Unusual Ingredients For Love Spells
I find myself getting tired of using the same ingredients for spells over and over. Of course, these staple items have been used so frequently by various people and traditions for a reason, sometimes I think it’s just fun and helpful to grow your practice by changing it up. So, here are some things I have used in works that aren’t typical in love magick.
1) Strawberry Leaves- I find these especially helpful in spells that are trying to attract NEW love to a person. Strawberries are associated with love, playfulness, and innocence and although you may be trying to cultivate a romantic/sexual relationship, the foundation of long-lasting relationships is friendship, which strawberry leaves are great for!
2) Kool-Aid- Yes, I actually mean Kool-Aid. In love spells flavors to be used could be cherry, strawberry, or even pink lemonade. Similar to strawberries Kool-AId is associated with innocence and childlike love. If you are interested in drawing a partner to you that is playful and able to laugh at themselves this could be a great thing to sprinkle onto your candles or put in your mojo/spell bags. It also could be used like I mentioned before to ground a relationship in friendship and childlike purity.
3) Cotton Candy- Need to sweeten someone up? Cotton candy will do it for you. Using this in a work could be as complex as melting it down and using the syrup for various bottle/jar spells, or even as simple as putting it on your tongue, letting it melt, and commanding someone to be sweet to you. This could be used for new love, rekindling love, or even just keeping someone around.
4) Maraschino Cherries- These things are super sweet so using the cherry or the syrup could be used to sweeten someone or something to be swayed in your favor. Cherries are also associated with sexual desire and could be used in spells associated with that.
5) Chili Peppers- Use this one with extreme caution. I would not personally advise anyone to use these when doing one for new love but they definitely could be used to speed something up, or spice up a relationship if things are getting dull.
A lesson for beginner practioners
So, before I begin, I’m not a beginner. I’ve been at this for years but I would like to show you guys something. I want to tell you a story about what it’s like being a “witch for hire.”
Now, I have a client. She’s not a bad woman, just a little ditzy but I really like her. She has supported me through my journey as a witch and I have no problem utilizing my gifts to help her completely. Well, she has problem with love. I had given her a few readings on two men but one in particular stood out. His reading was just dark, cards out here exposing him for being some evil ass demon of a man so I’m like welp. Wellll, she asked me to perform a love spell.
Before I continue, let it be known I hate love spells. I would never bash someone for performing them but as a natural lover, I think they just cause problems. However, I appreciate this client so I told her I would perform one for her. (Just because I don’t like doing them doesn’t mean I don’t do them for clients.)
So I went out and got the stuff and set it up and it just looked gorgeous. I’m talking about herbs smelling, candles glowing, energy right. Everything was good, right?
Well, one of the candles starts doing this:
I usually take this as a good sign. Flame is high which means the want is being sent out to the ancestors and they’re listening. So I go on about my business to allow the spell to let the magick flow.
Next thing I motherfucking know, the candle fucking combusts and the 7 day candle, that was pink, goes transparent and the flame goes out completely. The candle that combusts, breaks the plate it’s on and sets the desk on fire and then it’s over.
So im just sitting there looking like hell nah and I tell the client that the spell isn’t going to work because I may not have this kind of shit often but I do know that this is the result of some blockage and my ass, knowing how to Witch™️ properly tells her that I’m not going to do more. She asks me to and I’m like “yeet.”
Basically I want to tell you baby witches getting into your crafts that this is no joke. Doing spells for people is not a fucking game, it’s not cute, and it’s definitely not a guaranteed effect. Real shit happens and even things like this will leave you shaken and want to not do it anymore. You need to be in this for the long run, not for money because witches dabble with danger every single day. Practioners for hire do this every. Single. Day. And this shit is exhausting and sometimes scary and sometimes unpredictable.
@ my hoodoo practioners, stay safe and trust your ancestors because that, up there, was conjure. And if you can’t trust what your ancestors say to you (ie, combustion) then baby, this ain’t for you.
