Let’s Talk Litha!: Celebrating The Summer Solstice

☀️ Midsummer Ritual ☀️

a ritual for midsummer, a ritual that observes the summer solstice, and the new life that has been growing in the earth.

☀️ perform ritual at noon, call open a circle

☀️ build a safe bonfire in a safe area, or alternatively light a yellow candle.

☀️ leave out an offering for the fae near the candle.

☀️ make a solar wheel and burn it. 

☀️ speak a prayer to each of the four cardinal directions. 

☀️ play music and celebrate in the circle

☀️ close and leave the circle.

When do you stop being a BABY-WITCH?

If you're hoping for a smooth reply... you'd be disappointed about this post LOL. This is just a personal opinion.

First thing first I'd prefer to use the term "beginner" instead of "baby" but let's go with the flow for a moment.

The more you know...?

I honestly don't think that the amount of info you know defines if you're a baby witch or not, but it does help for sure. Why?

In my humble opinion...you stop being a baby witch when you're able to fully explain the aspects of Your own ritual.

Easy? No. In order to do that you have to:

🔺Know how to set intent.

🔺Know how to focus properly on what you're doing.

🔺The ingredients correspondences.

🔺Be able to give a personal meaning to words/gesture/timing etc

🔺Be prepared for the consequences and eventually know how to nullify your spell or correct your mistakes

🔺If you work with a deity or another being... you should know about culture/pantheon/offerings/proper EVERYTHING.

To add your own touch to a certain ritual you have to know the general basics, the history behind your practice and mostly...Yourself, your reasons, what pushes you to grow or holds you still. Who you are...

Magic Correspondences of veggies and fruits (Eng//Esp//Cat)

I’m going to use this post not only as a correspondence guide but also as a traduction guide, since english is not my native language and I need to keep record as to what is what. So I’m posting the original english correspondence and just below the names in spanish and catalan with a spanish traduction of the correspondences. 

BTW, the original correspondence list was made by @peachyymama. So all praise be to her. 

                                      ————————————–

Apples: Love, fertility, marriage, beauty, vanity, wisdom.

Manzanas / Pomes: Amor, fertilidad, matrimonio, belleza, vanidad, sabiduria.

Avocado: Lust, love, beauty (carry pit around to radiate beauty).

Aguacate / Alvocat: Deseo, amor, belleza (puedes llevar un hueso de aguacate para irradiar belleza)

Apricot: Attracts love.

Albaricoque / Albercoc: Atrae el amor.

Banana: Fertility, potency, prosperity

Plátano / Plàtan: Fertilidad, potencia, prosperidad.

Blackberry: Healing, protection, money.

Mora / Mora: Curación, protección, dinero. 

Blueberry: Peace, protection.

Arandano / Nabiu:  Paz, protección.

Broccoli: Leadership, protection, strength.

Brócoli / Broquil: Liderazgo, protección, fuerza.

Brussels Sprouts: Protection, endurance,  protection.

Coles de Bruselas / Cols de Brusseles: Protección, resiliencia, protección.

Beets: Love.

Remolacha / Remolatxa: Amor.

Cabbage: Good luck, money, fertility, lunar magic.

Repollo / Col: Buena suerte, dinero, fertilidad, magia lunar.

Carrots: Lust, fertility.

Zanahorias / Pastanagues: Deseo, fertilidad. 

Cauliflower: Protection.

Coliflor / Coliflor:  Protección. 

Celery: Mental & psychic powers, lust, fertility.

Apio / Api: Poder mental y psíquico, deseo, fertilidad.

Cherry: Love, divination, happiness.

Cereza o Guinda / Cirera: Amor, adivinación, felicidad.

Coconut: Purification, protection, chastity.

Coco / Coco: Purificación, protección, castidad.

Corn: Protection, good luck, divination.

Maíz / Blat de Moro: Protección, buena suerte, adivinación. 

Cucumber: Healthy, chastity, fertility.

