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What is Sympathetic Magick?

Sympathetic magick might not be a term you hear every day, even if you’re familiar with witchcraft and magickal practices. However, it’s a fascinating and very important concept with a rich history and a wide range of applications. Today, let’s explore what sympathetic magick is, how it works, and some practical examples of how you might use it. Understanding Sympathetic Magick Sympathetic magick is a type of ancient magick where objects associated with a target are used to influence that target. This practice hinges on the belief that there is a connection between the object and the target, allowing the practitioner to affect the target through the object. Imagine you have a doll that represents a person. By performing certain actions on the doll, you believe you can influence the person it represents. This is the essence of sympathetic magick – using a symbolic object to enact your will on something or someone else. Examples of Sympathetic Magick Poppets Poppets are one of the most well-known examples of sympathetic magick. These are doll-like figures that represent human targets. They are often filled with personal items, known as taglocks, such as hair or nail clippings from the person they represent. These items make poppets powerful tools because they create a direct link between the doll and the person. For instance, if you wanted to bring happiness to someone, you could make a poppet in their likeness and surround it with symbols of joy. Dress it in yellow, anoint it with a happiness-promoting oil, and place it in the sunlight. Each action enhances the connection and intention behind the magick. Event Influence Sympathetic magick isn’t just about people. You can use it to influence events too. Let’s say you want to attract more money into your life. You might create a charm using coins, or write a spell on a piece of currency. By incorporating symbols of wealth into your magick, you’re setting your intention to attract financial gain. Weather Control Another fascinating application of sympathetic magick is weather control. Suppose you want to bring about a storm. Finding a piece of charred bark from a tree that was struck by lightning can serve as a powerful tool. The bark symbolizes the storm, and using it in your spell connects your intention with the desired weather event. How Sympathetic Magick Works Like-Attracts-Like One of the core principles of sympathetic magick is the idea that like attracts like. This means that the method of the magick should reflect the desired outcome. For example, if you want to bring happiness to someone, you use symbols and actions that represent happiness. Creating a poppet and dressing it in yellow, a color associated with joy and sunshine, is a simple way to implement this principle. You could leave the poppet in the sunlight, anoint it with oils that promote happiness, or tie a yellow ribbon around it. Each step reinforces your intention through symbolic actions. Connection through Contact The second principle is that items once in contact with a person retain a bond with that person, regardless of distance or time. This is why personal items like hair and nail clippings are effective taglocks. They carry the essence of the person they came from, maintaining a connection no matter where they are used. This principle also applies to influencing events. For instance, using charred bark from a lightning-struck tree in a spell to bring about a storm relies on the idea that the bark retains a connection to the storm that created it. This enduring bond makes the object a potent tool in sympathetic magick. Versatility and Application of Sympathetic Magick Sympathetic magick can be subtle or elaborate, depending on your preference and needs. Whether you perform a small, private ritual or a grand, public display, the effectiveness of your magick lies in the intent and the symbolic connections you create between the object and the target. The beauty of sympathetic magick is its flexibility. You can adapt it to suit your style and the situation at hand. The key is to be thoughtful and deliberate in your choices, ensuring that every action and object aligns with your intention. Additional Considerations When practicing sympathetic magick, it’s important to consider the ethical implications. Using magick to influence others carries a responsibility to do no harm and respect the free will of others. Always approach your practice with integrity and mindfulness. Additionally, personal connection and emotional investment in the objects you use can enhance the effectiveness of your magick. The more meaning and intent you infuse into your practice, the stronger the connection and outcome will be. Understanding the cultural and historical context of sympathetic magick can also deepen your practice. Different cultures have their own interpretations and methods, offering number of techniques to explore.

