BoS Prompts 16: Deity Offerings & Fae Offerings

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

There's now a dedicated facebook page to support these blog posts @ https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Thank you all for the support.  I've now made a dedicated facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ so if you go there turn on all notifications you won't miss these blog posts!! 

Prompt 16. Sunday 11th March 2018 - The 16th prompt will be..  Deity Offerings & Fae Offerings (another more hands on).  

Advanced note.  If you don't know what Deity is you might want to check out this blog post HERE also if you want to know more about God/Goddess check out this blog post HERE and finally if you want to know more about the Elements & Deity check out this blog post HERE.  If you've already read those posts or are not a beginner you'll probably want to skip those blog posts!!

Another one completely open to your own interpretation and beliefs.  It is important to note this is my take and my understanding..  A lot of people have different views and similar views and the same views in fact. 

Offerings.

This blog post looks at SOME different types of offerings not just Fae & Deity offerings.  I also want to point out that this blog is not just for those believers in the fantasy, mythical and even legendary beings we’re not looking at The Fae, Fairies, Pixies, Gnomes, Elves etc..  Nor Mermaids or Sirens, Unicorns or Griffins in these blog series (so feel free to look into any of that at your own leisure!) This week we will be looking at offerings with a mention of The Fae, God, Deity, Ancestors, Spirits, Beings, Other Realm Dwellers etc..

For the purposes of this blog post I will be referring to ALL ‘little people, pixies, elfs, elves, gnomes, fairies etc.. etc..’ as Fae or The Fae.

So this week is a lot more open focused.  I know not all Pagans follow this kind of belief / system, nor do witches, other spiritual people, mundanes etc partake in offerings of any kind.  Some take part in multiple kinds of offerings depending on beliefs and views same with Religious people..!!

  

There are many different types of offerings throughout religious and non-religious faiths and cultures.  Often offerings are given to honour, show thanks, respect, gratefulness, appreciation etc and in hope to continue being watched over and receiving luck, love, money, good health, abundance, guidance etc.  Some offerings are made almost as a payment for their requests it's like a good faith payment in hope that a certain Deity / Deities / Being will lend themselves and/or their specialities to the situation at hand.  Some offerings are made in the name of others.  Offerings can be made in exchange for physical items too such as when you take something from nature be it a herb, shell, pebble, flower, feather, stone, water etc.. be it for any reason, but especially if you’re hoping to use it in magickal workings, it’s a kindness to leave something in return.  Offerings would also be given by Tribes to their Spirit Animals, Spirit Guides & Totem Animals and such.  - You can read more about them in my blog post here.

I personally have left 1 pence coins, 1 pence coins with pentagrams/pentacles drawn on them, light a candle (but do not leave fire unattended), incense, herbs, left fruit and drink, another idea I have done is to buy a bag of small semi-precious stone chips or beads and leave one of them, seeds you have purchased (planted or left), baked Fae stones (I’ll leave some YouTube links further down this blog!), bread or other baked goods and I'll go on to mention a few others..  Offerings aren't always left in exchange for goods while out and about though!  Some offerings are done at home, a place of worship and/or other locations..

This can be anything from a kind gesture such as donating your time, goods or finances to a worthy cause to aid others. 

This could be putting out bird seed in your garden / planting seeds in your garden or planters in your home for The Fae, birds and other creatures.  Planting seeds and flowers could also be an offering to Deity(s) / God(s) or even ancestors and other beings.  - I know in my garden I have planted some Sweetpeas and some Livingstone Daisies because they were always in my Nana & Granddads gardens, they loved them and since sadly both are deceased I thought it would be a lovely way to keep them alive.  So honouring my ancestors in a way as well as the sustenance they provide to a variety of creepy crawlies.  – Plus I harvest them (and other plans such as Lavender and Rosemary that I have planted myself) for incense and other ingredients.  – Sweetpeas that I know of have no noted magickal properties but from what I have read they do have connections to Fairy magick and offerings plus the sweet airy fragrance has correspondences with Air element.

This could be to the Elements or using the Elements!  Some creatures / beings / deities may have certain elemental correspondences or like certain smells so your could leave an elemental type offering with water such as perfume, oils, sharing of ingested items wine, tea, fruit juice etc..  It could be a fire offering such as cooking something over a fire, lighting a candle, cauldron offering.  It could be a wind offering such as something made or purchased such as wind chimes, bells, incense (which could also represent Earth and/or Fire), feathers etc.  Finally it could be an Earth elemental offering such as herbs, or as mentioned incense, flowers, seeds, planting etc.  There are many many types of elemental offerings.  I think by far lighting candles or herbs and/or incense are the most common though.

