Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Anya. She lived in a small village on the outskirts of a dark and mysterious forest. The village was known for its superstitious beliefs and tales of magic and witches. Anya, however, was different from the rest of the villagers. She was not afraid of the forest nor the stories that were told. Anya had always been fascinated by the world of magic and witchcraft.
Wanderlust Book Tag
I found this tag over at Leigh Hecking’s blog, and I figured it would be a good tag for right now–since we can’t travel in quarantine, why not travel to all sorts of amazing places in books?
Okay, I know how corny that sounded, but really, I swear books have a property to magically transport you anywhere, if the writing’s good enough. I was reading The Black Witch yesterday, and I swear that the imagery made me smell freshly fallen rain on the grass. OOH.
Aaaaaanyway, this tag was created by Reading by Starlight.
THE RULES:
- Mention the creator of the tag and link back to original post [Alexandra @ Reading by Starlight].
- Thank the blogger who tagged you.
- Answer the 10 questions below using any genre.
- Tag 5+ friends.
SECRETS AND LIES: A book set in a small, sleepy town
Salem isn’t necessarily “sleepy,” but how it’s depicted in How to Hang a Witch certainly gives off those vibes.
SALT AND SAND: A book with a beachside community
Hey, Summer of Salt even has salt in the title! What a lovely book 💗
HERE THERE BE DRAGONS: A book with a voyage on the high seas
I need to go back and re-read Daughter of the Pirate King at some point, I remember loving it…
TREAD LIGHTLY: A book set down a murky river or jungle
Nothing creepier than a jungle on an alien planet, right? I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of A Conspiracy of Stars.
FROZEN WASTES: A book with a frost-bitten atmosphere
Even the Darkest Stars should instantly take the cake here. After all, it’s inspired by some of the early expeditions of Mt. Everest.
THE BOONIES: A book with rough or isolated terrain
The Pioneer has such a strange and fascinating–as well as uncharted by humans–landscape that I loved exploring.
HINTERLANDS AND COWBOYS: A book with a western-esque setting
…Um, I can’t think of anything that I’ve read off the top of my head…might have to skip this one…
LOOK LIVELY: A book set across sweeping desert sands
I read We Hunt the Flame last summer, and my memory’s a little shaky, but I loved it!
WILD AND UNTAMED: A book set in the heart of the woods
I still don’t understand why Cursed has such a low rating, I found it such a riveting reimagining of Arthurian legend.
WILDEST DREAMS: A whimsical book shrouded in magic
I just finished The Black Witch…AND I’M ABSOLUTELY SHOOK. EXPECT A REVIEW IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR SO.
I tag:
And anyone else who wants to participate! Have fun!
MAKING A DOOR LESS OPEN IS HERE! Definitely expect a review of this one soon…
That’s it for this book tag! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!
Magic and Wanderlust
I feel like people these days put too much value in physical offerings. Like, yeah some food and whiskey makes good offerings… But have you considered offering your time? Actions make just as good offerings. Like, you could learn a new hobby in honor of your ancestors because they themselves liked that hobby too. You could learn to play an instrument for them. You could literally just nod your head at their altar in acknowledgement. Time has just as much value as physical offerings.
Colors & Their Magickal Associations
Be it a satchel with herbs and crystals or candles for a simple spell, color has meaning and aid in our spell work.
Here are basic colors and some of their meanings, along with some herbs/flowers/plants/etc associated with those properties.
♡ Black
- Banishing: Cayenne, Clove, Dragon’s Blood, Feverfew, Garlic, Hot Pepper, Mugwort, Rosemary, Wormwood.
- Binding: Dill, Hydrangea, Ivy, Knotweed, Licorice Root, Morning Glory.
- Protection: Anise, Angelica, Bay, Basil, Cedar, Cinnamon, Cumin, Fennel, Leek, Pennyroyal, Rice.
♡ Blue
- Healing: Allspice, Bay, Cedar, Cypress, Juniper, Mugwort, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Saffron, Thyme.
- Peace: Gardenia, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Marjoram, Mint.
- Sleep: Bergamot, Chamomile, Lavender, Lettuce, Rosemary, Thyme.
♡ Brown
- Healing Animals: Allspice, Bay, Cedar, Cinnamon, Clover, Lime, Mugwort, Thyme.
- Home Protection: Anise, Basil, Bay, Caraway, Cedar, Clove, Cotton, Cumin, Fennel, Garlic, Ivy, Lavender, Leek, Marigold, Mint, Mugwort, Oak, Parsley, Rose, Rosemary, Sage.
♡ Green
- Beauty: Aloe, Avacado, Basil, Catnip, Chamomile, Lavender, Mint, Thyme, Tumeric.
