagic #cunningcraft #folkwitchesofinstagram #folkmagick #folkloricwitchcraft #cunningfolk #folkwitch #folkwitchcraft #herbwitch #herbwitches #herbwitchery #solitarywitch #hedgewitch #spellwork #hedgewitchery #witchcraft #greenwitch #ritualaltar #hedgecraft #witchesapothecary #ritualcraft #traditionalwitches #thecrookedpath #animisim https://www.instagram.com/p/CnnPZh-rAQz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#poisonpath #darkembroidery #veneficium #poisonwitch #traditionalwitchcraft #tradcraft #folkmagic #cunningcraft #folkwitchesofinstagram #folkmagick #folkloricwitchcraft #cunningfolk #folkwitch #folkwitchcraft #herbwitch #herbwitches #herbwitchery #solitarywitch #hedgewitch #spellwork #hedgewitchery #witchcraft #greenwitch #ritualaltar #hedgecraft #witchesapothecary #ritualcraft #traditionalwitches #thecrookedpath #animisim

[thejaggedpoisonpath]

Fly Agaric Witches Flying Ointment⠀ ⠀ Brush off those besoms, Witches. It's time to fly!⠀ ⠀ The solanaceae family allows one’s body to feel separated from the individual; the traveler endures intoxicating sensations, including a sensation akin to flying.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fly agaric is reported to offer the user a feeling of weightlessness, visual and auditory hypersensitivity, space distortion, unawareness of time, and colored hallucinations; feelings of euphoria or invincibility are also oftentimes reported; also used as a sedative aid, leading to a deep sleep with vivid dreams. Ancient tribes and civilizations used hallucinogenic fungi to enter the spirit world.⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ These mushrooms also alter the perception of sight, sounds, etc., (the senses) and change/enhance the feelings and thoughts of the user.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just like my original witches flying ointment, this ointment contains the powerhouse Solanaceae properties of Datura, Atropa Belladonna, Mandrake, and Blk Henbane. Solanaceae relieves chronic pain, joint pain, nerve pain, muscle spasms and cramps, anxiety, issues with sleep, and can aid in restoring lost libido.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This formulation also contains the properties of Fly Agaric, a member of the Basidiomycete group of fungi, containing a number of psychoactive compounds: ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscarine, and muscazone (Muscimol is the most significant).⠀⠀⠀⠀ “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Sold as Curio only." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #thejaggedpath #controlyourhealth #datura #belladonna #flyagaric #mandrake #solanaceae #bruja #occultherbalism #esoteric #poisonpath #samhain #queerownedandoperated #womanownedbusiness #wisewoman #cunningfolk #wortcunning (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjqkbVhLHh2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#thejaggedpath #controlyourhealth #datura #belladonna #flyagaric #mandrake #solanaceae #bruja #occultherbalism #esoteric #poisonpath #samhain #queerownedandoperated #womanownedbusiness #wisewoman #cunningfolk #wortcunning

[blackandthemoon]

🎄🪦21 Days of Yule: Day 09 — Oracle Garland🪦🎄 In the spirit of non-traditional Yule decorations, I wanted to share this oracle garland I created out of cards from the Memento Mori Oracle deck. Each one symbolizes a “wish” I have for 2024. If you want to make this but don’t want to punch holes in your decks (can’t blame you), try using clothespins instead.

#21DaysOfYule #Yule #FolkWitchcraft #FolkMagic #GreenWitch #KitchenWitch #CunningFolk

[arainailibrary]

I've had an early copy (not early anymore...) of this for months now and just haven't been able to get into it. I've heard it gets better about a third or around halfway through, though, so I feel the need to give it a chance. I'm on chapter 6 of 49, so hopefully, it starts to become more my cup of tea.

For those of you that haven't heard of this book, here's the description:

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .

#silver #bone #silver in the bone #book blog #bookish #alexandra bracken #tamsin #hollower #cunningfolk #cabell #emrys #arthurian #fantasy #netgalley #book #reading

[silverthornwitchery]

Hail, The Goddess of many faces! Great queen of heaven and earth! You who art Freyja, who art Sekhmet-Bast-Hathor, Lady of the Sun, Moon, and Twilight, Who art Aset, Isis, Lady of Magicks, Who art Hekate, Lady of Crossroads, Who art Aeracura, Lady of the darkened Earth, Who art Rosmerta, Lady who provides for all, Who art Frigg, The Divine All-Mother, Who yet again is Isis, Demeter, and many more. Hail to you, Great Mother, Caring, Loving, Yet Furious and Frenzied, Cunning and Sly, You guide the hand of witches, and cunningfolk, and those who work their sorceries. Hail to you, Goddess, Queen of Earth, Queen of Heaven! As Above, So Below, We Honour You, Great One.

