By putting certain things underneath your pillow, you will allow those metaphysical properties to interact with your dreams, and your person all throughout the night, when you sleep upon that pillow. Here is a small list of constructs you can put underneath your pillow, that will provide to you certain energies, minds states, and physical stimulus throughout the night based on what they are:
Lapis lazuli under your pillow for awareness of your dreams, and vividness of those dreams.
Clear quartz under your pillow to wake up with more energy, after you awake from your sleep.
Bayleaf under your pillow in order to have more prophetic dreams.
Chamomile under your pillow in order to promote relaxation, and good dreams.
Rose petals under your pillow in order to bring love into your waking life.
Peppermint under your pillow in order to promote relaxation, and vivid dreams.
Lavender under your pillow in order to promote calm, and in order for you to sleep well.
Anise under your pillow in order to prevent nightmares.
Rosemary under your pillow in order to prevent nightmares, and to bring deep sleep.
Garlic under your pillow in order to promote sleep well.
You can put a blade of grass, or a leaf underneath your pillow to promote growth, and change in your waking life.
Money under your pillow for wealth, and prosperity in your waking life.
You can put a picture of someone underneath your pillow in order to connect with them better.
You can put the name of someone underneath your pillow in order to connect with them better.
You can put all manner of sigil underneath your pillow in order to get the effect of that Sigil into your dreams, and waking life.
The sabbats are holidays celebrated throughout the year on solstices, equinoxes, and the midpoints between them. These sabbats form the Wheel of the year.
There is a controversy surrounding the dates of these holidays, as people celebrate them all over the earth, not only in the northen hemisphere but in the southern too.
One viewpoint is that the Sabbats should be celebrated as they were originally created to be… in other words, Samhain is October 31st, regardless of where you live. In the Southern Hemisphere, even though you are just gearing up to summer on October 31st, this perspective says that you celebrate the cleansing and releasing, the honouring of the dead just as you would if you lived in the Northern Hemisphere. The other viewpoint (the one I personally agree with) is that you should celebrate when you feel like the season corresponds with the holiday, in other words, your craft, your rules. So if you live in the southern hemisphere, you have the choice.
I’ll be writing the dates for each holiday starting with the northen hemisphere and then the dates that many people celebrate them in the southern hemisphere
🌲𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐄
{December 21st//June 21st}
Yule focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes its way back to the earth. It’s all about new beginnings, reflection and embracing warmth. Much like Christmas, many celebrate with a feast, gift giving, being cosy and appreciating the good.
↟Stones: citrine, ruby, garnet, alexandrite, green tourmaline.
↟Activities: decorate your altar with incense associated with Yule, burn ash wood for prosperity, bake using Yule flavours like ginger or cinnamon, make wreathes to hang around the house, spend time with loved ones.
🕯️𝐈𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐂
{February 1st//August 1st}
Imbolc focuses on celebrating the nature that is preparing to grow and renewal, also known as “candlemas” and the “Feast of Pan”.
↟Nature: basil, blackberry, heather, celandine, iris, wisteria, vanilla, bay, yellow and white flowers.
↟Foods//flavours: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, peppers, onions, spices, and herbal teas.
↟Foods//flavours: olives, maple syrup, honey, edible flowers, chocolate, pine nuts, nettle or lavender tea, local fruits and vegetables.
↟Stones: amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone.
↟Activities: gardening and planting seeds, bake breads with olives or honey for example, start new projects, talk to plants, do some painting, decorate with wildflowers.
🌰𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐄
{May 1st//November 1st}
Beltane focuses on fertility, love and abundance. Also known as “may day”, on this sabbat many celebrate with dancing, bonfires and many high energy activities, including enjoying themselves sexually with a partner or even conceiving children.
↟Activities: dance, decorate with florals and symbols of the sea, go to the beach, go hiking, have a bonfire, feast on fruits, vegetables and grains, laugh and let your hair down. And if you’re trying to conceive or simply would like to have sex, Beltane is a wonderful time to do so.
🦋𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐀
{June 21st//December 21st}
Litha focuses on growth and celebrating the longest day of the year and the sun, before the shorter days begin.
