1. Check the syllabus. I cannot stress this enough. In the syllabus you will find the objectives of the course you are taking. These are very important because more often than not, the exam questions are based off these objectives. So, if you know what the objectives are, you will be able to clearly identify these when the professor is examining these in the lecture.
2. Read the summary. Textbooks nowadays have a summary at the end of each chapter. I totally recommend to check this summary as it gives the most important points and it gives you an overview of the chapter. Having this overview, is essential because you will have an idea how everything connects to one another without reading the chapter. In the lecture, professors actually give you a summary of the chapter. So, when you know in advance what points the professor is likely to teach at the lecture, the easier it will be on which of the summary points the professor is focusing more.
3. Ask your professor to give you a nutshell of the lecture. Believe me, it works. Professors are willing to help you and it works well as a quick recap too. This has saved me many times and it’s more time effective, as I don’t try to learn the entire book but instead the most important points and then I fill in the gaps.
4. Write the main points down. For this, I like using the Cornell Method. I write it after the lecture is finished so the points are still fresh in my mind. And if I forget something, I still get the chance to ask the professor. This is important because we are retrieving the information from our brain, which is exactly what you do in an exam. The more concrete the points are, the better. I’ve always been an advocate of taking as little notes as possible in the class because in order to truly understand the material, it is better to actively engage with it and you’ll remember better (at least for me).
Recap: Before going to class, you want to check your syllabus and read the summary in order to get an overview and identify the main points of the subject. When the lecture is done, ask your professor for a quick recap, so you can see what the professor thinks are truly the most important parts. And last but not least, write the points down so you don’t forget.
*** This spell is meant for increasing the bond of a previously established relationship. This spell won’t create a relationship that was not previously there.***
CHANT:
Like a bee to a flower, we need to be lovers, one cannot live without the other, and should it be found that we are apart, we’ll be connected at the core of our hearts. For I am your one and you are to mine, forever and always, together in time.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1. A purple candle 2. A gold thread/string
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO DO:
1. Light the purple candle. 2. The gold thread will be a representation of your bond. Wrap it around your candle and tie a knot ONLY ONCE while repeating the chant. 3. Keep this candle at your bedside or somewhere in the room that you share with your partner. You can keep the candle lit as long as you would like but you can blow out the candle once the knot has been tied. 4. Every night, simply light the candle and retighten the knot. This represents strengthening the bond of your relationship continuously. Because relationships are a continuous effort, they must be continuously strengthened. You may retighten throughout the day if necessary. Repeat the chant while doing this as often as you can (kind of like singing during any task). ***OPTIONAL: You may engrave a sigil of Strength into the side of the candle***
Blessed be.
YULE Altar ideas: Put mistletoe and pine on your altar; put a candle up there to represent the Sun; keep your Yule log on your altar; use symbols of the Sun; decorate with red, green, white, blue, and yellow (red and green for holly, white and blue for snow and wintery colors, yellow for the Sun). Celebration ideas: Kiss a consenting person under the mistletoe for luck; give gifts; have a feast; make magickal wreaths with herbs corresponding to the spell intent (you might use lilac, lavender, and camomile for a wreath that brings peace into your home).
IMBOLC Altar ideas: Use candles to represent the return of spring; make a cute little corn dolly; put a Brigid’s cross on there to honor her; decorate with yellow and green to represent the Sun and return of spring. Celebration ideas: Clean your house; have a self-dedication ritual (to a particular path, deity, philosophy, standard of life, etc.); clean off your working altar and redo it; cleanse and charge any tools or crystals you need to.
OSTARA Altar ideas: Use fake eggs, rabbits, and other symbols of fertility or spring; put some potted plants on the altar; place some packets of seeds you might be planning on growing; decorate with purple, yellow, green, white, and other spring, pastel colors. Celebration ideas: Paint and blow eggs (take proper precautions when handling raw eggs, obviously, especially if you’re putting your mouth on them); if you have a greenhouse, want a potted plant, or it’s warm enough where you live to plant outside, plant some seeds; buy a potted plant; organize your herb shelf.
