🌌•~Space Witches~•🌌

Circle Casting

Magical Spells & Exercises Masterpost

Magic circles have two basic purposes: they are like fences, and they are like portals.

Magic circles function like fences because they raise a barrier to prevent certain things from coming in to your area. Works of magic can attract all manner of interested and parasitic spirits, as well as attracting unwanted energies. A circle can keep all of these things away while the magic is being worked. This not only keeps the magic “clean”, but it functions as a layer of protection.

Circles can also keep energy in, which is very useful. You can imagine a magic circle as being like a bowl which holds energy and prevents any from spilling away. Once you purposefully direct the energy, the rest can be grounded, and the circle can be removed.

Circles function as portals because they create a liminal space partway out of our physical world, and partway in to the astral world. This is what differentiates magic circles between other forms of barriers like shields and wards. If you have ever cast and worked inside of a circle, you may have experienced that very unusual “magical state” that can occur within. This liminal space is useful because here we can have more direct contact with the energies and forces we seek to manipulate. It can help us flip that switch from “everyday” to “magical”.

Another important function of circles is that they end, and removing ourselves from that liminal space is a really useful way to start getting back to “normal” after a spell is cast.

The casting of a magic circle can be extremely basic, and no more than a simple exercise, or it can be very complex and a full ritual in itself. If you like circle casting, try learning several techniques and using whichever one suits your best.

If you want to practice circle-casting, try casting a circle before engaging in another practice exercise like channeling or charging.

Often, spirits or entities are called to watch over the circle and ensure it remains protected.

Circles can be small, fitting on your desk or a piece of paper. Often, circles are made large enough to fit yourself, all your tools, and any other practitioners within it. Remember that circles are magical spaces, so the walls of the circle can pass through furniture, walls, floors, and ceilings, and remain unbroken.

Circles are generally meant to be temporary, so ensure that after your magical work is done, the circle is removed.

TeaLC --- Ten Herbal Teas for the Body and Soul

Here are a few of the herbal teas that I like to use when I’m stressed, anxious, tense, worried, or just want a nice calm evening with my partner. These tea recipes and formulae are my own creations, and I retain copyright on all of them! If you want to use them in your own works, please contact me first and I’ll be happy to give you permission.

All herbs mentioned are dried, and all seeds and pods are crushed or ground. It is recommended to use 400-500ml of water in each tea, and all water should be poured at boiling point unless otherwise stated. If the water is not brought up to boiling point before adding, the medicines in the herbs will not fully disperse into the water.

Steep all teas for at least 10 minutes in a covered container/teapot unless otherwise stated, otherwise the volatile aromatics in the herbs will evaporate into the air or will still be trapped in the herbs. 

Remember! 1 tsp = 1 teaspoon 1 tbsp = 1 tablespoon 1 h. tsp/tbsp = 1 heaped tea/tablespoon

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A Little R&R

2 tsp German chamomile

1 tsp spearmint

1 tsp marshmallow root

This gentle tea is soothing and calm, its properties relatively mild and suitable for both adults and children alike. It helps put the mind into a calmer state and begins the process of running the body down before sleep, and for that reason it makes an excellent bedtime drink. It can also be used after a long day at work to switch the body out of “work” mode and into “R&R” mode, hence the name. Due to the marshmallow root, it tends to thicken up if you leave it to steep for more than 30-60 minutes, but this is actually good for you!

A Bedtime Kiss

1 tsp German chamomile

½ tsp passiflora (passionflower)

1 tsp oatstraw 

This warming and pleasantly earthy tea is an ideal addition to the night-time rituals of anyone who struggles with persistent insomnia or restless nights. With the usage of chamomile for soothing, passiflora to encourage restful sleep, and natural oatstraw to calm worries and anxieties, this tea is like a gentle bedtime kiss from mum before curling up in bed. Also useful for those who suffer from nychtophobia, otherwise known as fear of the dark; its calming formula eases worry and makes sleeping at night just a little easier. This tea is only suitable for 7-year-olds and above. 

Cuddle My Hot Water Bottle

1 h. tbsp shredded fresh ginger

½ tsp cardamom

1 tsp fennel seed

500ml boiling water

This spicy and fragrant brew is an aromatic mix of warming herbs and spices that will calm the body and invigorate the mind. Ginger and cardamom are a powerful combination of potent healing and soothing herbs that will ease out any pains or aches whilst energising your mind, whilst the calming properties of fennel will relax your body and prepare it for the rest of your day. This is the perfect tea for a long day in the office or for pulling an all-nighter, simultaneously rejuvenating your senses and kickstarting your mind for quick, creative thinking.

