Jewish Angel Work

cheap, easy ways to decorate your altar for the sabbats

Imbolc/Candlemas: seeds or bulbs, candles, red and white

Ostara: flowers, eggs, milk, honey

Beltane: flowers, ribbons, acorns

Litha: oak leaves, sun symbols, sunflowers

Lammas: bread, wheat, beer, honey, corn dolls, iron

Mabon: fall leaves, cornstalks, grapes and grape vines, pomegranates, apples

Samhain: tarot cards, mirror, food offerings, mulled wine, dark bread

Yule: holly, pine cones, mistletoe, fruits, nuts, bells

The Fields of Asphodel: The Afterlife from a Pagan Perspective

Originally posted on nightshadeandroses.wordpress.com.

Death is often a topic avoided by polite company. It is one of the most mundane taboos in American culture, something that is avoided and shunned at all cost. This is made apparent by the ways in which we treat the dead and dying, often opting to shunt the elderly and the terminally ill into medical facilities rather than allowing a home death. Oftentimes, we do not even discuss death unless someone is actively dying and we can no longer avoid it.

Much of why we avoid death is fear. And that fear is certainly valid since, despite how deeply we may believe in an afterlife, we can never know for certain if our view is correct. Or if there is an afterlife at all.

As a child, I was terrified of death. At night, I would spend hours staring up at the ceiling, scared that I would one day die unexpectedly in my sleep and that staying awake would somehow prevent Death from coming for me. That fear of death stayed with me throughout my childhood and into my young adulthood (though I stopped fearing that I would specifically die in my sleep, thankfully.)

Most of my fears stemmed from the various unknowns around death. Growing up in a not-totally-religious home but with a Christian father, most of my ideas about the afterlife were from a Protestant Christian perspective. I was taught that when I died, I would either go to Heaven or Hell, and that I needed to obey God and accept Jesus Christ as my savior in order to get into the “good” afterlife.

“But what if I’m not good enough?” I would often ask my Dad. Or “but what happens if someone is mostly good but isn’t Christian?” His answers, while meant to be comforting, often scared me more. They often boiled down to “don’t worry about it; just pray.” For someone like me who always struggled to connect to the Christian God, I found the silence during my prayers as confirmation that maybe I wouldn’t have access to the “good” afterlife.

Even after I officially converted to Hellenismos/Hellenic polytheism, my view of the afterlife and of death remained mostly unchanged: I was still afraid of dying and of what would happen after. But, as a devotee of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, death isn’t exactly something that I can wholly avoid. So, I was forced to confront my fears head-on, diving into the Hellenic myths surrounding death and the afterlife.

What I discovered of the Underworld was entirely unlike my conception of the Christian afterlife. In the Underworld, all souls except for those who are exceptionally great and influential are seen as equals and granted the same afterlife. The dead are able to wander throughout the Fields of Asphodel, great misty meadows filled with sweetly-scented flowers. Those who were exceptional in their lifetime are able to celebrate in the Elysian Fields, which is blissful and heavenly.

While the Underworld is a lot more somber than the idea of Heaven, I find solace in the fact that I won’t be condemned to burn for eternity regardless of what religious beliefs that I hold (as Tartarus, the closest equivalent to Hell, is reserved only for monsters and the truly wicked and irredeemable.) I also enjoy the concept of all people being equal in death. Not only that, but the afterlife is not necessarily eternal; the concept of reincarnation was present in various ancient Greek mystery cults like Orphism and the Eleusinian Mysteries. So while the afterlife may not be as exciting as Heaven, I won’t be trapped there forever. I will be able to be reborn and live a new, different life. So while I’ll no longer be “myself,” I will be able to forge a new life filled with experiences, opportunities, and growth to nourish the essential part of me that lives on between incarnations. Life is not seen as a preparation for Death in Hellenismos; life is meant to be lived fully, completely, piously, and beautifully. Life is meant to be lived for its own sake.

I won’t deny that all of my fears of death are gone. There is still that fear that there may be nothing after this life. It could be a void, like the emptiness of a dreamless sleep. Even though this may be the case, I am less afraid of that possibility. Because followers of Hellenismos are encouraged to live to their fullest potential rather than treating life as a dress rehearsal for what comes after, I am more content with the time that I have. With that, I know that when I am old and dying someday, I will be able to look back without regret or disappointment of what I may leave behind. But if there is an afterlife, I look forward to wandering the Fields of Asphodel, the domain of my Queen.

