💀 What I’ve Learned About Curses 💀

Hello again!! Thank you so much for the treat! I can't properly explain just how deeply this speaks to me. Life has been chaotic lately (I blame the eclipse 😂) and I've been having second thoughts about many aspects of my life, especially about my job and relationships. This postcard is just what I needed. Thank you.

I'll take a compliment about my energy anytime lol but this actually isn't the first time we've met! 😊 I've dropped by your askbox twice I believe, many years ago: once to ask Baxter if my career path was the right one - it was Literature - and again to ask if I was going to find love that year. I wrote to you a third time to give feedback (here), but I never came out of the anonymous cover because my main blog at the time wasn't related to witchcraft and I was embarrased lol

Just a FYI: I am still dating this wonderful man, we are going onto our fourth year together already, and my studies keep filling me with a lot of joy every day. You and Baxter are an excellent team! And you are an amazing witch, Dannie. I have no doubt that you subconsciously recognised my energy from our previous exchanges and that's why you complimented it, even though you thought we hadn't spoken before. It's so nice to write to you again. Thank you for the postcard 💖

Hello, Stitchy!! I would like a trick or treat, please. What does Baxter have for me? My name's Erica 🥰🎃

Erica, we just met, but I have to say I love your energy lol

Treat! 🍬

Postcard from Spirit

Please let me know if it resonates for you 😊

🧵Stitchy

Support your witch 👀🔮

Welcome to my blog 🔮🎶

My name is Erica, I’m a Latina of native ancestry and bisexual. My witchcraft journey started on 2018 and I’ve grown so much since then. I call myself an eclectic witch because I can’t bring myself to choose only one path of the wide range of types of witchcraft there are, so I try anything I dim interesting.

- ABOUT MY CONTENT

In my practice I use lots of sigils, spells and curses, and lately I’ve started making my own. What you need to know is that my spells are designed without weird or expensive items, so check my tags if you’re looking for spellcraft with accessible ingredients. I also post sigils of my design and lots of experiences about my craft. If any of these catch your attention, check my original content tags:

#My post: Collection of all the things I have ever posted.

#About the witch: Random facts about me.

#Answered check: Asks that I’ve received and answered.

#Witchin: This is where spells and curses that I’ve created go.

#Drawing sigils: And this is where the sigils I’ve designed go.

#Tales of a witch: Random experiences of my own about my craft.

#Ghost stories: My own experiences regarding paranormal encounters and spirit work.

#I’m on the Godphone: Every post about deity work I’ve written.

#Deja vu: Collection of experiences that make me think that, maybe, I have a past life related to these events.

#Dream journal: Dreams I’ve had that had an energy too strong to not write them down.

These tags are still empty since I've only started this new blog, but I will be filling them up with time as I already have content planned for each.

When am I really a witch?

When you stop looking up spells on tumblr when you need one and make your own. When you know how to convene with what you need to talk to. When you can divine answers to questions you have instead of asking a blogger if "this is an omen". You're a witch when you're self sufficient, when you know how to use the information you find, when you can get your own materials and make something out of nothing.

When are you a real witch? When you stop asking that question.

Talk to your house

Your house is a sentient being with it’s own spirit and soul. Some people identify this spirit as their household deities or friendly house spirits. But some people have altogether forgotten how important the spirit of their house is. Talk to your house. Houses that have been ignored tend to be dull, tired and susceptible to hauntings and negative energies.  So talk to your house, listen to its aches and pains, say hello. Tell it that you come in peace, tell it that you are there to listen to it speak. Be grateful to your house. And watch the energies of your home transform themselves into joy. 

Poppet Tutorial

Original inspiration for this lesson comes from iladisparu’s Voodoo Doll Tutorial on YouTube. I make my dolls slightly differently, but they’re very similar :) 

Materials:

Yarn (color of your choice)

String

Sewing needle

Buttons

Other Accessories of your choice

Step 1)

Loosely wrap the end of your yarn around four fingers and tie a knot.

