A path is the journey that someone takes as they practice witchcraft. Some use it to describe their past, present and future on their magickal journey. Others use it to represent what they would consider a “label” to themselves and their craft. In general a path in witchcraft is a word to describe that specific witch’s journey, views, experiences, focuses and future goals that surround their own personal magickal practice.
Everyone, absolutely everyone, has a different path because each person is an unique individual with unique interests, hobbies, views, practices and choices. This is why your path may vary so greatly from others around you, your friends and even your mentors/teachers. There is nothing wrong with this because it is your path, not their path.
How do I know what my Witch Type/Path is? Is there a test I can take?
No, there isn’t a test you take to determine what your path is or what type of witch you are. There is only one thing that determines that: you. You are the one who chooses your path and what you wish you focus on.
You don’t have to be any specific type of witch at all. You don’t have to be a storm witch or a green witch. You can be whatever you want. If you want a label and to focus your path onto one thing, then do it. If you want to be labeled as more than one thing, go for it. Do you just want to do whatever you want and have no labels? That’s perfectly fine too!
You decide what kind of witchcraft interests you by:
Researching: research every single thing you can find! Save your sources, read through articles, take notes and compare them to other articles, posts, blogs and writings on the same topic. Look at the differences but also examine who is writing: a person who is an atheist witch will have different views on the spirituality and morals of something compared to a Wiccan witch or a Christian witch. Examine who is writing the post, and take their views with a grain of salt and not as solid fact because everyone differs. If you agree with their views that’s great! If not, take it as something to consider. Research the scientific and medical relations of things as well, what I mean by this is each herb is a medicine and like medicine and drugs it has side effects, research it before ingesting it or using it. Research your crystals and stones to ensure you don’t ruin them or harm yourself with them. Science and witchcraft come hand in hand, remember that. It’s not fun sending yourself to the hospital because you overdosed on a herb you didn’t research well enough.
Cater to Yourself: By this I mean look at what you as a person enjoy doing: your hobbies, your likes, your dislikes, your talents, your interests, etc. Use these in your craft, take these and put them into your craft. Are you interested in art? Use art supplies, drawing, painting and sigils in your craft. Interested in singing? Sing your spells and incantations, use song lyrics for spells, sing to cleanse a space or attract things. Enjoy collecting stickers? Use stickers to seal spell jars and sachets, use them like sigils and stick them to things, buy stickers that relate to correspondences via color, shape, or imagery. You can use anything you want in your path. If you are passionate about gardening, then your path can bring in gardening and plants into it. If you are passionate about cooking definitely bring kitchen magick into your path. If you just love reading, bring literature, writing and spell books into your path. Bring in your interests, make your path full of things you love. Don’t force yourself to be the “dark mysterious witch” if that is not what interests you. Why bring in tea magick into your craft if you hate tea? Your path is meant for you to enjoy it, it is to cater to you. If you like pink, glitter, candy and soda then use that! Use those things, because they are important to you. That means they hold magick in them, because they are special to you. You will find more success in doing things you love and working with tools you associate with.
Follow Your Own Beliefs: This is a big one, some people in our community will try to push that you have to worship a certain religion or deity. You do not have to worship anything or anyone to practice witchcraft. You do not have to be part of any religion, all who tell you otherwise are gatekeeping. If you wish to be Wiccan then be Wiccan, if you wish to be Pagan then be Pagan, if you wish to be Christian then be Christian, if you don’t want to bring religion into your craft at all that’s fine too. It is your choice what your beliefs are, and don’t let others tell you that you are wrong but give that same courtesy to others. Others will likely have different views and beliefs than you and so you should also give them the same respect for their beliefs as you expect them to give you. If you do wish to work with a deity or religion, research it and look into what it is like to be apart of it. Ask others who worship this deity how they do and their bond with them, this can help you figure out your own way to worship.
Why can’t others just tell me how to find my Path? I don’t want to research.
Well, that isn’t how it works I am afraid. Other people don’t know what is important to you in your core, they don’t know what holds your interest or what holds your passion. They can’t just tell you everything about your path. They can give you advice based off of their own experiences however, but this is not the same as them being able to instruct you as to what to do.
Research is apart of witchcraft, that’s just a simple fact. Yes you can ask around to people what things may be or for help but think of it like this: People don’t like feeling like google. Asking someone what the correspondence of a crystal is can get quite annoying if you or just several others keep doing it when you can easily search the phrase: “Correspondence of ____ in witchcraft” and find exactly what you need or to simply search that user’s blog for that specific crystal. Research for yourself, it is your responsibility to do if you wish to use witchcraft. You walk your own path and that means you are responsible for your own lessons. People have out there tons of amazing resources that you can use.
Common Falsehoods, Lies, Red Flags and “Dishonest Truths” about Witchcraft/Paths:
“You have to be Wiccan/Pagan”: As spoken about up above, this not true. You can follow whatever religious practice or belief you desire or none at all.
Cursing is Bad!/Three Fold Rule”: This is another popular thing people will throw out at new witches to try to scare and shame them away from cursing, hexing and other acts of baneful magick. As a whole, this is a personal opinion. If you choose to curse that is your choice and others have no right to tell you that you’re a bad person for it. But, if you chose not to curse yourself, then that is your choice. Don’t drag others down or insult them for their choice.
“You can only be one type/kind of Witch”: No, you do not even have to label yourself as we talked about above. If you wish to label yourself as a “Sea Witch” or “Cosmic Witch” or “Green Witch” then do so. If you wish not to just focus on one thing then that’s perfectly fine! A lot of witches don’t label themselves as a ‘specific type’ of witch.
“You have to use crystals/herbs/tea/etc”: Nope, you are not required to use any specific ingredients, you don’t even have to use any ingredients at all if you don’t wish to. Use what you have hand and what you like. If you have a lot of candy, make candy spells; if you have a lot of crayons, make drawn and colored spells; if you have a surplus of toilet paper rolls, use those as poppets or for spell containers.
“You have to have companions/familiars”: Nope, you do not have to work with spirits or animals or anything like that if you don’t want to. Before you do get yourself a companion I recommend heavy research into spirit companions and make sure you have a way to communicate with them.
“Only women can be witches!”: Nope! Any gender, sexual orientation, race, etc can be a witch. If you practice magick and you want to be called a witch, guess what you’re a witch. If anyone tells you otherwise they are not worth your time.
