Simple Magick: 30 Low-Energy Magickal Activities

Small, simple low-energy magickal activities are important to my practice. They join the dots between bigger celebrations, rituals and work. 

They’re perfect for when you are feeling unwell, low on time, or disconnected from your Craft. Sometimes we need to rely upon low-energy activities to see us through a period of spiritual drought; until we can step things up a gear or commit to our Craft more fully.

Gratitude, mindfulness and seeing the magick and the joy in everything, are also helpful tools in any practice.

• Burn incense intentionally ~ watch the smoke carry your ideas and intentions
• Light a candle ~ concentrate on a thought, intention or affirmation
• Read a witchy book
• Write witchy poetry 
• Draw a witchy sketch
• Read up on a festival/sabbat if you’re not able to celebrate/observe it
• Make magickal plans 
• Journal 
• Listen to some witchy/pagan/inspiring music 
• Create some incense 
• Update your Grimoire 
• Clean your altar
• Watch a witchy film or documentary
• Write a letter to a witchy friend 
• Discuss the nearest sabbat/festival/season
• Bake something seasonal
• Meditate 
• Design spellwork for later 
• Go for a small walk and observe what nature is doing 
• Create a sigil
• Reflect on the nearest sabbat/festival/moon phase and the last turn of the Wheel
• Create a seasonal simmer pot using appropriate herbs and ingredients 
• Make a hot drink and stir appropriately to banish or attract
• Daydream out the window 
• Do some cloud watching ~ look for messages 
• Draw sigils/symbols/runes on plates before plating food
• Do some witchy art/crafts 
• Go outside ~ even if briefly ~ to look at the Moon 
• Do some simple divination ~ eg. Tarot reading or scrying
• Take a witchy bath ~ let the things you no longer need drain down the plughole

The list is endless, and I imagine many of us will do most of these. What would you add to this list?

NEXT - Simple Magick: Find Your Magick
NEXT - Simple Magick: Altar Dressing
NEXT - Moon Magick: Making Moon Water

Fabulous Folklore: Oak Galls

Galls are defined as a growth on a plant that are caused by another organism. In the case of the Oak marble gall (pictured) found on pedunculate oaks, they are caused by a tiny wasp, Andricus kollari, which measures about 1.5mm long.

Around May or June a sexual female lays her eggs in the developing buds of an oak tree, usually in an immature or unhealthy specimen. Chemicals from the adult and the developing wasps cause the formation of the gall.

Oak apple galls are caused by Biorhiza polliza, and oak knopper galls are caused by Andricus quercuscalicis; two other types of wasp, producing two other types of gall.

Until the early twentieth century, oak galls were used in the production of ink. The Book of Magical Charms, a handwritten manuscript written in England in the seventeenth century, containing numerous passages regarding charms for things such as healing toothache, was written in oak gall ink.

Oak galls could also be used for divination. Three galls were dropped into a basin of water to see if a child was bewitched. If they floated, the child wasn’t enchanted, but if they sank, the child was.

They were also used to predict the weather. If a maggot was found inside on St. Michaelmas Day (29th September) the weather ahead would be pleasant. If a spider was found, ruined crops, if a wasp was found, moderate weather, and if nothing was found serious disease would occur all year.

Oaks are associated with my home town. I’m going to buddy these galls with some peridot to make a necklace or bracelet.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Oak Apple Day

Fabulous Folklore: Yule Evergreens

Bringing evergreens into the home at Midwinter goes back to a time when people were more connected to the cycles of nature, way before the arrival of Christmas. Evergreens represented everlasting life in the darkest part of the year, and therefore brought the hope of returning light. Each European country, and each British county, had their own specific customs related to evergreens, but many involved hanging them around windows and over doorways.

Holly was hung over entrances to peoples’ homes, and was used to make wreaths. It brought good luck and protection, and was still beautiful in the middle of winter, giving the poor a means of decorating their homes at a time of celebration. The Druids revered holly and believed its evergreen nature was sacred; it kept the earth beautiful at a time when other trees shed their leaves.

