🕐 WITCH CHALLENGE ~ Catch-Up!

Merry meet!

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for the previous Witchy Challenge - Fantastical Food :fork_and_knife_with_plate:

This challenge marks another milestone in witchy challenge history- it is the 240th witchy challenge here in the forum- wow! :star_struck: As with every ten challenges, the clock has come to a brief halt and previous challenges of all shapes, sizes, and sorts are open once again :alarm_clock:

:spiral_calendar: :raised_hand: Challenge Catch-Up! :raised_back_of_hand: :timer_clock:

To celebrate the 240th Weekly Challenge something special is happening…

Was there a busy period where you missed a challenge? Did an interesting theme happen before you joined the forum? Maybe there was a topic you were hesitant to try but now feel ready for. Well- now is your chance!

This week is a Catch-Up Challenge where all previously closed challenges will be re-opened for a short time!

So are you ready? It’s a blast from the past!

On your mark, get set:

CHALLENGE TIME! :bell:

catch-up challenge

Choose From the Previous Challenges :mag_right:

From moon magick to potion crafting, past lives, magickal names and much more- there are 217 previous challenge themes to choose from (not including the past Catch-Up challenges).

The previous challenges and the titles they granted are listed below. Please click the link to visit that challenge page to view details including guidelines, entry suggestions, and inspiration from past coven member entries.

Note that the old discussions for past challenges will remain locked - please share your entries/comments as a reply below or create a new topic

Past Challenges:

