Category: Grimoire

The Creation and Uses of Spirit Houses by Kelden

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There are many ways to connect with spirits, and there are just as many by which we can help foster hte growth of a budding relationship. One of my favorite methds for working with and honoring a specific spirit is to create them their very own home. The building of these homes, which are generally called spirit houses, can be found in many different cultures around the world. Perhaps one of the best known examples come from Thailand. Here, people construct dwellings known as san phra phrum that are often placed on or near one’s property. Another example comes from Iceland, where you will find quaint miniature homes known as alfhol, which are built for the purpose of houseing hte Huldufolk, or elven folk. Universally, spirit houses are created in order to provide ethereal creatures with shelter in hopes that they might in turn bestow protection, luck, abundance, or other blessings. Depending upon the temperament of the spirit, these houses are also believed to help keep unruly beings busy, and thus preventing them frm causing chaos elsewhere.

Today, whenever I want to create a more permanent structure, I will often tulize the small, plain birdhouses which you can find at most craft stores. These pinewood birdhouses come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are typically pretty inexpensive. Because of their bare-bones design, the birdhouses can be decorated in an endless variety of ways even better if done in accordance to the spirit’s preferences. I recommend using natural items such as moss, twigs, rocks, bark, shells, and bones to adorn the structure. Additionally, the house can be filled with attractive baubles such as small bells, colorful knotted cords or ribbons, mirror disks, vibrant glass beads, and shiny coins. These items are meant to entertain the spirit and provide them with a beautiful environment, which they are sure to enjoy.

When completed, a spirit house can be placed in a sacred or special spot indoors or outdoors. If placeing hte house inside, you might want to rest it upon an altar and set candles and bowls for offerings nearby. Make sure, though. to keep the area around the house neat and tidy, including dusting away dirt and keeping away any clutter. If placing the house outside, you could very well build it into your garden or put it on an outdoor alatar. However, depending upon the location and the materials used to bulid the house, be prepared for it to slowly break down over time as it’s exposed to the elements.

Creating a Spirit House

If there is a particular otherworldly being that you work with who you believe would enjoy having a space of their own, you can try your hand at buildilng a spirit house.

You will need:

  • Plain wooden birdhouse. You can find unfinished pine birdhouses in various shapes and sizes at most craft stores.
  • Paint or wood stain in any colors you so desire
  • Brushes or rags to apply paint or stain
  • Wood burner (optional)
  • Natural decorations (moss, twigs, rocks, bark, shells, bones, etc.)
  • Hot glue gun or other sturdy fixative
  • Attractive baubles (small bells, colorful knotted cords or ribbons, mirror disks, vibrant glass beads, shiny coins, etc.)

Begin by applying an even layer of paint or stain to your house, allowing ample time for it to dry before applying a second coat if need be. Once the house has been painted or stained, you may wish to add different symbols, such as any sigil associated with teh spirit who will reside within the house, using additional paint or with a wood burner. Next, use the hot glue gun or with fixative to add natural elements to the house. For example, you might with to glue a layer of moss on the roof or create siding using twigs or rocks. Finally, fill the house with attractive baubles by passing them through the entrance hole. Don’t worry if these items fall inside haphazardly, as this will only add to the spirit’s joy and entertainment.

Ritual to Enchant Your Spirit House

When your spirit house is ready to be inhabited, you can perform the following riutal to bless and enchant the home, effectively inviting hte spirit to take up residence.

You will need:

  • Your spirit house
  • White votive candle
  • Offering (a bit of bread, honey, whiskey, or whatever else your spirit may have a preference for)

Begin by placing your spirit house in its designated spot, such as upon your altar, by your front door, or soe other auspicious location. Next, place the votive candle to one side of the house (be careful, making sure not to put it too close!) and hte offering on the other. Now, light the candle, which will act as a magical beacon to draw the intended spirit to its new house. As hte candle burns, recite hte following incantation thrice: 

I built this house, both fine and best, 
For a kindly spirit to dwell and rest.  
That it may be their rightful home, 
IA living space to call their own.

Close your eyes and reach out to your spirit ally, informing them of the new space that you have created just for them. Invite the spirit to inhabit the house and to make it tehir own. Then, once you feel ready, open your eyes. You will want to give the spirit some space in order for them to enter the house and explore a bit. Although, you will want to be nearby so that you can keep an eye on the burning candle! The candle should burn for an hour (or less if it naturally burns out), at which time you may extinguish it. If, for whatever reason, your spirit has not found its way to their new house, perform the ritual again the following night.

A Threshold Spell

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For this spell you’ll need:

  • some salt
  • a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar
  • one clove of crushed garlic

Begin by sprinkling some salt along your threshold. In a small dish, mix together a few grains of salt, the lemon juice or vinegar, and the crushed garlic. Now, bury the garlic near your front door. Next, with a broom, sweep the salt you’ve sprinkled along your threshold away from your door. Continue sweeping the salt away from your home and off your porch or steps if you have them. As you sweep, say this charm: 

Spirits dark and spirits that I dread,  
Leave this threshold where I tread.

Repeat this spell once a year, or more if you feel it’s necessary.