Other offerings may include sharing of foods such as ‘breaking bread’, soup kitchen, setting a meal place for the dead, sharing of the harvest, food donation, sharing what you have with deity, pouring wine on the ground or in the sea..

Offerings to The Fae may include honey, fruit juice, fruit, and other sweet tasting food and drink.  Some people offer bird seed, other seeds and/or nuts.  Smaller items like setting up a fairy house, garden, nook.  You could make miniature furniture or other items to give to them in offering as gifts that aren’t food or drink based, or that as dedicated to containing said food and drink.  I mentioned earlier Fae Stones / Offering Stones which are biodegradable, green for the environment and can be made in a multitude of ways.  I prefer to use all natural products including edible glitter as opposed to real glitter which is tiny shards of glass that can damage and hurt animals and other creatures.

• Making Offering Stones YouTube Tutorial By TheEarthchick

• Making Offering Stones YouTube Tutorial By CuteWitch772

• Making Offering Stones YouTube Tutorial By WitchCraftin' 

Offerings to deity, ancestors, spiritual beings and entities, etc..  May include things I’ve already mentioned other material items such as dedicated items, trinkets, personal or sentimental items, jewellery, altar space, your time, your thoughts, your energy, your thankfulness, artwork / crafted items and the list goes on..

Some people set up whole altars dedicated to an ancestor, deity, the dead, etc.. as an offering.  These may be added to over time, sat at while praying, giving offering, showing respect or doing workings etc..  Some place fresh flowers or herbs or food/drink daily or fresh candle burnt daily.  I absolutely love looking at Tumblr blog 'Fuck Yeah Altars' and also pinterest for altar ideas, offering ideas, or just to see what everyone else is making and doing.  Not that I like to copy but I love new ideas, learning and seeing what other people are doing.  - You can see my main altar and other things I post on my  main Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/missimoinsane/.

I also mentioned before about Gardens and how setting up a Garden could be an offering.  You could also set up a Moon Garden (as mentioned in my Moon blog post) in a dedication / offering to The Moon - A Moon Garden, in this sense of the term, is a garden created using white plants and/or white flowering plants only.  So as the white reflects the glow of The Moon.  - You could also follow the Perpetual Moon Calendar which would make this Moon Garden dedication / offering a lot more personal.  I also have a free printable I designed on that blog I just mentioned.

Note. Some Gods / Goddesses, Saints, Beings, Entities, Fae etc etc may be dissintereded, dislike or even offended by your offering so it really does pay to do your research.  While I'm sure MOST would appreciate any natural gesture that came from your good will and intentions some may like it even more if you took the time to do the research and find out what they like.. It may bode well in your favour.

Activity..

• Research about various types of offerings.
• (Optional) If you have a Deity or particular Faith / Religion / Belief why not look up what your particular God/Goddess/Belief correspondences are for types of offerings they might like to receive.    
• (Optional) Create / Buy some offering pieces. 
• (Optional) Journal about your offerings / thoughts and how they worked out.

Book Activity..

• (Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. especially offering ideas, types of offerings and if you did the research on your particular Deity/Deities or other beings that you work with and found out what they like and don't like it might be a good idea to note that. 

Interact with me Activity..

• (Optional)  Share your offering ideas and experiences in the facebook group and/or with me.
• (Optional) on the Fb Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ feel free to add any information you deem worthy..  
  
  
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  Thank you all for the support.  For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/  Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups..  & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/
  

Imogen x

Next weeks prompts No.17 - Different types of Witches.

BoS Prompts 9: Herbs, Oils and Stones etc.

Link to previous prompts: http://ppwwmm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cauldroneers-bos-prompts.html

Prompt 9. Sunday 21st January 2018 - The 9th prompt will be...  Herbs, Oils and Stones etc.

