Non-Wiccan Ways to Witchcraft: January

New Year's Magick

In order to talk about New Year's magick, I feel like I need to take you on the journey with me of how I think about this day when using magick so it makes sense (I hope). It starts a week before, at Christmas. Hang in there with me, I promise I do eventually get to the New Year's magick bits.

Every year on Christmas Day I remark on how quiet and still everything in the world is. It's that day specifically, too, because no matter how many other religious or secular or spiritual observances exist in December, Christmas Day seems to still dominate when it comes to which day businesses, government, and just the hustle and bustle of life in general decides to pause.

This year I mentioned it again to my husband as we were driving through the empty streets of our town. I always love the energy in the air on Christmas day. It's not Jesus energy, mind you. Ick. Maybe for some it is, but not for me. It's the energy of the world slowing down and coming to an almost standstill. It's like the Earth stops to take in a deep breath and everything that happens that day happens within that one breath. It's a breath of release, of peace and relief.

It seems like everyday stresses and worries are temporarily suspended and we can all just relax and be. There's really nowhere else to be but at home with family or friends, wherever that is and whatever that looks like. The whole world just seems to put up a 'Closed for the Holiday' sign. I am thankful for this. It's unfortunate it happens on a Jesus-holiday, but I'm still grateful it exists.

We need this. Humans need this. The world needs this. Take the religion and Jesus parts out. We need to be reminded what it feels like when we all share in a collective behavior or action. When we all share in a collective intention or goal, like peace and love, family and goodwill.

There's enormous power in that.

Of course I know for many the holidays are not all peace and love. I can hear some of you now bucking against this idyllic scene I've created and calling it out as bullshit. I know for many the holidays are stress-filled, tragedy-filled, trauma-filled, and triggering. Not everyone gets the day of from work, not everyone celebrates Christmas (like we don't), not everyone is happy or filled with peace on this day, and not everyone participates in the serenity of this day. Of course.

But, BUT, even though it's not everyone everywhere joining in, there's enough critical mass among that huge percentage (whatever that percentage is) of the eight-billion plus humans on the planet all doing the same things, feeling the same things, thinking the same things, all at the same time (relatively speaking) that it shows up as this enormous wave of collective energy and intention.

As Witches and magickal practitioners, we can tap into that.

Holidays like this can be especially powerful because we can use all that energy being amplified at this time to fuel spellwork of our own. At Christmas, no matter your beliefs or religious practices, we're most of on about the same page. The energy we are all sharing in is subdued, and aligns well with work that connects us to family, gratitude, love, healing relationships, peaceful homes, goodwill, joy, hope, and so on. The energy is there longer than just one day, it starts before Christmas, a few weeks before actually, and extends after. But the PEAK of the energy is one day and one day only. That's the day to tap into it for magick. There's really no other holiday where the vast majority of people in the world come together as one like they do at Christmas.

Well, almost no other. There's also New Year's.

At New Years we have one more unique opportunity to do powerful magick that piggybacks on the collective energy of the entire world just like at Christmas.

Rarely do we have most people on the planet thinking about the same thing, and I hate wasting that kind of immense energy. Billions of people celebrating the New Year, time zone after time zone, adding their energy and power to the collective intentions of new beginnings, fresh starts, hope and potential.

We as Witches can use this both for our own New Year’s intentions, and definitely any spellwork related to new beginnings and new projects. All that excitement, complete with fireworks, no less, is energy we can use to amplify whatever we are working on.

Right now is a good time to do spells and rituals for:

I'm sure you can think of a few more! The energy of New Year's is fast, exciting, pumped and ready for ACTION. So anything you're working on, or want to work on for the coming year, be it a spell or just some personal goals, you can tap into this truly powerful stream of collective awesomeness and let it boost your magick.

