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 ❤

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?

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

Witchytype Book Club: Ask The Authors Claire Askew & Alice Tarbuck

To celebrate the launch of ‘The Modern Craft’ Edited by Claire Askew & Alice Tarbuck and our fabulous giveaway*

The Digital Coven ‘Witchy Type Book Club’ are super excited to announce that we will be interviewing the fabulous Editors Claire Askew & Alice Tarbuck. Of course, as a coven we want to offer you the chance to ask them your question too.

If you have a question, you can let us know below in the comment, via email: digitalcovenuk@gmail.com or just fill in this form here and add your question: https://forms.gle/DhxhwRvhA3bp2QSL7

We will be sending over our questions on the 30th June 2022, so make sure to send us your questions before then.

About ‘The Modern Craft’:

Offering inspiring glimpses from the brink of the contemporary Craft, these essays show how anyone, no matter who they are, can find positivity and the force for change in the subversive unknown.

Dr Claire Askew is the author of three novels: All The Hidden Truths, What You Pay For and Cover Your Tracks. A fourth, A Matter of Time, is out this year. Also a poet, Claire’s second
collection How to burn a woman features voices from the European Witchcraft Hysteria. Claire’s accolades include the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, a Jessie Kesson Fellowship and the McIlvanney
Debut Prize.

Dr Alice Tarbuck is a writer, author of A Spell In The Wild and academic specializing in witchcraft and environmental humanities. She has been featured in Nasty Women and The Dangerous Women
Project, and she has spoken on witchcraft at Scottish PEN, Freedom TV and the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.

With courage, conviction, and a
fierce love and respect for the
craft, this fiery collection is poised
to spark vital conversations and
radical change in the world of
witchcraft and beyond.
Kristen J. Sollée, author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists and
Witch Hunt

Looking forward to seeing yoru questions, and make sure to continue the conversation over on our social channels.

Tiktok

Instagram

Until next time, Stay dazzling!

Love,

What is the Wheel of the Year? An introduction to the Sabbats

If you’re new to the craft you may have started spotting new celebrations you have never heard of starting to appear on your News Feeds, especially on TikTok. Don’t be fooled by thinking the Wheel of the Year is something only used by Wiccans but also, if you don’t want to follow the Wheel of the Year, you don’t have to either. Everyone’s practice is personal.

As you’re here at Digital Coven to learn and discover, it would have been remiss of us to not at least introduce you to the sabbats. As a caveat before we get into the nitty and gritty, the dates I’ll be using are for the Northern Hemisphere as that is where I am and is what I know and I wouldn’t want to get anything wrong.

The Wheel of the Year, is a medley of fire festivals, chief solar events, equinoxes and solstices. Almost a calendar for the working pagan / witch / Spiritual Person™ . The Sabbats and a lot of Magic is seasonal and an easy way to connect to your path as a beginner, especially if you’re still not open about your craft yet.

This post in particular is more of a ‘starting point’ or a snapshot to the sabbats and the Wheel of the Year, throughout the year we will include more detailed posts for you so you can learn as much as you can in one place.

Now, let’s get cracking.

Yule – 21st December

Everyone knows this one. Associated with Christmas, the Wild Hunt, the deep midwinter. It’s actually a 12 day long celebration too so no need to worry if you miss the first day.

SHE'S A WITCH!! Hiding in the shadows we see a witch shrouded in darkness, mystery and, most importantly, black velvet.

She seems older than her years yet her hands are still that of a maiden. She holds a bare wreath in her hands but you get a feeling that this isn't just a standard wreath. It is 'more' in capital letters. Something powerful.

In front of our witchy friend is a red candle glowing which is the only colour in the image.

Beside the candle is a christmassy reindeer which feels out of place. Out of place but belonging. — Witch making a wreath and Yule

Here are a couple of starters for ten in terms of rituals and celebrations:

Bring green into the home. If you’re still in the broom closet that can simply be a wee christmas tree. At this point of the year, there is little to no natural growth so bring that life inside to encourage a healthy winter. Also, some pagan traditions suggest that by bringing in a tree to your home, you’re providing somewhere warm for the woodland spirits during the winter and they will thank you with abundance in the spring.