Step 2)

After tying a knot, wrap the end of the yarn around your four fingers 8-9 times. Then, remove the bundle from your hand, and, making sure it doesn’t come undone, begin wrapping the loose end of the yarn around the center of the bundle (second picture). Next, separate the bundle into four sections so that it resembles a sort of butterfly (these are going to become the doll’s limbs!).

Step 3)

Once you’ve separated your bundle into four different smaller bunches, start wrapping the loose end of your yarn around the center of the bundle to create a fifth bunch of loops (This is for the doll’s head, I recommend making 4-5 loops for this section). Then, you can begin solidifying your doll by wrapping the loose end of the yarn up and down one of the bundles of loops (do this for all four limbs). 

TIP: Every time you make a limb, wrap the loose end of your yarn around the doll’s center before moving onto the next limb. This helps keep everything together!

Step 4)

Once you’ve finished all the limbs, you can move onto the head. Wrap the loose end of your yarn up and down the bundle of loops dedicated to the head and bend the resulting stub over. Then, begin wrapping the loose end of your yarn around that, keeping in mind you want the result to look spherical. 

Step 5)

Almost there!

When you’ve finished making the head, you can either glue the loose end of your yarn in place on the doll, or, using a large needle, weave it back into the doll’s body. 

At this point, your doll is a blank canvas and ready for you to decorate however you please. I personally just sewed a couple of black buttons for eyes onto mine, but the possibilities are endless. :) Just don’t forget to give your new friend a name.

I don’t really know what people generally call this method of sigil making, so I’m just calling it “Letter Shaping” because you’re using the basic shapes from certain letters. EDIT: It’s one of many variations of the ‘Spare Method’ created by Austin Oswald Spare in the early 1900s This is the most common form of sigil making, and it allows the most creative influence. As you see above the sigils are for nearly the same thing, yet the sigils came out completely different. Not because the purpose was different, but because I approached them both a different creative way, and that’s what I like so much about this method. There’s a lot of freedom and personalization involved.

(UPDATE: Here’s a link to a guide on how to deconstruct letters down to basic shapes)

Why your spells don’t work

You set your intention. You had all the correct correspondences. You even timed your spell with the appropriate moon phase. And yet – no results. What gives?

Failed spells happen to the best of us, and for a variety of reasons. But a spell gone wrong doesn’t necessarily mean that magic isn’t real or that you’re bad at witchcraft. Magic is complicated, and there are a lot of reasons it might not behave the way you want it to. Here are some of the most common causes of ineffective spells:

1. Lack of real-world follow through

Magic is meant to be used as a tool to supplement your mundane efforts – not as a substitute for them. How can you expect your job hunting spell to bring in results if you aren’t applying for jobs?

Magic does not exist in a vacuum, and it can’t make something out of nothing. If a spell doesn’t bring you the desired result, make sure that your non-magical actions are aligned with what you are trying to manifest.

2. What you’re trying to manifest isn’t a realistic possibility

Wait, what? Isn’t magic supposed to be, well… magic? Shouldn’t you be able to ask for whatever you want and get it? Yes and no.

Magic is simply a way of directing energy. Magic can’t defy the natural laws of the universe. It can’t make something happen unless it was already a potential possibility.

If your intention is unrealistic for where you are right now, try splitting it up into a multi-step process. No spell is going to make you a billionaire overnight, but magic could help you get hired at a better paying job… and then get promoted… and then get offered a profitable side gig… etc. Starting small and working your way up is always going to produce stronger results, because you laid the foundation first.

3. Your intention was either too vague or too specific

Whether you use written petitions or spoken incantations, clearly stating your intention is an important part (maybe THE most important part) of any spell or ritual. A good intention is specific enough to get you the results you want, but open enough to let those results manifest naturally.

Let’s say you do a money spell, and your intention for the spell is simply, “I have more money.” If you find a penny on the ground the next day and pick it up, technically that is more money than you had before. A better alternative would be to use an intention like, “I have enough money to buy ___,” or “I have enough money for everything I need and want.”

