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So you want to learn Tarot? Start here!

Want to learn Tarot? Start here for the best beginners tips.

Well, hello Coven,

We all love Tarot (well, unless you think it’s the work of the devil, in which case, hell yeah!) but I am often asked by those curious to learn – where should I start? My answer is very simple my darlings, like with all magic, the true power is in the action. So shorthand, the best way to learn tarot is to simply DO Tarot. By that I mean, get yourself a sweet deck of cards and begin to play…that’s how you begin to bond with your cards (more on that later) and get to learn each individual cards meaning.

Below are my top tips for helping you dip your toe into the World of Divination.

What is the best Tarot Deck for beginners?

The Tarot deck most non-witchy types will recognise is the Raider Waite Tarot deck. Now, this isn’t the oldest deck or even the original card designs…in fact, the actual illustrator Pamela Colman Smith doesn’t even feature in the title…but that’s a whole other blog post, my friends and her input into Tarot needs to be amplified to the max! If I was to recommend a starter deck, this would be it as it’s got the most resources related to it…plus, I think it looks cool. It’s also considered the Tarot standard deck.

My honest answer though? Whichever one you are drawn too. If you like the designs and feel connected to the deck, trust that gut instinct. The cards are representative of energies and life situations so whilst Raider Waite may be the most famous and widely used, any tarot deck can do the trick. Plus, as I have already alluded to, you will realise that each deck of cards has a personality. My favourite deck likes to troll me for example, even when reading for friends.

Do Tarot Cards have to be gifted to you?

This is a myth.

Tarot started out as a game and then developed this air of mystery…as all witches do, it’s kinda our thing, you know? So whilst you may have heard this myth, most professional Tarot readers will agree with me that no, if you are drawn to the cards don’t wait around to be gifted. Heed that call and learn more about that calling!

My first deck was brought by myself at 11 years old from the Mall. Ah, Madam Legna. I am to this day trying to find that deck again so we can be reunited. I’ve found it a few times but it’s super expensive so alas, I’ll patiently wait until the universe decides its the right time. Also, these were ‘fortune reading’ cards rather than official Tarot but, they led me to Tarot. We find our paths in different ways and that’s part of the fun!

Image courtesy of the lovely Judy from http://judyreadscards.blogspot.com/

What is the quickest way to learn Tarot?

Simple, learn about the tarot cards first! The easiest way to do this is when you get your first deck, put some time aside…. I’m talking candles, incense, music whatever makes you feel all cosy and connected so you can go through and look at each card and really get a feel for them. I’d also recommend that you keep a notebook and take notes from this very first engagement. Then do your smoke cleanse and various shuffles before you begin the next step which is to ‘pull’ a card a day.

Basically, every morning ask the deck to provide you with a card with a message for that day. This is a great way to learn the card meanings and also build an understanding of what those cards mean to you personally – as well as learn your own style of shuffling. Once you have been doing this for a few weeks or even sooner depending on how you feel, the fun can really start and you can attempt your first readings.

What is the best Tarot spread for beginners?

I, personally always recommend a four-card spread. So simple, so to the point and great for helping you hone your skills in seeing the patterns and how the cards can feed into each other.

My personal fave spread is:

The reason I like it is that it can answer most questions, if you want to delve a little deeper you can add other cards to the mix etc which I very rarely have to do. It’s certainly a very nice foundation to start practising readings.

Hopefully, I’ve managed to give you the confidence to get started and inspired you to start reading. Make sure to get in touch and let me know as I love hearing from you and you’re learnings.

Until Next Time,

Ems

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#SpookySeason: I BOOooo! Getting Hitched at a Haunted House? We’re in.

Say I Boooo at these top Haunted Wedding Venues – just remember to invite us!

If you’re anything like us here at Digital Coven then you will never, ever turn down the opportunity to let your spooky side out! So when we saw this recent survey by Hitched looking into the surge of popularity when it comes to Halloween wedddings, we weren’t suprised at all!

Even better, more people getting married are open to having it at a haunted house. Now, we’re delighted by this news as we’ve always loved haunted houses (and have even done an cleansing or two in our times, but those are blog posts for another day)

Survey insights:

More Brits (13%) are planning on getting married during the Halloween weekend in 2022 than they did in 2021, with more than 2,078 weddings planned around October 31st (Why weren’t we invited to these weddings, huh?)
Almost a quarter (24%) of those polled say they would get married in a haunted house or castle, with another 1-in-10 saying that it would “depend”
More than a third (36%) say that they would not avoid getting married on Halloween, with another third (34%) saying knowing a venue was haunted would not put them off
Brits are searching online for ‘haunted castles’ around 1,000 times across the UK every month on average

Top 8 Haunted Wedding Venues in the UK

Warwick Castle – Warwickshire – 110,000 Google searches per month

Who wouldn’t want to get married in one of the most famous castles in British history? But be warned; iconic Warwick Castle has more than a few skeletons in its closet. One of its many supernatural lodgers include Sir Fulke Greville, a tower resident allegedly murdered by his manservant, Eeeek!