New Year's is also an excellent time for work in the Spiritual or Astral realms, and for Journeying. Tapping into the collective conscious means it will be easier to slip right into that stream of Oneness, All Knowing and Wisdom. When you decide to work with this energy, you are more likely to get messages, visions and 'see' what's ahead and with a clarity you may have not experienced before. It's also a good time for prophetic dreaming, so be sure to keep a journal ready by your bedside. You may even meet other people (yes, real people alive in the world) in these liminal spaces riding this wave with you (either intentionally or by happenstance) that you will form incredibly deep bonds with and return to visit with in the astral plane over and over throughout the span of your life. Prepare for visits from deceased loved ones.

One thing to keep in mind: New Year's energy is like a flash in the pan. It's over almost as fast as it begins. Your magick will reflect this, so plan ahead. Keep expectations realistic because long-term this energy simply is not self-sustaining. I think it works well as an initial fuel-source and major boost for a big spell or intention, then over time it's my responsibility to continue to fuel it and keep it going, knowing the battery-life of New Year's is short-lived.

Time for a New Planner

A couple months ago my daughter and I were talking about how excited we each were to be getting ready for our new calendars and planners to arrive for the upcoming year. I use Google Calendar a LOT and love it. When I set up entries with annual reminders I can see year-to-year information I've recorded on plant cycles and weather patterns easily, so I know when the season is lagging two weeks behind or jumping two week ahead. I also keep a paper planner, spiralbound, so I can quickly grab it and write things. I enjoy the tactile aspect of holding a book and writing, plus I can usually add some art or other things that a digital calendar can't do.

An aside > This is not, I repeat not about overscheduling yourself or creating more stress in your life! Keeping a planner is a tool to help you accomplish goals, develop your awareness about yourself, your habits and show your progress and growth. It's a tool to see where you've overextended yourself, take ownership of your time, and hold yourself accountable. It's a tool to help you learn better boundaries and how & when to say 'No'. It's not a book to fill every blank space and open box. Remember, you run this bitch, not the other way around.

As a Witch, there are lots of valuable information you might find useful to have all in one place. In addition to the standard birthdays and anniversaries, here are some ideas for what you can add to your magickal planner or calendar for the upcoming year.

-Moon phases

-Planetary events

-Eclipses

-when you start seedlings

-which seeds you plant

-when you move things outside (if you started them indoors)

-when plants flower

-when plants are harvested

-when plants go to seed

-recipes used for any herbal products you make from plants you grew or wildcrafted

-sometimes when we don't 'schedule' it we don't prioritize it

-sometimes when we don't 'schedule' it we don't prioritize it

-sometimes when we don't 'schedule' it we don't prioritize it

-Therapy / Counseling

-Learning new skills + knowledge

>adult learning / college

>expos & conventions

>journaling

>online learning (Youtube, subscription and online courses, Wondrium)

-regular Ancestor work, communication, and altar/offerings maintenance

-also write it down when something comes true

-include synchronicities and any meanings you glean from them later

-time for maintaining your magickal journal or personal spellbooks

-Track spells you’re working on that are ongoing or timed

-Results

-Track manifestations: when spells and intentions manifest, document them

-Look back to when you did the working to get an idea of how soon it worked

-Ingredients/timings used

-what trees & plants are doing & when (buds, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc.)

-first day of snow

-rain

-storms

-floods, droughts, other notable weather

-temperatures

-Include prophetic dreams & Spirit contacts

-Magickal

-Mundane

BIOREGIONAL HERBALISM

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

I was all set to do a whole bit on Winter herbs for this month's edition of Non-Wiccan Ways to Witchcraft. I was planning to start with Cinnamon because who doesn't love cinnamon during the holidays and at Wintertime? But then it hit me that Cinnamon is the perfect herb/plant/spice to showcase why bioregional herbalism is important.

Cinnamon was used as part of a holy anointing oil by the ancient Hebrews. It's been used as a currency with actual wars being fought over it. In the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder wrote off 350 grams of cinnamon as being equal in value to over five kilograms of silver, about fifteen times the value of silver per weight. The leaves of the cinnamon tree were woven into wreaths which were used to decorate ancient Roman temples. The Egyptians used cinnamon during the embalming rituals and mummification process.

