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Practical Things I Think Witches Should Research

Cultural Appropriation

Closed paths and practices

Cult warning signs

Spiritual Discernment

Herb interactions (i.e. how they interact with your medications, if they are poisonous, if you are allergic, can you ingest them, etc.)

Fire safety (for candles, smoke cleansing, incense, etc.)

Crystal Care (learn if your crystals will dissolve in water, if they can be in the sun, if they can be in the cold, etc.)

Pet Care (make sure herbs don't have poor interactions with your pets, make sure you know what to keep away from them, etc.)

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Altoona Tribune, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1939

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I would like to wish everyone an uneventful new year

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Hades Offerings

"Haides (Hades) is the king of the underworld and God of the dead."

Large Altars:

Sweet dark red wine

Strong, dark whiskey

Black coffee

Black tea

Peppermint tea

Honey

Dark chocolate

Rich meats (like lamb)

Sharp cheeses

Breads or cakes

Pomegranates/pomegranate seeds

Apples

Statues or art of Cerberus

Art or statues of Him

Black, gold, and/or silver candles

Cypress, amber, pomegranate, and/or winter scents

Helmets, imagery or otherwise

Drinking horns

Scepters

Small/Hidden Altars:

Mint

Peppermint

Poppy seeds

Black narcissus

Cypress tree leaves or bark

Thyme

Rosemary

Coins

Garnets

Black gemstones (onyx, black tourmaline, jet, black obsidian, and hematite)

Any stones or metals

Small fossils

Keys

Art drawn of Him or for Him

Art of Cerberus or black dogs in general

Shedded snake skin

Owl or vulture feathers

Narutally shed fur from a black dog

Naturally collected animal bones

Writings, such as poetry or prayers for Him

Devotional Acts:

For chthonic deities, liquid offerings are usually poured out onto the ground or down the drain and food offerings are usually buried or thrown away; however He will understand if you aren't able to waste food or drink

Donate to those who can't afford to hold a funeral

Donate to suicide prevention organizations

Donate dog food/toys/blankets to animal shelters

Volunteer to walk/play with dogs

Keep a budget/save your money and spend it wisely

Honor the dead

Learn more about your own ancestors

Learn about Him, His history and symbolism

Learn about other religions' funeral rites

Visit cemeteries

Clean up litter in cemeteries

Visit and tour caves

Visit caves that let you mine for gems or fossils

Make a playlist for Him and sing along to the songs (if they have lyrics)

Practice and learn death magic

Learn about and work with spirits

Tend to a garden or grow indoor plants and herbs

Wear the color black or muted colors, veil your hair (or wear a headband), wear silver or gold metallic jewelry, etc.

Sources:

Artwork from the game Hades by Supergiant Games

https://occult-world.com/hades/

https://vocal.media/futurism/ways-of-worship-hades

https://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Haides.html

https://aminoapps.com/c/pagans-witches/amp/blog/hades-devotions-divinedevotions-owc/o3Pw_4vDhduD6D5ogEZ83rrJPJY367RWKG3

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i woke up 6 days in a row at 3:36am. on the sixth day, i woke up with a penny in my hand. on the seventh day, i did not wake up at all in the night.

from the reading, researching, divination, and numerology that i have done, it seems to me that hades is trying to get my attention. i am considering ways that i can put together an alter. i have never felt such a strong presence like this in my life.

if you have any tips for working with this deity, please feel free to reach out!

#witch community #witches #witchblr #witchcraft #tarot #tarot witch #hades #greek mythology #deity work #hades deity

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chthonic worship tip

In my experience, chthonic (underworld) gods really appreciate hearing “thank you.” (This includes Hades and Persephone as well as Hecate, Hermes in his psychopomp aspect, Hypnos, Thanatos, Morpheus, and others.) They all do incredibly dirty, difficult, and vitally important jobs and rarely get recognition for it.

Things you can thank them for:

Sheltering, protecting, and taking care of the dead

Treating everyone fairly, meting out divine justice to people who escaped it in life

Allowing us to extract precious metals and material resources from the earth (I usually pair this with a commitment to do what I can to be a responsible steward of the earth, and follow the principle of xenia rather than hoarding wealth)

Maintaining the boundaries between this world and the next, and allowing people to pass through when appropriate

Making new growth possible by clearing away that which is no longer useful (this can be both literal and metaphorical)

Guiding and looking after people who are going through grief, depression, or “dark nights of the soul,” enabling personal rebirth and transformation

Protecting and nourishing the roots of plants, making all plant life and agriculture possible

Things that come from or are sheltered in their world include: sleep, dreams, precious metals, plant life, reincarnated or newly incarnated souls, magic, purpose and destiny — and according to interpretation, vaccination, EMDR, anesthesia, X-rays and MRIs, mass social movements, psychology, shadow work**

Also, please do something nice for Charon. I’ve long thought of him as the patron of customer service workers who are frequently yelled at.