Alnwick Castle – Northumberland – 49,500 Google searches per month

Alnwick Castle is a memorable wedding venue as it was also a set location for Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Nice! The castle is also rumoured to play host to a hunchback vampire who stalks the grounds and spreads disease in its wake – remember to bring a mask!

Wollaton Hall – Nottinghamshire – 46,819 Instagram tags

The incredible Grade I listed Elizabethan Wollaton Hall is a regular haunt for ghost hunters, eager to hear the murmuring voices in the corridors and catch a glimpse of the White Lady in Room 19.

Blickling Hall – Norfolk – 18,100 Google searches per month

This National Trust wedding venue stands on the site of a mediaeval manor rumoured to be the birthplace of the famous Anne Boleyn. No if you know one thing about Emma ta digital coven, it’sthe fact that she is a Anne Boleyn superfan! Hopefully you have better luck in your marriage than she did! Best to visit on 19th May, the anniversary of her execution and reportedly the best time to spot her headless ghost.

Pendennis Castle – Cornwall – 10,369 Instagram tags

Green fields, sea views and a historical venue part of the English Heritage group make Pendennis Castle a gorgeous wedding venue. It’s also home to some fabulous creepy activity via a host of ghostly sounds including children’s laughter, footsteps on the staircase, and the terrifying screams of former kitchen maid ‘Maud’.

Amberley Castle – West Sussex – 9,900 Google searches per month

Thrill-seeking couples should definitely consider saying their vows in the Grade I listed 12th century Amberley Castle. It boasts twelve acres of landscaped gardens, mediaeval stonework, and enough space for up to 250 guests; 251 if you include resident ghost Emily, a young girl said to be hanging around the Herstmonceux Room.

Lumley Castle – Durham – 9,900 Google searches per month

Believed to be the most haunted place in County Durham, this 14th century manor house is a seriously scary venue. The ghost of Lady Lily Lumley is a likely uninvited guest, along with the mischievous phantom Black Jack, who enjoys playing pranks on guests.There are even themed escape rooms that you can book and play on site. Lumley Castle itself is beautiful, so if you want a scenic wedding, go ahead and book it… if you dare.

Farnham Castle – Surrey – 7,963 Instagram tags

This picturesque wedding venue has more than one supernatural guest. Farnham Castle is said to be home to a spooky monk, phantom-like voices and ghostly children running across the upper balcony. If you’re lucky (or unlucky), you might even catch a glimpse of the shadowed figure which haunts the guardroom, and the young girl who lives on the staircase. I don’t about you but we’re booking our tickets already!

For the full list of the 13 most popular haunted wedding venues, Hitched has a full list over on their webiste : https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/haunted-wedding-venues/ Just make sure to invite us if you do plan a sppoky wedding!

Would you have a wedding at a hunted house or have you? If so let us know below as we’d love to hear all of the tea on how it went…I mean, talk about ghoul, I mean, cool!

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Until Next time!

Love

Emma

Featured image from hitched

Witchy Type Book Club Competition The Strange Inheritence of Leah Fern

Hello Coven,

To celebrate the launch of The Strange Inheritence of Leah Fern by Rita Zoey Chin we are hosting a competition over on our Instagram

The Competition Details are as follows:

Prize: 1 x copy of THE STRANGE INHERITANCE OF LEAH FERN

To enter:

Visit the post here, tag a witchy friend + follow @melvillehouse on either IG or Twitter

Winner will be announced on Halloween! (UK entrants only – sorry!)

We will also be publishing our review of the book and hosting our #WitchyType book club in two weeks to discuss all things Leah Fern. Can’t wait to chat about it with you all ❤

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Until next time, Stay dazzling!

Love, Ems

New Moon in Libra 2022

Bang in the middle of Mercury Retrograde and just after the seasonal shift of the seasons, we have a chance for new beginnings and transitions with the New Moon in Libra.

The faintest slither of a golden moon can be seen against a jack black sky — Image by JB from Pixabay

When is the New Moon in Libra?

The New Moon in Libra is on 25th September 2022 and will reach its peak at 10:55am BST.

What is the New Moon?

The New Moon marks the start of the Lunar cycle and is sometimes also knowns as the Dark Moon as during this point the moon isn’t visible to us, but she is still there.

What does the New Moon mean in Witchcraft?

The New Moon is a new chapter, a time for new beginnings and a time for intention setting.

What are the themes of the New Moon in Libra?

Libra is ruled by Venus (the planet of love, romance and relationships) so now’s the time we can review existing relationships or even aim for a new one. This particular moon will also be directly opposite Jupiter (planet of luck, fortune, favour and blessings) so there will be a spark in the air, almost as though the power of the moon and the changes around us have been magnified. It’s going to be fit.

Being Libra, we should also look at the areas of our life that need more balance, can something be lost or gained to help you through the rest of the year in more equilibrium.