#goddess worship #goddess spirituality #syncretic polytheism #soft polytheism #prayer #pagan prayer

[coinandcandle]

Hello there! I was wondering, do you happen to have any resources on Italian folk magic or witchcraft? I am a baby witch of Italian heritage and have been trying to reconnect with some of my family’s old practices, but finding information is surprisingly difficult or ends up dipping into Roman paganism which I’m not sure is the same thing or not. Thank you!

I am also of Italian heritage and it has been a struggle to find anything on Italian folk magic that isn't just Wicca with parmesan sprinkled on it!!

I will say that Raven Grimassi has been quoted often for Italian witchcraft but from what I know he just sorta created his own thing (or based it on personal beliefs) and marketed that as traditional Italian witchcraft.

A lot of Italian folk magic is going to involve Christianity, so be prepared for that. It is also going to be reminiscent of roman paganism because that's just how culture works; it melds together over time and the religions and beliefs of the past never fully disappear.

I would look into Italian cunningfolk/folk healers as well as Italian folk medicine and folklore. Also, try to contact people who practice Italian folk magic.

I'm part of a discord server dedicated to folk magic of all sorts called the Woodland Folk server and here are some of the resources they have about Italian folklore:

kitchenofmae's Helpful Tips & Resource Reccomendations for Italian Folk Magic

They also have a downloadable pdf of Mary-Grace Fahrun's Italian Folk Magic: Rue's Kitchen Witchery and The Tradition of Segnature. Underground Indigenous Practices in Italy

If you practice or know someone who practices Italian folk magic please link your/their accounts!

#witchy asks #italian folk magic #asks #the crypt

[xartus]

Pardon my fucking French but people are paying "witches" to do spells for them??? Going into the range of hundreds of dollars???? From TIKTOK????

Everyone has access to the same bullshit new age books I cannot FATHOM why someone would PAY for that shit

Please stop giving people perceived power over you (and money) because they have a certain aesthetic. I promise this stuff (if you believe in it) is accessible to all.

And historically, folk magic practitioners and healers and cunningfolk didn't charge exorbitant prices for their work, if they charged at all.

In the rare occasions I've helped people I just do it because they need help

[dust-and-grave]

Rachel's occult TBR

i've been doing a lot of digging around online for interesting occult books that i want to check out. thought it would be handy to compile a list here for reference. some of these are going to be for practical purposes (learning witchy things), but i'm sure a lot of them are gonna be just for funsies. (i do enjoy fucking around and finding out.)

[CR] = currently reading italicized = read [v] = dropped

GENERAL WITCHERY

The Azoetia: A Grimoire of the Sabbatic Craft (Andrew Chumbley)

Cunningham's Book of Shadows: The Path of an American Traditionalist (Scott Cunningham)

A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk (Peter Paddon)

A Little Book of Altar Magic (D.J. Conway)

Applied Magic (Dion Fortune)

SPELLS

The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells (Judika Illes)

The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home (Scott Cunningham + David Harrington)

Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects (Scott Cunningham + David Harrington)

TAROT

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom (Rachel Pollack) [CR]

Tarot: Connect With Yourself, Develop Your Intuition, Live Mindfully (Tina Gong) [CR]

The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life (Jessa Crispin)

DIVINATION

Divination for Beginners: Reading the Past, Present, and Future (Scott Cunningham)

The Art of the Pendulum (Cassandra Eason)

The Complete Guide to Psychic Development (Cassandra Eason)

SIGILS

Practical Sigil Magic: Creating Personal Symbols for Success (Frater U∴D∴)

Sigil Witchery (Laura Tempest Zarkoff)

CANDLE MAGICK

Advanced Candle Magick (Ray Buckland)

Candle Power: Using Candle Light for Ritual, Magic, and Self- Discovery (Cassandra Eason)

SHADOW WORK

Shadow Work Guidebook (Jessica Cross)

CRYSTALS

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, & Metal Magic (Scott Cunningham)

HERBS / NATURE

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews (Scott Cunningham)

The Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Scott Cunningham)

Herbal Magick; A Witch’s Guide to Herbal Enchantment, Folklore, and Divination (Gerina Dunwich)

The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook (Karen Harrison)

The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs (Richard Allen Miller)

The Folk-Lore of Plants (T. F. Thiselton- Dyer)

Natural Magic (Doreen Valiente)

THELEMA

The Book of the Law (Aleister Crowley)

The Book of Lies (Aleister Crowley)

The Book of Thoth (Aleister Crowley)

Meditation (Aleister Crowley)

Eight Lectures on Yoga (Aleister Crowley)

Abrahadabra: Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thelemic Magic (Rodney Orpheus + Lon Milo Duquette)

#witchcraft #witchy resources #witchy books

[occultboyscout]

Witchcraft

The label I see claimed most often on Tumblr for magical practitioners is "witch".

