Candle Magic Beyond Colors

A lot of people talk about color correspondences with candles, but a candle's potential in magic runs way deeper than that! Here's a list of things I don't see people mention as much:

Loading a Candle

Carve out a small hole in the bottom of the candle and stuff it with herbs, a name, whatever else you want to "fill" the candle with.

Carvings

Etch sigils, symbols, names, and other things into the candle before burning! (I like the idea of writing my problems/worries onto the candle then watching as they burn and melt away.)

Dressing a Candle

Much like loading a candle, mix your herbs in an oil or have a pre-made magical oil ready to cover your candle in before lighting.

Reversals

Chop off the top of the candle, flip it upside down, and carve a new wick out of the bottom (now top.) This is a good way to inverse its symbolism!

Shape of Candle/Container

Not all candles are little cylenders. Candles shaped like pyramids, spheres, hearts, skulls, or animals can all have those correspondences taken into account as well.

Life of the Flame

Some candles are meant to only burn for a short period of time then be blown out. (Like birthday candles.) Others are meant to burn continuously over multiple days (like yahrzeit candles or seven-day candles.) Others can be lit or extinguished as you please. Which one makes the most sense for your goals?

Burning or Beacon?

A candle flame is a light in the darkness, drawing things near. It's also literal fire which can burn away whatever it touches. Which one is your candle trying to do, burn out something undesired or serve as a beacon for what you DO desire? Plan accordingly.

Read the Wax

Always a classic, you can read the shapes made from the wax once the spell is complete to get a gage of how things went/are going. Followup information is always good and can tell you a lot!!

Greek vs. Egyptian Names of the Netjer

Something slightly surprising you'll find is that the most common names of the Netjer you see in Kemetic circles (Osiris, Anubis, Isis, Thoth, etc.) are NOT their Egyptian names. They are, in fact, the Greekification of their original names. The reason this happened is because Greece and Egypt were quite close in terms of politics and geography. So much so that syncretism, the combination of multiple deities between the two, is quite a big topic.

But today's topic isn't on syncretism. Rather, we're here to talk about what the original names of the Egyptian deities are, and the exact meanings. Today, I'll be covering the more well-known deities whose Egyptian and Greek names are widely different.

Anubis

Perhaps the most well-known of the Netjer after Ra. Anubis is the jackal-headed god of death, mummification, the afterlife, cemeteries, and tombs. His Greek name is Anubis, although his Egyptian name is written as Inpu or Anpu, which means "to decay".

Horus

Another well-known Netjer, Horus is the god of the sky and kingship. Depicted with a falcon head, Horus is often syncretized with Apollo of the Greek myth. Horus's Egyptian name is written as Heru, which means "falcon", "the distant one", or "he who is above".

Isis

Despite being a beautiful name, the name of Isis has very negative connotations in the 21st century. Isis is the wife of Osiris, king of the underworld. Her Egyptian name is often written as Aset, the meanings of which are somewhat ambiguous, but is often said to mean "throne".

Thoth

The ibis-headed god of wisdom, the moon, writing, science, magic, and art. His Egyptian name is spelled multiple different ways, including but not limited to Djehuty, Jehuti, Zehuti, and Tehuti. Despite these spellings, the meaning of the name stays the same: "he who is like an ibis".

Osiris

The god of the dead and the underworld. Osiris's Egyptian name is Wasir, and it means "the mighty one".

Set

The god with the head of an unknown animal, Set rules over chaos, but not in the same way as a/p/e/p. He also rules over deserts and storms. His Egyptian name is Sutekh, and the meaning of it is obscure.

Branches of Spirit work

Spirit work is a broaaad term and there’s been many disputes about it so I decided to organize a list. If there’s a specific branch of spirit work that isn’t on the list, please do message me and some info on it! or correct me if I got some parts wrong!

RELIGIOUS: Working with an entity or figure associated with a specific religion. This can include the worship of a deity depending on the person.  Some examples include the Abrahamic God, Joan of Arc, Greek Gods, etc. 

