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#beginner hellenic
seasaltandwisdom · 4 months
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i praise you lady athena,
leader of battles, sprung from the head of zeus,
i say this prayer out of devotion and love for you.
i say thanks for all the wisdom you bring us,
i don't ask for anything besides for you to be with me.
it will be, as you allow it, i believe in your guidance.
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ts-witchy-archive · 7 months
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Witchy Self-Care
*pulls out draft from over a year ago* ENJOY
Hi! this is a list of witchy self-care things you can do. Most of these are pretty basic on account that i wrote this ages ago but they definitely still work. Anyways, I hope these help :)
Do the dishes and dedicate it to your house spirit (if you have one) or a deity (if you're religious)
sweep/mop your floor in the shape of sigils
add rosemary (or rosemary water/essential oils) to the water you mop with to set an intention of cleansing
taking ritual a bath/shower
cleansing your energy. it's so basic but I forget more than i'd like to admit
dedicating time to yourself. it's just as important as dedicating time to your deities/other spirits
light shadow work or going to therapy. bettering your mental health also betters your spiritual.
go outside and ground yourself
take a nap (less witchy, more, I love naps. rest is important)
work out/stretch and dedicate it to an entity
do some gratitude
take 5 minutes to just sit and turn off your devices. you can use this time for anything, just take a second to get off screens and connect with the world around you
meditate. if you can't sit still long enough to meditate, just focus on taking 3 deep breathes
when you wash your face, draw sigils on your face with the cleanser and moisturiser
^do the same as above but with your body wash and when you wash your hair
say some affirmations/manifestations while brushing your teeth
just check in with yourself and see how you're feeling spiritually, psychically and emotionally. sometimes we don't actually know how we're feeling until we sit down and actually ask ourselves.
If anyone has any more to add please comment. I'll add them to the list (with credit of course)
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visiodeii · 25 days
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I always imagine Apollo’s temples with open ceilings so the sun may shine on his devotees
There is music being played in the front, some of us are dancing
People are drawing with chalk on the ground with flowers in their hair, laughing and singing
a safe space, where we can bask in his glory
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Advice for beginner Hellenists
This isn't necessarily a post where I include a list of Gods, epithets, resources, and offerings for said Gods, but rather, hopefully soothing the worries of those of us who are starting the journey into the religion. As someone who was once in a religion that made other religions sound like something absolutely terrifying, my journey into Hellenism was once which was also... pretty terrifying, and this fear was mostly just from my own mind.
Anyways, my list of Advice:
You can literally just start praying. If you want to get more formal, you can absolutely get more formal, but you very much don't have to. I've definitely had my first prayers to some Gods be "hello, [God or Goddess's name], I want to worship You! Please lead me in my journey. Thanks!" I can promise you, the Gods are much kinder and more understanding than any of us fully know.
You can also just start worshiping in general. I feel like I've seen on occasion people worried about the Gods not "calling" to them. This is definitely not something that needs to happen pre-worship. If you find them interesting enough to pray to, then that in and of itself is enough.
In a similar vein, I wouldn't be too concerned about the idea of "signs". I feel like there's a tendency for folks to be incredibly worried about everything when first starting out - the behavior of a candle, the sighting of an animal, a strange dream, all can suddenly seem to take on jarring significance. But I can promise you, the Gods don't constantly give out signs, and frequently, these strange occurrences can be attributed to the mundane. When something comes from the Gods, you will know, trust me!
You don't have to worry too much about the idea of cleanliness, be it spiritual or physical. Khernips are cool, and I'd definitely recommend integrating them into your practice sooner or later. Hygiene is cool too! But if I'm being honest, we in the modern day are far more physically clean, and a lot less likely to regularly encounter the type of pollution that would have been encountered in ancient Greece.
The Gods will be at varying distances over the course of your worship. Sometimes, They will feel close, joyfully, burningly so. And sometimes, They will feel far, and prayers may even feel a bit futile. Both of those are perfectly okay, and neither of those will be permanent.