What herbs are related to this moon

Rose will be your best friend right now because not only is rose associated with the moon but it’ll also work well with Libra and its ruler, Venus.

Elderberry (which is in season right now if some grows near you) and thyme from your garden or spice rack will also go down a treat.

What can I do during the New Moon?

Intention setting ceremony

As we reach the New Moon start your intention setting, write down what you desire as though you have already achieved it. Fold the paper three times towards you to welcome these things into your life. Burn the paper in a fire-safe place to release those intentions into the universe and be ready for the next steps in your moon work.
Ritual bath / Shower

A ritual bath or shower can help cleanse the body, mind and spirit from the cycle before. Set your vibe with incense and candles of your choice (I use rose incense and pink candles for this moon) and add the following either directly to your bath or into a fabric bag and tie it to the shower head if you don’t have a bath:

– Rose petals / Rose Essential oils to represent the Moon and Venus
– Salt (I use Pink salt but any kind you have is perfect) to ground yourself
– Lemon slices to cleanse and purify
– Thyme for courage to strive for your intention and to protect you during the cycle ahead

As you bathe, think on your intention and all you hope to achieve during the next cycle. As you wash, picture yourself washing away any hurt, pain or discomfort from the previous cycle, your past mistakes will literally go down the drain.

Use a sieve to collect the remaining ‘bits’, thank them for their help and dispose of them.
Moon tea latte

All you need is rose tea and milk of your choice… make the tea almost like an espresso so either steep in a small amount of water from the kettle for 5 mins OR boil in a saucepan. You can add sugar or Agave / Honey to your taste. Strain the water into a glass and top with heated milk (yes, it’ll be a pink latte). Stir three times with your intention for the cycle, seal this moment by tapping the rim of you cup three times with a spoon and relax with a tasty rose latte.
Shadow work

Use this moment to reflect on the past cycle or even the year so far and find moments you need to change, adapt or improve. Here are some prompts you can use:

– What is no longer bringing me joy?
– How can I open myself up to new relationships?
– Are they any relationships I can give more to?
– Are there any relationships I give too much to?
– In what ways have I grown over summer?
– How can I love myself more?
– In what ways can I start to rest more during autumn and winter?
– What was my previous intention and how did I do?

But, even if you just wanted to sit in a comfy cocoon and have an early night, that’s OK too. All practices are different so you don’t need to do all of the above if that’s not for you.

Have a happy New Moon in Libra ❤

What is The Autumn Equinox / Mabon

The wheel of the year continues to turn and it’s time for another feast day. The Autumn Equinox is here, to some practices, called Mabon (Mah-bon), after Welsh God Mabon, son of Earth Mother Goddess, Modron (who actually has nothing to do with the equinox…)

When is the Autumn Equinox / Mabon?

The Autumn Equinox almost always falls on either the 22nd or 23rd September (although in rare cases the window is from 21st September – 24th September at 02:03am BST.

In 2022, the Autumn Equinox is Friday 23rd September.

What is the Autumn Equinox?

The Autumn Equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of Autumn, on this date, day and night are of equal length before the longer nights and shorter days start creeping in. Everything is at that perfect balance but also on the cusp of change.

What is Mabon?

Mabon is a feast in reconstructed paganism and the Wiccan faith, it only really started becoming labelled as Mabon around the 1970s but for many, the name kind of stuck.

Mabon is not only become the feast of the Autumm Equinox but also the Second Harvest, the Harvest of fruit and around the ‘harvest festival’ which some of you may remember from school. The Harvest Festival is traditionally celebrated on the Sunday nearest the harvest moon, the full moon nearest the Autumn Equinox.

It’s a time to reflect and celebrate on the year so far with the ‘reaping what you have sown’ mentality and seeing all of the benefits of your hard work so far.

For me, the most important part is the resting side. As the days grow darker and the nights grow longer, we are supposed to rest. After the feast and celebrating is done, we are supposed to retreat, use less energy and get through the winter. Like we used to before *capitalism*.

How can I celebrate the Equinox / Mabon?

Whether it’s making blackberry jam with your own little fruit harvest or just embracing the autumn aesthetic and adding some colour magic to your wardrobe, here are a bunch of things you can do to celebrate the equinox and Mabon, some low energy and some more intense:

Dress in Mabon colours: just as the leaves have changed, embrace earthy colours to match. Browns, deep reds, golds and dark greens
Eat Seasonal Food: I love to make a stew using squashes (like pumpkin) from the local organic green grocer. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to grow my own! if that’s a little too much, an apple pie from McDonald’s is also valid.
Go Blackberry picking: Get your own little harvest, you can use these to make blackberry jam, pies and syrups or even just eat them with sugar and be thankful for the bounty. This is generally the last time the berries are still good.
Hold a thanksgiving ritual: Write a letter to the universe of everything you’re thankful for this year so far. You can make it proper witchy by burning the list on the day of the Equinox and releasing that thankful energy into the universe
Light a candle: With the nights growing longer we’ll need to bring more light in, I use yellow / gold candles to symbolise that the sun will return.
Wind down and get comfy: This is the time when we’re supposed to rest and hibernate so do not feel guilty about grabbing a blanket and settling in with a cup of tea and a good book. It’s what we’re supposed to be doing and it’s a ritual in itself.

