life-in-the-garden
there's magic everywhere
blog for an amateur witch
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3 card spread for 10 USD!
decks to choose from:
Oak, Ash & Thorn by Three Trees Tarot
Cosmic Slumber Tarot by Tillie Walden
Crow Tarot by M J Cullinane
question rules in this post
contact methods:
email me (preferred)
send a message/ask to this tumblr blog
send a DM to Haven1927 on Discord
Hey everyone! I'm pretty strapped for cash at the moment, and would love to do some readings for y'all. I'm a trustworthy, thorough, and compassionate tarot reader, as @jasper-pagan-witch and @crimsonsongbird can attest. Please consider sending me a request if you need insight from the cards!
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Pillars of Hellenismos
Row of columns in Ancient Messene, Greece. Photo by: Peulle, 2017 via WIkimedia Commons (X). License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The “Pillars of Hellenismos” never really existed.
And by that, I mean the ancient Greeks weren’t taught something called the “Pillars” of their religion. Their religion had no name, and religious practices were embedded in their culture. People learned about religion and correct behavior from their family and friends, and through participation in worship from a young age. What we know as the “Pillars of Hellenismos” were taught through modeled religious and ethical behavior.
Our modern “Pillars of Hellenismos” originated and are drawn from the virtues taught in ancient Greek philosophy, especially that of Plato and Aristotle. The virtues differ somewhat from list to list, because the various philosophers emphasized different virtues in their works, but the lists generally overlap.
Although much in the way of religious ritual has been lost, quite a bit of ancient philosophy was saved and adopted by Christians, so we are able to identify and reconstruct the ethical and moral values of ancient Hellenic religion. These virtues are what have become known as the “Pillars of Hellenismos”.
Everyone ends up with their own list of “Pillars”; these are mine:
Kharis - giving without expectation of return, and gratitude for benevolence received
Eusebia - reverence and duty toward the Gods
Arete - striving to live to one’s fullest potential
Hagneia - spiritual and ritual purity
Sophia - the pursuit of wisdom and understanding
Sophrosune - self-control
Xenia - hospitality, generosity and courtesy
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There are actually a lot of rules to magic.
Like yes, there's no rules, but if your takeaway from that is that there's literally no rules, then I think you missed the larger conversation about the specific ways in which there are no rules.
What "there's no rules" means is that there is not one universal set of rules that applies to every practitioner.
It means that nobody gets to act as an authority on what the rules are for other people.
It means that if you show up on somebody else's post saying "the first rule of witchcraft is that you must only use magic for good" you will probably (and deservedly) be told to fuck off.
What "there's no rules" does NOT mean is that there are literally no rules. There are SO many rules. People just work within their own set of rules.
Some rules come with the territory of working within a specific tradition.
Some rules are set by entities that practitioners work with, and might be quite specific to each individual.
Some rules are like laws of physics. They define the mechanisms by which magic works within a paradigm, and what the limits are on what it can do. A magical practice consisting of "I can do literally anything," is typically a practice that hasn't had a lot of genuine thought put into it. I have yet to meet anybody who can literally turn invisible or fly.
Some rules are more like a personal code of ethics.
So, when you burst into someone else's post to announce that there are no rules, you might not be told to fuck off quite as quickly as if you turned up to impose your personal rules on other people, but you are essentially signaling that you do not understand the concept of rules within a magical practice.
Disclaimer: some people are going to be obnoxious and make their own posts about how everyone else should be following their rules, and while it might be tempting to correct them, in my experience these people tend to get 0 notes, and you're more likely to give them the exposure they desire by starting a flame war. When they find that followers don't come flocking to them, they eventually get bored and give up.
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Jar Spell: Spirit's Freedom
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is a 2002 animated movie about a young mustang stallion in 19th century western America. After growing up as a wild horse, he is captured by white soldiers of the United States Cavalry and “broken” to bear a saddle and rider before making his escape with a Lakota youth named Little Creek. He bears witness to the abuse that horses suffer as a great railroad is being built, and finally runs free again with his herd after falling in love with a mare named Rain. This jar spell channels Spirit’s yearning for freedom from oppression, abuse, and confinement, and is ideal for anyone seeking emotional help with breaking free from an abusive home, job, or relationship. (Please see the “Notes” section at the end for mundane resources related to escaping abusive situations).
