🏃‍♀️ Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Catch-Up!

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Having missed out on the Earth Element Challenge, I took some time this weekend to draw on natural energies of the Earth in my spellwork :sparkles:

Living in the big city has a lot of benefits, but it comes at the heavy cost of feeling out of touch with nature. While I can’t always take a beneficial hike like I want to, I’ve found that practicing Green Magick helps me to reconnect with the planet and re-discover some of the many benefits of immersing in nature :cityscape: :national_park:

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With my houseplants gathered around, I decided to draw on some crystals, an herb, and a few talismans to help me connect with Earth energy.

Earthen Bounty Spell Components:

:herb: Basil and houseplants

:gem: Connemara Marble from Ireland, Blue Tiger’s Eye, Carnelian, Lepidolite, Orange Aventurine, Red Jasper, Bloodstone

:prayer_beads: Icelandic Compass, Tibetan Rune Bracelet, Shinto Money Charm from Japan

:candle: Tealight candles

The goal for this spell was to draw on earthern energies in order to invite bounty- specifically, as drawn by fortuitous Basil in the center, for financial bounty :money_with_wings:

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Using symbolic items I had collected from my travels around the world helped to ground me in the moment and remember that, no matter where in the world we are, we are all tied together, living on the same planet :earth_africa: :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

I’ll use the charged basil in my cooking later today- still not sure what to make! :thinking: Perhaps a nice basil pasta dish :spaghetti: :yum:

Love and Light to all! :world_map: :green_heart:

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Well done to all Catch- Up challengers who have shared their lovely entries so far! :sparkles:

Friendly reminder time!

:exclamation: This challenge will close TOMORROW :exclamation:

If you would like to participate and haven’t done so already, please post about your challenge experience(s) by the deadline: Tomorrow: March 23rd, 7:00 AM CET (Central European Time Zone)

Blessed be! :running_woman: :heart_decoration:

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Haha nice they were the only ones left! My son went back to look and nope nothing at all!

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The Elements

Astrology uses various ways to classify the zodiac signs. There are four elements in Western Astrology, and they are divided into groups of three signs each (four times three equals twelve signs): Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. The elements are also known as the Triplicities, and they represent personality tendencies. The Qualities represent modes of activity or expression.

The elements are building blocks of life or life-giving forces.

Fire

Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius share this element. Fire signs are spontaneous, reactive, and assertive.

Earth

If you are a Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn , you are an Earth sign. The Earth signs are reliable, practical, and sensual.

Air

The Air Signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius . Air signs are intellectual, detached, and fair-minded.

Water

The Water Signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces . Water signs are fluid, emotional, and intuitive.

Elements in Astrology

When analyzing a person’s chart, we don’t only consider the Sun sign’s element. More often than not, a natal chart includes a “count” of the elements of the major planets and points, typically the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. This can give us an idea of the possible dominant (often expressed as a preponderance ) or weak elements in a given chart.

Cafe Astrology

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You’re welcome! I hope everyone enjoys it! Thank you for the compliments! :blush: I loved your Earth Magic too! Maybe something with pesto if you have enough basil?

Lovely bit of information on the Elements and the Zodiac @Susurrus! Thank you so much for sharing!

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This Weekly Witchy Challenge - Catch Up has been hard for me. I am not feeling particularly creative as I struggle to hold on to all of the good progress I have made since December. I knew I would end up waiting until the last minute on this one because I didn’t even make it to the Group Ritual this past week. (Although I did have coffee and meditation that day. :wink: )

The two I am doing are “Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE- Giving Gratitude” and “Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE- Books, Tomes, and Tales”. (The hyperlinks are quick links to the relevant sections of this post.)

First, let me start with saying thank you to the people that replied to Brianna with their own entries.

  • AliceInWonderdab, christina4, Thank you for the pictures and for the ideas for altars.
  • Wade, thank you for your openness - both in sharing and in exploring your questions about the recipies/cooking :man_cook:t4: with your ancestors.
  • Stephanie, I love using Tarot as a means to divine the future. Your cards are beautiful.
  • Thank you for the beautiful poem, NickWick. Also, you are better at the knots than I am - which is why I haven’t done that challenge, yet. :rofl:
  • Speaking of knots, Saulamay, your bracelet is awesome. :star_struck: Has the lotion had time to set?
  • Kasie, your words for the tea blessing are moving, as always. I count myself blessed :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: when I read anything written by you.
  • I never thought you would miss a challenge, TheTravelWitch. :upside_down_face: Thank you for these challenges week in and week out. I don’t know how you do it but I am thankful for the work you put in each week to keep this coven growing.
  • Krissie, thank you for the elements/astrology information. :pray:t4: More than that, thank you for all of the crafty resin ideas you have shared with us lately. You are a true gift to the coven.
  • While it was too late in the day to use it as a start of my day, when I watched @SilverBear’s Starting the Day With Gratitude , I knew I would have to practice her advice the rest of the day and into my tomorrow. Thank you, Laurie, for all of the positive mental health tips and tricks you have shared in the past year. Your videos were needed more than you will ever know as so many of us struggled with being stuck inside, anxiety about the future, and physical ailments taking on our mental health.

Giving Gratitude

Infinite Roots, the Spells8 coven, I have said this in the past, but thank you. Your warm welcomes to me and to everyone that joins, your generosity and encouragement to all that need it, and your knowledge and wisdom you share with the rest of us all create an inviting, safe space for eclectic witches.

While the moderator team and Francisco deserve endless credit for the site and the forum, it is people (like the ones I mentioned above) that have done much to expand the coven into what it is today. We learn from our leaders, yes, but you are role models in your own ways. Thank you.

