Sorry, This May Be Kinda Basic But I'm Getting Some Conflicting Info. Can You Please Explain The Diff

Reconnecting with your spirituality ✧̣̇˳·˖✶

Great for baby witches!

I gathered a few really simple rituals I do to reconnect with my spirituality after some time without practicing magic or when I feel like I lost my touch.

Firstly, it’s important to remember your place in the universe. If you’ve never taken some time to consider the nature around you, do that before trying anything else. Of course it’s ideal that you explore the nature that surrounds your home frequently, but it’s possible to connect with it while being someplace else. Ask yourself:

⭒ How do the seasons change where you live? Which changes can you see and feel throughout the year? How is it right now?

⭒ How does the moon influence you, in particular? Which phase of the moon is it today?

⭒ Which plants that are native to your region can you find around your neighborhood? Which ones are most abundant?

⭒ Which animals are native to your region? Do you see them around sometimes?

⭒ What’s the nearest body of water? In which direction is it located? How do you think it must be today? (The sea must be agitated because it’s a full moon, the river must be at high tide cause it rained, etc.)

Knowing the natural spaces around you is what forms the solid base you need to connect with nature on a larger scale. There’s some simple exercises that help you gradually build a relationship with the world around you, starting small and expanding as you gain experience:

To start 𓆸

Choose a plant or a rock that you’re already familiar with, like a house plant you may have. Approach it like it’s the first time you really see it. The purpose is to gain some form of intimacy with it. Pay attention to its appearance, texture and smell (and if it’s an edible plant, its taste), and to the sensations it gives you. After trying it with a plant or a rock you already know, move on to one you’ve never interacted with before.

Connecting with plants 𓆸

This method is used by a lot of witches to gather information about a plant’s energy based on their own energy. Different people may perceive the same plant differently cause each of us have our own, singular energy that’ll interact with it. That’s why gathering information from personal experience is so important. A herb that is said to help with something might affect you differently than it does to most witches, that’s normal. So:

❀ Choose a plant you’re already familiar with and touch it in a way that makes you comfortable.

❀ Close your eyes and imagine your palm glowing with light. Focus on how that feels. Some people say they feel their hand tingle or warm up at that. Either way, imagine your palm’s energy vibrating, into the plant.

❀ Visualize the plant is glowing as well, and that both your energies are connecting into one. When you feel you’ve achieved that, concentrate on how you feel. Is it an specific emotion or sensation? Do any thoughts or ideas pop into your head? It can be a pretty vague feeling, that’s okay; it’ll grow into something stronger and more defined as you work with it, if you decide to.

❀ When you feel you’ve observed enough, be thankful for the plant’s cooperation and visualize your energy separating from the one emanating from the plant and retrieving itself back into your palm as it stops glowing.

❀ Open your eyes and let go. You might want to shake your hand around as if you’re trying to dry it off after washing your hands; some witches do that to make sure they’ve really disconnected.

After trying it with a plant you’re familiar with, repeat the exercise with one you’ve never interacted with before.

Grounding 𓆸

Connecting with the earth helps you stay balanced. If you’re feeling anxious and all over the place, you can discharge that excess energy into the earth; if you’re feeling lethargic, the earth can energize you. To do that, you need to ground yourself. Some spells and rituals are so draining that you need to ground yourself beforehand so it doesn’t take too much of your energy. Here’s a simple grounding method I think pretty much every witch has used before:

❀ Take a deep breath, slowly, three times. Be aware of your own energy going through your body. You may close of eyes, if you want. Focus on your chest, and visualize a beam of light in its center. Imagine that’s your energy source.

❀ Visualize a branch growing from that center and reaching downwards, into the earth. Let it go beyond your body and touch the ground. I like to imagine that I’m a tree and that my roots are digging into the earth, and take a moment to appreciate how deep and strong they are, and how strong and stable that makes me.

❀ When you feel you’ve formed a connection, you can let your energy work with the earth, and let go of any excess that’s stressing you or receive what’s lacking.