Witch is a great word, a lovely word. A word with a history of being missapplied, missattributed, slung about with vitriol, and now... reclaimed.

What I am not seeing is a volume of critical thought about what that reclamation means.

Labels can be beautiful, almost exclusively when they are self applied. They provide a sense of direction, attitude, and aesthetic. They provide a level of sense where otherwise there would be none. But no label exists in a vacuum. They are blessed and cursed to be in communication with their history. What does that mean for "witch"?

When we look historically for those who would self identify as a witch we find... none. We find plenty of cunningfolk. We find astrologers and herbalists and midwives and whole host of other jobs and tasks important to the running of a village. But we find no witches. Where are they?

They're in court documents. They are in accusations and executions and the folklore that justifies them.

An easy analogue might appear to be the word "queer". A word once thrown about with hate and bile, but one that many use now as a self descriptor. One I use myself. But it's not a perfect analogy.

If you were to call someone queer at the height of its usage, they could argue against many parts of it. But if they were in fact queer (in the modern usage) they could not deny that honestly. A witch could.

A witch could say "I practice no witchcraft. The stars tell me when to till my fields. My ancestors tell me how to treat my neighbor. The bible tells me what is right and wrong. But there is no witchcraft in this house."

A witch could be honest, because the accusations laden against them would be laid unfairly. A witch could know themselves to be a "good christian" and find their head in a noose anyway.

Why? Because "witchcraft" was a political tool. Or a social one. A weapon to be used by the state against the people within it. A method of controlling the population through fear and prejudice.

I make no broad claims about how and why you should use your labels. I wouldn't have the audacity or the ontological standing to do so. What I ask is a thought: "why do I reclaim this label, and who against?"

If you do so to immerse yourself in an ancient tradition with some sort of cogent linearity to it, I fear you'll be at a loss. If you do so to speak truth to power, I couldn't encourage you more.

"Witches," as perhaps we wish they did, have never existed. Simply people filling roles in their society which were fit for them. Ever and always of the society from which they came. No secret pagans in the Christian village, I'm sorry. Only Christians just the same.

Have some intent with your labels, who you're paying homage to and why. It matters. Both for you and how your practices and your traditions will be recieved. If you owe anything to your forebears, it is to represent them and their history well. With honesty, integrity, ad scholarship.

I can't read the minds of the "witches" of olde. But I can assume they probably didn't want us calling them that.

#magic #magick #witchcraft #witch #history

[wolverinesorcery]

hi!! I’m working to reconnect with Cornish practices and was wondering if you had recommendations for sources/etc that aren’t Gemma Gary or primarily Wiccan-influenced?

My favourite subject ✨

For very specific sources about Cornish folk customs & practices, my current best two (and accessible) reccomendations are

Cornish Witchcraft - Kelvin Jones (a post with a link to a PDF is here along with content warnings!)

Cornish Customs and Superstitions - Robert Hunt (a link here)

Outside of this I've been personally piecing together a lot of Cornish-specific folk customs & practices (along with Cornish conjuror and cunningfolk practices) from collected folklore texts, small publisher's pamphlets & in person visits to places.

I have a google Drive of all of my currently accessable references here! I also have a list of small publisher pamphlets here that are worth looking into to see if you can access them in your area. I'm assuming by the 'reconnecting' part of your message you're not in the country, so it might be a push (I accessed the majority of what I have via the Cornwall Libraries system & Kresen Kernow...and then scanned them in.)