Using an intention that is too specific creates the opposite problem. Let’s say you want to manifest a scholarship to a specific school. You do a candle spell with the intention, “I have been chosen for the John Smith Scholarship at Jane Doe University.” But maybe the John Smith scholarship had already been awarded by the time you did your spell. Maybe there’s another scholarship at the same school that would be a better fit for you, or maybe you’re eligible for a grant that would make tuition more affordable. A better intention for your spell would be “I have enough financial aid to easily and affordably attend Jane Doe University.”

Magic always follows the path of least resistance, so you want to make sure that your intention is specific enough to give your magic a clear direction, but open enough to allow it some flexibility.

4. Lack of focus/concentration

We all know the struggle. You’ve been planning this ritual forever, and it’s finally the full moon, but you’ve got a really full schedule today. If you hurry, you can probably squeeze it into the thirty minute window between school and work, right?

If you say a few quick words and burn some incense before you head out the door in the morning, that totally counts as a spell, right?

Not so much. Rushed, lazy, and/or half-assed spells rarely, if ever, work. Spells revolve around the raising and direction of energy, and that requires two things: a clear intention (see above) and intense focus on that intention. If you don’t have the time/energy/mental capacity to focus, it’s best to take a break, have a self care day, and come back to your spell some other time.

5. You’re subconsciously blocking your own results OR you did a spell for someone else who isn’t open to it

I decided to lump these two together, because they’re different variations of the same issue.

Whenever you are doing magic on yourself, it’s important that your mindset is aligned with your intentions. You can do love spells all day long, but if deep down you don’t believe that you’re worthy of love, that belief is going to block your spells from working. This is why mindfulness, psychology, and self care are all such important parts of a successful witchcraft practice. It’s also why I recommend doing the mental work before you sit down to ritual.

If you did a spell on yourself, or are trying to manifest something for yourself, and it just isn’t working, I highly recommend setting some time aside for journaling and meditation and asking yourself 1.) if this is really what you want, and 2.) if you truly believe that you can have it.

The whole mindset thing gets even more tricky when you’re doing magic on behalf of another person, because their energy is also at work in the situation and could be at odds with yours. For example, if you do a spell to help a friend land a job, but that friend believes that they’re totally underqualified and could never get it, they probably won’t get the job even if you did everything “right” in your spell.

This should go without saying, but it is extremely unethical to use magic to mess around in someone else’s head. Even if you think you know what’s best for them, they need to be open to it. If someone is blocking the spells you do on their behalf, all you can do is try to be supportive and find other ways to help them out.

Other (Rare) Reasons for Failed Spells

If a spell goes wrong, it will almost always be for one of the above reasons. But maybe you did everything “right” – you did the mental work first, had a strong, realistic intention, put lots of focus into your spell, and followed through in real life – and you still aren’t seeing results. There are a couple of other things that could be blocking your spells, but they’re very uncommon so I’m not going to talk about them in as much detail. These may be things you want to look into if you really, genuinely can’t think of any other cause.

It’s possible that another witch has done magic that cancels out or blocks yours. This is not common, and it does NOT mean that someone has cursed you. It could be as simple as two witches unknowingly casting spells with opposite intentions, which end up cancelling each other out. (For example, maybe two different people both cast a spell to get the same job. Obviously, they can’t both get that job.) This is why it’s never a bad idea to incorporate a protective element into your spells to block outside interference.

There is a very, very remote possibility that someone has placed a curse on you specifically to block your magic. However – and I cannot stress this enough – this is VERY uncommon. If you were cursed you would know it, or at least know that something was very wrong in your life. If you feel like you have been cursed or hexed, I recommend looking into uncrossing spells, which are specifically designed to undo negative magic.

