IMBOLC RITUAL BATH

Imbolc, the Sabbat marking the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Solstice, is a quiet celebration for cleansing and nurturing the soul. Prepare this bath on Imbolc after sunset for a restorative bit of magic (and coincidentally softer skin). 

Items needed: 

• 1 cup whole powdered milk
• ½ cup honey 
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• large pieces of lemon peel 
• lavender essential oil
• clary sage essential oil 

Light several white candles while drawing a warm bath. Slowly add the powdered milk, and swirl the water until dissolved. Then add the honey, coconut oil, and lemon peels. Drop in the essential oils in equal amounts. 

Upon entering the bath, take a few minutes to center yourself in the water. Think about what issues from the previous calendar year are lingering around in your life that you would like to expel in the months going forward. Visualize the purifying energy of the white, restorative water flowing through your body and preparing you for the year ahead. If you wish for a simple protection measure after leaving the bath, rub a little extra coconut oil onto your skin. 

SELF LOVE BATH

It’s important to remember that you are loved. By the most important person there is: you, of course! If you need a little help with the loving-yourself part, this bath will definitely do the trick.

• 2 Parts Epsom Salts
• 1 Part Himalayan Pink Salt
• 3 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 1 Scoop of Coconut Oil
• Optional: A handful or lavender buds or pink rose petals

Draw your bath at the temperate you like best. Epsom salts will help relax your muscles while the coconut oil softens your skin. Let the aromatherapeutic benefits of lavender lighten you, and the pastel pink himalayan salt will hold in warmth and happiness. What can I say? You’re lovable!

BROKEN HEART BATH

• Add white rose petals, honeysuckle blossoms and rose attar to bath filled with water. substitute hydrosols with fresh flowers if necessary.
• Place a rose quartz large enough to not go down the drain in the bath too.
• Soak in the scented bath.
• Following the bath, carry the rose quartz with you. Sleep with it under your pillow until you don’t need it any more.

Helping one control their negative and intrusive thoughts

This spell is specifically for helping one control their negative and intrusive thoughts- it won’t completely get rid of them but it will help you acquire the strength needed to deal with them.

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YOU WILL NEED:

Chamomile (for protecting you and purifying your thoughts)

Rosemary (for warding off negativity) 

Bathtub filled with warm water

OPTIONAL:

Something to play calming music.

Candles (white)

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Fill the tub with warm water, as it’s filling undress yourself. Make sure to do so with care- if your negative thoughts revolve around your body ensure you focus on the parts you’re unhappy with.

Once the tub is filled to your liking sprinkle in the herbs- if you do not have the actual herbs incense, candles, oils, or even bubble bath will do.

Dim the lights or turn them off and light some candles. If you want you can now turn on your playlist of calming music- I personally recommend instrumentals so you don’t accidently start focusing on the words.

Get into the tub and place yourself in a comfortable position- I recommend either lying in the water or leaning against the back of the tub. Put yourself into a relaxed state and clear your mind- this may take some time. Focus on your breathing and your heartbeat.

Once you’re relaxed it’s time to begin. Place your hands on the surface of the water and close your eyes. You can either speak or think the following;

I will be safe
I will be at peace
Negative thoughts decay
Intrusive thoughts decease

Repeat as many times as you feel necessary.

Channel all your negative energy and force it out of your fingertips and into the water. Try to get out of the tub quickly after you finish, sitting in your own negative energy can be harmful.

Drain the tub and watch the water go down. Repeat the following until the water is gone;

As this water drains, as does my unwanted thoughts.

Once the water is all gone turn on the lights/ blow out the candles as you say in a strong voice;

As I have said, as it will be

DIY Himalayan Salt Bars

Pink Himalayan salt is known for doing wonderful things for the body and mind, as it contains 84 trace minerals and a unique ionic energy. It detoxifies, reduces soreness, regulates hydration, balances ph levels and strengthens the body. Himalayan salt soaks have become renowned as a way to relax while getting rid of toxins and improving circulation. I typically take showers over baths, so when I caught wind of Himalayan salt bars, I had to find out more. If you don’t have time for a soak, but still want to reap the healing benefits of salt, try out this easy recipe for Himalayan salt bars!

Find the recipe here.

BANISH NEGATIVE ENERGY SCRUB

• 1 part coffee grounds 
• 1 part sea salt 
• 1 part coconut oil
• dragon’s blood essential oil 
• sandalwood essential oil

Combine solid ingredients and coconut oil in a small dish and stir until you get a uniform consistency. Add in drops of essential oil to your desired fragrance strength. Scrub all over the body (avoiding the face) in a counterclockwise motion during a shower to rid yourself of negative energy.

Burn a tobacco, pine, or lemon scented candle during your prep and usage for an extra magical boost.

This works equally well for concealing other atypical aspects you might have - not just the fact that you practice witchcraft. Almanacs will tell you when the Moon is between Zodiac signs, as well - they will refer to it as being “Void of Course.” Normally, one wouldn’t work Lunar magic during this period, but it is traditional for witches to work magic that either requires extreme secrecy or is concerned with extreme secrecy during this period. There’s even stories about criminals committing crimes during these periods in order to conceal them metaphysically. Needless to say, please don’t commit any crimes after performing this spell.

WITCH TIP

Feel sick to your stomach? Have the WORST stomach bug on the planet? Dump a bowl of fresh mint and a few slices of ginger in the bath and then jump on in.

Seriously, it works wonders.

WITCH TIP!