CLICK HERE to view all past challenges

:clock1: Catch-Up XXIII [this challenge!]
:fork_and_knife_with_plate: Fantastical Food – Food Wizard
:black_mirror: Mirror Magick – Mirror Magician
:aether_spirit: Spirit & Aether Magick - ✱ Spirit Witch
:earth_element: Earth Magick:earth_element: Blessed by the Earth
:water_element: Water Magick - :water_element: Witch of the Water
:air_element: Air Magick - :air_element: Air Witch
:fire_element: Fire Magick - :fire_element: Fire Witch
:dagger: Sacred Blades: Athames & Bolines – Sacred Blade Wielder
:hyacinth: Powerful Plants - Plant Lover
:clock12: Catch-Up XXII
:divination_crystal_ball: A Witch’s Divination – Diviner
:raised_hands: Creative Magick – Creative Witch
:sacred_flame: Purify & Cleanse – Crafty Cleanser
:offering_bowl: Who’s Your Deity? – Divine Love
:heart_badge: Your Favorite Magick – Specialized Witch
:lantern: Light the Way: Solstice & New Year’s Magick – Light Bringer
:scarf: Cozy Magick – Cozy Caster
:framed_picture: Coven Show & Tell – Proud Witch
:peace_symbol: Practicing Peace – Peaceful Witch
:clock7: Catch-Up XXI
:skull: Spooky Season Spellwork – Spooktastic Witch
:witch_moon: Witch Aesthetics – Witch Aestheticist
:stew: Simmer Pots – Simmer Potter
:ghost_cat: Spirit Animals – Guided by Spirit
:black_spell_candle: Casting with Candles - Candle Caster
:adhesive_bandage: Cures & Remedies – Magickal Mender
:national_park: Practicing With Nature – Nature Witch
:coin: Metal Magick - Metal Worker
:ringer_planet: Power of the Planets – Planetarist
:clock6: Catch-Up XX
:black_joker: Card Magick - Card Witch
:arrows_counterclockwise: The Art of Substitutions – Magickal Substitutor
:incense: A Witch’s Incense – Incense Enthusiast
:spirit_element: The Fifth Element: Spirit – Spirit Elemental
:white_circle: Full Moon Magick – Witch of the Full Moon
:witch_wisdom: Wisdom of the Witches – Wisdom Keeper
:nesting_dolls: Taglocks & Tokens – Spell Director
:stonehenge: Sacred Places, Sacred Spaces – Sacred One
:triple_moon_goddess: Wiccan Magick – Wiccan
:trophy: Catch-Up XIX: The Two Hundredth Challenge
:drinking_horn: Nordic Magick – Nordic Practitioner
:classical_building: Greek & Roman Magick – Greek Practitioner (or) Roman Practitioner
:eye_of_horus: Egyptian Magick – Egyptian Practitioner
:triskele: Celtic Magick – Celtic Practitioner
:mag: Interpreting Magickal Signs & Messages – Magickal Interpreter
:potted_plant: Enchanting Herbs – Herbal Witch
:spell_pouch: Spell Bags & Pouches – Spell Bag Builder
:rock: Rock Magick – Rockin’ Witch
:waxing_crescent_moon: Waxing Moon Magick – Witch of the Waxing Moon
:clock5: Catch-Up XVIII
:magic_shield: Magickal Guardians – Protected with Love
:exclamation: A Witch’s Intuition – Intuitive Witch
:phoenix: Magickal Creatures – Favored by the Fantastical
:heavy_plus_sign: Bind Runes – Rune Binder
:waning_gibbous_moon: Waning Moon Magick – Witch of the Waning Moon
:droplet: Splish Splash Spellwork – Water Witch
:scientist: Science & Witchcraft – Scientific Witch
:dotted_line_face: Empaths & Empathic Abilities – Empath
:man_dancing: The Magick of Movement – Witch on the Move
:clock4: Catch-Up XVII
:four_leaf_clover: Luck Magick – Lucky Witch
:fairy: Fairies & Fae – Friend of Fairies
:genie_lamp: Manifestation – Manifestor
:bulb: Light Magick – Lightworker
:purple_spell_candle: Candle Divination – Candle Diviner
:witch_pentacle: Finding Your Witchy Talents – Magickally Skilled
:silver_heart: Witch Ethics: The Morals of Magick – Honorable Witch
:witch_cauldron: A Witch’s Cauldron – Cauldron Keeper
:eye_in_speech_bubble: Your Magickal Senses – Sensational Witch
:clock3: Catch-Up XVI
:witch_broom: Blessed Besoms – Broom Keeper
:ghost: Spirits & Ghosts – Spiritworker
:link: Magickal Correspondences – Keeper of Correspondences
:house: Of Hearth & Home – Hearthtender
:triple_moon_goddess: Deities & Deity Worship – Blessed by the Divine
:consecrate_spell: Consecration – Consecrator
:balance_scale: Magickal Equilibrium: Balance – Equalibralizer
:pagan_book: Magickal Traditions & Pagan Paths – Proud of My Path
:wand_tarot: Wonderful Wands – Wand Wielder
:clock2: Catch-Up XV
:ear: The Magick of Sound - Sound Worker
:dolls: A Witch’s Collection – Collector
:wheel: Wheel of the Year: Pagan Holidays – Year-Round Witch
:ring_buoy: Magickal Safety – Warden
:eye: Visualizations – Visualizer
:notebook_with_decorative_cover: Sacred Books – Book Keeper
:thinking: Witch-conceptions: Stereotypes – The One and Only
:dressed_candle: Anointing Candles – Anointer
:witch_hat: Witch Fashion – Stylish Witch
:trophy: Catch-Up XIV
:thread: Knot Magick – Stitch Witch
:woman_cook: Culinary Magick – Crafty Chef
:red_gift_envelope: Amulets and Talismans – Charming Witch
:raven: A Witch’s Companions – Among Friends
:mirror: The Art of Scrying – Scryer
:green_heart: Natural Health & Healing – Healed by the Earth
:female_sign: The Divine Feminine – Divinely Feminine
:male_sign: The Divine Masculine – Divinely Masculine
:tree_of_life: Grounding & Centering – Composed Caster
:clock1: Catch-Up XIII
:tv: Witchy Media – Magickal Maestro
:sleeping_bed: Sleep & Dream Magick – Witch of the Night
:sunrise_over_mountains: Magick of the Sun – Sun Witch
:bubbles: Cleansing in the Craft – Powerful Purifier
:slot_machine: The Fortune Teller’s Game – Blessed by Fortune
:knot: Eclectic Witch: Interdisciplinary Magick – Eclectic Witch
:sake: Magickal Inks & Oils – Craftswitch
:headstone: Ancestor Work – A Living Legacy
:o: Circles in Magick – Magister Circulorum
:clock12: Catch-Up XII
:jar: Spell Jars & Witch Bottles – Spell Jar Specialist
:technologist: Technologic & Modern Magick – Technomancer
:name_badge: Magickal Names – One Who Knows Thyself
:watch: Time Magick – Tempus Mage
:tada: 13 Days of Holiday Celebrations – Festive Witch
:chakras: The Chakras – Chakra Worker