I apologise for my little outbreak last week, I am going through a bad time with my depression / mental health and disabilities / illnesses and I know that's absolutely no excuse. But I just very much feel like the people who said they would love me to do this haven't seemed to have done any of the activities and most I'm unsure if they even bother to read since they don't comment I might get a thumbs up at best.  So I felt very down.  I know I'm sharing this in other groups and other places and the support after my little outbreak last week was mostly positive - with the exclusion of the two groups I walked out on as apparently they're happy for me to share my knowledge but not happy for me to share my emotions when I'm upset.  Anyway, this was not aimed at anyone specifically I just needed a little reassurance I'm not just wasting my time here.  So thank you all for the support. - Imogen xo

There's now a dedicated facebook page to support these blog posts @ https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Thank you all for the support.  I've now made a dedicated facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/ so if you go there turn on all notifications you won't miss these blog posts!! 

Todays blog post will be a 3 in 1, probably more than 3 actually..  but I’m lumping these together in this section simply because this isn’t something I’m including in my BoS - but I know a lot of you might/are..  So I thought I’d cover this section purely for you guys.  Which is probably going to be long and repetitive. 

Speaking of you guys..  On the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on myTwitter and in various facebook groups..  OR JOIN THE NEW FACEBOOK GROUP!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/

So first of all let me mention why I’m not including this in my book.  – I may at some point I will make a seperate book especially for this stuff!!  But including this in this book would cause me somewhat distress that I took up so much book with this and/or not able to go back and add to this section due to lack of space and perhaps if I had a binder and not a bound book that would be different..?  Also basically I feel that I have a working book I keep recipes I work on in and also evernote.  But mostly this information can be found in the published books I own.  I own the crystal bibles and herb dictionaries and even essential oil books and such..  Various Grimoire, Book of Shadows and Journals.  But my go to resource for this stuff more often than not is the internet.  That’s assuming I don’t already know the properties and uses – which after a while you pick up on!!  I have my go to’s and I don’t really stray to others…  I have herbs that cover all my needs and I know their properties and uses.   I have them in dried herb form, real essential oil form, some are in tinctures or incense blends but I know their uses..  So I’m thinking of creating another book for recipes.  But you might want to include these things in your book or another book or be a complete beginner and not know what these things even are..  So let me explain!!

Stones.

Stones, gems, crystals, semi precious stones and precious stones etc – also can include metals in this section too if you like like Gold, Silver, Copper..  These are often natural (some are manmade) elements found in the earth or made from the earth for example quartz is a kind of rock that forms in various parts of the world and there's various types of quartz too.

Stones have properties and values, you can take a stone based on it’s colour (more on colours in my next blog entry), or its physical properties, it’s magickal properties and such forth.  Now a few things again it’s down to your own beliefs..  Also some stones people say have healing or powers which some of us take prescription medications for but stones, like all other things here, are not a substitute to actual medication and/or professional help. 

Stones are said to hold qualities and properties such as Amethyst has healing qualities it is said to be healing on all levels - body, mind and spirit. Amethyst raises vibrational frequency and protects against negative energies.  But what does that mean?  Well it means what you believe it to mean, if you feel as though having chunks of this stone around your home, neck or in your pocket helps with you healing process then brilliant.  If you feel like it’s a very pretty purple stone but that's it then brilliant.  If you feel this stone doesn’t have any kind of magickal properties it’s just a chunk of rock someone dug up but you get lost in peace and tranquility every time you look at it and find it to be calming and inspiring then brilliant.  Each to their own interpretation.  But this can then be used in magickal or none magickal workings for whatever properties you deem that stone to have..

Some popular uses for stones (and metals) are used in jewellery for either their properties or colour even colour properties (such as a green jade is a stone that, as far as I know, doesn't have money properties but green is a money colour so could be used in money workings).  Some are used in mojo bags, in making of oils, in workings, even added to candles, bath bombs, charms and much more..

Herbs.

Herbs are plants, mostly grown and gathered in the wild but some are farm grown and others home grown both in and outdoors.  They can be purchased in a variety of places and in a variety of ways this includes seed, plant, clippings for planting, fresh cut, cuttings, dried cuttings, chopped and ready for food, cut and ready for teas etc..

Some herbs are used in cooking or making/preparing of food and drink, others are used as decorations and some are used in makeup, medicine, perfume and a whole list of other fragranced products.  But again like stones should not be used as a substitute for medicinal use in fact you should check with your doctor and do your research.  They hold many properties literally and magickally as well as flavour.  Note: some herbs are poisonous and should not come in contact with skin, be ingested through eating, sniffing etc.  Some are poisonous to animals while they might be fine to us.  So really make sure you know about a herb before handling it!!  A lot of these starter or taster magickal herb kits include several I dispose of safely so as not to harm me or my cats.  So definitely check that out.