Pepino / Cogombre: Salud, castidad, fertilidad.

Garlic: Healing, protection, purification, exorcism, guards against negative energy.

Ajo / All: Curación, protección, purificación, exorcismos, guarda contra las malas energias. 

Grape: Money, fertility, mental powers, garden magic.

Uvas / Raïm: Diners, fertilidad, poderes mentales, magia de jardín. 

Grapefruit: Cleansing, purification.

Pomelo / Aranja: Limpieza, purificación. 

Lemon: Cleansing, purification, removes blockages.

Limón / Llimona: Limpieza, purificación, remueve bloqueos.

Lettuce: Divination, protection, sleep, lunar magic, love spells.

Lechuga / Enciam: Adivinación, protección, sueño, magia lunar, hechizos de amor.

Lime: Protections, purification, promotes calmness.

Lima / Llima: Protección, purificación, promueve la calma. 

Mushroom: Psychic awareness.

Setas / Bolets: Conciencia psíquica.

Onion: Stability, money, lust, protection, prosperity.

Cebolla / Ceba: Estabilidad, dinero, deseo, protección, prosperidad.

Orange: Love, joy, happiness.

Naranja / Taronja: Amor, felicidad, alegría.

Peach: Fertility, love, wisdom.

Melocotón / Préssec: Fertilidad, amor, sabiduria.

Pear: Lust, love.

Pera / Pera: Deseo, amor.

Peas: Luck, money.

Guisantes / Pèsols: Suerte, dinero. 

Pepper (green): Growth, prosperity.

Pimiento verde / Pebrot verd: Crecimiento, prosperidad.

Pepper (red): Energy, strength.

Pimiento rojo / Pebrot vermell: Energia, fuerza.

Pepper (yellow): Creativity.

Pimiento amarillo / Pebrot groc: Creatividad.

Pineapple: Luck, money, chastity.

Piña / Pinya: Suerte, dinero, castidad.

Plum: Healing, peace, love.

Ciruela / Pruna: Curación, paz, amor.

Pomegranate: Divination, wishes, wealth, fertility.

Granada / Magrana: Adivinación, deseos, riqueza, fertilidad

Potato: Healing, money, luck.

Patata / Patata: Curación, dinero, suerte.

Pumpkin: Healing, Prosperity.

Calabaza / Carbassa: Curación, prosperidad.

Radish: Protection, lust.

Rábano / Rave: Protección, deseo.

Raspberry: Love, protection, happiness, stamina.

Frambuesa / Gerd: Amor, protección, felicidad, estamina. 

Spinach: Prosperity.

Espinacas / Espinacs: Prosperidad.

Strawberry: Success, good fortune, love, luck, romance.

Fresas / Maduixes: Éxitos, buena fortuna, amor, suerte, romance.

Sweet Potato: Grounding, love, lust.

Batata o Boniato / Moniato: Anclarse a la tierra, amor, deseo.

Tangerine: Protection.

Mandarina / Mandarina: Protección.

Tomato: Healing, love, prosperity, protection.

Tomate / Tomàquet: Curación, amor, prosperidad, protección.

Watermelon: Healing.

Sandía / Sindria: Curación.

I’m a beautiful element of the universe and I love that about myself

I love me spell:

-a ready bake pie crust 

-a can of strawberry pie filling (strawberries represent love of all kinds)

-star cookie cutters (star shapes to visually represent my place among the Universe)

-Sprinkling sugar (to sweeten my inner thoughts about me)

-Intent (A whole lot of love and gratitude for being my awesome self)

Enchant each ingredient of the pie with it’s correspondence as listed above. When the pie is assembled and ready to go into the oven imbue the pie with the following chant:

“Every bite filled with love

connects me to the Universe”

Then bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.