SPIRIT COMPANIONSHIP: Working with spirits bought from a companion store, usually binded to a vessel. Great for beginners because the vessels make it easier for the human companion to connect to their energy.  This is NOT slavery nor is the spirit forced into it. It’s all consent. 

ANIMAL: Works with animals, living or dead. This could be for reconnecting to a once living being, deep appreciation for all animals and/or animal deities. Some examples are dogs, cats, birds, wolves, etc. 

POP CULTURE: Works with living entities from a fictional realm coming from a book, movie, anime, etc. They are conversed as energy being put into the idea of them, creating their own realm and able to access. 

ARS GOETIA DEMONS: Where the whole, demon summoning archetype came from. Works one or more of the 72 demons from the grimoire, Lesser Key of Solomon. Some may or may not consider this “Hell”. 

ANGELS: Works or worships angelic spirits. They are often described with large feathery wings or halos. Often works underneath God(or similarly) but does not have to be Abrahamic or religiously tied. Examples are Shinigami(death angels), Fallen. 

VAMPIRES: Works with vampires, usually Psy or Sanguine. Psy vampires feed off the energy of humans to sustain life while Sanguine vampires are the ‘dracula’ archetype. They do not need blood but some offer raw meat as an offering but does feed off the human when eating meat. 

FAE: Works or communicates with faes (also fay, fae; from faery, faerie, “realm of the fays”). Fae is a type of mythical being or legendary creature in European folklore, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural. Usually known as an umbrella term that covers many species. 

DRAGONS: Works with dragons. Period. Usually known as a legendary creature,  typically scaled or fire-spewing; with serpentine, reptilian and avian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures. European and Chinese dragons are the most commonly known. 

ELF: Works with an elf or a community of elves. Elves are mythical creature of various origins that is usually regarded as a good being that helps to make trees and nature good. Described to a taller human with long, pointy ears. Also considered very beautiful creatures. 

ANCESTRAL: Works with spirits/those who have passed within their bloodline. Some may even work outside their bloodline with respect and permission from the ghost/human spirit. 

CULTURAL: Works with spirits within their own culture or tied to their religion. Example of cultural spirits are yokai, Japanese demons. 

HELL: Works with demons or spirits with relations to Hell. May or may not have relations to Goetia demons, depending on the individual spirit. Spirits may include hellhounds, lowborn demons, hellcats, etc.

DEATH: Works with the dead aka ghosts, those who have passed recently or awhile ago, helps the dead move on/guide them to dead. Also called a psychopomp. 

MEDIUMSHIP: While they do work with ghosts, they have more purposes than helping the dead move on. Some functions include relying a message to the living, helping reconnect loose ends, etc. Thank you to @pathlesspagan! 

GUIDES/GUARDIANS: Works with their guardians/guides in this life. This may be a guardian angel, a spirit that has been with them for a long period of time or someone they trust to protect them or to guide them through a path.

ELEMENTAL: Works with spirits of the 4 elements: Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. It does not limit to those four but can also extend to celestial, storm, void, corruption, poison, etc elements. 

SUN: Works with spirits that works, worships, receives and/or contains energy from the sun. 

MOON:  Works with spirits that works, worships, receives and/or contains energy from the moon.

SHIFTERS/WERE: Works with spirits who have more than one form such as their ‘human’ form and ‘animal’ form but does not limit to those two and can have more than two forms. Examples include werewolf, werecat, werebird, kitsune.

Updated: 06/09/2016

irish mythology | gods & goddesses | the morrigan

⚕️💊🧠💪 🏥😷🌿🏛️

May Asclepius, Apollo and Hygeia Bless you with good health today

Where do you see the gods?

Aphrodite: The love songs that run through your head, pretty people smiling at you, all the I love you’s, learning to care for yourself, dismissing the people who put you down.

Apollo: Laying in the sun shining through your windows, happy and loud music, fast conversations, caring for others, seeing yourself recover, the feeling of your heart glowing when someone compliments you.