:sun_behind_rain_cloud: Weather Witchery – Weather Witch
:herb: Green & Herbal Magick – Green Witch
:hammer_and_wrench: Troubleshooting Spellwork – Spell Mechanic
:clock11: Catch-Up XI
:dart: Tactical Magick – Magickal Strategist
:fehu: All About Runes – Rune Reader
:cloud: Hedge Magick: Into Other Realms – Hedge Witch
:fallen_leaf: Seasonal Magick – Witch of the Season
:raised_hand: Palmistry – Palm Reader
:cauldron: Witch Brews & Potions – Potion Brewer
:fountain_pen: Handwritten Magick – With Hand and Heart
:white_check_mark: Conditional Magick – Master of Circumstances
:1234: Numerology – Numerologist
:clock5: Catch-Up X
:globe_with_meridians: Liminal Magick – Liminal Witch
:game_die: Divining Differently – Divination Explorer
:speaking_head: Multilingual Magick – Polyglot Practicioner
:mending_heart: Wholesome Healers – Healer
:moneybag: Money Magick – Prosperous Witch
:sunglasses: Casual Casting – Casual Caster
:heart_hands: HandCrafting – Handy Witch
:railway_track: A Journey of Change – Doctrina et crescente
:mountain_snow: Mountain Magick: Land Beneath Our Feet – Mountain Witch
:100: Catch-Up IX : The Hundredth Challenge
:sun: Solstice: Festivities of Light – Solstice Celebrant
:shell: Ocean Magick – Sea Witch
:people_hugging: As Above, So Below – One Who Is Connected
:nose: Smells Like Magick – Osmic Occultist
:person_in_lotus_position: Meditation Magick – Magickal Meditator
:hibiscus: Blooming with the Moon - Virent anima
:unicorn: The Bestiary - Cryptozoologist
:couch_and_lamp: Let a Witch Unwind! – Caster of Calm
:hotsprings: Energy Work – Energy Channeler
:clock4: Catch-Up VIII
:diya_lamp: Candle Magick: Light 'Em Up! – Holder of Light
:tornado: Chaos Magick – Master of Chaos
:magic_wand: Tools of the Witch Trade – Well-Equipped Witch
:sunflower: Flower Power – Athrophile Witch
:tea: Teas & Infusions – Tea Witch
:teacher: Teachers of Magick – Student of Magick
:pentagram: Symbols & Sigils – Wielder of Symbols
:broom: Everyday Magick – Carpe diem
:heart: Love Magick – Lovely Witch
:clock3: Catch-Up VII
:tiger: Lunisolar Calendar and Chinese New Year – Favored by Fortune
:performing_arts: Your Magickal Muse – Beloved by the Muses
:deciduous_tree: Sacred Trees and Wood – Custos Arborum
:open_hands: Making Magickal Offerings – Blessed Bestower
:door: Passage Into the New Year – Trailblazer
:blush: The Magick of Happiness – Beholder of Happiness
:sun_with_face: Solar Magick – Solar Mage
:busts_in_silhouette: Freedom in Forgiveness – Magnanimous
:crossed_swords: Dual Wielding Opposite Forces – Unus qui est libratum
:clock2: Catch-Up VI
:sparkler: Spell Swap Meet – Coven Contributor
:angel: Working With Higher Powers - In manibus numinum
:candy: Trick-or-Treat! - Sweet 'n Spooky
:purse: Making Objects Magickal – Enchanter
:sparkles: A Magickal Blessing – Blessed One
:mag_right: Peering into Past Lives – Witch of the Ages
:books: History of Magick – History’s Heir
:shield: Powerful Protection – Powerful Protector
:dancer: The Magick of Music – Bard Witch
:clock1: Catch-Up V
:map: Magick on the Go – Wandering Witch
:handshake: One Witch to Another – Keeper of Knowledge
:salt: Salty Spellwork – Imperium salis
:cyclone: Reading Auras – Aura Reader
:black_cat: Cat Magick – Amicus felium
:yum: Wickedly Delicious – Connoisseur Witch
:bride_with_veil: Deities of the Moon – Blessed by the Moon
:rose: Beauty Magick – Pulchra magicae
:flower_playing_cards: A Touch of Tarot – Tarot Reader
:trophy: The Challenger [50th Challenge] – Challenge Champion
:dragon_face: Dragon Magick – Blessed by Dragons
:prayer_beads: A Healthy Dose of Crystals – Crystal Healer
:notes: Enchanting Chants – Chant Witch
:rainbow: The Many Colors of Magick – Colorful Witch
:timer_clock: Catch-Up IV
:milky_way: Astrology: Reading the Skies - Astrologer
:white_heart: Into the Light - Witch of Love and Light
:black_heart: From the Shadows - Shadow Survivor
:confetti_ball: Congrats to the Coven - Coven Celebrant
:place_of_worship: All About Altars - Reverent Witch
:toolbox: Holistic Magick: A Witch’s Apothecary - Apothecarist
:writing_hand: The Wizardry of Words - Word Witch
:paw_prints: Claws, Paws, Tails and Scales - Animalis magum
:full_moon_with_face: Strength of the Full Moon - Lunar Witch
:running_woman: Catch-Up III
:art: Magick in the Arts - Art Witch
:star: Star Magick - Shining Bright
:footprints: Your Magickal Roots - Peritus viatorem
:small_blue_diamond: Elemental Mastery - Master of All Elements
:mountain: Of the Element Earth - Earth Elemental
:fire: Of the Element Fire - Fire Elemental
:seedling: From Seed to Sprout - Ceiliúradh an tséasúir
:wind_face: Of the Element Air - Air Elemental
:ocean: Of the Element Water - Water Elemental
:alarm_clock: Catch Up II
:scroll: Of Goals and Intent - Finis patrator
:partying_face: Holiday Cheer - Merrily Magickal
:new_moon: Magick in the Dark - Tenebris Lucem
:yarn: Of Spells and String - Weavemaster
:bathtub: Scrub-a-dub, Magick in the Tub - Bubbly Witch
:gem: Heed the Call of Crystals - Crystal Collector
:hocho: Creative Crafting - Creatively Crafty
:candle: Of Candles and Flame - Witch of the Flame
:skull: The Veil Between Worlds - Witch of the Veil
:spiral_calendar: Catch-Up I
:honeybee: The Spell-ing Bee - Spell Master
:crystal_ball: Foretelling the Future - Seer Apprentice
:alembic: Potion Making - Potion Master
:open_book: Books, Tomes, and Tales - Book Lover
:sparkling_heart: Giving Gratitude - Blessed and Grateful
:ear_of_rice: Inviting Abundance - Blessed by Abundance
:full_moon: Moon Magick - Moon Witch
:pray: Dealing in the Divine - Deific Witch
:cupcake: Kitchen Witchery - Kitchen Witch
:sleeping: Dream Magick - Oneiric Witch
:dove: Earth-Friendly Witchcraft - Earth Witch
:money_with_wings: The Thrifty Witch - Thrifty Witch
:compass: Celestial Exploration - Cosmic Witch
:star2: Trying Something New - Experimenter

