A warm welcome to all!
Thank you once again to the bright souls who joined in for last weekās Weekly Witchy Challenge - Solar Magick 
The previous challenge called on you to draw inspiration from the sun to cast bright and brilliant magick. While this weekās challenge involves a similar warmth in spellwork, this time that glow is something that comes from within 
The theme for this weekās challenge draws on some of the seasonal love in the air and isā¦
The Magick of Happiness 
What is happiness? How can those of us who arenāt happy achieve it?
The pursuit of happiness has been a favorite topic of philosophers and psychologists, religious leaders and spiritual souls throughout history- it is a theme that is tied deeply into human nature and a natural desire we all have.
How does happiness relate to your practice? Is magick something meant to bring joy to you, others, and/or the world around you?
While there is the possibility to dig very deep with this theme (and please do so if it calls to you!), we all know it is a very busy time of year! As you ponder happiness and perhaps celebrate the joys of the season this week, please know it is absolutely okay to keep your entry simple during this busy time
After all, a challenge about happiness should never be stressful!
So, are you ready?
Because itāsā¦ CHALLENGE TIME!!!
Art by Ira Mitchell-Kirk: Dance for Joy
STEP 1 : Happiness in Magick 
There are so many ways to pursue joy and delight in magick- so many, in fact, that it may be difficult to find a starting point!
To help you get started, here are some suggestions of things you might pursue for the challenge this week 
Spells for Happiness
Have you ever cast a spell or done a ritual meant to bring happiness? These spells could be applied to both yourself or someone else (just consider your personal magickal ethics before casting on others!)
ā Happiness Spell Suggestions
ā Jar of Sunshine Happiness Spell
ā Moonlight Happiness: Activation Spell
ā Byrdie Magazine: How to Cast a Happiness Spell on Yourself
ā The Witchesā Cookery: Happiness Spell Video
If you canāt find a Happiness/Joy Spell that you like, rest assured that you can always try writing your own spell! 
Happiness Spell by TheGreenAthame shared on Pinterest
Journalling
For thoughtful souls, why not explore the theme of happiness in both your practice and your life as a whole? Putting your thoughts into words is a freeing and creative process that can help you get organized and store away worries and burdens.
Some questions you might write about may be:
- What does happiness mean to me?
- Does magick make me happy?
- Are there times when magick does not make me happy?
- Would I ever use magick to make myself (or someone else) happy?
- When I cast, how does it affect my mood- short term and long term?
- Is magick something necessary for my happiness?
- Etc.
Magickal Tools of Happiness
Correspondences are a key aspect of magick- this week, consider researching and learning more about one (or more!) magickal tools or ingredients that carry the qualities of happiness.
ā Herb: Oregano
ā Food/plant: Lemon
ā Crystal: Amethyst
ā Rune: Wunjo
ā Tarot card: The Sun
These are just a few ideas to help spark inspiration- feel free to find your own happiness correspondences!
Art from the Modern Witch Tarot by Lisa Sterle
Crafting Happiness
Is there something in your magickal craft that brings you great happiness? Maybe you thrive when youāre working your art 
or find joy in your cooking magick 
Feel free to pursue your interests and find delight in doing the magickal activities you love most 
ā¦And More!
Happiness can mean different things to different people, and one witch may pursue their happiness in different ways than another- this is totally fine!
Feel free to be creative in how you pursue happiness this week- just whatever you choose to do, make sure you enjoy it! 
Art by Liubov Kuptsova: Bird of Happiness
STEP 2 : Share Your Experience
Click here for notes about challenge inclusivity
Everyone is welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For those who donāt feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you!
That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a public shout-out, it is required that you share your experience.
To participate in the challenge, please share:
- How you pursued/explored happiness in magick this week
For your entry to be counted, please write about your experience in the comments below and/or create a new thread in the forums.
Note : If you choose to create a new thread, please tag the challenge by adding a hyperlink back to this post so that I can easily find it- thank you! 
This challenge will close in 6 DAYS
To join in, please share your experience by:
Tuesday, December 28th at 7:00 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time)
( 2021-12-28T12:00:00Z )
For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize! 
Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.
After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.
Art by Unknown, shared on Pinterest
A warm reminder that all challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice 
If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team .
And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways 
Art by Debbie Balboa shared on Pinterest
What makes you happy: is the question to ask.
Is it resting at home, or completing a task?
Be it a gift wrapped in gold, or warmth from the cold-
Happiness comes in such curious ways
But itās something weāve sought from the beginning of days.
Look to your Craft and the spellwork you do-
There youāll find what happiness means to you!
Blessed be!
I think it may be a combination of things that I write about this week. I have been giving gratitude for things that I have & have accomplished even if it is day by day 
or hour by hour 
It helps with my anxiety & blocks negative thoughts. So I have had my happiness, comfort, family on my mind & itās just enhanced; as is everything else, due to the time of year 
Iām going to enjoy working on this one! Thank you! 
Not the right word for making a jar. 
Seems like a perfectly fine verb to me, and easier to say than ājar workā. Enjoy your jarring and journaling, Kasandra! 
The holidays can seem much darker with recent losses on the mind, so Iām glad you are still finding moments that bring out the twinkle and warmth. May you treasure the happy memories from the past as you all make new happy memories to look upon in the future- wishing all the best to you and your loved ones! 
Reading your post made me smile- you have such a fun life story, Garnet! I think you are amazing for achieving your goals and finding happiness in your own unique way, you are an inspiration! 
Wishing the same to you, Blessed Holidays!
while listening to retro Christmas music. This time of year is difficult for me, as this was a time when my family used to gather and create cookies and tamales by hand, but as I have gotten older, many of those relatives passed (most due to old age). I continue the tradition, and have passed it onto my children. This act of keeping memories and spirits alive always makes me smile (and sometimes cry because I long for those who have left this plane). I can always feel my ancestors with me as I create our food. This, to me, is one way in which I pursue happiness and feel magic around me 
- and it is most certainly present this year 
That was brilliant to include the solar salts, and from looking at the ingredients I can image just how amazing it smells 
That is a gift worthy of a king, Mary- your son is very blessed indeed! Thank you so much for sharing both your experience and the recipe! 
) as you honored a special tradition. May those who have moved on continue to watch over and guide you- it is a very beautiful thing to connect across time through beloved family traditions 