As mentioned much like the stones herbs have properties again down to your own interpretation of each but again some have set qualities.  For example lavender is said to be all round healing, calming and is often included in microwavable wheat bags as a calming, soothing, relaxing, aromatherapy all round good herb.  BUT not for everyone, lavender in wheat bags gives me headaches and makes me feel ill.. There’s nothing calming, soothing or relaxing about nausea or headaches..!  That said in massage oil / essential oil, raw herb, loose incense, most lavender scented candles or incense I’m fine but not air sprays, room sprays or cleaning product scents like dish soap, polish, floor cleaner etc. – that said I mostly make my own cleaning products but that’s for another blog!!

Oils.

Oils very much work on the same bases as herbs,  Essential oils or pure oils is what you're looking for as they're herbs made into a high concentrated oil. Though while I wouldn't recommend putting them in your food they can be used in oils, dressings, tinctures, incense, fragrances and more.

They can be purchased in real pure essential oil form (100%) or different variations of pure-ness.  Which needs diluting down usually with something called a ‘carrier oil’ before use.  Coconut oil, vegetable glycerine, almond oil, rapeseed oil are but a few..

Oils can also be bought in massage oil form, these are essential oils that have already been diluted.  Though most of these are synthetic fragrances and not real extract.

Oils can come in scented oils for oil burners, but often these are just fragrance oil and therefore hold no magickal properties as they’re synthetic oils as well.

Tinctures.

What exactly are tinctures?
Typically tinctures are usually made for medicinal purposes.  They're then consumed (usually a small amount is placed under the tongue).  Tinctures are often made from liquid extractions of herbs in alcohol, but they can also be extracted in some carrier oils such as vegetable glycerine or in apple cider vinegar (these are non-alcohol tinctures).   Tinctures are easy to use and make.  They’re even safe for children as only a small amount need to be consumed.  As mentioned because they are taken directly under the tongue, they enter the bloodstream much more directly than by any other means. This means that the body has a quicker reaction.  That said some may require continual use for several weeks before any real effect takes place like other medications.  - If you wish to know more about tinctures like how to make I do advise you look into this further.

Tea.

Like Tinctures herbal teas can be made, or bought, for medicinal or health benefits such as relaxation, revitalisation, sleep, energy and so on.  They can also be made for things like nausea, stomach pain, constipation and more.

Incense.

Incense typically comes in three forms: Cone, Loose or Stick.  Most cone and stick incense unless it was home made is often more synthetic smell and doesn't hold the properties and values of real herbs, real oils etc.  Most loose incense is home made and made directly using herbs and sometimes essential oils are also added.

These can be store bought or homemade.  I really recommend having a go at making your own loose incense.  This can be burnt on a disc (such as charcoal or coconut) and burnt in a fire safe container such as a sand filled cauldron, pan, specifically designed ceramic or metal burner.  I put cork coasters under for additional protection.  Note: the container will get hot and sand / salt / dirt should be used between the container and the disc.  - Always exercise fire safety and you can never be too cautious, too safe or too careful.

Etc.

These are just a few examples.  But there's some more information I wish to pawn off on you before you go..!!

First if anything says "part" such as a recipe requires 1 part lavendar to 2 parts rosemary to 1.5 part rose and 3 parts sage.  What 'part' means is 'measured amount' so be it teaspoon, tablespoon, or any other measurement.  Eg tablespoon.  1tbsp lavender, 2tbsp rosemary, 1 and a half tbsp rose and 3tbsp sage.  - A lot of people don't know what "part" means it literally stands in place of a value measurement because if you're making a one time spell amount you might want to use a teaspoon but if you were making a big batch for doing 10 candles you might want considerably more but have the same same recipe.  - I hope that makes sense!

Making potions, spells, ointments, salves and other similar stuff I haven't covered here is also so much fun.  Take a premade recipe off of the internet, a book, your mystical Aunt Sally (with permission) and make your own, or adapt it and make it your own.  We all saw Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince (right?) "crush not cut" well that but "dragons blood not sage" don't be scared of messing up.  Don't disbelieve - belief is part of the active ingredient to all magickal workings.  Make your own.  

