It can be difficult to do witchcraft and connect to nature when stuck in a supremely urban area such as a downtown of a major city where even parks are hard to come by and collecting items there could be considered vandalism. This masterpost is to help all of you stuck witches who wish to be Forest Witches, connect with the forest or use forest related magic despite your urban setting.

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Making Your Own Sanctuary

Let’s start with the simple beginnings of turning your home a bit more foresty so you can have your own sanctuary of nature in your home. Whether this be an altar, a corner of a room or even a full room is up to you and the amount of space you have to work with. In my post here I will be referring to setting up a space that would be considered big enough to sit in for meditation and spells and altar space, if you have more room than that feel free to definitely expand it!

Simply clear out some space, make some room so you can comfortably practice without risk of knocking anything over or causing safety issues for yourself (such as when candles are burning). Now in this space it’s time to decorate it and set it up to feel like a nice little cut of forest placed in the comfort of your home.

Things to consider adding to your space: branches and leaves, acorns, pinecones, walnuts (in the shell), tablecloths/altar cloths with forest, leaf or tree prints on them, photos and art of the forest, antlers, deer/elk skulls/teeth, fur (legally obtained), feathers (legally obtained), and the colors brown, green and brown. Potted plants and moss are other wonderful ideas to keep in this space especially plants native to your state, if you are unable to keep large plants try some local herbs or moss.

If plants are still not an option for you to grow due to either just not having the skill for it or the time or just not being a good location for them for lack of sunlight or tight space, crystals and stones are always options as well. Any crystals or stones associated with earth are wonderful to use as well or ones that are either green or brown or a combination of the two. Some suggestions of crystals to keep in mind would be: Moss Agate, Green Calcite, Tiger’s Eye, Citrine, Emerald, Jet, Jasper, Peridot, Quartz, Petrified Wood, Botswana Agate, Dendritic Agate and Malachite are all wonderful stones to keep on an altar dedicated to nature and the earth.

Modernize your space a bit too if you wish, get some nice sounds of birds playing over some speakers or from your phone, set up some posters and images of nature and wildlife and add anything else that makes you think of the trees you love. It doesn’t matter what it is, all that matters is that it’s something that you find connects with your craft.

Grounding and Meditation

It is difficult to ground yourself with the forest when you are miles away from one, but it can be done inside your little forest corner/space. Cleanse yourself and your space as you see fit, light any candles or incense if you desire (make sure its not close to any cloth, paper or plants) and make it comfortable for you. Sit or lay down depending on what is best for you and your health needs, in a position that you prefer, remember this is no wrong way to set up for meditation. If you have a device near you play some sounds of wind, birds and ruffling of leaves to help you feel like you are in the forest. In each hand hold either some crystals associated to the forest or earth, some wood/sticks, a wand, rocks gathered from a forest or park or anything else that will help you feel connected to nature. Close your eyes and begin focusing the energy of your chest and stomach to spread through your body and connect yourself to the ground like roots. Imagine these roots being like that of a tree connecting you to it in the heart of a vast forest. Don’t forget to take deep breaths through your nose and release them out your mouth. Meditate as long as needed until you feel a deep connection and ready to do your craft.

Portable Forest Altars

For when you are on the go or traveling but need a bit of the forest in your pocket or bag, you can make yourself a portable forest altar. 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 for the fun part of making your travel altar, selecting the items to go into it! Now 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.

Some common things and suggestions to put into your travel altar: birthday candles, tealight(s), travel matches or lighter, crystal shards or small crystals, beads, packets of salt, packets of black pepper, dried herbs in small containers/bags, dried flowers, pine cones, acorns, leaves, branches/sticks, bark chips, tea, small sachets for on the go spells, images of animals or plants, feathers, small stones/rocks, runes and sigils written onto bark or paper, seeds and small figurines of animals or creatures.

For larger travel altars also consider adding: scissors, plastic or cloth baggies, small travel books on herbs, plants and/or trees, pocket notebook/sketchbook, pencils and pens, crystals and a portable wand.

Forest Witch Crafts, Spells and More

For this section I’m going to talk about a few at home crafts and spells that you can make and cast while in an urban setting once you have set up your space and gotten down your grounding. These crafts are all beginner friendly and can be done by entry level witches once they have gotten down grounding and centering their energy.