And not to promote my own discord server, but I have a small celtic-branches focused discord that I post references and resources too in a Cornish channel more frequently than I do on tumblr! Here is the link :-) https://discord.gg/NzTdchrk9M

I hope this has been helpful to you! If you have any follow up questions my askbox is open always for talking about Cornwall 💫

#cornish folk witch #cornish folk magic #cornish witchcraft #cornish folk customs #cornish folklore #Cornish #Cornwall #Ask Heddwyn #ankrydor

[of-the-full-moon]

It’s less about how you get there, and more about “for how long will you stay?” …till I come home again. #ofthefullmoon #fullmoon #meditations #scienceandspirituality #forestbathing #forestspirit #forestspirits #foresta #appennino #appennini #stregoneria #ishallgointoahare #cunningfolk #thehornedgod #hornedone #theoldone #lunapiena #meditazione #witchcraft #shotonfilm #nikon28ti #lomo800 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6MhB1S5wl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#ofthefullmoon #fullmoon #meditations #scienceandspirituality #forestbathing #forestspirit #forestspirits #foresta #appennino #appennini #stregoneria #ishallgointoahare #cunningfolk #thehornedgod #hornedone #theoldone #lunapiena #meditazione #witchcraft #shotonfilm #nikon28ti #lomo800

[tipsycad147]

Taurus: The Astroherbology Profile

 Alexis J. Cunningfolk

It's time to explore the sign of Taurus! I will be exploring all twelve signs from a medical astrology perspective with an emphasis on herbal healing. Learn more about the series and what all the correspondences mean check out the introduction to The Introduction to Astroherbology Zodiac Series. Missed the first sign of the Zodiac? Find out about the astroherbology wisdom of Aries!

Looking for inspiration and plant allies for the season of Taurus? Come this way!

Element: Earth Mode: Fixed Guardian Planet: Venus Direction: East (traditional) Season: Spring (NH), Autumn (SH) House: 2nd House / Succedent Lunar Mansions: 3rd Mansion, 4th Mansion, + 5th Mansion (Learn more about the Lunar Mansions) Solar Gemstone: Amber Tarot: The Hierophant, the Empress, 5 of Pentacles (4/12 - 4/30), 6 of Pentacles (5/1 - 5/10), 7 of Pentacles (5/11 - 5/20), Knight of Pentacles Tissue State: Cold/Depression (learn more about the energetic system of traditional western herbalism)

Body Systems: Throat, neck, vocal cords, thyroid, voice, and middle ear. Metabolic system, medulla oblongata, and hearing. Salivary glands, taste buds, and teeth of the lower jaw. Jugular veins, cervical nerves of the blood vessels, and bladder. Procreative desire. Base of the skull. Find out more about the astrological correspondences to our bodies.

Imbalances + Diseases: Including sore throats, tonsillitis, thyroid conditions (especially hypothyroid), and overindulgence. The formation of tumors. Slow digestion, excess weight, and weak metabolism. Hearing loss and ear infections. Excess mucus in the upper respiratory system. Apoplexy, loss of coordination between organ systems, erratic movements, and paralysis. Glandular swelling, goiter, gout, bad blood. Loss of voice and vocal cord conditions. Sore throat, bronchial complaints, dry cough, tonsillitis, ulcerated throat, and diseases or injuries to the larynx and vocal cords. Accumulation of toxins especially in the intestinal tract and congested colon. Overly cold and dried out. Tend towards more persistent and chronic conditions - through their stubbornness they can tend to hold onto disease. Resisting change, ungrounded stubbornness, avoiding conflict, hurtful, brutish, brooding, lack of reflection on their emotions, and melancholic. 

Disease Degrees: 1 degree: palate; 2 degrees: pharynx - oral part; 3 degrees: uvula; 4 degrees: Pharyngeal cavity; 5 degrees: larynx; 0 - 6 degrees: drowning; 6 degrees: vocal cords; 7 degrees: cervical nerves; 8 degrees: alcoholism, jugular veins; 9 degrees: cervical veins, neurasthenia; 10 - 13 degrees: cervical and bravial plexi, neurasthenia; 14 degrees: true vocal cords; 15 degrees: epiglottis; 16 degrees: carotid arteries, abscess; 17 degrees: thyroid glands and tonsils; 18 degrees: lymph vessels, hair; 19 degrees: maxillary artery, alcoholism, goiter; 20 degrees: occiput, goiter, alcoholism; 21 degrees: arteries of the nasal cavity, alcoholism; 22 degrees: tongue muscles, rheumatism, alcoholism; 23 degrees: teeth, rheumatism, alcoholism; 24 degrees: upper jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism; 25 degrees: lower jaw, fractures, broken bones, alcoholism, adenoids, suicide; 26 degrees: nasal bone; 27 degrees: atlas, alcoholism; 28 degrees: alcoholism, deltoid muscle and main neck muscles; 29 degrees: deltoid muscle and main neck muscles, eyesight; 30 degrees: Trapezius muscle. 

