Im Slowly Adding Things To My Bedside Table To Turn It Into Another Altar Space. What Do Yall Think?

i made some backgrounds that felt more ‘me’ for my ipad! i’ll update when I do my macbook or make any final changes!

What is the astral realm? Why would we go there?

Essentially, the astral realm is what we think of when we refer to the "dream world." When your spirit leaves your body, this is where it goes. Many cultures have different names for it, but essentially it is the "other" world which is ruled by mind and spirit rather than body and matter.

Existing in their incorporeal (non physical) state, many spirits and other life forms reside in the astral realm. This could be why you seek to astral travel. Many people have experiences with deities, guides, ancestors, etc in the astral realm. However, it is worth mentioning that just as in our physical realities, there are malicious beings alongside the benevolent ones. It is important to be protected. (I'll talk about that more in the "Tips and Tricks" part of this post.)

So... how do you astral travel?

It's a fairly easy concept if you're already familiar with being mindful of your energetic body. (Energetic body=spirit, soul, etc.) It is simply separating your energetic body from your physical body.

Start by focusing on your breath. Deep breaths in, gentle breaths out. It is important to stay relaxed- the less relaxed you are, the more difficult the entire process will be. You'll want to focus on your body for a moment- notice the way it feels, notice what sensations occur and where they occur, begin to become aware of your energetic body rising and falling with your breath. Focus your awareness to your energetic body. Notice sensations on the subtle energetic level, begin to feel the limits of your physical body. Move past them. Move past the barriers. I think of it as "stretching" my aura, almost. More commonly, this phenomena is described as "floating" or "lifting." This is the point many people may experience seeing themselves lying in their meditative state. Remember: at it's core, astral travel is just shifting your conscious awareness to sit in your energetic body rather than your physical body.

Tips and Helpful Tricks

Meditate regularly. Seriously. I know how boring this sounds. Your psychic senses are like a muscle that must be strengthened before you can comfortably do heavy lifting. Meditate every day if you can, for 10-15 minutes minimum. Just do it. Every day if you can. As much as you can. Commit to the routine. Mindfulness meditations specifically would help strengthen your astral travel tools. If you're unfamiliar with it, Google will do better at explaining it. YouTube also has lots of good guided meditations if you don't know where to start.

Play ambient music without words. Words will be a distraction, but music itself can help your focus. If binaural beats are your thing, use them. Any instrumental music would work, I like strings and piano personally. "Meditative Mind" on Spotify and YouTube has some really good ambient stuff.

Use crystals associated with psychic senses. For example, amethyst, labradorite, lapis lazuli, etc. Again, Google will be more help than me.

Visualize a golden thread going from the base of your energetic body's spine to the base of your physical body's spine. If you're prone to experiencing fear and anxiety in the astral, this is for you. One good tug on that thread and you're back in your physical body.

Cast a circle. This is more or less me reminding you to be a responsible witch. You don't know what energies could follow you back. You don't know what energies could mess with your physical body while you aren't in it. Truthfully, you probably wouldn't WANT to know. I am not trying to spread fear, I am just trying to be realistic and offer the most practice protection advice I can. Just cast your damn circle.

Don't be discouraged if you don't make it very far your first few attempts! Don't be discouraged if they aren't successful at all! This stuff takes time and practice, I believe in you :)

Being synced with the moon cycle is good and bad. Cause I do not wanna do any prep for the full moon

Inexpensive Witch Items for your craft #1

This will be my first post on places to get inexpensive items for you!

DOLLAR TREE!!! I can not explain my love for this store to be honest. Now it may be an obvious store for budget friendly people but I know many people may not think about going there for items for your altar, spells, etc but it is my go to place for all of my items! I will list below all of my favorite items you can get from there! Also they always get in new items all the time so I go quite frequently to see what I can pick up! And of course everything is $1 so to be honest it can’t get any better than that!

SALTS: 2lb boxes of sea salt, regular table salt, and they will even sometimes have pink Himalayan sea salt! Do I even have to mention why this is useful? Well I will anyway! Salt is like the boss of protection and purification. Use it in baths, spells, throw it around the house to keep negative things out, use it when you cast circles, etc. Salt is the bomb I my opinion. And why not get a huge box of it for $1?