And, once again in a similar vein, you will likely not find yourself having constant, close mystical experiences with the Gods (i.e., conversations, visions, etc.). These experiences are rare and far between, and I would advise that you not make them a central part of your worship. They will come when the Gods deem you're ready for them, and you definitely won't be expecting it. Focus on the little things!
My final thing (for now) is that you also shouldn't put undue pressure on yourself to be doing some sort of big offering to the Gods. If that's what you can afford, that's great! But if not, fresh water, a small wildflower that you came across and picked*, or a small bit of a meal also count as a good offering!
And with that, my (much longer than I was previously planning on) list of things for beginners to keep in mind! A lot of this list is made up of things which I picked up along the way, and a lot of it is also made from my own personal hindsight being 20/20. I hope this is helpful to someone, and that it maybe soothes some of the (incredibly common) worries which so often accompany those who are venturing into the world of Hellenic polytheism!
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thegodwhocums · 4 months
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here's a tip about working with Dionysos that nobody asked for
invoke him using epithets, and be specific
like maybe don't call on Zagreus the Hunter to bless your grapevine - consider Korymbophoros the Cluster-Laden
I generally wouldn't call on Chthonios of the Underworld to bless your theatrical production - Dithyrambos the Hymned is a more appropriate option
Meilichios the Gentle might not be the best aspect to call on before attending a protest with heavy police presence - for that, consider Lyseus the Liberator
does this make sense? call on him using epithets! always always use epithets if you can manage it, be specific about what aspect you want to talk to - he is Polynomos and Polymorphos, Many-Named and Multiply-Born for a reason
there are exceptions, obviously, where you could get really specific about why for example Chthonios IS the best aspect to bless your musical (maybe you're doing Hadestown?) but put some thought into it
try and match the epithets to what it is you're trying to accomplish or honor, rather than choosing them at random or based on how they sound sonically or how badass they seem
that's it, that's the tip
easy, simple, effective
have fun
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onlyfairyever · 2 months
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the devotional necklace i made for aphrodite 💗
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divine-crows · 11 days
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10 Ways to End a Prayer Aside from Saying Amen
Note: these are just ideas based on something I struggled with when I was a newbie pagan. I by no means am saying you can't use the word "amen", I'm just trying to help those who may not want to! If something works-- then it works!
Being raised in a very hard-core Christian household I was always taught to end my prayers with the phrase "Amen", but when I realized the faith didn't really fit me... I found that using that phrase didn't really fit me either! So, what could you say in place of it? Here are some ideas! Some I came up with, some I scoured the internet to find!
"THE END"
I have two younger siblings and they both used to say 'the end' all of the time because they thought when we said 'amen' we were actually saying that. It's very direct, but I suppose it works!
"AS IT IS REQUIRED" / "AS YOU REQUIRE"
I also use this phrasing in place of "so mote it be" when I do spellwork, not because it's a bad phrase, but mainly because I'm the type of person who has to vibe with the words I utilize. (I'm sorry I'm insufferable lol). I've used it at the end of prayers and it's nice and to the point without being too crass sounding.
"AND SO IT IS"
This one always reminds me of manifestation. Kind of a "I will obtain xyz" mindset. Sometimes I use it if I'm praying for help when I'm working towards a goal.
" DONE "
The first couple of times I tried praying without using the word "amen" I got lost on what to say, so I very awkwardly just said done and went about my day. It might work for you, but it definitely felt weird for me!
"AND SO IT IS, AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE"
I've used this phrase quite a bit and I currently like it a lot. I mainly use it when I'm doing prayers to show my admiration for my deities, or when I'm doing prayers for special occasions. I came up with it while writing some poems this Beltane and it kinda just stuck!
" LET IT BE SO " / "SO BE IT" / "VERILY" / "TRULY"
According to wikipedia, these are all translations of the word amen? So I suppose you could find a way to use them!
"BLESSED BE"
I'm gonna be honest, I lurked on some reddit forums for ideas and this one came up A LOT. I've only ever really thought of this phrase as being a form of "goodbye", and I didn't realize you could end a prayer with this!
"THANK YOU"
Sometimes the best way to end something is just a simple "thanks for listening".