Today, we primarily use cinnamon magickally for money drawing, attracting good fortune in business and games of chance, and as a magickal boost for any spell or working. Other traditional magickal uses for cinnamon include protection, being burned as an incense to raise energy and Spiritual vibrations, as an aid in healing and for stimulating psychic power.

Cinnamon is mostly grown and produced in China and Indonesia. In 2018, China produced 30% of the world’s cinnamon supply. And Indonesia produced 40%. Here in the U.S. basically all cinnamon comes from other countries because cinnamon trees are native to tropical regions. It's possible to grow your own if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11.

Zone 9 includes central Florida, southern Louisiana and Texas and stretches up the west coast in a narrow band on the western coast of California. Zone 10 encompasses south Florida, southeast California, the southernmost tip of Texas, and much of Hawaii. Zone 11—the most tropical zone in the U.S.—includes the Florida Keys and most of Hawaii’s Big Island.

Unfortunately, most of us simply don't live where cinnamon can thrive outdoors, and even in areas where it does, it's still imported.

When I talk about localizing your Witchcraft I'm also talking about making it bioregional. Working with herbs and plants that aren't just available to me locally, but that actually grow where I live is important to me and my practice.

TRUST, I love cinnamon like the next person, and am not here to throw shade at cinnamon, those who use it or even to exclude it from my own practice entirely. However, in modern Witchcraft, we've become so reliant on plants and herbs that must be imported from far away we continue to ignore and underutilize what's growing in our own backyards. Instead we overharvest and exploit resources in lands far from us that we can turn a blind eye to when the strain of trends and global demand negatively impact the local growers, people and environment.

A major reason for this is because essentially all Pagan and Wiccan books on magickal herbalism are Eurocentric, which in turn is also colonialist. They are full of herbal correspondences for plants not native to either Europe or North America. That tendency to interpret the world in terms of European or Anglo-American values and experiences is exactly what I don't want dominating my practice.

When things are grown and harvested in other countries far from our view, we become disconnected from the consequences of our consumption. We also experience a disconnect from the plant itself because we can never see it alive, growing from the ground, or touch the Land it resides on. More than that, we don't know the people or culture it comes from, and we lose all those rich and vital relationships. Unless we travel there and see these things for ourselves, we really can not fully access the true Spirit of the plant this way.

There are a few more downsides to using herbs from afar to consider:

Part of my folk practices include tuning in and working with local Land Spirits and my bioregion. One step to this is becoming aware of where things grow and finding things that are closer to home to work with.

To practice bioregional Witchcraft, you don't have to eliminate all herbs that grow outside of where you live (your region).

Instead, consider:

Practicing bioregional herbalism or Witchcraft is doing the work of asking these questions, and others, weighing the pros and cons from the answers you find, and determining what is right for you in each instance. Sometimes you may decide it's right for you to seek herbs outside your region, and that's OK.

Certainly there will be times I myself will use herbs outside my bioregion. Sometimes what's available in my bioregion is not always the best option. The plants may be threatened, compromised (pollution) or endangered and I need to ensure I don't further stress local resources in those cases.

It's not a matter of strict rules or tying my hands, and it shouldn't feel that way for you, either. When I choose to access herbs outside my bioregion I'm mindful of everything listed above and pro-active about asking hard questions. With that said, it's a very rare thing that I can't make do just fine with what's growing locally.

Bioregional herbalism is a practice and an experience. In my Witchcraft I value forming relationships with the plants I choose to work with, as well as the ones I don't. Without those partnerships I can't listen and learn what the plant wants to teach me. Sometimes the lesson or message from plant Spirits are ,"No thank you/Not today/Stay away/I'm too fragile still". If I'm buying herbs grown, harvested and shipped from overseas I can't be a part of that conversation. I can't distinguish between 'Yes' and 'No' before it's taken from it's habitat. I can't honor the plant's 'consent'.

This magickal path requires us to taking ownership for ourselves and our actions. For me this means I have a responsibility to step up and make sure I'm actively looking for and practicing ways to leave the Earth in as good a condition as I found it, or better.