- Luck: Allspice, Comfrey, Heather, Nutmeg, Oak, Orange, Rose.
- Money: Allspice, Basil, Cedar, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Jasmine, Orange, Pecan, Sesame, Spearmint.
♡ Orange
- Legal Matters: Buckthorn, Calendula, Hickory, Marigold, Skunk Cabbage.
- Success: Bay, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Marjoram, Rosemary, Safforn, St. John’s Wort
♡ Pink
- Romantic Love: Basil, Catnip, Clove, Clover, Coriander, Damiana, Gardenia, Ginger, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Rose, Thyme, Vanilla.
- Friendship: Bamboo, Gardenia, Lemon, Rosemary, Sweetpea.
♡ Purple
- Healing: Allspice, Bay, Cedar, Cypress, Juniper, Mugwort, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Saffron, Thyme.
- Power: Acorn, Black Haw, Cedar, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, Ginger, Rowan, St. John’s Wort, Sunflower.
- Travel: Comfrey, Dill, Fennel, Lucky Hand, Mint, Parsley.
♡ Red
- Courage: Basil, Black Cohosh, Chives, Horseradish, Nettle, Pepper, Sweatpea, Thyme, Yarrow.
- Lust: Avacado, Caraway, Cardamon, Celery, Cinnamon, Daisy, Garlic, Ginseng, Lemongrass, Licorice, Mint, Nettle, Pear, Periwinkle, Rosemary, Saffron, Vanilla, Violet.
- Power: Acorn, Black Haw, Cedar, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, Ginger, Rowan, St. John’s Wort, Sunflower.
- Sex/Sexual Potency: Banana, Bean, Black Cohosh, Caper, Dragon’s Blood, Fig, Grape, Hawthorn, Hazel, Mandrake, Oak, Peach, Poppy, Walnut, Wheat.
- Strength: Bay, Carnation, Mugwort, Mulberry, Pennyroyal, Saffron, St. John’s Wort, Sweetpea, Thistle.
♡ White
- Joy/Happiness: Catnip, Lavender, Marjoram, Saffron.
- Peace: Gardenia, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Marjoram, Mint.
- Protection: Anise, Angelica, Bay, Basil, Cedar, Cinnamon, Cumin, Fennel, Leek, Pennyroyal, Rice.
- Purification: Anise, Bay, Cedar, Coconut, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Lavender, Lemon, Parsley, Thyme, Tumeric.
♡ Yellow
- Divination: Camphor, Cherry, Dandelion, Fig, Goldenrod, Hibiscus, Lettuce, Meadowsweet, Orange, Pansy, Pomegranate, Rose, St. John’s Wort, Willow.
- Joy/Happiness: Catnip, Cinnamon, Feverfew, Hawthorn, High John the Conqueror, Hyacinth, Lavender, Lily of the Valley, Marjoram, Meadowsweet, Mint, Safforn, St. John’s Wort.
- Mental/Psychic Powers: Acacia, Bay, Caraway, Cherry, Citron, Dandelion, Flax, Grape, Mugwort, Orange, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Rowan, Rue, Spearmint, Star Anise, Thyme, Wormwood, Yarrow.
How To Sense Your Own Energy
Energy Work 101: Sensing Energy
When first trying to sense energy, it’s suggested you try on crystals and objects first.
The first step to learning to sense crystal energy is to discover which is your sending hand and which is your receiving. Although some ambidextrous people can sense energy equally in both hands, most people find they have one hand in which they feel energy more strongly. Typically, your receiving hand is your nondominant hand and it draws in universal energy. Your sending hand is your dominant hand (the hand with which you write) and moves energy out of the body and back out to the universe after the receiving hand has drawn it in. The process of sending and receiving energy is constant, but you can also consciously direct the energy flow, during healing and meditation, for example.
SENSING YOUR OWN ENERGY FIELD:
A simple way to become familiar with energy is to learn to sense your own. Start by rubbing the palms of your hands together to activate the tiny energy centers located here. Then draw your hands apart and slowly move them together, palms facing one another until you feel the quality of the energy shift or change. Continue moving your hands together and apart to become familiar with the feeling of your energy.
Don’t get caught up on if you can or cannot feel it right away. Use visualization if it helps you. You aren’t imagining it and you’re doing great. Take a minute to just play with the energy. Make it grow larger, make it tiny. Envision it turning into different elements, different shapes, moving around away from your hands using your will and intent to guide it. Play with it, see or sense it in your mind’s eye, and roll with it. It may seem silly at first, but I promise it works.
For some, sensing energy is difficult, it may come more naturally to others but don’t get discouraged. Keep practicing.