↟Activities: make or buy a sun catcher, surround yourself with warm tones, watch the sunrise and sunset, make sun water, spend time outdoors, make use of herbs.
🌾𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐒//𝐋𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐇
{August 2nd//February 2nd}
Lammas, or lughnasadh focuses on celebrating the first of the three harvesting sabbats and taking time to really feel the positivity in different aspects of life.
It’s been a while since I’ve made a post. I’m going to address one of the most frequently asked questions I receive: How do I give offerings? For some reason, many beginner books don’t dive into the specifics of this religious practice which many are unfamiliar with. Hopefully this will help.
General Rules:
Offerings are given as thank-yous, as little gifts to say that you appreciate the deity’s existence. They don’t have to be expensive, but they should be special in your eyes. For example, I often offer donuts or wine simply because I don’t buy those two things often.
Offerings should be appropriate for the deity you’re giving them to.
You’re allowed to get creative with offerings–in fact, the Gods even prefer that you do!
How often you give offerings in accordance to your practice is up to you.
You may give apology offerings for any offense you think you may have made.
Prayers, songs, playlists, and there intangible gifts still count as offerings.
You do not need an altar to give offerings. You can give offerings anywhere, at anytime.
Simply saying “This is for you” makes the object an offering.
Food Offerings:
Most food offerings are eaten after being offered. The main exceptions are Greek chthonic deities, and ancestors, in which case you do not eat the offerings. Research your specific pantheon to make sure if eating is appropriate or not.
There is no set amount of time to leave out food offerings. In fact, many worshippers will eat said offerings right after they offer them.
If you do not eat food offerings, you may throw them away, saying something like, “Though I discard these physical offerings, the spiritual offering remains”.
You may also bury the offerings. Make sure that the offerings will not harm the surrounding environment or animals. Do not bury them in a jar or plastic bag.
If you offer herbs, you may either burn them using a charcoal block or cauldron, or you may throw them out/bury them. While burning is certainly traditional in many pantheons, do not feel the need to if you will be bothered by the potent smoke or handling fire.
Liquid Offerings:
Liquid offerings are handled in the same way food offerings are, with the exception of oils.
You do not have to drink oils after offering them. (Drinking straight olive oil is pretty gross, and please DO NOT drink harmful essential oils!) I recommend pouring them into the ground outside, or into the trash can.
You may pour liquid offerings into the offering bowl, or, you may keep the liquid offering in a cup. I have a special teacup that I often use for offerings such as tea, but any regular teacup will do. After all, you are offering the liquid, not the cup.
Incense and Candle Offerings:
According to tradition, these offerings must be left to burn out on their own. I recommend lighting small tea light candles for these offerings, as big candles burn for a long time. However, some modern Pagans may blow, rinse, or snuff them out early to prevent a fire hazard.
Make sure to be present while the offering is lit, and make sure nothing catches on fire.
If you are bothered by incense smoke, using an essential oil diffuser or unscented candle works fine.
Although many Pagans recommend incense as a general offering, you do not have to offer it, or any candles, if they bother you.
Plant Offerings:
If you offer a plucked flower, you may leave it on an altar or table until it withers. Afterwards you may throw it away. Basically, you handle it as any other friend would had you given them a plucked flower.
If you offer a growing or potted plant, tend to it as you would your other plants. If it dies, that’s okay. Simply discard it as you would normally. The Gods understand that plants die, and They appreciate the beauty of plants while they last.
Other Offerings:
For objects such as stones, shells, or family heirlooms, keep them on the altar or somewhere else special. Ideally, you will not need to throw these away. If they get damaged somehow, and if you cannot repair them, you may throw them out, but give an apology offering and try to replace them.
For artworks or crafts, place them on the altar or hang them somewhere. Don’t sell your offerings; they are gifts you gave to the Gods and not yours to sell.
For songs, play or sing them anytime you’d like to connect or give something to your deity.
For writings, you may keep them, or some people might burn them to “send” to their Gods. Whichever way is up to you.
For e-shrines or other technological offerings, keep them saved in their own folder, keep them nice and up-to-date.