It's also about remembering that I'm not the center of the Universe and everything I do has consequences. Consequences can ripple, for better or worse. Being a mindful Witch means I try to anticipate which way that ripple will flow and make choices that don't contribute to consequences I'm not OK with, or that don't align with my intentions or values.

Practicing bioregional herbalism means:

The first big hurdle is finding a system of substitution that works for you. What will you use in place of your imported herbs? How will you know what works instead? Let's explore some ways to do that.

Most important here is to remember you don't have to replace all your existing herbs or find substitutions for every plant you use all at once. We're gonna take this slow with one herb at a time so we don't set ourselves up for failure by trying to do too much, too fast.

The process I use to figure out what my options are for bioregional substitutes of commonly imported herbs requires that I first determine what I'm using the herb for. In my Witchcraft this means I need to nail down exactly what magickal property I am seeking from the plant. Is it for attracting something to me? Is it for repelling something? Will it be intended for protection, cleansing, prosperity, calming, healing, clarity, divination, baneful work, or something else?

I'm using Cinnamon as my first example this month so let's break that down. Cinnamon's elemental energies are fiery and warm. The most common variety of cinnamon sold in the U.S. is cassia. It's spicy & hot (doubt me? try a whole teaspoon of cinnamon in your mouth and see for yourself!). There is another kind, less common here, called Ceylon, or true cinnamon , and it's sweeter. The color of cinnamon is reddish-brown and those colors align well with both Fire & Earth.

When we look at the history of cinnamon it was used as a currency at one point, so valuable that wars were fought over the control of it. Only the wealthy elite and royalty could afford cinnamon for a long while. This aligns with its uses for money drawing and prosperity in magickal practices. Cinnamon is stimulating and warming, making it perfect for boosting any spell and energizing a situation. It's stimulating, fiery energy makes it suitable as an energetic purifier or cleanser. Its happy-fiery nature lends itself well to matters of love and romance, passion and reigniting the flame in a relationship that's stagnated.

For most of us, we're under the impression that cinnamon is a single type of plant. The truth is it's not. There are actually over a 100 different varieties of cinnamon trees out in the world. Shocking, I know. We in the U.S. are largely only familiar with one or two of these varieties, and only three are commonly available in commerce most anywhere.

Nailing down the intention or purpose of the herb is fairly straightforward. Keep in mind plants and herbs can be good at more than one thing and typically have energies that align well with a variety of goals. When we use them in our practices, we're often singling out one or maybe two of those properties to call on and aid us in our work.

Think of herbs like people. We each are good at several things. We might have strengths at work v/s home, relationships skills, caregiver skills, and personal skills and talents. When someone comes to you for help, they will likely be thinking of something specific they know you're good at. "Hey, I know you're good at making this dish- can you help me troubleshoot what I did wrong or teach me how to make it like yours?" I have an Aunt who is crazy good at quilting. She's also good at her job, gardening, cooking and making jams and breads, but she's the person I think of if I were to need sewing or quilting help. Aaallll your other skills are important, too, they're just not necessarily needed or being asked for in this instance.

With plants, they need you to tell them what their job is. To say 'help me' is just not specific enough, just like it wouldn't be for a friend to call and say 'Help me'. You'd have to ask 'With what specifically?'

So even though cinnamon can do lots of things - love, money, cleansing, etc. - what do you need from it right now, today? It's that attribute you want to find a substitute for. Not all things cinnamon is good at or has the ability to do. Worry about those other things later. You won't ever find a perfect match if you are trying to find another plant that has all the exact same properties as cinnamon. So narrow down, and nail down, what exactly you are asking cinnamon to do for a particular spell or intention.

If I want to find a substitute for cinnamon in money spells, for example, I know I'm looking for something that aligns well with money-drawing, prosperity, wealth, Earth element, possibly Fire element (if I want fast cash). Money drawing and prosperity colors for me tend toward green, gold and sometimes silver, and that can play a role in what herbs I reach for, too.