Twinkle Twinkle Morning Star

1 tsp liquorice root

1 tsp fennel seed

½ tsp cardamom

1 tsp elderflower

1 tsp honey

This punchy little number packs a kick, and is highly recommended for when you wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose you just can’t clear. The aromatic properties of liquorice and fennel will wipe away your sinus troubles in time for your journey to work, and the gently soothing and potently antiviral nature of elderflower and natural honey will help your body rest up faster and recover more effectively from colds, flus, and a bad night of poor sleep. Paired with “Cuddle My Hot Water Bottle”, this combination is devastating to colds and flus! Those with high blood pressure should avoid long-term usage, because chronic consumption of liquorice raises blood pressure. 

A Midnight Breeze

1 tsp marshmallow root

1 tsp peppermint 

½ tsp passiflora

1 tsp elderflower 

When chronic coughing and two-week colds have left your nights sleepless and your evenings exhausting and stressful as you struggle to breathe, this aerating super-tea is here to help! The potent antiviral properties of natural elderflower help to fight back against viruses like colds and flus, whilst the expectorant and easing qualities of marshmallow root will calm your coughing and help give you a phlegm-free night. Passiflora and peppermint combine in this tea to prompt natural rest and relaxation from the body and to encourage it to get some much-needed healing sleep, to help you recover faster and get better sooner. This tea is best left to stew for at least an hour, and should be drunk every evening for the duration of your cold or flu. Not suitable for children under 7. 

Tickle My Tummy

1 h. tbsp shredded fresh ginger

1 tsp lemon balm

1 tsp German chamomile

1 tsp honey

A warm and snuggly tea that calms nausea and eases indigestion, this tea is suitable for anyone who wakes up in the night with nausea or starts to feel sick during the day. Tender tums and sensitive stomachs are quieted and calmed by the warmth of ginger tea, whilst the lemon balm and chamomile eases indigestion, soreness and bloating. A little honey for taste is all that’s needed to cap off this pleasant, easy tea for those whose tummy is simply not cooperating! 

A Midsummer Night’s Tea

½ tsp mugwort

½ tsp wild lettuce

1 tsp German chamomile

1 tsp vervain

1 tsp spearmint

A mysterious tea for mysterious people, this dreaming potion will have you off playing with the fairies in no short order. Combining the calming and soporific powers of vervain, spearmint and chamomile with the dream-enhancing effects of mugwort and wild lettuce, this Shakespearean brew will produce vivid mental images and deep, dream-filled sleep that will leave you refreshed and inspired when you awaken from fairyland each morning. Not suitable for children under 13, or for those on sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication, or anti-psychotics. This is a very potent dreaming potion, and should be discussed with your doctor before usage to ensure it does not interact with any of your medications or health conditions. 

Better Than Oysters

1 tsp vervain

1 tsp damiana

1 tsp saw palmetto

Best served with chocolate

Sometimes, sleep and therapy and soothing music just isn’t enough to calm down all the tensions in your body and mind, and perhaps something else may be required to allow your energies to burn themselves off in a healthy, regular way. This tea is designed to allow consenting adults who may have the mutual desire to engage in such energy-raising activities but lack the physical ability to do so to gain a little edge in their quest for such potency. Using the temporary boost in testosterone caused by saw palmetto, combined with the neurochemical switches triggered by damiana and vervain, this tea is truly better than oysters when it comes to stimulating what should be stimulated and supporting what one desires be supported. This tea works for anyone of any gender, and will allow anyone of any gender or orientation to feel comfortable in their own latent sexuality and give you the confidence to bring all parties to a mutually satisfactory conclusion. Please note that usage of such products on another person without their consent is strictly illegal in all jurisdictions. Not suitable for children, or those with polycystic ovaries, or ovarian or prostatic cancer. 

A Quiet Night In

1 tsp German chamomile

1 tsp peppermint

1 tsp lemon verbena 

½ tsp lavender flowers

½ tsp rose petals

A cuddly tea for cuddly people, this one could be considered the “baby sibling” of the above “Better Than Oysters” tea. Designed simply to calm your body and mind and help yourself enter a warm and emotional state of being, this soft and snuggly tea makes a wonderful end to a quiet night in with the significant others in your life. German chamomile and lemon verbena cooperate to soothe and ease the mind and body, whilst peppermint, lavender and rose help you to open up your emotions and feel yourself and the people you love in your life. This tea is suitable for ages 3 and up, and may also help parents bond with their babies (only the parent should drink the tea).

The Voyager’s Companion

1 tsp gingko leaves

½ tsp powdered ginseng

1 tsp oatstraw

Those jetsetting off to far-flung lands will know all too keenly the irritation of those 3 first, crucial days of your holiday being cut short by the beast of jetlag. This simple tea is no outright cure, but will help cut the duration of jetlag significantly and also improve your mood when you do finally arrive. The melatonin-stimulating effects of ginseng, combined with the absorption-increasing powers of gingko and the calming properties of oatstraw harmonise to produce an excellent and fragrant tea for the neutralisation of the woeful symptoms of a jetlagged mind. This should be taken one day before departure, as well as for at least 3 days after the flight 1 hour before bedtime. Suitable for  all ages. 

