Awesome Spells And Surprisingly Simple Magic For Would-be Witches.
Witchcraft doesn't have to be complicated.
With Samhain on the horizon, (or “Halloween” to most people,) attention turns to witches. But witches are around all year. Many people cast magic spells every day without ever knowing.
Ever wished on a birthday candle? Or hung a lucky charm up in the home? Touched wood? Or held a horseshoe for luck? All types of folk magic and superstition!
Some kinds of witches practise more intensely, using gifts from nature such as gemstones, herbs, flowers, leaves, incense, food, and more. Others still use things for divination such as tarot decks, or pendulums.
There are many kinds of witches around us all year round!
Witchcraft doesn't have to be complicated. It can be a simple case of setting intentions. Voicing your wishes into the universe helps to set things in motion that otherwise may not have been. Where focus goes, energy flows, and all that. Mindset coaches teach it regularly.
Please note, that while it is certainly possible to cast spells and ask for very specific things, such as winning the lottery, the world of magic doesn’t always work like that. If it did, we would all be millionaires. Keep your expectations realistic and sensible.
First, We Remember Our Witches Past.
Pagans and Heathens
Paganism and Heathenry are umbrella terms for all kinds of belief systems, both old and new. Some involve deities, some do not. But the thought process behind the terms are old. Very old indeed.
“The origins of heathen and pagan are semantically similar. Heathen likely comes from a term for a country inhabitant—in particular, a “heath dweller.” The Latin source of pagan, paganus, originally meant “country dweller” or “civilian;” it was used at the end of the Roman Empire to refer to people who practiced a religion other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, and especially to those who worshiped multiple deities.” ~ merriamwebster.com
So as far as we know, Pagan beliefs and methods, including Druidry, Animism, Shamanism, and more have been around since long before the Christian Church. More recently comes neo-paganism and Wicca.
Some Pagans (and some who do not identify as Pagan) practise Witchcraft. Some witches consider themselves as Pagan, others do not.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft was a much feared thing in the past.
Pre-Christian people believed in the spirit world and the power of nature around them. When the Christians came along, a lot of these beliefs were no longer allowed, lest the men of the church lose a few followers to it, and become less powerful. God, his angels, Jesus and crew were the only higher powers people were allowed to put their trust in. Anything else was deemed the work of the Devil. People were led to believe that indulging in witchcraft and magic was being in cahoots with the Devil and going up against God.
Despite the Devil being a Christian concept (so how would non-Christians believe in him, let alone worship him and do his bidding?)
By the 13th century, witchcraft was officially condemned.
Anything bad happened, people needed someone to blame, so they blamed the witch (who in reality was probably just some old person making a living selling herbal teas and dispensing wisdom.) People believed their God chose who got to live or die, so if a healer or wisewoman gave you something to help you feel better, they must be working with the Devil. However, anything good happens, their God was the hero and praise was given.
Woe betide any lonely old cat woman - those cats, who may simply be keeping her mouse population down and snuggling up on her lap to keep warm in the freezing winter, were plainly familiars and must be sucking on her teats!
Witches, who were mostly women, were to blame for most things.
If a man got sick, it must be the work of a witch.
If he couldn’t get it up - blame the witch.
A couple couldn’t conceive. We all know it was the witch’s fault.
Only God can save him, so if a woman tried to help a poorly person with a healing tincture, she was definitely a witch.
If it worked - well there is your proof she is a witch.
If he died, blame the witch.
Midwives - better pray the baby survives, and the mother too or you were in deep shit - of course, if they both came through fit and well then Glory to God.
If a man cheated, or drank away all the family’s money, he was beguiled by a witch.
If he was lonely, a witch had cursed him.
And so on.
The saddest thing of all is the positions women were put in, because of the undeserved fear of their knowledge, that we today take for granted.
The Halloween Witch
Millions of women were accused of the crime of witchcraft during the infamous witch hunts from the 15th - 17th Centuries all over the world. Tortured, accused and abused, they were starved, beaten, attacked. Dragged through the streets from whence their neighbours and friends shunned them, naked for the world to see their shame, they had their hair pulled out in chunks, their fingers broken, their nails torn out, their noses and teeth broken, were semi-drowned, burned and more, in order to gain “confessions.”
In shades of blue, green and purple bruises, covered in blood, rotten sores and more, they were then put to death, cleansing their souls as they went to the next life.
If they by some miracle survived, they were definitely a witch and tortured some more and eventually killed anyway.
People accused each other and confessed, out of sheer terror and the wish to make the agony stop. Can you imagine the fear, the pain and the anguish these poor, innocent souls went through?
When you see a gnarly green witch at Halloween, remember, this is what these once beautiful women really did look like.
I can’t see a Halloween witch without feeling sadness and remorse at the absurdity and evil of humanity. Or at the double standards, when we remember this was a mass killing of millions of people, which normally would send us into an outrage. But here we are dressing our children as torture victims and murdered innocents.