Ares: Protests, angry youth marching through the streets fighting for what’s right, the feeling of pure fire in your soul when you see something unjust.

Artemis: Misty days, deep dialogues with strangers, lying on the ground staring at the stars, girls protecting girls, being enough for yourself.

Athena: Peacemaking, calming arguments with a firm tone, teaching young children how to be better people than the last generation.

Demeter: Laying in the grass, the feeling of wanting to run off and start a farm so you can live off the land, watching the bees bumble around the flowers.

Dionysus: Partying with friends, the feeling that thrums through your veins when you’re at a concert, being yourself even when others detest you.

Hephaistos: He Creating something with your own hands, campfires, strength, and warmth of true family.

Hera: Stonefaced, the feeling of power when you see your plan go perfectly, silver hair, confidence filling your body, debating on something you are right about.

Hermes: Traveling with friends and family, the urge to run away and explore the world, collecting mementos from everywhere you go, meeting new people, laughing so hard you can’t breathe.

Hestia: Fighting for the ones you love, baking fresh bread, the feeling of dried dirt on your skin, overgrown gardens, hugging your mother.

Hades: Seeing crows in the trees and understanding that they comprehend so much more than you know, meeting a new child, waving at babies everywhere you go, the feeling of clarity when someone passes away after a long and content life.

Devotional Acts Don’t Have to be High Maintenance

Many gods will be perfectly pleased with easier, less high maintenance forms of devotion. The gods I worship are, for the most part, more focused on the intent behind the offering than the offering itself. This is especially good for disabled or mentally ill patrons who might not be able to do every sort of devotional act. Some low-energy devotional acts:

Low Key Offerings

The gang’s all here.

Inspired by the statue “apollo crowning himself”

Another moodboard for Apollo ☀️🎼

I spend much of my time reassuring baby Hellenic Pagans about this:

Our gods are not wrathful. They will not be angered by small mistakes. You poured a libation wrong? Or didn’t do a ritual you intended because life got in the way? They aren’t angry with you. They will not punish you. 

They aren’t with you in order to take from you. They give to us unconditionally, and in return we give thanks because we are thankful. Not because we are afraid.

In my own experience, the gods will not be angered unless you act in a purposeful malicious or disrespectful way. You would really need to do something terrible for them to be angry with you.

We are human. We make mistakes. All you can do is have good intentions, and to continue learning. They love you for trying, even when you don’t do so perfectly. Try your best. Treat yourself and others with love, and you’re all set. 

❝I will remember, nor could I forget, far-shooting Apollo,

whom gods tremble before as in Zeus’s abode he is striding—❞

— Homeric Hymn to Apollo (translated by R. Merrill)

Apollo, god of knowledge

Burgtheater, Vienna

Dionysus is the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness, fertility, theatre and religious ecstasy in Greek mythology. Alcohol, especially wine, played an important role in Greek culture with Dionysus being an important reason for this life style. His origins are uncertain, and his cults took many forms; some are described by ancient sources as Thracian, others as Greek. In some cults, he arrives from the east, as an Asiatic foreigner; in others, from Ethiopia in the South. He is a god of epiphany, “the god that comes”, and his “foreignness” as an arriving outsider-god may be inherent and essential to his cults. He is a major, popular figure of Greek mythology and religion, and is included in some lists of the twelve Olympians. Dionysus was the last god to be accepted into Mt. Olympus. He was the youngest and the only one to have a mortal mother.His festivals were the driving force behind the development of Greek theatre. He is an example of dying god.

athena ◆ goddness of war and wisdom

Periods suck. Witchcraft helps.

Spells:

Sigils:

Teas: 

(Please research herbs before using them, not all the posts are very informative about all the effects herbs may have! ESPECIALLY if you’re on meds.)

Other:

Mundane tips:

I’d like to request that you keep gender out of any comments that you make on this. People of various gender identities get periods (or don’t), lets be inclusive here!

THIS

The moon, by Jack Mord.

Spotted Deer ❄️ Ajith Everester