How To Enchant Items

A Little Weather Witchery

I’ll be frank, I do not do a lot of weather witchcraft – mostly because I have little need for weather manipulation. I’m not a farmer; I garden, but only recreationally and rarely for food. However, I have collected over the years quite a number of weather witching rituals – that I hope may be of more use to some of you than I.

Storm Salt

This is undoubtedly what I use most in regards to weather witchcraft, as it can be used in countless ways – specifically in hexes, curses and crosses. Plus, it can be equated to Storm Water, only with the convenience of a powder, making it easier to store and giving it a much extended shelf-life. Creation is very simple.

Simply collect storm water and add it to a stock pot – or whichever size pot matches the quantity of storm water you’ve collected. To this, add salt. Add as much as you can, stirring all the while until the salt no longer dissolves in the water. No need to worry about this extra salt left, it will dissolve when the water is heated – which leads me to the next step: bring the pot to a rolling boil. Stir regularly until the remaining salt has dissolved. Reduce heat to a medium boil, and leave it to boil. It’s integral to check on it regularly, so as not to ruin your pot! Once the water has evaporated, you will be left with newly reformed “storm” salt crystals. Just scrape/collect and bag/jar.

(Being that the water is rain water – soft water – it should leave little to no calcification/hard-water build up on the pan)

It can also be used to turn regular water into storm water, with the addition of the salt – which is quite handy!

Storm Raising

Storm Raising rituals are, admittedly, a dime-a-dozen, but nonetheless I’m bringing this one to you. It’s similar – in essence – to the old, rag-beating summons, but incorporating a few added “ingredients”

You will need:

Storm Water – which can be “reconstituted” by adding the Storm Salt to regular (or preferably soft) water, though fresh is always best

Pine Boughs – gathered to form a whisk or “broom” of sorts – these must be fresh and the more flexible, the better

A Large Rock – I live in a national forest that is rife with huge rocks, we even have the Garden of the Gods (IL), so I’d say doing this “on location” would be all the better. The higher vantage point, the better! But, a large river rock or decorative rock should work just fine

Place the storm water in a large-mouthed bucket or pale, and arrange it near the rock. Dip the collected boughs into the water, and give them a stir. You’ll want to move quickly for this next part, because the saturation of the needles is key. Grab them up, and without letting them drip, lash the rock with them (you will most certainly get wet – embrace it). 

While doing this, recite:

Lashing rain and maelstrom might,

Born of sky – horizon’s blight –

That which turns the day to night –

Thunder roll and lightning strike,

I calleth forth: The Storm

With each line, lash the rock. The process would be, Line #1, lash the rock, Line #2, lash the rock, and so on. 

When complete, shake the excess water from the boughs and wrap them in a cloth or towel. This can then be burned, hung in a tree, or stashed in a high place as an offering.

Rain Conjuring

As with most weather magic, this should be done from a high vantage point, as nearest to the sky as you can get (safely) or in a vast field/meadow. Again, rain conjurings are plentiful, but you can’t rightly do a piece on weather magic without including at least one, right?

To perform, simply gathered a bag or bowl of whole barley or ground oats. A combination of fine, but no benefit. To this, add in the storm salt. You can also use fresh storm water, but that gets very messy and drippy (which may or may not be beneficial to rain summoning or not – but either way, I’d prefer to stay dry and not be wearing damp oats, honestly). In your chosen location, cast the grain in the four cardinal directions, saying a prayer for rain of your choosing. Repeat three times and scatter any remaining meal.

Wind Wielding

As an Air Sign, I have an extraordinary love for wind (as well as most weather – except snow, I hate snow) and love a powerful gust – messy hair a welcome effect. This particular calling is for summoning up wind, not tempering it, as I could think of no situation in which wind would not be welcomed. For this, I bring two options: 

Method One:

To summon up the wind, first collect 8 or 9 weeping willow branches (In all honesty, you could also use pine, but you’d get far more wind resistance which is counter-intuitive to this process). These will be fashioned into a “whisk” – however, if you happen to have a whisk (such as a horse tail whisk – a “totem” of the Orisha, Oya) feel free to use that. For this particular method, a broom is not recommended, see option two for that.

