When you’re a couple that’s used to spending all your time together and suddenly that togetherness is disrupted by a situation that physically separates you, it can be tough to make that transition and get through it.
People have different needs, and different ways of coping. It can be a huge advantage to understand what your partner needs when things get tough, and naturally, people will change and grow as they spend time apart and it can be strange to reunite and find that you have to get to know this person you once knew so intimately again. To help ease some of that, here’s a very simple spread for couples in long distance relationships.
1. What you need
2. What your partner needs
3. How to stay connected over the distance.
Good luck to all the couples dealing with distance! Stay strong!
The leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground. Pick one up and use a sharpie to write down change you wish to manifest this fall. Crumple the leaf in your palm (it should go into many crunchy pieces) and blow it away like one would do with a dandelion. You will see the change in your life.
Every now and then, magic can fade. In order to keep it strong and healthy, you have to exercise it. Of course there will always be times when something else is more important than your craft, but there is always a little something you can do to keep it going.
-Whisper an incantation over your lil’ cup of tea.
-Pray to your deities as you fall asleep at night.
-Carry a tiny crystal in your pocket.
-Scribble a quick happiness sigil on your arm before school or work.
-Give your pets some treats you have bewitched.
-Recite affirmations when you get ready to go somewhere in the mirror.
-Light a stick of incense while you’re cleaning or just sitting around.
-Add little thoughts to your grimoire.
-Sleep with your tarot cards.
-Play some witchy music.
-Set out a couple jars to collect rain water.
-Cleanse your home while cleaning.
-Set aside at least one day a month to devote entirely to your craft.
Hope all of you guys enjoyed and if you’d like more ideas then feel free to request! In the meantime, have fun and happy bewitching!
You’ve probably heard or seen talk of bonding with your tarot deck, and it might seem like an outlandish and strange practise (let’s be frank, and say that most of what we do is seen as outlandish and strange), but many witches and diviners swear by it, citing better readings and growth as a diviner upon bonding with their decks.
WHAT DOES “BONDING WITH YOUR DECK” MEAN?
Bonding with your deck is exactly what it describes: it means that you – the owner of the tarot deck – form a spiritual bond with your cards. That’s the bones of it!
WHY DO SOME CONSIDER IT IMPORTANT?
Some tarot readers believe that forming a bond with your deck means that your deck will be more compliant with you when you’re doing readings, resulting in clearer answers and more accurate readings overall.
It is believed by some, that decks have their own personalities and will choose whether or not to work with you and thus, bond with you. If you believe this to be the case, forming a bond with a deck that is initially vague and/or even hostile can change the dynamic over time and render the deck more co-operative, which may aid your ability as a reader. Trying to get a clear answer from cards that, in layman’s terms, don’t like you is like trying to get information from an enemy – difficult, frustrating, and draining.
Think of the bond you share with your deck like a friendship: both sides want to be happy and benefit in some way from the bond you share.
DO I HAVE TO BOND WITH MY DECK?
You don’t have to, no. It’s all down to personal preference and how you feel you work best as a diviner. Use your intuition and your beliefs to determine whether or not you’d benefit from bonding with the tools you use for divination.
As stated above, some practitioners feel that if they don’t form a strong and positive bond with their tarot decks, the deck will begin to give off negative energies that can be passed on to you by handling the cards. Some believe that you cannot truly and accurately interpret the cards you draw without this bond. Using the same analogy as before, think about friendships: friends are often more willing to give you detailed information than strangers.
WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR DECK:
Sleep with it under your pillow.
Spend time shuffling them and drawing them to familiarise yourself with the energy of the deck as a whole, as well as individual cards.
Do daily one-card draws.
Shuffle them absent-mindedly.
Carry your deck on your person throughout the day, if you can do so.
Meditate with the deck in front of you or whilst holding it.
BONUS: You can do spreads like [X] and [X] to get to know your deck too!
🌿go outside and collect all your acorns, twigs, and leaves and place them in the pouch.
🌿back at home, set an altar and scatter some sea salt to purify your space, then place the three green candles in the center and light them.
🌿set the pouch in front of the candles and say:
“Spirits of nature, the magic you weave,
Bring power to this spell with acorns and leaves,
All of the creatures are healthy and free,
Bring total protection to all that we see.”
🌿let the candles burn all the way down then place the sea salt inside the pouch.
🌿on the next full moon, return to where you gathered your items and return them to nature, scattering them on the ground to ensure balance. The animals and insects will remain healthy and protected!
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Taken from The Good Witch’s Guide by Shawn Robbins and Charity Bedell, Page 186.
Winter is coming quickly. A lot of people see this time of year as bleak, depressing, or just boring. Here are some tips to stay attuned to nature during these months.
❄️ Go outside. Even if it’s cold, the trees are bare, and the only colors are muted and dull. We often think that summer is the only time to enjoy the outdoors—the only time to hike, meditate outside, etc. In winter, there are no lush green trees or balmy days filled with sunshine and the smell of flowers. While summer is intoxicating, winter is a time to contemplate and reflect. Go outside. Feel the cold. Feel the mud and the dead grass and the chilly wind. Listen to how quiet it is. Understand that the dark half of the year is a time of silence, stillness, and death. It’s natural to have an aversion to these things, but take some time to sit down and just listen. Breathe. Feel the reality of silence and death around you. It’s a sobering experience, but also a very insightful one. If you have any fear of death or quiet, now is the time to go sit with those things as they appear in nature and just meditate with them.
❄️ Eat cozy foods. It’s cold outside—warm up with hearty soups, stews, homemade bread, and root veggies. Warm spices and hot drinks will keep you feeling grounded. This is a wonderful time of year to practice kitchen witchcraft—focus on coziness, family, protection, and rest.
❄️ Study magic! The Dark Half of the year is devoted to self-reflection, rest, and contemplation. Snuggle up indoors with a fluffy blanket and devote some time to studying magic and witchcraft with a hot cup of magically-brewed tea.
❄️ Think spirits are sleeping along with all the greenery? Think again! The Dark Half of the year, in many cultures and spiritual traditions, is considered extremely spiritually active. Deities like Odin, Berchta, Hekate, and spirits such as elves and ghosts are very active this time of year. You can choose to honor them if you want, or practice various spirit-working techniques. If you’re into necromancy or divination, this is a wonderful time of year for those things.
❄️ Be kind to local wildlife by installing things like bird feeders outside your home. We modern humans may have an easy time of it in winter, but animals struggle to survive during these months. Any bit of kindness will be much appreciated.
❄️ Nurture your fire energy. During winter, it’s easy to internalize the cold and take on its characteristics—sluggishness, sleepiness, a foggy-headed feeling. Some crystals that are great for winter include golden rutilated quartz (aka Venus hair), citrine, carnelian, obsidian, and garnet. All of these crystals contain a strong fire element as well as offer grounding qualities, mental clarity, and protection.
❄️ Go out and forage for magical ingredients! Melted snow is extremely purifying and can be incorporated into spells for purification and cleansing. Icicles can serve as temporary wands, especially in spells that require a strong water element. The ash from bonfires (or hearth fires) can be used to make black salt. Fallen branches can be crafted into wands. There may be nothing growing this time of year, but you can get creative and still find magical ingredients in unexpected places. Just be respectful and don’t collect from places where it’s illegal!
This is by no means a comprehensive list—these are just some ways I’ve celebrated the colder months. I hope they’re helpful in any way!
teakepp 