It’s also possible that a higher power is intervening. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a deity, although it certainly could be. Most witches believe in some form of fate or destiny, and it’s possible that your spell didn’t work because what you asked for is not in alignment with your destiny. In these situations, really the only thing you can do is surrender to the bigger picture.

Make sure to rest after you’ve done a bigger spell or after you’ve done a group of smaller spells. Witch craft can be emotionally and physically draining so it’s important to take care of yourself. Go eat a snack and watch some Netflix after you’ve worked hard!

MAGICK 101 - Cleansing

In a lot of my posts, I say to cleanse your body and your space. What does that mean? Why and how do you do it? Hopefully I can answer those questions and clear up some misconceptions about cleansing in magical practices.

What is Cleansing?

Cleansing is a process via which the charged energy, spellwork and/or spirits on or in something is removed. Banishment is a subset of these practices (or at least I consider it to be) that forcibly drive out spirits or negative influence attached to something or someone. Cleansing, in one form or another, is a part of basically every magical practice and culture.

Cleansing does not equal removal of negative energy. It’s cleaning out what there’s, positive or negative, to make something neutral again.

Cleansing is also not the same as physically cleaning a room, but it is an tool for improving the energy. I’d recommend cleaning a room (pick up things, sweep, clear off surfaces) at least mildly before performing a cleansing on it.

Why Should I Cleanse?

The same reason you should clean anything! For daily living, it can make you feel better and more at peace. For any work with spirits or energy (including spellwork) it’s important to not mix in energy remnants, like if you cooked with unwashed pans or on a dirty countertop. And, if you got something on you that could make you ill, you need to cleanse it off!

Cleansing yourself, as in your body, before spellwork is also important to get spirits and deities to listen to you and do what you say. Especially powerful spirits. (many practices phrase this in terms of purity, but I find it helpful to also think of it like asking someone for help when you haven’t showered or brushed your teeth recently)

When Should I Cleanse?

As with cleaning anything, there are multiple degrees of intensity of cleansing. Here, I’m using “light cleansing” to mean performing something short and not requiring much preparation, while a “heavy cleansing” may take an hour or more, be done over several days, required specialized ingredients, etc.

When to do a light cleansing:

When you first buy a tool for magic or divination

Before and after spellwork (especially your tools**)

Before meditation or energywork

During a negative or unlucky day (but watch for signs of this negativity being a curse)

After being somewhere with a negative spiritual presence

After being around disease and decay

After being in a crowded area/on public transport*

After sex or masturbation*

After working with or being around the dead*

* In some cultures these acts are considered unclean but they don’t necessarily expose you to negative energy. It comes down to the beliefs of your culture and those of the spirits/deities you work with.

** Unless these tools are meant to collect energy! For example, you might have one jar that you always and only use for favor spells for yourself.

When to do a heavy cleansing:

Before performing an elaborate ritual or spell

After performing unprotected spellwork

When you and/or the people, plants, and animals around you are frequently falling ill or experiencing other unwellness (this is a clear sign of a curse or negative spirit attached to you)

During certain times of year and/or along with certain cultural ceremonies

Some Methods of Cleansing

This is not an exhaustive list! These are just some cross-cultural cleansing methods I’ve seen. Furthermore, all methods below can include (and are augmented by!) a chant, prayer, or some other form of words that correspond to the cleansing.

Salt

Put it in salt, put salt over it, throw salt around, etc. and leave it for a bit. Anime fans and Graeco-Egyptian sorcerers alike can tell you salt is cleansing. However, be mindful of not throwing a lot of salt around outside, where it can harm the environment, and ensure that whatever you’re putting in salt will not be damaged by the salt.

Washing

Of course, a natural way to cleanse something is washing it! This includes bathing to cleanse your body. Typically, the water is augmented with salt, herbs, or a prayer during washing so that it washes away spiritual dirt instead of physical dirt. Personally, I use salt water to wash just about everything. Again make sure the object/surface will not be damaged by water or whatever you’re adding to it. If you are bathing, ensure that nothing you add to the tub is unsafe for the skin or will cause an allergic reaction. Also would recommend avoiding salt baths if you have open wounds.