After taking a bath, keep your feet in the water as it drains away. Visualize all your negative energy leaving your body slowly as the water drains away. It’ll leave you feeling light and refreshed!

WITCH TIP:

If you do a lot of bath spells, be sure to cleanse AND clean your bathtub often. You want to get rid of any excess energy, but also any remains and stains from any spells you’ve done.

Add Magic to Your Life during Fall

In the lead-up to and days following Samhain (Halloween) the veil between our world and the spiritual world is at it’s thinnest point. The whole season is ripe for strengthening magical intuitions – or beginning them. Sometimes the only problem is finding ways to keep the magic going all season long. Here are some of our favorite ideas: 

1.     Add some magical umph to your holiday recipes. This recipe here features pear, a known aphrodisiac, and walnuts, rumored to be associated with granting wishes. Serve some at a dinner party to start the holiday romance.

2.     We here at RW are known for our love of bath magic, and what better way than to make your own soap? This apple cider soap recipe is great for Samhain as apples are often used to honor the dead, and it also has ginger, known for drawing new experiences. 

3.     Make some stovetop incense. This recipe is for Samhain in particular and includes apples, rosemary, cloves, and other herbs that attract benevolent spirits to your home. Tweak around with the ingredients for other magical intentions!

4.     Sure, you could use a lighter to light your holiday fires, but why do that when you could make your own firestarters that smell like fall? Not only do they help get the fire going, but they’ll make your fire smell amazing with items like pine cones, which are known for promoting new beginnings and success.

5.     For anyone who’s legal, try adding some magic to your alcohol. This fall sangria recipe is for anyone that loves fruity, summery drinks and wants to move to a fall palette. Here, cranberries add some much needed protection to this yummy cocktail. 

6.     Fashion some magical candles out of extra pumpkins. Unless you don’t have a soul, you probably hoard small and tiny pumpkins around your house. Great for moon magic, making these adorable candles ensures that your fall impulse buys go to some good use. 

7.     In the case that you loved your stovetop incense so much that you wanted to drink it, make some delicious mulled wine! This recipe here includes oranges, rumored to make you appear more beautiful to others.

8.    For those that prefer to keep their pumpkins intact, try making some candles in jars instead. This recipe is modeled after chai, a favorite drink for fall, and features cardamom, another popular aphrodisiac, and nutmeg, often used to bring on luck.

9.     Make some smoke cleansing bundles for fall, if you can’t let go of traditional cleansing and incense methods. While this link contains several combinations, our favorite contains cinnamon, a general herb to enhance spirituality, and thyme, which attracts loyalty among one’s friends.

The Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows (BOS) is used to store information you’ll need in your magical tradition, whatever it may be. 

Many Pagans and Wiccans feel a BOS should be handwritten -this will not only transfer energy to the writer, but it also helps you to memorize the contents. (Make sure you write legibly enough that you’ll be able to read your notes during a ritual!) - but some use a computer to store information as well. 

Bear in mind that a BOS is considered a sacred tool, which means it is an item of power that should be consecrated with all of your other magical tools. 

To make your Book of Shadows, begin with a blank notebook. A popular method is to use a three-ring binder so items can be added and rearranged as needed. If you use this style of BOS, you can use sheet protectors as well, which is great for preventing candle wax and other ritual drippings from getting on the pages! 

Whatever you select, your title page should include your name. Make it fancy or simple, depending on your preference, but remember that the BOS is a magical object and should be treated accordingly. Many witches simply write, “The Book of Shadows of [your name]” on the front page.

What format should you use? Some witches are known to create elaborate Books of Shadows in secret, magical alphabets. Unless you’re fluent enough in one of these systems that you can read it without having to check notes or a chart, stick with your native language. While a spell looks beautiful written out in flowing Elvish script or Klingon lettering, the fact is that it’s just hard to read unless you’re an Elf or a Klingon.

When it comes to the contents of your personal BOS, there are a few sections that are nearly universally included.

• Laws of your coven or tradition: Believe it or not, magic has rules. While they may vary from group to group, it’s a really good idea to keep them at the front of your BOS as a reminder of what constitutes acceptable behavior and what doesn’t. If you’re part of an eclectic tradition that doesn’t have written rules, or if you’re a solitary witch, this is a good place to write down what YOU think are acceptable rules of magic;
• A dedication: If you’ve been initiated into a coven, you may want to include a copy of your initiation ceremony here. However, many Wiccans dedicate themselves to a God or Goddess long before they become part of a coven. This is a good place to write out who you are dedicating yourself to, and why;
• Gods and Goddesses: Depending on what pantheon or tradition you follow, you may have a single God and Goddess, or a number of them. Your BOS is a good place to keep legends and myths and even artwork concerning your Deity. If your practice is an eclectic blend of different spiritual paths, it’s a good idea to include that here;
• Correspondence tables: When it comes to spellcasting, correspondence tables are some of your most important tools. Phases of the moon, herbs, stones and crystals, colors – all have different meanings and purposes. Keeping a chart of some sort in your BOS guarantees that this information will be at the ready when you really need it;
• Sabbat rituals: The Wheel of the Year includes eight holidays for most Wiccans and Pagans, although some traditions do not celebrate all of them. Your BOS can include rituals for each of the Sabbats. Click here for more information.
• Other rituals: If you’ll be celebrating each full moon, you’ll want to include an Esbat rite in your BOS. You can use the same one each month, or create several different ones tailored to the time of year. You may also wish to include sections on how to cast a circle and Drawing Down the Moon, a rite that celebrates the invoking of the Goddess at the time of the full moon. If you’ll be doing any rites for healing, prosperity, protection, or other purposes, be sure to include them here;
• Herbs/Crystals: Ask any experienced Pagan or Wiccan about a specific herb or crystal, and chances are good that they’ll expound on not only the magical uses of them but also the healing properties and history of use. Herbalism and crystology are often considered the core of spellcasting, because plants and crystals are ingredients that people have used for literally thousands of years. Put together a section in your BOS for herbs, crystals and their uses. Click here and here for more information;
• Divination: If you’re learning about Tarot, scrying, astrology, or any other form of divination, keep information in here. When you experiment with new methods of divination, keep a record of what you do and results you see in your Book of Shadows.
• Sacred texts: While it’s fun to have a bunch of new shiny books on Wicca and Paganism to read, sometimes it’s just as nice to have information that’s a little more established. If there is a certain text that appeals to you, such as The Charge of the Goddess, an old prayer in an archaic language, or a particular chant that moves you, include it in your Book of Shadows;
• Magical recipes: There’s a lot to be said for “kitchen witchery,” because for many people, the kitchen is the center of hearth and home. As you collect recipes for oils, incense, or herb blends, keep them in your BOS. You may even want to include a section of food recipes for Sabbat celebrations. Click here for more information;
• Spell workings: Some people prefer to keep their spells in a separate book called a grimoire, but you can also keep them in your Book of Shadows. It’s easier to keep spells organized if you divide them up by purpose: prosperity, protection, healing, etc …

