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hearthandheathenry · 18 hours

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All About Beltane

Beltane, also known as Bealtaine in Irish, is a Gaelic holiday traditionally held on May 1st or the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is believed to be named after the Celtic sun god Belenus. It was widely observed in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle Of Man, and is one of the 4 major Celtic fire festivals. It is mentioned in even the earliest Irish literature and marked the beginning of summer and used as the marker to drive cattle into their summer pastures. Although public celebrations have mostly fallen out after the 20th century and many traditions have been mixed with other cultural holidays (such as the Roman holiday May Day), many Celtic Neopagans and Wiccans still celebrate, and many local traditions still continue, causing it to now get a cultural revival.

Traditionally, rituals were held to protect the livestock that moved pastures, along with crops, dairy products, and people, and to encourage growth. It was also important to appease the Aos Sí, or nature spirits/fairies, which were believed to be more active then.

According to early medieval texts in 908, druids would make two bonfires and drive cattle between them to protect them from disease. In the 18th and 19th centuries, bonfires continued to be an important part of the celebrations. Before the bonfires were lit, all hearth fires were put out, and then relit using the fire from the Beltane bonfires after the celebration.

Continuing into the 19th century, cattle were still driven over or between flames, or sometimes around the fires or made to leap over. The people themselves did as well for good luck and protection. Once the fires died down, people would dab themselves with the ashes and sprinkle them over their crops and livestock. Torches from the bonfires would also be brought home and carried around the home or boundaries, and also used to relight the hearth.

Food was also an important part of the Beltane festival, and usually included a feast of lamb, which, historically, was sacrificed. In 1769, it was written that a hot drink, called a caudle, made of eggs, butter, oatmeal, and milk was served, along with tossing a bit on the ground as an offering. A Beltane Bannock, a type of oatmeal cake, was also written to be important and had a few traditions around it.

In one tradition, the Beltane Bannock had nine knobs on it and each person would take the bannock and face the fire, proceeding to break off the knobs of bannock one at a time and tossing them behind their shoulder as an offering to the spirits for protection over their livestock and from predators (one for the cow, one for the sheep, one for the fox, etc). Afterwards, they would drink the caudle.

According to other 18th century writers, there was another Beltane Bannock tradition where the bannock would be cut into slices and one was marked with charcoal. The slices were then thrown into a bonnet and everyone would take one out while blindfolded. According to one writer, whoever pulled the marked bannock slice had to leap through the fire 3 times. According to another, the person would instead be pretend-thrown into the fire and for some time afterward people would talk about the person as if they were dead. This may have always been symbolic, or it may have been a tradition from a time where actual human sacrifice was used. This tradition was also near identical to May Day traditions that occurred in Wales and other parts of Europe, however.

Other traditions including flowers and plants were also observed, especially ones that evoked fire. Documents from the 19th century cite that yellow and white flowers, such as primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel, and marsh marigold was used and placed at doorways and windows. Sometimes they were strewn into garland, and other times they were made into bouquets, made into crosses, or fastened to them. They were also fastened to cows and milking/butter equipment.

Decorating a May Bush or May Bough was also a widespread tradition, and it usually consisted of a small tree or branch (typically hawthorn, rowan, holly, or sycamore) decorated with bright flowers, ribbons, candles, painted shells or egg shells from Easter, and more. In some traditions they also decorated it with gold and silver May Balls, which were hurling balls, that were then either given out to children or gifted to winners of a hurling match. It was also known as the only acceptable time to cut a thorn tree, as they were associated with fairies and may have also been a relic of worshipping tree spirits. It would either be decorated where it grew, or branches hung over windows, doors, roofs, and barns either inside or outside. Traditionally, it was the responsibility of the eldest of the house to decorate it.

The tree was usually left up until May 31st, but in some traditions it would be burned in the festival bonfire after singing and dancing around it. In Dublin and Belfast, May Bushes were brought into town and decorated by the whole neighborhood, with each neighborhood competing for the most beautiful bush. These competitions could also lead to neighborhoods attempting to steal others May Bushes, which eventually led to the May Bush being outlawed in Victorian times.

