TO BIND– wrap in black thread, drip wax over, or seal in a jar and hide it in the dark.
TO BANISH– burn an effect to ash and sweep off the back door step, cast it out a window, or bury in the ground and spit on it
TO ENCOURAGE– plant it by the front door/steps, bury by a window, or place it on a windowsill
TO HIDE– place in a jar painted black, cover with cloth and bury, or wrap with a ribbon
TO CLEANSE– bury it in a bowl of salt, burn herbs and pass through the smoke, or lay it in a moonwater bath
TO GLAMOUR– leave under the full moon, hold its reflection over a mirror with herbs, or
TO WISH– place before a candle and blow it out, drown a coin in water, or let seeds blow into the wind
TO COMMUNICATE– (with a spirit or deity) – anoint a candle, leave out offerings, or open the front doors and windows
TO WARD– leave part of the spell in four corners, draw lines around the protected area, or plant an object of projection in the north, east, south, and west edges
TO CURSE– spit on it, drag your nails down it, or stick sharp things in it
TO DISCOURAGE – plant or bury by the back door, or burn to ash
TO JINX– say it three times out loud, or say a word the same time as someone else
TO MANIPULATE – use wax, use poppets, or tie several strings to pieces of an effect
TO BENEFIT – light a candle, charge a crystal, or create a talisman
There are hundreds of complex, glamourous spells all over the internet, and some of these spells are wonderful. However, some people don’t have to time, energy, motivation, or money to do those sorts of spells. For those people, here are some easy spell ideas.
1. Do some birthday-like magick! Light a candle, make a wish, and blow it out. (You can also snuff it out or let it burn down, depending on what you believe works best.)
2. Alternatively, blow dandelion seeds while making a wish.
3. Chant while preparing food. Even if it’s just microwaved ramen or something of the sort, give it a few stirs and chant your intent. (For example: “I will have good dreams tonight.”)
4. Before taking a bath, write your intent on a piece of paper. Fold up the paper and leave it in the bath water for a few minutes to let the water be charged with your intent. (This would work best for spells designed to affect the caster, such as glamour spells. It would probably not be a good idea to cast a curse this way.)
5. Keep a diary and write about things you want to happen as if they already have. For example, if you want someone to ask you out, write an entry about them doing so.
6. Simply think about your intent while listening to a song that reminds you of it.
7. Before drinking anything, whisper your intent into the glass or bottle.
8. Wear colors that correspond to your goal and focus on your intent while getting dressed. If you’re unable to get dressed every morning, you could also wear jewelry, nail polish, or makeup of the color.
Four
years ago if you asked me what it took to be an active magical
practitioner, I would have told you that it took spells upon spells
cast, rituals every weekend, elaborate offering ceremonies, and so
on. If you had told me about “everyday” magic, I would have
pouted and complained that it wasn’t “real” enough. Shame on me!!
But
the truth is, you can be a “practitioner” without formal spells,
rituals, and ceremonies. What makes us practitioners, seekers,
whatever you like to call it isn’t the activities, but the beliefs. I
also don’t want to make it seem like you must be cramming lots of
magic in to your daily life to be a proper practitioner; it is quite
alright to be a nonpracticing practitioner, and that is a completely
valid path.
However,
some of us would like a little more active practice in our daily
lives. After all, we have been given a magic wand. What is the fun in
letting it collect dust in the cabinet? I think doing practical,
everyday magic is loads of fun. It also has the added benefit of
giving you practice and experience outside of big spells and rituals
which many people don’t have the time, energy, or supplies for.
What
do I mean when I say everyday magic? I mean putting small amounts of
magical energy behind mundane actions to turn them in to magical
actions. When done regularly throughout the day this can turn a
regular day in to a very magical one. This kind of everyday magic can
be done again and again in any situation that you like, to help
support you, ease your burdens, and improve your quality of life.
Any
situation can be made magical, from drinking your morning juice to
taking a walk down the sidewalk. It is up to you, as a practitioner,
to decide when and where you are going to take “everyday” and add
the magic. I will give several generalized spells below that you can
adapt to everyday situations.
Stirring
Magic in to Liquids
Useful
for tea, coffee, beverages, soups, elixirs, etc.
This
magic will take effect once the liquid is consumed. Or, the liquid
may passively give off the effect in to the room.
Take
a wooden or metal spoon; metal conducts energies more easily. You may
also use your pointer finger on your right hand if you prefer.
Strongly
imagine what magical effect you would like to occur. In my morning
coffee I like to stir bravery and boldness. For you, perhaps you
would like to stir in peace or calmness (the opposite of anxiety). In
a hearty soup you may wish to stir happiness and coziness. In a brew
meant to affect the ambiance of a room, perhaps a general positive
energy or cleansing vibration is best.