@ appropriators, you can’t handle all that up there so this is also a post reminding you to stay in your lane
@ baby witches wanting to do work for hire one day, learn protection spells first and always put your instincts first. No money is worth spiritual trauma.
Sour Jars
So I usually post works and spells that would generally be considered “light” and positive but it is worth noting that Hoodoo is definitely not always these things. So today I am posting how to perform a sour jar. This is 100% a curse friendly blog and I will not tolerate any curse shaming in the notes. There are a million reasons people may feel the need to curse and it is not my place to judge. This is a defensive and potent work and it will fuck someone up so make sure this is what you want. The only rule to cursing and my personal advice on it is to feel NO guilt and be absolutely certain you justify your own actions. From my perspective, the universe grants us what we ask for and the concept of “deserve” does not exist. There are plenty of truly vile pieces of shit who will never be punished for the things they do and have done. There are just as many wonderful and amazing people who suffer for no good reason. The world is an unfair place, and as witches, conjure wo/men, brujas, magicians, etc in some form we seek to make it a bit sweeter for ourselves, our clients, and those we love. Cursing sometimes is a part of that.
A little history:
Sour jars are used to literally sour someone’s life. Sour jars can be used on one single person but are also often used to sour and break up relationships be it romantic, familial, or otherwise. Sour jars are considered defensive magic and aim to make the targets life miserable, sour, and otherwise destroyed. In my experience, most sour jars I have come across have bases of vinegar (*four thieves, white, and apple cider, all depends on the preference of the person). The great thing about sour jars is that they are highly customizable and like most folk practices, cheap. All you actually need is a jar, vinegar of your choice, a petition with the targets name, and your intention. In place of a petition, some people opt to use dolls but that’s up to you. Of course, there are tons of other things you can put in sour jars that make them even more potent but it is your intention and energy that make your works manifest.
Things you can use
*some of these items I highly recommend using gloves to handle. Also, some of these are not for the faint of heart. Hoodoo uses animal products so please don’t come at me in the comments. I always recommend obtaining animal products ethically.*
- Hot peppers/Hot sauce- you can use whole chilis, chili flakes, Tapatio, literally anything spicy. You want this person to be burning and irritated. Spicy stuff adds great oomph to defensive works
- Urine- take this one as you are literally pissing all over this person’s life.
- Cat and Dog hair- This one would be specifically if you were making a jar to break up a couple because you want them to fight like cats and dogs.
- Nails- in Hoodoo coffin nails are often used in defensive work and you can get these from your local or online botanica or hoodoo shop. If you don’t have any way of getting coffin nails you can use regular ones. In the vinegar, they will rust and give more power to the jar.
- Spiders/Insects- These are often used in darker works for added negativity. You can imagine spiders and insects covering this persons life as it decomposes and falls apart.
- Mustard seeds-excellent for making couples or people fight and also causing fights and misunderstandings in the persons life.
- Poppy seeds-causes confusion and chaos in the mind of the target and can also cause nightmares.
- Sulfur- be extremely careful with sulfur and I always recommend using gloves when handling it. You only need a little bit as this stuff is POTENT. It will cause a bubbling reaction in the vinegar and this is why a lot of people use it. It makes it look like there is literally a fight in the jar. Sulfur is also just traditionally used in a lot of hoodoo defensive work like hot foot powder.
You can use 1, 2, or all of these. I have had a lot of personal success with many of these ingredients. When I am working my jars I work them for 7 or 9 days and burn candles on the top of the jar. I usually use black if it is a revenge or curse jar like I’ve described. I burn a candle each day and let them burn out. I also shake the jar every day to keep the energy moving. I also usually wrap my jars in aluminum foil so no light gets in. You want the targets life to be dark and despairing and for them to have to look at all the destruction with no way out in sight. After my 7 or 9 days, I discard the jar. This is traditionally done by leaving it in a river or a body of still water. I have in the past just thrown the jar in the trash because that’s what the person is to me: garbage. Some people interpret this as “throwing the magic away” and I get that but living in a city now nature is hard to come by and folk practice is about making things work for you so to each their own. While I am performing the spell I make sure to cleanse myself before and after with cleansing baths or showers. I also do a cleansing and protection work after the 7 or 9 days. Happy cursing!