Appeasing the fairies was also a big part in Beltane celebrations, with many traditions revolving around offerings to the fairies and also warding them off, as there were many fears around them stealing dairy. One protection tradition was to leave 3 black coals under the butter churn. Another was to hang May Boughs on the milk pails. And yet another was to hang cattle tails in the barns. Flowers were also used to decorate the cattle's horns for good luck.

Farmers would also lead a procession around the boundaries of the farm and would "carry with them seeds of grain, implements of husbandry, the first well water, and the herb vervain (or rowan)", stopping at the four cardinal points of direction starting at the east, and performing rituals towards each direction at each stop. These processions were said to bring protection of their farm produce and encourage fertility. Some people also made the sign of the cross using milk on the backside of cattle for good luck.

As for fairy offerings, one tradition was to pour milk or leave food at places associated with the fairies such as "fairy trees". In Ireland, cattle were brought to "fairy forts" where a small amount of their blood was poured into the earth with prayers of the herd's safety. Sometimes, the blood would be left to dry and then be burnt.

Visiting holy wells was also a popular way to celebrate Beltane. Visitors would walk sunwise, moving from east to west, around the well while praying for health. They would then leave offerings of coins or cloth. The first water drawn from the well on Beltane was thought to be especially potent, and would bring good luck to the person who drew it.

Morning dew on Beltane was also thought to bring goodluck and health, and maidens would wash their face with it or roll in it at dawn or before sunrise on Beltane. It was also collected in a jar, left in sunlight, and then filtered. The dew was said to increase sexual attractiveness, maintain youthfulness, protect from sun damage, and ensure skin health during the ensuing year.

Modern day celebrations may vary from these more traditional festival activities, but many choose to incorporate or take inspiration from the traditions at least. Popular traditions still revolve around bonfires, feasts, decorating a May Bush, and focusing on protection and growth.

Beltane Associations

Colors - yellow, white, red, green

Food - lamb, milk and dairy, beef, bannocks, caudle, cakes

Animals - cattle, sheep, other herd animals

Items - primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel, marsh marigold, holly, sycamore, yellow and white flowers, flower garland, greenery, morning dew, dairy products

Crystals - citrine, fire agate, fire opal, carnelian, red and yellow jasper

Other - protection, fertility, good luck, fire, smoke, ash, sun, bonfires, farming

Ways To Celebrate

light a bonfire

jump over or dance around a bonfire

decorate a May Bush or May Bough

craft and hang flower garland

bake Beltane Bannocks

collect morning dew

create some caudle

ward and protect your home or property

leave offerings for the fairies

focus on protection, growth, and luck magic

enjoy time in the sun

have a feast

create a bouquet out of yellow and white flowers

visit a farm or petting zoo

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bitter-bats-cult-of-the-moon · 3 months

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Cleansing Methods for Magickal Items

Before using a magickal item it is suggested that you clear away any existing negativity and/or personal energies.

You never know who may have handled it. Most items will require a single cleansing before being ready to properly use.

However, some items may retain lingering unhelpful energies even after a cleansing method is performed.

Items inherited from another person who had it in their possession for an extended period, or items previously charged and used for specific purposes may be more difficult to cleanse.

If one application doesn’t do the trick, repeat the process. If that is still not sufficient, try a second method.

Please be mindful of closed practices when performing these techniques. Always check and research before choosing a cleansing method.

Remember to use logical means when determining which method would work the best for the situation.

Keep in mind, there are stones that can be damaged by submerging them in water.

Metals may be damaged by salt.

Lightly colored quartz, amethyst, and other stones may lose all or a portion of their color and energy when they are left in direct sunlight.

The least damaging methods of cleansing include direct moonlight, sound manipulation, and using your own personal energy.

Smoke Cleansing – This has been used for a long time. Smoke from dried herbs bundled together, candles, or incense are widely used today. Using the smoke pass it over and surround the item while focusing on sending any negative energy away allowing it to become neutralized. Incantations may be used in conjunction. Deities, Elementals, or other spirits may be called to assist if needed.

Water – Submerge or sprinkle water over items while focusing on your intent to cleanse the item of unwanted energies. Remember to be sure that the item can handle water. The best resources come from natural bodies of water including rainwater, creeks, rivers, and the ocean.

Sea Salt – Make certain that the salt will not be damaging beforehand, bury it in the salt and leave it for a few hours or a few days. This lets the salt absorb the unwanted energy.