The biggest dilemma with any Book of Shadows is how to keep it organized. You can use tabbed dividers, create an index at the back, or if you’re really super-organized, a table of contents in the front. As you study and learn more, you’ll have more information to include (this is why the three-ring binder is such a practical idea).

Keep in mind that as our technology is constantly changing, the way we use it does too - there are people who keep their BOS completely digitally on a flash drive, their laptop, or even stored virtually to be accessed by their favorite mobile device. A BOS pulled up on a smart phone is no less valid than one copied by by hand in ink onto parchment.

You may want to use one notebook for information copied from books or downloaded off the Internet, and another for original creations. Regardless, find the method that works best for you, and take good care of your Book of Shadows. After all, it’s a sacred object and should be treated accordingly!

Book of Shadows consecrating ritual

You can consecrate your new Book of Shadows and Pen(s) of Art with a simple ritual:

On the night of a New Moon, cast a Circle as you feel comfortable doing, and gather together your book and pen(s), along with a blessed bowl of water, inside the circle. By candlelight, consecrate your writing equipment by holding your hands out, palms down, over the equipment and saying words like these:

Book of Shadows, leaves of white
Pen of Art with point so fine
Soon be filled with Sabbat rite
Magick charm and chanted spell.
Day by day and night by night,
White pages pen of art will fill.

Then anoint each pen, book, etc. with a symbol of your choosing (Pentagram, Crescent Moon, etc.) saying something like:

From this night of the moon,
I dedicate this book and this pen (etc.)
To the Mysteries of the Ancient Ways.
As I will, so mote it be!

Now inscribe the first page of the book with its title, whatever you choose to call it, using your Pen of Art. Below the title write the date in Pagan terms like “The third night of the Wolf Moon, 1999,” - whatever the date is, along with whatever you feel should be there along with the title.

CRYSTAL DIRECTORY

Here you will find an in depth list of crystals and gemstones. Every page will include their chemical composition, colours, deposits, hardness, density, etymology, therapeutic uses and zodiac correspondence for each crystal or gem.

AgateAlabaster
Amazonite
Amber
Amethyst
Ametrine
Andalusite
Aquamarine
Aragonite
Aventurine
Azurite
Beryl
Calcite
Carnelian
Celestine
Chalcedony
Chrysoberyl
Chrysocolla
Crysolite
Chrysophrase
Citrine
Coral
Crystal: Cathedral Crystal, Herkimer Crystal, Phantom Crystal, Rainbow Crystal, Rock Crystal, Scepter Crystal
DiamondEmerald
Fluorite
Garnet
Gem Salt
Heliotrope
Hematite
Iolite
Jade
Jasper
Jet
Kunzite
Labradorite
Lapis Lazuli
Magnesite
Magnetite
Malachite
Meerschaum
Mica
Moldavite
Moonstone
Nephrite
Obsidian
Olivine
Onyx
Opal
Orpiment
Pearl
Peridot
Pyrite
Rhodochrosite
Rhodonite
Rose Quartz
Ruby
Sapphire
Silicified Wood
Smoky Quartz
Sodalite
Sulfur
Sunstone
Tanzanite
Tiger’s Eye
Topaz
Tourmaline
Turquoise
Zirconium  

Self Love / Banish Negativity Spell

This is going to be a spell for bringing about self love and banishing negativity around yourself.

What you will need:
▪ A black candle
▪ White sage
▪ Oil of your choice (I’ll be using peppermint)
▪ Incense stick of your choice (I’ll be using white lotus)
▪ Optional: rose quartz

This spell is best performed outside, under the moonlight.

Steps:
1. The night before, charge the rose quartz in the moonlight, should you choose to use it.
2. Anoint your candle with the oil of your choice. Choose an oil that will bring positivity/banish negativity.
3. Place the candle in front of you, and sprinkle the white sage in a circle around it.
4. Place the incense of your choice before the circle of white sage, either in a holder or in the ground.
5. Light both the candle and the incense.
6. Holding the rose quartz, meditate. Focus on the flame of the candle, and the scent of the incense. Let the smoke bless you. Let the candle absorb the negativity. Feel the bad energy leaving your body with each breath. Allow only good energy to flow into your body.

