- Weekly Astrological Forecast for August 28 through September 3, 2023Continue reading →
August 28 through September 3, 2023
Another busy astrological week awaits us, beginning with Uranus turning retrograde on Monday. Though outer planets can be subtle when they begin a 4-5 month retrograde period, Uranus is the exception, as its very nature is to generate unexpected change. With the Moon traveling through Aquarius (the sign of the zodiac Uranus rules) on Monday and Tuesday, it's a good idea to expect a bit of the unexpected. More annoying than problematic, some of the things it might generate are oversleeping, overeating, and minor computer or home appliance problems. Nothing that comes your way will be too overwhelming to overcome but could generate short delays as your rally to get things back on track. On Wednesday we'll have a Blue Moon, as it waxes full for the second time this month. Of course, this brings to mind the "once in a blue Moon" saying, which also suggests a rare or unexpected event. Typically thought to bring a positive surprise our way, this may rectify whatever troubles we encountered on Monday. (Fingers crossed!) If you're wondering if there will be any calm days this week, take heart! Friday and Saturday's Aries Moon will restore our energy and get us back on track in record time. And, there's more good news. On Sunday Venus will end its six-week retrograde period and go direct, restoring the love, passion, and beauty this planet is known for.
- 6 Simple Jar Spells Using Common Household ObjectsContinue reading →
6 Simple Jar Spells Using Common Household Objects, by Charity L. Bedell
(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)
Container magic is a field of magic that has become popular today, with spell balls and jar spells being posted regularly on social media. One of the reasons for the popularity for these types of spells is how simple they are to perform and the accessibility of the materials used in crafting these spells. Container magic is also highly adaptable, being able to change forms and materials without losing their magical punch.
Jar spells are the easiest to perform, as jars are often readily available; many foods are processed and sold in jars, making it easy to gather jars for spell work. Mason jars are also often easy to find throughout the year, as they are used for canning foods like jelly, relishes, mustard, and numerous sauces.
The process of crafting and working a jar spell is simple. First, gather the materials for the spell. Once all of the materials have been gathered, they are individually charged with their specific task for the spell at hand. After energizing the materials, they are placed in the jar. The filled jar is then sealed shut and shaken vigorously. (This is when any chants, prayers, or mantras might be recited.) Now that the jar has been shaken and the spell activated, the jar is placed somewhere in the house where it can be worked (shaken and chants or mantras repeated) once or twice a day until the magic manifests in your life.
With those basics covered, here are six jar spells that you can do using common household materials.
Cleansing Jar
The following spell is a simple jar spell that can be used to remove psychic residue as well as any sensations of energetic ick.Materials:
- 1 4oz jar (baby food-sized jars are ideal for this)
- ¼ cup salt (sea salt is best, though any salt works); this is for cleansing and removal, to help absorb and neutralize energy
- 2 tbs dried rosemary (for cleansing and protection)
- 1 tbs culinary sage (for cleansing)
Working:
-
- Fill the jar with the materials, stating why each material is being used.
- Seal the jar tightly with its lid.
- Shake the jar vigorously, chanting, "Cleanse and clean remove the unwanted and unseen."
- When you feel that the jar has been mixed thoroughly, take the jar and run it over your body, starting with your crown and moving down to your feet. As you trace your body with the jar, be sure to only use downward motions. If you move back up over the area you just went down, you can end up crossing (cursing or giving bad luck to) yourself instead of cleansing yourself.
- Once you have traced over your entire body, place the container somewhere in a dark, dry, and cool place. Keep the jar there. You can use it in the future any time you feel the need for a cleansing boost—just shake the jar vigorously and recite the same chant five times before each use.
When you feel that the jar has done all that it can and needs to be replaced, dump the contents into the trash and wash the jar. The jar can be set aside and used in other magical works.
Neutralize a Magical Attack
This jar work is used to reverse any magical attack sent at you or your loved ones. The goal of this work is to neutralize the attack on you and return it to the sender.Materials:
- A 4-6 oz glass Mason jar
- Family photograph or an individual photo for each person in the household
- Pen
- 1 cup sea salt (neutralizes negativity)
- 3.5 grams or 1/8 oz. black pepper, ground or peppercorns (for protection, removal, and reversal)
- 3.5 grams or 1/8 oz. cayenne pepper (this is for justice work, reversal, protection, and hexing)
- 3.5 grams or 1/8 oz. ground ginger (for protection and power)
- hot glue
Working:
- Take the jar and place it in the center of your working area. On the back of the family photo or the individual photos, write out the names and birth dates of everyone. Once the names and birth dates have been written on the backs of the photos, place the photos into the jar.