For magical tools, such as grimoires or wands that you dedicate, feel free to use them as normal. Just take care of them, and remember to thank the deity you devoted them to once in a while.
For daily or private actions, such as cleaning, giving to others, etc., simply think “This is for you” or send your energy to the God, and finish the action.
You may say prayers out loud, write them down, or simply think them in your mind. All are perfectly legitimate.
I hope I got all of this. Feel free to reblog or message with corrections, since I know I don’t know everything about every pantheon. Have a beautiful day, and have fun worshipping!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
🃏 Find The Empress in your deck. The card behind her will reveal what you need to do to nurture and care for yourself.
🃏 When in conflict or competition with someone, look for 5 of Wands. The card behind it will reveal the solution to the problem.
🃏 If you see the same card over and over again in readings, it is a sign and you must pay attention to its message for you.
🃏 For a better understanding of each card, observe it closely and form your own interpretation that follows its themes. It will help you interpret readings better.
🃏 To find out what is making you feel stuck or delayed, look to The Hanged Man. The card underneath him will show what is holding you back. The card in front of him will show you how to overcome it.
🃏 When shuffling your cards, if any card drops out of your grasp, take it as a sign and read the card.
🃏 You do not need crystals with you to do proper readings, but a good way to cleanse your deck is to place a clear quartz on the top of your deck before each reading. Keep in mind; there’s a variety of ways you can cleanse your deck.
🃏 Often when The High Priestess appears in a reading, she is trying to tell you that you know the answers and that you should listen to your inner voice.
🃏 There is no wrong way to shuffle or cleanse your deck. Do what feels right for you!
This is no where near all the ways you can
charge things so feel free to add to the list or send me other methods. I
intend to go back and add to it occasionally.
Edited 12/10/16
Fire
Draw it on paper (or something safe to burn) and burn it
Draw it on a firework and set it off
Carve it into a candle, light it, and let the sigil melt away
Place it close to a flame to absorb the light and heat
Air
Draw it on wind chimes and hang them up
Hang it up somewhere it can blow around in the breeze by a fan
Draw it on a balloon, blow the balloon up, and pop it
Draw it on a kite and fly it
Water
Draw it on something soluble and dissolve it in water
Draw it on a rock (or something non-soluble) and place it in running water
Draw it with something food safe on a tea bag and drink it (It’s more using a sigil to charge the tea, but whatever)
Draw it on yourself then take a shower and let it wash away
Draw it in chalk on the sidewalk to wash away in the rain
Earth
Draw it on something biodegradable and bury it
Transfer energy from previously charged crystals
Draw it in the dirt somewhere it will be worn away
Light
Place it in the sun or moonlight
Draw it with/in something that will disappear: lemon juice on paper, fog in a mirror, etc.
Paint it with glow in the dark paint, the light used to charge the paint and its own glow charges the sigil
Technology
Place it on/under a device that is plugged in and charging
Open the image on your computer and play a video game on top of it
Use
the sigil as your background or screensaver or just leave it up for a
while to be charged by the screen’s light and energy of the computer
Open the sigil in a paint or photo editing program, cut it to pieces, and delete them (like you would tear up a piece of paper)
Place the sigil on/near speakers and play music (match the music to the intent of the sigil)
Post the sigil on social media with the intent that it charge with every like/reblog/thumbs up/etc.
Personal Energy (Mental and Physical)
Direct your own personal energies into the sigil (How to)
Draw it on yourself or something you have on you as you exercise: dance, run, play sport, etc.
Have the sigil on/near you and focus on it as you have sex/masturbate and orgasm
Have the sigil on/near you and focus on it while experiencing pain
Have the sigil on/near you and focus on it while experiencing extreme emotion
Add a drop of blood to the sigil
Other
Sing or play an instrument to it
Place it in a music box, wind it up and let the music charge it
Draw it on paper and tear the paper up
Draw the sigil with food or carve it into food and eat it (bonus if it’s baked/cooked/etc.)
Draw it on the bottom of your shoes and walk around
Draw it on yourself with lotion or makeup and blend it in
chthonic worshipper culture is saying things like “You should meet Hades!″ to your new pagan friends and then realizing this sounds like you’ve just threatened to whack all of them