BELTAINE Altar ideas: Make a mini Maypole for your centerpiece; smack some candles up in there, especially beeswax, if that’s in your budget; put some faery symbols, like little statues or bells or something like that; a jar of honey or some beeswax is always dope; if you’re comfortable with it, some people like to put representations of genatalia on their altar. Celebration ideas: Light an awesome bonfire (also be very cautious with this because fire can quickly turn dangerous); leave offerings to the faeries; have a dance outside; this is a good time to plan to have a handfasting ceremony or wedding; cast any love workings you’ve been meaning to do; if you’re an adult and have a person/people who consent to it, you could choose to have sex during this time (but do be safe!); many people try to conceive children during Beltaine.
LITHA Altar ideas: Symbols of the Sun and the Moon, feminine and masculine symbols if that’s a thing in your tradition; decorate with black and white to symbolize the night and day. Celebration ideas: Get up before the Sun rises and go to sleep after it sets, so you can experience the day and night; have a bonfire (again, safety is important); have a picnic; just spend a lot of time outside.
LUGHNASADH Altar ideas: Put bread and grain on the altar; maybe some apples and other autumn fruits; pinecones and leaves are fall symbols; decorate with red, orange, yellow, brown, and other colors of the season. Celebration ideas: Bake (especially make the cute little bread men); give an offering to the Earth; go to an apple orchard and pick some apples; share a feast with the family or your friends.
MABON Altar ideas: Wine, or grape juice if alcohol is unavailable for any reason; leaves and pinecones; apples; a money jar (see first celebration suggestion below). Celebration ideas: For a week or two before Mabon, put money you can afford to give up in a jar, and donate it to charity or a cause you support on Mabon; have another apple harvest; have another feast; do a ritual to honor the Earth.
SAMHAIN Altar ideas: Pop a few gourds in there, more apples if you want; pictures of the deceased; tools for divination and spirit contact; decorate with black, white, and orange. Celebration ideas: Divination, spirit communication (obviously only if you know what you’re doing); hold a seance or a dumb supper if that’s more comfortable for you; light a candle in the window for spirits (use a fake one if you want it lit all night); leave some milk and honey for the Fair Folk; give offerings to the dead; put up wards and shields if you’re one of the people who would prefer to avoid spirit activity.
I have been performing a bit of energy work+spell with an ailing plant this past week. I find this practice to be helpful at getting me to spiritually focus on my plant and its needs. I align myself with its experience and try to help it recover while lifting the spiritual morale. This is my personal method on how I work on a sick or injured plant. I sometimes just use my own energy, other times I call upon other energies for an added boost. 🌺🌸🌺 🌱First, I troubleshoot my plant and figure out what’s wrong with it. A google search is useful if I am dealing with something I am unfamiliar with, however typical problems could be overwatering, watering at the wrong time of day for certain plants in certain climates, not watering enough, wrong sunlight situation, infection, poor soil, or shock. I take the necessary steps to correct the issue first. The energy work is to help the plant recover, not to heal it without tending to its needs.
🌱Place plant in front of working space, or I sit near the plant (for the ones not potted). I also place any items corresponding with my intent on the soil before the plant (crystals, oracle cards, etc). Tip: I like to play plant favorite music during this energy work session.
🌱Center and ground
🌱Optional for extra energy that is not my own: Visualize a large taproot extending from my tailbone and rooting deep into the earth.
🌱Call upon the earth to grant me extra energy that I can direct to the ailing plant. (If I work with any other spirit or energy, or call upon guardian spirits like spiders or bees, this would be the time).
🌱An earthly energy winds its way up through my roots and into my body. As it flows through me, it intermingles with my personal energy and I focus on charging it with an intent. For example, to heal or aid growth.