How will you celebrate the equinox this year?

#Witchtype Book Review: Our Crooked Hearts By Melissa Albert

#WitchyType book club reviews ‘Our Crooked Hearts’ by Melissa Albert.

#witchytype book club is our fabulous digital book club where we read books and share our thought via these reviews and on our digital channels.

Check out our book list here for the upcoming books that we will be reviewing: https://digital-coven.com/witchytype-book-club/

Including the upcoming witchcraft, Tarot and spiritual books that we are going to be reviewing as well as books and goodies that you can win in competitions. We also have the Digital Coven book depository with Witchcraft, Tarot and spiritual books available to borrow or lend out. If you want to donate or borrow a book from our book depository, you can find out what books are available in our sharing network here: https://digital-coven.com/witchy-type-book-club-and-depository/

About The Book:

This week we have a fabulous book by Melissa Albert to review, Our Crooked Hearts. A young adult fiction novel spanning decades.

This was #gifted to us for review but all of our views are honest so rest assured we’d never recommend anything we don’t like. Our Review and Affiliate link disclosure are located here.

Reviewed By: Emma aka Bunnypudding

Amazon Link: Our Crooked Hearts

Author Page: Melissa Albert

The Synopsis:

Secrets. Lies. Witchcraft… This is OUR CROOKED HEARTS, a gripping mystery crossed with a pitch-dark tale of modern-day witchcraft, perfect for YA and adult readers.

A dark, compelling and magical suburban fantasy, Melissa Albert takes two women from one family line and seamlessly interweaves a tale of past and present, familiarity and uncanny, light and darkness. It’s a story of mothers and their daughters and of difficult relationships, a story of impossible choices and of secrets held close in the dark; of manipulation for good, bad and for worse…

About The Author:

Melissa Albert is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of the Hazel Wood series (The Hazel Wood, The Night Country, Tales from the Hinterland) and a former bookseller and YA lit blogger. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages and included in the New York Times list of Notable Children’s Books. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

What others say:

‘EVERY LINE READS LIKE AN INCANTATION, and the result is a book pulsing with magic, one that holds the reader firmly under its spell.’ – V.E. Schwab, bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

‘A RIVETING STORY THAT GRIPS YOU LIKE A SPELL until you’re too deep to emerge unscathed! Once again, Melissa Albert reveals the power of magic within a daughter’s grasp and the love of imperfect mothers.” – Angeline Boulley, author of Firekeeper’s Daughter

‘EERIE, EVOCATIVE, AND ELECTRIFYINGLY BRILLIANT. I was immediately gripped from the very first page and completely compelled throughout. I already can’t wait to reread it. Melissa Albert’s writing is magic made real.” – Katherine Webber, author of The Revelry

Digital Coven #Witchytype review:

I usually don’t take to young adult novels but the book was gifted to me by a PR and the story looked interesting so I agreed to give it a read. I wasn’t disappointed, as a teenager, I would’ve gobbled this up in an evening. It had an interesting storyline with actual surprises and wasn’t full of cliques and was very well written. The imagery is fabulous and the characters are interesting enough that you wish to find out what the actual truth is. The author creates a very spooky atmosphere and I’d certainly read another book by this author and I say that as someone who prefers darker more adult stories. Highly recommended for a YA fiction book.

Rating:

3.8 cats out of 5 cats

What about you, have you read the book or plan to? If so let us know below in the comments or via our social channels.

Until Next time, Coven!

Emma (Bunny Pudding)

Simple morning ritual for the beginner witch

AJ shares one of her morning rituals, which is perfect for the beginners or for witches looking for some inspiration

A new day is here and you feel MAGICAL AF, how best to start your day than a a simple ritual?

Now, don’t get me wrong, we are NOT a Disney Princess, we do not wake primed and perfect and ready to tackle our day. Sometimes it takes every ounce of energy to just sit up.

Here, I have broken down a nice ritual you can do as and when you feel like you can, don’t feel guilty if you don’t do it everyday, i can guarantee I don’t! However, I do notice that my better days have always been those where I have done some kind of ritual. Could just be though!

Your morning caffeine kick

Whether it’s tea or coffee, even a glass of water, whatever your choice of beverage is first thing in the morning, let’s make it magical.

A black coffee cup that looks like a cauldron holds a cup of tea and says 'witches brew' on the front — AJ’s favourite mug

I add honey (to sweeten my day) to my coffee (grounding) and stir the cup three times as I set my intention for the day. Sometimes out loud, sometimes in my head. Whatever my intention is, i speak it as though it has already been achieved.

e.g.

