BoS Prompt 20: Breaking the fear of practicing & writing your own workings.

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 20. Sunday 14th April 2018 - The 20th prompt will be..  Breaking the fear of practicing & writing your own workings.

Following up from last weeks blog post about ‘starting to learn Herbs and stones’ I decided to make this weeks post about writing your own spells and next weeks post about breaking the fear of practicing.  The more I thought about this the more I felt it was really one in the same blog as the two go hand in hand along with obviously practicing other people’s workings.

PLEASE NOTE EVEN IF YOU’RE THE WISEST OF CRONES AND EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED YOU MIGHT STILL LEARN OR AT LEAST ENJOY SOMETHINGS WITHIN THIS BLOG.

For the sake of this blog post when I say “working” or “workings” I am referring to any spell, ritual, prayer, meditation, enchantment, psychic ability, magickal act etc etc any act of magick or craft etc..

How I got started and broke my fear.. So let us start with breaking the fear of practicing or indeed where to start!  For me when people ask how long I’ve been a Witch/Pagan usually I answer with something like 14-16 years (I’m 29 now).  The reason for this is that I’ve actually been practicing some form of Witchcraft / Pagan Practice / Spiritual Life all of my life but it wasn’t until I was 13 that I discovered the things I did actually have a name, I belong to a group of people and that witchcraft is actually a real thing..!  But I only found my confidence and came out of myself (not out of the broom closet until I was 25) and I was able to practice..

So I started studying, learning about witch history..  Learning about what real life witches do, the occult, how it’s not Satanism, how you can even still be a Christian in this day and age.  This was a happy accident I discovered while researching about paranormal so of course those studies continued too and then developed and went on Paganism or more specifically Wicca.  

For the first 2-3 years from 13 - 15/16 I became scared to practice, now armed with my new knowledge I worried too much that something bad would happen, something would go wrong, I was doing these acts for more selfish reason and such forth.  I had purchased a few tools and items.. (I was very lucky at that time as I lived in a town that had more Antique Shops, Thrift Stores, Junk Yards and Flea Markets than regular shops!!)  My Grandmother bought me my first Tarot deck and while I’d never been allowed to light candles I certainly had a large collection along with other trinkets, knickknacks and things.  Eventually circumstances saw that just before my 16th Birthday I ended up leaving my Dads house and that town and moving to live with my Grandparents.  I was back with my old friends at my old hang outs and indeed met new friends too.  One particular new friend was very much into the practice himself, or some much darker and twisted version of it, and he took it upon himself to get me out of my comfort zone and start practicing..  (While our friendship wasn’t long lasting for other reasons, mostly that I became busy with college, voluntary job and an actual job..  Plus my best friend broke up with him and it was just awkward - it’s definitely part of my foundation getting over my fear to be able to be so open about it all now!)

Some believe that you need to be initiated by another into the craft whereas others say if you follow X you can initiate yourself; which is more or less what I did..  During my 2nd-4th year I did some initiation online courses and then much later on in I believe 2014/15 initiated myself following my officially coming out the broom closet  announcement by following and practicing Timothy Roderick's book - 'Wicca: A Year and a Day: 366 Days of Spiritual Practice in the Craft of the Wise' ..which I'll mention more about further down this blog post..  But YouTuber DragonFeather369 has some amazing videos on that book.

Yes when I practice (even now) sometimes I feel really stupid, self-conscious, nervous, shy, weirded out, worried people can hear/see me etc..  But that's the same with almost anything I know I'm like that when making YouTube videos regardless of if the content is planners, magickal, arts and crafts or something else entirely. Same with gaming around guys I like or people I want to impress (I like to think I'm good but worry they'll judge me if I mess up!) But don't worry..  It's ok a lot of people talk to themselves and even more talk to their pets and some even talk to their plants.  You can always pretend you were on the phone and/or work in a more secretive place ie late at night or when you're home alone.  Work in whispers or not aloud!  Next week I will talk about Magickal Housekeeping and Everyday Practical Magick which is more aimed for those who want to practice but are still in the broom closet because of family, friends, religion, society or some other reason.  But for those of us out and proud and shouting from the mountain tops it's still good practices to keep. Keep going and you'll get there..  I promise.