To construct the whisk, simply bare the branches of any leaves, and bind them together with string, twine or rope – it can be as decorative or as minimalist as you’d like, as it can be reused or used once and left.

With whisk in hand, find a fitting location. As above, “high” places, life bluffs or outcroppings are well suited, or a large, flat expanse. Line yourself up and attune yourself for a moment to the wind – which is best done with closed eyes. Feel the wind (if there is any) and the air, align yourself thusly with your back to any wind or breeze. If the air is still, face the direction in which you want the wind to blow. Briefly dangle the whisk at your side, and gently shake it to “charge” it. When all feels right, bring the whisk up and snap it in front of you, first to your right, then to the left. Be careful, you don’t want to put your eye out and being that this is much like a natural, cat-of-nine tales, you don’t want to relive the “switches” from days of yore.

Continue to whip the air with the whisk until you feel a change in the air – even if it minute, you should be able to feel the pressures changing.

Method Two:

This one is one you probably shouldn’t do in your front yard unless you want your neighbors closing the blinds and pulling their children inside for fear of the crazy witch next door.

You will need:

A Broom – preferably one made of an “airy” wood, I’d recommend ash, birch, or a sturdier willow.

– or –

Simply a Limb of the same variety

With your “weapon of choice,” choose a suitable location, and like before, attune yourself to the wind. Hold the broom or limb with both hands in a passive manner (palms beneath the wood, not above). Held it near you, with bent arms – as you are mimicking the air as it is, passive and reserved. Once you have attuned yourself, flatten your palms and straighten your arms, as though you are presenting the branch as a gift.

At this point, one hand at a time, take a more dominant grip over the limb, palms now above the wood. Raise it above your head in a single, abrupt movement, at which point antagonize the wind.

I know how that sounds… Hence why I said not to do this in your front yard.

You’re literally trying to enrage the wind, but calling it weak and docile. Ask it to show you the power it possesses, command it to move, scream to the proverbial heavens to “show me what you’ve got!” Get it rustling, bully it into retaliation, basically, until it’s to your liking – at which point, commend it. “See, that’s better! Well done. Keep it up.”

Sometimes the wind just needs to be reminded… We air signs are much the same.

Cloud Cutting

Surely you didn’t think it was all going to be conjuring up bad weather… This, this is to dismantle those clouds and brings some much needed sunshine – which makes this particularly useful in the long bouts of spring rain, when a bit of sunshine would really help lighten the mood, and cut that lingering chill.

This process is relatively simple and is done much the same way as the above, but with the addition of a knife. Any knife will do, no need to get fancy – grab one out of the kitchen or from the garage and make your way to a suitable spot. Much like before, high places and wide places are most suitable, but for this one, you’ll be looking for somewhere with a great view of the sky.

To begin, warm yourself up – focus your energy to feeling the heat of your skin, as though the sun was beaming down on it. It is with this warmth that you will be cutting the clouds, much like the sun does.

Once poised and ready, knife in hand, draw the flat blade over your tongue (not the sharp bit, obviously – you’d also ideally want to make sure it’s clean first), imbuing it with sun’s heat. Hold it over your head, parallel with the sky, then drive it town into the earth. Pull it from the ground until just the point remains in the earth, and draw it straight to the right, then turning it upward, arking around to make a counter-clockwise circle around the initial point – making, roughly, the alchemical sign for sun. Clean the blade and go on your merry way, waiting for the clouds to part and the sun to shine.

Lightning Ward and Summons

There are several types of Lightning Wards – and I do mean several. I’m not sure if people used to get hit left and right with lightning or what, but they sure wanted lots of charms to prevent it. Any rudimentary search through Google will turn up countless charms to prevent personal injury from lightning, so I’ve elected to, instead, bring you a means of preventing lightning from striking your crops or homestead.