“I have had a productive day”

“I have had a happy day”

“I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve”

“I completed that report”

” I have absolutely smashed my day because I am a badass”

After the third stir, I tap my spoon three times on the rim of my favourite mug to ‘seal’ the intention for the day. Instead of a spoon, you can also use a cinnamon stick for extra abundance and magical energy!

Light a candle / some incense

This can be made even better when you use a candle / colour or scent to compliment your intention for the day. For example, if you want to stay relaxed, use lavender.

Here’s a wee correspondence chart if this is all new to you

Vibe	Colour	Scent
Happy	Yellow	Frankincense or orange
Creative	Orange	Cinnamon
Relaxed	Blue	Lavender
Romance	Reds and Pinks	Rose or cherry (dragonsblood is great for love magic, wink wink)
Lucky / wealth	Green	Pine

Visualise your day

As I have a 9-5, it’s pretty easy to predict how my day is going to go but I also visualise how i want my day to make me FEEL. Maybe I have a big presentation that i’m nervous about it, as I get dressed i picture myself absolutely smashing it and celebrating in the pub afterwards. It’s warm, inviting and the air is abuzz with delight.

Draw a card of the day

This is a nice and simple thing to do if you’re still learning tarot, want to brush up your skills, are experimenting with a different deck or even just want to start incorporating more divination into your daily routine.

The Supernatural Tarot deck and guide book is spread out on the carpet. the first card is turned up showing XVIII The Moon - represented here by an illustrated version of the character Loki / Gabriel in various shades of blue with the red phases of the moon circling his head. 2 cards remain face down with a pentacle in the centre. — The Supernatural Tarot Deck

Questions to ask as you shuffle your deck:

“What challenges may I see today”

“How do I approach that presentation I have”

“How do I communicate my feelings with X:

“How can i make my day brighter’

“What good news in in store today”

Seal your day

As the ending to my little ritual of the morning, I like to seal it with a bit of glamour magic. I have a favourite enchanted lipstick (or a chapstick of you’re not feeling the effort… you know), pop that on while speaking a final affirmation to the mirror. For me, that final affirmation is usually ‘you got this, AJ’.

What rituals do you do in the mornings?

#WitchyType Book Review: Wicca Herbal Magic by Lisa Chamberlain

The #WitchyType Book club reviews Wicca Herbal Magic by Lisa Chamberlain.

Hello there Coven!

We’ve recently launched the #witchytype book club which is where we read books and share our thoughts on themas well as opening the floor via our digital channels (And upcoming book clubs) to hear your thoughts too.

Check out our book list here: https://digital-coven.com/witchytype-book-club/

This was gifted to us for review but all of our views are honest so rest assured we’d never recommend anything we don’t like. Our Review and Affiliate link disclosure are located here.

About The Book:

Today we are reviewing Wicca Herbal Magic A Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Spellcraft By Lisa Chamberlain.

Myself and AJ don’t practice Wicca so this review is based on a novice reading the book – if you’ve read the book we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Reviewed By: Emma aka Bunnypudding

Hardback: https://amzn.to/3w7IJKg

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3w4LGvd

So let’s dive in.

The Synopsis:

Since the beginning of human history, healers and shamans have understood the nutritional, medicinal, and magical properties of herbs. Whether you’re well versed in magic but are just discovering herbs, or are new to Wicca altogether, this handy guide by popular author Lisa Chamberlain covers all the basics, from creating your own magical garden to the gathering, harvesting, drying, and storing the herbs. She centres the spells around 13 herbs, most easy to find and inexpensive: basil, bay laurel, chamomile, cinnamon, dandelion, elecampane, hibiscus, lavender, mugwort, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Because they’re primarily culinary and/or medicinal herbs too, you’ll have plenty of options for using the leftovers from your spellwork. The spells include magical teas, baths, and oils to smudging (more on that below), blessing, and healing rituals.

Books Construction:

The book is full of beautiful illustrations and the quality of the book was fantastic. I love a good hardback with quality paper, what can I say, I am one of those people! It’s also a nice A5 size so good to carry around with you when you are out and about.

Pages: Hardcover: 130

#Witchytype Book Review:

The Positives:

I was worried at first that the book would be very heavy on Wiccan practices but pleasantly surprised that whilst it did discuss wiccan elements, it was also a very informative book about using herbs in general.

It focuses on 13 main herbs which is a great place to build upon your knowledge if you are just getting started and is also a great refresher book if you are experienced but need some herb magick inspirations.

I loved how she went into the various ways that you can perform herb magick such as in cooking and in teas – I’ve even got inspired to revisit my tea-making practices by bringing in new blends.

The Negatives:

As mentioned above, this book is great to use if you are wishing to learn about herbs and it doesn’t go too in-depth into the Wiccan side of practising but if you have strong issues with Wicca, and I am aware some do, then this may not be the best book for you. Otherwise, it’s a great little book to help you really get comfortable working with herbs.

