Author: A Solitary Pagan

Pottery was invented by women, and pottery remained a feminine craft among virtually all culturally unadvanced early peoples. One of the hallmarks of “advanced” culture was the forced transference of this women’s art to men. Throughout the world, pots have been used for magical purposes. In Panama, a pot shaped like a human being was placed on the roof of a house for protection. In West Africa, sh...

Visualization is the most advanced magical technique necessary for the successful practice of food magic. Food magic consists of choosing foods, cooking or preparing them with a purpose, and eating them. Since we all have to eat to survive, why shouldn’t we make our meals more than nourishment rituals? It’s obvious that the energies involved in magic aren’t supernatural. On the contrary, they’re t...

The practice of folk magic utilizes a variety of tools to empower simple rituals. These tools include visualization, candles, colours, words, affirmations, herbs, essential oils, stones, and metals. Other tools, fashioned by our hands, are also used, but these are merely power-directors. They contain little energy save that which is provided by the magician. Another magical tool is at our disposal...

(Curcurbita spp.) Planet: Moon Element: Earth Energies: Healing, money Lore: According to early American lore, if half a pumpkin is left exposed in the kitchen, negative energies will arrive to spoil the cooking. The pumpkins carved with faces and lit with candles on the last night of October in the United States are related to the similarly prepared turnips carried by children in the U.K. They ar...

It seems that on every part of the globe where humans have lived, there has developed a body of herbal knowledge, something which has led to a special relationship developing between herbs and people. The foundation for this relationship is the fact that apart from herbs being acknowledged for their nutritional value, there has been a longstanding recognition that they also possess a variety of cu...

All you need for this spell is a selection of herbal oils to add to your bathwater. You only need a few drops each of:• Grapefruit oil• Lemon oil• Sage oil• Basil oil Run a deep bath for yourself, and add 4 to 5 drops of each oil into the water. Giveit a swirl with your hands to mix, and get in. Have a nice soak, and enjoy thefragrance of the bath. Then concentrate on the changes you want in your ...

Most traditional spellwork and ritual form a mental vehicleto help you communicate your desires to the universe. Suchpractices keep the mind busy and centered in a positive place,freeing you to fully accept that which you desire. Spells andrites of worship encourage you to connect with the source ofthe universe smoothly, without interruption. They require a timeand place for you to specifically pl...

Hygge is a Danish concept that underlines theimportance of focusing on the enjoyment of themoment. It’s about being present and allowing yourselfthe time and space to acknowledge a feeling or what’shappening at the present moment. Hygge came about as a result of Danes needing away to cope emotionally and spiritually with long, cold,dark winters. It celebrates small things that make lifeworthwhile,...

A protection against witches, demons, vampires,the evil eye and other dark supernatural forces, and aningredient in folk healing remedies. Garlands of garlic worn around the neck or hung in a house are said to ward off evil spirits, creatures and spells. In Mexico, the ajo macho is a huge garlic, sometimes as big as a baseball, used exclusively as an amulet against evil in general, but not against...

Runes are not just for divination, there are many other ways to put them to use. There are necklaces, bracelets, and earings that have a rune on them. Most occult stores carry them in stock, or you can easily find them online. For example.. Looking for a job? Wear/carry the fehu rune while putting out apps and doing interviews.Candles can easily be carved with a rune, or you can buy one already ca...

More than the broom, or even the stang, the cauldron is the classic witches’ tool. In classical Greece we find stories of the witch Medea who brewed the elixir of life and death in her cauldron. Across Europe among the Celtic peoples are tales of Cerridwen whose potion of Awen was simmered in her own cauldron for a year and a day, and Bran, whose cauldron would regenerate fallen heroes. The cauldr...