My recommendations will always be study / research first then practice; practice may never be perfect but you’ll definitely learn and grow.  So I figured within this series by now we have learnt a lot about ourselves, about how to cleanse,consecrate and charge and indeed why that is something we would do with newly bought items first or second hand.  We have learnt about The Pentacle / Pentagram meaning & The 4 Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water (plus the firth Spirit).  About The Tree of Life, Grounding, Meditation And Prayer.  We learnt about The Sabbats & Wheel of The Year.  Plus some stuff about The Moon including planting by the moon, moon gardens and Esbats.  We learnt a little bit about Enlightenment & Deity (Gods and Goddesses).  We learnt about Zodiac signs (birth signs) and their properties.  We learnt a little bit about using Herbs, Oils and Stones plus tinctures and more.. Using Colours in our workings and coloured candles (with a mention about an old blog post on Candles I wrote last year which can be found: HERE).  We looked at Intuitive, Empath & Clair's Psychic abilities.  We looked a little more closely at some types of Runes, Symbols, Sigils & Cyphers and the use of Alphabet within them.  We studied about Spirit guides, Spirit animals & Totem animals & Familiars and also their differences.  We started looking a little more at hands on practice with Protection, Repel and Banish Workings.  Furthermore we looked at Amulets, Talismans & Charms.  We looked at gratitude and respect with Deity Offerings & Fae Offerings which really could be lent to any aspect of Nature Offerings & Elemental Offerings etc.  We took things back to basics with a little knowledge on types of Witches / About Witches blog post and followed that up with exploring types of Divination.  We continued our in-depth learning last week with starting to learn Stones & Herbs etc.. blog and so really we’ve been on one crazy ride this last 22 weeks or so, not forgetting my prior 5 part mini-series that inspired it all on how to literally create a Book of Shadows. Part 1. Finding your Book of Shadows / Grimoire etc.  Part 2. Breaking in your Book of Shadows / Grimoire etc.  Part 3. What to write in your Book of Shadows/ Grimoire etc.  Part 4. What to add(visually) to your Book of Shadows / Grimoire etc.  Part 5. When should we be adding to our Book of Shadows / Grimoire etc..

So after all of that we are definitely ready to start practicing and writing our own workings.  Starting is always scary breaking that fear of ‘what if’ and the glass is half empty.  Take the leap of faith and always do what feels right to you.  Never fear asking for help.  Another thing I’ve learnt is that this is a never ending pool of knowledge.  There’s so many religions and faiths and spiritualities – Which is why now I feel me saying I’m Eclectic Wiccan is more just Eclectic or Eclectic Pagan perhaps since while I do keep the Wiccan Religious side mostly but lean towards my own kind of craft with elements from all walks of life.  Plus I absolutely love to read / hear different people’s opinions and takes on the same subjects. – geek!

..But you’re not here to listen to me babble on about myself..  So lets us break into the next phase for anyone who isn’t there and for anyone who is, you may even learn something or just refresh some of them baby steps.

So shake off the fear..  First of all fearing something, doubting something, disbelief in something..  Nothing’s going to work for you!!  If you enter into a magickal working thinking this is a load of old codswallop, it’s clearly fake and this is a load of cow dung.  Guess what..  It’s not going to work!!  You’re right!!  Congratulations!!   But it’s as Roald Dahl said “Those who don’t believe in Magic will never find it!”  You have to at least believe in the idea or want to believe!  As Jack Skeleton said “Just because I cannot see it doesn’t mean I can’t believe it!”  and so enjoy this amazing unique and wonderful journey and remember as Tolkien said "Not all who wander are lost!" So go in with an open heart and an open mind and see what comes to you..

Ok let's say you believe..  But how does this work?  Right..  I’m going to be honest with you and tell you how I feel it works (other people will have various opinions).  For me I feel that you have a hope, a wish, a dream, a desire..  Something you’re longing for (not destined as that’s a whole other thing) but something you want.  For you..  For others..  Be mindful of being careful what you wish for, the Wiccan Rede Rule of “Harm none, do as ye will” (do what you like as long as you don’t hurt anyone, that includes yourself).  Or other rules like three fold law, karma and such forth.  Just do good things with good intentions and then read about the rest later.  So for me I feel that setting your intention for what you want and spending time creating that working, setting up that working, doing the working itself opens our hearts and opens our minds, even our subconscious mind, to look for those opportunities to find good even in the very bad, to use ourselves to aid, heal and help others.  I don’t believe we can just light a candle, wish for a million and wake up the next morning with a big bag of cash posted through our door.  What I do believe is we can light a candle, wish for a million and over the next few weeks be presented with opportunities in career / job, living / accommodation, relationships and much more a wealth of opportunities that could lead to that abundance of money if you work hard and take every opportunity created by you making that decision.  The act of lighting the candle is simply symbolic that you did this thing to mark your intentions for what it is you want in order for you to actively look for the results and other things to happen but ultimately it’s your decision and your choices to take the bull by the horns and go for it.  That’s not to say that you won’t wake up with a million shoved through your letterbox..  I suppose in some weird twist of fate it could happen.  But another point to consider here is also greed in that!  Wish for money, wish for abundance, wish for a better financial situation but do you really need a million?  Will a few thousand not buy you your house, get you out of debt and put you and your family in a comfortably living situation?  People say to me if magick is real and I believe in it and I practice it then why am I still disabled unable to work coping with multiple illnesses/disabilities?  To which I don’t have an answer but I can tell you that through magick I’m still alive, it’s given me faith and something to believe in, work with/for, have, teach, do..  And my practice is rewarded when I'm offered medical opportunities and medication to improve my situation the best we can right now.  It’s taught me things and that alone to me is magick.  It’s given me the strength to keep fighting and keep trying.

So we believe..  We have some tools and ingredients (or not).  Where do we start to practice?