My one and only personal gripe with the book is the use of the word ‘Smudge’ and ‘Smudging Stick’ when discussing smoke cleansing. I know many people use this word but I personally prefer to refer to any form of herbal or natural wood burning cleansing as ‘Smoke Cleansing’ rather than Smudging, as that is a practice performed within a closed practice of some Indigenous peoples of the Americas. They use Sacred white Sage and hold a unique ceremony for the practice of ‘Smudging’ – so it is wrong to use it as a blanket term for smoke cleansing in general as they are two completely different ceremonies and we need to respect them both and appreciate when something is closed and sacred and when something is open for us to explore as a practice. Hopefully, later editions will tweak this wording.

Overall? I highly recommend it and will read other works by Lisa Chamberlain. For those practising Wicca or seeking to start the path of practising Wicca then this is certainly a good investment for you but it’s also got lots of useful information for those wishing to learn general information on Herbs and their magickal uses.

Cat Rating (yes, you read that right)

3 out of 5 Cats

You can get the Book over at Amazon here which is also where I sourced my images from this post from.

Have you read this book, what are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your feedback on the comments or on social, just make sure to use the #witchytype when discussing on social media.

More books to come over the next few weeks but as mentioned above, if you have a recommendation, please let me know!

As mentioned on my social channels:

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Until next time Coven,

A Witches Altar – Making & using your own Witch Altar

Aj discusses all things witch altar in todays post. What do you have on yours?

If you’re new to the world of witchcraft and have been feeling confused when you see things like ‘time to change up my altar’ or ‘left an offering on my altar’, don’t worry because we got you.

Ash from various incense is smudged on a worn wooden table next to a lit blue candle with a steady flame. This table clearly belongs to a practitioner of the magical arts... but they're also a nerd as in the background, beside a palmistry model is a recreation of the V. Day kiss between two Storm Troopers.

The oxymoron between the beautifully creative 'fresh out of fucks' cross stitch beside a cluster of amethyst and a raw rose quartz speaks a thousand words. — not your typical witch altar

What is an altar?

For many people, an altar is used as a place to centre their practice. Almost like a holy place. Where they can worship their deities, where they can craft their spells and conduct their rituals and, for some, pray. Sometimes, I feel like a terrible witch because I do not have an altar, and that’s OK! You don’t necessarily need one, especially if you’re not open about your craft.

They can be a little table, a bookcase, a travel tin for witches on the go or those ‘in the broom closet’ as we say.

Even though I don’t really have an altar, i imagine mine is my entire house, especially the kitchen as kitchen witchery is a part of my every day practice.

What do I need on an Witch altar?

This depends entirely on you and your practice but typically you will have:

Representations of the four elements
Either an Athame or a wand
A bell
Candles (can include dedicated candles for your deities)
Your book of shadows

Basically, your altar will need to be PRACTICAL and have the tools you will need to perform your magic and rituals. You don’t need to make them over complicated but, if this is within your practice, you can make them seasonal as the Wheel of the Year turns.

How do I represent the elements on my Witch altar?

This is a lot simpler than you think:

Air = Incence

Water = a jar / glass of water (i even have seashells around to represent water)

Earth = a plant pot of earth, a dish of sand

Fire = a candle

“BUT AJ”, I hear you cry, “how can i not be obvious about it”? Take a little a vase and put in some herbs and flowers:

Air = Sage or Lavender

Water = Thyme or Rose

Earth = Mugwort or honeysuckle

Fire = Rosemary or carnation

If you don’t have the finances to keep refreshing the herbs or flowers then a drawing of each is enough, even a drawing of the elemental symbols will do! Witchcraft doesn’t need to cost you any money when there is power and creativity in you too.

What do you have on your altar? Let us know in the comments.

If you want more from AJ, you can find her on TikTok

Header Image Credit:

Working With The Moon: Full Sturgeon Moon in Aquarius 11/8/2022

Resident Moon Witch AJ talks about Working With The Full Sturgeon Moon in Aquarius

As we pass midsummer and, despite the obscene weather we’re having right now, the seasons start their transition into Autumn, we have the Full Sturgeon Moon in Aquarius with us, and the final Supermoon of 2022.

What is a Supermoon?

A Supermoon is when a full moon is at its closest point to the Earth during its orbit and it appears larger and brighter. The point where non moon followers add ‘wow, the moon looks big tonight’ to their Instagram Stories.

When it comes to the astrology and witchcraft side of a Supermoon, allegedly a Supermoon can enhance your emotions and can make you feel more exposed. However, moments like this always make me think of my Aunt who taught me the ways of the moon:

“The moon doesn’t care whether we think she’s super or small.

She’s just there and there for us”

Full Moon 'Supermoon' Pink Moon by NASA — The Next Full Moon Is a ‘Supermoon’ Pink Moon
by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

What is the Sturgeon Moon?

The Sturgeon Moon is an interpretation of the Native American name for this full moon. It marks the time when the Giant Sturgeon of the Great Lakes were caught by Algonquin tribes.