🌱I feel the energy being charged as it begins to flow up my spine, into my chest, through my arms and out my finger tips. At this point I place my fingers on the plant gently and visualize it receiving my energy.
🌱When it feels complete, I withdraw my roots and send the plant one last burst of my energy to seal the session.
🌱Leave an appropriate offering for the condition it is recovering from. If it needs fertilizer and water, consider offering banana eggshell water. (Obviously do not offer water if the plant is suffering from being overwatered). I also leave a strand of my hair with the plant as a protective token.
🌱Leave an offering for the earth for its assistance, and to any other spirits I called upon. 🌺🌸🌺 I repeat these sessions every day or every other day until my plant is beginning to show signs of improvement. Sometimes they don’t make it, and that’s ok. I bless the plant and return it to the earth (compost) so that it may be useful for future growth.
Witchcraft Basics Masterlist!
Everything to know before you start! The various practices The Tools healing, protecting, and grounding. shielding and banishing herbs,oils and crystals.| Herbs | Oils | Crystals the sabbatsthe Elements astrology + astrology calendar spells, hexes and curses energy manipulation the various entitis Divination tool Symbology Shadow Work Witchy hack Offerings Grimoire/book of shadows
Of the divinatory techniques with which I am familiar, bones are my personal favorite. Yes, they have that very witchy vibe – but it’s more than that; the bones are honest. They don’t sugar coat, and while they have to be interpreted, once you know how to read them – there’s little room for interpretation. They are very direct and are much better suited to answering yes or no questions than tarot. With a little imaginative methodology, there few questions the bones can’t answer. And even fewer they won’t answer (as tarot cards can be known to do). A few examples of things I think the bones are better at answering than tarot: questions involving time, questions regarding health, sickness and maledictions; they present a broader grasp to any given situation – incorporating things outside of the question presented and how these things relate to the question or the reading, showing the interconnectedness of life – and how these things all relate back.
Our countless cultures have countless methods for collecting and reading the Bones – and I can only rightly attest to my own methodology: one in which the Bones need not necessarily consist solely of bones, but a collection of gathered trinkets and curios, all with their own meaning, their own story and their own energy. My collection consists of: bones (bare and painted), coins, stones, shells, jewelry, twigs, buttons, animal teeth and other squabbles. The only rule I implement is that the item can be easily gathered and (safely) tossed without breakage or injury (save your razor-blades and glass shards for witches’ bottles!).
Most any small bones will do, though its recommended that you use bones that haven’t been cooked, as cooked bones have a tendency to get very brittle – especially in the case of chicken, which is quite common. In my collection I have a number of different animal bones: most are chicken, but I also have some raccoon and possum bones, as well as teeth and claws. I built a “base” of bones, but am continuously adding or replacing as I see fit.
A short list of “Bones” I like to include – most of which serve as my “base” bones:
Self Bone – used for the reader
Other Bone – used to represent another person or the person you are reading
Magic Bone – represents the need for or use of magic
“Evil” Bone – malicious or hateful acts, disadvantageous behavior
Love Bone – represents romantic love
Male Bone – represents male fertility, masculinity, sexuality or a man
Female Bone – represents female fertility, femininity, sexuality or a woman
Health Bone – represents physical or mental health
Wealth Bone – represents financial standing or monetary issues
Family Bone – represents familial connections or a family member
Fate Bone – represents destiny and your lifepath (I use a shell for this: open side up means an event can be altered, destiny is not set in stone; open side down, this path must be walked – prepare in lieu of fighting)
“Key” Bone – (I actually use a small key) which represents the key to any given situation, the remedy or problem at hand and its cause
This list is by no means comprehensive and I have many more bones in my collection with more menial meanings. This is simply a small list of options to be added to and adapted by whosoever casts the bones.
There is no right or wrong way to read the bones, there is simply your way and their way. Below I will dictate how it is that I do a general reading – again, this is just an example of one way, take and adapt to fit your own unique style or tradition!