“You have to be trained/in a coven to be a witch”: Nope! You can be self taught and you can work alone. Beware of toxic covens too, there are some out there who try to gender-shame and can be quite toxic in general. If you wish to be apart of a coven ensure that the rules of the group are ones you are okay with and that you aren’t pressured into behaving a certain way.
“You have to have “witch blood” if you want to be a strong witch”: huge lie right here; your bloodline and family history does not weaken or strengthen your magick. You don’t need to be from a long line of witches to be a witch, you don’t have to be “born a witch”.
“Tech Magick/Emoji Magick/Pop Culture Magick/Modern Magick is terrible and is ruining true magick!”:You will see this a lot on tumblr I am afraid. Lots of people trying to tell other witches that their paths/craft is not “true witchcraft” since it is not based on traditional witchcraft or religions. Don’t listen to them. If you want to practice modern magick and pop culture magick that is your choice and you are valid in every way!
“If you’re mentally ill/disabled/sick you can’t be a witch”: Spoonie witches exist and there are plenty of them! Just because you have found that you may not be as energized as other witches means absolutely nothing. You are valid, even if you use simple and basic magick due to low energy levels you are valid! You are still a witch.
“You can only be friends with/date other witches”: big red flag here! If anyone is telling you this, whether it is a mentor, teacher, friend or coven member/leader you need to find someone else fast. This is majorly toxic behavior used by some witches in this community to make you cut ties with others. It is an abusive manipulative tactic that you have to be aware of and avoid. You can be friends and date whoever you want (obviously within legal terms), whether they are a witch or not.
“True witches practice magick everyday”: Nope! You can take breaks! Especially when you have other things going on, you are tired or you just aren’t mentally/emotionally able to do witchcraft. That is perfectly fine. Take breaks, rest up, focus on other things – its okay. Take care of yourself. You aren’t being a ‘bad witch’ for taking breaks.
“Everything is related to the supernatural!”: No, the mundane is a thing. Not everything you see will be a mystical sign or message. Not everything that happens to you is because of spirits, curses, spells, etc. Rule out the mundane first such as medical problems or common sense/reasoning before you go leaping onto it being some great supernatural occurrence. Once the mundane is ruled out then you can consider other things.
“Magick is better for you than medicine/doctors!”: NO NO NO NO. Magick can aid in medical things if properly researched but never EVER substitute medical procedures, doctors or medicines for magick! Go and take care of yourself!
Or, more appropriately titled: Doing Your Own Research, Without Just Looking Up Someone Else’s Correspondence Lists. Because while those lists are very handy to get started or have a shorthand reference, it gives us memorization, stopping just short of real understanding. What’s more, most correspondence lists won’t have your local (overlooked) plant life, or whatever niche plant, rock, animal you need. Sometimes, you have to get your hands dirty and figure it out from scratch.
Anyway so here’s some stuff you can do to aid in that.
The Science Look into what it physically is. What family does it belong to? If that weird plant growing in your backyard is closely related to say, basil, it will likely have similar properties. Was that crystal formed under heat and pressure, or is it a sedimentary rock? What does this animal do? How does it live and survive? A lot of correspondences come from this level, and it’s the easiest level to research. Physical traits and fun science facts are all welcome here and fair game to use in magic.
The Folklore Okay, so we know what the Thing is made of, but let’s look into its relationship with humans. There’s nothing demanding that roses be the Official Love Flower, but rather it’s a collective cultural thing. That has worked itself into magic as well. Are there any stories involving your object of choice? Local superstitions? Home remedies? What does this item get used for in wider culture? For some things, there may not be much here. But for those that do have lore, it’s a valuable resource.
The Vibes The actual, spiritual sensations you get from holding or touching the Thing. (This is going to apply more to rocks and plants… please don’t go out and touch wild animals.) This will give you some better understanding beyond just what it does, but how it does it. Does the energy seem aggressive? Is it fast or slow moving? Does it give you the impression of being related to a certain element? Which brings us into the next…
The Voice If you communicate with stuff or spirits at all, this is for you. Just ask the Thing for yourself! “Hello. I am ____. Tell me, what sort of things would you be able to help me with?” Prepare an interview, maybe. This will likely be more specific than “love” or “cleansing,” because they’re giving you a pitch and will know themselves very well. It may be “I help someone realize romantic feelings they already have but don’t know about,” or “I help other cleansing items so that cleansed spaces stay cleaner for longer, but I don’t work by myself.” If you get an answer, record it!
Experiment Use the Thing! If you have a general idea of what it does, throw it into the mix for your next relevant spell and see how it changes the result. You can read a lot about something, but the research doesn’t stop when you start using it! As you discover things through repeated use, make note of that as well!
Living on the coast or near the ocean is not an option for many people. Whether it be budgetary reasons, minors living with family, spoonie witches who need to live with caregivers, or being stuck in a landlocked state or country. Though because you have distance between you and the ocean, doesn’t mean you cannot connect to it still. Though your craft will likely not be as powerful at times as one who is practicing straight on the beach, never think that you cannot use the energies of the great oceans in your craft just because you are stuck somewhere else. With this masterpost I hope to help my fellow landlocked witches know how to connect and use sea magick.
Stop the Gatekeeping
First I would like to address a problem I have seen several times in this community (especially here on witchblr) about sea witchcraft. I have seen far too many people telling others they cannot use anything ocean related in their craft unless they are near or on the beach, and that if you wish to practice sea magick you “should just move to the coast”. This is an issue I already brought up in my little intro: for many that is just not possible.
Firstly, in several places living even near the coast costs extreme amounts of money, much more than certain people can afford. Secondly, it may not be medically feasible. If the spoonie witch’s caregivers or care circle cannot move or if moving is something that could upset their illness further, they should certainly not move just to please you “real sea witches”. Some countries are also simply landlocked, they’d have to move completely out of their homeland to reach the coast and for some that is not even an option. So before you go onto this post saying it is inaccurate because sea witches only live by the sea, please do not and think for a moment that not everyone has the same circumstances as you. We all have different lives, needs and situations going on and not everyone can live the same way. Let others practice their craft in a way that suits them.