You will absolutely need:
a small vessel with a lid (a pill bottle or spice shaker works just fine)
sealing wax (ideally blue or white) or liquid glue
Once you have your vessel, add some ingredients related to wild horses running free and/or your conception of what freedom means. Some suggested ingredients that you may or may not include depending on your preferences are:
a clipping of hair from a horse’s mane or tail
a feather from a wild bird (for flight and freedom)
1-3 horse-themed bracelet charms but NOT horseshoe charms (horseshoes symbolize being tamed)
sea salt (for the wildness of the ocean)
dried flower heads from flowering weeds (for defiance)
peppercorns and/or ground black/red pepper (for defiance)
Directions:
Cleanse your vessel if it is repurposed or you feel a need to cleanse it, then add your ingredients but do not seal it just yet. In a quiet, private place and with your filled vessel nearby, ponder the nature of your confinement and the liberation you hope to achieve. Ruminate on the steps you will need to take in order to gain your freedom—this could be searching for a new job, locating a place of sanctuary in which to take refuge, reaching out to a friend or loved one for assistance, and much more. Use this time to emotionally fortify yourself.
When you are ready, use the wax or liquid glue to seal the vessel. This seals your intention of escape and liberation from whatever circumstances confine you. If you keep faith to a spirit or deity you wish to call upon for assistance in your endeavor, you may do so at this point. Keep your sealed vessel in a safe place until you have made your escape.
When you have taken flight and made your escape, break the seal and scatter the organic ingredients in a wild, free place. If using inorganic ingredients such as metal or plastic bracelet charms, it is ideal to thank, cleanse, and save the charms for another use.
Notes:
Magic can be a useful tool, but it doesn’t work all on its own. If you make no effort to get yourself out of a quagmire, then of course this spell (and any other) is going to fail. That said, you are not alone in your struggles. Please feel free to use any of the resources below that are applicable to your circumstances.
The United States’ national domestic violence hotline is 800-799-7233. You can also connect to help via SMS by messaging the word START to 88788. Their website is here.
In all 50 states of the USA, as well as in Washington DC and Puerto Rico, you can dial 211 to be connected to a social worker. Please note that calling 211 doesn’t need to be used solely for discussing the escape of an abusive situation; you can also dial this number for general healthcare and mental health resources that are local to your area. You can learn more here.
The United Kingdom’s national domestic violence hotline is 0808-2000-247. There is also an online chat that can be accessed here.
#witchcraft#spell jar#spell bottle#magic#pop culture witchcraft#pop culture magic#spirit stallion of the cimarron#horse#haven's original spells#equine#witchblr
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Jar Spell: "Stay Off My Turf!"
This jar spell is a ward that will protect your residence, vehicle, or any other physical location/object. It’s a type of aggressive defense that might entail something nasty happening to any would-be intruder or curse-maker, so you should be okay with any ill-wishing intruder getting their comeuppance for attempting to break the ward, as opposed to just being scared off. This spell is for marking your territory and promising harm to anyone who dares step over the line; this is baneful magic.
This spell can potentially involve bodily fluids (not blood) + animal products, but neither of these elements are required. It definitely involves destruction of the jar (glass is preferred for its tendency to shatter under blunt force trauma; safety measures will be discussed further on).
With all of that in mind, let’s get on with the spell!
You will absolutely need:
1 small-ish vessel with a lid, preferably glass
sealing wax (preferably red) or liquid glue
a tool with which to break the vessel, such as a hammer, large wrench, or other heavy object.
A durable bag in which to encase the vessel prior to breaking
For your medley of potential ingredients to go inside the vessel, you will want things that are aggressive, fiery, and martial. You want ingredients that do the symbolic equivalent of spitting in an intruder’s eye and kicking them while they’re down to ensure they stay down. Things that align with the planet Mars, and/or are affiliated with warrior deities whom you work with, and/or are connected to territorial animal spirits whom you feel connected to… they will also do well in this capacity.
Some ingredient suggestions are:
the spiciest pepper you can find, chopped but not seeded
a large helping of cinnamon
red pepper flakes
very hot chili oil
rusty nails and/or fishhooks
iron filings
a small quantity of urine (human or otherwise)
a braided black and white cord/ribbon to represent a skunk
a drawing of a moose’s rack of antlers
a tooth from a carnivorous animal
a sigil involving the symbol or name of a warrior deity/spirit
Directions:
Once your ingredients are assembled and in the jar, put the lid on seal it with the red wax and/or glue. Carve an X onto the wax/glue on the lid and put the entire vessel into a durable bag. Seal the bag, then say something to the effect of, “Fuck off, you bad vibes bastards!”