Begin by collecting your bones into your hand. I keep mine in a leather pouch, but don’t like to toss them directly from the bag as it doesn’t allow for much control – i.e. the bones fall out either in a massive, unreadable pile or they fly out in such a scattered way nothing is close enough to read. Throwing them from the hand allows for a rather contained casting, and one that can be read easily. I do not include the Self or Other bone, instead, the Self Bone is placed before the caster and the Other Bones is placed either in front of the person you’re reading for or simply in the middle of the casting area. When reading for yourself, place the Self Bone in the center and discard the Other Bone.
Throw the Bones. This can be done on a square of cloth on which a circle (or any number of complex shapes) has been drawn or simply upon a flat table. If throwing in a circle, discard all bones that fall outside of it. These bones are null for the reading, though they can also be read as “far from the person’s mind/current situation.”
Interpret the Bones. This is done by noting the location and connection of the bones present. For instance, note the Love Bones proximity to the Other Bones and the Male Bone. This could be interpreted as being the male love of the querent – but if the “Evil” bones is introduced, this could symbol ulterior motives or a hostile or explosive relationship. Read based on both their proximity to the Other Bone – the closer, the higher priority the matter is – and their relation to one another. It’s very much like investigating a big puzzle, putting it together piece by piece to form a comprehensive understanding of their life or situation. Also not their relation based on the third dimension: x bone seems to be overlapping y bone – is the x issue eclipsing an underlying problem or truth represented by y? It depends. Only through practice will you find clarity.
Convey the message. I always like to spend a few moments making a variety of “hmm” noises when reading for others – it builds up their anticipation. Or you can throw in the occasional gasp or snarky smirk. Their responses are usually hilarious – even more so when yours are genuine! If you are reading on your own, it may be a good idea to sketch out a general map of the readings as opposed to taking a picture as often bones overlie others, which makes for a rather misleading photo representation. You might also find jotting down notes rewarding, especially in synthesizing a cohesive read.
Once you’ve garnered all the information you can from that particular toss, feel free to specify: take the bone/situation you wish to examine and toss the rest again over it/them, reading the others through that particular lens. I.E. Who is this person mentioned? What are their qualities? What is the nature of this love? What magic is being referenced here? Follow that rabbit hole as far as you wish, building your understanding.
Do not be afraid to adjust your style! Want to narrow down a time frame? Make a sort of timeline with the bones. Wish to determine the source of an ailment? Shape the bones into the form of a body. I find the bones allow for far more creativity and ingenuity than cards. And above all – TRUST YOUR GUT.
Photos: These are photos of my “base” bones when I first started reading; since then they have probably doubled (if not tripled) in number and do not incorporate my other animal bones, claws or teeth.
For my witches who cannot speak, struggle to speak, or choose to remain quiet.
This post is a compilation of ideas and personal methods from fellow nonverbal witches. Not everything may fit for you, but hopefully it will give you a starting point!
Write the words and focus your energy on bringing them into being. You could burn the piece of paper to finish off the spell. One contributor also mentions burying the paper.
Our thoughts are powerful. Focus, and say the words in your mind.
You can also mouth the words without speaking them, if that helps you.
Whispering is also great if that works for you!
Find power in silence, use it as its own tool.
Use instruments to create certain rhythms for different spells, instead of chanting.
If sound is helpful, play music that you feel relates/connects you to the spell.
Cast circles and finalize spells by snapping.
Sigils are concentrated intention–use that to your advantage. They can absolutely be a base for spellwork.
Use a power source; the elements (candles, soil, the air around you, a bowl of water, etc.), crystals, burning herbs, etc.
To feel energy without using words to confirm: use tools that have stronger energy that you can physically feel.
Make spell candles, jars or sachets.
Use sign language! I’m of the opinion that everyone should at least learn the basics, and there are plenty of free resources out there!