Connecting with the elements 𓆸

There’s several ways to connect with the 4 elements, and a lot of witches renew their connection periodically with an exercise. For that, gather something to represent each element. For the element earth, use fresh dirt, salt, a rock or a crystal. For air, use an object that’ll make an air current; preferably a hand fan. For fire, a candle. For water, a small bowl of water will do. Touch each object, close your eyes, and visualize their energy connecting with yours. (Since you can’t touch fire, obviously, hold out your hand over the flame, from a safe distance where you can still feel the heat.) Do that for a minute or two, and try to put into words what you feel. Be sure to disconnect yourself from an element before connecting with the next one. What I said about the plants goes for the elements as well: different people may perceive them differently, which is why you need to gather information from personal experience, and build your own relationship with them.

Okay so Hades contacted me, and i have no idea where to start. i've been cruising the Hades tags and there is virtually nothing useful. I've read most (if not all) of his stories, and the ones that include him. Any tips? it came from left field to be ones, always thought it would have been Poseidon.

Omg, hello and welcome to the club!!! :D Personally this makes me very happy, because I know how rewarding a relationship with Hades can be! I will add, also, that you may have a relationship with both Hades and Poseidon if you wish. :)

If you’re interested in strengthening this relationship with Hades, here are some devotional acts you can do:

Money and stones are greatly symbolic of Hades, especially dark, jagged stones (think obsidian, smoky quartz and onyx)

As with all chthonic deities, offerings are usually poured down instead of rising up. This means incense is a less common offering, as you want to offer things that are poured down into the earth, where Hades symbolically resides. I usually offer oils and teas (you may offer wine and juice as well), and pour the physical remains into the earth after ritual.

Also, I know it’s common with heavenly deities to take a sip of the drink before offering it. With chthonic deities, DON’T DO THAT. Offer the entire drink to Them. (I got such a death glare from Hades when I didn’t do this correctly pun intended).

Cleaning up cemeteries and tending to old graves are GREAT versions of philanthropic worship!

If you believe in the Hellenistic underworld, you may want to offer money to the spirits of the dead to let them pass on

You may make an altar to Hades easily. Black/grey candles, stones, money, any bones (or representations of bones) you have, and items passed down in your family (a form of ancestral worship) work well on the altar!

You may create an altar to spirits of the dead or your ancestors too if you wish!

Mint and pomegranate are sacred to Hades :)

Remember that the element of earth is sacred to Hades as well. Using dirt, herbs and any other earth elemental magic works in devotion to Him.

If you communicate to spirits, treat them kindly and help them move on

And finally, but most importantly, talk to Him. Talk to Him silently, out loud in front of an altar, or write to Him in a journal (which I do all the time). Hades will respond to you again when He believes the time is right.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! I’m so excited for you that I’m literally having trouble typing because my fingers are trembling. Have a blessed path, lovely!

Herbs & Their Magickal Powers

(How to use herbs in spell work)

Mugwort: Clairvoyance, protection, prophetic dreams, purification, ward off evil, astral projection, consecration of divinatory tools.

Rose Hips: Healing heartbreak, calming anxiety, ritual baths, luck, abundance, protection, psychic powers, peace, knowledge.

Rose Petals: Attraction, banishing bad habits, love, healing, romance, casting circles, offerings to the divine.

Chamomile: Prosperity, growth, confidence, money, luck, love, relaxation.

Myrrh: Meditation, connecting with spirits, healing sorrow, sexuality, cleansing, love.

Frankincense: Consecration, rituals, purification, luck, spirituality, aura cleansing, divination, visions, meditation.

Patchouli: Money, fertility, love, list, prosperity, wealth, abundance.

Bay Leaves: Prophecy, divination, wishes, prosperity, curse reversal, wealth, money.

Mandrake: Protection, fertility, prosperity, apply to third eye for scrying.

Lemongrass: Balance, calm, love, uplifted mood, psychic ability

Hi could you please make a post about devotional acts for anubis?

Ways of Honouring and Worshipping Anubis

( thank you for your patience ❤ )

As with most deities, researching them is a great form of worship! I've found this one goes a particularly long way with Egyptian deities

The number 9

Beer, wine or preferably strong alcohol like rum

Bread was a traditional Kemetic offering

Water (cold)

Frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood and kyphi incense

The colour black! Gold is also associated with Anubis

Cypress and Cypress oil

Tigers eye, hematite and obsidian

Keys!