How to write your own recipes for eg spell work?
Easy!  Consider what you wish to achieve.  And how?  Next week I'll be looking more at candles (I have an old blog on candles) and also colour correspondences.  But consider what herbs have those properties - can you add them to a candle, loose incense, a mojo bag/sachette, what stones have the properties you're looking for?  A mixture and make it as complicated or as simple.  You could make candles, incense, write a prayer, make a bag or a box or do all of those things and it's really let your creativity run wild.  or sometimes it's a simple as a relax and concentration oil spell.  3 drops of each of the following 100%  pure essential oil; rosemary, lavender and patchouli in an oil burner with some water.. done.

Activity..

• Research and practice making a simple loose incense using your own written recipe.
• Research and practice making a simple sachette you put under your pillow containing at least 3 stones, a herb and 1 other item of your choice (poppet, feather, charm, written upon paper etc..) don't forget to write your recipe (perhaps even journal about the results).
• Research and practice making a simple anointing oil, this can include stones as well as herbs, oils and anything else you wish to infuse into a carrier oil.
• Research the above and decide what you may wish to include in your book.  Those three recipes you just researched and practice may be 3 of your own workings you might want to include if you felt they worked as intended.
• Perhaps try amending what you've previously created here to improve it or use it in other ways.  A loose incense may also work great imbued into candles. 

Etc..

Book Activity..

• (Optional) write down the properties of your most used herbs, stones, oils etc.  It would take you a very long and pointless time writing down every oil, herb and stone.  But perhaps write down the most common or your more frequently used ones.
• (Optional) create a space you can write recipes, add recipes, and such forth.
• (Optional) write notes such as what 'parts' mean in a recipe, what measurements are and their meanings, maybe create a signature incense and just write that.  Perhaps write notes on what herbs are "Herbs are plants grown....." what stones are "Crystals come from..." how tinctures are made... etc etc..
• (Optional) Any part of this blog post you thought might embellish your book and help your practice or that triggered your own thoughts and ideas for what to include.

Etc..

Interact with me Activity

• Comment on this blog, facebook post, twitter, patreon etc and tell me / us how you went about adding this section / these sections to your books..  Your thoughts and any other relevant helpful information xo

As said before for me, and I know for a few others like Rhomany, this sort of thing would take up too much space in a BoS and be difficult to add too so perhaps a separate book especially dedicated to just herbs, just oils, just stones, just recipes etc.  And for others that's the point of their BoS is to have those recipes and references.

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Thank you all for the support.  For anyone wishing to share, ask for help, talk about BoS / their book and relevant content (or for more information, ideas and unmissable blog posts go to new Fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/BoSPrompts/  Also as previously mentioned you can go on the website version of this blog over on the left there’s a ‘subscribe by email’ so you don’t miss a single post from me.  If you’re on the mobile version scroll right down to the bottom and click ‘view as website’ and that should take you to the website version where you can expand, navigate to the left and subscribe by email :)  I will continue to share this on my Patreon *for free* and also on my Twitter and in various facebook groups..  & Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/BookOfShadowsPrompts/

Imogen x

Next weeks prompts No.10 - Colours & Candles.

*WW / MM. Cascarilla Powder - All about it..

CASCARILLA

(Pronounced: kas-kah-ree-ya)  It is so useful in protection, purification and cleansing rites. Cascarilla also repels negative energy and the vibration of negative energies. - look at it as an essential multi-purpose weapon for your magickal arsenal. 

Food for thought: Vegans might have issues with using this due to animal by-product issues. Note also raw egg safety handling and hazards especially for pregnant women and regarding possible fatal food poisoning.

What is Cascarilla?

Eggshell powder; clean dry eggshells crushed and finely ground with the back of a spoon or with a mortar and pestle until it feels as soft as fine baby powder.  Not to be confused with the West Indian shrub, Croton eluteria aka Cascarilla or Cascarilla bark, of the spurge family, the bitter, aromatic bark often used as a tonic!

Cascarilla Powder’s origin is often mistaken as people think it comes from Hoodoo tradition!!  It actually comes from ATRs (African Traditional Religion) like Santería.  – Hoodoo practitioners work with actual talcum powder and chalk.  That’s not to say you can’t use Cascarilla in Hoodoo practice it’s just not the powders origin.

That said the main and usually the only ingredient is powdered eggshell.  It is an amazing powder with outstanding performance when it comes to protection, purification and cleansing - Cascarilla also repels negative energy and the vibration of negative energies..   Cascarilla can be found in two main forms; powder or chalk. It can, as mentioned, be made easily by crushing egg shells into the desired form (see ‘recipe how to’ further on in this document). 