UTILIZING ANOTHER LANGUAGE
If you feel so inclined, finding a language that suits you and your practice and looking for a similar meaning to 'amen' might be helpful to you!
POP CULTURE / LITERATURE
This may sound weird, but I saw a few people talking about using "This is the way" from the Mandelorian, and I even saw someone who recommended using "as you wish" from the princess bride! I also saw a suggestion where someone took a phrase from an Old English text and utilized it! The world is your oyster!
So there's a teeny list to get you started! As always I'd love if people would reblog with their own ideas and alternatives!
Online sources I looked at:
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Spirituality and Psychosis
Hello! I am a person who experiences hallucinations, but I also have a healthy spiritual life. This may raise the question: how do I differentiate actual signs and communication from the gods and other spiritual beings from hallucinations and delusions?
Here are a few rules I have established that may be useful for other people who struggle with this sort of thing:
~ gods do not take physical forms. they will not appear in your room or in your mirror. they also will not squeeze your hand or call your name
~ gods communicate using their specific symbols and signs (example: i notice the sun in my eyes a lot more often when apollo has something to say)
~ other than that, you should only communicate with your gods through some form of divination that you trust, whether that be tarot, dreams, throwing stones, runes, or anything else you like. be careful with scrying if you have visual hallucinations.
~ on the note of prayer, if your thoughts are sometimes so loud that you can't think properly, you may want to get a prayer journal. either a physical notebook, scraps of paper, your notes app, a google doc, or even a discord server with nobody in it. i especially like that method because it is private, you can access it anywhere on any device, you can make a channel for each deity, and you can look back on your past prayers.
~ your gods will not hurt you. they do not want to hurt or punish you. they will not leave bruises on your body or try to make you feel afraid or paranoid. if you are seeing things in the corners of your vision or feeling watched, it is not them. i recommend talking to a doctor/psychologist first, then maybe using some protection magic as an extra measure if it will make you feel more comfortable.
Thank you for reading! I hope this helped somebody!
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eclectic-misfit · 5 months
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sometimes learning about paganism and witchcraft can become incredibly tiring and occasionally even terrifying, especially when you haven't lived in a pagan and/or witchy household (but not only in those cases).
there are so many concepts to grasp, so much new information that it becomes overwhelming to see all those things that you think you should know immediately — and overall there's a lot to unpack, be it skepticism or religious trauma or anxiety or any other thing.
i'm here to tell you that it's okay. it's okay to be scared and insecure about all of this, it's okay to have doubts, it's okay to struggle.
my advice is, as simple as it might sound, break down what you'd like to know into small categories, and start focusing on only one thing (if it works for you — everyone learns in a different way!).
you're getting overwhelmed with so many notions about herbs, crystals, pantheons, witchcraft history, etc? choose one topic and start from the basics.
there are many different sources, which can be contradictory — use them all and confront them.
and remember, take it slowly. your practice is yours and it should accomodate your needs. <3
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seasaltandwisdom · 7 months
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have any hellenic polytheist tried/used a prayer journal, specifically if they’re worshipping in secret ?? is this a thing that happens lol
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diana-thyme · 1 year
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The Ultimate Deity Journal Guide
Similar to my grimoire guide, this is a guide on deity journals.
What Is A Deity Journal?
A deity journal is a journal dedicated to a deity. It’s filled with information, offerings, devotional pieces, etc. If you like journaling or can’t give other physical offerings (like food, libations, etc.), it’s one of the best offerings out there.
What Do I Use For It?
Usually deity journals are physical journals and notebooks. Binders and folders work as well. I have seen deity journals online, using things like Notion or Google Docs. Those are a little harder to format, but are great if you don’t have a notebook or aren’t a fan of physical journals.
So, What Do I Put In It?
Devotional Artwork
Devotional Playlists
Pressed/Dried Flowers or Herbs
Prayers
Devotional Poems or Stories
Myths
Recipes
Stickers
Experiences or Dreams
Photos
The Basics (Name, Epithets, Domains, Family, Associations, Holidays, Symbols, Sacred Days, Sacred Animals, Etc.)