Getting Started/Creating your Space
As in my previous Stuck In the City post, we are going to start with a space or altar set up that will allow you to help feel connected to the ocean. Depending on the space you have available there can be some fun ways for you to connect to it. First find a corner or a table or even a spare part of a room that you can use for your set up, the more room the better in my personal opinion but I understand that space can be very limited.
Clean and cleanse the space you wish to use, make sure this is done well enough for the space to be comfortable to work in. Next it is time to create space for yourself, create an area that you can either sit or even lay down in, whatever you find to be the most comfortable when meditating or rejuvenating yourself after a long day.
Once it has been clean and cleared find a nice flat space and surface to place your altar, preferable somewhere that is fire safe in case of wanting to use incense or candles. I usually in cases of meditation or long term practice try to make it somewhere comfortable with furniture or an area where I can sit or even recline during my practice. I personally enjoy some extra pillows or cushions in the corner though this is entirely up to you.
Some things to consider adding to your ocean altar: beach sand, shells of any kind (clam, oyster, cone, crushed, broken etc), crab shells, dried sand dollars, dried starfish, driftwood, ocean stones/pebbles, shell dust, sea glass, sea salt, dried kelp (powder), ropes, buckets/cups/bowls/containers, fish bones, fish oil, bottles, shark teeth, cork and sea water.
Images of the ocean, the sea, islands and beaches are also other wonderful things to have posted or framed about your altar to help make it feel like you are on the beach. If possible to do having a large container of sand to run your hands through or even rest your feet in for grounding purposes can be very helpful to have tucked away nearby. For candles on your altar try to stick to blue, white, sea foam, teal, green and beige colored candles to help associate it directly with the sea. If you have ocean scented candles or wax melts those are perfect to have here as well.
Some candle, incense and oil scents to consider if you wish to have something scented on the altar that are often related to the sea (other than the obvious Ocean Mist/Spray scents) would be: coconut, tropical fruit/citrus, seagrass, lime (coconut lime together works well), sandalwood, any ‘fresh air’ scents tend to relate well, ‘sex on the beach’, rain/storm scents, tropical scents, sea salt, sea salt reed, cedarwood, rosemary and some say lavender they like to add to certain scent combinations.
Crystals are always good options to add to any altar and can be affordable depending on their size and cut. Some crystals to consider to add to your ocean altar would be: ocean jasper, aquamarine, chrysocolla, amazonite, pearl, mother of pearl, blue lace agate, moonstone, sapphire, coral and opalite. Though any blue, white and teal/green crystal can also be used to associate with the sea and dyed or crackle quartz can be used to substitute stones as well.
Herbs that are associated with the sea and water would be: coconuts (and coconut oil), seaweed, kelp, seagrass, lotus, grapes, lettuce (and other watery greens), cucumber, chamomile, orange, willow, melons, watercress, lemon, lime, jasmine, lotus, pansy and skullcap. All water related plants can intern be used to associate with the ocean.
Grounding and Meditation (Brief)
Ocean grounding and meditation is very similar to that of standard practice. Though to make it more connected to the ocean there are a few things you can do. One tip for meditating and feeling close and connected to the ocean is to use that previously suggested tub of sand to either stand in or rest your hand/feet into. Close your eyes and feel the sand on your skin, ground your energy into that, have it flow into the sand and back to you. Image you are on the beach with your feet buried into the sand. Light some incense or candles before you begin to help get that oceany smell. If you have a computer or phone available you can play calming ocean sounds or the sounds of waves. Envision yourself there on the beach or out at sea to help connect to the sea’s energy. Any crystals or shells or other things available to you can help you connect to its energy.
Portable Ocean Altar
So like I covered in my previous installment of this series, portable altars a fantastic optionsf or witches on the go or for witches who practice their craft in secrecy. To recap quickly, portable altars are used by many witches who are on the go or just keep their craft secret. They are very easy to make and can be very convenient for when you need to cast a spell away from home.
First you will need a small container to carry your supplies in. Some witches prefer pocket sized things like small boxes that jewelry may come in, altoid tins or other small containers, other witches prefer journal sized ones inside boxes, plastic containers or tins. It really depends on what you will need and what you will personally be carrying it in. Whatever you choose to carry it in make sure its durable enough not to be crushed inside a purse or bag so that whatever is inside of it does not get damaged or ruined. Preferably make sure there is a way to close the container or tin you are using tightly, if needed tie it shut using ribbon or yarn to help prevent it from popping open inside your bags.
Now, it’s time to fill it with the items you need to make it an altar in the first place! Depending on the size of your altar it will change what can fit into it, so feel free to play tetris a bit with what you are fitting into it. You want things to be a bit snug to prevent them bumping around and breaking but you don’t want it so tight that you can’t get anything out.
Common suggestions to add to your travel altar: tealights, birthday candles, travel matches or lighter, crystal shards, chips or small crystals; beads, small containers or packs of salt and herbs, tea bags, small sachets and bags (for portable spells on the go!), small animal figurines, small shells or shell shards, small containers of sand, sea salt, images of the ocean, blue or black pens/ink/pencils and sea glass.
For larger portable altars consider also adding: scissors, baggies, travel books on different subjects (such as shells, the ocean, ocean animals, herbs, witchcraft, etc), journal or notebook, sketchbooks, pens and other writing tools, portable bottles, crystals and portable wands.
Sea Witch Crafts, Spells and More
Sea Witch Bath
A bath for a sea witch to help them connect with the ocean, recharge, and meditate to their heart’s content.
Blue and white candles (optional- ocean scented ones)
Steps:
Light your candles before filling the tub. Once you start filling the tub add your coconut oil, coconut water, sea salt and kelp powder. With your spoon stir clockwise to help mix in the powder, which can take a bit. The water should turn a faint green tint (the more kelp you add the greener it gets but also the stronger the smell gets). Line your tub’s edge with your sea glass, sea shells, and gemstones. Be sure not to let the gemstones fall in the water, especially if they are ones that can’t get wet. Get into your tub and enjoy.
Note: Kelp powder smells very strongly of kelp, it is a scent I personally like but a lot of people don’t. Air out your bathroom a bit after the bath to disperse the smell. Also if you do not wish to smell like kelp yourself, rinse off after your bath quickly.
Sea Witch Bath Mix (faster and storable mixture compared to Sea Witch Bath)
A simple bath mix to add to baths for a quick relaxing and cleansing experience.