Remedies for Imbalanced and/or Weakened Taurus: Warming and stimulating activities, with emphasis on detoxifying activities. Eating a whole foods diet is important to all signs, but Taurus folk need to be especially mindful of the quality of their food and eating mindfully. 

Gifts of Taurus: Resourcefulness, grounding and centering, body knowledge, long-term planning, and consistent energy.

Rituals of Taurus: Expressing body-positive sensuality, fertility and abundance, successful long-term plans, such as business endeavors or big material investments, stability, and invoking or supporting long-term romantic partnerships. Artistic and musical rituals in which the pleasure of the senses are indulged.

Taurus Guardian Herbs: Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rose (Rosa spp.), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Plantain (Plantago major), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Taurus Remedy Herbs: Gingko (Gingko biloba), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Ashwaghanda (Withania somnifera), Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Flower + Gem Essences: Aspen (Populus tremula), Gentian (Gentiana amarella), Peacock Ore, Willow (Salix vitellina)

The Sun in Taurus

Taurus is the first earth sign and fixed sign of the zodiac and they embody these energies well. Where Aries is quick-moving, Taurus is slow and steady. The bulls are typically the longest lived of all the signs of the zodiac even with their tendency that when they do get sick for it to be a permanent or chronic condition. Earthly, sensual, and indulgent pleasure (as opposed to the more artistic and balanced pleasure of Libra) can be a focus of Taurus folks. Overindulgence is something to be wary of if you your Sun or Ascendent is in Taurus or if many of your other planets are in the sign of the Bull. Typically, Taurus folks tends towards the materialistic such as the garden growing in their backyard versus a mystical garden of new age enlightenment located halfway between paradise and nirvana. 

If you have known someone with a strong Sun in Taurus, you have probably met the legendary stubbornness of the sign. Think about the idea of being “bull-headed” and you’ll begin to understand the Taurean temperament. They very much need to believe that something is their idea before they commit and if they aren’t interested or perceive something to be not useful, they can be hurtful in how they express their opinions. Learning to connect with their emotional world and not just the physical world is a challenge for most Taurus folks but well worth the effort if they want as enduring and fruitful a relationship with others as they have with their garden. All that said, Taurus folks are very loyal in relationships, their endurance for seeing a project through is matched only by their stubbornness, and they can be profoundly inspiring when it comes to helping folks re-member and re-connect to the sacredness of physical embodiment. 

As mentioned earlier, Taurus folks are typically the longest lived of all of the signs (again, it could be said that they stubbornly refuse to depart their physical form until they damn well want to). They can tend towards diseases and imbalances of congestion, cold, and impurity - they need to be very aware of what they eat and being sure to engage in regular energizing activities. The gift of Taurus Sun folks is that they are so blessedly grounded. They remind us to take pleasure in the physicality of life and not get so lost in our heads and the abstraction of pleasure or whether we should be desiring it. Be your pleasure, is what Sun in Taurus folks teach us.

Taurus Guardian Herbs

Rose (Rosa spp.)

18th century herbalist, J. Quincy, wrote that Rose “raises the spirits and gives sudden strength and cheerfulness” and categorized Rose as primarily a Cardiac and Cephalic or relating to the head. (1) In addition to strengthening the heart, Roses assist with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three. Rose nourishes the body and is sweet medicine which calms the nervous system. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic + nervine) for all of the doshas. A very Taurean herb, indeed!

As an aphrodisiac, Rose is an opener - it opens the heart and body to sensual experience. Like many aphrodisiacs, Rose has nervine and nourishing qualities which help to relax and soothe the body so that it may become ready and desirous of intimacy. Additionally, Rose has also been shown to increase sperm count if fertility has been compromised because of lackluster sperm.

The benefits of Rose for the skin are manifold (anti-inflammatory, astringent, vitamin and mineral rich) and can be used in oils, scrubs, and baths for skin health and beauty. As a humectant, Rose Water adds and maintains water to the skin. Keep Rose Water in a spray bottle to use as a mild antiseptic for first aid needs.

As an herb of Venus, which is Taurus’ Guardian Planet, Rose and other Venusian herbs typically balance and cool the fiery energies of Mars in a chart. 

The latter was a sample from the much longer Rose Plant Profile available to my Lunar Apothecary students. Learn about the Rose Plant Personality, Rose Remedies, and a more in-depth exploration of Rose’s healing qualities as a member of the Lunar Apothecary!