If you enjoy my writing, please consider supporting me at patreon.com/nightshadeandroses orko-fi.com/nightshadeandroses!

Planetary placements in a birth chart

The planetary placements in a birth chart represent the position of the planets at the time and location of a person's birth. Each planet represents different energies and archetypes that influence different areas of life. Here is a brief explanation of the planetary placements in birth charts:

Sun: The Sun represents the individual's core identity, ego, and vitality. It indicates the person's sense of self, their inner nature, and how they express themselves.

Moon: The Moon represents emotions, instincts, and the unconscious. It indicates the person's emotional needs, nurturing qualities, and how they experience and process their feelings.

Mercury: Mercury represents communication, thinking, and intellectual abilities. It indicates the person's mental processes, style of thinking, and communication skills.

Venus: Venus represents love, beauty, and harmony. It indicates the person's approach to relationships, aesthetics, and values.

Mars: Mars represents action, energy, and passion. It indicates the person's drive, assertiveness, and sexuality.

Jupiter: Jupiter represents expansion, growth, and abundance. It indicates the person's sense of purpose, optimism, and ability to attract good fortune.

Saturn: Saturn represents responsibility, structure, and limitation. It indicates the person's sense of duty, discipline, and areas where they may face challenges and limitations.

Uranus: Uranus represents innovation, rebellion, and individuality. It indicates the person's need for freedom, independence, and desire to break free from conventional norms.

Neptune: Neptune represents spirituality, intuition, and imagination. It indicates the person's sensitivity, creativity, and potential for escapism or delusion.

Pluto: Pluto represents transformation, power, and intensity. It indicates the person's potential for deep transformation, intensity, and areas where they may experience power struggles or control issues.

The sign and house placement of each planet in a person's birth chart can provide more detailed information about how that planet's energy manifests in different areas of their life. The relationships between the planets in the chart, such as aspects and conjunctions, can also reveal important dynamics and themes in the individual's life.

Combining the energies of shapes and colors is a powerful practice within art witchcraft. You can look for these combinations in your color castings, or other artistic forms of divination, or use them to boost your intent in spells.

Stay tuned for more free resources and information related to art magic and color craft. My inbox is always open!

-LUMI

ASCENDANT signs indicate SOCIAL compatibility  (the impression you give others/ the “face” you put on when confronting the world)

SUN signs indicate TEMPERAMENT compatibility (how your personality interacts with others under stimuli/changing environments).

MOON signs indicate EMOTIONAL compatibility (how you relate/ connect/ empathize. This is internal and may not be necessarily obvious).

MERCURY signs indicate INTELLECTUAL compatibility (how you communicate and share thoughts).

VENUS signs indicate ROMANTIC compatibility (how you love/ receive love. What you idealize and fantasize for in relationships).

MARS signs indicate PHYSICAL compatibility (the personality of your aggression. how you interact physically or sexually).

JUPITER signs indicate IDEOLOGICAL compatibility (how you react to each other’s beliefs, values and opinions).

SATURN signs indicate LONG-TERM compatibility (how your relationship may develop and be sustained over time).

🌿🌹 Smokable Herbs 💨✨

Smoke is used cleansing and purifying, and much more🌫

🍃 Good day, Witches of Tumblr! 🍃

Not everyone may have the habit of smoking, but smoking has always had a sacred purpose in every culture and many religions. The history of smoking began in shamanistic rituals that took place as early as 4000 bc. It is considered a very social activity and was used as a social tool.

While some may say the smell of smoke is unpleasant, and people don’t want it around them. But did you know you can smoke certain herbs, and actually make a very lovely tasting, and even pleasant smelling, blend? Some herbs are highly medicinal and can give you benefits. Keep reading if you want to know more!

🌹 ━━━✦❘༻ 🌿 ༺❘✦━━━━🌹

**Disclaimer**

it is very important you do the proper research to see if you can smoke a certain herb. Also if you start feeling sick after smoking it cease use of it immediately. You may be fine ingesting a certain herb, but you could have an allergy to smoking said herb. Please note that some of these could be poisonous if eaten, we are speaking of smoking only. I also don’t recommend replacing smoking herbs with getting medical treatment if you need assistance. Be very careful if you have health conditions and don’t smoke if you’re pregnant. I am also not trying to persuade you or anyone else to smoke!

🌹 ━━━✦❘༻ 🌿 ༺❘✦━━━━🌹

With that said, lets begin to learn what herbs you can smoke and how to put together a herbal smoking blend! Get ready to raid your apothecary!

