Witches Bottle

Witches Bottles are a magickal tool that have been found to date back all the way to the early 1500s. Widely used from the 1500-1700s, these tools were used mostly for protection. Witches Bottles were used to protect the witch, residents, and homes against any kind of negative energy attack such as spells and evil spirits. The bottles draw the energy into the bottle and keep it stuck there, instead of letting the energy strike its intended target.

Witches Bottles usually contained a personal item of the intended target such as blood, nail clippings, semen, or urine. This symbolized the intended target in the bottle, drawing the energy there instead of to the person or witch. Other items added were known as "nasties" such as broken glass, rusty nails, razor blades, etc that the energy would become stuck on, thus being contained in the bottle.

The longer the bottle remained hidden, the longer the bottle could continue to draw the negative energy and spirits into it and keep it contained. Witches went through great lengths to hide the bottles on their properties. Some were buried, or placed in hard to find places, others were even built into the structures of the houses such as in the walls or under the home's hearth.

Today Witches Bottles can be created for a number of different reasons, such as love or money drawing. You can place in the bottle anything that is symbolic to you that matches your intention for the bottle. Just as their are many paths in the Craft, so are there a multitude of ways you can create your bottle to meet your intention.

Here is the details of Witches Bottle for protection that I did today.

Items needed:

• Black candle
• Jar with lid or stopper
• Sage or cleansing incense
• Sea Salt
• Deity representation if you decide to work with one
• "Nasties" - such as pins, broken class, tacks, thorns, rusty or bent nails. Get creative!
• Personal items - urine (you can substitute vinegar for this), hair, nail clippings, saliva, blood, semen
• Protective Herbs - salt, bay leaves, black pepper, cloves, burdock root, lavender, St. John's Wort
• Crystals or stones that can be used for protection if you wish

Cleanse and consecrate your jar using the salt and sage, including the lid and inside of the jar. Start to add in your items such as the herbs, "nasties", and personal items filling the jar about half way. Then finish off with the urine (or whatever you choose to substitute). Place the lid or stopper onto the bottle and give it a good shake to mix all the items. Then seal with wax from the black candle. I also sealed it with the wax from my Archangel Michael candle to add his protective energy.

As you add the items and seal the bottle, call upon any deity or spirit you work with to aid you in making the bottle to protect your home and all who dwell within. I called upon Archangel Michael as he is who I work with when I need protection. Put your energy, intent and focus into making the bottle to protect you and your home.

At this time you can meditate on your intention of your bottle. Feel free to chant any words you wish to, or speak with spirit as you feel called to. Its not necessary to say anything, but if you feel drawn to then you should. You can even come up with a line of a spell for each item you put in, calling upon it's spirit or energy and asking it for protection. Such as "I call upon the spirit of Lavender. Please protect me and my home and all who reside within. So mote it be"

After sealing and meditating on the bottles intention, you can add runes or sigils for protection. If you have your own property bury this at one of the farthest corners from your front door. If you live in a condo or apartment with no yard, you can bury this in a flowerpot and keep near your front door or on a porch. Another option is to keep this hidden within your house somewhere near the front door or hearth.

You can recharge this bottle or make a new one at least once a year. The best time to do this would be during a waning moon phase, at night if you can. Its not that important to wait until a waning moon, as long as your intention is strong and focused.

The Temple of Apollo

I've recently felt very drawn to Apollo, and have been receiving many signs to connect to him. I never thought I'd be drawn to a Greek God, or anyone in the Greek pantheon. But after researching him more, he is a very great fit for me right now.

Apollo is a Sun God, and is also associated with healing, prophecies, music, poetry and more. The son of Zeus and Leto. Apollo has a twin sister, Artemis, who is known as a goddess of the moon.

Apollo has many female and male lovers. The story that really stuck out to me was his lover, Hyacinth. Hyacinth was a Spartan prince, and Apollo was very much in love with him. But so was the Greek god Zephyrus. While practicing throwing the discus, Zephyrus in a jealous rage redirected the discus that Apollo had thrown. It struck Hyacinth, killing him. Apollo created the flower of the same name in memory of his lover.