Once you feel full of light, and free from the negativity, meditate for a few minutes. After doing so, you may snuff out the candle. Let the incense burn itself out.

Witchy Activities!

A list I comprised of things to do when you’re feeling passionate about your witchiness, but are not looking to do spells or rituals etc! I get this all the time, so I thought perhaps others do to! Some will be more basic then others, but I hope to inspire! Feel free to send in suggestions to my ask box for me to add to the list! I’ll update this whenever I can!

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• Collect some interesting sticks (from the ground, preferably) and wrap them in colourful string or wire, perhaps add feathers or crystals! Make into a wand? An altar decoration?
•  Write witch-inspired poetry or stories, or create art based on your craft.
• Take a walk in nature and listen and look out for your native birds and other wildlife! Keep an ongoing record of what you see, perhaps in your BOS/grimoire? Or make a chart of wildlife you expect to see in your area, with identification methods and pictures which you’ve drawn yourself or taken from books/internet?
• You can always add more to your BOS/Grimoire! (We’re all good at putting it off, through fear of “messing it up”) This video, was a great help for me!
• Create a witchy wardrobe by going through your clothes and making mysterious outfits! Or visit charity shops and find inexpensive pieces?
• Moderately and ethically, collect flowers and leaves to press and stick in your BOS! Pressing flowers instructions
• There’s always more research to do and books to read! Check out your local libraries’ collection of books on the occult, witchcraft, paganism etc or even broader subjects like herbs and crystals?
• Help your local community look after nature! Collect rubbish, volunteer at animal shelters etc?
• Make sigils! Add them to your BOS? Draw them on yourself (with correct ink) or on paper? Store them to charge later?
• Write spiritual chants or songs for your craft! Use an instrument, if you play one?
• General crafting with nature’s bounty! This could be helpful
• Create mystical or natural jewellery! Or maybe a pendant? Here’s an idea
• Terrariums are a beautiful way to keep a bit of nature inside your bedroom! Here’s some instructions
• Create ornamental or potent crystal arrangements! Perhaps on your altar?
• Decorate or redecorate your altar space to match the season!
• Gardening or planting! Water your indoor/outdoor plants? Have they got enough sunlight?
• Make leaf art! Press them, draw on them, cut them into shapes, arrange them in patterns?
• Join a club or class for anything new that interests you! Eg, glass blowing? Pottery? Cooking? Cards? Skills which you could easily incorporate into your craft!
• If you work with deities, why not give them an offering? Something physical like a food offering or perhaps something less physical like a poem?
• Decorate a notebook cover, plant pot, vase, plate etc or even your body (with suitable ink) with symbols and sigils which promote an emotion or action! Luck? To grow well? To prosper?
• They’ll always be a baby witch online you can offer advice to! Or perhaps in real life at a local spiritual event?
• Make a chart on the identification of clouds! Because why not? Impress your friends with your wealth of information on clouds!
• Plan out your altar space or ritual for the next sabbat!
• Dry and bottle useful herbs, plants and flowers you might need for a spell or ritual coming up! Or perhaps as a gift, charged with helpful energies? Perhaps make ordained labels?
• Create a dream diary! Bonus points for trying to work out their meaning!
• Create a witchy music playlist! For meditation? Or magickal workings?
• Collect rainwater, because they’ll always be a use! In spells? Watering your indoor plants without using a tap? Some ideas
• Learn a new skill within the craft, eg divination methods, herbalism etc
• Visit charity shops to find inexpensive hidden gems! Interesting old books? Jewellery? Possible athames/bolines and chalices! You’ll be supporting a charity too!
• Make a wild flower section in your garden to encourage bees and insects to thrive, depending on the time of year! Or even a herb garden!
• Find some witch shops near you! They’ll be thankful for the business and you never know who you’ll meet!
• Find a tree close to you and use it to observe the Wheel Of The Year! Try to not pick an evergreen for the changes will be harder to note. If it’s in your garden or a public place, perhaps meditate by it? Sketch it’s changes? Research its magickal attributes, folklore or medicinal properties? What Deity is associated with it? It might even provide you wand! (Concept borrowed from Kate West’s The Real Witches’ Handbook)

🌛IMPORTANT WITCH TIP🌜

In old recipes and spells, strange ingredients are often called for such as “Eye of Dog” or “Bone of a Dead man.” Through research (of Cunnigham and my Grandma) I found out what’s REALLY being requested.😊 .

Examples:

Eyes: Eyebright or Daisy
Blood: Sap
Fingers: Cinquefoil
Hair: Maidenhair Fern
Skin of a Man: Fern
Piss: Dandelion
Bloody Fingers: Foxglove
Unicorn Horn: Unicorn Root

So when these animals are asked for, use this herb instead:

Sheep: Dandelion
Dog: Couchgrass
Lamb: Lamb’s Lettuce
Cat: Catnip
Rat: Valerian
Weasel: Rue
Nightingale: Hop
Cuckoo: Plantain
Hawk: Hawkweed
Linnets: Eyebright
Woodpeckers: Peony
Snake: Fennel or Bistort
Frog: Cinquefoil
Toad: Sage
Lizard: Calamint.

FUN FACT: When a sacrifice is called for, it means you should bury an egg, NEVER does it mean to kill any living thing!!!