SPICES AND HERBS: they have amazing spices to be honest. (Not just to use for cooking which I do) but they have cinnamon, parsley, ground sage, Basil, oregano, ground cloves, All spice, Ginger, etc. You can use these in jar spells, dream sachets, cooking spells, etc. They are fantastic especially for beginner witches who don’t want to spend tons on dried herbs or can’t find them locally outside in the wild or like those who live in a big city far from lots of nature where it’s hard to grow them yourself… Or for those who don’t have as much of a green thumb!

CANDLES!!! : THIS is one of my favorite sections at the dollar tree. You can probably get a better deal for bulk tea light candles somewhere else like Walmart but the dollar tree has amazing tall pillar candles, Scented candles, cute jar candles, Mason jar candles which obviously you can re-use for spells or storage! They have candles in different colors as well! For those who don’t like much flame they have great battery operated candles as well!

GLASS CONTAINERS AND JARS: THEY HAVE SO MANY GLASS OPTIONS! I love finding glass bowls, jars, vases, cups, etc you name it. All can be used for your altar for decor, spell work, collecting water, mixing stuff in, and anything else your little witchy heart desires to use for a glass container!

FOOD ITEMS: *PLEASE be aware to look at expiration dates and read labels. In my experience I’ve had no negative ones as of yet and I’m very sensitive to food and such* I Love getting my baking soda, sugar for offerings or spell jars, candies for offerings, sweets for the fae, jelly (I love their preserves they are delicious! The strawberry and raspberry ones are a house staple), Crackers, unsweetened apple sauce (it’s fantastic), teas (LOVEEEE THE TEAS they have fruit teas, camomile tea, green tea, black tea, and more) these are fabulous to use in spell work or just to drink, and mainly anything a kitchen witch or just a witch in general wants to use for offerings. *I do not advise on getting any meat or dairy products for obvious reasons. Though their vegan spring rolls are my go-to and the dark chocolate covered banana slices are also amazing in the freezer section along with their frozen fruit and vegetables I always make sure to get the ones grown in the USA. * Fruit infuser tumbler cups! Need I say more?

CRAFT SUPPLIES: GLITTER, PENS, PENCILS, STICKERS, TAPE, FLORAL WIRE, FAKE FLOWERS, WREATH WIRE, FLORAL FOAM, WOODEN DOWELS, GLUE, ROCKS, SHELLS, SAND, YOU NAME IT ITS ALL THERE!!!! Anything you could possibly need for your journal, spell books, spells, etc. Everything is there!

BATH SUPPLIES: GLAMOUR, RESTORATING, AND SELF LOVE BATHS HELLO! they sell Epsom salt, good bubble baths, bath loofas, scrubs, soaps, anything your heart would want for a bath spell! I love getting my favorite brown sugar vanilla bath soap mix it with some Epsom salt and sea salt throw in some green or black tea and have myself a self love and clearing bath!

There are a lot more wonderful things that can be found at your local dollar tree! Those are all the top categories that came to my mind. Next blog post will be on online websites that have inexpensive things for my lovely witches out there! Sending blessings to you all!

Hades Offerings

"Haides (Hades) is the king of the underworld and God of the dead."

Large Altars:

Sweet dark red wine

Strong, dark whiskey

Black coffee

Black tea

Peppermint tea

Honey

Dark chocolate

Rich meats (like lamb)

Sharp cheeses

Breads or cakes

Pomegranates/pomegranate seeds

Apples

Statues or art of Cerberus

Art or statues of Him

Black, gold, and/or silver candles

Cypress, amber, pomegranate, and/or winter scents

Helmets, imagery or otherwise

Drinking horns

Scepters

Small/Hidden Altars:

Mint

Peppermint

Poppy seeds

Black narcissus

Cypress tree leaves or bark

Thyme

Rosemary

Coins

Garnets

Black gemstones (onyx, black tourmaline, jet, black obsidian, and hematite)

Any stones or metals

Small fossils

Keys

Art drawn of Him or for Him

Art of Cerberus or black dogs in general

Shedded snake skin

Owl or vulture feathers

Narutally shed fur from a black dog

Naturally collected animal bones

Writings, such as poetry or prayers for Him

Devotional Acts:

For chthonic deities, liquid offerings are usually poured out onto the ground or down the drain and food offerings are usually buried or thrown away; however He will understand if you aren't able to waste food or drink

Donate to those who can't afford to hold a funeral

Donate to suicide prevention organizations

Donate dog food/toys/blankets to animal shelters

Volunteer to walk/play with dogs

Keep a budget/save your money and spend it wisely

Honor the dead

Learn more about your own ancestors

Learn about Him, His history and symbolism

Learn about other religions' funeral rites

Visit cemeteries

Clean up litter in cemeteries

Visit and tour caves

Visit caves that let you mine for gems or fossils

Make a playlist for Him and sing along to the songs (if they have lyrics)

Practice and learn death magic

Learn about and work with spirits

Tend to a garden or grow indoor plants and herbs

Wear the color black or muted colors, veil your hair (or wear a headband), wear silver or gold metallic jewelry, etc.

Sources:

Artwork from the game Hades by Supergiant Games

https://occult-world.com/hades/

https://vocal.media/futurism/ways-of-worship-hades

https://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Haides.html

https://aminoapps.com/c/pagans-witches/amp/blog/hades-devotions-divinedevotions-owc/o3Pw_4vDhduD6D5ogEZ83rrJPJY367RWKG3

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colllection

Types of water

💧Rain Water 💧 

Multipurpose, Growth, Rebirth, good for Spells that Gain Power over time

💧River Water💧

Moving on, Focusing Energy, Warding, Breaking through Rough Paths, and Good for Powering Tools

💧Storm Water💧

Emotional Strength, Confidence, Motivation, Force, Charging, Strengthens Spells, and Good for Curses

💧Snow Water💧

Purity, Endings, Change, good for Slow-moving Spells

💧Sea Water💧 

Cleansing, Healing, Banishing, and Protection

💧Dew Water💧

Love, Fertility, Delicate Magick, Fae Work

Prayer to Apollo

Praise onto He of the Golden Voice Eagle-eyed Apollo, whose arrows bring swift and terrible death Great prophet, archer, healer, musician God of many talents, whose blessings bring happiness and peace All praise onto he, Apollo, slayer of evil and giver of oracles He, whose light can nourish and destroy Whose hand can rain health and disease Apollo, great god, defender and protector Let us sing, let us pray These your gifts we use in your name Apollo, hymn-singer, poet of poets Be praised, be adored, my lord my god Shining one, fiery one Hail Apollo, blessed king and man divine

Here are a few manifestations I will be repeating:

✨The money I spend will come back to me doubled.

✨Love is attracted to me.

✨My heart is warm for myself and others.

✨My spirituality will hold me and guide me through life.

For witchcraft practitioners who work with plants, be it in spells, charms, being tactile in nature or gardening, this list contains some of the plants that can bring harm if used incorrectly or have a high level of toxicity.

Always be cautious and so research on any plant or herb you’re planning to utilize or grow.

Rosary Pea (Abrus precatorius) • Ingesting a single seed can kill an adult human. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death, usually after several days.

Wolfsbane (Aconitum spp) • All parts are poisonous, if ingested, it usually causes burning, tingling, and numbness in the mouth, followed by vomiting and nervous excitement. Even casual skin contact should be avoided. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and cardiac irregularity.

White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) • All parts are poisonous, especially the berries, the consumption of which has a sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue and can cause cardiac arrest.

Arnica • Poisonous in great quantities. Symptoms of poisoning include gastroenteritis, fever, nausea, dizziness, abnormal cardiac frequency, diarrhea, skin reaction and internal hemorrhage in the digestive system.

Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) • If ingested it is poisonous. Continued contact should be avoided. Symptoms of poisoning are nausea, depression, respiratory difficulties, coma. It is rarely lethal.

Anthurium (Anthurium spp) • Prevent getting in contact with the sap. Symptoms are skin irritation and eye irritation.

Cedronella canariensis • Can cause skin irritation, indigestions. Should not be used or touch by pregnant people or lactating people.

Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) • Extremely poisonous, it is lethal and it can be absorbed through skin. Symptoms of poisoning are fogged vision, staggering, loss of balance, dry mouth and throat, headache, skin eruptions, constipation, confusion, hallucination and convulsion.