You will need:
1 cup Sea Salt (or epsom salt mix)
1 tsp of Kelp Powder
1 full spoonful of Coconut Oil (melted and mixed in)
4 drops of diluted Sandalwood Oil for scent
Steps:
Simply add to your bath whenever you wish to have a nice relaxing bath. You may adjust mixture to your desire though be careful when using essential oils. For more sensitive or dry skin you can replace all of sea salt with epsom salt with kelp scent/ocean scent instead to prevent more damage to it.
Simple Shell Candles and Candle Holders
Shell candles are super easy and fun to make! Simply all you need is some candle wax, wax dye (if you wish to have it colored), a wick which you will be cutting to size and a candle preferably a clam or oyster shell. For added spell usage you can add sigils inside of the shell using a marker and activate it each time you burn your candle. Carefully place your wick into the candle and add your melted wax. Let it harden and trim candlewick as needed.
For candle holders make sure you have a sturdy shell, if possibly glue or stick it to a wooden chip or other sort of ‘stand’ to prevent it from tipping. Add your candle into the older and add a bit of melted wax if you can to the bottom to help hold it in place from tipping out of the shell (especially if it is a tower candle).
A Witch’s Portable Ocean Jar Spell
A spell jar to hold the energies and essence of the ocean for use when one is away from the ocean. Good for charging, meditation, sea grounding, spell strengthening, and general ocean witchcraft.
You Will Need:
A Jar with a tight sealing lid or cork (preferably one that won’t rust)
Beach Sand
Sea Salt
Sea Water (or stormwater if you can’t get sea water, tap works if really needed)
Dried Kelp or Kelp Powder (small amount)
Sea Shells or crushed shells of choice
Driftwood (small)
Sea glass
Twine or Rope or Blue Ribbon
Steps:
Make sure your jar is cleansed and yourself before beginning spell. Have all items prepped and your area cleansed and prepared as you see fit. In your jar add the sand covering the bottom. On top of the sand add your shells, driftwood, and sea glass.In a separate bowl or cup add your water and in it mix in your kelp and your salt, stirring clockwise focusing on the smell it emits (which will be salty and kelpy like the sea) and how the waves and currents of the ocean churn and move. If you desired you may play sounds of waves on a device to add to the visualization. As you stir focus on this visualization and putting those images into the water as you stir it.Once thoroughly mixed pour it carefully into your jar, visualizing how the waves rush onto the beach during high-tide, covering the sand and shells on it.
“Water of salt and brine, upon the sand and bits of shell, the ocean I capture into this jar, so I may draw from its energy like a well.” While saying this focus on your intent to capture the energy of the ocean and have it with you when you need it, and keep visualizing the ocean and beach.
Once you have all of your water in the jar seal it tight with the cork or lid.Take your rope/twine/ribbon and tie it around the jar just below the lip of the jar. “I seal the power of the sea inside, I capture the beach at high-tide.” Keep refrigerated to prevent from getting gross though contents may have to be regularly replaced (excluding the shells and glass that should be reusable).
Sea Spell for Astral Travel
A sea spell for any sea witches who wish to astral travel, especially if it is to the ocean. Good for witches who are stuck inland.
Light Blue Tealights
White Tealights
Sand (protection, the sea)
Sea Salt (protection, the sea)
Abalone Shell(s) (Meditation, energy, protection)
Scallop Shell(s) preferably white (travel, protection)
Glass bowl
(Optional) Sounds of the beach or sea
Steps:
If you are using sounds of the beach then play it softly in the background as you perform the spell. Light your candles and encircle them about your bowl or near it, depending on what your space allows. In your bowl place your sand then sprinkle salt over it. “My feet in the sand, the salt in the air.” Place in your shells as you see fit, into the bowl atop the sand and salt. “Seashells about me, I’m without a care.” Sit near the bowl and get yourself comfortable. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of the beach, feel the energies of the ocean you have brought into your space. “So now I travel, across the sea, to the places I desire to be.’
Voice Theft Curse (Sea Curse Inspired by the Little Mermaid)
A curse to stop someone who has been spewing hateful speech and words and return that negativity they put out back into their life.
You Will Need:
Sea Shell (preferably a clam shell)
Paper
Black Marker or Pen
Black Candles
Taglock (if you can manage)
Pencil
Sea Water (sea salt in water will suffice if needed)
Steps:
On your small slip of paper write down your target’s name in pencil. With your black marker write in large letters covering the name “SHUT UP!” Crumple up the paper between your fingers, rolling it and squashing it. Put all of your frustration and anger into this action. Place the crumpled piece of paper into your seashell. To release more negativity and return it to the target spit onto the shell and paper. If you have a taglock place it in the shell as well. Place your candle on top of the seashell and light it, let it burn down and cover the shell and paper in wax. Once it is sufficiently covered take your sea water and pour it over the over the candle drenching it and the shell. Take the shell and bury it in the ground or into a planter. If you cannot do this then store it somewhere dark. Cleanse your space and yourself afterwards and rest.
(disclaimer: these are all known water and sea related deities that I could find. I did not list any that I knew for a fact were closed cultures or religions, though some may still be seen or considered closed culture. Keep this in mind when viewing this list.)
Aztec:
Chalchiuhtilcue – Goddess of water, lakes, rivers, seas, streams, horizontal waters, storms and baptism
Huixtocihuatl – Goddess of Salt
Opochtli – God of Fishing
Celtic:
Lir – God of the sea
Llyr – God of the sea
Manannan mac Lir – God/King of the sea
Nodens – God of healing, the sea, hunting and dogs
Chinese:
Mazu – Goddess of the sea
Ao Kuang – Dragon King of the Eastern Sea
Ao Qin – Dragon King of the Southern Sea
Ao Run – Dragon King of the Western Sea
Ao Shun – Dragon King of the Northern Sea
Egyptian:
Nu – Personification of primordial waters
Tefnut – Goddess of all waters and moisture
Finnish:
Ahti – God of the depths and fish
Iku-Turso – Malevolent God and sea monster
Vedenemo – Goddess of Water
Vellamo – Wife of Ahti, Goddess of the seas, lakes and storms
Greek:
Aegaeon – God of violent sea storms
Akheilos – Shark-shaped sea spirit
Amphitrite – Sea Goddess and consort of Poseidon
Anapos – Water God of Sicily
Brizo – Goddess of Sailors
Carcinus – Monstrous crab, later made into the constellation Cancer by Hera
Ceto – Goddess of dangers of the ocean and sea monsters
Charybdis – Sea monster and spirit of whirlpools and the tide
Cymopoleia – Goddess of giant storm waves and daughter of Poseidon
Delphin – Leader of dolphins, later turned into the constellation Delphinus by Poseidon
Doris – Goddess of the sea’s bounty
Eidothea – Prophetic sea nymph and daughter of Proteus
Electra – an Oceanid, consort Thaumas
Eurybia – Goddess of the mastery of the sea
Galene – Goddess of calm seas
Glaucus – a god of fishermen and the sea
Graeae – Spirits of the sea who appear as seafoam
Ladon – 100 headed sea serpent who guarded the western reaches of the sea
Nerities – consort of Aphrodite
Oceanus – Titan God of Earth’s fresh-water (and some argue the seas as well)
Pan – Patron God of fishing
Palaemon – Sea God who aided distressed sailors and ships
Phorcys – God of the dangers of the deep
Poseidon – God and King of the Oceans, rivers, seas, storms, floods, droughts, earthquakes and horses.