Alternatively it can be purchased at most Botanica or store that caters to New Age and Magick ritual.  Most commonly found packed into what most people associate as a “ketchup cup”.  When removed from the cup, it maintains its form and can be used as one would use a soft piece of chalk.  Or, if mixed with water, you will find that the soft-chalk dissolves easily.

You can use either or both powder and chalk forms interchangeably in a variety of ways for a variation of workings throughout your practices.

Different uses:

1. Guards against and repels evil, malicious magick, harm, unwelcome beings.

2. In both chalk form and powder add to a bath or bath bomb to create a purification, cleansing, protection bath or to aid in removal of negativity and negative vibrations.

3. In chalk form it can be used to draw sigils, symbols or other markings.

4. In chalk form it can be used to draw a protection circle for magickal ritual or even sprinkled in a circle as powder form.

5. Dusting or drawing a cross on your forehead can protect you from psychic attacks such as from energy vampires if you are a form of medium such as empath, clairvoyant, clairsentient etc..

6. Reports of it being a great aid for meditation, astral projection, performing visualizations and/or other divinations. The powder can be used to dust yourself or the chalk to draw upon your relative body zones.

7. Cascarilla also keeps away non-corporeal beings (spirits, ghosts, demons, etc).  If you feel like your home may be haunted, this would be a good repellent (after a thorough house cleansing!!).  Be warned, if you have spirits around that you like talking to, you may find it more difficult to communicate with them!  Cascarilla does not discriminate between good and evil–it just provides a barrier between the physical and spiritual world.

8. House protection: use as a piece of chalk.  Going around the house clockwise, etch the sign of the cross on either side of the door, above the door and on the threshold.  When doing the windows–do above, below, and both sides of the window.  Do this with all doors and all windows of the home.

9.House protection (perimeter of home). 

Note. There are several other uses for Cascarilla, but these are a few of the main uses.

How to make Cascarilla?

{Anyway you do your magickal makings such as casting circle, invoking spiritual / divine aids, blessings, infusing your energy and intent etc.. before, during and after is down to how you work/practice. YouTuber ‘HighPriestess Kathie’ goes into a lil detail here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBKfx93wcyE }

You will need at least 6 eggs and if possible remove the membrane (thin skin like layer often pink on the inside of the shell) here’s an awesome demonstration video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3AGeYFYtcQ by YouTuber ‘Idaline Carthaysius’ on how she does it.

- White Cascarilla - Gather egg shells, wash and lay flat to dry. Grind said eggs in to a fine powder.

- Black Cascarilla – Simply add charcoal to the above method.

- Brown Cascarilla - Gather egg shells, wash and lay flat to dry.  Then toast them in the oven on low temperature until they turn brown (be careful when you handle them they are going to be hot) wait till cold and grind said eggs in to a fine powder.

Note. Once the powder is made you may want to leave it out to fully dry out if possible before sealing it in a jar.

- Cascarilla chalk – Take the previously mentioned eggshells powder and mix together 1tsp of flour and 1tsp of very hot water (some people use holy, blessed or other magickal property water or oils) add 1tbsp of the ground egg shell powder and mix it together until it is a thick paste – some people add additional protection herbs but this is not original Cascarilla.  Form in ‘ketchup cups’, balls, ice cube trays, cake cases, trays, moulds.. Then leave to set.

- Cascarilla powder from chalk – use the previous chalk method then crush to have those extra property boosts.

Imogen 

Credits:

I would like to thank my friend Derrie CINNAWITCH for educating and introducing me to Cascarilla Powder and also for bring it into my life..!  This I can see being of easy but powerful aid for use in my practice!!  Thank you my sister x

References:

·  Image “ketchup cup” http://voodooneworleans.com/product/protection-and-strength-2/cascarilla-eggshell-powder/

·  Information Uses https://themagickinyoursoul.wordpress.com/tag/powdered-egg-shell/

·  Information (She has recipes & spells!) https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2015/01/cascarilla-powder-how-to-make-and-use-it.html

·  Cascarilla origin http://thedemoniacal.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/hoodoo-truth-cascarilla.html

·  YouTuber ‘Idaline Carthaysius’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3AGeYFYtcQ

·  YouTuber ‘HighPriestess Kathie’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBKfx93wcyE 

*WW / MM. Vesta Powder - All about it.. + my recipe!

Vesta Powder

Named so and used in honour and in the name of the Roman goddess Vesta.