For generations, Native Americans have marked cycles of the moon to signify certain times of the year. In August, we welcome the Sturgeon Moon – also known as the Green Corn Moon, the Red Moon, and the Grain Moon. The full Sturgeon Moon marks the time for noted ease in catching fish in Great Lakes area….The legend of the moon varies across tribes; however, something all tribes seem to have in common is the use of a lunar calendar. Tribal winter counts were done by using the lunar calendar to record notable events throughout the year — and each moon signified something different for each tribe that named it.
Tristan Picotte, Nativeknott 2019

The English name for this moon is the Corn Moon and marks the beginning of the harvest season

The Celtic name for this moon is the Dispute Moon, highlighting the transition of the seasons and the impact on the harvest. It could be a hot and dry summer or a temperate wet summer, both can impact what we reap during harvest season.

Sturgeon Moon setting at dawn 20190816
by Kenneth Cole Schneider

What does this Sturgeon Moon mean?

This year, the Sturgeon Moon is in Aquarius, bang in the middle of Leo Season. With Leo being firey, excitable and creative, the moon in Aquarius can help us to take a step back and to review before we act.

I have used this moon to review my year so far, forgive any previous hurt, release what hasn’t served me for six months and finesse my plans moving forward, rather than jumping straight in.

What can I do during this full moon?

First thing’s first that I have to remind a lot of people, the full moon lasts three days… If you can’t do something for it tonight, that’s OK. You have another two days!

As the full moon is generally the time we release (see more about Moon Work in my Beginners Guide to Witchcraft), now is a good time to literally throw something away that you no longer need. Not exactly a deep clean but I use full moons to clear my work desk and start the new cycle fresh.

If you have set any intentions for the year, check in on them. How are they going? Do some require more attention? Are some not quite there and maybe need a refresh?

Check in with yourself. How are you? How is your year going? Are there any thoughts or moments you can release that you don’t want to take into the second half of the year?

What rituals can I do during this full moon?

Release Ritual:

Take a bayleaf and write what you want to release, burn the bayleaf in a firesafe place and meditate. As you meditate, imagine the thing you’re letting go of leaving your body.

Forgiveness Ritual:

Write a letter to the person, moment or thing you want to forgive, especially if it’s yourself. Burn it in a firesafe place. As the flames consume the thing that you wanted to forgive look up at the moon and thank her for giving you the strength to let go, release and move forward. As the flames die down, feel how much lighter you are.

Manifest with the Moon:

Use this moon to begin manifesting something for the remainder of the year, something more short term factoring in things like the shorter days that will come.

Write down:

What you want to achieve in the present tense as though you already had it, like an affirmation
How you achieved this thing as though you already did it
Meditate and picture that moment of success

As you’re doing this, either on a candle or in a firesafe dish, burn the cinnamon (prosperity and abundance), coffee (speed), rosemary (positivity) and spearmint (wealth and good luck)

The next morning, repeat your affirmation. Whether this is written down, said to yourself in the mirror or whispered quietly to yourself as you make your morning coffee.

Remember, with all intention setting and manifestation action is required, remember the list you made of how you achieved your goal and start putting those steps into place on the final night of the full moon.

We hope this was helpful and we’ll be sure to have a write up ready for the next Full Moon in Pisces on 10th September!

How are you celebrating the Sturgeon Supermoon in Aquarius?

If you want more from AJ, our resident moon witch, you can find her on TikTok

Featured image: British Night Sky by tombayly13

Why is 8th August the luckiest day of the year? – What is The Lions Gate Portal

It’s the 8/8 which means it’s the Lions Gate Portal! Here is how to use it to super charge your manifestations.

Top Level:

Key Date: 8th August 2022 is considered the Peak of The Lions Gate Portal.
Magick: Is a great time to manifest your goals dreams – if using the moon is the moon phase will be Waxing Gibbous in the sign of Sagittarius. (Also see spells below)
Ends:12th August ends.

What is The Lions Gate Portal?

Put simply, The Lions Gate Portal is considered one of the strongest magickal periods of the annual astrological calendar. It celebrates the alignment of Earth, The Sun in Leo, Sirius (The dog star, the brightest star in the sky and not the Harry Potter Character but he does have the star as his namesake) and the constellation Orions belt. This alignment happens every year and at the same time, from 28th July to 12th August.

The activation happens on the 8th of August and is believed to be when the period is at its peak for manifesting and spell work. Yey!

*Featured top image credit: Hubble Peers into the Mouth of Leo A by NASA Goddard Photo and Video

Why is The Lions Gate portal important to witches and spiritual practitioners?

We can use this energy to empower our manifesttaions and spell work. 8th August can often be refered to as the luckiest day of year, so it’s a perfect time to try your luck by going large with your manifestations. Dream house? Go for it. Perfect job change? Make it happen. Want love? Attract that energy to you.