(Note that you can view the full list of challenges at any time by visiting: Weekly Witchy Challenges :fire: A History)

catch up challenge

How many challenges can I do during the Catch-Up period? :thinking:

If you are feeling particularly adventurous and want to do more than just the usual one challenge, you can do:

Up to FIVE CHALLENGES

This limit exists to encourage mindfulness on each challenge- please remember that, although some challenges have similar themes, every challenge requires its own unique entry in order to receive the corresponding badge :medal_sports:

But I want to earn all of the badges!

That is awesome- I am so happy that you enjoy the badges so much! :blush:

At the end of the day, badges are just a small token- the challenges are really here to help you improve and enhance your magickal practice. So please try to take your time with your exploration of the theme(s) you choose- they are here to help you help yourself! :sparkles:

(On an administrative note, the limit also exists to save your challenge moderator from a potential ocean of badge-giving for all the various challenges at once! :ocean:)

But for challenge enthusiasts and badge collectors- no fear! You can rest assured that another chance to join in on any additional missed challenges will come again soon. You can expect another Catch-Up Challenge and a chance to earn old badges every ten challenges :+1:

Not sure which challenges you already participated in? :ballot_box_with_check:

Click here to learn how to check which badges you already have

If you can’t remember if you completed a challenge or not, no worries! You can go to the challenge page by clicking the challenge name listed above and check the entries to see if you submitted.