I've noticed that you mentioned Wiccans a lot. My MC is a witch, and I wasn't really aware of other kinds of witches, even though I did thorough research. What other kinds of witches are there? Just fyi, she is a mostly-closet witch, and uses stones as connections to places. She mostly uses runecasting and entomomancy (especially beetles and spiders). What might she choose to align with, if anything?
There are, honestly, so many more choices than just Wicca. I’ll try to list several, but do not take this as an exhaustive list. I have added resources where I could, and please forgive the length…
Asatru
An Asatru witch follows a specific branch of Heathenry that worships the major Nordic pantheon.
Athiest/Laveyan Satanic (Secular Satanic)
This witch feels more that Satan is a concept or idea, not an actual entity.
Celtic
This witch uses the Celtic culture, including its’ mythology, deities, old ways, and language / symbols as a means of learning, internalizing, and performing magic.
Christian
A witch that honors and worships the Christian God through the practice of magic, usually alongside more traditional Christian worship.
Death/Necromancy
This witch utilizes magic through the bodies and spirits of the dead. This can include bones, blood, skin, and other pieces of the corporeal form left when the spirit leaves, as well as contact with the spirit that has left its physical form behind.
Druidism
Is a very old, and very complex set of religious and nature beliefs changing from region to region, and time to time.
Eclectic
A witch who respectfully uses parts of multiple practices, traditions, and paths.
Gaulish
This witch pays homage to the Gaulish Gods through the study, reconstruction, and practice of Gaulish tradition.
Heathenry
A witch who follows the ways of, works with, and/or worships the Norse deities.
Hellenic
A path by which the witch follows Greek traditions and honors the Greek pantheon.
Hereditary
This witch was born into a family of witches and so is likely to have practices, traditions, and/or paths that are not usually shared outside of their family practice.
Hoodoo
A complex interweaving of Western African traditions as well as a long history of utilizing Christianity. This is a fairly regional practice of the Southern United States, but can be found elsewhere.
Kemetic
This type of witch works with the Egyptian deities.
Lokean
A witch who works with and worships Loki and/or any of his relations (Hel, Jormugandr, Sigyn, Angrboda, etc). This witch may pay homage to other Nordic deities as well.
Odinism
A witch who works majorily, or exclusively, with Odin, Thor, Freyjr, Freyja, Frigga, and Heimdall.
Pop Culture
A pop culture witch uses lyrics or movie lines in spells, worships and/or honors pop culture icons and/or idols. Likely to utilize fandom in some way, it is a very new and wide practice. They could draw inspiration from Harry Potter, Vampire Diaries, Practical Magic, The Craft, Supernatural, or other, similar shows.
Regla de Ocha
A religion that was synthesized by West Africans who were taken and enslaved by the Spanish Empire who were then sent to work on the Caribbean Islands. It mixes West African tradition with worship of saints.
Science
This kind of witch synthesizes their craft from a mixture of empirical evidence/data and metaphysical leanings. It is highly individualized.
Secular
This type of witch doesn’t connect with any religious practices, traditions, or paths.
Solitary
A witch who practices alone, but follows a particular practice, tradition, path.
(Theistic) Satanic
A witch whose practice revolves around worshiping, honoring, or otherwise appealing to Satan.
Traditional
A witch who hunts for the “traditional” ways of magic. Likely to be found scouring through histories and stories looking for references to spellcraft, rituals, and traditions that have since been lost to time.
Voudon
An Afro-Caribbean form of worship that focuses on the loa, and spirits.
I hope this put some things in perspective as to just how large witchcraft is, and why I seem to harp about being frustrated that the majority of what I see is Wicca. It is prevalent and popular, not the only way to be a witch, and definitely not the only tradition.
To answer your question about your character, Some of these paths lend themselves more towards nature than others, but I’d suggest rather looking into a tradition/path, look at types of witchcraft instead. Your character most sounds like a variety of Green Witch, and/or Animal Witch.