For me I won’t say jump into casting a circle, summon some ancient being and have a tea party while cursing your enemies.  Seems a bit of a leap..  and not something you should ever do!!  But each to their own.  Perhaps start with simple things.  Next week, as said, I plan to do a blog on everyday magick looking at some of the more basic and mundane things that everyone can do.  I mentioned this in my last few blogs that practicing doesn’t need all these tools and items, an altar.. etc.  My practice may look elaborate with all this stuff as seen on my instagram @ instagram.com/missimoinsane but believe me deep down I know I just need the very basics and myself.  So start with simple things like stirring your morning tea/coffee clockwise while wishing for positive influences all day or anticlockwise while wishing your tiredness away so you can focus on the day ahead.  While bathing at night hold your hands over the water and ask that this water washes away all the negativity you’ve accumulated throughout the day, even add salt to purify if you wish (Epsom salt is especially good and has additional relaxation and health benefits!) – this could be a sink of water, bowl of water or bath etc..  Prayer is such a simple and easy one pray for the health and safety of others, light a candle in respect of that.  Practice some of those protection workings.  Grab yourself a book (Elemental Encyclopedia of 2000 Spells is a good place to start.. huge heavy hardback, hard to hide!  But they do have a 500 paperback version that’s smaller) there’s a few spells there..  Or you could get a book that’s more of an initiation into a craft/practice such as Wicca.  One book particular is the big orange Wicca A Year And A Day 366 book by Timothy Roderick.  (BE WARNED the book requires you to purchase items for the practice which comes with quite a hefty priced shopping list!!  Yes you can substitute some of those candles for smaller ones or white if you can’t find the colour you need but still pricey!!  I took it upon myself to write a blog with the shopping list contents: HERE!!)  Which is a great book for beginners (even if you want to be a witch and not wiccan it’s still a good book for you!) there’s a new page or two for each day giving you tasks and teaching various workings including giving you more details on various things such as grounding and meditation.

So you’re practicing?  Good!

How do you write your own workings?  It’s actually a lot easier than people think and can be done in multiple ways. 

Words:
First note that if you’re adding words, like a speech you don’t have to make it rhyme it doesn’t have to be a poem.  But if that’s what you like then there are many books and even phone apps and online websites that can help you with rhyming words and/or poetry.  Words don’t have to be complicated they just have to be accurate and heart felt; say what you mean and what you want.  Does it need to be spoken aloud?  No!  Sometimes people feel very self-conscious as is without talking to themselves too.  So saying the words aloud in your head to yourself is still putting those words out there just not literally aloud.  Equally you can whisper, I know a girl who finds whispering magickal and says her words are carried in a whisper by the winds.  Others feel the need to stand on top of hills, cliffs, mountains and scream and shout their words to the world.

Tools:
Tools are not needed; but they’re sure fun to have!!  Your index finger of your more dominant hand can be the best wand.   Or for me I use my whole hand, I have a wand I just prefer to use my hand.  Tools can be sourced from things you have around the house.. cups, knives, sticks, bowls etc..  But can also be sourced and/or made from various places and various materials.

Ingredients:

Use what you have, what you can find, what you can swap, etc..  Don't spend silly money if a working requires X which will cost you silly money to import a tiny bit that might not even make it through customs..  Don't risk it.  There's many alternatives for every ingredient you would need.  I will go on to explain changing ingredients..

Grounding, Casting Circles, Meditation etc:
Do you need to?  Well it depends who you ask but if you're asking me then no, at least not for everything!  Do what feels right to you!  Some people take a long blessed bath complete with some salts and essential oils to purify themselves.  They then smudge their spaces.  They call the quarters (elements, deity, spirits, guides etc etc) and cast a circle of protection making sure they have everything they will need so as not to break the circle and step outside of it.  Their practices are long drawn out events sometimes repeated daily, weekly, monthly, yearly etc..  Their practices are deep and well constructed ritualistic / sacred events.  Whereas other people just light a candle and say a few words.  Do what you feel is right, although when inviting spirits and such forth even benevolent ones I'd always cast a circle and exercise some cautions before and after.  Seek information on smudging, ringing of bells or chimes and similar.  Also some people prefer to not eat before a practice to increase their vibrations and eat after as part of a grounding and restoring your energy.  You'll figure out what works best for you.

Using a pre-existing spell or other workings:
Always do your research so lets start with you bought a book that has a spell in it, found one on the internet or your friend/family/coven passed one down to you.  First believe in it or it will never work; remember open heart and open mind.  Second just because it worked for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you.  Like how not all people gel well with all forms of divination, not all people have the same psychic abilities and/or intuitions and not all people are going to get on with all forms of workings and types of work.  One person who works primarily casts their spells with herbs could be terrible with candles magick, water etc etc.. and visa versa.  

But you have this recipe, let's say it’s a spell.  So option 1 use the spell as is and see what happens (making notes is always great to have a journal or a computer or notebook or phone or something where you can keep notes – what you did, what you changed, moon phase, day of the week, ingredients, how you did it, did it work, your thoughts and feelings).  Option 2 you see what the spell contains and see how you can change it to make it your own.  Does it call for a blue candle but you feel a green candle would work better, does it call for sage but you can’t get any where you live and can substitute it for frankincense resin or palo santo wood.  Option 3 completely rewrite the spell using your words, your ingredients, things you made, include other things, turn it from a big complex spell to a much simpler or visa versa.  Be creative.  It’s not difficult and as said in my last blog a basic knowledge of say 10 herbs and 10 stones will give you a little insight.  Revisit the blog I wrote about colours how can you use colours be it candles, stones, feathers, yarn, clay, beads or other objects.