Forest Witch’s Ladder for Protection

You will need:

• Twine
• Scissors
• 7 Oak Branches/Sticks
• 2 Pine Sticks
• Pine Cone
• White Ribbon

Something to hang it from such as a repurposed clothing hanger or hook

Cut your twine to the lengths you desire it, though making sure all three are the same lengths. At the top tight a tight knot of your choosing, I usually use a simple square knot. Leave enough extra on one side of the knot to tie it to your hanger or hook. The rest of the twine should be long enough to allow you to work. Braid it in a simple 3 way braid before tying a tight knot, placing an oak branch below the knot (the pine are for the end) and snuggly securing it with the twine wrapping it in whatever way you feel fit. Secure it again with a knot pressed tightly below the branch and continue the braid. You may space out the branches however you like, whether they are close together or far apart. While braiding and securing branches, focus on the energy that is given off by the oak branches. Once you have secured all of the oak branches you add the pine branches until all branches have been secured into the braid. Use the bottom of your twine to begin securing the pine cone in whatever process you prefer, I am simple when it comes to my witch’s ladders so I often prefer to find a good section near the top of the pine cone and wrap my twine around it and secure it with a series of simple knots. Take your white ribbon and to close and finish your spell, tie a bow around the bottom part of the braid just above your pine cone.

Find a secure place in your bedroom or in any main room you spend most of your time in and hang it either upon the wall or on a door for protection. Every full moon it is recommended to cleanse and charge your Witch’s Ladder in the full moon’s light then rehang it in its place come morning.

Forest Poppets

These little poppets are easy to make using only a few items. Using an acorn or a pinecone for the head and if desired drawing a face to it and tying it either to some cloth, paper or sticks you can create a simple little doll for magickal workings.

Use these poppets to bring positive effects into your life. Create your doll and on some part of it write your name, initials or use a taglock such as a bit of hair tied to it. Different wood types will attract different things into your life. A few examples would be:

• Apple: blessing, protection, love, inspiration
• Ash: creativity, inspiration, healing, moving towards a goal
• Cedar: cleansing, removing negativity, emotional healing
• Cherry: attraction, sexual energies, romance, daring, courage, voice
• Elder: healing, protection
• Oak: leadership, strength, wisdom, abundance, fertility
• Walnut: expansion, travel, knowledge, wisdom
• Willow: divination, psychic awareness, secrecy, concealment, glamour, fertility, healing, empathy

Cursing using these poppets can be quite easy too. Simply select a wood type with correspondences to the opposite of what you want for that person. Such as using cherry wood to remove romance from their life instead of bringing it in. To reverse after you have made the poppet and added the persons taglock, take black thread and bind them up tightly or use tape. Then seal the poppet into a jar and fill it with nasty things like muddy water, puddle water, black pepper, rotting vegetables/plants, dirt, etc and seal it tightly. Bury it in a dark place or keep it hidden away where it is is dark such as under sinks or in closets that are rarely used. To break the curse, open the jar, remove the poppet, cut the tape/thread and then dispose of the poppet properly.

Forest Witch Bath (from my bath post)

Supplies:

• Pine Needles
• Pinecones
• Pine essential oil (2 drops)
• 3 bags of green or black tea
• Green sachet
• Mint
• Cedar Chips
• Green Candles (optional- tree or plant scented ones)

Steps: Light your candles and begin filling your tub. In you sachet add 1 part cedar chips and 1 part mint. Tie it shut and add to your bath as it fills. You may then add the pine needles to float freely or you may add them in a sachet as well. Add your two drops of pine oil once the tub is half filled to ensure it is well diluted in the bath. Add your tea bags into the water, line your tub with the pinecones and get in.

Note: essential oils can be harsh on certain skins, dilute the oil with a carrier oil and test on your skin to see if it affects you. If your skin is too sensitive for pine oil omit it from the spell.

Forest Witch Teas

There are several teas made from different trees that have several health benefits and magickal properties that are wonderful for spellcasting and overall forest witchery. A few helpful examples of these teas that are easy to purchase and find are listed below.

Pine Tea

Health: Health wise, properly gathered or purchased tea of this type is extremely good for you seeing as it is a ton of vitamin C. It is commonly used a vitamin C replacement for some individuals. It also has large amounts of vitamin A (though this one should be taken smaller amounts).

