🔄 Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - The Art of Substitutions

[Medea]

Hi Georgia
Leave it to me to make a comment kidding around and it’s true, there really is ear of pig is used for spells. Thank you for the definitions.

Mote It Be
Medea

[Medea]

Great list of substitutions. This is the kind of important things I need to know before I start doing my own spells.

Mote It Be
Medea

[georgia]

@Medea

Leave it to me to make a comment kidding around

You’re not the only one. Puns and comedy are welcome, here. We are all here to learn whatever we can and to pass along what we have learned for the benefit of all. You can call me a weirdo for knowing such stuff, if you want: I’ll wear it with joy.

[TheMuslimWitch]

Thank you Yes it is handy and a little messy i know. I could have made a little more effort on that one, but like my busy life, that is just showing the dedication i have to my craft trying to squeeze it in. I would have had it written on my comp or something or seen it somewhere because a while back i was looking hard for a good substitution list

[Susurrus]

I’ve loved reading everyone’s entries.

Aside from Spells8 and the lists or sites listed here, I like to check the lists of Herbal Properties, Old Herb Names, and Herbal Substitutes that are on Raven and Crone. I did find these Old Names related to bats:

Bats Wings: Holly Leaf
Bats wool: Moss

Among my most used substitutions is tobacco for any poisonous or dangerous plant.

Challenge Entry

It’s funny that this is the challenge for this week! I have been reconnecting, and this week since we had the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, what better time to collect some Storm Water

I’ve been doing quite a bit of substituting lately as I let my practice take its new shape (shape may not be the right word )

To collect the Storm Water, I found a plastic bowl and put it in the bottom of a five-gallon bucket on my back porch. I made sure the bucket was in a place where if the winds were gusting, it wouldn’t go anywhere. Then, any other water that got caught, I could add to the bowl.

I am a witch on a fixed budget, so I tend to do with what I have or can easily obtain. Sometimes that means a sort of barter, trade with a friend, or using something else I do have.

• Tobacco - Any poisonous/dangerous ingredient
• Rosemary - Any herb
• White Candle - any other candle color
• An image of what I’d like to represent if I don’t have another item or a way to substitute it
• A clear glass tealight holder I use with a bit of water in it for Brighid each day
• I have these silver cups from when I was a baby, but now they hold different items for me. Whether they are feathers, small pieces of Dalmation Jasper, water, or another liquid offering.

I’m sure that I have others I use, but at the moment my mind is blank. Probably because I am not in my room right now to be able to look around

[Phoenix_Fire]

challenge entry
You know me cant help but include divination cards in a challenge. Had druid plant Oracle so thought maybe see what cards i had that could do a bit of visual but didnt habe all cards to euther cover the substitute or the thung it substituted but two i did, i found some other cards on substitute list and just edited my screen shot to write it in text box.

If i did have substitute card its in seperate text box if not the substitute or whst the item in card substituded was next to in same text box item/ substitute. Just cause i couldnt do more than 10 text boxes lol

[Amethyst]

Weekly Witchy Challenge for Amethyst:

I tend to use a white candle for everything, unless it’s like a Sabbat or a special group ritual. It’s just more affordable for me to use a white candle daily than other colors. I have a pillar candle that’s flame-less and changes colors for the daily color.

But yeah, for my devotionals I use a white candle with this chant:

I light a white candle to honor the day,
for courage and happiness and good things coming my way.
Bring me prosperity and a calm disposition,
and help me with my magical tuition.

Blessed be.

But yeah, white candles are awesome! They can do so much!

[Mystique]

CHALLENGE ENTRY

Animal hearts - any small dehydrated fruit

Antlers - branches

Bird Feet - twisted roots. Choose your root according to your intent. Dried invasive vines can be twisted to the shape of feet

Blood- walnut ink, milk, egg yolk, spit

Bones - twigs, stems of plants

Egg - bulbs or large seeds. Walnut or other large nut shell can replace an egg shell.