Creating your own recipes:

How to write your own working from scratch?  This becomes a little harder than say altering one but works very much on the same principles.  First you have to decide what it is you wish to achieve.  (Having a working notebook is fantastic for this.)  Second write down some of the items you might like to include.  Third research those items and see if their properties work together with your intentions or clash, see if they work well with others – especially if you’re making say incense or an oil you want scents that work together.  If you’re making something a little more dangerous like tinctures maybe consult some professional information.  Remember what I said in my other blog post how some herbs, resins, bark, spices, flowers etc etc can be poisonous to humans, cats and/or other animals when inhaled or ingested or even when come in contact with the skin.  Fourth get to making.. do your working / practice and see what happens.  Making notes helps you to change things up for next time or know how to repeat.  Repeat and have enough repetitive successes?  Why not add those to your Book of Shadows as your personal recipes?  Have fun and explore!

Note.  Recipies are the ingredients used and how much but also when some days, dates, astrological events, moon phases etc have great effects on your workings.  Recipes may also refer to things being measured in "parts" please refer to my blog about herbs, stones, oils etc for information on what "parts" mean in recipes ie "one part X to two parts Z".  Recipes this can include anything from stones used, herbs, incense, objects, colour of candles, candle shapes etc..

Next week I’ll be looking more closely at Magickal Housekeeping and Everyday Practical Magick.

Finally I just wish to say that you're never too old or too young to learn / practice.  You're never too old or too young to have a mentor, teacher, join a coven etc.  Asking for help, assistance, advice is recommended even if you're the most introverted or solitary witches.  These days there's 100s if not 1000s of Facebook groups and Forum based apps like Amieno.  As well as the Instagram community and the YouTube community.

Activity..

• Read books.
• Read other peoples opinions.
• Practice.

Book Activity..

• (Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. and/or any further information you find out.
• (Optional) Once you have activly working recipies 

Interact with me Activity..

• (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

Sunday April 22nd's prompts No.21. Magickal Housekeeping and Everyday Practical Magick.

BoS Prompts 19: Starting to learn ie Stones & Herbs etc..

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 19. Sunday 8th April 2018 - The 19th prompt will be..  Starting to learn ie Stones & Herbs etc..

First let me say I hope you all had a very blessed Ostara (Spring Equinox) and a Happy Easter!!  I'm already loving the springtime!

Through out this series of blog posts (Book of Shadows / Grimoire Prompts) I seem to have been asked the same one question, or similar question, multiple times over.  “How do you learn stones?” “How do you learn herbs?”  So I thought I would interject this series and add this blog in to help people with that.  - Doesn't matter if you're brand new or the wisest crone I'm sure you can learn something from these posts..

First note there’s no right or wrong way.  Also if you haven’t read the blog I wrote that includes the basic and key information about ‘Herbs and Stones’ you really should go read that first.

So as said there’s multiple methods..  For a lot of us we will never know every stone name, use, values, properties and such for nor herb for that matter.  There’s a great number of books including encyclopedias, bibles and other directories which hold great details on stones and herbs their properties and uses etc..  Alongside buying some of these books, the internet is an amazing resource.  BUT you might want to learn the basics of say 10 or so of the more commonly used ones, or that you would use most in your practices.  Eg. White Sage, Rosemary, Patchouli, Lavender etc..  Clear quartz, Malachite, Amethyst, Rose Quartz etc..  Just to name a few.

So here’s some of the methods I use (but there’s others).

Stones.

For the purpose of this blog when I say Stone I’m referring to all stones, semi precious and precious rocks, gems, crystals etc..

Now purchase yourself one of each of the stones you’d like to learn (if you don’t already have one/them) this can be online (such as ebay) – where one will be sent at random OR if you can get yourself to a shop and choose one that feels right to you even better!!  Although a lot of people say the stone chooses you not you choosing the stone!!  Note it doesn’t matter the size.  Although when starting out you don’t want to spend silly money on these things; as it might not be for you!  Note it's been said that some stones just don't work for some people.  Some times it's that particular stone and other times it's that particular type of stone.  There are always multiple stones that can be used the the same purpose!

Now you have your stone (feel free to Cleanse, Consecrate and Charge – a lot of people will have been handling the stones no matter where you got it from!  You can move on..

Some people choose to spend a few days with no real knowledge of a stone and try it out try sensing it’s vibrations and qualities, what feelings you get when holding it in your right or left hand, sleeping with it etc.. (write them down).  Other people jump right in at the beginning..  Either way if you spent a few days getting a feel for the stone (note you might have multiple stones but try to learn only one at a time).  Once you’re ready a great way to learn a stone is to spend a week with it!!  Look in books and online to get as much KEY information about that particular stone..  You don’t necessarily need to know its origins or how it’s farmed or made etc.  Although that information can be highly interesting I especially love the history and legend of The Apache Tear Stone.  But knowing things like..

• ·       What is this stone primarily used for in holistic healing?
• ·       Does this stone belong to one of the Chakra points?
• ·       Does this stone have a zodiac sign associated with it?
• ·       Does this stone feel hot or cold?
• ·       What are the metaphysical / magical uses?
• ·       Is this stone affected by Sun or Water (some stones can be damaged!!)