Correspondences: Pine corresponds mostly with endurance, strength, rebirth, celebration, and health

Willow Bark Tea

Health: Often referred to as “nature’s aspirin” or “the natural aspirin” willow bark tea is often used as a pain reliever for people and historically has been used for centuries. It is also often used for anti-inflammatory purposes. Though it can upset sensitive stomachs.

Correspondences: Willow trees often correspond with femininity, glamours, secrecy, invisibility, healing, sleep, fertility and emotional ties

Spruce Tea

Health: Spruce trees are very high in vitamin C making them great for immune systems and often used for vitamin supplements. Spruce needles are often used to soothe sore throats and coughs when made into a tea. It is also a great source of potassium.

Correspondences: astral travel, cleansing, purification, flight, creation, transformation, shapeshifting and ancient wisdom.

Deities of the Forest

This is a huge list of deities from different religions and mythology from around the world, none of which to my knowledge are closed religions. I did not list closed religion deities due to them being closed religions or religions such as Hinduism that requires someone to be initiated into it. (If I did accidentally list any closed religions please do let me know).

Baltic

• Medeina: Goddess of forests, trees and animals

Celtic

• Abnoba: Goddess of forests and rivers
• Artio: Bear Goddess of the wilderness
• Druantia: Goddess of Trees
• Sucellus: God of agriculture, forests and alcohol
• Vridios: God of vegetation, rebirth and agriculture

Egyptian

• Ash: God of oasis and vineyards

English

• Apple Tree Man: Spirit of the oldest apple trees
• Chunnmilk Penny: Guardian spirit of unripe nut thickets

Finnish

• Lempo: God of wilderness and archery
• Tapio: God and Ruler of forests
• Mielikki: Goddess of the forest and the hunt

Germanic

• Ostara: Goddess of spring
• Herne the Hunter: God of forests and wild animals

Greek:

• Actaeon: God of wilderness, male and wild animals and the hunt
• Artemis: Goddess of the hunt, wild animals, nature, wilderness, childbirth, virginity, fertility and health
• Chloris: Goddess of flowers
• Hegemone: Goddess of plants
• Oxylus: God of forests and moutnains
• Persephone: Goddess of spring and its growth
• Physis: Primeval Goddess of nature

Mesopotamian

• Abu: Mino plant God
• Damu: God of vegetation and rebirth
• Emesh: God of vegetation
• Ningikugai: Goddess of reeds and marshes
• Ninsar: Goddess of plants
• Ua-Ildak: Goddess of pastures and poplar trees

Norse

• Joro: Goddess and personification of Earth
• Fjorgyn: Goddess and personification of Earth
• Skadi: Goddess of mountains, skiing, winter, archery and hunting
• Vidar: god of the forest, meditation, silence and wilderness

Roman

• Ceres: Goddess of plant growth
• Diana: Goddess of hunt, wild animals, wilderness and the moon
• Faunus: Horned god of the forest, plains and fields
• Feronia: Goddess of wildlife, fertility, health and abundance
• Flora: Goddess of flowers and spring bloom
• Fufluns: God of plant life, happiness, health and growth
• Nemestrinus: God of the forests and woods
• Pilumnus: God of nature and child growth
• Pomona: Goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards
• Silvanus: Spirit and Deity of woods and fields, protector of the forests

Slavic

• Berstuk: Evil God of the forest
• Jarilo: God of vegetation, fertility, spring, war and harvest
• Porewit: God of woods, Protector of lost adventurers and voyagers, Punisher to those who mistreat the forest and nature
• Porvata: God of the woods
• Siliniez: God of the woods and sacred moss
• Mokosh: Goddess of nature

Other

• Mother Nature
• The Planet Earth
• Specific Tree Spirits
• Nature Itself
• The Seasons
• Trees, Plants and Animals

Spirits and Entities Related to the Forest:

• Ajatar
• Bigfoot
• Dryads (of all kinds)
• Elves
• Leshy
• Green Man
• Owlman
• Unicorns
• Satyrs
• Fauns
• Ahool
• Curupira
• Dingonek
• Mapinguari
• Man-eating Trees
• Manticore
• Saci
• Mandrake
• Umdhlebi
• Waldgest
• Goatman
• Centaur
• Trolls
• Imps
• Fae of all sorts