Evergreen conifers (pine, fir, cedar, juniper, or spruce) became the Yule Tree, which evolved into the Christmas Tree. The Christmas Tree custom flourished in Germany and over time it spread to other European regions, eventually reaching North America. Traditionally the brightly colored decorations and lights symbolised stellar objects, spirits, religious figures, and religious events.

The ancient Greeks, Druids, Celts, and Norse revered mistletoe as sacred, and it was used for protection, blessing, and medicine. The 23rd December is known as The Nameless Day, and is represented by Mistletoe. This day falls outside the lunar calendar and represents the unshaped potential of all things. This is the extra day in a “year and a day” represented by so many folk tales.

This gorgeous display of evergreens is over a doorway in nearby Stamford, Lincolnshire.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Robin Redbreast

Spell: Orange Charm for Courage

One of the easiest ways to work with the energies of the Earth is by using herbs. I love this spell from Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin and Paul Mason.

Orange Charm for Courage Spell

Ingredients:

6 inch square of orange cloth

Red thread or ribbon

Dried thyme, basil, and a few black peppercorns

Sweet orange essential oil

Method: 

Lay out the cloth, sprinkle the herbs on it and say;

“The strength of the bull, the daring of the boar,

Grant me courage, now and more,

Grant me bravery in my life each day,

To follow my path and have my say.”

Tie the sachet up, and keep it near you. Place beneath your pillow when you sleep.

Every full moon replace the herbs and oil. When the sachet has served its purpose untie the knot and dispose of responsibly.

NEXT - Spell: Graveminding Ritual
NEXT - Word Magick: Courage - What Does It Mean?
NEXT - Simple Magick: Protecting the Integrity of Your Spells on Social Media

Review: Witchology Magazine - Mabon 2020 Issue

As we’re talking Witchy Resources over at @witch.with.me this week, I’m giving a shout out to Witchology Magazine https://witchologymagazine.com/ (@witchologymag)

Witchology is a “digital magazine for the modern witch”, and features a host of witchy writers, including myself.

The September issue is available to buy and centres on Mabon. There is an abundance of fabulous articles including a wonderful Gratitude in Shadow Work Ritual by @hillcountrybruja, A Mabon Tale by @thewildmoongarden and a piece on The Magick of Animals by @chrisallaun.

Recipes, journalling, tarot, astrology, and so much more, feature in this beautifully inspiring edition, making it the best Mabon ever!

The Lughnasadh issue was beautiful, and I’m beyond excited for Samhain. 

NEXT - Autumn Equinox Blessings
NEXT - Review: Witchology Magazine - Spring 2022 Issue
NEXT - Recipe: Wren's Autumn Apple Cake

NEXT - Review: Garden of Chthonia Soaps by Lizzie 

Review: Garden of Chthonia Soaps by Lizzie

Two of my favourite resources on Instagram are the pages run by the lovely Lizzie.

A huge amount of interesting, in-depth, and inspiring information can be found on Lizzie’s Folk Herbalism page ~ @the_wortcunning_wyfe ~ alongside lots of beautiful close ups of the herbs and plants she is talking about. I have learned so much, and her page is an absolute joy!

Over on Lizzie’s other account ~ @gardenofchthonia ~ you can find website details for her amazing lotions and potions. https://www.gardenofchthonia.com/

I have been a customer of Lizzie’s for a while now. In a bid to reduce our plastic waste we switched over to soap bars for washing our hands and showering some years ago, and after trying sooooo many soaps in that time, I can honestly say that Lizzie’s are the best.

I thoroughly recommend that you check out both pages, which are a wealth of information, and take a peek at Lizzie’s website, too.

NEXT - Review: Gaya Candles 

Pagan Holidays: Lughnasadh

A blessed Lughnasadh everyone!