..You have the basics?  You wrote them down?  Good from here you can start practicing with it..  Try carrying the stone around on your person, try sleeping with it under your pillow, try out some workings which would include that stone, what feelings do you get..  If the stone is water tolerant what happens if you put it in a glass of water and then drink the water?  If it’s a stone that helps with say creativity do you notice your creativity enhanced?  A stone that aids with anxieties do you notice a decrease in your anxiety? – Note these things don’t always work straight away but really strong connections to stones may mean that stone is definitely one you’ll find yourself working with more often than not.

Continue your studies, and your regular life..  and see what happens.  There’s nothing wrong with spending more or less time with a stone..  It’s completely your choice.  Then move on to the next stone and repeat.

Note.  Getting to know stones, even if you don’t remember everything about them locks into your subconscious.  You may later find yourself writing a spell, ritual or working of some kind and find yourself reaching for that particular stone even though you can’t remember its properties though upon research that stone may be perfect.  Don’t shrug off that inner voice.

Storing your stones..  I keep my main ones an my alatar.  They’re the first of each that I got since starting my practice and so I keep them in a glass on my God side of my altar and/or placed around my center pentagram (see yesterdays Instagram post here https://www.instagram.com/p/BhP5wQrAD7w/?taken-by=missimoinsane) I keep the other stones I buy that I use in workings and then throw away or are permanently in the working such as a witches ball, in candles that are kept or gifted, in offerings or offering stones, in mojo or medicine bags, in manifestation box etc..  Some people keep them wrapped in silks, individual bags, in thimble display cases, shelves, around their home, in bowls and so on..

Buying your stones..  an idea for buying stones to use in workings is to buy chip stones, small bottled stones and/or beads of the stones you wish to use.  This can be cost effective while still giving your workings the same properties and powers.  Just a thought.  Also look out for deals I know a lot of ebay shows do 3 for 2 type offers.

Stones can be reused such as cleansed by the full moon's light, if they’re tolerant to water you could wash them with salt water or bury them in the ground for a night and a day..  There are multiple ways you can cleanse, consecrate and charge your stones.

Herbs.

For the purpose of this blog when I say Herb I’m referring to all herbs, spices, fungus, flowers and plants (flora) etc..  As well as resin, bark, powders and even oils (essential oils) etc..

Learning herbs can be very similar to learning Stones.  A lot of people do that getting to know it before actually studying about it which is great but I must advise some herbs (when touched, ingested, burned etc) are poisonous to humans and/or animals.  I always do my research before buying any herbs and bringing them into my home.

Again like stones buy some of the herbs you’d like to learn; again this can be online (such as ebay) assuming you don’t raid the kitchen cupboards, grocery store or your garden, nearby woods or other nature places).  Note it doesn’t matter the size/amount but you’ll want enough to do a few practice workings..  Unlike stones herbs can’t be reused unless it’s within the same working (such as you might use them in a blessing ritual which you then anoint your candle and roll it in the herbs and the remaining herbs you put into an incense especially for that particular spell or type of spell then of course..

Now you have your herb (feel free to Cleanse, Consecrate and Charge – a lot of people will have been handling the herbs no matter where you got them from!) you can move on..

Some people as mentioned choose to spend a few days with no real knowledge of the herb and try it out try sensing it’s vibrations and qualities, what feelings you get when holding it, sleeping with it etc.. (write them down).  PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT POISONOUS ONES!!  MOST DIRECTORIES ETC WILL TELL YOU IF THEY ARE POISONOUS – BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK ONLINE SOME WEBSITES A DEDICATED TO POISONOUS FOR HUMAN, CAT, DOG ETC..  Other people jump right in at the beginning..  Either way if you spent a few days getting a feel for the herb..

Repeating everything I said you’d do for stones..

Storing your herbs..  I keep mine mostly in glass jars/bottles/tubes – or in foil bags in boxes (mostly).  I then keep these in a dry dark place.  Note I find it important to keep my magickal practice herbs and my kitchen herbs separate (just encase of cross contamination).

Buying your herbs..  While buying in bulk is somewhat cheaper note these things do have an expiration date.  So if you buy a few kilo’s of say jasmine make sure that’s something you’ll use within say 12 months.  You don’t want to find you still have practically a full bag four years down the line.  Sometimes a small amount will go a long way and you don’t need to buy much more than a sample bag.

Conclusion. 

I hope that’s given you some ideas for how you can learn herbs and stones.  Some people literally buy a bunch of stuff as a spell / working that requires a specific type of herb or stone and then learn them there and then or at least research enough to make sure it’s something you’re wanting to work with.  Which isn’t a bad way either although it’s good to keep a supply of the basics just in case.  You don’t want to find yourself requiring items for a spell on Friday which the online stores won't ship till Monday and it’s practically a week before you can do the working you wanted to do right away!

A better understanding of herbs and stones means that if you come across a spell that requires eg. White sage for purification but it’s hard to find that where you live or you just burnt your last leaf this morning but you have a bunch of frankincense resin or palo santo wood..  You’re in luck as you’ll know it’s possible to substitute the white sage for either of these two (for example).  – Meaning you can do your working now.  I love to customise workings by using what I have or what I feel connected too that will still work.  The same can be said for substituting other items such as candles.  But that’s now treading on the toes of next week’s blog focus “how to write your own spells and workings!”