By narrowing it down to properties that align just with money drawing/prosperity/wealth, I don't need to look for alignments with cinnamon's other attributes. This simplifies rather than overly complicates the process.

With that information, now I can look locally for what other plants exist in my bioregion that fit some or all of those criteria. Some money-herbs that are bioregional for me that fit my personal correspondences for this goal/intention/energy include Clover, Alfalfa, Calendula ('gold' petals), moss, Cedar, Pine, Ginger, and Basil, Patchouli, Wheat, and Rice (when grown in the U.S.). There's also locally mined lodestones and sweeteners like honey and sugar that align well with money & wealth. There are others but most folks will have at least one of these on hand already.

Looking at my new list of possibles, which of those are the strongest money-magnets? Which check more boxes when compared to cinnamon? Which of those have similar or complimentary elemental energies? Some or all of these are some of the considerations you can make.

From there I want to choose a few of these items/herbs to create a substitution list with that I can reach for going forward. I don't want to rely solely on just one herb substitution because there may be times it's out of season or not available. Having a few bioregional substitutes on my list keeps my options open and helps me not default to the imported option.

Also it's important to allow for preferences. Don't discount how you feel! You may connect more to certain herbs in your bioregion than others, and that's OK. No matter how many checks you can add next to a local plant, if you don't vibe with it you don't have to work with it. Period.

If you have imported herbs on hand, use them! Don't you dare toss them or waste them, Witch. Most dried plants need to be used up within 6-12 months depending on how they're stored. Cinnamon is so aromatic it's often still potent after one year, even after two years in some cases. Whole or course herbs will stay 'alive' longer than powdered. If the herb still has its color and you can easily tell it smells like the herb, it's got enough Spirit left to work with reliably.

Not everything that's bioregional is going to work for you. Some of the things on your possible substitutions list may not be easily accessible. That's OK, too. Create a list of things that are accessible. If you can't find it wild, you might need to grow it yourself and that can take a few seasons or more. Be patient and don't discount local organic farms, small growers, co-ops, farmer's markets, community gardens, friends and neighbors as wonderful resources for bioregional herbs. Now is as good a time as any to start creating those relationships.

I value practicality above almost everything else. My bioregional Witchcraft, then, has to be practical for it to work for me. Ginger is one herb listed in my possible cinnamon substitutions list above. I can grow ginger where I live but need to move it indoors during the cold months. But because I live in a farming community I'm surrounded by fields of Alfalfa and Wheat, and Pine and Cedar trees are very common here without me having to plant my own. I can wildcraft these easily for my Witchcraft with little effort. However, if I felt especially strong about any herb that requires more work, I just have to put in that little bit of extra time and effort to grow it myself. That's also OK. Whatever your substitutions are, make sure they work for you. Start with the lowest effort options and work toward higher effort ones as you feel ready.

Take inspiration from this process to continue working through all the ways you might reach for cinnamon in your magickal practice. What have you used it for in the past? Deconstruct those attributes into an organized fashion in your journal or notebook. Then start the process of looking for substitutions for each intention or energy.

I invite you to accept the challenge of slowly transitioning your magickal herbal practice to a more bioregional-centered one. Starting now I'll be focusing on one popular and commonly imported magickal herb or plant each month and some ideas for bioregional substitutions. Small changes can make a very big difference in your practice. Little things, consistently applied over long periods, add up. By the end of the year you'll have at least twelve new plants you can reach for where you live and a whole year of practicing bioregional herbalism.

If you have an herb you want me to cover for bioregional Witchcraft this year, email me!

Preserve Your Family History

This month is an excellent time to pass down your stories, traditions, and beliefs. Storytelling is as old as time. We need the stories from our Elders to continue to be passed down so we can keep learning and remembering where we came from. If you are not an Elder in your family, you will likely one day be one.

Right now is always the right time to start preserving your family's history and stories. This is a wonderful family activity but can also be done on your own. Many of us have disconnected from our families and may need to start our story from scratch. That's OK. Your story on its own is worth telling.