Lamprocapnos spectabilis • Can be poisonous in big quantities, which causes convulsions and other symptoms in the nervous system.

Iris versicolor • Symptoms pf poisoning include nausea, vomit, mouth and throat irritation, irritation on the digestive system, skin irritation, headache and epiphora.

Bryony • All parts are poisonous and any type of contact causes death.

Ranunculus • If ingested, the juice can cause serious damage to the digestive system.

Acorus calamus • Toxic in big quantities, can cause hallucination, nausea and vomit.

Physostigma venenosum • Extremely toxic, can cause intense sweating, extreme salivation, nausea, vomit, diarrhea, irregular cardiac rhythm, change in blood pressure, confusion, convulsion, coma, muscular weakness, paralysis, respiratory difficulties and death.

Cinnamomum camphora • Skin rash, itchiness, respiratory difficulties, mouth, eyes, face or lips swelling.

Ricinus communis • Poisonous. Can cause burning in the mouth and throat, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea. At a long period of intoxication, can cause dehydration, low blood pressure. If not treated, death will occur in 3 to 5 days

Daphne • Poisonous. Causes burns in the mouth and digestive tract, followed by coma. Can cause death.

Vinca • Must not be ingested, causes nausea, vomit, loss of hair, loss of hearing, dizziness, bleeding, nervous difficulties, convulsions, liver damage and death.

Asclepias tuberosa • Cardiac difficulties, nausea, vomit and skin rash.

Agave spp • The juice of a number of species causes acute contact dermatitis, with blistering lasting several weeks and recurring itching for several years thereafter.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp) • Seeds and roots contain cardiogenic toxins which cause both severe gastroenteritis and heart palpitations if consumed, columbine poisonings are easily fatal.

Mercurialis perennis • Symptons happen after some hours, they include vomit, pain, gastritis, renal inflammation and sleepiness.

Colocasia • All parts are poisonous and cause mouth and tongue irritation. Can be fatal.

Gelsemium • Extremely poisonous, even in low quantities. Causes headache, problems with vision, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, muscular complications, convulsions, respiratory complications and low blood pressure.

Laburnum • Causes excitation, loss of balance, convulsions and coma. Can be lethal.

Helleborus • Dangerous if ingested or applied on the skin. Cause irritation in the mouth and throat and low blood pressure. Big quantities can cause vomit, diarrhea, difficulties swallowing, nervous system complications, blindness, convulsion, paralysis, respiratory complications and death.

Ilex aquifolium • The fruits can be lethal and the leaves cause diarrhea, nausea, vomit, stomach and intestine complications.

Hedera helix • Causes stomach pain, respiratory complications and possible coma.

Impatiens capensis • Dangerous when ingested in big quantities.

Datura stramonium • Don’t inhale or ingest. Causes dry mouth, extreme thirst, vision complications, nausea, vomit, constipation, tachycardia, hallucinations, fever, convulsion, loss of conscience, respiratory complications and death.

Convallaria majalis • Causes irregular blood pressure and cardiac rhythm, indigestion and confusion.

Mandragora officinarum • Fogged vision, dry mouth, difficulties to urinate, headache, tachycardia, vomit and hallucinations.

Viscum album • Gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, low blood pressure, convulsion. It is rarely lethal for humans.

Morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor) • Diarrhea, indigestion, disorientation, loss of apetite, ataxy and hallucinations.

Artemisia vulgaris • Prolonged contact may be fatal, so it’s best to use in a open and ventilated place.

Oak (Quercus): In big quantities is poisonous and affects the renal kidneys.

Nerium oleander • Causes cardiac complications, indigestion and can cause death.

Taxus baccata • Fatal. No symptoms come as a warning.

Hypericum perforatum • Causes fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth and can affect medicaments.

Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp) • All parts of this plant contain toxins and are often fatal. Effects of ingestion may include losing connection with reality and hallucinations.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) • The leaves, seeds, and flowers are poisonous. These cause irregular heartbeat, general digestive upset, and confusion; can be fatal.

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) • The bulbs are poisonous, causing nausea, vomiting, gasping, convulsions, and possibly death. Even handling the bulbs can cause skin irritation.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp) • Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten.

Frangipani (Plumeria spp) • Contact with the milky latex may irritate eyes and skin.