Alternatively, you can go to your Badges page to see a collection of all the titles you previously earned.

Here is how to check your badges:

  1. Click on your avatar/picture icon at the top right-hand side of any page in the forum.
  2. Click on the person icon and select “Summary”.
  3. Next, click on “Badges”

Here you can see all the badges you have earned during your time exploring the forums!



challenge

How to Join the Challenge :trophy:

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it! :pray:

:exclamation: IMPORTANT FOR CATCH-UP CHALLENGES : Because there are a lot of possible challenges this time, please don’t forget to include the name of the chosen challenge(s) and/or the badge(s) you want somewhere in your post as well.

If you do not include a challenge or badge name with your entry, I will have to use my best guess and you may not get the badge you were hoping for - so please be sure to mention it!

Where Do I Share My Entry? :thinking:

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” :repeat: to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note : If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you! :bowing_woman:

Click here for a note for our lovely lurkers

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge. For those who would like the challenge prizes, please know that you will need to share your experience if you want to receive a prize and a public shout-out.

Don’t feel comfortable sharing? No fear! For lurkers and those who are shy, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge on the sidelines. At the end of the day, these challenges are here to help you help yourself by expanding and enhancing your personal magickal practice. I hope they can be helpful for you!


Deadline :spiral_calendar:

:exclamation: This challenge will close in 13 DAYS :exclamation:

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, August 12 at 7:00 AM ET (Eastern US Time)
2025-08-12T11:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)


Prizes :gift:

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize! :gift:

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.

:gift_heart: :gift: :gift_heart:

catch up challenge

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice :open_book:

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! :heart: 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 :hugs:

The clock has stopped so the door of missed opportunities can open once again- spread your wings and don’t be afraid to delve into a previously unexplored of magick!

:mage: :infinite_roots: :trophy:

Blessed Be!

16 Likes

Awesome! I’m excited for a catch up challenge! Since today and tomorrow are my last days of moving I can unpack my witchy things and get caught up on some challenges!

13 Likes

Yeah for catch ups!!! Heck, I never thought I’d get caught up but I did :tada: so will go back and redo a few of them.

I’ve got a few projects that have been languishing that would be perfect to pair with a challenge so with that in mind

12 Likes

I’ll do the challenge All about Runes seems fitting so here goes.

Challenge Entry Runes

I’m not going to tackle this from what are runes, what they mean or how to use them. In a nutshell runes are Norse or older, depending on your archeology, divination or not depending on your traditions, a writing system that was also used as sigils and talismans in magic, there done that. :sweat_smile:

What I’m going to chat about is how I got the runes because I didn’t seek them out, they sought me.

I’ve always wanted to learn tarot, got lots of different decks, lots of books, did the course here on spells8, looked at courses online and nada - nope it sort of works but I just couldn’t get my head round it, it was hard work for me. So I stuck with my trusty oracle and kinda gave up. :person_shrugging:

It was a little trip to a Butterfly house gift shop where I bought my first amber crystal runes, cheap and cheerful little things they are, last bag, I didn’t have enough cash but the lady at the till dropped the price to the exact amount I had, so I took it as a sign.

Later on, I chatted to beasty (Loki) about my useless attempts at tarot, and the next time I did an Amazon search for yet another book on Tarot, all I got were runes. I keyed in tarot again, and got runes. So I bought my second set, a little wooden set. This one came with a book which I read and thought :thinking: nice. And did nothing with it.

Patience is one quality I attribute to the Norse wrecking crew, they maybe chaotic and wild, but they are patient. I obviously needed another sign. :person_facepalming:

So they gave one. My favourite witchy shop telephoned me, by mistake she had bought some runes, she didn’t know why she bought them, but now she didn’t know what to do with them, they’re not selling, do I want them? I didn’t want them initially but my fingers typed the words Yes Please! (Loki!!! :face_with_steam_from_nose: determined to get me to look at these). So now I have three sets.