HERBAL CODE:
The part called for in a recipe means the part of the herb to be used, as follows;

Head: the flower
Paw, foot, leg, scale: leaf
Tooth: leaf, seed pod
Guts: root or stalk
Tail: stem
Tongue: petal
Privates: seeds
Hair: the dried version of the herb
Eye: the inner blossom
The heart: the bud or a big seed.

A lot of plants like Crowfoot or Cat’s Tail are usually found in old recipes, do not mistake them for actual animal parts! Practice safely and have a Blessed Evening! 🌛🌝🌜

**Find My Kind** Spell

Here is a simple spell I thought I’d share for attracting like-minded people and luring towards yourself more genuine friends/friendships.

Quick Tip: A cup of Chamomile or Mint tea would be quite nice to start, finish or to drink throughout this spell, as chamomile is good for abundance and mint attracts prosperity.

Ingredients:

Basil  - crushed, powdered, plain, whatever!
Rose or Clear Quartz (alternative = silver coin)
Vanilla Essence or Oil
Lavender -  sprigs or powdered, doesn’t matter.
A Candle  - white is great. so is orange or brown.
A Pen  -  green, orange or red would be best.
An Envelope
A Piece of Paper

Method:

1. Keep the quartz in your possession throughout the spell - in a pocket or next to the candle is fine.

2. Dab the vanilla essence in the four corners of your piece of paper.

3. Draw 3 circles/suns on the piece of paper with your pen, interlocking with each other like in this picture:

– write your full name in the middle section outlined here in red.

4. If you want, you can write on the other side of the paper the qualities you want the people you attract to have. A similar sense of humour, loyalty, any particular appreciations/hobbies etc.

5. Fold up the piece of paper and put it in an envelope along with the basil and lavender.

6. Pass the envelope through the flame of the candle as many times as you wish (if in a circular manner, aim it to be clockwise) and repeat this mantra:

I call upon my people
Listen to my voice
The blood that runs through all our veins
Will now give us no choice

Now is the time
For us to be bound
To attract like to like and within each other
Our light shall be found

I call my kin
Come to my side
Let our minds intermingle
Let our lives intertwine

– Repeat the last phrase as much as you like.
3 or 9 times would work quite well, but it’s up to you.

7. You may decide to burn the envelope - if this is what you choose, then wrap the ashes in a lettuce leaf and bury it in a flourishing garden or at the base of a big, old tree. If you do not want to burn the envelope, kiss it and bury it in your garden, close to your front door or at the roots of a large tree.

8. Keep the quartz on or around you when going to meet new people, or if you’re feeling in the mood to meet new people. If you don’t want to wear it on your person then keeping it in the bedroom or near the phone or computer should be fine as well.

Good times to perform this spell: Waxing Moon or Midday

Red Brick Dust

”Red brick dust got it’s beginning and associated power in an abandoned brick yard on Dumaine Street in New Orleans. This was common place for Voodou Queens to gather and hold ritual. Repeated police raids on the brickyard drove the practitioners to Bayou St.John and Lake Pontchartrain.“

Brick Dust is an amazing tool to have in your Witchy cabinet. Practitioners in Hoodoo use it for protection against curses, evil, bag juju, crossing, The works. They do this by creating “Reddening” mixtures (Brick Dust, Ammonia, Urine) and using it to scrub the entry of their home. The same can be done with just the dust. Sprinkle some on your windows, Under Rugs, Outside the home, Or in cleaning solutions. 

Photo Credit, And Quoted History 

http://conjuredcardea.indiemade.com/product/red-brick-dust-old-hoodoo-secret-voodoo-witchcraft-protective-barrier-and-wash-will-not-allo

Question though - Since red brick dust began with and is mostly associated witch / used in practices related to voodoo and hoodoo, is it even appropriate to use it for witchcraft outside of those traditions?

Serious question. Because voodoo and hoodoo get their shit ganked an awful lot by pagans who think their practices are open for use by anyone.

Good question...

Hello! Vodou does not really employ red brick dust much–red bricks don’t really exist in Haiti, so it’s more of a *new* new world kind of thing. ‘Voodoo queen’ stuff is mostly modern invention as well.

I think how folks frame what they use is important. Conjure/hoodoo is not a closed magical tradition–it doesn’t require iniatuon–but it *is* a culturally based one and thus has cultural context to consider. Conjure is rooted in African-American southern culture, and so it’s good to examine how and what you are using.

However, red bricks are readily available and crushing them to powder does not require special cultural understanding. You might not do it the same way an African-American worker might, but as long as you aren’t claiming that you are or aren’t claiming that what you do is African-American conjure, then crush your bricks and protect your home.

If that is not comfortable, remember that folk magic is pragmatic magic. The function of red brick dust doesn’t exist because the bricks are red or are specifically bricks, but how they are made–heated at high temperatures to withstand damage–and what they do–build walls that keep things out or keep structures standing. Plenty of other materials do those same things and could be used similarly, but are not part of conjure. As an aside, this is often why people say use old bricks–you are getting a brick that has done it’s job, versus a brick that sat on Home Depot’s shelf for weeks.

Specific to the OP with regards to appropriation, the link leads to a store run by someone who has been called out over and over and O-V-E-R for their appropriation of items from African and African-derived religions that they do not have license to create or sell. She has claimed that she doesn’t believe she needs license to make or sell things like Eleggua heads or what she passed off as pakets/paket Kongo, and had basically refused to be an ethical retailer. So, if you need red brick dust, either find a better retailer or hunt down some bricks!

Thank you very much for the clarification!