(via witchinthenight)

Witches

Get out there. Back a backpack, fill it with water and trinkets and notebooks. Put on your best shoes and go ahead. Go stick your feet in the pond. Pick up cool sticks in the forest and whittle them with open scissors. Pick common flowers and dry them in your room. Tie wool ribbons to trees and write little messages for others to find.  Prowl the streets of your area and pick pebbles out of the cracks in sidewalks. Find coins and bring them home. Look for abandon objects on the subway. Go dumpster diving, find fun free things you’d never expect to own from the trash. Use mud and stones to make tiny houses, use walnut shells as bowls and leave some water for the new inhabitants. Pick up sand from the beach or the desert or the local park and fill a little sack with it. Bury seeds in eggshells under your favorite trees. Get lost in the woods. Be that one person who does weird stuff, collect the words tossed around about you and save them in a paper envelope; they’re yours.

Just go. You are a being of chaos and calamity and there is a whole world out there waiting to be found.

Itty bitty self-love spell jar to keep in my pocket!

I used:

*Altar Salt, to remind myself I am a glorious creation.

*a shard of cinnamon stick for comfort, to be comfortable in my own skin

* Coco Powder, for the energy to love myself even when it's hard. (plus for its aphrodisiac properties 😉)

*Sugar, to remember to be sweet with myself

*and some rose quartz shards, for overall love.

Locket Balm

Disclaimer: I am not a pro at this, this just worked for me.

You’ll need:

a locket

a teaspoon lip-balm (unscented)

candle/beeswax (unscented)

a drop of essential oils (or use scented lip balm/wax)

Warm the lip balm up until it melts (don’t boil!), add a few drops heated wax and stir. Add a drop of an essential oil you like. Carefully pour or scoop the mixture into the locket and let it cool.

Use for grounding (dab the balm on your skin, focus on the scent etc.). I found it also works as a lip balm.

Hope this is helpful! Cheers, V🌿💫

Earth-Friendly Witchcraft

Whatever religious or spiritual tradition they identify with, most witches agree that there is something sacred about the natural world. We draw our power from the earth beneath our feet, the sky over our heads, and the air in our lungs.

And yet, many of us live in societies that are actively contributing to the destruction of the natural world. Most developed nations have a linear economy, which means resources are extracted and then sent on a one-way trip to consumers who will use them and then throw them away. This leads to overflowing landfills, air and water pollution, and quickly disappearing resources. The World Economic Forum predicts that, if our habits don’t change, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. And I dearly hope that by now we’re all familiar with the reality of climate change and its devastating impact on global ecosystems.

I’m not trying to scare you, but I do want to point out the hypocrisy of drawing power from the Earth in our magic while simultaneously contributing to her destruction. If we truly want to consider ourselves spiritual allies of the planet, we need to make an effort to live our lives — and practice our magic — in ways that are less harmful to her.

You don’t have to become an environmentalist or switch to a zero waste lifestyle, but we can all make little changes for a more sustainable life. There’s lots of information out there about how to live a more Earth-friendly lifestyle, so in this post I’ll be focusing on how to apply that same philosophy to your witchcraft.

Steps to a more Earth-Friendly Practice:

Limiting your consumption will automatically lower your negative impact on the planet. Follow my previous guidelines for avoiding consumerism to start shrinking your carbon footprint.

Avoid plastic as much as possible. According to the WEF, 70% of our plastic ends up in a landfill or in the world’s waterways, and according to Julia Watkins, author of Simply Living Well, only 9% of household plastics get recycled. Plastic (unlike glass and metal) cannot be recycled indefinitely — it can only be recycled a handful of times before it becomes too degraded to be repurposed any further. There really is no way to make plastic safer for the planet, so it’s best to just avoid it altogether. Look for tools made of metal, wood, or glass instead of plastics, and try to order things shipped in paper and cardboard when possible.

Create spells that won’t leave leftovers. One of the big contributing factors to our current environmental crisis is that we just produce too much waste. You can avoid this in your magical practice by crafting spells that won’t leave you throwing away a big ball of candle wax, herbs, and paper. Kitchen magic is a no-brainer for this, since kitchen spells are meant to be eaten. If you want to do a candle spell, use small candles that will burn up completely — I find larger candles are more likely to leave leftover wax. Making magical bath salts is another great option for leftover-free spells — just make sure everything you include is safe to go down the drain and won’t contribute to water pollution!