Proteus – Shape-shifting Sea God and herder of Poseidon’s seals
Psamathe – Goddess of Sand Beaches
Scylla – A Nereid turned into a great sea monster
The Sirens – In lore, they were 3 Nymphs who led sailors to their deaths on an island
The Telchines – Sea Spirits native to the island of Rhodes; the gods killed them due to their use of magic (in some lore it is dark/evil magic)
Thalassa – Primordial Goddess of the sea
Thaumas – God of the wonders of the sea and father of Harpies and of Iris the Rainbow Goddess
Thetis – Leader of the Nereids, responsible for all sea life spawning and procreation, mother of Achilles
Triteia – Daughter of Triton and the companion of Ares
Triton – The fish-tailed Son of Poseidon
Tritones – fish-tailed spirits loyal to Poseidon and his domain
Hawaiian:
Tangaroa (Kanaloa) – God of the ocean and magics, takes the form a cephalopod
Kamohoalii – Shark God
Namaka – Sea Goddess
Ukupanipo – Shark God who controls the amount of fish close to fishermen for their catches
Hindu:
Ap -Group of Water Goddesses
Danu – Goddess of primordial waters
Makara – Mystical creature of the waters
Samundra – Goddess of Seas
Varuna – God of water and the celestial ocean
Incan:
Pariacaca – God of water and rainstorms
Indonesian:
Nyi Roro Kidul – Goddess of the South Javanese Sea
Inuit:
Aipaloovik – Evil Sea God associated with death and destruction
Alignak – Lunar Deity and God of weather, water, tides, eclipses and earthquakes
Arnapkupfaaluk – Fearsome Sea Goddess
Idliragijenget – God of the Ocean
Nootaikok – God who presided over icebergs and glaciers
Sedna – Goddess of the Sea
Japanese:
Ebisu – God of fortunes and fishery often related to seal life such as whales and whale sharks
Hanzaki Daimyojin – Gigantic Japanese Salamander and “Master of the Water”
Omononushi-no-Kami – Serpentine Deity of waters
Ohoyamatsumi – God of mountains, seas and water
Ryujin – Japanese Dragon and Deity of the sea
Shinto – God of water
Sumiyoshi Sanjin – God of the ocean and sailing
Watatsumi – Dragon King and Ocean God
Yamata no Orochi – Serpentine Monster but also regarded as an incarnation of violent waters or rivers
Korean:
Imoogi – Giant Snakes from Korean folklore which later became dragons
King Munmu – a king who wished to become a dragon to protect Korea from the East Sea
Dragon King – Undersea Deity believed to determine the fortunes of fishermen and sailors
Lithuanian:
Atrimpas – God of the sea and water
Bangputys – God of the sea and of storms
Gardaitis – Spirit of ships and sailors
Jurate – Goddess of the sea
Laume – Goddess of wild spaces including open waters
Neringa – Goddess of seacoasts
Lusitanian:
Duberdicus – God of rivers and the sea
Norse/Germanic:
Aegir – Personification of the sea
9 Daughters of Aegir – personifications of the characteristics of waves
Ran – Sea Goddess of death who collects the drowned
Njord – God f the sea, specifically seafaring
Nehalennia – Goddess of the North Sea
Nix – Water Spirits who can take human forms
Persian:
Anahita – Deity of “The Waters” and associated with fertility, healing and wisdom
Haurvatat – associated with water, prosperity and health
Phillipine:
Amanikable – Ill-tempered sea God
Haik – Sea God
Amansinaya – Goddess of Fishermen
Sirena – Mermaid
Siyokoy – Merman
Magwayen – Goddess of the sea and death
Lidagat – 2nd sea Goddess and daughter of Magwayen
Roman:
Neptune – God and King of the sea
Salacia – Wife of Neptune and Queen of the sea
Volturnus – God of the waters
Slavic:
Czar Morskoy – God of the sea
Chernava – mermaid and daughter of Czar
Mokosh – Goddess of Waters and Moisture
Rusalki – Female Spirits/Nymphs/Mermaids who live in water ways and sometimes the sea or shipping routes
Veles – God of earth, waters and the underworld
Viz-Anya – Mother of Water/Water Mother
Viz-Leany – Water Maiden
Vu-Ava – Water Woman
Vut-Kura – Water Grandmother
Vietnamese:
Ca Ong – King of the Sea and Patron of fishermen
Other:
Aquarius – The water bearer constellation that depicts a river or a young man pouring water from a goblet or vase, often related to air energies or water energies closely related to springs, rivers and the ocean
Cancer (constellation) – constellation depicting a large crab often related to the ocean and water energies
Capricorn – An Entity from Greek mythology said to be a finned goat living out in the sea who in some lore suckled infant Zeus while in other lore is another form of the God Pan, often is closely related to fish, the ocean, to land/earth energies and fishing. Also can be related to the constellation of the same name.
Davy Jones – Seen as Death and the “devil” of the sea, sometimes associated as a grim reaper like being
Draco – A constellation that depicts a dragon or large sea serpent. Depending on the lore it is sometimes related to islands, the sea or other waterways. Sometimes it is depicted as a woman with hundred of serpentine heads.