Sunlight – Bathe the item under direct sunlight making certain there will be no damage warranted. Leave the item there allowing the solar energies to properly cleanse.

Moonlight – After sunset place the item under the moonlight. Bring it back in prior to sunrise allowing the lunar energies cleanse away any unwanted energies.

High Vibration Sounds – Try using your favorite music to turn up loud. When applicable use Tibetan Singing bowls, lead crystal bowls, gongs, drums, or tuning forks.

Pyramid Energy – Items can be placed under or inside charged pyramids meant for cleansing and protection returning the item to a neutral state.

Personal Energy – Use your own personal energy to cleanse items in question. This method is generally safe for every item. This can be intensive for some depending upon the quantity and quality of energies needing to be pushed away.

Charged Crystals – There are some crystals that can be used to strip away unwanted energies having the natural ability to do so. Amethyst crystals excel at this. Items may be placed on larger crystals or have smaller crystals set on or around the item to properly cleanse.

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the-clumsywitch · 1 year

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Credit: Bukuritós Aruanda

#witch #witchblr #the clumsy witch #witch blog #witch community #witchy #spiritual #witchy vibes #stars #magickal #black witch #black witches of tumblr #witches of tumblr

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arcane-trail · 1 year

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🔮 Witchy Goth & Pagan Shop 🔮

#fae #faecore #fairies #fairy #fairycore #fairy blog #mystical #magick #magickal #ethereal #faes #faerie

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vorpalfae · 7 months

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☽༺⛥ 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔰 𝔟𝔯𝔢𝔴 ⛥༻☾

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slowlyawitch · 5 months

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Todays spell work

Three wishes spell

Very simple, we’ll see how effective it is.

I have three wishes, something about my career, something about my love life and just to have a nice happy Christmas this year.

The red candle is christmas spice, I carved my wish to have a happy christmas in it and sprinkled pink salt in it for pure protection.

The purple candle is lavendar, I carved my love related wish into it and sprinkled cinnamon on it.

The orange candle is mango, I carved my career wish in it and sprinkled a bit of dried basil on there.

I drew out a triangle, wrote my wishes at each tip in a different colour pen (purple for christmas, pink for love and blue for career), and drew one of my personal use sigils in the center. I folded the paper to triangle shape, placed the candles to their corresponding tips and lit them.

May the full moon hear my prayer, may my intentions be carried through the rest of its cycle, may my wishes come true

Update: it worked!

#magick #witchcraft #witchlife #babywitch #magickal #esoteric art #witchythings #occult art #spell work #spellwork #spells #spell guide #witch diary #witch post #witch blog #beginner witch #spell ideas #magick inspiration #witch inspiration

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hexora · 5 months

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Witchy Questions to Ask

What drew you to witchcraft in the first place?

How do you define your personal witchcraft practice?

Can you share a memorable experience from your magical journey?

What are some essential tools or ingredients in your magical toolkit?

Do you have a favorite spell or ritual that you find particularly powerful?

How do you incorporate astrology into your witchcraft practice?

What role does divination play in your craft, if any?

How do you connect with nature and the elements in your magical work?

Are there specific deities or spirits that you work with in your practice?

How do you handle skepticism or misunderstandings about witchcraft in your life?

Do you have a favorite book or resource that has influenced your craft significantly?

How has your witchcraft practice evolved over time?

Can you share a favorite recipe for a magical potion or herbal infusion?

What role do crystals or gemstones play in your magical workings?

How do you celebrate the phases of the moon in your practice?

Have you ever participated in a group ritual or coven? How was the experience?

Do you have any favorite tarot or oracle decks? Why do you resonate with them?

How do you balance your magical practice with everyday responsibilities?

What advice would you give to someone just starting their witchcraft journey?

How do you cleanse and protect your space energetically?

Have you ever encountered any challenges or obstacles in your witchcraft journey?

What role does meditation or mindfulness play in your magical practice?

How do you incorporate folk magic or traditional practices into your craft?

Can you share a favorite folklore or myth that inspires your magical work?

What is your perspective on ethics and responsibility in witchcraft?

How do you navigate cultural appropriation in your magical practice?

Do you have a favorite season or Sabbat that you feel most connected to?