Forage for your own spell materials. One of the best ways to avoid plastic packaging and cut down on emissions from shipping is to use materials from your backyard! Learn about the plants, animals, and minerals native to your area, and take regular nature walks where you can gather what you need. Remember to only take as much as you need and to be careful never to damage the plants you harvest from. Make sure to carefully disinfect any animals bits you pick up — you can do this by burying them in salt for a full moon cycle and/or setting them in the sun/under a UV light for several days. If you find a dead animal and want to strip and clean its bones for use in ritual, this is a much more involved process and will require special research, equipment, and lots of time. And, of course, never eat anything you have foraged unless you happen to have an advanced degree in botany.

Keep a magical garden. Another great way to connect with the planet and shrink your carbon footprint is to grow your own herbs, vegetables, and fruits. You can, of course, grow food for your kitchen if you have space, but even if you live in a tiny apartment you can grow a handful of magical herbs in pots. For a list of common houseplants and their magical associations, check out this post.

Shop for spell materials at a local farmer’s market. Buying local is a great way to avoid the environmental impact of shipping produce, and it allows you to support small farms. Farmer’s markets also typically carry seasonal produce, which can help you align your magical practice with the cycles of nature. Farmer’s markets are a great way to find seasonal fruits and vegetables for kitchen magic, but you can use the produce you find there for other types of spells as well.

Trade paraffin wax candles for beeswax or soy wax. Paraffin, the material used for most cheap candles, is a by-product of crude oil, which is not only highly unsustainable but contains carcinogens (chemicals that may cause cancer). Beeswax is a sustainable alternative, and beeswax candles produce a “clean” burn, meaning it does not negatively affect air quality. Soy wax is a slightly pricier, vegan-friendly sustainable option that also produces a clean burn.

Use undyed, unbleached paper for your written spells. The bleaches and dyes used in most commercially available paper have a toxic effect on the environment. Colored paper cannot be recycled or composted because it will contaminate everything it touches. Use plain, unbleached paper for your written spells, especially if you plan to bury them in the ground or dispose of them outside.

Make sure your essential oils are ethically harvested. Essential oils are tricky — although they are marketed as natural, many of them are produced through unsustainable methods. Because essential oils are concentrated, it may take thousands of pounds of plants to produce a single pound of oil. This can have a devastating impact, especially for endangered plants like white sage or palo santo. Look for ethically-sourced, wild-harvested essential oils — these are oils that are gathered from the wild in ways that don’t hurt the local ecosystem. Mountain Rose Herbs and Eden’s Garden are two brands that are committed to sustainable essential oil production.

Instead of burying a spell in a jar, bury it in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. Many traditions call for spells to be buried in the ground. Items like jar spells and witch bottles are traditionally buried on the witch’s property. The problem with this is that plastic and glass bottles do not biodegrade, and will remain in the ground for years. Instead of putting these materials in the ground, bury your spells in a hollowed-out fruit or vegetable. As a bonus, you can choose this item to support your intention. For example, you might use an apple for a love spell or a spicy pepper for protection. Just make sure everything inside the spell is also biodegradable!

Keep a compost pile as an offering to your local land spirits. Compost is an easy way to reduce food waste, and it gives your garden a boost! Even if you don’t have your own garden, you can give your compost to a fiend who does or look into donating it to a community garden. When composting, it’s important to maintain a balance between carbon-rich “brown” ingredients (leaves, undyed paper, cardboard, etc.) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) — you want about four times as much brown as green in your compost. Start your compost with a layer of brown — preferably twigs or straw to allow good airflow. Alternate layers of green and brown materials as you add to the pile. Every time you add to your compost, verbally express your gratitude to the land spirits. Your compost should be moist, but not soggy — you’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark and crumbly and smells like soil.