The recipe is relatively simply, gather:

Corn Kernels – from the last harvest

Storm Salt

Oak Ash – as in, the ashes of a piece of oak

– and –

Copper – coins, buttons, fixings, whatever you can find – or, alternately, a copper bowl to mix the above in

Combine the ingredients in a bowl – copper being the best, and doubling as the copper called for above. As strange as it sounds, when mixing this, do not incorporate any silver, which includes mixing while wearing silver rings, necklaces or jewelry of any sort. This is because silver is extremely conductive – far more so than copper.

When all ingredients have been incorporated and the kernels and salt have been well coated by the ash, sprinkle the mixture at the four corners of your property lines. For your home, this can be as simple as the actual corners, but for crops and vast, farm land, merely corners that roughly encompass all the land. Basically in such a way as to form a barrier around the property.

The Lightning Summons, conversely, also uses copper, but in the form of a lightning rod. Now, I’ll be the first to wonder why anyone would want to attract lightning, though I image its energy would be extraordinarily useful in the craft – and is always a nice, old-fashion go to for curses. You know, what with: “I hope you and everything you love are struck by lightning! I smite you!”

Regardless of your desires, a simple lightning summons can be made with:

A Length of Copper – solid being best, however, what with the rising prices, a cut length of pipe should do nicely, perhaps even wire. You want a piece that measures roughly 3 ft. or a meter – as your purpose is not to construct an actual lightning rod, simply a metaphorical one. 

– and –

A Branch from a Tree that has been struck by Lightning – alternately, another piece of copper would work nearly as well

For the summons, you’ll want to be in much the same location as above, or near a spot where lightning has struck before. Needless to say, this should not be done in the midst of a lightning storm, considering waving metal around – while probably a sure fire way to attract some form of lightning – is probably not the best decision if you don’t want to be the victim of your own summons.

Once in position, hold the copper in your right hand and the limb (or other piece of copper) in the left over your head, one crossed over the other. Strike them together in series of three. Knock, knock, knock…. Wait, then repeat.

As you do so, recite:

Come ye: fire – of the sky (knock x3)

Blinding light – and thunder crash

Grounded by my call;

Spit white-tongues of devastation, (knock x3)

Wrought in the fires of my

Command.

 (knock x3)

Rod and bolt – 

Creator, Destroyer – (knock x3)

Abide this call,

By Heathen-tongue – 

And from the skies,

My Will be done. (knock x3)

My Will be done. (knock x3)

With rope or string, bind the rod and limb (or two rods) together and leave them near where you desire lightning to strike.

photo source 

☾

Flower Petal Love Spell

Inspired by “Practical Magic” (1998), this is a love spell that I wrote partly for myself, but also for a friend of mine.

You will need:

Large bowl

Consecrated water

Rose oil (or Rosewater)

Garden with many flowers in bloom, or lots of leaves

River or stream with a good current, or a windy night

Timing: Full Moon

[Note: It is not a good idea to perform this spell with a specific person in mind, as those sort of spells easily backfire, or become disappointing if your crush turns out to be attached or not everything you hoped for. Instead, picture someone who you have not yet met who fulfills your heart’s desire.]

Ritual:

Record a list of desirable traits in your BoS or journal. Describe your ideal mate’s physical appearance, and mental, emotional, and spiritual habits. Be as thorough as you like. The more specific you are, the more likely it is that you won’t get pixed by a loophole. Try to present things in a positive fashion, i.e. “He/She will be kind,” but don’t be afraid to mark down traits that you definitely DON’T want, i.e. “He/She will not smoke.”

Cleanse yourself with a ritual bath and dress in something that makes you feel desirable and lovely. If possible, go barefoot. Taking the bowl in hand, walk into the garden and thank the earth and the plants for their gifts before you begin.

Walk through the garden. Pluck a blossom, petal, or leaf for every trait you desire in a lover or a mate, reciting each out loud as you do. (Be careful not to take too much from any one plant.) Place them into the bowl. Continue until you have gone through the entire list.