Take
the spoon or your finger and stir the brew clockwise, while vividly
imagining the effect you want to take place. Imagine that this effect
is literally being stirred in to your liquid, just as if you were
stirring cream in to it. At a certain point you will feel as if this
magic is complete, but if you doubt yourself, rest assured the spell
is complete after nine stirs.
Then,
you must seal the spell. You can say “so mote it be.” I like to
clap or snap my fingers. Immediately consume the beverage or set it
aside to allow its ambient effects to take place.
If
you prefer your liquid to take something away, stir it
counter-clockwise. For example, to cure anxiety, stir clockwise for
peace, or counter-clockwise to reduce anxiety itself. Do not combine
clockwise and counter-clockwise stirring in the same liquid.
Exhaling
Energies
Releasing
energies to either fill a room or be dissipated.
Inhale
deeply and be acutely aware of what energies are inside of you. Maybe
you are filled with beautiful energies that you want to share with
the world. Maybe you are filled with negative energies that need to
be released so you will feel better.
If
you are filled with negative energies, try going outside if possible
or in to an open space where the air and winds can help dissipate
your energies.
Inhale
again. As you inhale with focus, energies will be drawn towards your
lungs where they can be naturally expelled. Inhale until you feel
very certain that the energies are in your lungs and ready to be
moved away.
When
you are prepared, take a final deep breath and imagine the energies
are scooped up on the air in your lungs, ready for transport. As you
exhale, do so deeply, so that there is not one trace of air left in
your lungs.
If
you are exhaling negative energies send a wish on your breath that
the winds dissipate your energies and neutralize and purify them. If
you are exhaling beautiful energies for others to enjoy, just let
them sit.
Inhale
and exhale several more times until you feel clean and purified.
Another
excellent way of dispelling negative energy is to exhale through
pursed lips, like how people do when they’re pissed off. That is a
real magical technique of releasing negative energies and stress. I
do it often at work, and it really helps.
If
you want to try something more advanced, this technique also works
with talking and singing.
Applying
Substances to Your Body
Add
energies directly to your body or clean away negativity.
If
you are using soap, lotion, makeup, or any substance that is added to
your body, try this brand of magic.
First,
intensely visualize what you want to occur. It could be a beauty
spell to clear skin and make it soft and delicate. It could be war
paint to make you stronger, or a mask to glamour yourself. As you
hold your cleanser/lotion/etc., you must simply believe
that when you apply it, the effects you desire will take place.
Rub
in clockwise circles to bring things (beauty, power, grace,
protection) and counter-clockwise circle to take things away
(blemishes, fear, clumsiness). If circles do not apply to what you
are doing (as is the case with spritzing on perfume or applying
eyeliner) do not worry about it, just do your thing along with
visualization.
Once
you are done applying your substance, seal this spell by saying “so
mote it be” or any other closer you use. If the substance requires
rinsing off, as is the case with soaps, do so after the closing.
This
type of magic can be used when applying lotion, soap, cleansers, hair
products, makeup, perfume, cologne, body sprays, etc.
Quick
Object Enchantments
Good
to make an everyday object magical in the short term.
This
quick enchantment won’t last long but depending on your level of
skill it should be good for an hour or two. Remember that the magical
enchantment should reflect the mundane uses for the object. Use your
glasses for an enchantment to see lies, or your shoes for an
enchantment to stand strong.
Hold
the object and vividly imagine what you want to happen. Find a center
of power within yourself – for many it is the solar plexus or
spine.
Using
your imagination, visualize that some of that energy comes out
through your hands and in to the object you are holding. Wildly and
with an iron-clad will, truly believe that the object you are holding
is being infused with magical intent. Absolutely see
within your mind that what you desire to occur will occur when you
use the item. There is no question about it – your enchantment will
work.
As
soon as you feel the true faith that your object is enchanted, seal
the spell by saying “so mote it be” or your preferred method of
sealing. Wear, use, or otherwise interact with the object as normal
and its enchantments will take effect immediately.
It’s natural for tarot cards to accumulate & harbor energy, since that is the primary force they operate through; it can “clog” or “restrain” them, making them rather unproductive, though it doesn’t damage them. They simply need to rest and be refreshed every now & then, just like the reader does.
METHODS ||
I suggest trying all of them out & sticking to the ones that work for you.
Shuffling Simply shuffle the deck with the intention of cleansing it, in whatever way that’s most comfortable for you & for as long as you feel you need to.