Personally, I like to gather local holly and hang it through my home.
Welcome back the sun. As Yule starts on the Winter Solstice, this is the beginning of the astrological winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the point where the nights can reach their darkest.

Light candles, hang fairy lights, I like to light a candle as I cook.
Yule Log: There are actually a couple of variations of this.

If you have an open fireplace, you can burn a specially chosen log on Christmas eve. You can ‘scent’ with cinnamon as well for the vibes and protective qualities.

You can create a Yule Log display for your altar / space. Find a log, decorate it how you feel with candles, greenery runes and sigils.

Eat a chocolate Yule log, great if you’re still not open with your craft.

Imbolc – 1st February

Meaning ‘in the belly’, imbolc is a celtic festival originating in Ireland and represents the stirring of new life. This is where the earliest signs of rebirth appear, sometimes in the form of new leaves and buds. The world is getting ready to wake up again.

White and green snowdrops sit on the mossy ground. They're open but pointed downwards as though they are hats on invisible fairies. — Snowdrops on the mossy ground

Imbolc is also associated with the Goddess Brigit / Brigid/ /Brighid Bríg. Some may already know her as St Brigit. Brigid is a fire goddess and often associated with protection, healing, smithcraft, and poetry.

In the Christian calendar, this date is also marked by Candelmas so some of the traditions may be the same or similar.

Things you can do to celebrate imbolc:

EAT: As with all festivals of the Wheel of the Year, this is a time to feast. Foods associated with imbolc are those that would traditionally be available when it was still winter. Dairy products like milk, cream and butter as this would be the time of the ‘first milk’ since winter, baked goods, dried foods. What you would have been able to store in your pantry to get through until spring.

Bake bread, pies and cakes and look for foods that are associated with sun and rebirth, eggs are a nice easy one if you’re low on energy you can just scramble an egg in the microwave as a way to honour the festival.
Leave an offering for Brigid: traditionally the first milk would have been poured on the ground for Brigid.

When it comes to food offerings, especially in the current climate where the cost of living is soaring, this may not be the most practical. Instead, pour yourself a glass of milk (plant based counts too), or make some buttery toast. Toast Bridgid before you consume instead of leaving out / pouring away. This way she has been thanked and you have been nourished at the same time.
Plant seeds: This is the time to start sewing your seeds (but do look at an Almanac to be sure depending on what you’re planting). If you’re like me and don’t have access to an outside space,I treat myself to a herb plant around this time or try and regrow things from scraps (leeks, ginger and garlic are really easy to do this with).

Beltane – 1st May

Beltane is the first Fire Festival of the year and where celebrations really start to begin. Beltane originates in Ireland from the celtic god Bel. Traditionally, bonfires would be lit to honour Bel and also to celebrate the return of the sun and spring with longer days coming ahead. You may also be thinking May Day and May pole and you’d be correct!

Flower crowns, ribbons, white dresses. It's pure spring party vibes right here as children surround the maypole. — Maypole dancers gather around the Maypole

Beltane is around the time of year where everything has really sprung to life and as such is also associated with fertility and the idea of ‘everlasting’.

The bonfires lit for Beltane were often public bonfires that people would ‘jump’ for protection and fertility and before they were extinguished, the people would take some of the fire with them to light their hearths.

Things you can do for Beltane:

Have a BBQ / Bonfire if you have the space: You can’t really have a fire festival without fire, can you? If this isn’t possible for you, lighting a candle works just as well.
Dress in Beltane colours: Green, red, white. Green for regrowth, fertility and abundance, red for passion and vitality, white for cleansing and clearing of negative energy. Now’s the perfect time to practice your colour magic.
Make a flower crown: Even a simple daisy chain will do!

Summer Solstice: 21st June

Probably the most famous solstice, the one you see on the telly every year where people flock to Stonehenge to take in the vibes. This is Midsummer (like Yule is midwinter) and also the longest day of the year. Many will make a pilgrimage to Stonehenge or other spiritual sites, but if this is not possible for you, there is plenty you can do at home too.

Stonehenge is standing proud with the Milky Way above. The Milky Way almost looks like magic itself but there is no up or down. Is the magic flowing into Stonehenge or is the magic radiating from it? — Stonehenge at night with starry milky way sky on winter solstice.

