Witch Life: A Practical Guide to Making Every Day Magical

By Emma Kathryn

No Matter What Magical Path You Walk, This Book Will Inspire and Renew Your Practice

In today's world, it can be hard to find time for magic—but this practical guide helps keep you inspired and connected to your spirituality. Designed so that you can easily choose a spell, meditation, or ritual to suit your needs, Witch Life is the perfect tool for making your practice thrive, even in the busiest times.

Emma Kathryn presents spells and workings for nearly every purpose, from protection rituals and kitchen witchery to candle magic and spirit work. She encourages you to explore healing and hexing magic, moon and plant magic, and magical crafts. You'll also enjoy exciting ways to celebrate the sabbats, harness the elements, and more. From worshipping deities to creating charms, this book offers something for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
• Release date: Jan 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9780738768786

Emma Kathryn

Emma Kathryn (Nottinghamshire, UK) is a staff writer at Witch Way Magazine, The House of Twigs blog, Stone, Root, and Bone blog, the Spiral Nature blog, and Gods & Radicals. She hosts Wild Witch Podcast and has spoken at several UK Pagan events, including Magickal Women Conference in London. Visit her online at www.EmmaKathrynWildWitchcraft.com.

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About the Author

Emma Kathryn (Nottinghamshire, UK) is a staff writer at Witch Way Magazine, The House of Twigs blog, Stone, Root, and Bone blog, the Spiral Nature blog, and Gods & Radicals. She has spoken at a number of UK Pagan events, including Magickal Women Conference in London, and she has been interviewed on The Witch Daily Show podcast.

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Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Witch Life: A Practical Guide to Making Every Day Magical © 2022 by Emma Kathryn.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

As the purchaser of this e-book, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. The text may not be otherwise reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or recorded on any other storage device in any form or by any means.

Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the author’s copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition © 2022

E-book ISBN: 9780738768786

Book design by Samantha Peterson

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

Interior art by Llewellyn Art Department

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Emma Kathryn, author.

Title: Witch life : a practical guide to making every day magical / Emma

Kathryn.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, MN : Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd,

2022.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021043436 (print) | LCCN 2021043437 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738768649 | ISBN 9780738768786 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Witchcraft. | Magic. | Occultism.

Classification: LCC BF1566 .E46 2022 (print) | LCC BF1566 (ebook) | DDC

133.4/3—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021043436

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021043437

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to current author websites.

Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

For my family, living and dead,

blessed are we for the bonds we share.

contents

disclaimer

introduction

one: Basics

two: The Sabbats

three: Moon Magic

four: Elemental Magic

five: The Tarot

six: Casting, Dowsing, Scrying & Writing

seven: Amulets & Talismans for Protection

eight: Baneful Magic, Banishing & Binding

nine: Healing & Health

ten: Plant Magic

conclusion: As We Will It, So Shall It Be!

further reading

glossary

disclaimer

The information given in this book is in no way intended to replace professional and medical help and support. You should always consult your doctor or healthcare professional before using any treatments given in this book. The publisher and the author of this work cannot accept any responsibility for any consequences incurred from following the instructions and recipes contained within.

introduction

Hail and welcome, fellow seeker!

Witchcraft and magic are old and ancient, their histories entwined with our own, inextricably so; and yet, they remain strong, constant. Ancient and modern. Because witchcraft is so varied and brimming with the richness of diversity, this book isn’t one of instruction along a particular path or tradition; therefore, this book can be used by anyone. Look at me, a mixed-heritage woman practicing traditional British witchcraft, Obeah—and a Vodou initiate to boot!

My heritage is an important aspect in my own path. My father came to the UK from Jamaica as a child with his parents during the Windrush era, and Jamaican culture has always had an influence on my life. As a biracial woman with Caribbean and British ancestry, I always had a nagging feeling that whatever path I was interested in, one or other aspect of my heritage was being ignored. Since incorporating all aspects of my heritage into a unique blend of traditional British witchcraft and Obeah, those nagging doubts have disappeared and I’ve felt more confident in myself and my witchcraft. The blend has also focused my craft and acted as a springboard into other areas of the occult. I guess what I am saying is that you have the power to choose your own magic, and this book allows for that individual style and indeed encourages it. After all, we are witches, capable of willing our desires into concrete existence.

It is also my hope that this book will help make witchcraft more accessible. I drew on my own experiences of trying to forge a deep and meaningful practice while also raising a family and going out to work. After coming to terms with what my craft would look like and what I would like to include, I still had all those daily life things to contend with! The truth is that finding the time to practice witchcraft in a way that is meaningful can be difficult. We all have constraints, those things that mean we only have limited time and space to get down to the nitty gritty of actually doing something. In writing this book, I hope to share some of the rituals, spells, and different ways of making magic that I have found useful in my own work.

This book is not witchcraft by numbers but rather one to inspire and renew your practice; a book that brings magic back into the realm of the everyday. It brings the focus back onto practical magic, of doing the work and putting in the effort. In doing so you will develop a practice that is strong and sound, based on your own lived experiences, all of which will ultimately make your own witchcraft meaningful and powerful.