What is Vesta Powder? 

Also Known as Flash Powder / Chasing Powder.  Vesta Powder is an extremely flammable white powder.  Vesta Powder is very powerful so use it carefully and sparingly as a little goes a long way.  Saltpetre (aka salitre or potassium nitrate) is the active spark in Vesta Powder. Be sure you have plenty of ventilation and use with fire safety caution.  Vesta Powder is to be stored in a cool, dry and safe place away from heat.  Also keep away from children and animals. Note its toxic try not to touch / have skin contact..

How is Vesta Powder made?  

Recipe:
Version 1. Equal parts saltpetre & cornmeal Powder.
Version 2. Equal parts saltpetre & cornstarch Powder.
Version 3. Equal parts saltpetre & Powdered sugar (icing sugar).

{Anyway you start your magickal makings such as casting circle, invoking spiritual / divine aids, blessings, infusing your energy and intent etc.. before, during and after is down to how you work/practice.} 

In a clean glass container add equal parts of one of the above recipes (*eg. 1 teaspoon of both ingredients).  Mix well together using a clean tool such as herb spoon.  Use only a tiny pinch in flame-retardant pot such as cast iron cauldron.  Add more saltpetre if required but never more than half a part (*eg. Half of a teaspoon).

In my experience:

I purchase 100g Saltpetre from ebay uk seller tongmaster-seasonings http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saltpetre-Top-Quality-Highest-Purity-Food-Grade-100g-For-Curing/222191240635 for £2.99 and also 100g Cornmeal from seller htl1112 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grade-A-Premium-Quality-Cornmeal-Fine-Polenta-Ground-Powder-Select-Weight/272621930412 for £1.99 -  I have found 1.5 parts saltpetre to 1 part cornmeal works perfectly.  Mixed in a crystal, glass or metal bowl with smooth insides until the two parts form one non lumpy fine powder.  A small practice dedicated spoon or spatula to mix. And a clearly labelled jar to store.

How to use Vesta Powder?  

Burn it!  Always use fire safety and a long stick.  The Vesta Powder will explode with a quick flame and a fog of smoke fumes will quickly dispel any bad vibrations, spirits or evil influences. You can use charcoal tablets and a charcoal burner (cauldron).  Smaller amounts can be used to seal spells at the end of fire magick / cauldron spells.  Vesta Powder can be used to gain spiritual strength; place less than 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon of Vesta Powder in an incense burner or metal ash tray and light with a long match. 

What is Vesta Powder used for? 

·       Fire magick.
·       Used by burning to dispel evil, negativity, bad energies and bad vibrations...  
·       It can be burnt to clear the house of bad spirits / entities.  
·       Can be used to stop sexual frustrations or sexual tension.
·       Used as a sachet it is said to help present the illusion of the wearer`s youthfulness purity and innocence.  (flammable so I wouldn’t)
·       Sprinkle around the room prior to ritual to entice the flame of brightness. (flammable so I wouldn’t)
·       Used like dragons blood resin to empower things and give that additional energy kick.
·       As an incense to gain spiritual strength
·       Invoking / Working with Goddess Vesta
·       Invoking / Working with Goddess Hestia

Vesta Powder is used to honour and/invoke the goddess Vesta.  In magick you can ask her to aid you in your fire workings, though much more powerful if your working is to do with the hearth, home of family.  Vesta powered can be used without call for the goddess as an energy spark to increase the energy put out by your working or to seal your workings.

History!

Vesta: The Roman religion believed Vesta is the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family.  She was rarely depicted in human form, and was often personified by the fire of her temple in the Forum Romanum.  It was said that only her priestesses (the Vestals) were permitted into her temple and it was they who tended to the ‘sacred flame’ at the hearth of her temple.  In Roman times the people worshiped the goddess Vesta; in fact they considered her a guardian.  Each year one of the most important Roman festivals, Vestalia, was held between 7th – 5th June in her honour and the sacred flame of which she manifested herself.  It was rare she was seen in human form but most often in flame – this is also how she would also come to those in need of her aid especially with pregnancy. She was the daughter of Saturn and Ops, and sister of Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Juno, and Ceres. Her closest Greek equivalent is Hestia. 

Hestia: – In Ancient Greek religion Hestia was also known as the virgin goddess of the hearth, home and family as well as architecture.  In Greek mythology she is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea.  It was said that Hestia would receive the first offering at every sacrifice in the household.



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