- As you place the photo or photos in the jar, state, "To protect (list the names of the individuals here)."
- Pour the cup of salt into the jar. As the salt is poured, state: "Salt, absorb and neutralize all negativity sent this way."
- Add the black pepper to the jar. As the black pepper is added to the jar, state: "To protect from negativity."
- Next, pour the cayenne pepper into the jar. As the cayenne pepper is added, state: "To Return all ill will to its sender."
- Finally, add the ginger to the jar. As the ground ginger is placed into the jar, state: "For justice against all undeserved attacks."
- Take the lid to the jar and trace the inside of the lid with the hot glue. Use the glue to permanently seal the jar, tightening the lid on the jar until sealed tight.
- Once the jar is sealed tightly, vigorously shake the jar to mix the ingredients together. As you shake the jar, chant: "Protect this house today. All attacks sent back and away. Only blessings sent may stay."
- When you feel that the jar has been shaken enough, place it on a shelf or stand near the front door where it will not be disturbed.
- Keep the jar in its place until you feel like you are under a magical attack. When you feel like you are under a magical attack, take the jar out from its hiding place and shake it twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening) until you feel the attack has ended.
- Toss the jar into the trash when you move to a new home. Create a new jar as needed to return and reverse magical attacks.
Favorable Luck Jar
Good luck and good fortune are, in many cultures, signs of prosperity and success. Having good luck means that things which would challenge others comes easily to you. Use this jar to increase your good luck.Materials:
- Small Jar
- Pen and Paper
- 7 allspice kernels (to attract good fortune and good luck)
- 1 tbs ground basil (to attract wealth and success)
- ½ tbs dill (to bring in luck)
- 1 tsp nutmeg (for luck)
- The zest of 1 orange (for luck and money)
Working:
- Place the jar on your working area. Place the other materials around the jar, with the pen and paper being directly in front of you.
- On the paper, write out your desire to protect your family's good fortune and ensure and protect future good luck. When the petition has been written out, read the petition aloud and then fold the paper and place it into the jar.
- Place the allspice pieces into the jar. As you place the allspice into your, jar state: "Allspice attracts fortunes and luck. With its power I am no longer stuck."
- Sprinkle the basil into the jar. As you sprinkle in the basil, state: "For wealth and success."
- Add the dill to the jar, stating: "To bring luck to me."
- Sprinkle the nutmeg into the jar, stating: "To bring luck and wealth to my life. Nevermore shall I have any strife."
- Add the orange zest and state: "Luck and money come to me. Successful now I shall be."
- Take the lid and seal the jar. Once the jar is sealed, begin to shake the jar. As you shake the jar, recite the following chant 5-7 times: "Change of luck today. Great things on the way."
- Place the jar somewhere in your living room where it will be undisturbed. Once a week, take the jar down and shake it vigorously while reciting the same chant 5-7 times.
- Continue with this jar and the work for as long as you would like the have good luck and good fortune. When you no longer feel the need for the boost in good fortune and good luck dispose of all the herbal materials and wash the jar. The jar can be used in future spell work.
Dream Vacation Money Pot
This spell is to help you raise and save money for your ideal or dream vacation. In order for this spell to be successful, you need to have a savings account you can use to save for the vacation.Materials:
- 4 slips of paper
- Pen or pencil
- Tape
- Small Mason jar
- 5 Ttbs sugar (for attraction)
- 2 tbs cinnamon (for money)
- Spare coins and cash found around the home
Working:
- On the first slip of paper, write the words "Dream Vacation." Tape that slip of paper to the Mason jar with the words facing out.
- Take the second slip of paper and write out a draft petition outlining the dream vacation. When you have perfected the petition, rewrite the petition flawlessly on a clean slip of paper. Read the petition out loud. Fold the paper and place the petition in the jar.
- Use one of the scrap pieces of paper to design a sigil or symbol that represents your vacation.
- When you have a clear design, flawlessly copy the sigil onto the last piece of paper. Place the paper into the jar.
- Pour the sugar into the jar. As you add the sugar, state: "To attract to me, the money I need for the vacation I dreamed."
- Sprinkle the cinnamon into the jar. As you add the cinnamon, state: "Cinnamon spice, for a vacation that is nice."