Fur or Pelts - fabric in the color aligned with your intent

Skulls - pumpkins or gourds

Teeth or claws - use thorns

[carol3]

ChallengeEntry: Substitutions

I have a few corospondance or substitution lists that I go by for the most part. If I am not home or do not have my Grimmoire with me, then I just go with what my intuition tells me. Even if it doesn’t make sense or isnt related to the thing i’m substituting it for. Ive learned that, for me anyways, using the items my intuition tells me to use instead of following a spell to the T works best. If I have the items on hand that is called for, then I will gather it with the rest of my tools. When I get to my sacred space if I don’t resonate with an item or it just doesn’t feel right I will go back to my ingredient box and pull stuff out until one does feel right amd then use that one instead.

[Ostara]

This is one of my favorite challenges. So much useful information! I need to get my BOS out and start writing!

[Mystique]

I’m the same way! Sometimes the ingredients called for just don’t feel right and switch it up. Gut feeling and my intuition guide me a lot in my spells. Great entry! Thank you

[stavroula]

Challenge Entry

Generaly, My work is mostly based on intention, so I have a very limited use of herbs etc. But I like using candles and crystals, so my substituions come in that shape.

For the candles, for example, if I dont have a red one, I use a white that I paint a bit of red on it, or for yellow a white with yellow paint on it etc.

For the crystals, I go with how I feel at the time, but in the beging, if I did not have s specific one I used clear quartz as a substitution, then went to colour, and now I go also for texture, similar qualities etc
Like for Diamond–> Zircon, Pearl → Moonstone, Coral → Carnelian, Rodochrosite → Rose quartz , Emeralds → Green Agate etc

[BryWisteria]

It’s time for a friendly reminder:

This challenge will soon close

If you would like to participate and haven’t done so already, please post about your challenge experience by the deadline:

→ Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 AM ET (Eastern US Time)

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If you haven’t already shared an entry but would like to join in, this is your friendly reminder that you still have time left to do so.

Blessed Be!

[Cosmic_Curiosity]

Ok I’ve realised I went about this the wrong way so not posting it as an entry. Mines are more correspondences than substitutions but I will share it anyway in case it is of some use. Corresponding each tarot card helps me to interpret their meanings. I have the symbols of the corresponding sign, planet or element on my each cards…drawn very small with a thin black pen. Seeing thesemacts as a trigger to remember the meaning of each card. I also have these tables that I can reference…

Blessed Be

Alan

[Mystique]

I’ve recently been hearing a lot about tarot and astrology used together and was very curious about it. Thank you for sharing this!

[georgia]

@Amethyst

pillar candle that’s flame-less and changes colors

I didn’t think of that. When I can get colored tealights at Dollar Tree or a thrift srore, I take advantage of the opportunity. It seems the Walmarts around here prefer to sell all white. S’OK. Color comes from my intentions when light the wick, the music I play, and my statements of belief. I did find a full rainbow of tealights last time I shopped Savers, but now I’m almost scared to use them, since they are so rare! Silly me!

Great list, @Mystique

@stavroula

paint

This is a good idea, but please be careful that the paint doesn’t get into the flame at any time. Some paints, when burned, put off poisonous gasses or acrid smells. I’d rather see you safe.

@Cosmic_Curiosity

symbols of the corresponding sign, planet or element on my each cards…drawn very small with a thin black pen.

Brilliant idea!

[Jeannie1]

Geranium/Rose
Chamomile/Valerian Root
Aster/Rose
Jasmine/Rose
Juniper/Pine
White candles can substitute for any candle
Rosemary can substitute for just about anything
Clear Quartz for any crystal
Frankincense/Copal
Jeannie

[crystal59]

Challenge entry - Powerful plants that can substitute any other ingredient:

• Rosemary and Lemongrass can replace any other herb in the spell.
• Rose can be used instead of any other flower in the spell.
• Sandalwood can substitute any other type of wood.
• Frankincense can be used instead of any gum resin.

I learned this from spells8

[BryWisteria]

This challenge is now CLOSED

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

Note : To avoid confusion, this discussion will be locked until the Props and Presents post appears. At that time, this thread will reopen for discussion for a few more days- comments are welcome during this time, but please note that no additional prizes will be given.

Thanks again for joining in the challenge!

Blessed be!