Taurus Remedy Herb

image via wikimedia.org

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

While warming herbs might be needed for Taurus folks who have fallen out of balance (such as Rosemary or Ginger), I generally reach for a tonic herb such as Ginkgo which connects with the underlying of wisdom of Taurus. Ginkgo is the oldest living plant species on earth and has more or less stayed the same for 200 million years. I mean, come on, how much more Taurus can you get? A longevity herb for a sign known for its longevity helps Taurus folks relax into and connect with the healing qualities of Ginkgo.

Ginkgo is an antioxidant-rich, blood-clearing, memory sharpening teacher. Taurus folk can have difficulty connecting the physical reality with their emotional experiences, so Ginkgo can help them learn to interact with their emotional and spiritual landscape. I have also found the plant to help open up pathways to useful communication which Taurus folk can struggle to find when they feel apathetic, depressed, or ignoring and/or confused by their emotions. Ginkgo is clearing, moving out stagnation that may have settled in the body as pain, whether the slow healing of wounds or painful pre-menstrual tension. 

As a longevity herb, Ginkgo not only helps us live longer but live longer with vitality. My experiences with the herb is that because it connects the brain and heart (via the blood) so well it helps us to make better choices that will support vitality into our elder years.

Sun in Taurus Flower Essence

Peacock Ore supports the foundational gifts of Taurusfolk – making spirit into matter – and helps keep them from feeling that they are stuck in the mud when life feels burdensome and challenging. The stone itself looks like a healing Taurean aura - dark and rich with rainbow gleams of fertile promise. The stone aligns the energy centers of the body and creates energetic motion which can be very useful for Taurus folks who feel stuck or bogged down. Peacock Ore helps connects us back to hope in times of hopelessness and joy when it is needed most.

Ready to learn more?

Check out the rest of my Astroherbology series including Starry-Hearted + Wild-Rooted: An Introduction to Astroherbology which includes additional study resources.

Need a visual guide? Starmaps: The Astrological Body is for you!

Looking for inspiration for Taurus season? Come this way!

The Lunar Apothecary is a full length course using the tools of moon-centered herbalism and ritual to help you discover who you are as a healer.

Want to create a healing Taurus recipe? Check out my Beautiful Sustenance Chaga Chai!

[thejaggedpoisonpath]

Witchcraft & Necromancy Flying Ointment⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Necromancy gets its earliest origins from the Greek word, nekros, which translates to "dead body", and manteia, which translates to "divination". Combined, that gives us, “divination by the dead”.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ While historically, there were certainly some gruesome rituals that took place for the sake of communicating with the dead, I believe it has become a much more respected practice, modern day. Today, modern necromancers work with the energy of the dead, rather than attempting to reanimate them, therefore avoiding the desecration of the final resting site and/or the morbidity of unearthing a body.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ While others might disagree, I consider ancestor-work a form of necromancy. While most of us don't go around digging up bodies and attempting to reanimate them, many of us do seek to communicate with loved ones that are no longer physically in this realm; at least not in the same sense that you and I are. I have created this ointment with this exact desire in mind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No matter what terminology you are most comfortable using, this ointment will help you bridge the distance between our physical world and the realm in which our loved ones are found.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am of the personal belief that the dead can lead the living into a realm of understanding. I believe there are certain tasks and problems that we face, in which the most beneficial advice and guidance we can receive comes from asking the spirit of a passed loved one.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This flying ointment is full of necromantic herbs, also useful for hedge-work, transformation, death/spirit work, including Fly Agaric, Yew, Blue Lotus, Klip Dagga, and Opium Lettuce.⠀ *For educational purposes; sold as a curio only. Statements not reviewed by the FDA. Information not meant to take the place of medical advice.*⠀⠀⠀⠀ #thejaggedpath #spiritwork #bluelotus #klipdagga #flyagaric #healwithme #wisewoman #cunningfolk #bruja (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnHc1cKLGYu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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[sporadicarbitergardener]

Bible used for spell work . 🖤🤍✝️🛐✡️

Did you know that the Bible, along with other traditionally Christian items like rosaries and icons of Saints and even the Eucharist, have been used in folk magic for centuries? From English Devon folk magic to Italian folk magic, from superstitions and syncretic practices to prayer books such as the Slovenian Kolomonov Žegen, the use of Christian iconography, literature, figures, and holy names (like the name of Jesus Himself) have featured prominently in some of the most potent magical acts and procedures.

When it comes to witchcraft today, though, people traditionally think of a Book of Shadows or a grimoire—a book full of a witch’s spells, information, and good old fashioned trial and error that they’ve accumulated over the years. These books are wonderful treasures as they continue to be filled, full of spells and incantations and prayers created by the practitioner that have been proven to work, and many people write them with the specific intent of passing them on to children or apprentices or other practitioners.