Ancestors: What Types there are and How to work with them

Introduction:

What is Ancestral Veneration

Ancestral Veneration is one of the most ancient religious and spiritual practices.  The respect and belief in an afterlife as well as honoring ancestors can be traced back to paleolithic mankind.   It is believed that honoring our ancestors was the first religious and spiritual form of ritual work.  From ways the dead were buried to views of the afterlife ancestors and the dead were never far from the mind of our paleolithic ancestors, and for some this truth remains today.

Ancestral veneration is not worshiping our ancestors, at least not in the common sense of worship. Ancestral veneration is more like honoring the dead in a respectful way.  Its a belief that they are still with us in a spirit form.  That they can hear us and can effect our lives from the other side.  Its a belief that our ancestors like other spirits can help us become the best person we can be and to live the life that we really want and desire.

There are exchanges of offerings and gifts.  This isn’t worship.  In some ways I think of it like when I put a flower on my ancestors grave.  Its giving something to them to signify that you remember them and care for them.  These gifts can be basically anything.  Though some cultures do have rules against some items being given to different spirits.
In some cultures flowers are only for the dead and it’s ok to leave offerings to the dead till they rot as this signifies they have taken everything.  In other cultures and practices only water is offered to the dead.   Even Christianity has mention of the value of prayer for the dead.  Working with and honoring our ancestors is a powerful spiritual path and there are many ways to go about it.

The act of the gift and the offering is the important thing though.  Its through these exchanges that relationships with our ancestors can develop and grow.  Its believed that a gift will ensure a gift.  Its also believed that because the dead and our ancestors are beyond the veil they have access to energy and powers of the universe that we don’t so by asking them to help us in our work and our lives they can tap into those energies for us.  Granted they dont help us unless we help ourselves.  So the gifts symbolize our part to do our work.

Many religions and traditions have celebrations and days of the dead.  Halloween, All saints and All Souls day,  Samhain, Dia de los Muertos(Mexican Day of the dead), The Bon Festival (Japan), and Pitru Paksha (Fortnight of the Ancestors-Hindu) are different festivals in different cultures.  They have one thing in common.  They are all festivals to honor the dead and the ancestors.  These are only a handful of celebrations that exist to celebrate ancestors and the dead.  The point is that the concept of honoring the dead is still alive and well in this world today.

The practice of honoring the dead is starting to become more common in Pagan practices today as well.  Part of that is that many of us are reclaiming this practice.  It was a part of ancient pagan traditions, so the practice was largely destroyed in the west.  For many reclaiming ancestral veneration as a part of our practice not only connects us to our more recent ancestors and keeps our passed loved ones in our lives, but it also allows us to reach the deepest ancestors we have which can be powerful guides for those starting down pagan paths.

Personal Development of Ancestor work

One of the reasons I am writing this post today is in honor of a new ancestor.  A loved one of mine has just crossed the veil.  It is this passing that has once again made me think about working with my ancestors and how is really always been a central part of my practice.  I haven’t always considered the contact with my ancestors and the shrines to my past loved ones ancestral veneration.  I thought it was simply remembering them and keeping them alive.

Ancestor veneration is a large part of my practice and spiritual work.  My ancestors have a lot to teach me.   I have an ancestor altar that I pray at everyday. While it is a strong part of my practice these days, ancestral veneration and honoring has not always been a large part of my path.  In fact it was at one point something I really only did on the festival of the dead (Samhain) as that was the focus.  I thought that was really all that was needed, and at the time maybe that was for my best.

When I started to practice witchcraft I had recently lost my Grandmother.  Many of the psychics and readings I had done at the time confirmed that she was staying close to me as a spirit guide (I was having dreams of her). So I started working with my ancestors through a single ancestor as a spirit guide.  That was 17 years ago.  Now I have an altar to all my ancestors as I have learned that any of our ancestors can be our guides and guardians.

Originally I didn’t offer any prayers, or much to my ancestors.  I would simply say hello to them when I needed to feel their presence.  I had a place of memory for them where I could see them and keep them in my life.  Then when I started to explore traditional witchcraft as a religious and spiritual practice I heard of the concept of giving them offerings and having shrines and altars to them.  So I created one and started an ancestral prayer working.

The practice with ancestral veneration got even deeper when I started to explore Germanic paganism and found I had Germanic ancestry.  When I read how they honored their ancestors and the powers of wyrd and Oorlog I decided that I had to develop my relationship even further.  So I started to work them into Germanic rites and rituals through the phrases “The Alfar and the Disir”

There was a time when I stopped practicing basically everything.  Then I started to explore Hoodoo.  My interest and desires to understand magic and witchcraft returned.  Through this I found more focus on ancestors and honoring your culture.  I found that ancestors will be powerful allies in spells as well as in meditations and trance work.  So through Hoodoo my work with my ancestors started to develop further and I learned new prayers to use for my ancestors.

Now today I have a prayer I say to them every morning and I have a prayer I say every evening to my ancestors.  I give them offerings when I perform rituals and I invite them into my ritual circles.  They have a part of my day to day life and my spiritual life. I couldn’t imagine my spiritual work without my ancestors at all.  They are always there for me and they always will be.  I may not be able to physically hold them and see them, but when I need them I can feel them and I know they are always there for me.

The types of ancestors:

Being adopted my ancestors actually come in different forms and types.  Not all of my ancestors are of the blood.  Some are of the spirit and some are of the heart.  I have legal blood ancestors and blood ancestors.  I have ancestors in all of my families that I don’t know but are my allies through the bonds of the heart and the spirit.  I even have ancestors that are not really in my family at all but are in my spiritual family. All of these ancestors have roles to play in my life and I honor them all.