Casting a circle: “You can cast a circle by walking in a circle and visualizing your footsteps imprinting on the earth below, creating a barrier of light (color chosen to correspond to intention at the time), walk the circle 3 times and see the barrier in your mind forming a perfect sphere around your work space, becoming brighter and stronger each step you take.”*
To banish: write the things you wish to banish on a piece of paper, light them on fire with a black candle and place in a burn bowl.
To release and invite: use two pieces of paper. On one, write down everything you’d like to release from your life. On the other, write down everything you’d like to invite into your life. Burn the release paper and dispose of the ashes, keep the invite paper. (Optional: I like to do this on the new moon, and have a black candle above the release paper and a white candle above the invite paper).
Protective charm: (click here)
To raise you out of a dark place: (click here)
Spell of destruction: (click here)
Use a cajon, bells, singing bowl, steel tongue drum/moondrum, or other instruments to raise energy!
“I have a specific snapping rhythm that is ‘magic time’. When I snap the rhythm once or three times it’s go time and I fall into the zone.”*
“For energy work and to raise energy I dance and as my heartbeat gets louder in my ears I mentally chant with it, focusing on a short phrase, intention, or incantation with the energy I physically raised and the meditative repetition of my mind.”*
Use a power source; the elements, crystals, burning herbs, etc.
Most energy work involves movement, rather than words (click here for energy work with restricted movement).
Worship: write letters, devote your actions, decorate an altar. Prayers don’t need to be spoken! Or write your prayers and place them on an altar, burn them, or keep them. (Bedridden worship)
Divination doesn’t require spoken word, especially once you have a bond with your tools. You can always use writing, sigils, or your thoughts to channel your intent/question. (Bedridden divination)
Charge crystals with your intent and wear them/carry them in a pouch.
Kitchen witchcraft, garden magic, tea magic, etc. etc.
Utilize the correspondences of the items in your life.
Bedridden witch series
Bedridden witch: Discreet edition
Limited hand mobility + witchcraft
Spoonie witch masterpost
Sigils: (pain + symptoms) (mental illness + energy) (healing + misc.)
Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms
Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms
@mynameisvernal, @melinoealtar, @steffithesciencewitch, @the-corset-witch*, @healing-sun-witch and anonymous. Thank you!
**Do not repost or share on other platforms - reblogging is okay!**
This sachet is to help you succeed in school.
✨ Items you’ll want/need (not everything listed needs to be used): ⭐️Cinnamon ⭐️Ginger ⭐️Bay leaf ⭐️Basil ⭐️Clover ⭐️Honeysuckle ⭐️Strawberry leaves ⭐️Lemon balm ⭐️Peony ⭐️Pine needles ⭐️Rowan berries ⭐️Sigils (for success, luck, perseverance, etc.) ⭐️Taglock of yourself ⭐️A sachet ⭐️An orange candle
✨ First, gather your ingredients and set up your work space. Then, if you have the option to and want to, light the candle. Add your ingredients into the sachet and as you add each of your items, chant, “This school year shall be successful. I bind these ingredients to carry out these tasks: Make me a successful student with outstanding grades that give me pride, joy, and satisfaction, and make me a successful student who can do well in school and in my personal life outside of school. I bind you to do my will and do what is best for me to become a successful student, so it shall be!” ✨
✨ Charge the sachet and hang it above your desk. If you can’t hang it above your desk, keep it in your backpack or in the area where you study most. ✨
Dolls and poppets are utilized across many faiths, however often witches neglect to “breath life” into them. Not doing so doesn’t make them wholly ineffective, however going the extra step really amps up the potency, especially when using it as sympathetic magic or creating a protective being! It’s a relatively simple step, but highly dependent upon which path you follow. I’ll briefly cover my methodology.