Activity..

• Buy a stone / herb and follow the above practice (you don't want to do multiple stones and herbs at the same time nor one of each at the same time..  simply study one item at a time!)
• (Optional) Expand this study to other items..

Book Activity..

• (Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. and/or any further information you find out.
• (Optional) Write down the stone / herb properties of your most used stones / herbs.

Interact with me Activity..

• (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

Sunday April 15th's prompts No.20 -  Writing Spells (and other workings)

BoS Prompts 14: Protection, Repel, Banish (Workings).

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 14. Sunday 24th February 2018 - The 14th prompt will be...  Protection, Repel, Banish (Workings).

Another one completely open to your own interpretation and beliefs.  Hopefully though you'll have something a bit more hands on and practical things to do this week.  As well as more information for your books.

Protection, Repel, Banish (Workings) 

Here we are at week 14..  I’m really unsure where time has gone!!   - So I feel like we have done a lot of educational and not so much hands on so this week I thought we would look at some simple spell work – Protection, Repel and Banish.  But of course I need to chat away a whole bunch first and bore you to death as per usual hehe.

So first of all there are many types of spells and many types of those types of spell and many ways in which we can do all of that..  So 3 types of spells / workings would be ‘Protection’, ‘Repel’ and ‘Banish’ – I’ve banned these 3 together while very different we can tackle them the same.

As said there are many ways in which we can go about doing this.  First let me say that you don’t always have to cast a circle, call the quarters, invoke spiritual or divine or ancestral beings etc.  And as mentioned there’s more than a few items you could use such as different coloured candles; I found most common to be Black – Negative, White – Purity, Brown – Home / Earth not to say that other colours aren’t used) I of course did a blog on Colours & Candles which you may find useful for reference – though you should have wrote that in your BoS!   I also mentioned in the Herbs and Stones section of this blog entry that there are many different herbs and stones you can use which have Protection, Negative Repel and Banish properties and the same with essential oils.  Also you could look more into the Elder Futhark runes or other runes and symbols such as The Vegvisir which I believe in Norse Mythology is used for guidance (as in travel) and protection.  Similarly Sigils can be created for protection, repel of evil or negativity or bad entities etc and even to banish bad emotions, fears, anxieties etc..

Before we continue I guess I should clear a few misconceptions about magick and the best way for me to do that is to explain it though my beliefs.  Which are that there’s no Hollywood magic..  Sorry but you’re not going to wave your wand and turn you rat into a teacup, a pumpkin into a carriage or magically make something appear in the physical form – Side note, no you do not NEED a wand to do magick!!  The magick we are talking about here is based on your intentions, your energies and the way I see it working is that you’re putting your energies and desires out there into the world, nay into the universe and possibly even into other realms, dimensions and planes of existence..  You’re workings are working towards a goal and setting intentions for you to then carry out.  For me if I have a stone in my pocket to aid me with anxieties that stone is there as a reminder that I am strong enough to get through this event and it’s not some other dimension portal thing that’s going to magically suck all the anxieties away..  I don’t feel that by burning sage you’re going to purify anything but I do feel by burning sage and BELIEVING in it and not doubting and putting your positive energies into doing this activity of burning sage and putting your request physically out there that things happen more so when you work towards it and believe.  I don’t believe by just burning a candle, hanging something over a door or having a statue is in and of itself going to do the magickal deed.  I do however believe that by doing the act of burning a candle or seeing items over and over again or even (as mentioned in my sigial blog) how when you’ve had an item in one place so long it blends in and becomes part of your home and part of your furniture that you don’t really see it any more and then it becomes a part of your subconcience and you notice it without noticing it (I’m hoping you know what I mean as that’s difficult to explain) and then that subconscious part is the part that does the magick it’s the part that creates dajavu that makes you think of other things and can associate two unrelated things (which most call coincidence) which we say is fate.  There’s a very fine line for me where I struggle with the wanting to believe and the doubt.  I struggle with “‘if I can’t see it then it’s not real” yet I expect people to believe me when I say I have fibromyalgia and I’m in terrible pain – pain can’t be seen.. doesn’t make it not real?  So there for if I believe in pain which can’t be seen which is caused by the chemical reaction in the brain and not physical damage or issue then why can’t I believe in magick?  Deity?  Fate?  Spells?  I diverse..  For me I feel doubt or disbelief is why people feel that magick doesn’t work for them..  Much like keep telling yourself you’re going to fail that test.. You will.  You’re not going to get a job.. You won’t.  No one likes you.. They won’t.  Try being more optimistic, more positive and believe even in the impossible and that’s when the magick starts..

So now I’ve waffled for a bit, you still here?  Good!!

So let’s look at the topic shall we first what do I mean by Protection, Repel, Banish?  So protection comes in many forms..  Protection for yourself, your friend, lover, partner, children, your family, home, pet, car, school, place of worship…..  And I don’t mean armed bodyguards, bars on the windows and a can of mace/pepper spray at the ready.  I’m talking about that unexplained other world magickal kind of protection.  That which makes you feel like a near death experience you were touched by an angel, the hand of god, fate, luck…..  That feeling that someone is watching over you and protecting you..  That wanting for God to protect or some divine intervention to happen to keep you, your loved ones and the things you love safe and sound and filled with positivity and happiness.  Same with Repel and Banish.. 