Spells/Rituals That You Want To Or Have Done With Them
Offerings And Devotional Act Ideas
Journal Prompts
Magazine/Book Cutouts
Hymns
Shopping List (Things You Want To Buy For Them)
Fabric Scraps
Letters To Them
Divination Readings With Them
Coins Or Other Currencies
How You Celebrate (Or Plan To) Holidays Or Sacred Days With Them
UPGs
Altar Plans (Drawings Or Descriptions Of Altar Ideas)
Incense, Herb, And Oil Blends
Drops Of Wax, Wine, Etc.
Seed Packets
Blessings
Charms
Charm/Spell Bags
Travel Plans (Places You Want To Go For Your Deity)
Maps That Remind You of Them
Sigils Dedicates To Them
Superstitions Related To Them
Research On Their Birth Place
Devotional Jewelry Charging Station
Affirmations Dedicated/Influenced By Them
Small Sticks Or Branches
Book Annotations
Divination Techniques Related To Them
Relationship Goals (Better Communication, More Signs, Etc.)
Their Associated Rune/Tarot Card/Etc.
Teas And Tea Blends
Folklore/Mythology Entities Related To Them
Vision Board
Goals
Diary Entries And Rants
Taglocks
Paper/Straw/Etc. Dolls
Doodles
References/Further Reading
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ts-witchy-archive · 6 months
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Low Energy Devotional Activities and Ways to Connect with the Gods
Let's be honest, religion and consistent practice can be HARD, especially when you're chronically ill, disabled, mentally ill or neurodivergent. This is a list of lower energy practices you can do to connect with your Gods when you're having a rough day.
Pray. You don't have to say the prayer. You don't have to do the full cleansing and offering. Just think about the prayer. It could be as simple as "'Deity Name', thank you. I'm thinking of you and appreciate you."
Dedicate any self care you do to the Gods. You've got to take meds? awesome. it's now a devotional activity.
If you can, light a tea light candle. You can think about who you're dedicating it to as you're lighting it.
Tell them about your day. Have a simple conversation with them (again, this can be in your head if needed).
Offer some water! Water is a great offering if you don’t have the energy to cook, collect or buy something.
Incense is also a great offering because you can light it then forget about it and your house won’t burn down (if you follow regular safety measures). 
Resting. Your deities want you to be okay. Dedicating your rest to your deities is especially great if you feel guilty for allowing yourself time to heal.
Turn on a video of someone reading mythos! 
Put on a deity playlist. There are plenty of pre-made ones on Spotify. 
Veil or bind your hair! Whenever I’m low energy I’ll throw my hair in a ponytail and bind it that way. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. 
Make a Pinterest board for them!
Post on a digital altar! There are plenty of discord servers that have digital altars and temples. You could also make a devotional Tumblr blog. 
Change your phone lock/home screen to something that reminds you of your Deity.
I hope this is helpful to anyone who needs it! Take care of yourself first and foremost. If you don't think you can manage something on this list then thats perfectly fine too! you're not a bad person for not being able to do something spiritual or religious. Ultimately, these things are not a necessity. Don't stress :)
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lilianasgrimoire · 28 days
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Witches & Witchcraft: Types & Definitions
There is an abundance of types of witches, some being more common than others, for example, death witch or hedge witch. I have provided the different types of witches with a brief description/definition of what they study, believe and tools most commonly used for each.
The types of witchcraft is entirely up to the individual which they prefer to do. One person may only follow on type of magick whereas another may follow several. Listed are a handful of the many kinds, but I'm listing the most common/known types of magick/witchcraft that people fall into.
I have grouped some witches together as they fit together under the same or similar definitions.
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Types of Witches
Religious witches;
Christian, Satanic (Theistic), Laveyan Satanic, Hellenic, Celtic and Wiccan, etc. are witches that follow a primary belief system and incorporate their religion into the craft.
Non-Religious witches;
Secular - doesn't work with [a] deity(ies).
Science - (also a craft type), uses metaphysical and scientific fads and theories mixed together.
Other types of witches;
Solitary - works alone and is not part of a coven. Won't typically work with other witches for spell work or any part of their practice.