-Bruxa Guerreira
Dirt
When hoodoo was created, most of the people using it did not have ready access to the best ingredients and often had to hide their practice. Consequently, a lot of what was used had to be things people could obtain. This is why hoodoo uses various roots, sticks, herbs, honey, sugar, and other household supplies readily available. There is no exception for dirt. Different kind of dirt is used for different kind of things but some examples include:
Dirt from the crossroads: used for many things including hexing/cursing, summoning certain spirits, opening roads, etc.
Dirt from a bank: Most commonly used in money work. I swear by bank dirt. It adds so much potency to money workings and every time I have used it I have gotten great results. Could also be used in works to get a loan, get approved for a house, relieve debt, etc.
Dirt from a church: This is usually used for works that have to do with cleansing, healing, or otherwise “holy” matters.
Graveyard dirt: A staple in hoodoo, used for many different things including curses, healing, ancestor work, goofer dust, hot foot powder, etc.
Some of these are examples of things that have been used traditionally and throughout hoodoo’s history. However, all types of folk magick utilize whatever you have.
I have in the past used dirt from a car dealership(to obtain a car), dirt from a red ant farm(defensive/hexing), dirt from a destroyed/abandoned building(defensive/hexing), and dirt from a specific apartment complex I wanted to live in. *not all of these are my ideas, but some of them are*
Folk Magick is and was about using whatever you have around you, and often whatever cost less. Do not ever feel like you can’t do effective, life changing magick with twigs and leaves. You can. Our ancestors did, you can too.
Being A Magical Practitioner: 1. Question everything you are told and read. 2. Hell even question this post. Only YOU can decide what is right and what works for you. 3. What may work for someone else may not work for you. What may work for you may not work for someone else. 4. Your practices are YOUR practices.
Support: 1. Ancestral veneration is so important. 2. Communicate with your ancestors daily. 3. They will help and guide you on your journey more than you will ever know. 4. You have several guardian angels and guardian spirits built into your existence, get to know them. 5. There is magic within you. Embrace your own power. 6. Mind your own magic. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. You don’t have to explain your practices to anyone else. Do you.
Tools: 1. White candles are fantastic for every single purpose. 2. You can print your own labels for glass candles and glue them on plain glass candles. You will save money this way in the long run. 3. You don’t need every single tool to start off with. 4. Water is life. Water keeps the flow of your magic, filters and is a conduit to you and spirit. Keep clear glasses of water in your home. Change them often. 5. Your altar space doesn’t need to be fancy. 6. You do not need expensive herbs. 7. Mirrors and Magnets are the best tools closest to crystals to magnify and amplify your magic. 8. The bible is a book full of spells and divination.
Herbs: 1. You can get most of the herbs you need from your local super market and dollar store. 2. Salt: Protection or cursing. Various Powdered Peppers: Protection and Cursing. Cinnamon: Money and Lust work. Basil: Money and Luck. Bay Leaves: Protection and Granted Wishes. Rosemary: Protection. Chamomile: Peaceful Home Workings. Cloves: Protection, Love, Control and Bindings. Eucalyptus: Cleansing. Thyme: Purification, Healing.
Floor Washes: 1. Do Floor Washes in odd numbers. One series to remove the negativity and one series to bring in good energy. 2. Curse Killer Floor Wash: Hot Water, Ammonia, Lemon, Salt (optional) Open Roads Floor Wash: Cold Water, Florida Water, Parsley, Mint Leaves, Coconut Water (Strained of pulp)
Various Cleansings: 1. Cigar or tobacco smoke is a great alternative to sage sticks. 2. You can cleanse yourself with an egg and a glass of water. 3. You can cleanse yourself with lemons, limes and oranges. 4. When cleansing your home make sure to open your windows and doors. 5. Start from the back of the home towards the front and then to various rooms to confuse the negative energy. 6. A can of beer and salt will cleanse your aura. 7. When you cleanse yourself, make sure to replace what you removed with good energy.