Within these pages you will find spells, rituals, incantations, meditations, and more for each day of the year, all designed with the aim of bringing magic into our daily lives. You may wish to read it cover to cover (and I must admit I am a devourer of books, especially those with a magical edge!) or you might instead wish to dip in and out as and when needed.

I often say when it comes to magic, take what works for you and adapt that which does not, for witchcraft has always been adaptable, ready to roll with the challenges and change accordingly. To evolve. As such, this book is for everyone no matter what crooked path you walk. The truth is that witchcraft is unique to the witch. There’ll be things you do that are similar to the way others practice, and there will be others that are totally your own; but having a good understanding of some key concepts and basic workings will help you decide what is right for you and what isn’t.

When I think back to my own first serious foray into non-

Wiccan witchcraft, I remember feeling lost. Where to start? The internet is full of conflicting information and advice, so it can be difficult to know what to believe. A good start is for the seeker to discern what is fact and what is opinion.

Learn to trust your instincts. If something sounds like a pack of lies, then it probably is. Do not be afraid to question everyone and everything. The more you do this, the keener your instincts will become. Your gut feeling is often never wrong—something I think everyone has learnt through experience at one time or another. How many times have I done something even though it just felt wrong? Countless!

Learning to trust your instincts is hard: We have been conditioned our whole lives to rely on logic and reason alone. So give yourself time and learn from your mistakes. As my boxing coach often says, a loss isn’t really a loss if you learn from it and come back better and stronger. He also says there’s no such thing as a champion who’s never lost, and these both apply to witchcraft too! There’s no such thing as a witch who’s never had a working or ritual go wrong or not work, for whatever reason, or had a bout of lack of self-belief, but it’s all a learning curve!

Witchcraft is a lifelong path, and I truly believe that we never stop learning, that we never stop seeking. It is easy to feel lost, to find the way covered in the detritus of those who came before, but we are witches. We have the power to forge our own path, our own traditions.

It doesn’t matter whether you are just beginning on your journey and are perhaps looking for a little advice or direction, or whether you are a seasoned spell caster on the lookout for new ideas and inspiration—all are welcome here. So grab a brew or something stronger and let’s make our days overflow with magic!

[contents]

one

basics

Whatever your beliefs, interests, and practical experiences, whether you are totally new to witchcraft or not, there are those things that will give a foundation to your magic. Most of these things span traditions and practices and can be seen as the bread and butter of magical practice. In this first chapter we will explore the basic concepts and practices of witchcraft, from setting up and using an altar to circle casting and sacred space. These basics of the craft will give you a solid foundation from which to build your own witchcraft practice, leaving you in good stead to pursue magic in all its forms.

In common usage, the term basic has become something of a slur, especially on social media with trends such as #basicwitch. The truth is though that these basics are the most important aspects of witchcraft no matter your tradition, and a failure to understand them and master them will leave your practice hollow. Nothing strong can be built on weak foundations and this is certainly true when it comes to witchcraft.

For more experienced witches, re-examining the basics with a seasoned eye and deeper practical understanding can shed new light on old ideas, which can lead to a more meaningful craft.

The Altar

An altar is an important part of a practical witchcraft practice and as you work though this book, you will be asked to set up an altar or spend time at your altar frequently, whenever you do ritual and spell work. It acts as a focal point—somewhere you can go for focussed work, helping you to get into the right mindset for magic. An altar is also somewhere you can keep your ritual tools safe, and it may even be a permanent consecrated or sacred space.

Altars can be either a permanent feature, or something more temporary. If you have enough space in your home and want a permanent altar, then great! Choose somewhere that has enough space for you to work in and enough space for you to keep your altar items and tools—a clear shelf or dressing tabletop is perfect.

However, having a permanent altar is not always possible. Perhaps you live with others in a shared space, or maybe you are not in a position to be totally open with others about your witchcraft. Maybe you simply do not have the space for a permanent setup. Whatever your reasons for choosing a permanent or portable altar, each option is totally viable and doesn’t mean that one way is better than the other. Witchcraft is adaptable and witches are the queens of making things work for them!

You Will Need

• A box or an empty tabletop (an empty shelf will work well too)

• Representations of the elements (Earth can be a pot of soil; Air is represented by incense—any kind you like the scent of is perfectly acceptable for altar incense; Water can be a bowl of water; Fire can be a candle)

• An altar candle (this can be any type of candle to which you have access, though tapered or pillar candles will last longer than tealights)

• An offering bowl

• A chalice or glass for liquid offerings

These are really the basics of what you need for an altar, however, if you are interested in working with a particular deity, you might want to include a statue or picture of them. You may also wish to keep any items that hold a special or significant meaning to you on your altar, including stones, crystals, or seasonal decorations.

Method

There is no wrong or right way of setting up your altar and much of it will depend on your own aesthetic tastes. A basic method though is to set the element representations up by placing Earth to the North, Fire to the South, Air in the East, and Water to the West with an altar candle in the centre along with any stones and statues.

Play around with the design until you are happy with it. Keep your altar clean.