The first of three harvests, this time of year feels somewhat paradoxical; the Sun is at its zenith, but waning. The crops have reached their peak, but will soon be cut. The bounty of our land is at full swing, but soon it will be winter. This is a time of great abundance, but also loss.

It’s a time to give thanks; a time to reap what you have sown, literally and metaphorically, and to celebrate and share what you have achieved.

I baked my own recipe ~ Wren’s Lughnasadh Bread ~ to celebrate this special sabbat. Whilst I kneaded it, I reflected on what I have achieved this year, and what seeds I would like to sow for next year. I kneaded in my intentions.

This recipe will be available in the Lughnasadh (August) issue of Witchology Magazine @witchologymag - so be sure to check it out. 

NEXT - Journaling: Harvest Reflections for Lughnasadh 

NEXT - Turning the Wheel - Samhain is Coming

Natural Remedies: Stinging Nettle & Rosemary Hair Rinse

Nettle is rich in many nutrients and antioxidants, making it a great plant ally. It is rich in silica and sulphur making hair shinier, thicker, and healthier. Nettle boosts the circulation, which means that more oxygen - and therefore nutrients - will reach the hair follicles. Nettle contains super antioxidants that help get rid of damaging compounds, and inhibit the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen (type of hormone), that causes baldness in both men and women.

Rosemary is believed to prevent DHT from bonding to hormone receptors that enable the hair follicles to be attacked, and it contains ursolic acid which increases (scalp) circulation. It’s unsurprising, therefore, that hair re-growth has been observed in trials using Rosemary oil. It’s antibacterial properties gently cleanse the hair and increase shine. Working together, Nettle and Rosemary do amazing things for the hair.

This recipe has been in my Book of Shadows for over 20 years now. It seems a bit odd rinsing your hair after washing it with what is basically tea(!), but it will add body and shine to your hair.

Step 1 - Add a handful or two of Nettles, and a handful of Rosemary sprigs, to a heat-proof bowl. Add 1L of boiling water and leave over night to steep.

Step 2 - Strain. At this stage you could add 50ml raw apple cider vinegar if you wanted, but I don’t bother.

Step 3 - After shampooing rinse your hair with this mixture, no need to wash out. Use all in one go, this mix isn’t for storing.

CAUTION: this beautiful reddish-brown mixture will stain ceramic bathroom ware, so please be careful. Rosemary can darken blond hair over time; so if you’re blonde - and enjoy being so! - you might want to avoid frequent use. 

NEXT - Natural Remedies: Lavender Oil
NEXT - Rosemary Magick: 17 Uses & Correspondences
NEXT - Personal Magick: My Kitchen Apothecary

Tarot Method: Storing Tarot Decks in Drawstring Bags

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul” ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Though Craft Week at @witch.with.me is coming to a close, I wanted to share these bags I made for my Tarot cards.

A lot of Tarot decks come in really big boxes and I was running out of space. Now my cards take up less space and they’re portable - they’re handbag ready.

I’ve tried many crafts over the years and they all have one thing in common: their therapeutic effect. I love the meditative process of crafting.

NEXT - Tarot Books: Sunday Witchstack
NEXT - Simple Magick: Offerings - What Are They? 
NEXT - Simple Magick: Disposing Spell Remains

Media Appearance: Chris Down Art

These are just some of the incredible artworks by Chris Down. @chrisdownart

I’m in two paintings in this picture, can you spot me?

I first met Chris in 2010. Another artist I worked for (see my post on the 12th February) recommended me to Chris, and we started corresponding. We’ve been on several adventures together over the years - some for fun and some in the pursuit of art - and I’m honoured to call Chris a friend, although geography means we don’t get to catch up as much as I’d like.

Chris has been an artist and illustrator for more than 20 years, and has illustrated in excess of 50 books. Check your witchy books - Chris will have illustrated some of them.

Chris illustrated the Celtic Tarot by Kristoffer Hughes and released his new book, Otherworld, last week, which I’m honoured to be on the front cover of.