-
Road to Runes
Road to Runes: Making a Rune Set Runes have been used for divination for many years, and are often incorporated into Norse-inspired magic and spiritual practices. While there are many digital tools for drawing runes, it’s normal to want to have a physical set of your own if you want to use them regularly. That way, you can draw a rune wherever you are, even if you’re in the middle of the woods or high up a mountain—although perhaps don’t go as far as to try and use them while hanging from a tree! One of the cheapest and most satisfying ways to get your own runes is…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Shell Wind Chime Merry meet! This issue’s WitchCrafting column is connected to a favorite summer activity: collecting shells at the beach. I have a difficult time not filling my pockets with these marine mollusks. Holding them, I can feel the energy of earth, water, fire, and air. Litha is a special time for capturing the essence of summer, in this case with a wind chime. I used shells that had naturally occurring holes, but instructional videos can be found for drilling them. Thin wire, dental floss, cotton twine, and other fibers can all be used to tie the shells into strips. Arrange them any way that pleases you.…
-
5 Yule Simmer Pots: Recipes to Make Your Home Smell Like Winter
The season of scented candles, freshly cut trees, warm cookies, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire has begun! While crushed candy cane and vanilla bean frosting scents might sound scrumptious and inviting, nothing beats the scents of ingredients like cinnamon sticks, apple peels, orange rinds, cloves, anise, vanilla, and nutmeg boiling together in your kitchen pot and having that aroma spread and fill your household. How to Create a Simmer Pot: Fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, continue to boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer. Add water as needed,…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
A Wheel of the Year Merry meet. Samhain and the end of the pagan year is a good time to create a Solar Wheel using Indian corn, a common seasonal decoration. Gather eight ears of corn that are the same length and have husks. To represent the quarters, pick four that are similar in color, and select another color for the cross-quarters. Using all one color, or a random selection can also represent the eight sabbats. A wire wreath form, bent metal hanger, grapevine wreath, or circle of sturdy cardboard can serve as a base. You’ll also need a small cardboard circle. Attach two ears of corn opposite…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Protection Door Hanger Merry meet. I was inspired to make protection door hangers by first fashioning twigs and vines into small wreaths that would fit over a doorknob. Then I collected up as many small objects as I could find that had protective powers, including bells, pentacles, tiny jars of salt, hag stones, sweet gum tree seed pods, tarot card charms, goddesses, crystals (black tourmaline, black obsidian, clear quartz, amethyst), evil eyes, rune symbols, dried herbs, and spirals. I attached these to the bottom of each wreath with embroidery floss, ribbon, twine, or string. Other objects that offer protection include angel wings, the Hand of Fatima, the triquetra, dreamcatchers,…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Crafts for Witches: Hag Stones Merry meet. This month’s column looks at hag stones, also known as fairy stones, holey stones, witch stones, Odin stones, and eye stones. They are rocks that have naturally occurring holes, worn by water over long periods of time. Because it’s commonly believed magic cannot work on moving water, hag stones are valued because they would be immune to the effects of magic, adverse energies, and enchantments, yet possess water’s powerful protection and healing energies. The oddity of the stones has made them a focus of folk magic. For centuries witches have used them in spells and rituals for everything from…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Crafts for Witches: DIY Oracle Cards Merry meet. I have several oracle decks, but only one really speaks to me – the 41-card Lunar Nomad Oracle by Shaheen Miro that was based on the Lenormand deck. Some oracle cards are numbered with a word or two. Some come with a whole paragraph on them. Some have guidebooks explaining the creator’s intent. One of the best ways I can think of to really get to know the creator’s intent is to create your own deck. Think of it as art magic. Oracle cards can be a divination tool and a prompt for introspection. I find them helpful for answering…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Crafts for Witches: DIY Dishes Merry meet. When you can’t find a dish with the wheel of the year on it, a plate with the moon, a coffee mug with the right words, or a trivet with a pentacle on it, you can make it yourself. This one was made for me from an unused child’s craft kit, adding some acrylic paints before baking it. Typically, you’d use Sharpie or dry erase markers. Cotton swabs, and rubbing alcohol or a dry marker eraser will be needed to remove mistakes. Non-toxic ceramic paint and pens can be used on microwave-safe dishware, making it safe for serving food. Clean your…
-
WitchCrafting: Crafts for Witches
Crafts for Witches: Black Salt Merry meet. Witches use black salt to absorb unfavorable energies, boost protection spells and guard against negativity. It is also used in cleansing, healing and banishing, making and breaking hexes, and casting powerful circles. I consider its energy somewhat stronger and different than that of white or pink salt. While you can buy it, it is better if you make your own. Most recipes for black salt are very much the same, and all will draw off negative energy and provide protection. You’ll want a mortar and pestle in which you will grind together your ingredients. I used a small cast…
-
Spellcrafting: Spells & Rituals
Easy Imbolc Merry meet! I celebrate sabbats on the astrological dates. This year, astrological Imbolc falls on Wednesay, February 3. Below is a list of easy ideas I’ve collected to help you do something simple yet meaningful for the sabbat, *Light a candle at dawn to greet the sun, or at some point during the day, light every candle in the house and offer a short blessing. *Gather up all your candles and bless them. *Prepare for the coming spring with some house cleaning. Rather than doing the whole house, which is overwhelming, pick one thing. Instead: organize a bookcase, clean a cupboard, or strip the bed…