But one often overlooked resource, especially for those looking to reconnect with the folk culture of their ancestors, is none other than the Bible itself. Within it are many different sections that can be used to focus one’s magic, as has been done over the centuries by Christian cunningfolk and other magicians—often with the intent of defending against harmful or evil intentions from other practitioners. And given that so many members of the Abrahamic faiths use actual pieces of scripture in protections (like the Jewish mezzuzah or the different types of wearable amulets with pieces of the Qu’ran inside), the power of the Word of God is acknowledged even among those who have nothing to do with the concept of magic and the Craft.

Of course, it’s strange to think about for many a modern witch–the idea that magic is not only possible, but prolific in religions that seemingly condemn it so harshly—but the reality is that no religion can truly be operated without magic. How else would we interact directly with our God, exorcise evil spirits, or transmute our Eucharist? This is why you might notice a group of Christians calling themselves witches, using the modern idea or witchcraft that spawned thanks to Wicca and 90’s new age spirituality as a type of cultural shorthand to explain the spiritual work we’ve always done.

In fact, the words used to denote witchcraft in the Bible were actually ones that dealt with specifically harmful or foreign magic, which both Abrahamic and other religions had issues with (including Babylonian, Sumerian, Greek, and Roman polytheism). It’s also why you’ll see so much of what we would call witchcraft today in European and Christian folk magic dedicated to warding against witchcraft (like German mothers putting lavender under their children’s beds to protect from evil magic, Slovenian unwitchers doing elaborate prayers and rituals to break curses, or cunningfolk doing counter magic on cheese that allegedly wouldn’t curdle right due to a witch’s curse). When you’re a rural European farmer who can’t afford to wait for a doctor or a priest, the only option is to learn defensive and healing magic for yourself.

I myself am a Christian witch, and I can tell you firsthand: Christian magic is a staple in our ancestors’ interactions with God, especially when tools like the Bible are involved. And, of course, the more of your own folk practice and ancestral traditions you learn, the more unique and inventive the magic gets. As a Christian Witch goes about learning more of their heritage and ancestral practices, however, it’s good to know the basics of using the Bible in witchcraft—so let’s talk about it!

DIVINATION WITH THE BIBLE (BIBLIOMANCY) A seasoned witch will tell you that before any spellwork or ritual, it’s wise to do some divination with your guides, whoever they may be.

As a Christian witch, our foremost guide is, naturally, God. And there’s an age-old practice that many Christians might not think of as divination, but absolutely fits the bill, and that’s bibliomancy.

Bibliomancy, as the word suggests, is any sort of information we can gather from a book (any book, not just the Bible). After all, that first part of the word, biblio- shows up in more than just the Bible, right? Think of a bibliography, a list of compiled sources, or a bibliophile, a person who’s really enthusiastic about books. But when it comes to bibliomancy, the Bible is certainly a top contender for the divinatory tool of choice, even if plenty of other interesting books are available on your shelf.

Bibliomancy is simple. Just like shuffling a deck of oracle or tarot cards, you want to really focus on your question and intention. Hold it in your mind even after you ask God, and then open your Bible and flip the pages until you feel compelled to stop. You may feel a sensation like:

A tingle in your ear or at your fingertips A sudden silence in the mind that interrupts your flow & catches your attention A heavy feeling in your stomach when you reach a certain section Whatever your intuitive signs are that you’re used to with other methods of divination, look for that here and fish out a specific part of the page with it. You might find yourself landing on a verse of Scripture, or you may find yourself looking at an insightful footnote you didn’t consider before. Either way, thank God for His attention and HIs message, and decide from there whether or not spellwork is even a good idea that day.

PSALMS & PROVERBS FOR QUICK CASTING Once you’ve gotten your divination out of the way, the first thing you’ll hear anyone tell you about using the Bible for witchcraft is that the Psalms are insanely overpowered.

And they’re right!

One of the most prime examples of a powerful Psalm is none other than Psalm 109—an imprecatory Psalm, meaning one in which the speaker asks God to incite some serious punishment on whoever did something wrong. My Bible, the Jewish Study Bible, notes that because of its focus on what words were said against the speaker, and the long string of asks that come after pleading their case to God, it’s entirely reasonable to say that this Psalm was actually written as a counter curse.

It’s awfully brutal for a counter curse, I will say. But it is an example of magic you can use through the Bible, especially if you’re looking for quick, pre-written incantations or spells that hit the mark. The Psalms and Proverbs are so varied in their talking points, purposes, and themes that you can find one for pretty much any occasion, and when you read them aloud with the intention of them being a spell—really connecting to God and channeling down His blessings through your own magic—you’ll find it’s like the difference between a static shock from your sweater and a full on lightning blast.