The key to this period is keeping that energy up and truly believe that anything is posible and making sure you’re intent and desires are clearly expressed. Don’t chase, attract, honey!

Astrology:

The Sun is the ruler of Leo, therefore when The Sun enters Leo every year to mark Leo season, this creates really positive and powerful energy which is hypercharged during the Lion’s Gate Portal period.
Leo is a sign of ‘self’: ego, of understanding yourself on the inside and how you present outwardly, self-confidence, confidence and bravery. Basically, it’s a perfect time for manifesting the dreams and desires that are associated with you and your goals. Go big or go home is certainly an apt phrase for Leos and their approach to life and also this period energetically. Therefore, it’s a great period to manifest career or life goals.
Locate where Leo is in your birth chart and what house it is in, this will guide you in where you should be focusing your attention when it comes to manifesting goals during this period.

Numerology:

8/8 is considered a very powerful number in numerology meaning: Abundance, luck and growth. The number 8 is considered lucky and powerful in cultures throughout the world.

Symbology:

The infinity symbol ∞ equals 8 and is considered the symbol for manifestation. As above, so below.

How can I use it for my magick?

Some start from the 28th July and build up (like me!) but the peak period is considered to be the 8th of August (8/8) to use this energy in spell work is very simple, so for those just starting out below is a simply but effective way to manifest your desires.

Perfect for beginners:

The Everyday Extra Empowerment:

Meditating in the Sun – and visualising what you desire in detail is fabulous way to use that strong the Sun in Leo energy.
Journaling – every morning with prompts to help progress you towards your goal.
Affirmations – choose 8 affirmations that present what you wish to achieve over the next year and say them to your self in the mirror. I recommend doing an affirmation in mirror every morning anyway.

Simple Manifestaion practice on the day:

The Diary Method:

What you will need:

Pen or pencil..hey, why not even use a quill, add some drama!
Paper (or parchment…you see where I am going here!)

Method:

What is your dream life? No really, what is your dream life and if you were to live your dream life what would you be doing in a day of that desired existense, say, in a years time? Really visualise this and do not hold back. This is your absolute dream. Really think about it and visualise the reality of living it for a few minutes. This will help setup your vibration and help you performed the next step:

Get your paper or note book and write the date as a year from now: 8th August 2023

Under the date begin to write a diary entry as if you were living your dream life on that day in a years time. Be detailed, the more detail the better.

Once completed, release the intention of what you have just written into the universe, speak out loud or silently to yourself that you are accepting it as done and thank the universe for sending that desire to you.

Seal up the letter if not in a notebook and store somewhere safe and don’t open/read for a year.

Open in a year and see how much as come true – honestly, I have done this a few times and have aways been surprised!

If you like this method you can regularly keep up entries in your books of spells, grimore or similar. I personally keep a separate manifestation journal which keep writing in to help me maintain focus on my goals and allow me to look back at my progress.

“diary writing” by freddie boy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Ritual for those who want a side of ‘ceremony’:

Some of us love to use ingredients in our spell craft , or we just like a bit of drama, some of us it’s both…I certainly love to make things ceremoinial! The Lions Gate Portal is a perfect time to make to add extra ingredients to your usual manifestation methods such as candle, herb and craft magick. The below if simple but effective way to use fire (Leo’s element family) in your manifestion practices.

You will need:

Bayleaf – you can get this fresh but store brought is fine, and the one we mainy use at Digital Coven (We should invest in stocks the amount we use it to be fair)
A Candle (lighter or matches if you don’t have a candle to hand..all witches run out!)
Fireproof bowl or Cauldron

How to Manifest on The Lion Gate Portal:

I personallylike to do these spells in the moon light and outside if posible. I have also lived in a flat and shared houses so rest assured, if you can do either of the things, your magick will be just as potent – this is all about your intent and belief of course…you’re the main ingredient for this spell!

“Bay Leaf, Fresh and Dried” by Clint__Budd is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Get a Bay leaf and hold it close, envision the intention/dream/desire that you wish to attract
You have to visualise this as if it has already happened making sure to really envision how you will feel when you receive this desire and all the things that you will do with it.
Write your intention onto the Bay leaf and burn in the fireprool bowl (or cauldron) . You can use any colour pen but if you have Silver or Gold marker I would recommend using this to further highlight your goals.
Release your intention into the universe and give thanks to universe for it abundance. Then, wait and trust the process (it works quicker than you think!)

For more info on using Bayleaf, check out my post on why Baeleaf is Bae and if you’re planning on doing moonwork for these spells then, AJ goes in-depth on her Witchcraft for beginners post here.

For those working with the moon specifically, the moon phase will be Waxing Gibbous in the sign of Sagittarius.

So Coven, hopefully we’ve got you all excited about the Lions Gate Portal? If so,will you be using the Lions Gate Portal to manifest your dreams and goals this year? Let us know below or on our social channels.

Happy practising, darlings…may your dreams come to pass ❤

Love, Emma