Star imagery

Some say he enjoys spicy foods, spices and dark chocolate

Learn his names/epithets and their origins: Anpu (to decay), Yinepu, Inpew, "The First of the Westerners", "Lord of the Sacred Land", "Master of Secrets", "Who Is Sacred Upon His Mountain", "The Right Hand of Osiris". And many more

Do your shadow work (this can mean going to therapy)

Visit cemeteries

Visit museums with Egyptian and Mummy exhibits

Reflect on your thoughts and feelings about death

Offerings related to mummification! Like mummified statues and figurines

He's also fond of dog related items! Such as dog toys, dog collars, spending time with pets etc

Foster some doggos! Or donate to rescue shelters, anything you can to help take care of dogs (the Sacred animal of Anubis)

Do protection work with him or in honour of him! Anubis was a divine protector

A statue of him!!

Wear a mask or simply have one on his altar

Visit cemeteries and treat the spirits there with kindness, leave them libations and offerings too

Help guide and care for others such as helping the homeless, donating to shelters and helping orphaned or homeless kids

Ankhs/Ankh imagery

Msgs & Guidance from Anubis

I don't talk much about what or who I work with, but I must say. I love Imeut dearly. <3 So lets see what messages he has for you all! I apologize for the shortness of this message, Imeut tends to be pretty brief. PILE 1

Channeled Song: Paranoid - Kanye West

Imeut wants to remind you that you are in fact overcoming your shortcomings. I know thing are moving at a pace slower than you like, but have you taken a moment to actually appreciate the things you DO have? I feel like you are so wrapped up in what you don't have and stuck in this mindset of constant need and lack. I know you are feeling high strung and so stressed out. He wants you to remember that you do in fact have a foundation to stand upon, your abundance is right under your feet. All you need to do is have faith in yourself. Have trust in resources, manifestations, and most importantly release the need to constantly judge yourself. You are so mean to yourself for no reason, it's not even fair. Give yourself a chance, you deserve to feel confident and strong. You ARE confident and strong, you may not physically self harm but I see you absolutely emotionally self harm. Like I was saying, you do in fact have a very strong foundation, though something I think that should be said is that you spend too much time seeking divine intervention or guidance from the divine. You are missing out on legitimate opportunities in the physical due to your preoccupation with the ephemeral. It's time to tap out and ground for a bit. It's time to go outside and appreciate the sun, smile, laugh, have a good meal and take some time at least a few times a week to disconnect and be present. PILE 2

Channeled song: Pretty - Coco & Clair Clair This might be really niche, but the sample from Odd Toddlers (tyler the creator), and One Beer (MF DOOM) is also a channeled song. (Huit octobre) You guys could be moving on from someone from the past, perhaps someone you emotionally depended on or saw as a pillar in your life. I feel like this group is so powerful because you're taking the pain and grief this person caused you and turning it into stability. You are at times though kind of lacking in gratefulness for what you have. Like, okay things aren't perfect yet but take some time to actually appreciate how far you've come instead of condemning everything because you feel like it's not good enough for you yet. I know you don't do it because you think you're better than everyone else. I think for a lot of you that you feel like you're not good enough. So therefore you need to work as hard as you possibly can and anything you achieve isn't good enough for you. Drop the expectations, learn to be fair to yourself, your inner child, and your loved ones. I feel like a lot of old ways of self defensiveness and functioning are being ripped and torn down. I also do feel like you're being asked to surrender and release your childhood trauma. I don't want to detail, but that one big thing you went through that was really fucked up? Yeah, it's time. It's possible this tower moment will remove any financial blockages you are currently experiencing. Despite feeling confused and misguided, you guys are being blessed with luck. For those of you dealing with a younger person trying to meddle in your life or cause issues, they will go through a healing transformation. You are being protected, however, go your own length to protect yourself and the emotional sanctity of your relationships. Spend more time developing your romantic relationship as well. There is more blessings to come, but you must do the dirty work to receive them. Someone here could get 1,000 dollars for doing some type of very intense shadow work. Best of luck pile 2. PILE 3

Channeled song: Curse of the witches - Strawberry Alarmclock This is so funny, I usually get very opposite messages from Imeut. This group could be really avoidant of conflict, like you will do anything you can to get out of conflict. Sometimes you could also go to unintentionally manipulative or toxic lengths in order to avoid conflict. You could have some extremely deep rooted trauma dealing with conflict. Perhaps a verbally or physically violent household, I'm thinking it was a mother figure. For some it was an older sister. I feel like you're being told to stop being scared and have confidence. You are not going to be the one who suffers in response to ur self defense/standing up. In fact, this person that's been meddling and gossiping about you recently will get their shit rightfully wrecked. Have more faith in your words & your mind. Some of you could have 12H placements. Honestly you're being told to say what the fuck you need to say, move on, get some alone time, and uproot that connection. That shit is very much past life, there is so much going on for your pile spiritually. I wish you the best of luck .