Powders: 1. You do not need to purchase branded powders from metaphysical shops. Money/luck powder: Bank dirt, Shredded currency and corn starch. Love/Passion powder: Rose petals, Cinnamon and corn starch. Open Roads powder: Dirt from four corners of a crossroads and corn starch. Add three dimes to bottom of container. Cursing Powder: Graveyard dirt from criminals grave, black pepper, red pepper, cayenne pepper. Protection Powder: Church Dirt, Psalm 91 passage from bible, Psalm 23 from the bible grinded into a powder. Oils: 1. Do not buy oils from the botanicas and metaphysical shops. Most are made with mineral oil, a synthetic fragrance and colorant. If you want that, Get yourself some baby oil, food coloring and scented fragrance oil of your choosing. I wouldn’t recommend it though. 2. Get yourself some Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Grapeseed oil and Vegetable oil at the supermarket along with some Vitamin E oil for preservative. You can make your own charged oils with herbs and a few glass bottles. 3. My favorite simple oils: Lust Oil: Sunflower oil base, Vitamin E, Cinnamon stick, red rose petals, and Vanilla Bean Money Oil: Grapeseed oil base, Vitamin E, Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, basil and thyme. Protection Oil: Olive Oil base, Vitamin E, Rosemary, Basil, Eucalyptus Life Force Oil: For when you need extra power in your magic. Olive oil base, 3 drops of blood. Blessing Oil: Olive Oil, Vitamin E and Psalm 91 torn from the bible.
Deities: 1. You do not have to have a deity in your practice. 2. You can practice secular magic. Secular magic is a practice that does not refer to, venerate and otherwise “work with” any deities (or, in some cases, any supernatural beings at all). This is perfectly okay. 3. If working with deity, never promise what you can’t provide. 4. Feed your spirits and deities. This can be with food, alcohol, energy, light, darkness, anything. 5. Know the spirits and deities you are working with. 6. Listen to your intuitive pulls when it concerns your deity. 7. No one can tell you the right or wrong way to worship and work with your deity BUT you should learn their mythos and their base wants, needs and what offends them. Misc Magic Info: 1. Your magic will not punish you because you can’t practice every single day. We are human, and sometimes life gets the best of us. It is okay. 2. Magic should never ever replace mental and physical health diagnosis and services from healthcare professionals. 3. “Black magic” is a racist term used to demonize the practices of people of color that are seen as “barbaric” or “uncivilized” to Europeans. Therefore “White magic” is considered good and “black magic” is considered bad. Energy is energy. Do not allow anyone to dictate your practice. That racist term is bullshit. Our melanin is magic. Our cultures and our roots are power. 4. You can purchase a Tarot deck from Amazon. You don’t need it gifted to you. 5. ALWAYS have a fire extinguisher in your home. 6. NEVER leave candles unattended in your home. 7. Coffee grounds speed up work. 8. Meditate. Leave the fuckery of the day at the end of the day. You will thank yourself in the long run. 9. Keep info to yourself. Not everyone needs to know what you are doing or all your secrets. 10. Do not bring your shoes into your home.
Source: melanatedconjure
I’ve had a lot of people message me/email me about what services I provide now so I made a page on my blog! but to reiterate it here:
I do cast spells for others (on a case by case basis, email me at hoodooyousee@gmail.com or message me here on tumblr to talk more about your specific situation) and I do tarot readings as well.
For a 1-3 card reading, it is $5-$10 depending on the complexity of your question. 3+ cards is always a $20 flat rate.
For Honey Jars, money or love, it is always $35 and these are taken case by case.
For spell writing or spell consultation, which is basically where I coach you using my expertise on what I think would be best to use and do, it is $15.
For me to write you an entire spell to perform on your own, including ingredient list, it is still $15.
To set lights on your behalf on my own altar is $10 each day, typically most works can be completed in 3’s so $30 for 3 days. These can be done for anything such as relationships, money, jobs, etc.
These are all the services I currently offer :)