Apollo is most recognized by his bow and arrow or the musical instrument the lyre that he often carries. These are symbols of him being known for both archery and music.

You can call upon or honor Apollo through song, listening to music, writing, archery, spending time outdoors in the sunshine, or any kind of healing practice such as Reiki.

Pagan Blog Project

I just discovered and decided to join the 2014 Pagan Blog Project.

I will have to catch up on the first scheduled post assignments in the next couple of days.

New Moon Ritual to Selene

The first new moon of 2014 is today, the first of the year. Both symbolize letting go of stuck energy, welcoming in the new, and a time for new beginnings.

Here is a quick little spell/ritual to the moon goddess Selene (who I've felt very drawn to lately. I will be doing an upcoming post on her soon).

Go outside under the new moon, or near an open window to perform the spell/ritual. Light a white or silver candle to signify Selene. Cleanse the area with incense or sage. Spend some time meditating on Selene and new beginnings.

On what piece of paper write down something you wish to let go of in the new year, and on another piece of paper write down a goal or something you wish to bring into, your life or draw to you in the new year.

Take the first piece of paper with the thing you want to let go off. Spend some time meditating on the thing you wish to let go, why you want to let it go, and how your life will change once it has disappeared. Burn the paper and place it into a small bowl or cauldron. Thank Selene for helping you to let go of this.

Next grab the paper with the thing you wish to draw to you, or bring into your life. Meditate on that as well, thinking about how positive your life will grow as you bring this to you and into your life. Now burn this paper, thanking Selene for helping you to grow with this item/topic/thing into the coming year.

Mediate a little longer, on Selene and your wishes for the new year. Thank her for her help and guidance in the new year. Think about how as they are released to the universe and the smoke flows from the cauldron of the burning pieces of paper. Let the incense and candle burn a little while longer. Throw the ashes down the sink and run water over them.

January 1st New Moon is a Super Moon

Jan 1 is will be the first new moon of 2014. Both the New Year and the New Moon symbolize letting go of stuck energy, letting go of what is no longer serving you, and welcoming in the things you want to start fresh with. This is a time for new beginnings!

This moon is also a super moon, it will appear larger than normal but its only because the moon is closer to earth than normal. So the moon's effects on us and the Earth will be even stronger.

Moon Magic Activate!!

Candle Color Correspondence

I honestly don't remember where I found this, but this has been in my Book of Shadows for years. I thought I'd share it here. If anyone knows the originally source, please let me know and I'll give credit where it is due.

Proper colors for a spell
Make the work extremely well
This list will make your magick strong
So study carefully and long
The candle colors listed here
And all of your spells will bring you cheer
For lustful love and hot desire
Use a candle as red as fire
If tranquil peace you now pursue
Burn a bit of palest blue
For protection you may use the same
Likewise if you health is lame
Pink for Harmony and love
And perfect union from above
If to attract is your intent
Orange is what is heavens sent
If your hold on things go sour
Use purple to regain your power
To increase your bank account
Light green candles all about
To ground yourself and make it stick
Brown candles always do the trick
To organize use deepest blue
For stress relief a lavender hue
Use teal for balance, peach for friends
Black puts bad habits to an end
Use white if you must substitute
If contains all hues of colors suit
If you burn white instead, its true
You must concentrate on the proper hue
Use these wisely, learn them well
For each every time you spell
You weave a dream that you create
Into a realistic state
The Universe will not say no
But confusing it may cause you woe

History of the Yule Log

A Yule log is hard piece of wood, usually from an oak, birch or elm tree, that would be burned in the fireplace to celebrate Yule, the Winter Solstice, and Christmas Day.

This was originally a pagan tradition found in Northern Europe in places such as Germany, France and Great Britain. The tree was chopped down, and often the whole tree was brought into the house with some ceremony. Later it became just a piece of wood from the tree. The Yule log was representative of bringing the light into the house as part of celebrating the Winter Solstice. The Yule log was a symbol of light, representating that we are moving into a period of light and sun, as the days grow longer.

A piece of the log was always kept to be used to light next year's Yule log. The piece that was kept was also said to bless the household with protection and prosperity in the new year. The ashes from the fire were often used in plants and crops to bless them in hopes of producing great crops.