Black Cat Witch’s Amulet

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Black cats are universally associated with witchcraft and the occult. A black cat is often portrayed as the ultimate witch’s familiar and is believed by some to house a spirit or otherworldly being. Sometimes they’re considered good luck, other times bad luck. Over time, the image of the black cat has become a repository of witchy attributes and associations.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a cat person, you can make and wear this amulet to call upon the archetypal trats of the famous black cat: luck, connection to spirits, mysticism, and, of course, witchcraft power. This amulet is meant to increase magickal abilities, aid in occult studies, and generally bring out your inner witch.

You will need:

  • Small tiger’s eye crystal that will fit in the bottle
  • Small glass bottle with a cork, available at craft shops
  • Pinch of dried catnip
  • 3 strands of hair from a black cat
  • Glue
  • Piece of cord or string long enough to go around your neck

On the night of the full moon, find a quiet place ot make your amulet. It’s preferable that you’re able to see the moon, but if you can’t, visualize it in your mind instead.

Hold hte tiger’s eye up toward the moon. Think about how a cat’s eye glows in the dark just like the moon does, and say: 

Cat's eye, cat's eye, 
Moon shining bright.  
Guide my way in darkness 
Like a black cat in the night.

Add it to the bottle. The stone represents your inner vision, helping you see mystical undercurrents and increasing your psychic senses.

Put the catnip in the bottle. Catnip attracts most cats and is a favorite tempting treat for them. Say: 

Fetch and summon, come to be.  
Black cat spirit, come to me.

Place the cat hairs in the bottle. Say, 

Black cat power is here with me, 
With secrets, luck, and wile.  
A witch's companion spirit
Now lives wihtin this vial.

Put the cork in the bottle and glue it in place. When it’s dry, string it on the cord and wear it as an amulet during rituals and spells or in situations when you need extra power form the black cat spirit.

Spell to Break a Bond

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This spell is to be done when you wish to remove yourself from another person’s sphere of influence or cut energetic ties with them for any reason. This is best performed during the dark moon.

You will need:

  • Piece of hair belonging to the person in question
  • Piece of your own hair
  • Scissors
  • Bowl
  • Fireproof dish
  • Charcoal disk
  • Lighter
  • Dried bay leaves

Hold the two hairs together. Visualize the bond between yourself and the other perosn, which may be toxic and unhealthy. Allow yourself to feel the emotions this i nvokes, as you gaze at the entwined hair. You might feel sadness, anger, regret, or other unpleasant things while doing this. Now imagine your feelings are forming a mass of energy in front of your heart/chest area. This may look like a scribbled chaotic mess, a sad murky blob, or something else, depending on your relationship with the person and the nature of its discord. Visualize this mass of energy moving into the hairs.

Place the bowl in front of you. Using the scissors, cut the hairs into as many tiny pieces as you can, being sure to catch all the fragments in the bowl. If the hairs are too short for this, you can snip the scissors in the air around the hairs to symbolically cut what binds you.

Light the charcoal disk and put it in a fireproof dish. Carefully transfer hte hair pieces from the bowl onto the disk. As they hiss and burn, imagine the unhealthy ties that bind you together transforming into smoke and floating away.

Place a bay leaf on the charcoal disk. As it burns, allow the smoke to cleanse the area. Waft the smoke with your hand onto your face and body, feeling the purifying energy. You can burn as many bay leaves as you wish until you feel the spell is done.

You have now begun to free yourself from the unhealthy attachment. After a spell of this kind, there may be changes in your life, such as a breakup, a shift of circumstances, or some other upheaval. Keep in mind that in a truly toxic situation, thsi tupe of change is for the best.

Protective Armor Spell

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In this spell, you’ll surround a piece of hair with a protective seal, thus guarding the person it came from with an energetic shield. You can do this spell for yourself or someone else.

You will need:

  • Piece of cardboard to protect your work surface from melting wax
  • Square of black paper
  • Piece of hair belonging to the person you’d like to protect
  • Olive oil
  • Black candle
  • Lighter

Put the cardboard on your work surface to prevent it getting ruined by melting wax. Lay the piece of black paper down, and then place the hair in the center of the paper. Visualize the person it belongs to as clearly as possible. Carefully fold the paper aorund the hair, bending all the corners in so the hair cannot fall out. Make it into the smallest possible compact shape. Set it on the cardbaord.

Put a dab of olive oil on your fingers. Anoint the candle by rubbing the oil into it, starting at the bottom and massaging the oil up to the middle of the candle. Repeat this motion fro the top of the candle, down to the middle. Whle you do this, visualize the person represted in the spell surrounde dby a protective sphere of energy.

Light the black candle. Hold it at an angle, and let the wax drip onto the folded paper. While you do this, repeat the chant, 

A layer of armor protects [name] from all harm.

Continue to drip the wax onto all sides of the folded paper, rotating it as necessary, unti lit is completely covered in a shall of black hardened wax. Blow out the candle.

Anytime you feel that there’s a need for a boost of protective energy, light the candle and drip more wax onto the amulet, thickening the “armor” surrounding the person.

Keep the amulet in a safe place. Once the protection spell is no longer necessary, dispose of the amulet or bury it. If the black candle isn’t all gone, you can keep it for future protective spells.