10 Prompts for Shadow Work

🌒 🌕 🌘

Keep track of your feelings from day to day. Record how you felt and try to pin point why you felt certain ways in different situations. How could you habe handled it better? Why did you react the way you did?

Write a letter to your past self, or your future self. Then break down your thoughts on why you said the things you did. Address any emotions that pop up during this process and record them. Why did you feel that way? What events in your life made you right what you did?

Are you living true to yourself? Are you changing who you are based on who you're around? What are those changes? Why do you make those changes?

Are you holding on to something or someone that you should let go of? Why do you hold on to it? What are steps you can take to let go of it?

What are your fears? Your REAL fears not just spiders or heights. Why are you afraid of those things? Are there any steps you can take to lessen that fear?

How do you treat the people in your life? Is there anything you could do for them to better your relationships? Are you being a positive, healthy influence on their life or are you being a toxic one? If toxic, what changes are you going to make to your behavior to stop being toxic?

What do you wish other people knew about you? Why do you keep it hidden?

Are you healing from past traumas and or incidents or have you just distracted yourself? What healthy ways could you address unhealed trauma in order to move to a healthier place?

Make a list of people you don't like. Why don't you like them? Are they actually bad or do you see bad parts of yourself reflecting in them and that's why you don't like them? Be honest.

Write down everything that happens to you in a week that makes you feel bad in any way. Examine this list and ask why certain events make you feel bad.

BONUS: Write down what you believe about a variety of things (from religion and karma all the way down to relationships and your career path). Why do you believe those things? Are these feelings set in stone or are you willing to accept alternate views? Why or why not?

Remember Shadow work is all about unlocking your subconscious. This helps you understand yourself better which is important for many different aspects in witchcraft, and your star seed will thank you for it.

🌟 🔮 🌟

Bast Deity Guide

Who is Bast?

The Egyptian goddess is known by many as Bastet, her name is transliterated as b-ꜣ-s-t-t and is pronounced as “Bast”. The Hieroglyphs for her name look something like this: 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 or 𓎯𓏏𓏏

She is most notably a goddess of domesticity, the home, cats, and women. Bast was among the most popular Egyptian deities and her cult ran as far as Rome.

Originally she was depicted as a goddess with a lioness’ head instead of a cat, and she was closely related to Sekhmet, the warrior goddess. Bast’s role was that of protector and avenger of Ra Over time Bast’s depiction softened and she became a goddess related to domesticity and the home. However, she kept the ferocious side of her, only ever using it when needed. She was known to be loving and nurturing but also she was a force to be reckoned with. Bastet used this fury to avenge those who have been wronged, carried on through her son, Maahes, the protector of the innocent.

Due to her association as the Eye of Ra, Bast was more of a solar deity before she became conflated with the Greek Artemis.

Parents and Siblings

Ra (father)

Isis (mother, later in antiquity)

Horus (brother, twin brother later in antiquity)

Anhur (brother

Lovers or Partners

Ptah

Children

Maahes (son)

Nefertum (son, sometimes)

Epithets

Beautiful sistrum (rattle) player

The Golden One/The Beautiful One

The Lady of Dread

The Lady of Slaughter

The Eye of Ra - a title held by a group of deities.

Lady of the Ointments

Lady of the East

Goddess of the Rising Sun

Sacred and All Seeing Eye

Notes

Her name also is rendered as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset

Though sometimes synchronized with Mut, the goddess Bast was never depicted as fully human. She was always depicted as either a cat or a woman with the head of a cat, lion, or desert cat.

In Ancient Greece, she was known as Ailuros (”cat”) and she was likened to Artemis. Because of this association, she was given a twin brother just like Artemis has: Horus became her twin brother and since Horus is Isis’ son, Bast became Isis’ daughter.

Bast was also synchronized with Sekhmet, Hathor, and Isis and picked up some of their associations throughout time.

The meaning of her name is uncertain though it’s possible that her name meant She of the Ointment Jar (Ubaste). This would also point to her relation to perfume.