Eclectic - a practice that includes multiple practises from different areas. A mixture of all practices, may practise one more than another, or all equally.
Hereditary/Generational - a witch who is born into a family whom practice the craft. The term 'Blood witch' is often a hot topic of controversy as to whether it makes one a more powerful witch.
Traditional - a type that is based on honouring the traditional ways of magick, which also ties in nicely with generational/hereditary witches.
Chaotic/Chaos - a witch who utilizes new, non-traditional and unorthodox methods. It's still relatively new and highly individualistic practice while still drawing from common forms of magick.
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Types of Witchcraft/Magick
Green Witch; A witch who uses natural magick, such as creating blends of different plants, or primarily using herbs and/or crystals spells in their craft. Tools mostly consist of herbs, crystals, stones, flowers, soil or other greenery.
Hedge Witch; Also know as an astral witch, this type of magick is orientated around spiritual work such as astral projection, lucid dreaming, spirit work, healing and out-of-body magick. Tools mostly consist tarot cards, runes, pendulum, stones, crystal ball, mirrors & candles.
Dream Witch; Mindful and internal magickal practice mainly based from interpreting dreams and/or engaging in lucid dreaming. Practises used to 'de-code' symbols and messages in the dream world can be used similarly to how one would use divination techniques. Tools mostly consist of dream catchers, candles, books of glossaries of symbols.
Sea/Ocean; Derived from materials and abstract ideas involving ocean and the oceanic world. Sea or ocean magick can be worked with by using things found on or relating to a beach/lagoon. A sea witch might draw their energy from such tools. Tools commonly consist of driftwood, pebbles/stones, seashells, ocean water, bones, seaweed, candles.
Storm/Weather; magick used through combining one's energy with the weather; most commonly rain. Weather witches will collect different ingredients provided by the weather, absorb energy from storms, manipulate winnds, or perhaps predict the weather. Tools most commonly consist of rain/snow water, symbols/weather maps, crystals.
Cottage/Hearth; Magick that is weaved and worked or embedded into mundane tasks around the house or for loved ones. Cottage magick is usually worked into cleaning, hobbies or cooking. Tools commonly consist of essential oils, incense, bells, flowers, cleaning utensils, spices and herbs.
Tea Witch; Creating blends of teas for protection, remedies or even to use for tea-leaf divination. Tools commonly consist of tea, herbs, waters, spices.
Tech Witch; Use of technology in the craft, mostly based through phones or computers. Mostly used for storing of information, grimoires, spell books and Book of Shadows/diaries. Tools consist of apps on the phone, digital sigils, online blogs and pages.
Garden/Flora; Mostly (if not all) focused on herbal and botanical measures. Many garden witches have their own garden and plant flowers and herbs to draw in energy for their home and to include in rituals and spells. Tools commonly consist of flowers, soil, seeds, greenery, twigs/tree branches, leaves.
Elemental; Using all 4 (or 5) elements in an honouring or acknowledging form. A witch can choose to work with all, or singular elements. One may have a dedicated area on their alters to a particular elements. Tools consist of anything related to said element.
Faery/Fae; Magick for those who communicate with, and/or work with the Fae. Those whom work with fae may also leave offerings regularly as thanks for the assistance of a faery in their spell work. Tools commonly consist of anything sweet, sigils, offerings.
Spirit; A practice which an individual will perform spell work in conjunction with (or the help of) any manner of spirit, including Ouija, demon spirits, spiritual contact of any kind, working with ancestors. Tools commonly consist of crystals, bells, incense, Ouija boards, tarot cards, pendulums, sigils.
Draconian: The use of dragons and dragon imagery; whether it be trough astral matters or in spells and rituals. May also be connected with dragon spirits on their journey. Tools commonly consist of dragons art, statues, candles.
Seasonal; Utilizing and drawing energy from specific time periods of the year for their magick. One individual may feel more powerful at a particular time of year. It can also be spread out into the 4 seasons. Tools commonly consist of herbs related to certain seasons, stones, ruins and the weather.
