Pleasant Dreams and Small Visits

I dream vividly and often. I have all my life. Many of my dreams are filled with faces I know, friends and family and the lady who rings my purchases at the grocery store. Sometimes as themselves and sometimes as someone new. Since my parents passed in 2020, I have only dreamt of them a few times. When I have, my dreaming mind has constantly butted in to remind me that they're dead and the dream isn't real. 

This week, I have had two dreams about them both where I haven't had that instant reminder looming over the dream. For the first time in over three years, I have just been able to enjoy their company for a bit. I recognized in the back of mind that it was a dream. That wasn't different. I rarely have a dream that I am not aware the entire time that it's dream. But I was still able to enjoy the story it was telling me. It was nice to have a small visit after missing them so much. Mama's Birthday is tomorrow, and it's been a hard week.

Applachian Magicks, Jar Spells, Charms, and Wards - Part 1

Illustration by Sophy Hollington

Creating and Placing a Charm, Ward, or Spell Jar for the Best Results

If you want a connection to begin or grow stronger, throw or bury it to the east.

If you want a connection to end or grow weaker, throw or buy it to the west.

Include water in your working if it involves cycles or continuous movement.

If you want to control something/someone’s influence, include patterns of five in your working.

If you want the help of spirits in the working, place or bury it in a graveyard or cemetery or include grave dirt from the one you are seeking help from.

To keep something/someone close to you, bury your item in your back yard.

To attract someone/something, bury your item under to beside your front doorstep.

If you want something/someone to disappear from memory and not enter your mind, weight your item and drop it in dark or deep water.

To destroy the influence of something/someone, burn your item and scatter it to the winds as far away from your home and daily haunts as possible.

 

Ingredients and Potential Representations

Feathers = Air, Lightness, Freedom, Swiftness.

Dirt = Earth, Stability, Steadiness.

Water = Water, Movement, Adaptability, Repetition, Cleanliness, Life.

Milk or Cream = Abundance, Growth, Nurturing, Motherhood, Femineity.

Vinegar = Hate, Resentment.

Sugar or Honey = Sweetness, Love, Positive influence, Persuasion.

Salt or Epsom Salt= Purification, Protection.

Cinnamon = Abundance, Wealth, Love, Passion.

Ground Pepper = Love, Passion, Anger, Irritation.

Fire used to Destroy = Purification or Anger.

Fire used to Light (typically via lit candle) = Revelation, Passion, Protection.

Wealth = Bay leaves, Fresh Basil, Seed pods form Money Plants, Corn silk.

Iron = Protection.

A Tarnishable Metal (copper or nickel for example) = Corruption.

Witchy Wednesday: A Jar Ritual for Recognizing and Sending Love and Blessings into the World

 

A Jar Ritual for Recognizing and Sending Love and Blessings 

Materials 

A red or pink candle 

A jar or other glass container with lid (preferably with a wide mouth to make it easy to place items within)

Small pieces of paper (one per name)

Scraps of ribbon/string/twine (optional)

A pen (pink or red preferably)

Pink Salt (enough to create a thin layer on the bottom of your container)*

Ground Cinnamon and/or Ground Cayenne (enough to create a thin layer on the bottom of your container)

Dried rose petals** 

*Please remember salt can harm growing plants. When disposing of jar contents, if you'd like to make it plant safe, use Epsom salt instead of regular salt.

**If roses aren't your thing or you do not have any, substitute any dried flower that represent love in your mind.

Instructions 

1. Follow your normal procedure for prepping a magical space to perform your ritual.

2. Light your candle(s) and think about the people who bring love and happiness into your life. Why do they come to mind when you meditate on love? How do they enliven your life? What emotions and thoughts come to you as you think of them. Think about the blessings and love you'd like to see returned to them this week. Maybe it's a new job for a friend or a few hours of sleep for a new parent or much needed calm and peace for a loved one having a particular trying time right now. Maybe it's renewed love of life or passion in the bedroom. Love comes in many forms. Don't feel constricted to a single definition. you are wanting to send love and blessings to and why.

3. Write the name of each person you thought about on the pieces of paper you prepared. Roll them into tiny scrolls and tie them with a scrap of ribbon/string/twine. (Optionally you can just roll or fold the pieces of paper as-is. If you want to get really fancy with it, you can fold them into origami hearts. Sometimes the folding is part of the meditative act. Do whatever feels right to you.)