I dont consider ancestors limited to just the blood and the heart though.This post is going to discuss the different ancestors I have through my adoption and my spiritual practices and how I can honor and work with each of them.  For the longest time I didn’t engage in ancestral veneration because of my adoption.  I wasn’t sure if I should honor my ancestors of my adoption, my foster family, or my biological family.  Thinking about this also was painful so while I wanted to honor my ancestors I didn’t go about it until I had answered my confusion.

How I came to see the types of Ancestors

That was how I came to see the different ancestral lines.  One year I went to the local Pagan Pride day.  I typically attend a few of the workshops that go on.  This year there was one about ancestral work and contacting your ancestors.  The key component of that workshop was a meditation on ancestral lines.  During this meditation I saw three lines of ancestral blood flowing from my body.  There was a fourth that was some what gray at the time and today its now clear.

It was then I knew that I was to honor all of my ancestors.  Those of my foster family, my blood or biological family, and my adoptive family.  It was through this work that I came to see that there are many different types of ancestors and that not everyone will have access to blood ancestors.  Through these meditations and concepts I came to see that there are
four primary types of ancestral allies: You have your ancestors of the Blood, your ancestors of the heart, and the ancestors of the spirit.  Adoptive ancestors are actually a mixture of two types which I will get into in the next sections as well as being their own type of ancestor.

Ancestors of The Blood

Every one is familiar with the concept of blood ancestors.  These are those of your family or blood line that goes back generations.  These are the strongest allies that one can have.  These are the ancestors that everyone thinks about when they think of ancestors.  Ancestors of the blood also include ancestors gained through marriage and long term committed relationships.  When I got engaged to my fiance his ancestors joined mine and mine his.  We are a family unit.  These ancestors go back generations on each side.  So the lines of blood ancestors are very long.

These are the strongest allies that you can have as a spirit.  They are the ones that have your best interest at heart.   Through the strands of Fate, and the workings of Wyrd we are always directly connected to our ancestors.  Our actions reflect them as much as their actions reflect on us.  So we need to honor them in our lives and we need to keep them close to us.  Before any other spirit is petitioned the ancestors will work stronger for you and faster for you. There is little that is stronger than the power of the blood.

Adoptive Ancestors

For me I also have my adoptive ancestors,  These are the ancestors of my adoptive family.  They are the family that raised me and that belongs to me.  In ancient cultures at times the roles of the blood ancestors would be replaced by the foster and or adoptive family.  In my case I never considered them to replace the blood ancestors at all.  I considered them additional ancestors that I was blessed to have.

We have no physical blood that ties us.  However to all of the world and all legal meanings they are my flesh and blood.  That is how I feel about them as well.  In all honesty at times they are more my family than my blood and biological family simply because I have minimal contact and my relationship with that family is in its infancy (until recently was non existent).  Which is why they are both ancestors of the blood and of the heart.  The time that they spent raising me and being involved in my life can not be undone.

They gave their blood, sweat, and tears to me.  They are for my my most powerful allies.  They have been there for me more than the blood ancestors.  They were the first ancestors I have contacted and they were the first ones to make themselves known to me.  This is the ancestral line that has been the strongest for me.  My blood ancestral work is focused on more ancient pagan ancestor while my adoptive ancestral work is more with Saint and angel work (Hoodoo influences as well).

It is because my adoptive Ancestors gave so much of their blood, sweat, and tears into my life and that they took me in they are also ancestors of the heart.  They are of the blood because of the family ties and concepts but of the heart because there is no physical blood.  Its a spiritual and memory based blood love.  The bond of the heart here shows how even just being in a family for a short while can create strong family bonds.

Ancestors of the Heart

Those of the heart are the family that has passed that are not connected through marriage or blood or even legal adoption.  In my case this is where my foster family lies.  They did not adopt me but are still my family.  I have lost several members of that family and they were all close to me.  They are now my ancestors and they watch over me.  Our bond is somewhat stronger than blood or law.

These ancestors are some of my more recent ancestors.  It was my Uncle Cleve’s passing which made me think about ancestors.  He was my foster uncle and is an ancestor of my heart.  His two brothers are also my ancestors here.  I have a Grandfather here as well.  To them and to me the fact that I did not live with them, and was not legally a part of the family after my adoption never mattered.  I never stopped being their family.  That is what the ancestors of the heart are all about.

The ancestors of the heart are those that have passed on we considered family even if there was no blood between you.  These can be friends you thought of as brothers and sisters, close friends and even those who you would consider “father"or “mother” figures.  If you feel that they were and are apart of your family in your heart than they are your family and are your ancestors.  Never let anyone else tell you any different.

Ancestors of the Spirit:

Finally there are ancestors of the spirit. For me I consider any Occultist, Witch, and Magician who worked hard to preserve the magical and spiritual arts are my spiritual ancestors.  Even though I dont agree with all of their teachings and philosophies people like Gerald Gardner, Aliester Crowley, Doreen Valiente, Scott Cunningham, and many others put a lot of work into making magical spirituality acceptable and part of our day to day lives again.  Those are a few of my spiritual ancestors as a witch based on the practices I have taken into my practice.

As I explore Hoodoo and other magical systems other spiritual ancestors will come into my practice.  For example Marie Laveau is a famous Hoodoo worker in New Orleans.  In some respects I could consider her a spiritual ancestor.  Other ancestors in the case of Hoodoo would in general be any one who struggled to keep African American spiritual heritage alive through Hoodoo and Rootwork.  When a teacher passes I would add them to the spiritual ancestors as well.