Sunrise and Sunset: As the longest day, we celebrate the sun. Watching both the sunrise and sunset means you can experience the most of the day. To be honest, even opening your curtains and staying in bed can work too if it’s not possible for you to be up and about at this time.
Sun Symbols: a simmer pot or even food made from lemons and oranges as we honour the return of the sun. I make an orange drizzle cake (mostly because i don’t really like the taste of lemon!) and you can easily buy things like lemon cakes if you can’t make them.
Colour Magic: dress, display or even use coloured candles in your rituals. Yellow for the sun, green for the earth and blue for the sky.

Lammas / Lughnassadh – 1st August

Lammas literally translates as ‘loaf mass’ and is the time we celebrate the first grain harvest (basically, the first of many harvest festivals). Lammas is also known as Lughnassadgh and Lugnasad.

A single chunk of bread lies on a worn wooden table next to some chestnuts in a dark and moody room. The bread has been picked up so there are a few crumbs around. Was this from a midnight snack? Or could this be an offering for unknown spirits. — bread on a wooden table

As with many dates on the wheel of the year, particularly those that follow Lammas. This is a time where we give thanks for the harvest and feast as well as honouring Lammas, our harvest queen.

Things you can do for Lammas:

Eat bread: Whether you have baked it or bought it, just… bread.
Make a corn dolly / mother: these are traditionally made out of wheat but this isn’t always easy to come by, especially if you live in a big city. If you can’t access wheat you can use straw, which you can find in pet shops, or even draw one for your altar.
Colour Magic: Dress in oranges golds and yellows to represent the harvest

Autumn Equinox / Mabon – September 19th – 22nd

Another transitory time where the days start getting colder and shorter. The leaves are starting to turn red and orange, occasionally there will be a little bite in the air… Autumn in my favourite.

The sun is rising, mist and an eery glow. Bare, shadowy trees frame the sun. It's beautiful, cold and warm at the same time, with an almost haunted feel — Misty wood

The Autumn Equinox is also known to some as Mabon, you’ll see this more often in American Wicca or witchcraft practices. This is the time of Mid-Harvest, particularly for fruit. As the seasons change we would traditionally start preserving food for the winter and long night ahead.

Things you can do for the Autumn Equinox:

Jam: like to go to my nearest woods to gather blackberries around this time and make jam with them. I like to plan the foraging and making around the full moon where I can as well. If you don’t have access to blackberries, buy the fruit you like and make some from that. If you can’t make jam, get some jam for jam on toast… Say jam again.
Decorate your altar: Basically lots of Autumn-y things! Acorns, pine cones, leaves, the colours of autumn! Also, if you happen to find an acorn during this time… save it for Imbolc and plant it under the first tree that blossoms.
Stew and Kitchen Witchery: Autumn is the time the Kitchen witch THRIVES. Making stews with seasonally appropriate food, ‘canning’ for the winter and basically living our best lives. I have previously shared my ‘mabon’ casserole on TikTok, and Emma has her own go-to stock recipe that can be utilised at this time. Anything hearty and warming. As you cook, you can include your intentions and wishes for the season too.

Samhain / Hallowe’en – 31st October

Also known as AJ’s Christmas… Samhain is the point where the nights are at their darkest, the veil is thin and spirits can wonder again, not only that… it’s the Witches’ New Year.

Any Scorpios here, this is where you are at your most intuitive. Some of us feel the energies of the spirits as they come and go, we can celebrate the cycle of life and death as the Witches’ year and the nature around us has ‘passed’.

Samhain has its roots in Celtic practices, particularly in Ireland. We have the legend of Stingy Jack and how he lead to the creation of the Jack-O-Lantern, bonfires would be lit and costumes would be worn to ward off unwanted spirits.

Anyway, surely you know a lot about Samhain / Hallowe’en so let’s get down to what you can do…

Jack – O – Lanterns: It would be remis of me not to include these, sure they seem a little obvious but let’s remember they have been used for centuries as a way to light the path home for family spirits and also to ward off unwanted energies. As you carve your pumpkin, you could make it a ritual. I like to ‘set a vibe’ with incense and music as I turn my pumpkin into a protective ward for the evening. No energy or ability to carve a pumpkin? That’s OK. I have a collection of Pumpkin tealight holders that work just as well, they’re only £1 from Poundland!
Soul Cakes: Soul Cakes are generally a gift for the spirits and can be left as offerings on Samhain night. I have used my own amended version of this recipe for a couple of years now. Baking not possible for you? Get yourself your favourite cookies or biscuits. You can even get some of those little icing pens and add sigils to them or even names for the dearly departed you’re leaving them for.