Make your own tea blends with loose herbs and a reusable tea strainer instead of buying teabags. Witches and tea go together like peanut butter and chocolate, but the individual wrappers on teabags create a lot of waste. On top of that, since many of these wrappers are dyed, they may not even be recyclable. Keep your teas earth-friendly by buying dried herbs in bulk and blending your own teas. Making your own blends is not only better for the planet, but also allows you to choose each ingredient for a specific magical intention.

Find ways to use your trash in your craft. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Instead of throwing things away, find ways to use them in your magic! Use food scraps from cooking, like carrot greens and potato peels, in spells. Turn an old shoe box into a travel altar. Add your coffee grounds to spells to ground them and manifest results in the physical world. You get the idea. Be creative!

Research different models for Earth-friendly living, like the zero waste/low waste lifestyle, sustainability, and the solarpunk movement. This will give you more ideas for a sustainable lifestyle, as well as a sustainable magical practice.

The funny thing about Earth-friendly living is that, the more time you spend taking care of the planet, the more connected you feel to it. I encourage you to try some of the ideas on this list — you’ll be amazed by how quickly you develop a deeper relationship with the Earth and all her creatures.

Resources:

Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans, study says” from The Washington Post

A Sustainable Mind podcast

Practical(ly) Zero Waste podcast

Herbal Hair Rinse for healthy shiny hair and protection using an infused vinegar.

When I was a little girl, my grand mother use to rince my hair with a table spoon of pale cider vinegar diluted in a pitch of water. It made my hair so shiny and strong, I kept this tradition in my adulthood.

Now I have more knowledge in herbalism and witchcraft and I adapted the recipe to be even more effective.

This is a remedy to treat small ailments. Always consult with your GP before. This doesn’t replace any medication!

Herbal Hair Rinse for soothing the scalp, strengthen the hair and protection.

Ingredients:

1L raw organic apple cider vinegar.

½ cup dried chamomile.

½ cup dried lavender.

4 to 5 fresh rosemary sprigs (or ½ cup dried rosemary).

Equipment

1l Mason jar

Plastic lid for the mason jar (you can find some here https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=mason+jar+plastic+lid&crid=1JCPADG0E2V6O&sprefix=mason+jar+plastic%2Caps%2C157&ref=nb_sb_ss_organic-diversity_1_17

Muslin cloth to filter the vinegar

Herbalism

Apple cider vinegar for the hair: help remove buildup of hair products, help balance hair’s pH, clean the scalp, boost circulation, condition hair, soothe dry itchy scalp.

Chamomile: Soothes the scalp

Lavender: Increases circulation, promotes hair growth, calms inflammation, soothes scalp irritation

Rosemary: Increase scalp circulation, promotes hair growth, strengthen hairs, fights dandruff

Magical intent

Apple cider vinegar: Purification, protection

Chamomile: Purification

Lavender: Protection, purification

Rosemary: Protection, purification

Recipe:

Add all the dry ingredients in the mason jar

Fill up to the top with raw organic apple cider

Don’t use metal lid as it will be corroded by the vinegar!

Store in a dark cool cupboard for 6 to 8 weeks. You can be tempted to wait less, but the result will be a weaker vinegar.

Shake every couple of days

When ready, strain and compost the herbs.

The concentrated vinegar will store indefinitely but you’ll need to prepare the rinse before each wash.

Don’t use it more than twice a week.

Always label your jar with the date of creation and what’s inside!

Utilisation

Use a 500mL mason jar.

Add 2 table spoons of vinegar, fill up with water to the top.

Take your shower, wash your hair, then use the rince on your wet hair. Don’t rince your hair with water after!

Be careful to your eyes!

Rinse your shower after you’re done to remove any vinegar residue.

The rinse is really diluted, it doesn’t smell really strong. The smell will disappear when the hair will dry.

Also, it requires a long time of infusion so be mindful of the time frame when you are doing your next batch!