Music; Can be through singing, humming, playing an instrument, creating music or having it on during spell work to add energies. Tools consist of speakers, instruments, voice, chimes, lyrics & sheet music.
Art & Craft; Anything from painting to knitting to building something. Tools consist of anything you can craft with.
Sigils; Working majorly with sigils and the intent that can be put into them to activate their power. Tools commonly used are pens, paper, makeup, candles.
Astronomy/Space/Luna; Correlates their belief in conjunction with the planets, stars and/or moon. Versed in moon phases and tend to do spell work at night rather than day time. Tools commonly used are horoscopes, calendars, charts, moonlight, moon water.
Energy; Those who prefer to do magick through energy exercises and manipulation rather than many physical tools or materials. This may also include aura work. The only tools needed for this type is yourself.
Crystal; Magick that is worked commonly with stones and crystals. The practise may include chakra balancing, crystal meditation and even spell work or rituals. Extensive knowledge of stone, including how to identify them. Tools most commonly used are crystals, books, grimoires and stones.
Literacy; Those who practise through books and literature - studying the craft after the 'beginner' phase of learning. Tools are books, poems, written work.
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wingsadorned · 1 year
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this might be such a dumb question , but what do you guys say when you give offerings ?
i’m really unsure as to what to say because anything i think of feels so stiff and formal . i feel like i need some ideas to branch off of .
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journeyofdream · 2 years
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Common Herbs and Their Properties
(Mainly taken from: https://coven.thethriftywitch.com/pages/magickal-uses-of-herbs.)
Angelica: Mainly used in protection rituals, protects against negative energies and attracts positive energies. Can be used to remove curses, hexes.
Anise Seeds: Stimulates psychic abilities and wards off evil eyes.
Basil: A good protection herb. Can be used in rituals for protection, exorcism and love.
Bay Laurel: Mainly protection and purification. Stimulates psychic abilities and promotes success. Protects against baneful magick. Writing wishes and burning the leaf is a good manifestation technique.
Black Pepper: Promotes courage and helps banishing negative vibrations.
Catnip: Provides protection in sleep. Enhances beauty and can be used in love magick.
Cedar Wood: Promotes confidence and strength. Can be used in protection and purification rituals.
Chamomile: Reduces stress. Can be used in love and healing rituals.
Chili: Mainly used for hex breaking. Promotes love and fidelity.
Cinnamon: Mainly used for luck and prosperity. A good herb for protection as well.
Clove: Mainly used for exorcism. Also promotes love, money, and protection.
Coffee: Used for grounding. Dispels nightmares.
Daisy: Promotes love, luck, and innocence.
Damiana: Mainly used in love rituals. Can be used to increase psychic abilities.
Frankincense: Mainly used for cleansing and purification. Can be burned for protection and meditation.
Garlic: Mainly used for protection and exorcism. Can also be used for healing and purification.
Ginger: Promotes sensuality, sexuality and personal confidence.
Lavender: Mainly used for love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, and peace. Promotes healing from depression.
Mint: Promotes energy, communication and vitality.
Mistletoe: Used for fertility, creativity and protection from negative spells.
Onion: Used for prosperity, stability, endurance, and protection.
Oregano: Promotes joy, strength and vitality.
Rose: Magickal uses include divine love, close friendships, domestic peace.
Rosemary: Carried and used in healing poppets for good health, used in love spells, burned as incense for purification and removing negativity.
Sage (Keep in mind that white sage is endangered and closed): Used for self purification and dealing with grief and loss. Carried to improve mental ability and bring wisdom.
St. John’s Wort: Protects against all forms of black witchcraft. Used for banishing, protection & blessing.
Star Anise: Burned as incense to increase psychic awareness & abilities.
Sugar: Used in love spells and sex magick.
Thyme: Attracts loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others. Burn or hang in the home for banishing and purification.
Tobacco: Promotes peace, confidence, and personal strength. Also used for banishing.
Yarrow: Uses include healing, handfasting & weddings, and divination.
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onlyfairyever · 2 months
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thinking about someone in the pagan club at my college and how she’s an aphrodite devotee & you can TELL. her confidence and femininity radiates so much i want to be on that level
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