So, there we go. A little snapshot into the Sabbats, be sure to add them to your diaries and celebrate the old ways with us.

If you want to follow Aj check out her fabulous social accounts:

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Until next time!

Win – A copy of ‘The Modern Craft’ & other goodies!

Ahhhhhh we are sooooo excited to share this with you, Coven!

The Celebrate the release of the launch of ‘The Modern Craft’ Edited by Claire Askew & Alice Tarbuck we have partnered with Watkins Publishing to offer 3 lucky Digital Coven followers one of their ‘The Modern Craft’ Book Lunch Bundles.

How To Enter:

The bundles include a copy of the book which is released 14th June 2022. To enter please leave your details below (Don’t worry we won’t use them for anything else) to enter the prize draw. To get a futher entry please visit our instagram to take part in our Instagram giveaway.

Entry Form: https://forms.gle/XwkZNFvFGzNFzHED8

Two books are on offer in a prize draw so Just fill out this form to enter. You can get a second entry into the competition by following digital coven over on Instgram and commenting on this post what The Modern Craft means to you.

Closing Date for Entries is 30th June 2022

About ‘The Modern Craft’

Edited Claire Askew & Alice Tarbuck

Launch: 14TH JUNE 2022
Price: £12.99 / $16.95
9781786786449

Amazon Link (Digital Coven Affiliate) https://amzn.to/3HrrqJC

Amazon Non Affiliate: Amazon

An eclectic and radical collection of essays on witchcraft practice and the ethics of magic, The Modern Craft gives that much-needed modern context to timeless wisdom. It offers a fascinating snapshot of Powerful voices on witchcraft ethics and contemporary occult practice viewed through an intersectional lens.

Touching on a number of timely conversations, essay topics include:

the ethics of decolonization
meditations on what it means to honour
Mother Earth during the Anthropocene
the reclamation of agency for workingclass & queer witches through spellwork
a gender-fluid perspective on breaking
down hierarchies in magical symbolism
a day in the life of a disabled Pagan
Irish practitioner

The book features contributions from Claire Askew, Lisa Marie, Basile, Stella Hervey Birrell, Jane Claire Bradley, Madelyn Burnhope, Lilith Dorsey, AW Earl, Harry Josephine Giles, Simone Kotva, Iona Lee,
Briana Pegado, Megan Rudden, Sabrina Scott, Em Still and Alice Tarbuck.

Offering inspiring glimpses from the brink of the contemporary Craft, these essays show how anyone, no matter who they are, can find positivity and the force for change in the subversive unknown.

With courage, conviction, and a
fierce love and respect for the
craft, this fiery collection is poised
to spark vital conversations and
radical change in the world of
witchcraft and beyond.
Kristen J. Sollée, author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists and
Witch Hunt

We’ve also got a few more oher suprises for this launch, so what this space Coven!

If you wish to be featured in our #WitchyType Book Club email list please use our sign up form here

You can also continue the coversation over on our social channels as wel love to hear from you:

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Until next time, Stay dazzling!

Love,

Everyday Witchcraft – Tea Magick Supplies: Rose Tea Sets.

Due to popular demand, here is where Bunnypudding gets her teaware from…

Well hello there Coven, I’ve been pretty active over on my Tiktok and Instagram recently making lots of fabulous everyday witchcraft and lifestyle content and well, I hate to say this but the breakout star of my labour isn’t me. Oh no, it’s my bloody Rose Enamel Glass Tea Pot that I treated myself to as a moving in present.

Here she is in all of her glory. I call her Roseline after my grandmother and well, it has a bloody rose on it and some days I am more creative than others.

**Red Rose Tea Pot: Store:https://amzn.to/3LGtaQy**

I’ve been asked about where I get my supplies and homewares on my videos and DMs so here is the list of kitchenware items used in my April Social Videos below. Some of the items are from different stores so if you are looking for a specific colour click the link below the picture 🙂

Of course, I will also be sharing recipes and how to’s for my tea blends in another post so watch this space (or check out my social media!)