4. Add a layer of salt to the bottom of your contain. Draw a heart shape with the cinnamon and/or
cayenne on top of the layer of salt. If  you aren't feeling artistic or the opening of the jar is too small to draw a design, you can just layer the spices on the top of the salt. Add your pieces of paper interspersing your flower petals in-between and around the paper. 5. Hold the jar in your hand and picture in your mind again the love you'd like to see going to your named loves ones. See the light of your love flowing from you to them. See it surrounding their bodies in a soft, unbroken glow. See the love you send lifting their spirits and raising their joy.                                        6. Keep the jar somewhere safe where you will see it daily and be reminded of the love that you are sending out to each person. Touch it and renew the request in your mind each day.

7. At the end of the week, you can renew the spell for another week by meditating on it again and choosing the blessings you'd like to send, or if you feel it has done its job, you can burn the contents in a fire safe vessel (or compost if using plant safe materials).                              8. If not renewing, cleanse the jar so that it can be used again in future rituals/spells.

Inspired by a ritual found within Em, Mandi. Happy Witch: Activities, Spells, and Rituals to Calm the Chaos and Find Your Joy (pp. 180-182). Adams Media. Kindle Edition.

Tarot Thursday - Oracle of the Roses - 8.3.23

 

Oracle of the Roses by Cheralyn Darcey

I used one of the suggested spreads in the guide for this oracle set. It's called "The Modern Rose Spread," and it focuses on the week ahead. It asks to identify the positive energies and challenges around you, who and what particularly needs your attention, and what you should learn from the events of the week.

I found this reading to be very insightful when overlayed with my plans for the week. I am pleasantly surprised by how much information I was able to apply to things that are already in motion. Each draw of the reading meant something very specific to me in my current situation.

 

Rose 1: Positive energies surrounding you

The Rebel – Austrian Briar Rose

Meanings and Uses: Challenges, expression, justice, equality, creativity

Deities: Prometheus

Astrological Sign: Aquarius

Interpretation: Sometimes the tried and true path, while safe and known, is not the best path to take. Sometimes you have to take chances to reach your goals.

 

Rose 2: Challenges to be aware of

The Outsider – Duchess of Edinburgh Rose

Meanings and Uses: Alternatives, rebellion, change,  independence, invention

Deities: Prometheus, Artemis

Astrological Sign: Aquarius

Interpretation: Don’t be afraid to make wakes and go against the established status quo to achieve your goals. Let go of what isn’t working and create a new path and new goals that are achievable and good for you.

 

Rose 3: What needs your attention

The Advocate – Louis van Houtte Rose

Meanings and Uses: Commitments, friendships, communication, meditation, persausion

Deities: Themis, Artemis, Iustitia

Astrological Sign:Aries

Interpretation: Don’t be afraid to ask for help/support from your friends and family when it comes to your plans for self-improvement. Having yourself around longer and being healthier and happier will not only enrich your life but the lives of those around you. Doing good for yourself is also benefiting the greater good. Ask questions that you need answered and listen to the answers. Take the advice to heart and make the needed changes.

 

Rose 4: Who needs to hear from you

The Warrior – Marechal Niel Rose

Meanings and Uses: protection, adaptability, skill, loyalty, discipline

Deities: Mars, Athena, Minerva, Eris, Neith

Astrological Sign: Aries

Interpretation: Advocate for yourself. You may not get immediate relief or needed/wanted results, but do not give up. You know yourself and what you need. Do not let others brush aside your concerns as trivial.

 

Rose 5: What you need to learn

The Seeker – Mrs. Robert Peary Rose

Meanings and Uses: Improvement, identity, freedom, motivation, discovery

Deities: Adiona, Khonsu, Neptune

Astrological Sign: Taurus

Interpretation: When we are setting about making big changes, especially within ourselves, it is easy to overlook the small successes in the race to reach the final goal. Take time to celebrate those small moments of achievement. They are milestones showing you are doing what you need to do. Focus on small goals every day and eventually those small goals will add up to your bigger overall goal. All successes are important in order to not become discouraged or distracted along the path.