How do you use dreams or lucid dreaming in your magical work?

Have you ever had a synchronicity or meaningful coincidence related to your craft?

How do you stay inspired and motivated in your witchcraft journey?

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thequeenofallwitches · 8 months

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I’m back. Our ancestors are our PROTECTIONS 💖

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the-clumsywitchkitchen · 2 years

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Two Ingredient Tea Blends + Their Magickal Properties & Associations

Rose & White Tea

Peppermint & Holy Basil

Black Tea & Cinnamon

Lavender & Chamomile

Rose & Chamomile

Catnip & Peppermint

Rosemary & Peppermint

Rosehip & Hibiscus

These blends are super easy because you just use equal parts of each herb/tea! But feel free to adjust them to your liking, also make sure that none of these herbs or teas are dangerous for you to drink.

Magickal Properties & Associations

Rose: love, compassion, sex magick, healing, calming, good luck, fortune, beauty, glamour, psychic abilities, divination, courage, strength, protection, harmony, fertility, happiness, restoration

Lavender: communication, intuition, psychic ability, clarity, concentration, divination, dreamwork, sleep, love, romance, beauty, healing, grief, grounding, happiness, wealth, protection

Chamomile: love, healing, peace, purification, calming, balance, calming, grounding introspection, intuition, money, luck, success, visions, determination, banishing

Hibiscus: love, lust, sexual freedom, passion, peace, harmony, divination, clairvoyance, concentration

White Tea: purification, cleansing, clarity, meditation, psychic abilities, blessings

Black Tea: cleansing, getting rid of negative energy, grounding

Peppermint: luck, prosperity, healing, cleansing, divination, mental clarity, inspiration, divination, purification, love, success, money, creativity, action, banishing

Holy Basil: calm, consecration, spirituality, mindfulness, healing

Cinnamon: money, luck, success, protection, healing, love, lust, sex magick, passion, longevity, clairvoyance, concentration, spirituality, harmony

Catnip: peace, harmony, happiness, love, luck, strength, psychic abilities, tranquility, purification

Rosemary: release, healing, renewal, purification, wisdom, honesty, dream recall, intuition, communication, longevity, protection, banishing

Rosehip: luck, abundance, protection, peace, healing, love

Note: These are only some of the magickal correspondences of these ingredients.

Sources

Lewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kynes (ISBN: 978-0-7387-3253-4)

The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (ISBN: 978-1-5072-0471-9)

Herbal Tea for the Modern Witch by Elsie Wild (ISBN: 978-1-64604-247-0)

witchesandpagans.com

- Erika, The Clumsy Witch

#witch community #witches of tumblr #the clumsy witch #witchblr #witch blog #kitchen magick #witch #witchy #herbs #tea #tea blends #kitchen witchery #healing herbs #healing #magick #magickal

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awitchdidit-etsy · 5 months

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I have started an Etsy page for my hand-crafted items! WEEEEEE!

Search awitchdidit on Etsy, or paste in this link! www.awitchdidit.etsy.com

I'm hoping you guys will be interested in my crafts and want to check out my Etsy page! I use almost all organic herbs.

#witchcraft #spirituality #spiritual #spell jar #bath and body products #photography #bath satchets #positive energy #intentions #magickal #anxiety #sleep #skin care #passion #attract money #mone spells

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the-occult-lounge · 3 months

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Ethics, morals and safety should be considered in all practices. Individuals will not always agree on how ethics should be incorporated, but listening to each other goes a long way. People will still disagree but taking the time to understand where the other party is coming from is part of strengthening the occult community.

Some faiths believe that what goes around, comes around, meaning that whatever you put out into the universe will revisit you. Some Pagan traditions believe that it comes back threefold as the universe's way of teaching people life lessons. Thus whatever good or harm that you put out into the universe "will come back to you in some way, shape, or form" because they see magick as an exchange of energies. HOWEVER, not every practitioner believes this ideology and that should be respected.

Everyone will have a difference of opinion.

Your ethics are up to you to decide.

Main areas of controversy:

• Consent: The reason baneful magick is considered so dangerous is because you don't have consent, Which means it can back fire onto you or just not work at all. This also can go towards positive spell work such as healing spells and love spells. The main reason a lot of people find issues with not having consent is free will. It is up to you to decide how you feel about consent in your magickal workings. As long as you take responsibility for what may come your way no one is allowed to look down on your practice.