And remember: you don’t have to use an entire Psalm or Proverb (they run quite long!). Sometimes, just a verse or two is enough to get your point across and focus your magic and intention in your spellwork.

Some of my personal favorites include:

Psalm 147 (for emotional healing & fortification) Psalm 146 (anti-gossip and slander) Psalm 81, 142 (security & comfort) Psalm 39:13-14 (A great opening section for plainly stating a request later) Proverbs 1, 8 (Wisdom/Knowledge) Proverbs 3:9-12 (Prosperity) Proverbs 17 (Peace/Anti-Conflict) Proverbs 22 (Softness of Heart against greedy folks) Proverbs 31:25 (Empowerment/Anti-Anxiety)

THEMATIC RITUALS AND INGREDIENT INSPIRATION Lastly, those who know the Bible well and know the story inside and out will find all kinds of beautiful lessons tucked in between all the raw humanity of this book. Yes, you read that right, and I’ll repeat it again: the Bible, the Word of God, is such an inherently human and vulnerable and raw book, full of tragedy and celebration side by side, just as Life itself is.

But when you know the stories, and you can pull out core lessons, you can actually find a lot of fantastic focusing or centering verses and chapters to build your spells around. I’ve even made amulets with lockets that have a verse number or bit of Scripture tucked inside, along with corresponding herbs and spices and other such things. All of the Psalms and Proverbs I listed have their functions, including anti-anxiety, but they’re not the only ones that can do that!

For instance, one of the most powerful pieces of the Gospel for spellwork is none other than Jesus’s admonishment of his disciples in Matthew 6:25-34:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus had a lot of wonderful things to say that can strengthen us even in the darkest of times, and those make for some powerful magic. In fact, it’s Jesus Himself that delivers the secret of Christian magic in the Gospels: faith, even that the size of a mustard seed, can move mountains.

Speaking of the mustard seed, though, now’s also a good time to mention: the Bible has quite a few spots that signify specific stones, incenses, herbs, and spices throughout its stories. Frankincense, after all, isn’t only something offered to Jesus and His family when He’s born; it’s also an integral part of the holy incense of the very Temple of God. And mint, anise or dill (depending on translation), and cumin are among the spices Jesus mentions as being a tithe in Matthew 23:23, too—along with justice, mercy, and faith. When you find mention of herbs, spices, or other abstract concepts like these, pay attention!

They’re significant to God, and when you combine their associations in the Bible (rue and hyssop, for instance, being apotropaic, along with lamb’s blood or cedar), with traditional witchy associations with them, you can get a lot more bang for your buck. Mustard has always meant power and passion thanks to its fiery, Mars-based associations, but combining it with its ability to surprise us with its aggressive growth and its representative qualities regarding faith, it gets all the more important.

You might also take the time to learn from cultural practices that become apparent in places like Leviticus 14, which is a ritual to cure people of leprosy, or in the story of Jesus casting demons into a herd of pigs. Both of these represent the idea of giving an evil spirit or malady somewhere else to attach to (the bird, the pigs) and driving it away from the afflicted person. That’s some powerful banishment and exorcism technique!

GET CREATIVE WITH THE BIBLE AND MAX OUT YOUR SPELLWORK All in all, like any other magic, what matters with using the Bible in spellwork is how creative you are in applying it. The book contains the hopes, dreams, fervor, and faith of millions of people over the course of thousands of years, and it’s also had the honest energy and belief of millions more poured into it as a sacred object. Even if God’s power weren’t in that book, that alone would make the Bible super powerful as a magical focusing tool and ritual item.

Whatever your intention is, I can almost guarantee you can find a verse to match it, so go wild! And even if you aren’t Christian, chances are that you have ancestors that might’ve been (or who had to use the cover of Christianity to cloak the magical work they did as folk magicians). The Bible is powerful on its own, and there are so many instances of syncretic crossovers in folk magic (such as German folk magic, where many pagan practitioners still incorporate items such as rosaries and Bible verses into their spells and ritual workings). But also remember, that when it comes to Christian Witches, the place our power comes from isn’t a book (even if it is God’s word): it’s God. So when a Christian uses their magic to connect to Him, that’s where the real power lies.

No matter your background, and no matter your beliefs, though, remember to stay safe in your spellcasting, take your proper precautions, and overall just enjoy the moment. Happy witching!

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