There are tons of herbs that are smokable. Each herb has its own unique taste and effect, and by mixing them together you can create a perfect blend for your next ritual! Curate special blends for spells and other workings and label them. The possibilities are endless for what you can make. Not only do herbs have magickal properties, but medicinal properties for minor ailments too!

🍃 🌿 So What Herbs Can I Smoke? 🌹 🍃

✨My personal favourite is the taste of Rose 🌹 ✨

I will reveal some properties of herbs you may have already in your apothecary!

🌺 Blue Lotus

Medicinal:

Sedative properties, gives a calming euphoria

Magickal:

Opens the root chakra, helps one embrace their true spiritual essence

🌿 Sage

Medicinal:

Remedies for colds, Relaxing properties

Magickal:

Used for self purification and healing

🌹 Rose

Medicinal:

helps with slow circulation, great for colds, pms, headaches

Magickal:

Divine Love, Strengthens relationships

🍃 Lemonbalm

Medicinal:

Sedative and anxiolytic effects

Magickal:

Used for psychic enhancement and spiritual development

💐 Lavender

Medicinal:

Relieves stress and anxiety

Magickal:

Brings Love and Protection, Peace and Harmony

🌿 Mullein

Medicinal:

Great for the respiratory system

Magickal:

Protection against nightmares and sorcery, and spirits

🌿 Peppermint

Medicinal:

Cooling and calming feeling

Magickal:

Increases vibration in spaces, used in spells for healing and purification

🌾 Chamomile

Medicinal:

Enhances ability to sleep, reduces tension and anxiety

Magickal:

Removes Hexes, Curses and Spells

🍃 Raspberry Leaves

Medicinal:

Lowers blood pressure, muscle relaxant

Magickal:

Bathing in Raspberry leaves for love spells, brings healing and protection

🌿 Catnip

Medicinal:

Curbs tobacco cravings, Relaxing properties

Magickal:

Sacred to Bast, Used for love spells

🌸 Pink Lotus Stamens

Medicinal:

Sleep aid, euphoric properties

Magickal:

Psychic opening, spiritual development

🍒 Uva Ursi

Medicinal:

Diuretic properties, Helps alleviate pain from sprains

Magickal:

Increases intuition and psychic abilities

🌸 Wild Dagga

Medicinal:

Mood enhancement, brings mental clairty

Magickal:

Keeps snakes at bay when carried as a charm

🌾 Calea

Medicinal:

Calming sensations, mild relaxation

Magickal:

Used for lucid dreaming

🍃🌿 Making A Blend 🌹🍂

Creativity is at the heart of herbalism, so be creative when building a blend!

The Basis of the Blend

1. Base Herbs

2. Supportive Herbs

3.Flavourful Herbs

1. The Base

Your base herb is fluffy and light.

So herbs such as;

🌿 Damania

🌾 Mullein

🍃 Red Raspberry

2. Supportive Herbs

These herbs play a supportive role in your health and offer some type of benefit.

So herbs such as;

🌿 Hops

🌿 Skullcap

🌿 Hyssop

🌿 Horehound

🌿 Thyme

🌸 Passionflower

🌿 Mugwort

These herbs have many health benefits, such as nervous system and respiratory system health.

3. Flavourful Herbs

These herbs will add zest to your smoking blend.

So herbs such as;

🌹 Rose

🌸 Angelica

🍂 Anise

💐 Lavender

🌺 Monarda

🍃 Spearmint

Recipe Example

🍃 2 Tablespoons of Mullein

🌹 1 Tablespoon of Rose

🌾 ½ Tablespoon Chamomile

if you want you could add a bit of Lavender or another •Flavourful Herb• to make it more interesting!

🌹 ━━━✦❘༻ 🌿 ༺❘✦━━━ ━🌹

🍯 Adding honey to your blend can really sweeten it up!🍯

✨ Enchant the herbs before you smoke them, do it ritualistically if you want!✨

✨Use these herbs in your spells to take in the essence of •the elementals•!This will empower you and your magick✨

My personal favourite blend is;

🐝 Beelieve in Love 🐝

🌹 1 Tablespoon Rose

🌾 1 Tablespoon Chamomile

💐 1 Tablespoon Lavender

🍯 ½ Tablespoon Honey

I really hope you found this useful and learned something about smokable herbs, and incorportate it into your craft!