We insult them further by having our kids make “evil cackle” noises, wave a broom about and get sweets for their efforts.
AND the vast majority of these women were not even truly witches, or pagans, or heathens - just ordinary women (and a few men) trying to survive the harsh reality of life before central heating, antibiotics, Tesco’s and the internet made life so simple.
It really boils my piss.
Blessed Be, sisters. RIP.
Easy Magic
Now I’ve got that out of my system we will move onto more pleasant things.
Sadly, the word “Witch” still has negative connotations, and solicits nasty comments and ignorance … but many of us practice the craft without even realising.
Here are some really easy ways you can add a little magic into your life, without getting too far into the realms of mystery or needing any fancy equipment.
Stirring Intentions
Stir your cup of tea clockwise to increase or anti clockwise to decrease something in your life. Visualise that which you want to grow or wither while you stir. Tap your spoon 3 times when you have finished, saying “By the power of three, so mote it be.”
Drink your tea, knowing with every sip, that which you have sought is ever closer.
Simple Candle Magic
Take a white candle. Using a sharp point such as a needle or the tip of a pencil, inscribe onto it small images symbolising something you wish for. For example, if you would like a little extra money you might inscribe a “£” sign. Or if you want to invite love into your life, maybe a heart? Whatever symbol you use, you must be able to interpret it as the outcome of your wish. Visualise your wish coming true as you make your marks. Imagine how you will feel when your desire comes to you.
Now, light your candle, and allow the flame to burn itself out when it is ready. If for any reason you have to snuff the candle out prematurely, do not blow it out. Use a side of a knife blade or a candle snuffer. Relight and continue the magic as soon as you can do so.
Never leave a flame burning without supervision and always keep children and animals safe.
Cleanse your worries away
Into your nice warm bath, add a handful of salt and stir it in with your hand, anticlockwise, three times. (Anticlockwise helps to decrease, remember? We want to decrease our worries.)
While you are in your bath washing, as you normally would wash, picture the water cleansing away not only your daily bodily grot and grime, but also any negative emotions and worries. Let those feelings wash away into the water.
When it is time to pull the plug out, sit in the bath as the water goes down the plughole and imagine that it is taking all your worries and negative feelings with it. Literally feel them being sucked down the plughole.
Once the water has drained away, rise from your bath feeling stronger, and with a clear mind and clean body.
Freezer spell
Ex pissing you off? Wish someone at work would leave you alone? Why not freeze them out? Like literally freeze them out?
NOTE - This is a way of not causing harm to someone, but simply stopping them from bothering you in future. I never seek to cause harm in my practise. I follow the reed “an it harm none, do as ye will.” If you want to harm someone, I’m not your girl.
Write the name of the person who is getting on your nerves onto a bit of paper. Do a little picture of them too if it makes you feel better. Pop it in a waterproof sandwich bag or a watertight tub.
To the bag/tub add some hot pepper (to burn any lies or words spoken about you from their tongue,) a flower (as a parting gift,) a piece of broken glass (so if they come near you they may step on it,) and any other little “instruments of intent” that will help see them on their way or to keep away from you, that you think are apt.
Fill the bag and it’s contents with water, and watch the contents immerse. Tie a knot in the bag, or put the tub’s lid on and place it in the freezer. Right at the back where you will forget all about it.
Light a candle, and while it burns, visualise them walking away from your life, and leaving you alone. Feel how life without their interference will feel - free, safe, calm, light and joyful. Make a promise to yourself to never contact that person or respond if they contact you (meet the spell half way) and then act as if that person doesn’t exist. Don’t talk about them, or check out their social media or anything else that means they still exist to you.
Let the candle burn out, dispersing your spell with it’s gentle smoke and taking the annoying recipient of the freezer spell away with it.
As their name literally freezes in the freezer, they will freeze out of your life.
This spell has worked very well for me in the past!
Crystals
Did you know the whole world is made of just a bunch of atoms, all joined to each other and vibrating at different frequencies? Even seemingly solid things such as rocks. They say like attracts like. Many people believe that crystals help us to attract more of what we would like. We vibrate at different frequencies, depending on our mood - so it makes sense to keep crystals on us to help us to achieve our desired vibes!
Keep crystals with you to attract certain energy frequencies. Dot them around your home and keep them on your work desk.
Whether you believe in the power of crystals or not, having them around certainly helps to lift your mood, and can remind you to stay on task, and to keep your head in the right space.
Amethyst – Calming and spiritual growth. It's thought to attract serenity, clarity, and balance, spiritual development.
Citrine – Success, abundance, and creativity. It is believed to attract prosperity and success in business, as well as promote positive energy.
Clear Quartz – Clarity, energy, and healing. It's thought to amplify intentions and energy, making it ideal for manifesting goals.
Tiger's Eye – Confidence, strength, and protection. This crystal is associated with courage, determination, and grounding energy, often used for self-empowerment.
Labradorite – Transformation and intuition. Said to attract positive change, enhance psychic abilities, and provide protection during spiritual journeys.