Sorting Sort the cards – arrange them in order of the 22 Major Arcana and 4 suits of the 56 Minor Arcana. Allow the deck to “rest” in proper sequence for a while. You could also simply sort the cards so that all are upright & none reversed.
Knocking Tap the deck against something, or tap it with your hands / another object.
Sunlight (This method is better for projective/masculine decks.) Place the deck in sunlight and leave it there until you feel that all the unwanted energy has been burned, faded, blinded, or driven out.
Moonlight (This method is better for receptive/feminine decks.) Place the deck in moonlight and leave it there until you feel that all the unwanted energy has been drained, coaxed, flushed, or guided out.
Salt Place the deck in a sealed, air-tight plastic bag and bury it in organic salt. Let the salt soak up the excess energy for a few days, or until you feel it’s done.
Crystals Place a crystal that corresponds to your intention upon the deck, or somewhere near it. You could also form a crystal grid around it.
Smoke Pass the deck through the smoke of incense or burning plants that correspond to your intention (most people would use dried sage or rosemary).
Pendulums Swing a pendulum of your choice clockwise in circular motions above or on the surface around the deck with your intention in mind until you feel that all the unwanted energy has been drawn out & expelled.
Sound Play any instrument with your intention in mind, or place the deck near a speaker and play music that corresponds to your intention.
*You can also cleanse each card individually rather than the whole deck at once, if you prefer. It takes longer but it’s more thorough & “intimate”
MAINTENANCE ||
After cleansing your deck, store it in a special box/bag/cloth and/or with a quartz crystal to protect and generally upkeep its clean state.
Simple tip: cleanse your deck every time you use it. This is the easiest way to maintain a healthy deck, & the ritual of it can improve your general relationship with the cards as well as your connection with them in the moment.
Other good opportunities to cleanse your deck: – It’s brand-new / inherited / borrowed / secondhand – Another person has come into contact with it (especially if it was without your permission – the deck will let you know if it’s been meddled with) – It has come into direct contact with a surface or object you didn’t want it to (this mainly applies to the tarot readers who take extra precautions to preserve the energetic integrity of their deck – such as only laying the cards on a designated cloth/mat/board, not allowing others to touch them, etc) – It has come into direct contact with another deck – It hasn’t been used for a long period of time – It’s been accidentally scattered/messed up/physically damaged – Many different readings have been performed with it – An extensive/intense reading has been performed with it
Symptoms of a deck that needs to be cleansed: – An irregularly large amount of cards drawn in a reading are reversed – An irregularly large amount of cards are falling or popping out of the deck while you shuffle & handle it in general / the deck won’t stay together – The readings are becoming unclear, or you’re having an unnecessarily difficult time interpreting & discerning their meaning; you’re getting mixed messages, the cards aren’t cohesive, and so on. If you feel like you’re not gaining anything out of the readings you do with a deck, you need to cleanse it. – You get the sense that you need to cleanse the deck. This could manifest in many different ways; perhaps you feel bored of the deck or distant from it, or perhaps its “personality” changes, or perhaps you simply feel off about it. Common “off” feelings are slowness or lethargy, disengagement, bitterness, exhaustion, a sense of a contrary or combative disposition, misplaced irony, dullness or hollowness, strain, stress, aggravation, confusion, or alienation, and may come from either you or the deck itself when you interact with it. – You can’t bring yourself to focus on the readings you do with it; neither you nor the deck can maintain your concentration / awareness / full presence. – You consistently lose and misplace the deck or you can’t find it when you want to use it – or other people have moved it, even just once. If you don’t give it a spot and it tends to wander around your house, that may translate into your cards. Cleanse them and pick a permanent/regular place to keep them. – The deck loses its “magic” and begins to feel like plain paper to you – Using the deck consistently drains, frustrates, upsets, or annoys you / using it no longer brings you whatever beneficial quality it usually does.
Here’s a little spell you can do for your own cats, or simply to bless a kitty you see on the street to keep it safe from danger. You will need:
♥ Catnip (cat magic, love, happiness)
♥ A cat treat
♥ A few flower petals
1. Find your chosen cat. Offer the catnip and/or treat; as they are eating, give them some chin rubs and pets. As you do so, visualize golden energy passing from your fingertips and coating the cat’s fur.
2. A quick little chant will do: “May this creature be safe from harm, never lonely, never hungry, and always loved.”
3. Sprinkle the flower petals where the cat was resting.
yesterday i realized you could totally use this as a tarot spread and i dont even really need to explain what each card would represent because of how memetic imagery works
I’m torn between hilarity and concern that meme magic has found a new outlet.