If you’re washing your magical tools that got stuff on them like ash, wax, etc. I’d recommend first doing a cleansing wash to get off the energy, then washing with soap and water to get off the substance. 

Flinging or Spraying Salt Water

Basically the above but for clearing the air. Again, some people use herbed water or magically-charged water instead of salt water.

I’ve seen some hate in the traditional magic community for spray bottle cleansing, but, as someone who usually cleanses a space by dipping my hand in salt water and then shaking it around, I see no reason why pouring it into a spray bottle will make it less effective.

Incense and Smoke

Lighting some incense or herbs and cleansing with the smoke is a good way to cleanse rooms, objects, and people. However, whatever you’re using must burn clean. You should not be getting a black, ashy residue on what you’re cleansing. If you are trying to drive away negative things, I’d recommend using a foul-smelling, instead of sweet-smelling, incense. The negative scent, while not pleasant, drives things away instead of attracting them. 

Safety-wise, remember fire safety and ensure that everything you’re burning is safe to inhale.

Using Ringing or Chiming Instruments

A bell is the easiest instrument to find for this. To clear a space, loudly make the ringing or chiming noise, usually while walking around it. Some people perform the ringing an auspicious number of times.

Drawing the Energy or Spirit Into Another Object

In banishments, this usually includes subsequent destruction of the object, like burning or smashing the object. If you plan to use this for a banishment, find a specific, reliable practice to perform. If you’re doing this for something more minor, like getting rid of your negative emotions, then it’s less risky to do something you make up on the spot.

This can also be performed without destruction of an object via channeling it into an energy sink. I’ve found that entirely black stones like black onyx make good energy sinks. However, remember that energy sinks aren’t literally black holes for energy and can get “full”. You will need to cleanse/ground the object occasionally, especially if you are trying to draw a lot of charge into it.

Prayer or Spellwork

Some prayers or spells are specifically used for cleansing, either by design or by cultural tradition. Of course, please be respectful of which culture a practice comes from and do not appropriate other cultures.

Cleansing Misconceptions

Sunlight, moonlight, and sun/moon water isn’t “naturally” cleansing. I see so many things telling people to cleanse (usually) crystals with one of these. If you are using the light of the sun or moon in cleansing, you are asking spirits of the celestial body to drive out the energy. This goes for charging too! It may be functionally the same to assume that moonlight has inherent magical properties but there are risks with trying to get a spirit to do something for you without payment.

Cleansing is not smudging. You’ve probably seen posts about this before, but if you haven’t, here’s one.

Channeling positive energy into an object isn’t cleansing it. As stated in the first section, cleansing is about the removal of energy and “resetting” things. Unlike acids and bases in chemistry, things can’t be neutralized by adding more of the opposite. You can make a room with negative energy feel better by adding positive energy, but this isn’t the same as cleaning it out.

Cleansing a space, driving out a spirit, etc. cannot be done with just visualization. You can regulate your own energy with visualization and send out positive energy into the space around you but, again, this isn’t cleansing.

You don’t need to cleanse your tarot deck often. Tarot decks are kind of like cast iron skillets: they pick up “seasoning” from use. However, this is usually a good thing! By getting more energy into a deck, it’ll give richer readings. It’s often necessary to spend a bit of time “breaking in” a deck through use. If you’re having trouble getting helpful answers from your deck, first try to center yourself, step away from your cards for a bit, and then come back to them when your energy is more stable. If that doesn’t work, then try cleansing the deck.

Do. Not. Cleanse. Or. Unenchant. With. Your. Mouth. I’ve seen more than one post saying to kiss objects to unenchant them. If you do that, you might also try licking your shoes clean sometime… Swallowing spirits during banishment isn’t entirely unheard of, but this is followed by some means of spitting them out or “disgesting” them so they become neutralized. It should only be done by a trained person.