Five Ways To Let Out Your Inner City Witch By Gabriela Herstik

photo by Gabriela Herstik

Witchcraft takes skill, it takes practice. It takes creativity and an overwhelming sense of trust in your own intuition. And although a part of the mystique of the path is the beautiful and wonderful tools used to create magick, they are often unnecessary and expensive or inaccessible depending on where you live.

Many of us aren’t lucky enough to live in a spacious cottage in the middle of the woods with herbs and a hearth at our disposal. Maybe you don’t have an oak tree in your backyard or a flowing stream in which to release your spell- that’s okay. Thanks to the vastness and power of living in a city, you can still channel this modern sensibility in your magick by incorporating parts of your urban landscape into your practice.

Being a city witch isn’t all bad- here are five ways to work with what you’ve got (and you’ve got a whole lot, babe!)

photo by Gabriela Herstik

Use the correspondences that surround you
First things first, cities still have animals and their own energies. Okay so working with a pigeon or crow may not as sound as whimsical as working with a raven or fox, but it still does the job. Need a correspondence for determination no matter the obstacles in your path? Work with the pigeons.  Need resilience, adaptability and endurance? How about working with a cockroach? The key here is creativity, being able to adapt your surroundings to serve in your highest favor (which sounds a lot like witchcraft itself, doesn’t it?) You can even work directly with your surroundings, ie the skyscrapers and overwhelming vastness of whatever city you live in. Weave the stature of those buildings into your own magickal working, charm or sigil and you’ll be reminded of your own strength every time you step outside. Oh and don’t disregard graffiti and street art- channel that as some major sigil inspiration.

Find your own sacred space
Although sacred space is in less abundance in a metropolitan environment, it’s still there- you just have to search for it. Explore, wander and adventure your way to a park, field or cemetery that holds your fancy. Be smart- don’t go to a sketchy area, especially alone! It’s sad, but especially as women, we have to be on our toes when it comes to safety- you want all of your energy to go into your magick, and having a SAFE sacred space will make this so much easier. Finding a special place that’s yours is the goal, but even if you’re sharing a park in NYC with hundreds of your closest friends, you can still tap into the energy and work in the astral to create some magick. Cemeteries are a really beautiful space to tap into the transformative nature of death, and often they are safe but not very busy. Wander and find a space that holds your passions.

Shop the shops
Here’s where living in a city can play to your advantage: you’ve got the shops! You’ve probably got at least one Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or Earthfare. You may even have a local metaphysical shop (or ten if you’re in Brooklyn). USE THAT ISH TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. Even if you’re just heading to the nearest health food store for some Nag Champa incense and some dried herbs, you’re still harnessing the modern powers at play, this time through shaking what the universe gave ya, so to speak. So do YOU, head to that crystal store or weird bookstore and get yourself the Carnelian, Quartz, and Book of Shadows of your lucid dreams!

photo by Gabriela Herstik

Bring the outdoors, indoors
Even if you have a black thumb and can’t take care of ish, adopting a plant, even if it’s a succulent or an orchid, is sure to enhance your witchy experience. Working with elementals in your own space is especially important for the city witch who doesn’t have easy access to nature- but wants all the jujus that a plant babe will bring. Start a windowsill garden, adopt a few different plants in potters or have a single pot with multiple compartments for an herb garden of your choice. By working with the faeries and correspondences of your chosen plant you’ll not only develop a relationship but also reap some beautiful rewards.

Use that luck(y penny)
One of the coolest parts about living in a city, no matter how big or small it is, is the array of humans that it brings along. Think of all the stories, all the wisdom, all the hurt, all the heartbreak and all the LOVE that are suspended in the single city you live in. We are all souls with our own stories and being aware of that fosters connection and friendship and the most beautiful of things. So, city witch, use the energy that surrounds you to really amp up your magick game. Collect pennies you find in a jar for a luck charm, buy flowers from different vendors each week and dry them, collect the cool and pretty things that people have left behind as a reminder that your story is never ending. Use the pieces of peoples stories that they are willing to share with you to create your own story and magick and you will never be alone.

Full Blue Moon In Aquarius

Full Moon in Aquarius

A full Moon between July 23 and August 23 will be in Aquarius. Be prepared for an electrical full moon, this is the brightest moon of the year and anything can happen, expect the unpredictable. By some definitions, the full moon July 31st is blue; and it is called this because it is the second full moon in one month. However, by  older definition, if there are four full moons in an astronomical season versus the normal three, the third full moon of the four is then the Blue Moon. Which is a rarer occurrence than the above.