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I hope these 10 helpful recipes and remedies help someone in need! 

– Juniper Wildwalk

cosmic witchcraft 101: tips for beginners

It’s been a while since I was an astronomy TA, so I’ve devoted a lot of time to getting familiar with the cosmos during this first month or so of practicing cosmic witchcraft. These are a few of the most important things I’ve done to grow my craft:

Stargaze. Looking at pictures of the galaxy and solar system is nice, but there’s nothing like using your own eyes to gaze into the night sky. 

You can see quite a bit with a good pair of binoculars and you can find some small telescopes for less than $100, although you don’t really need any magnification to enjoy the beauty of the night sky. 

Maybe there’s an observatory in your area! Find anywhere you might get a little closer to the sky, even if it’s just an open field out of town away from light pollution.

For city witches, the roofs of parking garages can be great spots to look at the planets and brightest constellations.

Celebrate stellar events. Meteor showers, eclipses, equinoxes, solstices, there are plenty of stellar events every year and many of them already correspond with traditional pagan/Wiccan holidays! Celebrate by stargazing, watching a sci-fi movie, or performing a magickal ritual.

Get in tune with the moon, sun, and the planets. What phase is the moon in today? When will Jupiter set? When will Saturn rise? Astrologers utilize the motions of the planets to show us how they affect our day to day life - and even if you don’t ascribe to astrology, knowing where the planets and stellar bodies will be throughout the day will help you plan your practice and get in tune with the universe.

Research:

Astronomy. Our eyes are the only tools we have to connect with the cosmos using our own five senses (actually, there are some beautiful recordings of what space sounds like), so learning more about the universe can help us connect with the sky can help deepen our relationship with it. Try to learn something new about the cosmos every day. The more you understand the universe, the more equipped you’ll be to handle its power and energy.

Astrology. If you’re interested, see what astrology charts have to say about your personality and abilities. Not everyone believes in astrology, which is totally valid, but I think it’s interesting to know where the planets/sun/moon were on the day you were born. Take everything you read with a grain of salt and find out what the relationships between the planets mean for yourself. Maybe you’ll find a certain planet/constellation does have an effect on you or your life, it’s just not the one your horoscope says.

Astro-magic. There are a few books about astro-magic and plenty of mythology to study. You might find something another witch has to say resonates with you, or perhaps you’ll be inspired to follow your own path. Experiment! Try using certain herbs and oils for different spells. Did they work? Do you think something else would work better?

Get in tune with the ocean. The sun and the moon have a powerful effect on Earth’s tides. How might these influences affect your use of liquids in your practice?

Develop a personal relationship with the stars. The stars looked different on the day everyone was born, and the sky looks different in every city in the world. Research is important, but this is your relationship with the sky. I think the most beautiful thing about cosmic witchcraft is that even though every witch’s practice may look different, we’re all looking at the same sky.

Witch tip

“Drink rosebud tea before bed to induce prophetic dreams” ~ Scott Cunningham 🌙🌸🍵

So you’ve made a spell jar….now what?

I was recently asked what to do with a spell jar once it’s made. I thought my answer would be simple, but the more I wrote, the more I realized it wasn’t. So here’s a guide for those that need it showing what to do with different bottles depending on your intent.

Positive influence on yourself or in your life: -Place somewhere you will see it very often, like a sunny window, bedside table, desk, or altar. Seeing it every day will help strengthen your intent and remind yourself why you made it. -Place somewhere that you meditate. If you meditate regularly you can take a few moments during that time to hold the jar and focus on the spell, the result that you want, and how to help make that happen. -Keep it on your person throughout the day. If the jar is small enough, it can be kept on you inside a purse/bag, coat pocket, or as a necklace. It will act as a conductor for the positivity that you want.

Beauty/Glamour: -Place on vanity or in bathroom. Placing it at the central point of your daily beauty routine will maximize the use of the spell bottle. -Keep in makeup bag/kit. Keeping it in a container with all of your beauty supplies will infuse it’s intent with everything inside. -Stash inside your dresser or closet with the clothes that correspond to your spell (date clothes, party/club clothes, formal wear, lingerie). -Bury in a pot of flowers and keep by a mirror you use for your daily beauty routine. Flowers are a universal symbol of beauty and having something living channel your spell makes it much stronger. -Keep it on your person throughout the day. If the jar is small enough, it can be kept on you inside a purse/bag, coat pocket, or as a necklace. Keeping the jar close to you will help influence the beauty spell/glamour longer and stronger.

