There is only one chemical reaction we commonly call “fire”, but there’s plenty of ways to get it into your house and your practice. Some ways are better for certain situations then others- let’s try to go through the more common ways, shall we?
Lighters: Lighters are relatively cheap and can be found in almost any corner store. They work under most conditions, including times when wind or drafts might blow out a match. If you’re lighting incense or candles outside, they have a higher likelihood of success in light wind or at odd angles. Considering that they’re multiple use, you won’t run the risk of littering used matches in the area either. And besides, if you have a deep candle you can’t get into with your hand, you can always resort to investing in one of these bad boys:
Matches: Speaking of matches, matches are still my favorite. Kitchen matches are not strong enough to withstand anything other than a light breeze, and can blow out at the least opportune moments, but if you want that whole-grain, organic fire experience, there’s nothing like the crackle of sulfur, phosphorous, and responsibly sourced wood. And besides, now you can invest in strike-anywhere, which means that you can just carry loose matches and strike them in an a variety of odd places. High-friction surfaces tend to work best, and I have a lot of success on concrete and brick.
Censers/High-Heat-Resistance bowls: This is less of a “way to make fire” and more of a “where to make fire”. If you are of the sort to be burning paper, or incense, you’re not exactly going to be holding it in your naked hand as it catches aflame.
The general rules of use for either is to first layer the bottom of the container with sand. This creates a buffer between the flammable bits and the breakable outside that will prevent cracking and shattering. That’s right; if your container is glass or ceramic, it can literally explode if too close to the flame. Bottom layer is sand, next layer is the bit you’re setting aflame, all away from the edges of the container. Keep within eyesight at all times while it is burning, and make 100% sure all flames are out before you leave the area. Cool to the touch, no embers, everything.
Barbeque Grill: If you need a controlled fire, and actually have a grill on hand, why not use it? Sure, it may not be the most mystical tool out there, but it has a semi-standard temperature and can get a lot of heavy lifting done.
Fire Pit: Perhaps you’re a bit more traditional and want the full roaring fire experience. Fire pits let you enjoy all the fun of setting things on fire with all the safety of not catching you or your coven aflame. If you really, really need a lot of fire, whether for a fire meditation, a sabbat celebration, or any other ritual, there’s little else that compares. I’d speak more on the subject, but I’m less of an expert on this. Here’s Mother Earth News’s safety guide to fire pits, here’s a maintenance guide from ehow, and here’s a diy for building your own fire pit for a relatively cheap price. Stay safe out there.
TIPS AND TRICKS TO NOT HURTING YOURSELF:
Know what you’re burning! If I had a penny for every camping trip they had to warn us about burning poisonous plants, I could pay a therapist to address the trauma of hearing about people who got poison sumac or poison ivy smoke in their lungs and airways. If you’re awful at recognizing plants, like me, you can always always always head down to a local farm and see if they sell firewood for cheap.
Tie your hair up and back
Don’t inhale smoke if you don’t have to
Try not to be inebriated, okay? It’s fire. Don’t mess with that with anything less than your best work.
Don’t put random crap in a fire. I know it’s great to see how things burn, but you don’t know how it catches or what chemicals are released when it does. Be safe and just…like…don’t.
Open a window. If you’re inside, you don’t want the fumes and CO2 accumulating in your lungs. Crack a window, and leave if you feel lightheaded in any way.
No droopy sleeves, please!
Have a fire extinguisher nearby! Or at least know where one is! If you can take a bucket of sand with you during the ritual, all the better!
No matter how and where you are, and no matter your situation, just know that there’s always a possibility of adding a little extra spark to your craft. Just remember to be safe while doing so- and don’t forget to look at the local regulations on fire in your area! Call up the firefighters if you have to- they’ll probably know.
Using the Dragonfae Oracle, Angelarium Oracle, or Crystal Healing Oracle decks
$2 per card
For general readings or specific questions
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*Scrying*:
Scrying is a form of divination using a reflective surface to intuit messages or the future. My scrying service is open to questions or general readings and uses my black scrying mirror.
*Any tarot, oracle, or scrying readings will be sent via your choice of downloadable pdf with pictures of your cards and detailed interpretations or a google docs link so you can format and download it as you choose.
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*General Energy Reading*:
$15
15min general energy reading. Gives you a general overview of what is currently going on in your energy body. Specifically in each of the 7 main energy centers of the body, the meridian system, and the auric bodies.
*can be a real time service or typed up and sent afterwards, up to you.