Kraken – Mythological creature of the sea depicted as a great squid or octopus, some worshipping it as a lesser deity of the deeps of the ocean
Mother Nature – often represents all of nature the ocean and sea life included
The Moon – The moon’s gravitational pull controls the tides of Earth’s sea and due to this many worship it in relation to the ocean, tides, waves and water.
Neptune – Planet closely related to the sea and its energies, is named after the Roman God of the Sea Neptune.
The Ocean/Spirit of the Ocean – Some see and worship the ocean as a deity of its own with its own lifeforce and will
Pisces – The fish constellation, often related to the water, the sea and sea life
Stemming from the old Scots word, a “glamour” (always spelt with the British “ou”, as we are referring to the spell not the trait) is a kind of magickal spell or enchantment that a person casts upon an object, a person, or themselves to confuse, bewitch or obscure the senses of other observers. For instance, a pickpocket may use glamours as a means of assisting in the avoidance of detection, and a secret Witch may use a glamour to hide their spell supplies. Glamours are also one of the primary spells that the Fae Folk use to hide their presence, and also to make mischief and cause harm to intrusive or blundering humans who offend them.
Why have I never heard of this before?!
Probably because it’s not very flashy and, by its very nature, it’s centred around concealment. Glamours are very powerful, very useful spells, but they don’t involve love or money or luck or happiness and so they tend to be overlooked by most novice or self-taught Witches. They’re also quite hard to perfect, and so many more experienced Witches give up before they have mastered them.
They are simultaneously very simple spells to perform, but very difficult to perfect, as they require significant effort of Will and a lot of practice but if you achieve a true glamour it can be one of the most powerful spells in any Witch’s arsenal. It’s also worth noting, however, that glamours do not conceal things from machines. Machines like metal detectors, security cameras and proximity detectors don’t have minds, and as such they cannot be fooled by magick that affects the mind and how the brain perceives senses. They also work poorly on animals, especially cats. Do not try to fool a cat with a glamour. Dogs are often confused by glamours, but generally see through them with time, and snakes and lizards are completely immune as far as I can tell (since their minds are not concerned with things that glamours affect).
OK, but how do I cast a glamour?
The first step is, as with all spells, to decide to do it. Decide “I am going to cast a glamour”. Know it in your soul, know that what you will do is magick, it is a glamour, and that it’s purpose is to hide yourself. Glamours on yourself are generally the easiest to start with, because they are the easiest kind with which to tell when something needs improving.
Secondly, you must visualise strongly – and I mean REALLY strongly, let it consume your being – the purpose of the glamour. Fill yourself with the knowledge how how it will work, what it will do, how it will work. If you are looking for a glamour of imperception, whereby you attempt to make yourself hard to see by convincing the minds of people around you that you are utterly uninteresting and forgettable, fill yourself with that. Let to complete and utter truth of that ring through your head;
“I am forgettable, I’m not even here. You don’t remember me, I’m utterly boring, I’m just another part of the background. Everything about me is empty and dull. There is nothing here”
And similar such truths. Let your Willpower make them true, let their truth fill the world around you through the strength of your visualisation.
Thirdly, sustain it. This is the hardest step, but a glamour will only last for as long as it is sustained and remembered. If you are visualising a glamour on something that moves or changes (such as yourself) this can involve literally constant reinforcement – never ever stop thinking those reinforcing statements and pouring all your Willpower into them. For objects that are more static, for instance a chest containing spell supplies, this can simply involve a period of refreshment every evening whereby you place your hands upon it and refresh the enchantment you’ve placed upon the chest, reminding it of how completely ignorable and boring it is, reminding it that nobody will open it because nobody will care enough to try, that nobody will notice it because it’s so dull it’s not even there.
That seems REALLY hard, is there a simpler way?
The short answer is, no. This is why glamours are often quite unpopular – despite their obvious power and usefulness, the sheer effort of Will that goes into the construction of a glamour, and the amount of practice you need to get really good, can scare off a lot of Witches from truly persisting. Those who need glamours are often the only ones who are really any good at them – the best glamour-caster I have ever known developed her skill during her life as a pickpocket, when she used glamours to avoid getting caught. The simple fact that she has no criminal record attests to their efficacy! But, it took her a very long time to get that good, and most Witches simply don’t care enough to try.
However, I urge you to do so! It’s such a rewarding skill, even if only so that you can be the undisputed champion of paintball and laser tag in your friend group because nobody ever sees you in the shadows.
So there you are! The ancient, powerful, and mostly-overlooked art of glamours! I hope this helped all you lovely Witches!
– Juniper Wildwalk
Glamours are exceptionally useful and I strongly recommend learning them. 🙂
These are very fun to learn how to do. And for me (at least) a great way to practice the art of Glamour is to practice while in a mall or shopping center. I know one of my favorite glamours is envision myself becoming this massive and scary tank while walking through Walmart, so people get out of my way or move to the other side of the aisle. But an invisibility glamour can work wonders especially if you have late night classes and you need to get to your car after class and the area gets a bit sketchy after dark. It will help you go unnoticed (speaking from personal experience here).
Yes and no if that makes sense. It does vary person to person that is for sure, some people have energy that naturally aligns with one thing more than another. Such as I myself have always found tarot extremely easy and not draining but it took me ages to get glamour spells to work, over a year in fact.
Though I do feel there are certain parts of practices that are easier to do with less energy needed. I would recommend first checking out all of my tags for ‘beginner magick’ ‘beginner witchcraft’ and ‘spoonie witch’
As for a list of ones I feel personally are beginner friendly to do here you go!
Meditation – very important to learn how to ground and center yourself)
Crystal Elixir– very beginner friendly just make sure the crystal isn’t water soluble/toxic if you want to put it in the water. if it is toxic or would melt in water place it around the jar/bowl instead
Tea Magick – Tea spells are wonderful fast potions that can really help you with specific things such as sleep, meditation, divination and focus depending on what you use. Just be sure to research the herbs you are using some do conflict with medicines
Bath Magick – Wonderful relaxing self love filled magic, think of it like a big potion you soak in. Have fun with it! Use herbs, flowers, tea, bubble bath, scents, oils, sea shells, salt and other ingredients. If you are going to use essential oils research them first! Make sure you dilute them with a carrier oil first and make sure they aren’t skin toxic/irritants
Sigil Work – A good favorite of a lot of spoonie witches and low energy witches because sigils are a fun creative way to make spells and get your intent out there and though still requires energy, focus and intent it is a bit more forgiving than huge rituals
This list has been updated over the years and will continued to be updated over time. If you re-post this elsewhere, kindly credit me because it’s taken a long time to compile what I feel are useful resources on the following topics. The very basics are covered in my FAQ.