Weight Loss/Gain and Exercise: -Stash inside your gym bag/locker. It will serve as a boost right before you work out. -Keep with your food. If you are using it to control eating habits, keep it in your pantry/fridge IN FRONT of all of your food. It will be a barrier between you and your food. You’ll have to get past the jar before you touch anything else. -Keep it on you’re kitchen table. If you are using it to battle eating disorders and/or increase your eating habits, place it where you eat all of your meals. -Take it with you while you move. If you like to ride your bike for exercise, use an unbreakable/break resistant bottle and tie it to your bike. If you like to walk/run with your kids in a running stroller, put it on the stroller where your child can’t reach it. -Store it with your work out clothes. The spell will bleed over into the clothes so that you have it whenever you put them on. -Keep it on your person. If the jar is small enough, it can be kept on you inside a purse/bag, coat pocket, or as a necklace. It will influence you as well as remind you of our goals all day.

Influence Relationships: -Place in the heart of your home. If you are trying to influence your family or the relationships within, keep it where you’re family spends time together the most (kitchen, livingroom mantle, game room, dining room). If you can’t practice openly at home, use a container that is pretty and not see through, fill it completely so it doesn’t rattle, and glue it shut. That way, to everyone else, it will just be pretty decoration. -Give it as a gift. Decorate the bottle and give it as a gift to the person whose relationship with you, you want to influence. -Keep next to their photo. Keep it next to a photo of the person you wish to change your relationship with. -Keep it on your person. If the jar is small enough, it can be kept on you inside a purse/bag, coat pocket, or as a necklace. The bottle will work it’s magic whenever you are around the specified person.

Health: -Stash in the bedroom. Placing the jar on your nightstand, under your pillow, or under your bed will allow health spells to work while you sleep, especially if you are bedridden. -Store with your medicine. If you have to take medication regularly, store it with your meds. -Keep next to your drinking water. If you use drinking water that isn’t from a tap, store the jar where you store your water. The spell will bleed into your drinking water to influence your health. -Keep it on your person. If the jar is small enough, it can be kept on you inside a purse/bag, coat pocket, or as a necklace. If it is on your person, it can influence your health all day, healing you or protecting you from an illness that is spreading.

Dreams: -Stash in the bedroom. Placing it on your nightstand, under your pillow, or under your bed will keep it close while you sleep so it can influence your dreams. -Store with your pajamas. Storing it with the clothes that you sleep in will infuse them with the spell’s energy (unless you sleep naked of course, but I don’t need to know about that). 

Wards/Banishments: -Keep it on your person. If the jar is small enough, it can be kept on you inside a purse/bag, coat pocket, or as a necklace. It will act as a shield to keep away whatever you want. -Bury it in your yard. If you are just trying to banish something/someone from your life or ward them away from your home and family, bury it in your yard. It will act as a shield. -If you are trying to banish something/someone and send them far away from you, bury next to train tracks. -If you are trying to banish thoughts or habits or trying to forget something, bury it in a cemetery. If you can’t bury it in a cemetery, bury it somewhere in the woods and forget it’s location.

If anyone wants to add something that I missed, please feel free!

How to make rose water

You will need: Rose petals (fill your bottle a third of the way) Water Sugar or salt (1/8 tsp) A spray bottle (I used an old perfume bottle)

Shove your rose petals in the bottle, filling it a third of the way. Fill rest of the way with water, shake, and let that sit for a few hours.

Advantages? Rose water is proven to reduce inflammation, acne, rosacea, tone the face, and tighten pores.

You may choose to charge the water with an attraction spell before use, but you could also use this as a face mist like I do, or a perfume. It works either way.

everything-aesthetics // new york city

Lappland, Sweden

Herbs that Correspond w/ Blessings

Health: caraway seeds, eucalyptus leaves, ginger, juniper, berries, pine needles, rose hips, sunflower petals or seeds, thyme.

Happiness: baby’s breath, cedar chips or shavings, fir needles, marigold petals, marjoram, orange peel, oregano, savory.

Love: cardamom pods or ground cardamom,carnation petals, cinnamon chips or ground cinnamon, coriander seeds, hibiscus flowers, linden flowers, mint, rose petals, willow leaves or bark.

Prosperity: acorns, allspice, almonds, banana chips, cloves, oak leave, oats, poppy seeds, rice, saffron threads, sage.

Peace: basil,catnip, lavender, lemongrass, olive branches or olive leaves, rosemary, violets.

Protection: angelica, black beans, cactus needles,garlic powder, or garlic salt, nettles, ground black pepper or black peppercorns, thistles, thorns.

Good Fortune: ash leaves, bay leaves, cumin seeds or powdered cumin, dill seeds or leaves, whole or ground nutmeg, vanilla beans.

I find these very helpful during candles magick and magick bottles, adds a little kick :)