As we all know, witches have existed for many centuries and continue to exist today. Many were healers, fortune tellers, soothsayers, and many more; but, some big questions that are on many witches’ mind are: what does a traditional witch’s outfit look like? What did witches wear? Are the witchy outfits of today historically accurate to what “real” witches wore? Does the broom actually have anything to do with witches? We will break down some of the traditional clothes that a witch would wear, alongside some accessories that we have come to know today as part of the witchy outfit. This brief history focuses on not just the historical accuracy of what witches used to wear, but also aims to explain where some concepts of witchy fashion came from such as her broom or pointed hat.
Continue reading “A Look at Witchy Fashion”Potions For The Beginning Witch
Throughout every kind of story, video game, or fantasy movie, potions are always shown to be these vials of liquid (traditionally red or blue colors) that can heal certain wounds or even prevent death. It is always suggested that the protagonists should always carry some form of healing in a bottle, which is supposed to act as a medium for healing. Even though potions are popularized and fantasized in the media, it can be confusing as to what a potion actually is and what it can do. What properties are within a potion? How does one concoct such a brew? Do they even taste good? This guide will help you understand more about what potions are, what is the equivalent to actual life, and how to make your own potions at home (trust us, it really is not as complicated as it appears to be.)
Continue reading “Potions For The Beginning Witch”Diving into Witchy Decor
Within the span of 24 hours, we spend about an average of 8-11 hours in the bedroom, giving peace and rest to our body, soul and mind. This is important to a witch because she must have full energy in order to go throughout her daily rituals: spell casting, garden tending, etc. Even though the day is the time when a witch is able to charge and imbue magic into objects or even herself, once the day draws to an end, a witch must retreat to her bedroom to rest. All witches spend some time in their bedroom for many reasons: sleeping, resting, casting, and even expelling their spiritual energy through dreaming. This is the perfect time to take advantage of the residual energy that resides in the bedroom and channel it into one’s body. Although it may seem a little bizarre, having a bedroom that coincides with elements that a witch associates with or wants to draw power from is beneficial to the mind and spirit. This helpful guide will show you how different items placed in the bedroom can not only be very beneficial to a witch, but also transform the room with some witchy decor ideas.
Continue reading “Diving into Witchy Decor”On “Real” Magick – A Look into White and Gray Witchcraft
Wiccan witch, green witch, kitchen witch, eclectic witch, garden witch, Christian witch, Satanic witch, elemental witch – the list goes on and on. There are many different types of witches, many of which we have discussed in depth in various articles. But regardless of which kind of witch you are, how long you have been practicing or how established and comfortable you feel with your practice, there is forever the lingering question – am I a real witch? Am I an authentic witch? What is a real witch? How can I be an authentic witch?
This type of insecurity is common not just in the budding witch of today, but also within the witches from way back in the day. In fact, it is almost as if the true mark of a witch is not witchcraft or magick, but the constant self-questioning and self-doubt about whether her brand of witchcraft is authentic or really witchcraft. Honestly it boils down to something rather simple – what is witchcraft? What is magick? There are many, many definitions of what constitutes witchcraft, but the truth is that it doesn’t really matter how someone else defines their craft because their craft is not your craft – and you don’t need to prove your craft to anyone. The sooner you understand that, the sooner you liberate yourself from this nagging desire to prove yourself. Is your practice improving, developing and flourishing? Is your practice fulfilling your intended magickal goals? If so, that is all that ultimately matters.
Continue reading “On “Real” Magick – A Look into White and Gray Witchcraft”Men in the World of Witchcraft
It is no surprise that with the surge of paganism and witchcraft resurfacing again after years of secrecy, that many women have been or become associated with this practice. Although the media portrays witches to be primarily women who perform witchcraft, there are also male witches who do the same. A witch does not primarily have to be a woman that practices magic; but because of centuries of stigma, indoctrination and control, men who practiced witchcraft were given different titles. They practice magic in a similar way that a female witch would practice her magic. This post will help to clarify what it means to be a witch, and how men have always been witches, just with different titles.