Once that is done, smash the jar using your smashing tool. (The bag ensures that glass shards don’t go everywhere and from there present a safety hazard). Your ward is now set. Dispose of the bag and its contents without opening the bag (to avoid contact with glass shards).
#haven's original spells#jar spell#spell jar#baneful magic#witchcraft#magic#baneful witch#witch bottle#warding#protection magic#spell bottle
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spellcasting isn't like academia it's like writing. spellcasting is about saying "you know what would be really fucked up?" and then making it happen anyway. because you can.
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Magic sword consisting of an iron rod covered with coins arranged in the form of a sword, and bindings of red cord, and hung above a bridal bed to scare away evil spirits: China.
National Museums Scotland
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Roman magical nails
3rd-4th century CE
British Museum
London, July 2022
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a silly new zine!
This isn't my usual witchcraft-related content, but I made a "just for fun" digital zine parodying the Victorian language of flowers! It's free to download, so please check it out! I hope it makes you smile today.
There's also a donation option that I sincerely hope you take advantage of, since I'm still very low on cash to afford veterinary services for my cat (whose chronic diarrhea has returned in spite of a course of medication), but it's not a requirement.
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windvexer's spellcrafting and spellcasting checklist
These are the sorts of things I think about when I work the style of magic that I work. This stuff is based off of my beliefs which might include UPG and is therefore definitely not applicable to everyone. Take what you want and discard the rest.
I do not rigidly follow this checklist. These are just the kinds of things I think about and consider when planning and executing spells. For small, simple spells, I ignore almost all of these factors. For serious and large spells I may consider many more of them.
Spellcrafting
Intent
Do I know exactly what I want to occur?
Have I thought through a few obvious logical consequences of my intended goal?
Have I performed divination on the outcome of this intent?
Am I sure that what I'm asking for is the same thing as what I want? (e.g. do I really want more people talk to me or is my true desire make more friends?)
Do I need to crystalize my intent into one specific phrase, or is it okay for me to leave it casual or even improvise?
Expectations
How soon is it rationally possible for my spell to manifest?
Do I expect the spell to manifest very rapidly? If so, what components or spellcasting style am I going to use to encourage rapid manifestation?
Do I expect the spell to work "just okay," or to be very powerful? If I want it to be very powerful, what extra steps am I going to take to fill the spell with power?
If the spell does exactly as my intent dictates, what is the most likely outcome?
Responsibilities
Am I bound to any gods or spirits that would frown upon what I want to undertake with this spell?
Have I taken any vows or oaths that would conflict with my goals?
Does casting this spell intent conflict with personal goals I've set for myself?
If casting for others, is this truly a situation I want to involve myself in?
If casting for myself, is this spell in my own best interest?
Is there any chance I am casting this spell to side-step self care, responsibilities, or personal healing? (I don't mean don't cast a self-love spell if you actually need therapy! Cast that spell every gosh darn day if you please. I literally mean, are you using magic as an avoidance tactic, when the reality is you really really just need to eat a sandwich and do your homework?)
Design
Have I chosen a style of spellcasting which matches my intent? (e.g., if I want to banish, have I chosen a spellcasting style that includes sending away actions such as burning a paper or throwing away a rock?)
Can I be creative with what I have to avoid delaying this spell? (e.g. I usually use candles as a beacon to draw things in, but when I think about it, a candle burning down would also be a good sending away action for a banishment).
If I have already heavily cast in the past, do I have any ongoing spells (such as wards) which would interfere with the work I want to do now?
Do I want to include a physical indicator that the spell manifested or stopped working? (Such as tying a thread around your wrist that breaks when the spell stops working)
Physical Components
What physical object will be used to anchor this spell? I believe that manifesting in physical reality is much easier if you tie magic to a physical object.
Do I know how the physical objects I'm using are linked to the design of the spell? (e.g., I want to banish, so I choose to use a candle for a dwindling away effect.)
Do I have a safe and practical plan for storing or disposing leftover physical objects from the spellcasting?
How can I make storage or disposal of leftover objects a part of the spell? (e.g. I take the leftover melted wax from the banishment candle and walk to the dumpster down the street, completing the spell as I throw away the last bits of their presence in my life in the garbage).
Am I intending to invoke gods, spirits, or entities in this spell? If so, do I need physical components to represent them within the casting space, or within the spell itself?
If I am intending to invoke gods, spirits, or entities in this spell, and I need physical components to represent them, is it a good idea to save and re-use these components? Do I need to make disposable representations, or can I use permanent devotional objects?
What physical components have I gathered which are unnecessary?