For a portable altar, all you need is a box or container in which you can keep your altar items. There will be some differentiation though, because the idea of having something more portable or temporary is that it can moved around as needed—so tealight candles are perfect for a portable altar, as is a shot glass instead of a chalice. When setting up your portable altar, simply unpack your items and set them up using the same directions given for a permanent altar.

It’s also worth mentioning that altars can be set up for working outside or when away from home. If you have a portable altar, then you may wish to take it with you and set it up in the area you are working in. If you have a garden or outdoor space, then you can set up an outdoor altar easily enough by choosing somewhere that is private. You can use natural items and decorations to represent the elements; for example, a suncatcher can represent Fire, a string of pinecones or nuts for Earth, a windchime for Air, and a birdbath for Water.

Crafting an Altar Box

Not everyone has the space or inclination to have a permanent altar in their home. Perhaps you only have a small living space. Maybe you travel often and don’t have the time to maintain a permanent altar. Whatever the reason, crafting an altar box is a great way of keeping your ritual tools safe as well as providing a portable altar. Plain wooden boxes can be bought cheaply at craft shops, or you can scour secondhand shops and flea markets for old pre-loved ones. You can even use an old shoe box.

There is no right or wrong way to decorate your altar box, but it will add to your practice to use symbols, colours, and materials that mean something to your practice. In addition to my permanent altar, I have a couple of altar boxes at home. These were plain wood when I first got them, so I decided to use pyrography to decorate them, burning veves into them.

If you wish to stain your wood, then a coffee stain works particularly well and is full of magical correspondences. Dissolve two tablespoons of coffee in a little water and use a brush or sponge to apply to the box. Test your wash first and add more coffee to darken and more water to lighten. When your box has dried, mix beeswax with coconut oil and rub it into the wood (to help bring out the grain and seal it), buffing with a dry, soft cloth.

If you want to add colour to your altar box then I suggest using acrylic paints as the colours stay bright and vibrant, and once dry they are pretty permanent. Decoupage is another way of adding colour and images and can be used on wood or cardboard. To decoupage, find an image you like on paper and cut it out carefully, removing as much of the background paper as possible. Using PVA glue, stick the image down and cover the whole surface in a layer of glue. PVA dries clear so don’t worry about obscuring the image. When it has dried, apply another layer and continue to do this until you have built up a thick, lacquered look and you can no longer feel the outline of the image.

There is no right or wrong way, so allow your personal tastes to reign free and allow your creativity and flair to flow!

To Cast or Not to Cast

To cast a circle is to create a sacred space in which to do spell work, ritual, and so on. That is one of the first things we learn when it comes to practical witchcraft.

Why the need for sacred space? There are a number of reasons —for example, to create a safe working environment, one that you control, a space where negativity has been banished. Casting a circle also acts as a barrier between the mundane, everyday world and yourself. This barrier keeps any raised energy condensed within it until the witch decides it is time to send her energy and will out into the world.

A circle is also a good way of inviting the upper and lower realms into ritual. Though we say circle casting, in truth, it is really a sphere, a bubble that includes the under world, sometimes referred to as the realm of the dead, as well as the upper realms which include the celestial and spiritual realms.

I would definitely suggest a protective circle for any spirit or necromancy work, at least until you are proficient and can recognize those spirits with which you work and have built up a trusting relationship.

With all that said, the need to cast a circle doesn’t always arise, and will be largely dictated by the working itself and where it will be held. When at home (and again, unless working with spirits), or in the woods, I do not usually cast a circle. These places are already sacred to me, and so, if the aim of the circle is to create sacred space, it is a waste of time and energy. Ultimately, it is up to each practitioner to decide what is best for them.

I also suggest practicing basic circle casting techniques, even if you have decided they are not for you. You never know when an emergency may arise. It’s better to have that knowledge and skill set and not ever need it than to not have it and find yourself caught short. If anything, a witch should always be prepared!

There are many ways of casting a circle, no doubt as many as there are traditions! If you like high magic, then a good Wiccan casting method is more than adequate. If that seems a bit like too much for what is needed, then a basic circle casting is fine.

I do welcome the elements, and describe what each element means to me, and how they enrich my life, thanking them for the gifts they give freely and recognising them within myself. I call to the features that dominate my landscape, the river and the woods, the elder tree in my garden, and the old walnut tree just a few streets from my house.

Make your circle casting mean something to you, call what feels natural and relevant to you. Use your own wildness and the wildness where you live to inspire not only your circle casting, but your witchcraft itself.

You may wish to mark out the circle visually, perhaps using cord, candles, soil, salt, or cornmeal, making sure you have everything you need for your spell or working set up inside the space, including an altar. Alternatively, you can use your ritual knife, athame, or even your index finger to mark out the circle. As you cast the circle you may wish to chant:

This sacred space I dedicate,

Filled with love and never hate.

Next, invite the elements into the circle. You can do this by simply naming them, though I like to say a few words to describe what these mean to me. If you wish to invite a deity or spirit into this space, then call to them and do so.

When the working is finished, it is time to let down the circle. Doing