This potent moon energy is for wishes to come true and all workings pertaining to:

• Creating detachment/releasing what no longer serves.
• Inspiration
• Humanitarian efforts
• Telepathy
• Expanding your social circle
• Healing problems with the ankles

The Aquarius Full Moon says “I experience”. This is a transit dealing with facts,organizing, political issues, desires to save the world through social action, connecting with others in social situations, detachment, and the need to come and go without restrictions.

Aquarius Moon  is a dramatic mood change, where Capricorn valued tradition and caution, Aquarius’ energy craves anything new, innovative, different or unconventional. Expect extremes of optimism and pessimism but take time to relax into yourself, meditate, breathe, allow for your expansive nature to appear. During this lunar transit, women may feel the need to be friendly and social but don’t want to be too personal or go too deep.

The Aquarius moon energy is  detached/rational rather than emotional, and will change only if it’s logical to do so. Freedom is very important right now, so live with as few restrictions as possible, and please be careful  with what you ask for, the full Blue Moon will give you everything in double measure. Take the time to contemplate on your wishes and dreams, write them down

• A Full Moon in Aquarius Mantra: "Can I hold my vision steady, knowing I create the world I want by the power of my vision and thoughts?”

Moon Honoring Ritual

This ritual can take place during a full moon circle with a group, or be a private ritual with yourself. I prefer to be alone & outside under the full moon. But if this is not possible, It can also be done sitting, standing, or facing a window with the moon’s rays shining in on you.

Start by cleansing & raising the energy of your sacred space by either casting a circle of protection, smudging, playing a crystal bowl or chanting. Chanting breaks down any inner resistance quite nicely and is a magical journey inside yourself, chanting also raises the energy for the moon energy you're going to take in .

Place your hands with palms facing the moon, index fingers and thumbs touching, forming the sacred triangle, or sign of the yoni. spread your fingers as wide as possible, so they are receptors for moon energy. After you chant to raise power, focus all your energy and vision on mother moon and draw her energy down into your body. move your hands (if desired) back and forth, from an arms outstretched position to your heart center and back again. After a few minutes of holding your hands up to the moon you can feel them tingle . This is the magical energy. I usually take 15 - 20 minutes to allow her glowing radiant energy into me , but you may take more or less time, there are no rules. Close your ritual by thanking The Moon, your guides, and those present in your circle. Or you may go about closing your circle in a more traditional manner. As i've said there is no right or wrong, other than what feels good for you, or your group.

New Moon In Gemini

The New Moon in Gemini

This is a time of communication and other means of expression, freedom, adaptability, reading, writing, and a desire for having variety. Which usually means having and taking on more things than you can handle at once. You might be feeling more social and talkative with our moon in the chatty mercurial sign of Gemini. All communication (talking, writing or reading) all matters of intellect are easier to express during Gemini moon. The tarot suit of swords is ruled by AIR (intellect) and the ace of swords is a card that represents raw power, victory, and mental clarity. As does working with clear crystal Quartz the amplifier, and ruler of the higher chakras. Crystal Quartz has the ability to give insight and mental clarity when our minds are feeling cloudy and foggy much like the power of mercury, and the swift electrifying energy of the swords suite.

Ritual: Use this creative moon to set new goals for yourself by using our New Moon guide to creating meaningful personal rituals HERE

Quartz Crystal meditation:

• select a room that is quiet and softly illuminated. Preferably, the room you choose will be the same room you use for each of your meditation periods. If at all possible, try to schedule your meditation time and durations at the same time and at the same time of day
• Clothing should be comfortable and shoes should not be worn.
• Select your quartz crystal (a single or double terminated generator is suggested) about palm sized or larger and bless your crystal in advance by any of the methods I have listed here you may even place the crystal in the sunlight for an afternoon.
• Once you are seated in a comfortable position, begin a rhythmic breathing sequence by inhaling deeply through the nose, holding the breath for three seconds and slowly exhaling from the mouth. As you inhale, visualize cleansing golden/white light vibrations entering your body through your nose, and traveling down your trachea and filling your lungs, chest cavity and heart center with warm, glowing sensations.
• As you exhale, visualize discordant vibrations, tension, confusion, and stress leaving your body through your mouth in dark, cloudy swirls of energy. Bless yourself, and your discordant vibrations in the name of Spirit or any deity you deem fitting when you seek comfort, protection, and solace. Cast these discordant vibrations unto the ether to find peaceful resolution.
• Pick up your clear quartz crystal with your left hand and begin to gaze upon it, observing the unique features it has to offer (rainbows, chlorite phantoms, healed fractures, mists, etc) allow your consciousness to merge with your crystal.
• As you inhale, use both hands to hold your crystal. Feel the transmuted energy, peacefully flowing into your hands. Let the crystal tell you about itself.
• Your crystal may seem to come alive in your hand, you may experience warm, tingling sensations in your hands. For some these sensations may be calming giving you feelings that instantly make you feel at peace, or this may be a gradual process.