- Add all of the coins and or cash you have found lying around to the jar.
- Place the lid on the jar and shake the jar vigorously. While you shake the jar, visualize yourself having that dream vacation. When you can no longer hold those images, release the image into the jar.
- Place the jar somewhere in your kitchen or living room where it will be undisturbed and able to be worked daily.
- Every day while you are out and about, pick up any small change you find. If the coins are head's up, pick the coin up with a thank you, and say: "Coins I do find, go towards the dream vacation of mine." If the coins are face down when you found them, flip the coin over three times and recite the above chant.
- When you get home, open the jar and place the gathered coins into the jar. Close the jar and shake it thoroughly. As you shake the jar recite the chant used while picking up the coins 7-9 times. Place the jar back in position.
- When the container is full empty, all but five coins and deposit the money into a savings account set aside for this dream vacation.
- Repeat steps 7-12 until you have all of the money required for your vacation. When you return from that vacation, dispose of the sugar and cinnamon. Clean the jar and set it aside to use in other magical works.
Modified Witch's Jar
Witch's jars are a traditional folk magic practice to protect against baneful magic and unwanted witchcraft. Traditionally these jars are buried under the front porch or step. This variation is ideal for those who can not bury their jars and need to keep them in the house.Materials:
- Small jar
- Photo/image of everyone in the house or personal effects (clothing, hair, nails, etc)
- Pen
- 5 paper clips (unfolded)
- 1 4" piece of aluminum foil
- 5 pins and/or needles (you can use one or the other or both)
- 5 tbs salt
Working:
- On the back of the photos, write the individual's name and date of birth. When using personal effects, just state the name of the individual as you place the materials into the jar. As the photos or personal effects are added to the jar, state: "May you act as a decoy for (name of individual in photo or whose effect it is)."
- Take the paperclips and fold and twist them into tight knots that can't be easily undone. Place each paperclip into the jar once it has been folded and twisted as much as you can. As you place each paperclip inside, state: "To confuse and confound all evil and unwanted sent to this home."
- Tear the 4" piece of aluminum foil into 5-7 small strips. Place these strips into the jar, stating: "To reflect back any magical attack."
- Add the pins and/or needles, stating: "To attack and harm any evil sent this way."
- Pour the salt into the jar. State: "Before any evil can be released, each grain of salt must be counted by that spirit force. They shall be trapped until they do so."
- Seal the jar with its lid.
- Shake the jar thoroughly to mix all of the materials. Place the jar somewhere in your kitchen or living room where it will not be disturbed. Keep the jar there until you move. Destroy the jar before you move to a new home. When you move to your new home, create a new jar.
Sour the Enemy
This spell is for when someone won't leave you alone and you need to teach them a lesson; use only after all other methods to stop the harassment have been used.Materials:
- Small pickle or relish jar (so, a "sour" jar)
- Pen
- Slip of paper
- Juice from 1 lemon (representing justice, this sours the target's life)
- 1 tsp mustard seed (representing chaos, discord, and justice)
- Vinegar (sours the target's life)
Working:
- On the paper, write out your target's name. If you know your target's date of birth, write that underneath their name. Place the slip of paper in the jar.
- Squirt the lemon juice over your target's name, and state: "For justice."
- Sprinkle the mustard seed into the jar, stating: "For the pain in my life you've given me, chaos and discord I send to thee."
- Pour the vinegar into the jar. Fill the jar halfway with the vinegar.
- Seal the jar.
- Shake the jar thoroughly. While you shake the jar, direct all your feelings of anger, frustration, etc. into the jar. See your target having the same amount of stress in their lives that they caused in your life. Hold those images and direct all of that energy into the jar.
- Place the jar in a dark space where it will not be disturbed.
- Twice a day, take out the jar and shake it vigorously. While you shake the jar recite the following chant 7-9 times: "Sour justice sent to thee, for the pain you have caused me."
- Repeat step 7 daily until your target has learned their lesson. Once they have learned their lesson, dispose of the materials outside of your home, releasing the spell.
For more information on container magic, check out my book, Container Magic: Spellcraft Using Sachets, Bottles, Poppets & Jars.
Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2023. All rights reserved.