Finally I get the hint and start learning, slowly at first, pulling one rune a day and drawing it on my wrist to absorb the energy. As I’m learning these wonderful things, it’s difficult sometimes to learn things from books. Apps do make it easier. Loki hears this, and I get a link by Google to try a new app developed by a Scottish Heathen. Valhalla, and yes, it has runes and is now my go to Norse app. Coincidence? I think not at this point.

I think what I’m saying here, is that the runes for me have done much more than just teach me divination, they’ve reinforced my faith in Spirit, that it’s real, it’s interested in us and has real power and effect in our human lives.
The divine is not in my head, it’s not a figment of my imagination, nor an egregore by humans - it’s real! Albeit in my case a little chaotic and sometimes pushy :winking_face_with_tongue: but most definitely real.

The runes gave me my faith back. And that’s why I love them. :green_heart:

Skal :clinking_beer_mugs:

12 Likes

Ooooh - so many choices! Will I go for one that naturally resonates with me, or will I delve into something new and expand my knowledge? Decisions, decisions!

11 Likes

OH BOY YIPPEE :partying_face: SKIPPEE! I am so excited! I have been making my list for the past hour LOL! I missed a lot of amazing challenges! I have way more than five on my list :joy::rofl::joy:! Boy it’s good to be back!

13 Likes

I’m like yay! But then I have to figure out what I haven’t done. Sheesh. LOL!

14 Likes

Okay, based on my spreadsheet, I have 16 challenges I haven’t done yet… :thinking:

I think I may go for these five!

Now, I just have to come up with something for each one!

13 Likes

Challenge Entry One (:nose: Smells Like Magick – Osmic Occultist)


I seem to have always known that my sense of smell is connected to my memory, and it’s only within the last 25 years or so that science is catching up to that. It’s fascinating how one scent, which is essentially just a bunch of molecules the brain interprets as a smell, can bring back a memory so vivid that it’s like reliving it.

We can capitalize on this neurological function in our practice, as well as in our everyday lives. Nursing school is going to be a challenge, so I plan on doing just that! How? Well, by creating a spell oil with a distinct smell to use while studying, during lectures, and while taking exams. The smell will need to be faint because of clinical policy (no fragrances, perfumes, etc. because of sensitivities and being in a clinical setting), and it will need to be unique enough not to be triggered by something else.

I may also mask the smell as something else. If I use mint, for example, and place the spell oil on my face, anyone who smells it might think I just brushed my teeth.

The spell oil ingredients can tie into the intention, but I don’t think that’s necessary for this oil. It might be very difficult to create a spell oil with a faint scent if I’m only looking at corresponding ingredients.

So far, my ingredient idea list includes the following:

  • mint
  • lemon
  • orange
  • lavender
  • rose
  • juniper

To make the scent even fainter, I’m choosing to use dried herbs and infusion rather than essential oils. I may leave out the lavender and juniper because those are two scents that tend to be overpowering and strong. I don’t have any jars to put this oil in yet, so I haven’t started infusing it. However, I plan on grabbing those this weekend!

11 Likes

Silly me! I did more than five challenges :joy::rofl::joy:! Extra credit?!? Will post over the weekend!

Can you tell I’m feeling better :rofl::rofl::rofl:

11 Likes

Ohh, save them for the next catch-up challenge! The five-challenge limit is a hard-limit. :pink_heart: I’m glad you’re feeling better!

12 Likes

I am so pleased that I had a second chance to enter this challenge.

I coincided this challenge with Imbolc (in Australia). So I thought of an awesome fantastical menu for Imbolc for a romantic meal with my better half. Brigid’s Day traditionally is a day to celebrate the Celtic Goddess Brigid to ask her to protect the home, crops and livestock. Imbolc means “in the belly” in the old Irish Neolithic language referring to pregnant ewes. It is also known as Oimelc (Gaelic for ewes milk, since at that time ewes lactate and lambs are born).