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk (most recent edition only, old editions have inaccurate info that has since been updated)
Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth in the Wiccan Circle by Deborah Lipp
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Scott Cunningham) – note that this book is somewhat outdated, due to it being written in the 1980s.
Witchcraft (non-Wiccan):
The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes
Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes
Crone’s Book of Charms & Spells by Valerie Worth
Witchcraft: a History by P.G. Maxwell-Stuart
Mrs. B’s Guide to Household Witchery by Kris Bradley
Candle Magic for Beginners by Richard Webster
Master Book of Candle Burning by Henry Gamache
A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk by Peter Paddon
Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary and Jane Cox
Notes: please take care before using herbs for medicinal and/or supplemental purposes. Many herbs are toxic (some authors fail to mention this!) and/or have harmful side-effects. Always do research and consult a professional before use.
approach Llewellyn-published books with caution — there are some great ones, but many aren’t well researched and may contain misinformation.
if all else fails, Google the author and ask around to see what people have to say about them – many bad authors have entire pages or discussions dedicated on why to avoid them!
always fact check information (especially if it involves ingesting anything or putting anything on the skin — just because an ingredient is natural does not mean it isn’t harmful/toxic)
When burning anything always keep a glass of water near you, unless you are working with burning oils, then keep a fire extinguisher or baking soda on hand.
When working with essential oils(EO), do not burn them they are highly flammable
Never leave anything burning unattended, be it a burn bowl, candle, incense. DON’T LEAVE IT!
Please remove anything flammable such as paper or string from the candle, it will ignite and you will be alarmed.
Make sure that what you’re burning your candle in is fire safe, metal and cast iron are good bets. Do NOT burn in a glass, if you have to put it out and dump water on it, it will explode.
Make sure you tie back loose hair and don’t have any floppy sleeves or necklaces to get in the way.
When putting out a candle it is best to use a candle snuffer and do not use water.
Don’t burn kitchen sage, it gives off a toxic smoke. Not something you wanna inhale.
Essential Oil Safety
Please, please dilute them properly. I have a chemical burn scar I can never get rid of due to undiluted cinnamon bark oil. The proper dilution is one drop per teaspoon.
Never ingest EO, there are some that are now generally recognized as safe by the FDA, but the quality of EO are not regulated. Who knows what a bad quality EO could do to your internal organs, not something I wanna test.
Essential Oils are photosensitive, meaning they deteriorate in light store them in a dark area to prevent them from spoiling.
DO NOT put them near on your skin and get in the sun or a tanning bed, especially citrus oils, they will blister.
Water will not dilute essential oils, only other oils(canola, olive, sweet almond, olive will all dilute). If you want to use them in a bath it is one drop per a teaspoon of oil.
Please seek medical attention if anything seems off after using EO, they seem harmless but can be very dangerous
Pets can be very sensitive to essential oils(particularly cats) and it is almost impossible to cover all my bases here. The sources provided below have some great resources.
Always go by the scientific name, German and Roman chamomile are very different products.
Kitchen Magic Safety
Wear shoes if you’re doing anything, I nearly lost a toe the other day cause I dropped a knife. I got lucky I was wearing boots.
Wear correct clothing, and tie back hair. No matter if you have a gas, electric or induction stove, I’ve caught a lab coat sleeve on fire thanks to a torch while making a creme brulee.
Use your knives correctly, learn about the pinch grip and use the correct knife for the job. Using a paring knife for chopping potatoes is asking for trouble. There are tons of videos online, I like the ones from Alton Brown and Jamie Oliver.
As a side note use sharp knives, a blunt knife will do more damage than a sharp one.
Don’t leave knives in the sink, someone could begin to wash dishes and cut themselves.
Watch the steam. Steam can give a worse burn than dry heat, open pot lids away from you and don’t stick your face and phalanges in steam.
Don’t leave food products unattended.
Use your damn pot holders, they protect you and your counters.
Store raw meat on the lowest shelves, and never store cooked meat on the same shelf
Wash your hands before, wash your hands after handling raw meats, wash your hands after.
Don’t leave food that is meant to be cold or hot out for more than 2 hours, this is to decrease foodborne illness.
When using the store turn handles in, to keep yourself from bumping them off the stove.
Cook meats to proper temps(there is a chart in the sources)
If you are using herbs be sure to use kitchen grade herbs, those that are not kitchen grade are not held up to the same purity standards and could have more pesticide residue.
Herbal Safety
Please be aware a lot of herbs can work against prescription medications, or should only be taken in very specific doses( St. John’s Wort I’m looking at you.) Check in with your doctor or a licensed herbalist or naturopath before ingesting herbs.
Crystal Safety
Identify your crystals, some are water solvent some are not and it matters
Some that aren’t safe in water include malachite and selenite. They have copper and if aren’t sealed they can become toxic. There is no way to know for sure if it was sealed or not keep -ite crystals dry as a good rule of thumb.
Some crystals fade in sunlight like rose quartz, amethyst and citrine, in order to prevent fading try cleansing them with sound, flower petals, moonlight and energy.
If it’s realistic or not. If it has the basic requirements that go into a spell, it should be fine. But if you see something like “spell to turn you into a vampire!!!” “teleportation spell!!!” “spell to make your eyes blue!!!”, then that’s BS.
It can be difficult at times to differ spells that are illegitimate to spells that are actually realistic, so if it’s too difficult to tell, just try the spell and see if it works.
My rule of thumb on this is three things:
Does it have realistic goals/expectations?
Is it dangerous/risky to do the spell? (is it asking unsafe things of you such as ingesting poisonous plants, burning toxic wood, ingesting things that shouldn’t be ingested ie essential oils, etc)
Does its correspondences add up?
If it checks out on all three of these then I say give it a go and see if it works for you. If any of these three sound iffy when compared to the spell, its not worth you time to do it, its either fake or very ill-researched.
100 ways to incorporate magick in your daily life.
I understand that these are not exactly all witchy but this is about intergreting your everyday life in your practice and appreciating as well as finding magick in the most mundane and simple things that we often miss out on. ♡
1. When you wake up, before grabbing your phone or getting out of bed, take a few seconds to breathe, and stretch all your limbs.