Does each component that I've chosen have a specific job in this spell?
Does each component and their jobs fully align with my chosen intent and spell style?
If not every component and their jobs align with my intent or method of casting, do I need to re-examine my intent and rework the foundations of this spell?
Do I need to modify or prepare any physical components? If so, do I need to do any of this ahead of time?
Energy and Power
How much power do I believe it will take to successfully perform this spell? If the energy requirement is large, do I need to break this operation up into smaller parts and cast multiple small spells?
Will it be necessary for me to craft a physical spell vessel ahead of time so I can slowly charge it until it has enough power?
How do I intend to power this spell? (for me, I power it with my own energy, or call on external forces)
If I will use my own energy, do I have enough personal power reserves to successfully cast this spell? Or, will it burn me out, even on a day when I'm well-rested?
If I will use an external energy, how do I plan to raise or call this energy into my casting space?
How do I plan to combine power with my spell components? (sometimes this is inherent in spell style; if doing knot magic, the power is held within the knots. At other times, it must be thought through - if I draw a symbol on a rock, maybe my power will be consumed by the spell at the singular point where I draw the symbol on the rock. Or, maybe I'd like to charge the symbol ahead of time.)
If I'm using many physical components, do I need to individually charge each one?
Do my chosen energy sources align with my spell needs? (e.g. if I require very rapid manifestation, have I ensured that I am using airy, fiery, mercurial, swift, or rapid energies? Or, have I accidentally used lots of heavy, slow, earthen, saturnine, creeping energies?)
Spirits, Gods, and Entities
If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, how is my relationship with that power? Do I need to visit them ahead of time and make sure we're on good terms before I call on them?
If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, do I need to plan a formal invitation or petition?
If asking spirits, gods, or entities for help, do I need to repay them? If so, what do I need to collect or prepare for this purpose?
Aftermath and Upkeep
Is this a one-shot or continuous spell? Will I be maintaining and watching over the spell after it is cast, or will I let it go do its thing?
If it's an ongoing spell that will require upkeep, have I chosen a physical vessel that's practical to be worked with over a long period of time?
Will I need to make notes about this spell so I can remember what the vessel is in a few weeks or months?
How often will I need to recharge or maintain this spell?
If something went wrong, how would I undo this spell?
Spellcasting
Preparation
Have I gathered everything I need into one place?
If I forget something, is it okay for me to walk away from the spell to go get it, or is it really important I don't leave casting space until the spell is complete?
Is there anything special I need to do to prepare my casting space?
Do I need to take notes or write anything down so I don't forget it once the spell starts?
If I'm going to do a fancy ritual, do I need to write or print the ritual steps ahead of time?
If I've chosen to perform my spell at a special time, how much earlier do I need to prepare my casting space so that I can begin working within the correct time?
Pre-Casting Self Check
Do I feel safe and comfortable casting this spell?
Do I have enough personal energy to cast a spell right now? (even when conjuring external energies, you always use some of your own energy to cast spells)
If there is a risk that I will be drained, do I have anything important to do today or tomorrow that would be bad to miss or under-perform on?
Do I have enough free time today to have extra rest after spellcasting?
Do I have enough extra food to help restore me after spellcasting? (especially carbs, by the way)
Are there any tasks or activities I should do before I cast this spell, in case it is more draining than I expected?
Will I have enough energy to clean up my spellcasting space once I'm done? This includes properly disposing of or storing any spellcasting remnants or vessels.
Do I want to pray and ask for aid before I begin the spellcasting process?
Do I have any last-minute gut feelings about casting this spell? Is there a negative or worrying emotion that has been with me through this entire process that I've tried to ignore?
Do I want to exert my will upon the world?
After Care
How do I feel? (Including the physical, emotional, and mental)
Did I properly pay any spirits, gods, or entities involved in my spellwork?
Did I properly close down the spellcasting space (if applicable)?
If the working took place in my resting area, does my resting area feel comfortable? Is there anything I need to do, such as opening the window or playing music, to help my space return to normal?
Do I need a snack?
Do I need to perform a restful, low-energy activity for a little while?
Would it feel nice if I went and talked to people, or would I prefer to be alone?
Did I have any special insights during spellcasting that I want to write down before I forget?
Reflection
Did the spell go how I imagined it would?
Was I able to feel power being raised?
Did I end up feeling drained or buzzed after spellcasting? (note that you're not always bound to feel either, but it's worth noting as they're decent indicators that "something happened")
Did I ever feel a moment where I was still working over my physical components, but realized that they felt complete and the magic was ready?