As a result I have chosen the following menu:

  • Spiced Lamb Rack with Roasted Root Vegetables, Couscouc and Harissa Yoghurt
  • Bread and Butter raisin Pudding

Spring lambs, root vegetables, bread pudding are all symbolic of Imbolc. The magical properties of my ingredients are:

  • Rosemary - protection, cleansing, love & purification
  • Carrots - fertility & healing
  • Pepper - banishing negativity & protection
  • Garlic - healing, protection and banishing
  • Mint - luck, love & protection
  • Potato - fertility & abundance
  • Onion - protection & healing
  • Beetroot - beauty, love, rebirth & fertility
  • Lamb - innocence, purity & peace
  • Bread - grounding, offerings
  • Milk - nurturing, power & protection
  • Raisins - fertility, mental powers & money

Happy Imbolc :slight_smile:




13 Likes

Looks absolutely delicious!

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So am I! Your holiday meal looks wonderful! May it bring you and your family all the blessings you can imagine!

10 Likes

CHALLENGE ENTRY - Card Magick

I honestly haven’t been using my cards as regularly as before, and it’s a long story…but I love them all, so here’s a brief overview of my journey with my cards.

Tarot
This is where I started, like many before me; to me, tarot cards were exciting and forbidden. At first, I felt so naughty using tarot cards, but not in a bad way, more in a rebellious way because even though my family would disown me if they knew, I’m doing it anyway because this is me.
I cannot tell you which draws me in more; the energy of a deck, or the beautiful imagery…it’s sooo easy for me to get lost in a card! What is the subject thinking, what do they see, what are the background characters talking about…pretty much the same thoughts I have when watching a movie. I do love the way the cards account for every area of life, which to me gives a reading a lot of credibility; out of 78 cards, 78 possibilities, any pick is the right one.
And don’t even get me started on all of the different ways in which you can read them! Reading cards individually or as part of a story, reading by symbols (colours/suits/numbers/zodiac etc.) alone or in combination with something else, reading between the lines i.e. what are the cards not saying, and I haven’t even mentioned the creativity that comes with creating a spread… the possibilities are overwhelming, and the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Which leads to my favourite part of the cards I think - the creativity of humanity! There are a ridiculous number of themed decks, and they each have their own unique and beautiful energy. For example, I can have fun and mess around with the Marvel deck, but the Age of Aquarius deck commands the highest level of reverence.

Oracle
I feel like the oracle cards are my thing, y’know? I have a few decks, both character and topical, and I find it so much easier to read and channel with them. Also, it doesn’t hurt that they’re more gentle than the tarot; tarot is like a raw crystal, oracle is like the tumbled version. Just as deep and just as layered, but not so rough around the edges - and they’re almost interchangeable with tarot cards, which is a bonus. There are times when I need to hear a message raw and real, but I’ve been real my whole life so a little TLC may be in order now lol.

Tea Leaf
Although tea leaves always fascinated me, the tea-drinking part was my issue, as well as “seeing” the symbols: with the cards I don’t need to worry about either. I have an interesting relationship with these cards - frankly, they terrify me. If you had my run of luck, you’d want to avoid them too lol; put it this way, at the moment, I don’t feel forewarned is forearmed! There’s a level of specificity that isn’t inherently present in the tarot or oracle systems; typical readings make predictions down to the week as standard.

There are 3 types of cards; 182 tea leaf cards, 12 Month of the Year cards, and 6 Astral House cards - love, success, marriage, wealth, happiness and career. It makes ridiculously accurate predictions, but the readings are very detailed. There are 3 standard reading layouts; the coming year (pulling 4 cards for each month of the year in a circle), the coming week (7 cards in a straight line), and the Astral House Pyramid (10 cards in a pyramid). This involves choosing a House to focus on, then shuffling and pulling cards to create the layers of the pyramid; the first row of 2 cards represents what will happen within a 2 (days/weeks/months), 2nd row represents within a 3 and the 3rd row represents within a 4. This layout opened my eyes to the possibilities within tarot and oracle too…so many possibilities.



Other work cards
I know these aren’t magickal, but as someone who loved playing cards as a child (and I still do obviously), I like to use them not just in my personal journey, but also in my practice. I’ve talked about the INUK and OH cards before, but I also use cards from the MindBrainEmotion range, and they’re great for individual or group use. I have a set of slim playing cards with random messages that I use every now and again, I got them because they’re so cute and travel-size lol! Also, I can’t not mention the positive pickle cards - cards with a positive message, for a lil extra love each day.



x Blessed Be x

ETA: I forgot to mention the different ways one can combine the cards, e.g. a 7 card week reading with tarot then a 7 card oracle with ascended masters to see which master can help each day. Also, I have a lot of flashcards too: chair yoga, kitchen magick, the list goes on lol!