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Phases of the Moon for Beginners

Throughout the millennia, the moon has been a huge presence on many ancient (and not so ancient) cultures and religions. And rightfully so! The moon greatly influences Earth, affecting the tides. Some people even believe that the moon affects humans. Research shows that violent crime does go up whenever it’s a Full Moon… Generally, across the cultures, the moon is seen as a symbol of femininity or portrayed as a goddess type being. We make this connection because of the similarities between the moon’s cycle of phases and the average menstrual cycle. While I’m not going to go into the nitty gritty details about the moon phases in this post, I think it’s important to know about eventually. This is even more true if you feel drawn to the moon or plan to do a lot of moon magick. Instead, I’m going to provide an overview of the moon phases and what they represent in magick. Why is knowing about moon phases important? I suppose before I begin, I should explain a bit why this post is even necessary. Bluntly speaking, the moon and its energy is very powerful. However, this energy is not always the same. Instead, different phases of the moon give off different kinds of energy. So why is this important? It makes sense to align your spellwork with a phase of the moon that provides the most suitable energy. While doing magick under a non-complementary moon isn’t going to make your ritual fail, it certainly will be a lot less powerful. By matching up the moon’s phases with the work you want to do, you can ensure an extra boost of moon energy! The moon’s eight phases Like I said, each phase of the moon represents something different. While this list isn’t exhaustive of everything that a moon’s phase represents, it’s a great starting point for the basics. This post is just about the moon’s phases. I’ll be covering the thirteen different moon names in a separate post so keep an eye out for that too. New Moon As it is named, a New Moon represents the start of a new cycle. It represents fresh starts and new beginnings in your life, both literally and figuratively. It’s a great time to set new goals for yourself and for your future. Best rituals: Waxing Crescent Moon The waxing crescent moon is the next phase in the moon’s cycle. Where you stated your future goals in the New Moon phase, now it’s time to start preparing and setting the groundwork for how to achieve them. Best rituals: First Quarter Moon Then, we have the first quarter moon phase. Now that we’ve started putting the pieces into place, we need to put in the work to achieve our goals. There’s a lot of great and powerful energy in this phase of the moon to help energize you to get it done! Best rituals: Waxing Gibbous Moon With the first quarter of the moon’s completion comes an increase in focus. It’s a great time to determine what plans we have are feasible and focus on the attainable goals. Best rituals: Full Moon Here’s the most famous phase of the moon! Remember how I mentioned above that crime increases during a full moon? It’s because the moon has its highest concentration of power at this phase and our intuition is most active. It’s also the time for us to reap the rewards of our efforts. Best rituals: Waning Gibbous Moon With this, we’re on the back half of the moon’s phases. After your efforts have been rewarded during the Full Moon, it’s time to give thanks for it. This phase is all about gratitude, appreciation, and happiness. Be thankful for what you have and share love with those you care about. Best rituals: Third Quarter Moon (Last Quarter Moon) Where the Waning Gibbous Moon is about appreciation and gratitude, the Third Quarter Moon is about shedding the things that are holding you back. It’s a time to let go of unnecessary burdens and determine the toxic parts of your life that are energy drains. This may be particularly challenging but it’s necessary for your own personal growth. Best rituals: Waning Crescent Moon Finally, we’ve come to the last moon phase in the cycle. You’ve done a lot over the last weeks and now it’s time to relax. This phase is all about recharging your body, mind, and spirit as not to over exert yourself. Also, you’re going to need some rest for the New Moon when the cycle starts all over again. Best rituals: Additional notes Northern vs Southern Hemisphere Moons There is a slight difference between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere’s moons. This post and the images used are reflective of the Northern Hemisphere’s moon. In the Southern Hemisphere, the moon is flipped 180 degrees. In other words, what appears to be a Waxing Crescent Moon in the North looks like a Waning Crescent Moon in the South. If you flipped a Waxing Crescent moon on its horizontal axis, see how it’s opposite and looks like it’s Waning now? I just mention this in case I have any readers in the Southern Hemisphere who may be confused as to how to use the guide above. The information is still the same! It doesn’t matter what your moon actually looks like because the moon is always in the same phase. The properties and characteristics are still the same regardless of what your moon looks like. Just wanted to put that out there! Other moon phase names People do have other names for the moon’s phases and additional phases. I even included one alternative in this post (Third vs Last Quarter Moon). Some people include ten phases of the moon with a Young Moon and Old Moon phase too. There are those who consider the moon to have twelve phases. Practice what you like, but I use the eight moon phase cycle as my base. Recommended apps If you’re like me

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