*sources: Greek Religion by Walter Burkert, Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson, The Greek Way of Death by Robert Garland – these three books are my go-to’s for info about the roles the chthonic gods and the underworld played in ancient Greek religion and culture. Add to this the underworld as metaphor in Jungian psychology and archetypes (I’m less well read in this area, but see also The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell)

**I once read a great series of essays on the rivers of the Underworld (which I can not find right now) that posited the principle of vaccination comes from the Styx. According to myth, Achilles was dipped in the river as a baby and this protected his body from injury — just as exposure to a dead pathogen grants our bodies protection from a live version of that same pathogen. Along these lines, things like anesthesia and EMDR would come from the Lethe and/or the Acheron, psychology and self-reflection from the Mnemosyne, and so on. And modern astrology understands Pluto (Hades) as a god of invisible forms of power, which makes him also the ruler of things like X-rays and MRIs, nuclear energy, mass movements, and lots of other things…

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it’s hard to observe all the holiday cheer

when we couldn’t bother with a tree this year

our lives blew up suddenly before the season

with all that is wrong, i cant find a reason

to string up lights, fill up the stockings

it feels almost wrong, like i am mocking

the struggle that befalls so many this time

while few have a lot, so many have not a dime

we struggle with bills, we struggle with rent

even if we tried, we couldn’t make a dent

we spend time together and hold on tight

hoping this time next year, all will be right

#christmas #poem #original poem

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is broke. like hella broke.

but i want crystals, man.

#witch community #witches #witchcraft #witchblr #wicca

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Witchy Self Care & Mindfulness🌻🌿

Artwork by @CraftingWitch on Instagram

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Witchy Self Care & Mindfulness🌻🌿

Artwork by @CraftingWitch on Instagram

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dissociate

#poetry #dissociate #quote #inspiration #art #prose #writing #journal

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Witchy tips for stress relief

Close your eyes. Breathe out your frustration. Feel your feet on the ground and center yourself with the earth. Keep eyes closed until your heart rate has settled.

Light a lavender candle. Let the scent fill your room/office. 

Make yourself a cup of chamomile tea. 

Take time to clean your room/office. A clean physical world translates into peace for your mental world. 

Keep rose petals in your freezer. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, lay down and place the cold petals over your eyes. Rest for 15 minutes. 

There is something to be said for the simplicity and effectiveness of writing a list and checking it off as you complete each task. When your mind is cluttered and overwhelmed with all your conflicting responsibilities, sit down, and write a list of everything you need to do. Tackle your first item, then move on to the next. When you’ve finished your list you will feel cleansed of your worries. 

Go for a hike, or a swim in the ocean or lake. Reconnecting with mother nature reminds the soul of the truly important things. It will relax you and allow you to revisit your obligations with fresh eyes.

Take an epsom salt bath.

Allow yourself to be creative. Daily tasks can get daunting and run you down. Allow yourself to indulge in your creativity. Your work will benefit from your brain switching on its creative edge. Doodle. Sing. Dance. Knit. Write. 

Meditate. 

Find a sleep spell and encourage yourself to get 8 hours of sleep. 

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Little things I've picked up

When blowing out candles, if I have trouble blowing them out, it usually means I'm not finished yet

Offering homemade goods is a surefire ancestor pleaser

Let nature help you create. Ask kindly for supplies, and you will receive

It's okay to take breaks. Recharging your metaphorical batteries allows your brain to processes the knowledge it's learned and integrates it into your system

While getting caught up in aesthetics can make your craft vapid, they play a role. Making yourself look fearsome to ward off "evil" spirits is an incredibly old tradition that spans many cultures. Aesthetics matter. But don't get lost in them

Like becomes like. The more I find myself gathering from the pine forests and leaving offerings for the land wights, the more I find myself becoming like the land. If you do the same, you'll find the same. And embracing this will embolden the power you hold over your craft

Whistle. Whistle to everything. To the birds, to the trees, to the bugs and the leaves. Whistle. And if you can't whistle, hum. Just make sure you take caution if you hear a whistle back.

Taking control can be hard. But you need to assert yourself. Stomp on your ground. Breathe deeply. Affirm your presence. You are a metaphysical lightbulb, and deciding how brightly you shine depends on where you plug yourself into. Be bright when needed. And dim when necessary

The most common trees in your area will be your best friends. Learn of them. Commune with them. Hug them

Bones. That's it. Bones

And always remember to use critical thinking skills and discernment. Be open, but be critical. Make sure you're not deluding yourself

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Qui tient le coup pendant le confinement ? 😂

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⭐Spell To Be More Adaptable to Change⭐

~ All you need is a pen and a small block of art clay (the kind that can be baked.) 

This spell is for those who struggle with adapting to change and need to learn flexibility. First buy a small block of art clay in any color that you like. Work it with your fingers. The clay has little pliability at first, so some elbow grease may be in order! As you work the clay, concentrate on learning to accept change and when your done chant:

Just as I change the form of clay

My attitudes can change today.

Change is good, it brings me growth,

It often brings what I need most. 

When the clay becomes soft and pliable, roll it into a ball and smooth it with your fingers. Write your name on it with a pen, then chant:

This ball before me, once a cube,

Symbolizes the change I need in attitude.

As I bake it, bake in me

The ease of flexibility.

Bake the clay according to the package directions. Carry the ball with you until you feel yourself become more flexible, then keep it in a spot where you can look at it frequently. ❤️

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Tarot Readings

I’m still new to everything, but I think I have exhausted everyone in my inner circle with readings. If anyone wants me to try a reading for them, just send me an ask or a DM and I’ll def get to it.

#beginner witch #tarot witch #witch community #witchblr #witches #wicca for beginners #wiccan #wicca #tarot #tarot reading