Gemini Moon Affirmation: "I let go easily and quickly. I communicate well and teach that skill to others."

meditating with the Gemini new moon & quartz crystal will offer much clarity to confusion, worry, or doubts in your mind. Making you feel weightless. Allow yourself to breathe deeply and be still. When you are ready to return from your meditation, count slowly from 10 to 1 and open your eyes.

 

The Hoodwitch x Black Girl In Om

photo by Michael Pierce

Explore the voices, rituals, and divinity of Black Girl In Om's magical Issue 003: Spirituality. In this special issue Thehoodwitch.com 's founder Bri Luna discusses her personal journey, Goddess archetypes, energy clearing, and celebrating life by the cycles of the moon.

Read the full story HERE.

Full Moon In Scorpio Wellness

A full Moon that occurs between April 21st and May 21st will be in Scorpio.

Use this moon for:

• Purging intense emotional matters  such as: guilt, lust, or obsession.
• Keeping things secret.
• Solving mysteries and getting to the root of the issue.
• Concentration, and exam revision.
• Healing the sexual organs.

Scorpio Full Moon is a time of Death and rebirth (not necessarily physical death), intensity, extremes, and heightened sensitivity. It is good for focusing, being sexual, and also doing psychic work because of the deep emotions and desires Scorpio brings. Since sensitivity is heightened, this moon is a wonderful time to deeply connect and feel the Goddess, especially the dark Crone Goddesses. During the Scorpio full moon opinions and feelings are intense and penetrating. Strong desires, especially sexual yearnings , run deep with emotions at their peak.

Be cautious of emotional resentments, as this is a time where past feelings can surface and block your very heightened creative energy, so fight the urges to be suspicious, secretive, and moody. This is a time of regeneration, and cleaning out of emotional debris from the previous month. There is great energy to complete things and focus on certain areas that you have found yourself too scattered to deal with the previous cycle. Take the time now for sexual exploration, as well as relaxation.

Rituals

Full Moon in Scorpio (Taurus Sun) rituals are high energy and psychic. The veil is thin between the worlds, so during your Scorpio full moon rituals the Goddesses joins the circle easily. Anything that you can do in the two to three Scorpio days for the region of the sexual organs has a doubly beneficial preventative and healing affect, as Scorpio rules the sexual organs. Anything that puts a heavier burden on the sexual organs and urinary tract has a harmful effect during this transit than any other days. If you are able to postpone surgery or operations on the sexual organs during this time, it is best. Expectant mothers should also be cautious to stay clear of any heavy strain/exertion during this time. As  it is believed that miscarriage occurs easily during the Scorpio full moon.

• Vaginal steams/healing baths with herbs such as: Yarrow, rose, jasmine, raspberry, holy basil can be used as a healing aid for women during this full moon. Vaginal (Yoni) steaming is effective because the soft tissues of a woman's vagina are extremely porous and quickly absorb the vapors of the steam. The heat of the steam stimulates circulation and blood flow to the pelvic area, and combined with the medicinal benefits of the herbs, will nourish, tone, and cleanse the vaginal tissues and whole pelvic region. *Please do not use vaginal steaming if you are: pregnant, menstruating,  or if there is infection present.
• Healing baths
• Meditation and/or releasing ritual.
• Healthy sexual play

Erotic Bath

• 4 drops essential oil of neroil
• 4 drops essential oil of tuberose
• 4 drops essential oil of ylang ylang

These essences added to the bath or blended into massage oil have been said to put women in the mood, and the fragrance worn on a woman's skin serves to put men in the mood, or whoever you intend to attract.

 

Meditation

Light a deep red candle and burn incense of or oil of Myrrh or ginger. Sitting in silence, breathe in the sign of Scorpio and place it in your heart center. visualize the color scarlet surrounding you, and breathe that color into your heart, allow it to fill you with stregnth, courage, intensity, and passion. Honor these powerful energies and ask that they be used to assist in the journey to transform lower nature into your highest good.