You can charge crystals with the energies of the Sun and Moon, right? Why not charge your body and your mind with the same energies? Sunbathe or or moonbathe to cleanse yourself and give yourself a boost
It has come to my attention that I need to be taking IN energy not just throwing all my own oomph into my spells and then being an exhausted noodle.
Banishing is the act of forcefully removing something, or putting an end to something. Banishing generally involves three different parts: the actual banishment, cleansing to clear out any lingering negativity, and protection from further negative energy. Banishing and cleansing can sometimes be done in one swift motion.
Things you might want to banish:
Negative spirits or entities
Negative energy
Bad habits
Negative influences in your life
Methods of Banishment:
Sprinkling black salt or another kind of banishing powder around your home or property
Anointing doors and windows with blessed or charged water
Burning incense in your home
Creating a spray and spritzing it around your home
Drawing sigils or symbols on your doors and windows with blessed/charged water or oils
Physically cleaning your space to remove dust, grime, and negativity
Playing loud music – metal would be a good choice
Making other loud noises (slamming doors, banging pots and pans together, etc.)
Crafting a poppet or representation of said negative influence and burning it
Binding the negative influence to an object and disposing of it
Just like each herb and crystal has certain properties and strength, so do actions taken during rituals and spells. When writing spells it is important to include the proper actions to make sure your spell is as effective as possible.
Burning – Burning an object is a common practice in spells and rituals. Fire is considered a cleansing and activating force.
If you want to destroy something’s influence, burn it and dispose of the ashes away from your home.
If you want to set something into motion, burn objects related to the situation to ash.
If you want to activate certain energies, burn objects related to those involved.
If you are performing a curse or hex, burn the object in the flame of a candle.
Burying/Abandoning – A Witch might bury and object for many reasons. They might want to put something to rest, perform a slow spell, or banish something. There are different ways in which one can bury an object to accomplish a desired outcome:
If you want to keep something close, bury the object in your back yard.
If you want to attract something, bury the object under the front door step
If you want to disperse something to a distance, throw the object into a crossroads
If you want to fix an influence, inter the object in a five-spot pattern
If you want something to work by means of spirits, bury the object in a graveyard (but don’t disrupt those buried there!)
If you want to hide something’s point of origin, conceal the object in a tree
If you want something/someone to work by stealth, hide the object in clothing or on objects
If you want an influence to begin or strengthen, throw the object East
If you want an influence to end or weaken, throw the object West
Rubbing – Rubbing an object can be the easiest and most immediate way to experience witchcraft. Transferring and garnering energy from objects can be done through physical contact with an object.
If you want to put energy into an object, rub it with your left hand
If you want to gather energy from an object, rub it with your right hand
If you want to bring positivity, rub clockwise
If you want to bring negativity, rub counter clockwise
If you want to use crystals to heal, rub the appropriate stone on the effected part of the body.
Soaking – Water is one of the main elements used in witchcraft. It comes in many forms with many different properties and uses.
If you want something to move away and sink, throw it in running water
If you want something’s influence to rise and fall cyclically, float it in a tidal estuary
If you want to protect or cleanse something, soak an object in rain water
If you are focused on your personal goals, soak your object in sea water
If you want to bring about transformation, soak your object in snow/melted snow
If you’re trying to make a wish come true, soak your object in well water
If you want to banish, soak your object in harbor water
I collected these ideas (and others) from different sources. What you see here is what I think would be interesting to put in my Grimoire (because apparently people need to be told these things).
1 ) decorations ; a personalized cover (with a picture of the moon, a pentagram, your patronus or something else, or maybe just a nice flowery design or leather cover), using a glitter pen and stickers, pressing flowers between the pages, drawing, taping photos and other visual ideas.
2 ) protection sigil on the reverse of the cover (so people won’t read it without your authorization)
3 ) your craft name and your reason for choosing it
4 ) how you define your path, can include coven rules, the tradition(s) you follow and/or a personal set of magickal rules
5 ) wheel of the year / rituals you observe as the year passes
6 ) dedication to one or several deities you worship (or alternatively, what your relationship with deities is like, whether it’s a specific deity or deities in general)
7 ) on that note, myths and information regarding gods, godesses and deities that could be useful for you
8 ) moon phases, their correspondences and what they’re good and bad for
9 ) elements and their correspondences (including the minor arcana of tarot)
10 ) recipes. not just kitchen witchcraft recipes, but also potions, beauty and cleaning products, natural remedies, powders, salts for a bath, oils, etc.
11 ) herbs/plants/flowers and their correspondences
Church of the Morningstar 