• Using spirits or deity for your own gain: Let's put you in the spirits place. You have passed on and are still around for your family, friends, etc. People pull on your energy without asking you or offering you something in return. How, as the spirit being taken advantage of, do you feel? Do you think that the magick will work without energetically giving something in return to those that are having something taken from them? Probably not. Again, this is up to the practitioner to decide for themselves how they want to work with spirit, deity, and energy around them. But remember aome spirits were once in your shoes.

• White, Grey and Black Magick: These terms are used often but do we know where they originate from. In modern era these associate any magick that is performed by POC as black magick. That is just the typical thought process of someone not in the magick community. It is best we move away from these terms. I, Waric, tend to use positive, neutral and negative to describe my magick.

• Closed practices are those that you either must be born into or initiated into. Below.ia a list of some known closed practices:

• Voodoo

• Brujeria

• Buddhism (some paths ask a Buddhist before trying out a path, some are favorable to sharing, some are not)

• Catholicism

• Hindu

• Aztec

• Mayan

• Judaism

• Aboriginal Cultures (nearly all)

• Islam

• Orthodox Kemetism (worshiping a few Gods is okay and open though)

•Gardner Wicca (the most traditional version of it other branches are fine)

• Shinto

• Zoroastrianism

#discord #occultist #paganism #pagan #witch community #witches #witchblr #witchcraft #witch #occultism #magick #magickal #practitioner

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hearthandheathenry · 2 months

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Color Associations In Magick

Red - love, seduction, passion, strength, courage, charisma, assertiveness, survival, change, power

Blue - peace, communication, expression, forgiveness, traveling, protection, truth, sleep, patience, trust, pregnancy

Yellow - joy, abundance, intelligence, reason, learning, memory, inspiration, imagination, friendships

Green - growth, wealth, fertility, business, healing, nature, balance, luck, longevity

Orange - creativity, justice, ambition, opportunity, attraction, abundance, confidence, energy, celebration, goals, success

Purple - intuition, decadence, authority, wisdom, knowledge, influence, psychic abilities, devotion, enlightenment, overcoming fears, addiction, independence, spirituality

Pink - self-love, companionship, affection, spiritual healing, kindness, beauty, femininity, marriage, sensuality, children, healing abuse

Brown - home, animals, family, stability, endurance, grounding, solidarity, strength, hard work, earth

White - cleansing, purification, spirituality, higher-self, innocence, illumination, balancing, hope

Black - protection, binding, transmutation, banishing negativity, dignity, force, grief, secrets, endings, loss, security

Gray - stability, concentration, neutrality, reserve, balance, adaptability, flexibility

Gold - wealth, inner-strength, understanding, self-realization, sun, masculinity, abundance, happiness, overcoming addiction, luxury

Silver - wisdom, psychic powers, intelligence, memory, moon, healing, divination, money, femininity, fertility, hidden potential, success, awareness

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sappy-witch · 11 months

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Celebrating the Summer Solstice ☀️

Hello darlings 🥰

June has finally arrived and with it, the energy of the Summer Solstice is upon us (21st of June). This is a time to celebrate the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. Here are some ways to embrace the magic of June:

☀️ Light a bonfire - This is a traditional way to honor the Summer Solstice. Gather with friends and family around a bonfire and welcome in the new season. ☀️ Make a sunflower altar - Sunflowers are a symbol of the sun and summer. Create an altar with sunflowers, crystals, and other items that represent the energy of the season. ☀️ Go on a nature walk - Spend time in nature and appreciate the beauty of the season. Take a walk through a park or forest and soak in the magic of the summer solstice. ☀️ Create a summer-inspired spell - Use the energy of the season to cast a spell for abundance, growth, or manifestation. This is a powerful time to harness the energy of the sun and bring your desires to fruition. ☀️ Make a summer solstice cocktail - Mix up a delicious cocktail with summer-inspired ingredients like fresh fruit and herbs. Enjoy the taste of the season while celebrating the solstice.

Remember, the energy of the solstice will be with us for a few days, so take advantage of this powerful time to connect with the magic of the season. Happy June Magick, witches! ☀️ 🌻🔮✨