Life stories, beliefs and traditions can be recorded on video, on tape, in a digital document, in the cloud, or in a book or journal. Think about how future generations might access this information and plan ahead. With that said, don't let the imperfect be the enemy of of the good. It doesn't have to be fancy or look a certain way. I think about those beautiful (and complicated) scrapbooks people make and know trying for that kind of skill or commitment will lead me down a road of permanent procrastination, so I have to start where I'm at. Getting something recorded or written down is better than nothing.

There are tons of websites to help guide you through preserving stories of aging and elderly relatives. Conversation prompts and ways to draw out their stories abound. Go find some and get started.

You can also start documenting your own. You don't have to wait to be 'old', or wait for your grandkids to ask!

Look through family photos and albums. Ask questions. Write down memories of holidays, religious or Spiritual practices, beliefs and traditions. What you do, believe or practice now is just as important as what you did as a kid in your family.

Encourage your kids, spouse, siblings, close friends, and parents to interview you. Then do the same for them. Add to this rich tapestry of stories every year. In fact you can create a whole new tradition in your family around it.

Call up old friends and childhood besties to reminisce and uncover memories long forgotten. I spoke with a friend from childhood many years ago and she immediately reminded me of a secret language we had that I had completely forgotten! Adulting and life had completely erased many wonderful memories for me, just as it does many of us. I would have never, ever remembered this little chunk of my story without her. We had such fun and happy memories of using that language through our teenage years in our friend group and it would have been lost to me forever if I hadn't reconnected with her.

Uncles, Aunts & cousins are resources, too. As are family friends and old neighbors.

Don't forget recipes, dreams, poetry, songs, and old letters. These are also part of your story. My kids loved reading some of the letters their dad wrote to me when he was overseas with the 82nd Airborne during Desert Shield and later Desert Storm back in 1990 (some were very NSFW and will not be included until my death bed, possibly never, lol). Of course today 'letters' can include emails and digital correspondences, too.

Stories are important, and we should all tell ours. The good, bad and ugly. But we also want to take time to really preserve the other things that often get lost. Beliefs and traditions, for example. Sometimes there are rifts in families or we lose touch with our people, and those traditions can easily be lost in just one generation. In our family, we've worked hard to preserve many types of traditions, including some of my Native traditions, some cultural traditions, and some family traditions. We also created our own traditions that I see my own kids doing now with their kids, which brings me immense joy and pride.

Think about all the things you wish you could have learned from your grandparents, your parents, or even further back. What would you do differently for the next generation? Now's your chance to act on it. On my mother's side, my grandfather was born in the 1860's. My grandmother was born in 1900. The stories, traditions and history lost in my family just from them not talking about their lives very much is immense to me. My grandmother was always 'old' to us growing up, and only sometimes willing to share about her life with me. I wish I could go back knowing what I know now and ask better questions.

The same for my other grandparents (my father's parents). My father and his mother taught me about herbs, the Land, and medicines. From them I learned how to be wild and free and in tune with Nature. I wish I could go back and ask my grandmother more questions about her life, and more questions about her knowledge.

While I don't have that power to go back in time, I can still connect with my Ancestors and continue to gain wisdom and knowledge through my Spiritual communication and connection to them. I can also be a better Elder and Ancestor right now for my kids, grandkids and the generations that follow. I can be forthcoming with my history, beliefs, practices & stories. I can pass down what I've learned, what I know. I can even help get my kids more interested and started earlier in keeping those records for themselves, and so on.

Through this process you may even be able to identify ways your family practices magick, in whatever ways that looks like. So many folk traditions are done in families but almost no one calls them magick or Witchcraft, of course. So listen carefully and see if you can spot those magickal moments and traditions.

Pick Up the 2023 Farmers Almanac

I know there are Witch's Almanacs available, but I've never liked how Wiccan they are, so I just stopped using them. Instead, I find so much value in my annual copy of the Farmers Almanac. I'm sure there is more than one publisher but this is the one I like the most:

I understand that you can even get it on Kindle now, too. Huzzah!