Please note that there are some affiliate links on the copy on this page, this means that I get a commission for any purchases made via this post.

Tea Pots and Tea Pots Sets:

You can get my stunning rose tea pot in either red (Picture above) or blue. I am not going to lie, I want them all. It’s an issue, it really is.

One thing I need to stress though is that the tea pot is pretty small, so great for those who want to make one or two cups for tea or herbal spellwork but not so good if you are want to pour for several people at the same time. Great excuse to get two, otherwise, pay heed!

Blue Rose Tea Pot Page: https://amzn.to/3OUUxYX

Price: £19.95

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/3OUUxYX

Blue Rose Tea Pot Set (Tea pot+ 6 cups): https://amzn.to/3LDt1gC

Price: £24.99

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/3LGtaQy

This is a rare set to get cheap, thus why I haven’t had it yet as these weren’t on offer when I was getting mine. I am truly gutted about this fact but it is also why I have two links below as I am sure they will be gone pretty quick.

Red Rose Tea Pot Set (Tea pot + 6 cups): https://amzn.to/3KH6

Price: £26.99

Otherwise,

Brand store: https://amzn.to/3vGz7HE

Has another set for £34.99

Red Rose Tea Pot Page: https://amzn.to/3F5tsxT

Price: £19.99

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/3LGtaQy

Rose Enamel Kitchenware:

Now if you really cannot help yourself, and I clearly cannot, you can also get the matching cups, and mugs (and there are even wine glasses but that is another post!) So I have listed the options for the blue and red designs below. They are honestly so beautiful and so much fun. Leave me to my life of staying at home drinking tea out of my fancy cups.

Rose Enamel Rose Flower Glass Tea Cup with Spoon Set Page: https://amzn.to/3OUUxYX

Price: £7.99

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/3y9CCYA

Blue Enamel Rose Flower Glass Tea Cup with Spoon Set:

https://amzn.to/3LBeNN3

Price: £8.99

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/3LBeNN3

and it’s bigger counterpart

Blue Enamel Rose Flower Glass Tea Mug with Spoon Set

https://amzn.to/3LBeNN3

Price: £9.98

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/3OPUrBY

Blue Enamel Rose Flower Glass Tea Mug with Spoon Set, lid and placemat set

Price: £26.99

Brand Store: https://amzn.to/38HJCkK

Phew! Be still my beating heart….Let me know if you have taken up any team making or decided to treat yourself to some new magick tea brewing kit below or via our social channels as we love to hear from you:

Tiktok

Instagram

Until next time, Stay dazzling!

Love,

Emma

Witchcraft Around The World: 30th April -Walpurgis Night

Witchcraft Around The World: The fabulous Tanja, shares her insight into Walpurgis Night.

We love learning about all different type of Witchcraft here at Digital Coven and today we have the fabulous Tanja, sharing her insight into Walpurgis Night.

Take it away, Tanja!

Greetings fellow witches! You may or may not be prepping to celebrate Beltane this weekend, so I thought I would make you familiar with what I like to call its “German goth counterpart”, – Walpurgisnacht, or the Night of the Witches, which takes place on the night of the 30^th of April.

About Beltane

As you may know, Beltane is the pagan festival held halfway between the spring and summer equinox, celebrating the blossoming of trees and flowers and the days getting warmer. It takes place between 30^th of April and 1^st of May and therefore traditionally includes May Day celebrations which span across many different cultures – Celtic, German, Hawaiian and Greek, to name a few. They include dancing around a May Pole, making flower crowns and crowning a May queen (not to be confused with the customs of Midsommar – neither the Swedish festival nor Ari Aster’s horror masterpiece).

“Children perform the Maypole Dance at the 2010 Downton Cuckoo Festival, Wiltshire” by Anguskirk is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The Fire Festival

Beltane, from the Gaelic Bealtaine, can be roughly translated to “bright fire”. On the eve of May 1st, Pagans would gather to light bonfires and dance around them – since fire typically stands for purification and new beginnings, this ties in with Beltane’s themes of renewal and summer returning.