Carnelian – Motivation and creativity. It’s believed to attract passion, courage, and vitality. Ideal for those pursuing artistic ventures.
Black Tourmaline – Protection and grounding. It's used to repel negative energy and protect against harmful influences while grounding and balancing emotions.
Lapis Lazuli – Truth, wisdom, and communication. Associated with mental clarity and self-expression, it’s said to attract wisdom.
Aventurine – Luck and opportunity. Known as the stone of opportunity, it is thought to attract luck.
Selenite – Cleansing and spiritual connection. Often used to cleanse other crystals, Selenite is said to attract a higher spiritual connection and clear mental clutter.
Rose Quartz - Love, romance, deeper friendships and close relationships. Use when you wish to avoid feeling alone or lonely.
Herbalism
Did you know that many hundreds of years ago, knowing a bit about the power of plants to help with various ailments could earn you the label “witch?” Now as we know, witches were not always popular with the local clergy and God-fearing members of the community. But, a lot of what witches, cunning folk and wise women knew back then is commonplace today, in the form of aromatherapy baths, brews, herbal medicines and more.
Here are some common lotions, potions and tinctures we use today:
1. Chamomile Tea for Relaxation
Use: Chamomile is often used in teas to promote relaxation and relieve anxiety or insomnia. It can also aid digestion.
Preparation: Dried chamomile flowers (or cheat and use chamomile tea bags) are steeped in hot water for about 5–10 minutes to make a soothing tea.
2. Lavender for Stress Relief
Use: Lavender is widely used for its calming properties, often in essential oil form to relieve stress, anxiety, and headaches.
Preparation: Lavender oil can be added to a diffuser, or dried lavender can be used in sachets or pillows for its relaxing aroma.
I like it best in the bath.
3. Echinacea for Immune Support
Use: Echinacea is commonly used to boost the immune system and reduce the severity of colds or flu.
Preparation: It is often taken as a tincture, capsule, or tea made from the dried roots or leaves. You can buy it ready made in health shops.
4. Peppermint for Digestion
Use: Peppermint is well-known for aiding digestion, relieving bloating, and soothing nausea or indigestion.
Preparation: Peppermint tea is made by steeping fresh or dried leaves (or tea bags) in hot water. Peppermint oil can also be used for inhalation or diluted for topical application.
Peppermint sweets are great to keep in the car to avoid motion sickness.
5. St. John’s Wort for Mood Support
Use: St. John’s Wort is used as a natural remedy for mild to moderate depression and mood disorders.
Preparation: It is usually consumed as a capsule or tea made from dried flowers. It can also be made into a tincture. Buy from health shops.
6. Ginger for Nausea
Use: Ginger is a powerful remedy for nausea, motion sickness, and digestive upset. It is also anti-inflammatory and can help with joint pain.
Preparation: Fresh ginger root can be steeped in hot water to make a tea, or it can be eaten raw, in capsules, or added to meals.
Ginger biscuits before getting out of bed can help with pregnancy morning sickness.
7. Turmeric for Inflammation
Use: Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It's often used to support joint health and reduce inflammation.
Preparation: The powdered root is commonly added to food, made into golden milk, or taken as capsules or tinctures.
8. Aloe Vera for Skin Healing
Use: Aloe Vera is often used for soothing burns, cuts, and skin irritations. It also has hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.
Preparation: The gel from inside the aloe vera leaf can be applied directly to the skin, or it can be purchased in lotions or creams.
9. Milk Thistle for Liver Health
Use: Milk thistle is commonly used to support liver detoxification and treat liver conditions.
Preparation: It is usually taken as a supplement in capsule form, tincture, or as a tea made from seeds. Buy from health shops.
10. Rosemary for Memory and Focus
Use: Rosemary is believed to enhance memory and concentration, and it is also used to alleviate headaches.
Preparation: It can be brewed into tea or used as an essential oil in aromatherapy. Fresh or dried rosemary can also be added to food.
A brilliant addition to your garden, and so easy to care for.
11. Calendula for Skin Irritation
Use: Calendula is known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, often used to treat minor cuts, wounds, and rashes.
Preparation: Calendula is often made into salves, creams, or infused oils for topical use.
12. Dandelion for Detoxification
Use: Dandelion is traditionally used as a gentle detoxifier, supporting liver and kidney function.
Preparation: Dandelion root or leaf can be made into a tea or tincture, or the leaves can be eaten fresh in salads.
Don’t throw away Dandelions from your garden when you do the weeding. Wash them and freeze them.
What little rituals and magic do you incorporate into your life? Did you ever wonder where that came from?
Let me know in the comments!
Today’s Sub Stats
My views are down, but that is entirely expected as I fall into the rhythm of posting once a week, and sticking to it, instead of as and when and not being very reliable! Otherwise, I am now aiming for 100 free subscribers before 2025, as a growth goal.
I’m really enjoying writing now, it doesn’t feel like a chore, as people are actually reading my work and it makes me feel so grateful that people take the time out of their day to do so.