These three are some of the very basic beginner things, so easy to do yet so powerful.  As mentioned before we can use candles, stones, herbs, oils, a mixture of the above…  We can also pray, write our intentions on paper and burn it, give offerings to the divine in exchange for our request..  And it’s not just our culture / religion / faith that does this..  Where is the line between religions such as Christianity that pray to God for the safety of their children, Muslims who give offering in thanks for the safety of their children, Pagans who light candles and send out their intentions for the safety of their children..  I can continue.   

It doesn’t have to be complicated.  You don’t need to go sacrifice your first born (in fact I beg of you please don’t do that!!)   It can be simple things like when you make a cup of tea or coffee stirring clockwise to bring or anti-clockwise to remove or place your hands over the mug and think of your desire request it be grateful for what you have say some words - this is very similar to blessing!  Some people do this with the water they bath in to bring positivity by day and wash away negativity by night.  Perhaps try holding your hands over the water and asking for the negative energies of your day to be washed away.  Perhaps try adding sea salt for purification (or any salt, even Epsom salt) perhaps try adding this to a bath again blessing the water and asking for the negative energies to be washed away.  Salt carries water element properties as well as purification properties; Epsom salt is also really good for physical body relaxation and healing!!  (If you’re like me you can’t get in a bath..  make your own shower salt scrub perhaps use oils or herbs and put your intentions into the scrub for its purpose to aid purify you and remove negative energies!!) you could also add herbs or essential oils that have the properties you desire. 

You could also try some more traditional witchy tips like..

• Hanging a besom (broom) above your door to ward away evil.
• Burying iron coffin nails under your porch steps to keep your property from harm.. 
  - Iron is known for warding off evil entities and energies. So by simply having them around can protect you..  I know people who also wear them in jewellery during ritual.  Coffin nails can also be used in curses and more “bad / dark” magick workings so be careful how you use them.
• The use of Salt placing it on your window sills, or any entry way to your home, gives protection so spirits and entities cannot cross over - unless invited by you (this is why circles are often cast with a ring of salt protection).  – This is also a good one for keeping out slugs, a few other creepy crawlies and is great against damp and mould!
• Add a bell or chime over your main entrance door so when it rings it will scare evil spirits away and keep them from entering your home.  Bells also clear vibrations and a lot of people use them to start and end rituals and workings especially those where you’re calling upon a spirit.
• Witches ball - take a clear ball (typically glass but plastic will work) and put in various ingredients to make a protective witches ball, inc some string inside and hang it in your window so spirits will be attracted to the shiny object but get tangled in the strings and not able to enter your home.  Alternatively a bright colourful ball will attract and entrap or act like a scarecrow.
• Dreamcatchers hang one in your bedroom window by night it catches all the negative energies inc negative and bad dreams and then when the sun rises in the morning it kills anything caught in the dreamcatchers web.  – I’m actually very into dream catchers.  Their history with the spider lady and her children origin is a little creepy but one I enjoy.
• Hang a hideous looking witch or more traditional looking witch (kitchen witch) in your kitchen / kitchen window to ward away negative energies and show that this home (kitchen being the heart of the home) is protected. 
• Create a witches ladder of protection and hang it above your altar. 
• Use smudge sticks of sage and smudge your home to clear away negativity alternative you can create an essential oil and water blend in a spray bottle if you're not allowed to set fire to herbs in your home.  You can also include sage essential oil in your homemade cleaning recipes. - As seen here http://cleanmyspace.com/5-awesome-homemade-cleaners/ use these natural cleaners with essential oils.  Note.  Be mindful of what essential oils you use as some are not safe for pets, some are not safe for various furnitures and some may react with the products and create unpleasant smells.

There are many many many simple things you can do which will have great effect.  You do however need to remember a few things first of all even if you don’t believe in the threefold law (everything you do good or bad comes back on you three times more) or Karma still only do things with the right and true intentions.  Be careful what you do, it’s similar to be careful what you wish for and as Rumpelstiltskin says “all magic comes with a price, dearie!”

So where do we find such spells, rituals, workings etc..?  Well there’s so many books out there and so many websites (though be careful with websites!) and they’re so so so easy to write yourself – it doesn’t have to rhyme, it doesn’t have to be long, it doesn’t have to be complicated.  A good rule would be not to ask someone for a spell, ritual or working.  Often people put themselves into it making it personal and asking is offensive, and shows how lazy you are!!  It doesn’t paint you in a good light especially if you’re trying to claim you’ve been a Witch/Pagan for more than a week!  Plus stealing other peoples work..  copying other peoples work..  and it may not always work!!  But I would advise books..  One book I like particular is The Elemental Encyclopaedia of 20,000 Spells (or the cheaper version 5,000 Spells but if you have the 20,000 don’t get the 5,000 it already has them!).  Which I like to take the spells write them down and then adapt them and add too and change and make them my own and make them personal sometimes it will be a one off thing I do.  Others I’ll write the recipe down in my working book and then if it works I’ll copy it to my Book of Shadows which over time may be added, changed and recreated many times over.  YouTube is also a great resource with YouTubers such as Molly Roberts -HerSpeak, Kelly-Ann Maddox, Adam Balan, Joey Morris, TipToeChick, Tarot Tribe Beyond Worlds, LadyGraveDancer, Earthly Alchemy, Raven Flower, Owlvine Green, Joanna DeVoe, DragonFeather369, Amethyst, Erick Silvermoon and CircleofHeka just to name a few..  Love Simple banishing spell with 3 limes by YouTuber CircleofHeka

Activity..