2. Say ‘’thank you’’ to your god/goddess/deity, or simply to acknowledge how lucky you are to live another day.
3. Open the window regardless of the weather and take a big breath of fresh air. This will not only cleanse the room but also your body.
4. If it’s raining outside or snowing, take a minute to admire the beauty of it.
5. Pick wildflowers.
6. Dry said wildflowers and put them in your Book of Shadows or any book or journal you are using.
7. Go for a walk in nature during the day and during the night as well.
8. Sunbathe.
9. Moonbathe.
10. Light lots of candles.
11. If your room needs a cleaning, try to make your own household products naturally using your favorite scents and clean your room with them.
12. Change your bed sheets and pillowcases.
13. If you have a clothing line, hang your clothes, blankets, sheets, comforters, pillowcases, underwear outside. Visualize the wind cleansing them.
14. Grow your own favorite herbs.
15. Buy a succulent.
16. Dry your herbs and save them for bath magick, spells, teas or rituals.
17. Sweep the floor and visualize yourself sweeping off all negativity out of the room.
18. Sprinkle sea salt over areas that you feel have a negative energy to purify them.
19. Make your own purifying/cleansing spray.
20. Take a hot, soothing bath. I am a sea witch so I find this particularly helpful when I miss the ocean/the beach. (Don’t forget to add herbs, essential oils, sea salt, flowers, crystals, or anything that has magickal properties for a magickal bath)
21. Sip a cup of your favorite herbal tea.
22. For kitchen witches, try brewing your own tea, and cooking meals with intention and magickal ingredients.
23. Make charm bags.
24. Water your herb garden by hand.
25. Show the people you love that you love them.
26. Show some love to your pets and spend a few extra minutes with them.
27. Light up your favorite incense.
28. Keep a small bag of your favorite herb (for example: lavender) in a drawer, so when you feel stressed, just pop the bag open for a deep breath of calming aromatherapy.
29. When you take a shower, visualize the water neutralizing your energy and washing off all the bad stuff.
30. Bless your morning coffee or tea.
31. Keep a daily journal, whether it’s a Book of Shadows, a daily planner/organizer or a dream journal.
32. If you wanna be low-key and discrete about your craft, draw small sigils all over everything. Your school notebooks, pencil cases, journals, shoes, etc.
33. Read lots of books about magick and form your own opinion/path/views/beliefs.
34. If you read fictional stories, allow yourself to get lost in them and let your mind wander and escape.
35. Put on your favorite clothes, makeup, shoes, or whatever little thing that makes you feel fabulous, even if you’re staying in.
36. Be proud of your body.
37. Practice self-care.
38. Take time to unplug and spend time with yourself. (that includes smartphones, iPads, laptops, tablets, desktops, and all electronics/little gadgets we lug around on a daily basis.)
39. Go to the beach
40. Go to the forest.
41. Go to the desert.
42. Go to the mountains.
43. If it’s warm outside, make a bonfire and admire the flames. If it’s winter and you have a fireplace, light it up.
44. Go somewhere you’ve never visited before.
45. Go camping if you can, by yourself or with friends.
46. Stargaze.
47. Breathe.
48. Dance.
49. Dance in the rain.
50. Sing.
51. Go outside on a snowstorm.
52. Plant a vegetable garden, even if it’s just a pot of tomatoes.
53. Walk barefoot and feel the earth under your feet.
54. Pull weeds.
55. Adopt an animal from the shelter.
56. Practice yoga.
57. Eat healthy, but if you wanna eat that last piece of cake, do it. Life is short.
58. Exercise.
59. Start a new hobby.
60. Mix your own perfume.
61.Make your own candle.
62. Make your own essential oil.
63. Make your own soap.
64. Lay down and listen to your favorite music. (Mine is video music, it’s just soothing for me.
65. Take a day just for you without answering the phone.
66. Pick dandelions and make a wish.
67. Carry crystals/stones with your in your pocket.
68. Learn how to do tarot readings.
69. Collect rain, sun, snow water.
70. Plant lavender or rosemary for protection and luck.
71. Bless your kitchen utensils, such as spatulas and wooden spoons, that all the food you make with them will promote healing and love.
72. Charge your crystals under the full moon.
73. Have tantric sex with a loving partner.
74. Carve sigils into the sand at the beach and let the tides release them into the universe.
75. Re-arrange your altar.
76. Keep track of your sleep and menstrual cycles and moods to see how the moon phases affect you.
77. Be open minded to the retrogrades.
78. Go outside on any phase of the moon and take in all its beauty.
79. Keep your pendulum with you as a necklace so you’re always ready to do a little scrying.
80. Burn sage or cedar first thing in the morning to start your day off fresh.
81. Look for constellations and learn them.
82. Paint sigils on your mailbox.
83. Hang wood chimes, or a silver bell on your front door knob for luck.
84. Tuck a sprig of lavender under your pillow before bed to promote peaceful sleep.
85. Watch a meteor shower with someone you care about.
86. Buy new candles.
87. Water your plants in your garden counterclockwise to banish negativity from the space.
88. Paint your nails a color associated with the intention of your spell or ritual before you begin so that your hands become your wand.
89. Plant red geraniums by your front door as this is a traditional sign of witches.
90. Bless more than water and crystals on the night of the full moon: set out your essential oils, nail polish, or a special bottle of champagne too.
91. Dry your vegetables or plants and incorporate them into a charm bag.
92. Wash your windows with moon water for extra clarity.
93. Use sun water when you brew tea for a magickal experience.
94. Stir sugar into your tea or coffee with intention, willing sweetness into your day and life.
95. Draw sigils or write a brief protection spell on the inside of your dog or cat’s collar.
96. Soak in a milk bath (or just soak your fingers in a bowl of warm milk) on the full moon to embrace the feminine energy. Plus you’ll come away with silky, soft skin.
97.Hang up palmistry and astrology charts in your home for easy reference and pretty, witchy decor.
98. Line your windowsills with protective crystals.
99. Make censing sticks for the seasons, using chamomile buds for spring, lavender for summer, sage for fall and pine for winter.
100. Just be you and love yourself. Don’t forget you are made of stardust. You are magickal and amazing.
Willow Wisp's Witching Corner 