Books, Tomes, and Tales

I’ve bought 17 books since my tax return and stimulus payment were both deposited in my checking account. So many at once (plus the fog I am in) has made it difficult to settle on just one to read. I need to pick one because I am almost out of time for the latest book club. Thankfully, my :heart: of :books: means I am pushing through for the book club.

This time around, I am reading either A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine or Brave Surrender by Kim-Walker Smith. Who knows? :joy: Maybe I will review two books like I have in the last two book club reviews.

The first one was recommended to me by my therapist. She is big into Stoicism and believes it will be important guardrails to my more recent nihilistic leanings. The second continues my love of my previous faith and learning how it helped, instead of hurt, others who still believe the Christian beliefs. I am always moved by stories about personal journeys and how those journeys helped them become better people.

There is no way I will have both done in 4 days, let alone today before the challenge ends. I will be using the review period to finish them and review them. Then I will get started on Book Club 6 and try to get ahead like some over-achievers :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:. (Totally kidding, @Jewitch. I did it the last two times myself. I wrote the reviews in private Facebook posts, then copied them here when the review times finally came. :sweat_smile:) I am hoping this is enough for the Book Lover badge, though, because I have been coveting it since I saw it on some of my friends in Spells8. :heart_eyes:

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Thank you @praecog29 regarding the bracelet and the balm. The balm looks nice and smells great but I think I need to add more base oil as it still seems to hard to use at the moment, but better than the first. But as they say, third times a charm, right? :wink:

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Aww, thank you @praecog29! :blush: I enjoy sharing it here with everyone. And you’re an important part of our coven too, so I’m thankful to have you here. I’m sure you’ll get your Book Lover badge this time around!

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That’s definitely something! I still think you will probably receive communication in unexpected ways throughout the week.

Thanks for sharing those useful links about the veil, it’s such an interesting subject :+1:

@Saulamay That’s a good-looking salve and that altar cloth is neat. Where did you get it??

@praecog29 Lose yourself to Books!! :books: All the best in your reading and cheers to Infinite Roots!! ::clinking_glasses:

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@Francisco thank you, the salve smells nice, it might be a little more solid than it should be so I am going to add more base oil. The altar cloth is actually a pillow case I bought on Wish, but I like using it for other things.

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I’ve been enjoying cooking different kinds of potions too, and when I saw the recipe for the Four Thieves Oil I was inspired to combine it with a more modern one to create this spray for disinfecting surfaces!

Spirit of the Four Thieves (Spiritus Quattuor Fures)

75% alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl)
1.25% oil of clove
1.25% oil of lemon
0.5% oil of cinnamon
1% oil of eucalyptus
1% oil of rosemary
20% distilled water

You can substitute the alcohol and distilled water with the same combined amount of 60% (120 proof) or stronger vodka if it’s more convenient for you. The stronger drink you offer the thieves, the stronger the effect obviously! :wink:

This will make a solution with 5% essential oils, so please avoid prolonged skin contact. Mix well and bind the ingredients with your intention and this spell:

Spirits of the four clever thieves long past
With your blessing and ingenious recipe
I share this drink with you
And ask you to imbue it with your protection

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I have decided to do moon :crescent_moon: magic for this weekly witchy Challenge!
I looked at The half moon tonight I gazed at the clouds that moved so perfectly and how I admired it’s shining light! I Got a glimpse of the blue sky it look like it was tie-dye!( Different color blues). The sky :milky_way: moved ultra fast :dash: like a wave :ocean: in the skyline. I opened up mystic self & on its side, I saw two beautiful stars :sparkles: bye it’s self. Each time it seems like a different sky! it’s light permeated within my soul!
I decided to do a witch’s bottle and in the bottle I put tobacco, blood, broken glass, rusted nails! This is for self care! For protection see there are people that can be a little negative and so with this it will reflect to them any evil they send me!

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I loved this witchy challenge!
Thank you to the Lord and Lady for your protection! Let it do no harm to no one! So mote it be!
Blessed be
Jeannie

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Thank you!

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Bravo, @Susurrus! :clap: Thank you for the beautiful and thorough dive into exploring all of the elements as they tie into the Zodiac :milky_way:

Pesto would be a good idea, @Amethyst- I’ve never made it from scratch though! I thought it needed some kind of ground-up nut? :thinking: I ended up using most of the basil for a pasta dish and will put the rest in some soup tonight :yum:

I must admit I end up missing one or two challenges each set, @praecog29! :sweat_smile: Life and a drought of creativity do get in the way from time to time. It makes me appreciate everyone’s entries and hard work all the more! Your post was beautifully written as always- I can feel your warm and gracious heart even across the distance :heart: I hope you enjoy all of your books- it sounds like you have many great ones to choose from! Have fun reading :books: :two_hearts:

Well done on your potion making, @CelestiaMoon! :star_struck: A lovely spell to enhant it as well. Thank you so much sharing! May the thieves oil bring you many blessings :sparkles:

Beautiful moon magick, @Jeannie1! :full_moon: It sounds like a lovely and memorable experience. May your witches’ bottle bring you much love, self-care, and may it help to keep those negative energies away. Bravo! :clap:

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:exclamation: This challenge is now CLOSED :exclamation:

Great job, everyone! I loved seeing the diverse talents of the coven come to light across the many challenges :sparkles:

A Props and Presents post will soon appear with shout-outs and prize details. Please keep an eye on the main page of the forums.

Note : This post will remain open for continued discussion for a few more days, but no additional prizes will be given after today.

Blessed be! :running_woman: :heart:

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This bracelet is real Nice @Saulamay , loving the cheerful colors.

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Thank you @walter :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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@praecog29 Your words are so encouraging…:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Great recipe and chant, @CelestiaMoon! +1 for Latin!! :+1: :smile:

@Jeannie1 So mote it be! :first_quarter_moon: :raised_hands:

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@Jeannie1 , this spell looks amazing!!

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