You can also have ancestors of the spirit when you are spiritually adopted into a tradition.  There are many religions and paths where they are only open to people of a specific culture.  Occasionally through the practice of spiritual adoption outsiders are initiated and welcome into that spiritual family.  The ancestors of your initiator in these situations become your ancestors and guides as well.  It is a spiritual family you have entered into and like all families they will help you and work with you if you honor them as taught.

Working with your ancestors

Now that we have covered the types of ancestors out there and I have mentioned the importance of working with your ancestors its time to actually start thinking about how we can work with them.  Why do we work with them, and what the best ways of working with them are.

There are two primary ways aside from meditation and spirit travel work that a person can work with their ancestors.  These two forms are the altar and prayers.  They work well together and serve as a starting point for building power with your ancestral allies.  Unless one is experienced in astral travel and spirit communication using those tools right away to work with your ancestors is not the best of ideas.  Prayers and altar work are all you really need.

The altar

Really when it comes to working with your ancestors the only real must do I have found is having an altar of some sort where you can offer prayers and other items to them as you get to know them.  These altars can evolve and change over time. The point of the altar is to serve as a focal point in your work.  The altar is a place for you to offer your prayers and your gifts to them.

Your altar doesn’t need to be fancy.  Many people start off not knowing any of their ancestors. In which case a candle, a cup for water, and a plate for offerings is all you would need to contact them.  If you know your passed on loved ones and you have photos of them you can and should add those photos to the altar.

The altar also serves as a place of remembrance of the dead.  So its a place to put items that make you think of your ancestors as well as their photos.  You want it to look nice and appealing.  This is going to be their home for you in your house and their place in your life.  So its also important to keep the altar neat looking.

There are no limits on your ancestral altar.  Let their spirits come through.  There are reasons for the symbols I have placed on my altars.  They grew as my focus and my relationships grew.  One thing has always been common though-the focus has been on remembering them and keeping their memories alive in my life.

Ancestral Prayers

The best way to work with your ancestors even before starting an altar is simply to pray to them.  Prayers to your ancestors aren’t really any different than prayers for gods and spirit guides.  You are simply having a conversation with your ancestors.  Prayers are how we can communicate with them directly and its our best way to communicate with them.  They can communicate with us in different ways (dreams, scents, meditations, sudden insights etc) but we can really only speak to them through prayers.

The easiest prayer is simply:
“Blessed Ancestors I welcome you into my life.  May you bless and guide me and may you teach me what you yourself can”

That’s all your prayers to your ancestors need to be.  You dont need to praise them.  You don’t need to have a fancy invocation.  You simply can address them as your ancestors and they will listen to you.  You dont even really need to ask for a blessing.  You could simply say something along the lines of:
“Good Morning Ancestors.  I welcome you this day”.

All you are doing with your prayers is acknowledging that they exist and that they are apart of your world.  By giving them a simple welcome everyday you will start to feel their presence build up.  You will begin to know them and feel them like you do can with other spirits and beings that you work with.  The more attention you give them the more you will notice them.

Prayers can be more complex and verbose.  My personal prayers evolved from a simple Hello and welcome to a full blessing and daily petition for them to be here.  There is a bit of praise and there is a bit of thanks.  These prayers are offered twice daily.  I feel that they flowed from me into the written form when I was channeling spirits and writing prayers for them.  My ancestors let me know what they wanted.

Offerings and Gifts

The final way that we can work with our ancestors is in offerings and gifts.  These gifts are ways that we say thank you and show our appreciation to them.  There are many ways types of gifts that can be given to our ancestors.   You can give your ancestor basically anything you would give yourself or a person.  They are still family and they are still people.

For myself I consider flowers on graves a gift to them.  I also place flowers on the altars every so often as remembrances of them.  I try and give them their favorite flowers.  I also try and give them their favorite things.  For my grandmother I will think of her when I go bowling and send her some of that energy as play and a memory of our times together.

On holidays I will set aside a portion of the food on my plate for my ancestors.  I will let it sit till the end and eat that last.  They eat the essence of that portion while I eat my meal.  When I have finished the portion for me they will have had their fill and I can take nourishment from the food.  Other cultures burn food offerings to ancestors and spirits.  Some burry the food in the yard.   Other throw it into the woods for animals to eat.

There are some taboos in various cultures about what can and can’t be given to ancestors and the dead.  If you belong to a specific culture, religion, and or tradition I suggest that you look into ways that they honor the dead.  By honoring the traditions of your culture, your religion and your tradition you are honoring your ancestors in that way as well.   These traditions after all were ancestral in many cases.

Conclusion:

This post has covered my own discovery into the importance of ancestral veneration.  It has covered the types of ancestors and a few of the ways that we can work with our ancestors.  Your ancestors are part of who you are.  They are powerful allies that can teach you things you wouldn’t imagine and who can be there for you in ways none else can.   Your ancestors are still here in this life and in this world just in a different form.

There are many ways to work with them.  Once you start working with them you will find that there are many more ways and reasons to work with them.  I’ve been working with my ancestors actively for several years and my relationships with them continue to grow and develop.  I am constantly learning new reasons to honor them and new ways of working with them.  The more I learn the more I realize there is to learn.

These allies seem to be the ones that develop the most as I develop spiritually.  The more I understand spiritual and magical practices the stronger they seem to become and the more things we seem to be able to so together.  Its my hope that any one who has read this will start to develop their own relationships with their ancestors and start to find the power and comfort in ancestral grace and guidance.