SENSING DEITY AND SPIRIT ENERGY:
One great way to get a feel for the energy of your spirits or deities is going to be to have them come to you and put their energy on your back or hands or whatever you feel is right for you. What does the energy feel like? Do you get any images from it? What color do they feel like? Hot or cold? What makes their energy different from others?
In my practice, Bast feels like red velvet. Hades feels cold but fatherly. Rhiannon feels like the color yellow and pale flowers, Medusa feels like staring up at the sun through a lemon tree. See how the energy of the deities feels to you. It may be different for everyone.
ARE YOU OVERTHINKING IT?!
Yeah, okay, we all overthink a lot of things in the craft especially when we first start out. We have no idea what we are doing and rely a lot on our peers or other witchcraft communities for guidelines and shit that, for the most part, may not even be needed.
Here are some frequently seen pitfalls that we can fall victim to and how to overcome them.
Anya had always been fascinated by the world of magic and witchcraft. She loved reading books about potions, spells, and mythical creatures. Her room was filled with books of all shapes and sizes, containing enchanted tales from distant lands.
“I saw a (insert random thing here). Could that be a sign?”
Nobody knows for sure, we weren’t there and we’re not you. Maybe it’s magical, maybe it’s just mundane. Always take into account other external factors in your mundane world before going directly to “it’s a sign!”
Maybe that flock of birds isn’t a sign, maybe it’s just migratory season for that bird.
Maybe all those spiders you are seeing aren’t a sign, maybe it’s just spider breeding season.
You get where I’m going with this? You can also ask for signs that are specific. BE SPECIFIC with the universe. You aren’t asking too much, the universe will answer you. You can ask for a specific sign that is a Color + Noun like an Orange Cat or a Blue Rose, something like that. If you’re not expecting a sign about a specific thing, let the Universe know what your standards are. “I will read things as a sign only if (blank).”
As she grew older, Anya's interest in the mystical arts only grew stronger. She would spend hours in the forest, collecting herbs and experimenting with different spell recipes. The villagers whispered that Anya herself could be a witch, as her knowledge of magical herbs and potions surpassed that of many regular villagers. Anya, however, never took these rumors to heart. She knew that her fascination with magic was simply a passion, not an indication of her being a witch. She loved the village and its people, and always strived to help them whenever she could. One stormy night, the village was attacked by a ferocious creature from the forest. The villagers were in a panic, not knowing how to defend themselves. Anya, ever the brave and resourceful girl, took it upon herself to confront the creature. She ventured into the forest alone, armed only with the knowledge she had acquired from her books. Anya found the creature, a massive wolf-like beast, and stood her ground. With a quick incantation and a few drops of a potion she had prepared, she managed to tame the creature. The villagers were astonished at the sight of Anya, standing proudly with the once-ferocious creature by her side. They realized that her love for magic had not made her a witch, but rather a defender of their village. From that day forward, Anya became a local hero. She continued to study the world of magic, using her newfound skills to protect and help her fellow villagers. The stories of Anya, the girl who defeated the creature from the forest, spread throughout the land, inspiring others to embrace their passions without fear. Anya's tale teaches us that it is not our interests or hobbies that define us, but our actions and intentions. She showed the villagers that magic and witchcraft can be used for good, and that passion should never be feared. Anya's story, a blend of magic and bravery, remains an inspiration for generations to come..
Reviews for "The Enchanted Art of Divination: Insights from Anya the Witch"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Anya the Witch". The story felt disjointed and poorly paced, with no clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth or development. Additionally, the writing style was bland and unengaging. Overall, I did not find this book enjoyable or worth my time.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I really struggled to finish "Anya the Witch". The plot was incredibly confusing and convoluted, making it difficult to stay engaged. The dialogue between characters was awkward and unnatural, making it hard to connect with them on any level. The overall writing quality was subpar, with numerous grammatical errors and typos. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - I found "Anya the Witch" to be a disappointing read. The story lacked originality and felt cliché, following predictable plotlines and tropes. The world-building was underdeveloped, leaving me with more questions than answers. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with long periods of nothing happening followed by rushed and resolved conflicts. Overall, this book had potential but failed to deliver a compelling and unique story.
4. Laura - 1/5 stars - I struggled to find anything redeeming about "Anya the Witch". The writing style was awkward and clunky, making it a chore to read. The characters were poorly written and lacked depth, making it impossible to invest in their journey. The plot was uninteresting and lacked any real surprises or twists. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
5. Michael - 2/5 stars - "Anya the Witch" was a disappointing read for me. The characters felt like cardboard cutouts, lacking personality and depth. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the story. Additionally, the pacing was slow and dragged on, causing my interest to wane. Overall, this book did not live up to its potential and left me feeling unsatisfied.