The central city of her cult was Bubastis. People would travel to this city to have the bodies of their pet cats who have passed buried.

It’s common for people to view Bast as a sexual deity or a goddess of lust, but she tends to lean more toward domesticity and protection. This misunderstanding likely came from her later conflation with Hathor as well as one account from Herodotus who had observed the festival in Bubastis in honor of Bast.

An annual festival was held at Bubastis where supposedly all constraints on women were released and they would celebrate “by drinking, dancing, making music, and displaying their genitals" (Gerald Pincher, quoting Herodotus). This display depicted the fertility aspect of the goddess as well as being a sign of freedom from societal constraints.

Bast has been depicted holding a sistrum, a musical instrument similar to a rattle.

Bast is one of many gods who are referred to as the “Eye of Ra”, a title that belongs to deities that are protectors or avengers.

She has been known as the protector of the dead as well.

As cats were sacred to this goddess, to harm one was seen as a slight to Bast.

Mummified cats were often delivered to Bast’s temple as an offering.

Modern Deity Work

These are modern correspondences, anything with historical or traditional backing will be marked with a (T).

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Gold (T) - Cats of royalty were sometimes known to don gold jewelry

Tiger’s eye

Cat’s eye

Bronze (T) - Bronze statues were used as votive offerings for Bast

Herbs/Plants

Ivy

Catnip

Rosemary

Mint (catnip is in the mint family also)

Animals

Cat, namely housecats but all cats could qualify

Symbols

Sistrum (rattle) (T)

Cat (T)

Eye of Ra (T)

Offerings

Cat imagery

Whiskers, claws, and teeth of cats (only if sourced ethically!)

Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Emerald, Carnelian, Quartz, Malachite, and Galena were used in Ancient Egypt for jewelry or various cosmetics and could be offered. (The Structure of Crystals. Early historical notes)

Perfume or scented oils

Alcohol (such as wine or beer)

Fruit

Grains

Honey

Incenses or resins (T)

Jewelry

Acts of Devotion

Donate to, volunteer at, or otherwise support cats at shelters.

Pray to her or write poems in her honor

Research her

Honor your mother or the mother figure(s) in your life

Protect and fight for the innocent

Dance!

Play music or curate a playlist in honor of her

Learn about perfume and scented oils and how they were used and made in Ancient Egypt

Take care of your home

Of course, these are only suggestions based on my research but when making offerings to deities it's always best to do what feels right to you. You can also reach out to the deity and ask them yourself if you feel comfortable doing so.

References and Further Reading

Bast - eqyptianmuseum.org

Bastet - Britannica

Bastet - World History

Bastet - ARCE

Per-bast.org (The whole website is informational but this link will send you to their sources page!)

Offerings for Bast - The Gourmet Witch (blog)

Kemetic Offering Guide - The Twisted Rope (blog)

A guide to worship of Hades - cheat sheets

Hellenic cheat sheets

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A guide to worship of Persephone- cheat sheets

Hellenic cheat sheets

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💀 Offering Oil For The Dead 💀

Here’s a oil that I made in honor of Thanatos (also props to him for giving me this advice to fill my skull dropper!) This oil is to be used as a offering to Chthonic deities and spirits. You can anoint a candle when working as well as this oil is suppose to have a soothing feel to it for comforting!

What you’ll need: A Carrier oil (I would recommend olive oil but I’ll be using Vitamin E oil), Lavender (essential oil or the herb it self), Rose petals/buds, Myrrh (since this works well for Hades and Thanatos I’ve heard and can be either essential oil or the ashes from incense)

Optional things you can add: Poppy seeds, a bone, graveyard dirt, something dead, a quartz crystal, Selenite crystal, Willow bark or leaf (this aids with safe passing in the afterlife and is also good for protection against negativity and evil).

Directions: (usually when I’m making an oil or potion I light candles and burn incense, along with playing soothing/fitting music. Just a quick note!)

Cleanse the bottle first ( I did so with my juniper smudge wand). Add each item into your bottle, making SURE your adding your intent. (Lavender for peace, Rose for remembrance, Myrrh for troubled souls and can help with protection.) When adding a bone or something dead make sure to thank the spirit to the item. And your done!

NOTE: If you do not want to use oil you can use water for this! You can always modify this as well :)