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Beautiful photos, @julie8! Your menu sounds perfect for Imbolc and it looks absolutely tasty.

Thank you for sharing this with us! :sparkles: :feather:

@Nikki-Phoenix - amazing! I just learned so much with your post. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experiences. :heart: :folded_hands: :feather:

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Aww you are most welcome @Feathertip, I’m so glad it was useful to you :blush:

x Blessed Be x

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I had never heard of such a thing or seen this deck before, but I have to admit the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards are fascinating!!

Clearly, I missed this before (or meant to go look and never did), so thank you for bringing them up again! I have never had a set of round cards, but there’s something quite appealing about them :thinking:

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One week to go!

There’s menagerie of magick on display this week - a big thank you to everyone who has shared an entry so far :partying_face:

For those still pondering what to share, rest assured that plenty of time remains on the challenge clock. There is one more week until this challenge closes.

Looking forward to seeing your entries!

Blessed be :clock1:

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CHALLENGE ENTRY - FANTASTICAL FOOD

Home made granola

Granola is fun and easy to make, and encompasses many magickal foods. I thought a quick google search on the history of granola was in order for this Challenge.

According to google, “Granola was first created in 1863 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson at his sanitarium in Dansville, New York. He called it “Granula,” a baked, crumbled graham flour product intended as a health food for his patients. John Harvey Kellogg later developed a similar product, but renamed it “granola” to avoid legal issues with Jackson. Granola remained a niche health food until the 1960s, when it gained popularity with the health and nature-oriented hippie movement.”

Its versatility helped make it a pantry staple, with the addition of dried fruits and nuts. Prepared granola is easily found at your local grocer. But I think to get the entire benefit from this magickal food, you make it from scratch!

First, I assemble all my ingredients:

Old-fashioned (raw) oats are the best to use. Oats are among the sacred crops gathered during the First Harvest, which we recently celebrated at Lammas. We know that honoring grains is part of the cycle of growth, harvest and sharing our bounty.

Honey is a symbol of abundance and wisdom across many cultures, even mentioned in the Christian Bible to represent purity. We also value it for its therapeutic properties, including as an anti-inflammatory, and it is loaded with antioxidants. Always buy local honey made from your friendly local bees, as they are using nectar from your native blooms!

Raw seeds and nuts contribute to richness and magickal properties of granola.

In a large mixing bowl, I place the oats, the shredded coconut, and the seeds. It smells heavenly even at this stage!

Mix up these dry ingredients. It’s fine to use a spoon, but I prefer to use my clean hands. I find the tactile nature of mixing part of the magickal connection with the preparation of food.

It starts getting stickier at this point!

I add the honey and peanut oil together, slightly blended, and poured over the dry blend. Mix it all up.

Then I add the dried fruits of choice. You can use whatever you love the best, but I always start with ½ cup of golden raisins and a half cup of dried cranberries - and add my personal favorites, a blend of tart/sour dried cherries and either blueberries or currants - a ¼ cup of each to make another ½ cup of dried fruit.
Mix it all up.

Separate the mixture and spread evenly across two baking sheets, with edges if you have them (but not deep sides).

hese get baked in a 250F oven for 20 minutes, then remove each pan and stir, replacing the pans for only another 5-10 minutes. The baking time is another personal choice - if you like your granola on the crisp, crunchy side, extend your baking time. Just watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.

I like mine on the softer, chewy side, so a total bake time of 25-30 minutes is perfect!

I usually top plain Greek, strained yogurt with my granola, but you can certainly munch on it plain, or over ice cream with any other toppings or goodies you like.

It’s hard to go wrong with a treat this wholesome and tasty, with magickal properties included.

If you wish to keep this a completely vegan recipe, you can swap out the honey with either agave syrup or even maple syrup, though the maple syrup flavor is quite strong and can overpower the taste of the dried fruits.

Lots of possibilities. I hope you find this useful in your kitchen! :heart:

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