If I called on spirits, gods, or entities, did I feel their presence? Did it seem like they had thoughts or feelings about the spell?
If I cast a spell like this again, what would I change? What would I keep the same?
Did I feel good about my disposal or storage methods for physical components?
Do I want to perform divination on how the spellcasting went?
Did I over or under-estimate how much energy the spell would require?
Did I like the style of spellcasting? Do I want to explore more spells of this style, or try a different type?
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I don't really think that anyone following this blog needs to read this, but I'm sure someone in your life might.
The "snakes" weren't Druids, you are not the "granddaughters of the witches they couldn't burn" (they weren't witches), and Christian didn't "steal" from pagans because syncretism is an actual thing that happens over time. A little historical research from actual academic sources, not speculative wishcasting by outraged pagans would do a lot of good in those spaces.
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Questions to ask your tarot cards:
What is a message my guides want me to hear?
What is something I need to face about myself?
What should I focus on this day/week/month/year?
What is something I can do to improve my life?
What can I do to better my chances at achieving my goal of _____?
What is the next step I need to take in order to achieve _____?
What can I do to become happier/more fulfilled in my life?
Is there someone I need to apologize to?
Is there someone I need to talk to?
Have I finished all my business with ____?
How can I move on from _____?
How can I improve my relationship with _____?
What do I need to be reminded of?
What is a lesson the universe wants me to learn?
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3 card spread for 10 USD!
decks to choose from:
Oak, Ash & Thorn by Three Trees Tarot
Cosmic Slumber Tarot by Tillie Walden
Crow Tarot by M J Cullinane
question rules in this post
contact methods:
email me (preferred)
send a message/ask to this tumblr blog
send a DM to Haven1927 on Discord
Hey everyone! I'm pretty strapped for cash at the moment, and would love to do some readings for y'all. I'm a trustworthy, thorough, and compassionate tarot reader, as @jasper-pagan-witch and @crimsonsongbird can attest. Please consider sending me a request if you need insight from the cards!
#paid divination services#witchcraft#witchblr#magic#tarot#tarot reading#divination#tarot reader#tarotblr
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Haven's Divination Guidelines
RULES
I will not accept yes/no questions for cartomancy, oracle, or tarot readings. Examples of yes/no questions:
“Does this person like me?”
“Will I get that new job?”
I will not accept time-related questions. Examples of time-related questions:
“When will I die?”
“How long until I meet my future spouse?”
I will not accept questions about sexual activities.
I will not accept questions about soulmates or “twin flames.”
I will not dispense medical or legal advice. Although I am happy to offer compassionate listening, I am not a professional in any medical or legal field and am not qualified to help you. Examples of unacceptable questions:
“How do I deal with my chronic fatigue symptoms?”
“Why am I being harassed at my workplace/school?”
I will accept certain questions about death, but I will not tell you about the afterlife or the manner/time of your death or anyone else’s. Examples of acceptable death-related questions:
“How do I cope with grieving for a deceased pet/person?”
“How do I comfort someone else who is grieving?”
“How do I prepare myself for the upcoming death of an elderly/sick person/pet in my life?”
REQUIREMENTS
I need your name or nickname (a deadname will not work) and your pronouns. If you ask about another person for your reading, I need their name/nickname and pronouns as well.
If you do not or cannot provide pronouns for yourself and/or another person involved in your reading, I will default to they/them pronouns.
If you have background information about your question, it would be helpful to tell me that.
My pronouns are they/she. If you misgender me, I will not perform the reading.
Please do not make extremely time-sensitive reading requests; I am an adult with a day job and cannot guarantee that I will get back to you within 12 hours of you sending your request.
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Magical correspondences are only valid within a magic belief structure and have little-to-no validity outside of that structure.
There may be reasons why an herb corresponds to xyz in some belief systems, but that doesn't mean that the herb has those abilities within chemistry and/or medicine.
Don't fucking consume an herb based only on it's magical correspondence.
Do not consume an herb without doing the proper research into interactions, contraindications, side-effects, preparation, and dosage.
Don't start taking herbal medicine without consulting your physician first.
"Witch" and "herbalist" are not synonyms.
"Herbalist" and "doctor" are not synonyms.
"Natural" does not mean "harmless".
Mundane > Magical, always, no exceptions.
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I've spent a few years on the "stirring intent into your [beverage] isn't necessary or even that great of a way to formulate a daily practice" train and now I've wrapped 100% back around to that it's actually pretty decent and more people should take it seriously.
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