The Yule log later became an adorned piece of wood that often served as a table centerpiece (as seen above) or for people who did not have an hearth or fireplace in the house. A piece of wood is decorated with greenery, pinecones, etc and holes are drilled into the wood to hold three candles that are lit throughout Yule celebrations.

Happy Yule and Winter Solstice

I'm Back Witches!

Reclaiming this blog, and I have some cleaning up to do.

Super Moon

Tomorrow's Full Moon will be one of the biggest and brightest we've seen in a few years, also known as a "Super Moon" due to the fact that the Earth will be closer to the Moon that it has been awhile. The Earth, Moon, and Sun will all be in alignment, and the Moon will be at it's nearest approach to Earth.

Some believe that the effects of a "Super Moon" are responsible for the effects of Earth and it's tides, etc. Some even believe that recent earthquake and Tsunami in Japan were a direct effect of the Moon being so close to Earth and how it's gravitational strengths effect our planet.

So what does this mean for Magick? Well nothing really. However, this "Super Moon" full moon is known as the Worm Moon or the Sap Moon. The name Worm Moon comes from the fact that has the days get warmer and the ground thaws that Earthworms begin to make their appearance. The name Sap Moon comes from the fact that this is the time that trees are tapped for Maple Syrup.

Not only do we have a "Super Moon" and a beautiful Worm Moon Esbat to celebrate, but Sunday is also Ostara. Ostara is the Spring Equinox Sabbat that is named after the German Goddess of the Spring. This is a time to focus on the Spring, the Sun and new beginnings. I will be doing a separate upcoming post on Ostara! It's going to be a very magickal weekend!

Prosperity Ritual to Lakshmi

Well I didn't make it to the Open Circle meetup as I wanted to. Partially because I'm still too shy to venture into a spiritual place or setting with strangers, and partially because I didn't RSVP and the circle was filled.

So I decided to hold my own Prosperity Ritual to honor Lakshmi on the night of the Full Moon. Full Moon rituals are typically about taking things away, but as Friday is a sacred day for Lakshmi and the moon was not quite full, I thought it was a good time to do this.


I couldn't find any statues of Lakshmi on such short notice, so I printed out this picture and added it to this beautiful frame that was made in India.

Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of Abundance and Prosperity, and I honored her by thanking her for all the wonderful things she has brought into my life. I also asked to be showered with her gifts of love and abundance in the future, and spent some time meditating on what I hoped to manifest in the upcoming months as far as abundance and prosperity.

My mini Lakshmi altar all lit up! It defintely was a nice ritual, and I felt more comfortable doing this in my own home. The group I'm interested in has some upcoming events that I might join soon. I know it's time to venture out and meet others who are like minded as far as spirituality is concerned.

Imbolc Celebration

I know that when we are buried under as much snow as most of us seem to be, that it is hard to even think about Spring being right around the corner! But it is, only 50 something days!

Tuesday, February 1st marks the day of Imbolc. Imbolc is the perfect time to start thinking about the Spring that is ahead of us. Imbolc is often linked with the Celtic Goddess Brighid, who honors hearth and home. She is actually one of my patron deities, so this is a special holiday for me!

I find the perfect way to honor both Imbolc and Brighid is to do some Spring Cleaning! I deeply cleanse the house, casting out any negative energies that might have settled in for the Winter. Open up the windows and doors (if not too too cold) and let in some fresh air. Breathe new life into your home! Light candles and incense to not only freshen the air, but to help remove negative energies.

I decorate my home and altar with fresh white flowers! Corn dollies and Brighid's Cross are great things to add to your altar as well! I always have a Brighid's Cross on my altar in her honor throughout the year.

Typically, Imbolc is linked with lamb as well as Brighid. So most people will celebrate with a feast of lamb and other Celtic dishes. However, now that the husband and I are both Vegans, I'm not quite sure what kind of Imbolc feast we will come up with. We might just foucs on some traditional Celtic side dishes, with a Vegan twist!

I'll be sure to post pictures of my altar, feast etc on the actual day of Imbolc! How will you be celebrating?