Thank you so much for reading,

and blessed be! 🐝

🌹 ━━━✦❘༻ 🌿 ༺❘✦━━━━🌹

~10 Kinds Of Magical Books~

1. Book Of Shadows- A witch’s book of spells, rituals, personal feelings, etc. It is a general book for any metaphysical or religious information that you wish to put into it, among other things.

2.Bestiary- A sometimes hand-written encyclopedia or manual of mythological and magical creatures and beings, used for reference when you want to work with a non-human energy, or for general research. 

3.Grimoire- Usually filled with tables and charts, lists relating to astrological, numerical, and color correspondences; properties of crystals, herbs, trees, etc. Contains moon phase meanings and medicinal properties of plants- This one has an old-timey textbook feel to it, usually.

4.Book Of Mirrors- a special journal, where you ‘reflect’ on things going on in your day to day life, providing deep insights which are invaluable when you’re doing work regarding personal growth. Very helpful with developing personal spiritual philosophies.

5.Book Of Moons- A book entirely relating to the moon and it’s cycles, names of the moons of each month, their attributes and energies, dates of lunar eclipses as well as full moon dates of upcoming moons. Filled with vast knowledge of lunar attributes and special dates of red moons, blue moons, etc.

6.Dream Journal- Here you record the dreams you have in as much detail as you can remember, and some people draw images from their dream adventures in this book as well, since dreams use the language of symbolism and imagery. You interpret the meanings of your dreams in here too, if you wish. Dreams can help us get a glimpse into our subconscious and the more dreams you write the easier it becomes for you to remember them.

7. Book of Visions- A vision book is used with the law of attraction, it is a ‘vision board’ in book form. Put different images of things you want in life, be they experiences, physical items, money, health, etc, in the pages of the book. Open the book up to pictures of what you want to visualize having. Think of this as an on-the-go vision board, except with much more space as there are so many pages!

8.Book Of Positive Aspects- At the top of each page you write the name of a topic that you are unhappy with, like ‘the workplace’  for example. Below the topic title you begin listing all the positive aspects of the subject, and by the end of your list your emotions will be in a much better place regarding the topic. You can do a list a day or many in one sitting, it is a valuable tool for cultivating positive energy or for switching viewpoints on things that normally would upset you.

9.Gratitude Journal- A book where you write about EVERYTHING you are thankful and appreciative for in your life right now. You feel overwhelmed with love and positivity when writing in this book, which aids you in raising your vibration and frequency.

10. Book Of Intuitions- a psychic journal, it’s a book where all divination and psychic exercises are recorded, ranging from full tarot spreads, to tea leaf readings, even psychic impressions you pick up off people. It’s handy for tracking progress as well as for record keeping.

🌿Magical herbal salt🎀

Hi!🌹 Today I want to share here one of my magic salt recipes!🔮💜

First at all I took some fresh herbs from my little balcony garden and rock salt.🌱

Salt is a crystalline mineral made of two elements, sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl).Salt magical properties are cleansing, purification, protection.

I used Parsley, Lavender, Basil and Marjoram.

Herbs magical properties are:

Parsley - increase strength, vitality and passion.Parsley is also supposed to protect food from contamination.🌿

Basil - helps steady the mind, brings happiness, love, peace, and money and protects against insanity.🌿

Marjoram - cleansing, purification, and dispelling negativity.🌿

Lavender -love, healing, purification, sleep and beauty.🌿

So that all herbs make my salt more magical and powerful!🌙🔮

I used mortar and pestle to mix that all.🌿After that I added my salt into glass jar and I left in on my altar🔮.

I will add my herbal salt to everything that I cook.

Also I will use it for my protection spells and rituals.🔮

My instagram - crystalia_witch

All pictures are mine.

With love,

Agata🎀

Altar Ideas

Hades - Cornucopia  - Silver/Gold dollars - Raw Gems/Minerals - Skulls/Bones - Mint - Daffodils - Poplar  - Screech Owls - Black Ram - Pomegranate - Asphodel Flower - Photos of passed loved ones - Pendulum (or preferred method of spirit communication) - Seeds - Candles (Black, silver, gold, red) Altar Ideas Amphitrite - Aphrodite - Apollo - Ares - Artemis - Asteria - Athena - Demeter - Dionysus - Hades - Hebe - Hekate - Hemera - Hephaestus - Hera - Hermes - Hestia - Khione - Nyx - Persephone - Poseidon - Selene - Zeus

ENDOSOMATIC

Prints