• Research more Protection, Repel, Banish workings / spells / rituals.  
• (Optional) Write one.. 
• (Optional) Practice one.. 

Book Activity..

• (Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.

Interact with me Activity..

• (Optional) Feel free to share your experience with the group and/or 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.15 - Amulets, Talismans & Charms

WW. Food for thought - Feed your familiar(s)..!

Do you feed your familiar(s) after you finish your magickal/spiritual working?

Earlier I was talking to a friend about how once I've finished my magickal/spiritual working one of the things I like to do is grounding by getting something to eat...  And I also feed my familiar/cats (I have two cats but only one is a familiar).  My friend found this to be a wonderful concept as apparently it's not something you hear of!  Yet why wouldn't you?  It really does make sense!  - So I thought I'd touch base on that here in a blog.

So extremely briefly a familiar is often a pet/animal that chooses you, typically this pet/animal will lend you its energies to aid you  in your workings among other things.  - Please feel free to go read up about familiars.. The return here to continue reading!

For me, as said, I have two cats but only one of them is a familiar.  How do I know?  - I have one cat that doesn't want to be touched, spoke to, loved, stroked, played with or does much of anything except sleep, eat and toilet.  And I have another which is absolutely into everything, needs to constantly be on, near or with me; especially when I'm being creative or doing something magickal..  Often when I'm doing a ritual, study, divination, or other working he will be sat on/near me watching intently or sleeping/medatating..  He is also very in tune with my emotions and indeed has literally saved my life but that's another story, probably not for here!

So my point..  Once you finish your working.. And you've used up your energies.. Your familiars energies.. And you go get a snack..  Feel free to go look up more on why you would do that and how it helps to ground and restore some of those energies..  Take into consideration why it's a good idea to get a snack for your familiar too!! 

- For me I get these cat treats here in the UK called Crispies by the brand Felix.  They're salmon and trout flavoured, which my cats love!!  Plus these treats are extra magickal (in my opinion) as they come in moon and stars shapes!!  How magickal right?

Anyways.. Just some quick.. Er..  Food for thought...... 😂 Pun not intended but.. Lol! Hehe!! 

Imogen xo

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September Workings Under A New Moon.

20th New Moon Wishes
21st Mabon Blessings
22nd Autumn Greetings

Thought I would share some pictures from the workings I did under the new moon including my homemade Autumn greeting, blessing and wishes incense.  - Which I burned on a charcoal disc (on sand) in my firepit skull.  - Thanks to the wonderful Michelle for hosting an in The Shadows Dark Goddess Event I joined in with.  Feeling a definite seasonal and moon change.

I also did some truth working, thank you Derrie for your assistance and help with both your absolute amazing intuitive card reading and also your help and advice with this working resource as well as the internet..  From it I handmade this white silk pouch with bells on.  I also purchased this Lapis Lazuli (truth stone) pendant which I created the bezel and fashioned this Truth Pendulum hoping the tree of life will provide grounding.  - For this working I also purchased some command and control oil.

I also wanted to  give you 3 budget witchy tips for again making none magickal items a part of your practice.

1. Paper.

Years ago, back when I smoked, I found myself in need of paper to write down something to burn.  Rooting through the small bag I had with me I found no tissue, receipts, bus tickets or shopping lists!  No!  But..  I did have some cigarette rolling papers..  easy to write on with most pens and designed to burn.  From that day forth I tend to use these when I want to write something to burn.

2.  Small Candle Holders.

A few months ago I wrote a blog about using birthday candles or wish candles as I call them.  A long trial and error process and I found perfect candle holders.  Miniature brass candle holders tend to work perfectly.   - I have a collection of miniature candle sticks in brass..  I got mine on ebay but I am positive antique places, second hand shops, carboot/yard sale/garage sale etc..  Not too hard to find not too extensive either.  Plus if the candle is too small I wrap it in (tin/aluminium) foil..  Alternative you can stick it in container of soil/sand/ash/salt optional to use the lil plastic things or stick the candles straight in.  (Also lil glass bottles weighted with sand (or spell contents) make for good spell candle holders).

     

3. Personalised Lighter.

Personalising a lighter isn't hugely expensive - a new age Wiccan phrase I use to use a lot  (which is possibly overused) "Love and Light" basically a blessings or intention to say this act / working / spell / sentiment / wish / ritual / prayer etc has been/is done with pure good intention.  'Light' is often pictured as a pure bright light of protection sometimes envisioned as a flame or a candle flame may be used as a physical symbol or meditation tool etc.  So by blessings this lighter which I only use for magical working / use it has that intention value of Love and Light.

I hope this has been helpful / inspirational and given you some food for thought.

Imogen xo