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*Spirit Interview*:
$15-$30 depending on time and intensity
Open discourse between you and a spirit(s) of your choice. I will welcome them, possibly channel them, and allow them to give me messages for you.
*This is easier done in-real-time, please be aware, this allows you to directly ask questions and gives me a better insight to the spirit we are interviewing. This service can be done and then typed up and emailed, if this is the way you’d prefer please alert me and have muliple questions ready for me to ask them.
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*Reiki *:
Reiki is a traditional Japanese energy therapy that uses spiritual, life-force energy to help balance and heal the body. It is good for a huge number of things including physical and energetic healing and spiritual awakening. Reiki can help stimulate healing and balance on all levels; physical, mental, emotional, energetic, spiritual.
In my Reiki healing sessions I will assess your energy systems giving you a detailed account of what is going on in each of the main 7 energy centers, as well as allowing my empathic abilities to give me greater insights. I will let you know if I find any troubling areas; such as parasites, blockages, holes or tears, etc within your energy body. If I do find any troubling things I will talk with you to create a game plan for your healing session. (I have experience with energetic surgery if the need arises.) Then I will either implement the plan we create or I will give you an overall Reiki healing session. These sessions are best done in-real-time, with you in a relaxed, receptive state.
$35 for 30mins
$50 for 45mins
$65 for 60mins
$95 for 90mins
*I am a Reiki Master, Level 3 Practitioner in the Usui Shiki Ryoho system.
Add-on Reiki Services:
Crystal grid– I will create a custom crystal grid tailored to our reiki session to aid in your healing. It will use stones specifically picked for the focus of our session. You will receive a picture of this grid for your keeping.
$5
Tarot– 4 card tarot spread to give us greater insight into your reiki healing session
$5
*Reiki Classes*:
Contact me directly for information on online reiki workshops. I offer Reiki level 1, 2, and 3/Master’s classes.
sometimes after performing a spell, you find yourself wondering, hmm, what do i do with these ingredients? the way you clean up or put away your materials can be its own step in the ritual, and affect the spell. here are some suggestions for the different ways to end rituals or properly dispose of the materials
consider first:
📦keep it – consider if the spell seems like something you could ever possible need to reverse later. that love-attraction jar may invite people you don’t like, and need to be ended, but it’s more difficult without the original materials. keep the ingredients in a jar, box, or something, (maybe label it too) so you can easily nullify the spell if you need to.
✉wrap it up – in a jar or a pouch, if it is a spell you want to last a long time, gather the ingredients you won’t be reusing and keep them in a place you
🏺jar spells – just keep the materials in the sealed jar. this is the sort of spell that can be reused simply by shaking the jar, lighting a new candle for it or recharging its energy.
🔔cleanse and reuse – obviously you don’t want to throw your crystals or jars out after a single spell. separate the materials used and cleanse them individually, cutting the ties to the spell.
now what do i do with it?
🔥it’s been burned to ash – for banishing place it on the back doorstep and sweep it out into the wind. for releasing its energies and inviting influence, release the ashes into running water, given it is safe to return to nature (non glass, nonplastic nontoxic, biodegradable etc)
🕸bound objects – bury or keep in a box somewhere, burial for spells you will never remove, hiding for things you may undo one day.
🛡protective spells – best hung up or hidden in a corner of the house, or place over the front door of the residence.
☣non-biodegradable materials – if its something you can’t safely return to nature, and it can’t be reused because it was burned or broken, use the acting of burning or breaking to move the spell’s energies into the world. properly throw out or recycle the objects.
If anyone is curious about wildlife tracking and lives in the greater Seattle area, there’s two cool little tracking classes/clubs two days each month. One is based out of Seattle and one based is out of the Snoqualmie valley.
It’s free but donations (of ~$5) are welcome and help cover gas costs for the people volunteering to run/teach the classes. I think it’s a great way to step into the world of tracking! [X]
Perhaps you could tell them that historically, tarot cards were created as a game. (They did get discovered by the occult as a divination tool and have been used as that.)
That in the scale of human history, tarot is in fact quite new!
You could tell them that many people use them as a tool for self reflection, as a way to physically see what’s going on in their heads. It could almost be compared to meditation.
You could tell them that tarot cards are rarely used to commune with spirits and deities, and to do so there needs to be intention behind it.
You could tell them they’re simply for divination (and that you think it would be fun to see how close they are at “guessing” the future.)
Or you could just not tell them and have your own discreet deck!
Heatherwitch 