Foremost, I would like to specify the difference between the two types of dolls I utilize. One being sympathetic magic, the one most often thought of when people think of dolls and witchcraft. Voodoo dolls. This is a misnomer, as the common portrayal off voodoo dolls in media have skewed the original purpose of such dolls. Originally the dolls were used by practitioners not to affect people, but as a guide to the sufferers ailments and treatments – more akin to a “medical chart.” However, they have since (and really, in European magical traditions for centuries) been used to heal or harm a specific victim in which the doll was made to their likeness. This is a sympathetic doll, made in their likeness, usually incorporating some sort of personal affect (hair, clothing, blood, etc.).
The second type, and the kind I most often use, are dolls not based on any individual, but instead exist to act as a guardian of sorts or facilitate change/growth/health/etc. These are unique and very much a product of your imagination. Create them to be whatever you see fit.
That being said, let’s begin;;
Sympathetic Dolls: Begin by first, stitching the doll together in the likeness of he/she you wish to influence. You can be as general or as specific as you want – matching hair, eyes, facial features, build are all common concepts. Traditionally the dolls were stuffed with Spanish Moss (most probably due to the abundance in the American South) however you can stuff it with anything you have on hand. If you have anything of the persons, now would be the time to use it, hair can be wrapped and stuffed in the doll, pieces of their clothes can be folded and placed inside, blood should be on a scrap of cloth, dried and then added.
Once the doll is complete and you’re satisfied with its image (in truth, dolls have been made out of anything and everything, the only crucial step is the following), you must give it life. For sympathetic dolls, this can be as simple or difficult as you wish. I prefer to take the simple route and sit with the doll and focus intently on the person you wish to connect to it. I then mentally stitch the spirit of the person to the doll (either at the heart or at the feet – as a short of shadow). Vocalize your intent and revel in your creation.
Conceptual Dolls/Guardians: These are my personal favorites to create, in all honesty. I find poppets to be a lot of extra work, however they are useful in remote healing/hexing. These, as I mentioned, are beings of your thoughts. Tulpas, in a way. Begin by gathering your materials and ideas. Create a doll to symbolize whatever you wish to accomplish. As far as this tutorial goes, I’ll use the example of a Guardian or a doll for protection. It can look however you wish, and be as simple as sticks tied together, to the most intricately created doll you could muster. I, personally, stick with a small doll (no bigger than 8 or 10 inches) with yarn hair, simple clothing and a painted face. I often stuff mine with herbs associated with my will, as well as batting and sometimes stray scraps of fabric.
After your doll is complete, take it to the Crossroads. It can be a door, a gate (I use the gate of a remote cemetery near me), a cemetery, even a maternity ward if you’re that committed and light a candle. Fill your mind with intention, then connect with the energy of your crossroads. Feel the planes converge, and bend this erratic energy to your will, funneling it through your consciousness and into your doll. See the energy shape, bend, coalesce into a being of your intent and give it a Name, as there is much power in a Name. Connect its energy to our physical plane by allowing it refuge within the fabric of the doll you have created. Leave a gift at the Crossroads, and blow out your candle, sealing in the doll’s spirit. Use it as you desire, but do not neglect it.
Thus ends this tutorial!
Best of luck,
Q
a spell to aid with speaking clearly, and get your point across
💬 gather: lipstick/chapstick of your choice, basil, dew, and violet.
💬 ensure the lipstick/chapstick is completely closed.
💬 go over the outside of the container with the dew and the basil.
💬 let them charge the balm.
💬 wipe them off, apply the balm. kiss the violet to start the spell.
objective: to make it someone can’t talk about you, too you, or at all depending on what you want. This can be with a real physical poppet, but it can also be done as a quick visualization in your head. It has been effective for me done both ways.
Get a poppet to represent the person you are binding. It’s better to make it yourself and fill it with things that represent/symbolize that person to make it more personal to them.
Put red thread on a sewing needle and start sewing the mouth of a doll. Chant, “Open lips say too much. So i seal your mouth; I bind it shut.”
Tie off the thread at the end of the mouth. Hide the poppet away somewhere it won’t be bothered or messed with.
To remove the binding cut the thread from the poppet’s mouth.
i store all the witchy things i find here
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