- Double Vision: When Toddlers Talk to SpiritsContinue reading →
My family spends every Christmas at my parents' house, which is over 100 years old and has been in my family for at least three generations. My parents claim some odd things happened when they first moved in, such as furniture and objects being moved about. They say that these occurrences stopped when my older brother was born, but I have felt entities in the house throughout my life. Last Christmas my very verbal 14-month-old nephew was taking a nap in my parents' bedroom. When he woke up from his nap, he babbled and talked to himself quite animatedly for an hour. When I finally went up to get him, I asked him who he was talking to and he pointed at the wall and closet. I felt something else was in the room with us. How can I tell if my nephew is demonstrating normal toddler behavior or if he is really interacting with spirits? Would it be best to just see what happens as he grows? Thanks for your insights.
- L.
Astrea:
A hundred years! That's how old my house is too. Many people have passed through our houses, and a bit of energy from each one is bound to be trapped in them. The people who live there now will contribute to its future energy just as the people who lived there before your family moved in left a little something behind.
Your nephew is picking up on the same things most children his age know, the most important being that there isn't really much difference between people who are living in this dimension and those who have moved on to other worlds. We're all the same to him right now. He's not afraid, and unless someone teaches him to be afraid, he'll always be open to good energies.
You say your parents had some strange experiences in that house before your brother was born. Perhaps he was too sensitive to handle that energy, so his Guides and Guardians protected him from it by shutting down communication with the Spirit World until he grew up.
Your nephew is different. He draws that energy to him, and he enjoys the time he spends with it. It sounds like he's making friends with Angels and Spirits who are able to communicate with him. It's so great when there is a child in the family who can do that, especially if the grown-ups keep encouraging him to accept and expand his abilities.
I'm sure he's communicating with the people and animals that have gone before you in that house. There may even be some spirits lingering who have yet to go into the light. Talk to him about this even if he can't fully respond yet, for with the right encouragement, he can grow into someone who can help spirits cross over.
I don't think it's ever too early to mentor kids' psychic gifts, but there have to be limits and cautions, of course. At this age, he will naturally discern the basic goodness of the energies he encounters. There don't seem to be any negative forces at work around him, but watch out for that, just in case. Teach him to be careful, and if someone or something feels wrong to him, tell him not to play with that.
I hope you have his parents' cooperation to keep this going so that it remains a natural part of his life. Of course, this is
One of the Things We Don't Discuss at School,
but that can be explained to him when he's older. I had a long list of those things growing up, both for my own protection and my family's peace of mind.While you could wait to see how things develop with him, if he's not encouraged now, his natural ability may dry up before he has a chance to really explore his power. Little kids are open to this kind of thing, so if you encourage him now, he'll be psychically blessed throughout his life.
*****
Susyn:
You've just witnessed a well-known psychic phenomenon: small children can see, sense and communicate with spirits much more readily than adults can. In fact, many children under the age of five can also describe memories from when they were being carried in the womb, and some can even go into great detail about their memories of being in heaven as well as some of their recent past life experiences.
Because they haven't been cautioned, ignored or scolded for expressing their thoughts and beliefs yet, little kids are more than happy to share their amazing experiences.
I'm reminded of when my nephew was three years old and his favorite pet fish died. My brother and nephew had a little ceremony to
bury
the fish via the toilet, and afterward, my nephew turned to my brother and said,Now he is with my little sister in heaven.
Since my nephew was an only child, this struck my brother as extremely odd. He questioned my nephew further, and the toddler was adamant that he did indeed have a little sister and that she was in heaven. They never did figure out what that was all about, but it was remarkable to realize that the little guy seemed to have some strong beliefs about the spirit world.
It's hard to imagine an old home that doesn't house a few friendly ghosts. Further, it's much easier for them to communicate with toddlers than to get adults' attention. When they get frustrated (as you mention happened with your parents) that's when they are likely to move furniture and such just to make their presence known.
According to your question, your parents say the paranormal events stopped when your older brother was born. However, I'd be curious to know if he had one or more
invisible friends
who kept him company in his early years. He may not recall this now, but I wouldn't be surprised if the same spirits who were talking to your nephew that day paid your brother a few visits as well.I don't feel you need to worry about your nephew's safety here. I'm certain that if this had been a negative or malevolent entity, your nephew would have started crying instead of entertaining himself for an hour with his new invisible buddy.
If he is encouraged, then as he grows older he should continue to develop his natural psychic talents. However, if you treat this or other incidents with disbelief or alarm, he could do what many of us did when we had these experiences, which is to hide or deny them.
I encourage you to foster his gifts and invite him to share with you all that he sees and hears. Make it a fun game instead of something to be wary of. If you're lucky, he may even introduce you to some of his spirit friends!
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.