Rub the rim of the bowl with consecrated water and rose oil, clockwise, three times, while visualizing your energy pouring into the bowl to join the blossoms and petals, as an attractant to your prospective lover. Chant as you do:

Lover fair and Lover fine Come and join your heart with mine I pray you, love the whole of me And ever true and faithful be I offer up my love, my all And pray you heed my earnest call

Take up the bowl of blossoms and cast them either into a strong-flowing body of water or into a strong wind, saying:

Water/Wind, flow through hill and tree And bring a lover back to me

Go home and light a red candle. Sit for a while and muse on the idea of meeting the person your spell might bring into your life as the candle burns down.

Thereafter, keep your eyes…and your heart…open!

WitchYes’ Flight of Courage spell bottle

So. You need a little boost of courage, a little something to make you feel as if you could conquer the open skies. I have just the thing for you.

(WARNING: This spell is NOT vegan or vegetarian friendly as it contains bones and eggshells. However, these components may be substituted with other things according to personal association.)

YOU WILL NEED: - dried basil (courage) - salt (protection) - eggshells (growth, protection) - bird’s bone (flight, courage) [This can be substituted of course if you are against using animal components in spells or are uncomfortable using bones] I used chicken bones, I did not harm an innocent bird!

Grind everything up and mix them together well. MAKE SURE you seal the bottle with wax.

(Let me know if you did this, and how it turned out!)

Amazing tutorial

Magickal Uses for Strawberries

Planetary Association: Venus

Gender: Feminine

Element: Water

Deity Association: Freya

Magickal Uses: Attracts success, good fortune, and favorable circumstances. Served as a love food. Leaves are carried for luck. Pregnant women carry a packet of the leaves to ease the pain of pregnancy and childbirth.

Sweet, red strawberries are often used in spells for innocent love, friendship and happiness; as well as bringing out the sweetness in a person or situation. On the other hand, the luscious strawberry is a well known aphrodisiac, and can be used to stimulate deeply passionate, and sensual love relationships. As with all magick, the outcome is set by the intention. Used (sparingly) to draw fortunate circumstances into one’s life.

Lucky Charm Spell:

You’ll need:

An iron locket (if possible, other metals are acceptable)

1 strawberry leaf

Chamomile tea (and a towel)

4 star anise

Green salt (grind together sea salt and basil)

Bloodroot powder

1 green candle

Cast your circle, tracing the outline with bloodroot powder: at each watchtower (east, south, west, and north) offer a star anise to each element and place them at each quarter. You may use your own words, but here is an example of how to address each element:

“Air, please blow away all negativity and leave only positivity.” “Fire, please burn a bright light and illuminate me for luck to find.” “Water, please flow like a river and help luck streaming in pure.” “Earth, please grow good happenings and lucky blooms.” In the center of the circle, wash your hands with the chamomile tea. This is to wash away bad luck which may be lingering and to encourage everything you touch to become lucky. Pat your hands dry with the towel if you want. Take the iron locket and rub it down with the green salt to purify it. Say as you do this: “With this green salt, I rub away negativity and leave positivity and luck, and harm it none so mote it be.” Light the green candle and hold the locket in the flame. Say: “With this fire, I create a beacon for luck.” When cool, put the strawberry leaf inside. Rinse off the green salt with the chamomile tea, and meditate, focusing on channeling lucky energy into your new charm. -NOTE- Do not use anything you may be allergic to. Remember to snuff out the candles after the spell has been cast with wet fingertips or a candle snuff: blowing out the candles may undo your magick. It does not have to be a locket: you may use anything metal which can hold a strawberry leaf inside. The best time to do this spell is: Sunday, dawn or noon, in spring or autumn, when the moon is waxing or full. -TIP- Do the spell when it’s raining so you can make the chamomile tea from rain water. Also, the rain can help wash away any lingering bad luck.

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