Like on Halloween (Samheim) and Midsummer, the veil between the realms of the living, dead and spirits is supposed to be especially thin this time of year. It is therefore no wonder the night became associated with witchcraft, its literal Dutch translation being “Heksennacht”, the night of the witches, which in German folklore became associated with a night where evil witches gather to plan their mischievous schemes.

“File:Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival 2012 – Procession.JPG” by Stefan Schäfer, Lich is marked with CC BY-SA 3.0.

The History of Walpurgis Night

For this negative association, we can thank the Catholic Church – as pagan beliefs did not fit in with the Christian religious ideals, during the Middle Ages they attempted to stamp out any other religion’s customs, including those of Beltane, throughout Europe. Walpurgisnacht i.e. “Walpurgis Night” derives its name from the Catholic missionary turned Saint Walpurga, who was celebrated for succeeding at putting an end to “pagan sorcery”.

Ironically, the image I associated with Walpurga until researching this date stems from a popular German children’s cartoon about a teenage witch – In this, she is the leader of the coven and looks like this:

Walpurgia | Bibi Blocksberg Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia — Image Souce

As someone who grew up Catholic, that doesn’t look very pious to me, which goes to show that Walpurga today is associated way more with witches than she would have liked. Sorry, gal!

To give her credit, Walpurga actually did see to it that the pagan rituals didn’t completely die out: She was canonised on the 1^st of May, and therefore, likely by accident, Christian and Pagan customs became entwined. Pagans could continue their celebrations without fear of being condemned, by doing it under the guise of honouring Saint Walpurga (article).

So, these practices could be continued quite freely in Medieval Germany, until the 16^th century, which saw a massive hysteria about witchcraft followed by one of the most gruesome and bloody witch hunts in history taking place in Germany.

During that time, hysteria led people to believe that witches would gather on Mount Brocken, the highest peak in Germany’s Harz Mountains, to have orgies, dance, and meet with Satan to discuss how they could bring the most mischief and evil to the coming year (no, really).

Ein Bild, das Text, Zeichnung enthält.

Automatisch generierte Beschreibung — The actual Saint Walpurga

According to some legends, witches would gather in the valley and then ride up to the mountain’s peak – not just on broomsticks, but even on cats or goats!

In an attempt to protect themselves from evil spirits and witches, locals would gather on April 30^th to light bonfires, burn straw men and make loud noises to chase away evil. The joyous pagan rituals for fertility and summer returning therefore morphed into a gathering driven by fear. Well done, Catholic Church!

Die Nacht, in der Hexen auf Besen reiten — “Witches going to their Sabbath” (1878) by Luis Ricardo Falero

Luckily, those superstitions began to gradually die out and Walpurgis Night celebrations carried on but became more light-hearted, as people would gather around the fire, celebrate, and sing folk songs. The festival might not still be part of the German Zeitgeist today had it not been for Goethe’s famous poem Faust, published in the 19^th century, which sees the protagonist travelling to Mount Brocken and taking part in the witches’ celebrations.

This poem, loathed by German highschoolers throughout the country, re-popularised Walpurgisnacht and is likely to thank for why it is still popular today.

Modern Day celebrations

Today, Walpurgisnacht remains part of German popular culture, with many other stories about the Witches’ mountain gatherings having sprung up in the century following Goethe’s Faust.

As for the celebrations, most that remains of them is the lighting of and gathering around bonfires, although this is now being celebrated under the new motto of Tanz in den Mai – “Dance into May”. Turns out, pagans, legendary witches and normal human beings alike love a bit of revelry and dancing around a fire! Due to the first of May being a bank holiday, Labour Day, people still traditionally like to go dancing at clubs which do “Tanz in den Mai” themed nights. I have taken part in many of these club nights and regardless of alcohol levels, the night has always felt special to me. Maybe there is something to the veil between the worlds being more permeable. Or maybe I just feel very seen as a witch on this holiday which is, in a way, dedicated to us.

Thanks, Tanja!

You can stay in touch with Tanja and find her shitposting and creating other digital content about drag, queer and witchy stuff on Instagram @tanjaktx and Tiktok @tanjatix

If you wish to write an article for Digital Coven please get in touch on our contact page or just pop an email over to us on digitalcovenuk@gmail.com or you can always reach out via our social channels:

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Until next time,

Love,