Continue reading “Men in the World of Witchcraft”Beltane Recipes: A Historical Perspective
Beltane, or Gaelic May Day, is an important festival in the Wheel of the Year. It is typically associated with fire, the beginning of summer, renewed life and growth, as well as an important time for agricultural and pastoral rearing. The Celtics perceived the year as being divided into two halves, a dark or winter period, and a bright or summer period. Beltane marks the beginning of the summer period. Beltane might also be connected with the ancient god Belenus, a Celtic solar deity. The Wiccan understanding of Beltane interprets this as a time of merriment, fertility, and even sensuality and sexuality because this is the time when the God and Goddess are believed to have physically united and come into fruitful union.
Continue reading “Beltane Recipes: A Historical Perspective”Candles and Candle Holders for the Spring Witch
Spring is the season of rebirth; the time for flowers to bloom, the time of the Maiden, the time of Ostara, the time to start anew. Now is the hour for witches to fill their homes with all the candles and candle holders that are associated with the springtime. It can be confusing to know which candles would embody the season of rebirth, and that is what this list is dedicated to do: to help a witch discover a few candles that will provide the appropriate scents, colors, and design she will need to fill her spring home. Remember that candles are more than just an aesthetic to have; the candle itself has simple powers such as cleansing the home of negative energy, becoming the gateway that channels the communication between you and your god(s), and has the power to channel spells and rituals. You do not need to get a special type of candle that is filled with earth, herbs, crushed berries, etc. The important part of choosing the candles that align with springtime is mostly about color, scent, and the symbolism of what they represent. A witch will want her home to be welcoming to spring, allowing the home itself to become a part of nature.
Continue reading “Candles and Candle Holders for the Spring Witch”All About Candle Magick – Practical, Everyday Magic
Look up candles or candle magick on the internet and hundreds, if not thousands of results pop up about candles being utilized in Wicca, paganism and various other “occult” traditions ranging from New-Age to straight up historical ones. A standard Wiccan altar typically features God and Goddess candles. Candles are used to call upon and make offerings to deities, elements, energies, quarters, fae, demons – just about anything and anyone. However, as usual, I was more concerned about why candles are used this way and what is the most efficient way to use them – and more importantly, do I really need to have patchouli oil at home every time I want to do a money spell? I was hoping not.
Continue reading “All About Candle Magick – Practical, Everyday Magic”A Modern Witch’s Guide to Spell Casting
An essential practice of any witch is knowing how to cast spells. A spell is nothing complicated or even just reserved for the realm of magic, it is a simple prayer or a wish. Anytime you have either prayed, wished for something, or even wanted something very much, that is you casting a spell itself! The only major difference with a wish and a proper spell is the energy and power that is put into casting the spell as well as a ritual used to direct that energy into the spell. Most spells are done through rituals on her altar or during esbats. For someone who is just beginning to learn about witchcraft, they will eventually want to learn how to cast a spell. Casting a spell is rather simple and not complicated like how the media portrays it. The most important things that a witch must have throughout the spell casting process are intention, integrity and faith.
Continue reading “A Modern Witch’s Guide to Spell Casting”What is a Witch’s Garden And How to Grow One?
A Witch’s Garden is a space where magic and nature meet. These types of gardens are focused on having the key herbs and spices that a witch will be using for her rituals, magical meals, or other related matters. Alongside growing selected herbs and spices, a witch will also work with her gods/goddesses or work with a different god that is related to harvest in order to produce herbs with the best magical results. Just like an altar to the gods, a garden altar will include the gods as well as imagery of growth, fertility, and nourishment. This altar would be the intermediary between her and nature, a bridge to connect a witch to the Earth. Most garden altars are rather simple and could just include a mossy rock, or if it is indoors one can collect different elements of nature and group them together (bundle of rocks, fallen leaves, clump of earth, etc.). In addition to a witch’s garden, there is also the concept of involving the elements of the Earth: Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. A witch can entirely focus on one element and have the herbs and spices related to that element or have a balance of all four or just the ones that she wants to focus on.