It has so much good stuff, y'all! Folklore, lunar cycles, astronomy & planetary info, best days for planting, educational articles and tips for gardening & Nature, eclipses, weather predictions, and so much more good stuff. It's 'Witchy' without being Wiccan, and I love that!! As a folk Witch I find this book so useful through the whole year.

A New Year's Folk Charm

In different points in time, and to this day in some cultures still, New Year's was celebrated or observed on other dates. For example, before the Julian calendar, New Year's fell on March 1st, and some Northwest Native Americans celebrate New Year on December 20th.

For most people today, though, we observe the New Year on January 1st.

This charm can be done anytime in January.

On the night before, set the items I've listed below outside on a plate or dish and cover to protect from the wet and critters. Improvise as you see fit. A big Tupperware container or plate with a large metal or plastic bowl inverted to act as a dome can work well. Since most of us have freezing temps in January, I don't advise using glass or ceramic dishes for this as they often break in these temperatures.

The next day, have everyone who lives in the home or is visiting go outside and stand facing the home's front door. No one should be indoors but understandably do this weather permitting. If you need to wait a few days or even a few weeks don't worry about it too much.

Divide the items amongst everyone or designate one person to bring them all inside. This is very fun for the whole family and littles who can all participate if you want them to.

With each item brought indoors, say something to the effect of: "Thank you ______ for bringing in _____ to this home/our family this year"

Why set it outside you may be asking? For me this allows the natural elements to renew and charge the items. It places them outside the influence of us and our homes where they may have become heavy with old stagnant energy, or even if they are coming directly from a store they are being given a chance to acclimate and charge. It also makes me feel like when I bring them back inside, they are new again and charged with that wonderful potential of Nature. If overnight is not practical, an hour or more outside on the morning of will still be suitable.

Each item below is a charm that represents good things in life, a blessing, intention or energy you want to welcome or lock in for the coming year. These are suggestions with most being rooted in folk traditions. However, don't be afraid to use items that are meaningful to you or your family and come up with your own charms for this. This is a fun activity that can turn into your own family folk tradition!

Fire

This is for your hearth or fireplace. This can also be coal, a branch or bundle of twigs, pellets or even a candle. The fire element you choose is here to represent the great warmth of life. "Thank you fire for bringing true warmth into our hearth and home this year!" Place in your fireplace and light or simply place on your hearth or altar.

Salt

Salt has been used since ancient times to preserve and season food. It symbolizes longevity and has been used for Spiritual cleansing, energetic purification and protection. Bring into your home a small bowl or dish or salt (any kind of salt works) while saying something like, "Thank you salt for purifying the old unwanted energy of last year, helping us stay grounded and offering protection to our home and family this year!" Set the bowl by the front door where you will pass by it everyday when you come home. Replenish with fresh salt as needed.

Sugar or Honey

This is to bring in all the sweet things in life, to attract to you whatever happiness, joys or blessings you desire. Use any sweetener you like- sugar, honey, juice (liquids may freeze when left outside!), etc. "Thank you honey for the sweet things you are bringing into our lives this year!" Set some of your sweetener on your hearth in a bowl or jar, and each person takes a little spoonful of the remainder and eats it together.

Spirits or Wine

For merriment between friends & family and as an offering to Ancestors & Spirits. If using a low alcoholic drink like Wine, keep in mind it may freeze (and the glass may break). Whiskey, vodka, brandy or other Spirits are all fine, too. If you are an alcohol-free home, feel free to substitute something else like sparkling cider, or skip this one. When brought inside set some up on your hearth and altar in a small glass as offerings to Hearth Spirit and Ancestors, and share the rest!

Bread

This charm is to ensure your belly will always stay full, and you'll never be truly hungry or want for food or nourishment. Any kind of grain will do as well, whatever you have on hand. As bread, it can be a loaf you make yourself just for this, or one that's store bought. It can also be a slice of bread, a roll or biscuit, a crescent roll, croutons, a Krispy Kreme... you get the idea. Bread has been used in folk practices since ancient times, but you can also use any kind of food you like, it doesn't have to be bread. Use whatever you have. Bring it inside (remember to thank the charm for what it represents) and set it on the hearth or your altar.

