This is my "homework" for the mini course "Elements of Witchcraft". For any new witches here looking to start the mini courses, I recommend this being the second course to work on. Lesson 1 Activity: I touched a shrub outside my patio. I gently held my fingers against a branch and could feel a calm and gentle pull down towards the earth. As if it was saying, come sit with us. Lesson 2 Activity: I feel a lot of peace when I watch a flame or a fire not meant for destruction. I always have, this activity being no different. It is one of the main ways I've been re-centering myself when I have a rough day emotionally. However, I feel empowered, charged up, giddy almost, like I'm ready to burst with energy, when I watch fire used with the intent to burn something - like a bay leaf or papers. It inspires me to want to take action on something. Lesson 3 Activity: After Lesson 1, I held my hand out to the rain as it pour. I felt my energy be lifted to a more flowing, neutral place - like I could decide which direction to take my mood and spirit. Lesson 4 Activity: While still out of my patio, I took several deep breaths. I imagined any stagnant energy leaving my body with each breath. Afterwards, I felt lighter. Lesson 5 Activity: I sat outside and imagined the elements surrounding me. I kept getting the image of Aang surrounded by the elements in the avatar state from Avatar: The Last Airbender's finale episode. I tried to push that away to focus on my own connection and found my own image more of a bubble made of swirling rivers of elements encasing me like a cocoon and a light from within me turning us into something akin to living stained glass lamp. I felt powerful but peaceful. Lesson 6 Activity: I have always felt connection in some way to most of the elements: I am a Virgo, which is an Earth sign. I have had a fascination with fire from a young age and love campfires and candles and watching items burn (in a safe way, not a criminal way lol). And at heart I am a waterchild - I feel almost more at home in the water than on land and my comfort sounds always have to include a water element - a stream or waves crashing or a babbling brook or a waterfall. I have also felt more attuned to my personal self and spirit lately. So that leaves Air as the one element I need to work on connecting with and practice with the most.

This is my "homework" for the mini course "Candle Magic Basics". The photo included is all of my candles at the moment! Most are scented candles I've had on hand for a while and rotate depending on my mood and what mood I want to shift into. I also have some LED candles (one of which needs new batteries) that were used at my wedding, and I have some colored birthday candles that I got for spellwork. The center lit candle and a pink candle from the birthday pack are the ones I used for the activities in this course. Lesson 1 Activity: I lit a small scented candle that I've used before a few times. The wick has "flowered" and created a very round teardrop shaped flame. It was mostly steady with only light wavering unless I moved around or breathed too directly in its direction. I felt calm and focused staring at the flame. Lesson 2 Activity: Black feels like protection, shielding Purple feels spiritual, connected with your psyche Blue feels calming and centering These seem to match up with the listed uses for each color. Lesson 3 Activity: I carved a message of self-love into a pink candle. Lesson 4 Activity: Using the candle from Activity 3, I reminded myself of the reasons I am worthy of self love (besides just being a living creature and soul) - I am smart, I take care of my family, I am taking action to make my life what I want it to be, etc Lesson 5 Activity: I am going to be doing some "coursework" and research tonight, so I lit a candle with the intention of opening my mind and bringing in knowledge and wisdom. Lesson 6 Activity: I lit a candle made from wax poured into a metal container. Though small, it has many hours of burn time left so I will be interpreting the changes in wax after this burn session. The flame is moderate - not huge but not small. It completely envelopes the exposed wick and burns an additional 50% higher than the length of wick exposed. It does have some flickering, but mostly seems related to my own movements and breath patterns. It always returns to center and stability. I do not believe this candle is a good one for most spellwork or reading flames. It feels to me more like an ambience/mood shifting candle than one I would use for other spells. It could be an alter candle potentially, though i would get a new one and start fresh with it since that feels like the best way to honor the alter.

I had another first! I made my very own protection oil. I’m usually someone who buys products from other practitioners because I like to support and I lack confidence. I was super excited how it turned out, in my mini mason jar from the craft store. I added MANY herbs plus an incense blend I had for extra potency! That blend was to ward off any negative energy or entities. After I cleansed the jar I added pinches of various herbs (will list below). I used olive oil as my oil of choice. I placed a piece of black tourmaline in the jar to help “charge”, placed in the moonlight over night. Herbs I used: Black Peppercorns Clove Sage Rosemary Hyssop Bay Leaf “Dragon” incense blend - sandalwood, palo, frankincense, dragonsblood, and white copal

🔮 Question: “What ancestral wisdom do you wish to unlock?” 🌿 Activity: Offer water, food, or a candle to your ancestors. Ask them for one sign or whisper of guidance. Share any feelings, dreams, or signs you notice. Me: This is something that’s just always was for me. I’ll be building a spell or even making dinner. And all of a sudden, I’ll instantly have the knowledge of what to do next. However, I would like to potentially go back and figure out the knowledge on sound and frequency movement.

I’m taking a page from our girlie Sage and am making myself accountable… mostly because I truly think shadow work is SO important and I’ve spent lots of time in therapy through the years which helped with the tools/foundation but at the time I didn’t see real results. That’s because you get what you put in, if you’re not honest with yourself (or therapist/doctor) then how can you be helped?? This is me checking in with myself and truly seeing how far I’ve come. I do A LOT of self reflection… 📚Lesson 1: What is the Shadow? ✨ Activity: 3 traits I dislike in others - Lying, Manipulation and Negativity (like constant complaining). Are these traits I see in myself? Not a liar bc I hate being lied to and I grew up feeling like my whole Life was a lie. Manipulative behaviors, I used to do this shit as a teen but after realizing my toxic behaviors and correcting them I no longer do that and haven’t in decades. Negativity, this used to be me very pessimistic. I was mean, I complained all the time - very Debbie Downer. Now when I hear someone do this regularly I hate it! It drives me up a wall! 📚Lesson 2: Why practice Shadow work? ✨ Activity: Journal About a time conflict/challenge taught you something about yourself. Well, just recently I was very blindsided by someone who I thought was a friend and making mom friends who are like you is very hard… I was being used/manipulated. I felt like I had been slapped. I was forced to do some magical interventions and it taught me I’m stronger in my craft than I had thought - why do lack confidence?! You guys get to see the results bc I posted my spell work! 📚Lesson 3: Safe Exploration ✨ Activity: Light a candle or take deep breaths before journaling - deep breaths is my current choice 📚Lesson 4: Methods of shadow work ✨Activity: write to your shadow self and what it needs you to know... My mind is my own limitation, stop limiting yourself! 📚Lesson 5: Integration and healing ❤️‍🩹 ✨Activity: Write an affirmation that honors your light and shadow side - this is simple but “I am enough” this covers so much for me, strong enough, good enough, smart enough…