Greenery

To bring abundance, growth, prosperity & wealth to you, add a charm of greenery. It can be any green plant, but preferably something like an evergreen branch or needles. It can even be something from your holiday tree or wreath! Bring it inside and place on your hearth or on your front door.

Make a Talisman

January is a chance to make changes in goals and plans, a time to reassess what you want, and what you don't. It's a time to go inward, reflect, learn & refocus on what's important to you.

Starting off the new year with a talisman that anchors all of that for you is a magickal way to stay connected to all your hopes, desires and intentions.

The talisman can be made from anything. It's a magickal object that's used to instill, amplify or enhance personal power and confidence. Talismans don't have to be worn, like a ring or necklace or special garment. Excalibur, King Arthur's sword, was a talisman.

I like to go around my home or outside to my yard to look for talisman-making material. I also like to keep it simple. I rarely have a solid plan for what the talisman will be made of or look like when I start. I let the materials call to me and if I give over to the process, they just become what they are supposed to.

I tend toward scraps and natural items. As a water dowser (Water Witch), forked branches are my jam. Whenever I find Y-shaped sticks and branches that feel right I tend to collect them. Sometimes they end up as talismans.

Each piece of the talisman tells a story and has a purpose. Beads, string, leather, stones, feathers, wood, shells, bones... you don't need anything fancy to make a powerful talisman for yourself. A talisman can be a piece of jewelry or crystal, a hat or piece of clothing, something you made from clay, or a plain pebble. It can have lots of pieces or exist as a singular object.

This month think about what you want for yourself. What do you want this year to bring? What experiences do you want to have? What goals do you want to accomplish? What are you changing? What are you leaving behind? What are you closing or ending? What new things are you inviting in?

When you know the answers to these (and feel free to create your own questions) then you can start the intuitive process of crafting a talisman for it. Browse your collections around your home, your scrap piles, and around your yard. Dig through forgotten jewelry, odds and ends, curios, discarded things. If those don't speak to you, venture out to the woods or by a lake or river. Find a place in Nature to explore, or walk around where old buildings and historical sites are located where you live. See what you find.

Maybe you like to be more organized. That's OK. Set aside time to plan your talisman. What parts does it have? What will they represent? How will you store it, use it, display it? Will it stay at home or travel with you? What materials will you use? Will it be carried or worn by you? Will it be primarily stationary or does it have a function or secondary use, like a rattle or bottle?

If you like, create a ritual for when you use it. You could come up with a special phrase, power-word or chant. Maybe it has a name. Meditate with it and tune in or bond with it.

Through the whole process intensely channel your intentions and energy into it. Don't wait until it's crafted to start pouring yourself into your talisman. Speak or sing to it along the way. You can add anointing oils, spiritual waters or your breath to it. If you enjoy using lunar or Solar energy you can set it in a windowsill or hang it outside under the sky to charge or energize.

Place your finished talisman where you will see it or use it, or somewhere that makes sense to you. Try to interact with it regularly so it stays energized and helps you stay focused on it's purpose.

Happy crafting, Witches.

'Non-Wiccan Ways to Witchcraft' is a monthly series where I write about ways to practice Witchcraft with the energies of the season from a non-Wiccan, secular perspective. To create your own celebrations and holy days, the starting point for me is always to ask myself what is happening around me. What is Nature doing right now? What is the world doing? What is my community doing? What is my family doing?

Where you live will have different things happening than are happening where I live, so creating a framework for where to start your process will help tailor your non-Wiccan annual practices and observances to your specific circumstances. My goals is not to tell you exactly how to practice your Witchcraft, but to share some of what I do so you have a starting point and insight into some of my process. My hope is this offers you a path to creating a practice that's uniquely yours.

Blessings in Light & Dark,

Blog posts are available to access free for 30-days. To access older blog posts, please purchase a subscription plan, (plans start at just $1.99/mo) that fits your needs. Thank you for supporting my work!