Bubbling Cauldron: Monthly Spellcrafting Activity

[Seraphin]

This looks like a laugh.

Tracking!

This is Witches' den where witches weave their spells, you'll definitely hear crones and hags cackling here.

[Imperious]

This is Witches' den where witches weave their spells, you'll definitely hear crones and hags cackling here.

Good!

Looking forward to September's spell beginning.

[Seraphin]

Yeah, in the mean time, you could check out the spells we've proudly crafted here in Bubbling Cauldron. Hope you find them enjoyable and helpful!

[Seraphin]

Spell for September: Discernment Spell

Date to be Completed: September 25, 2015

Details: We all know the process of discernment could be a difficult one; it would entail a proper appreciation of the right values, sound judgment and a good deal of wisdom. And so this month, we're going to brew a spell in our Bubbling Cauldron that would enhance our ability to discern what is truth -- truth that can help us form sensible opinions and, more importantly, also help others arrive at honest views.

So for the first three or four days, we're going to consume and spend them, thinking of and suggesting Right Correspondences.

The next following days will be spent for the procedures (cooking, burning, burying, planting, etc.), visualization and incantations.

[Silversong]

A note: That says "Spell for August" XD May want to fix that.

Correspondences. Discernment. *rifles through mental files*

Crystals
Reference: The Crystal Bible, by Judy Hall
As far as enhancing ability to discern what is truth, I've previously used selenite to help me figure something out when I couldn't seem to understand what was up with the person/situation. I have a piece of selenite that I work with when I feel like I need a dose of clarity. Looking at the book: bloodstone calms the mind, dispels confusion, and enhances the decision-making process; celestite calms and sharpens the mind, dispersing worries and promoting mental clarity and fluent communication ... synthesizing intellect with instinct and promoting mental balance; citrine enhances concentration and revitalizes the mind ... promotes inner calm so that wisdom can emerge, helping to digest information, analyze situations, and steer them in a positive direction; emerald imparts mental clarity, strengthens memory, inspires a deep inner knowing, broadens vision, is a wisdom stone, promotes discernment (ha, funny they use that word) and truth, and aids eloquent expression, helping to bring to the surface what is unconsciously known (it's expensive in gem quality, but raw it's readily available); and iron pyrite accelerates mental activity, improves memory and recall, and balances instinct with intuition and creativity with analysis.
My personal inclination is toward selenite, celestite, citrine, and/or emerald, but then, I don't have all of those XD I unfortunately lack a close source of crystals. ...or any other Witchy supplies, for that matter. *sigh* Ah, well. I take what I can when I can, and I'm all the more grateful for it.

Herbs
Reference: Dancing With Dragons, by D.J. Conway
Balm of Gilead for intellectual stimulation; caraway for mental clarity, especially when burned; rosemary for intellect; sage for wisdom, especially in food; and/or summer savory for intellect and creativity (eat it, wear it, or burn it; has a slightly peppery taste and smell). I don't work with herbs as much, although it's something I would probably look into if I didn't have a cat that would completely demolish any attempt at a windowsill herb planter XD It's probably better to have someone with more experience with herbs to have a poke at this list. (In addition, I am aware that DJ Conway is not always typical in her translations - sword as Fire and wand as Air instead of vice versa, for instance (although personally I agree with her; it makes more sense to me and it's more intuitive. Nuance.)

Oils
Reference: Dancing With Dragons, by DJ Conway
Honeysuckle for stimulating the mind and creativity, and... that's it. Well. Thank you, Conway, you're so very helpful. XD Ah, well. Perhaps someone else will have better luck than I. I'm excited to finally be able to use oils for scents, as I now have an oil-burning candle (my little gemstone candle)! ^_^

Color(s)
When all else fails, white is the go-to, of course.
Yellow, standing for Air in some respects, is for intellect, imagination, power of the mind, creativity, concentration, and inspiration.
Light blue is sometimes said to represent Air, so it often has the same effect as yellow candles.

...Hades. I had something else. Now I've forgotten. Oh well, I'll think of it, I'm sure. That's a start, at least.

[SnowCat]

I might need a brain tune up. I read discernment, as dismemberment. Lack of sleep can cause some interesting things.

Snow

[Seraphin]

SILVERSONG! That's really a GREAT list! Thank you!

I still encourage others to put their suggestions as well. The more correspondences we put up the better so we can pick and choose the best materials that align with the purpose of the spell.

[mrsdavid1975]

Oooh. Such a great one.


Can we add peacock ore ( bornite) to this? It helps with clarity of all things psychic. Including discernment issues and truths. ( it is also known to disappear and reappear bringing you knowledge. Sounds crazy but it's true. I've had mine come missing twice and both times I stumbled upon some interesting information following the event. .. One being court documents regarding my grandfather. I won't get sideways TOO much here. But let's just say. It was a HUGE lie I was told .. And I was made aware of the truth of certain people and events ).

[Seraphin]

Alright, I think we have enough stones already! Thanks silversong and mrsdavid: Selenite, bloodstone, celestite, emerald, iron pyrite and peacock ore. Five myriad gems!

For the herbs sage, honeysuckle, caraway and rosemary stick out to me.

Personally though, the color brown stands out to me. But I'm thinking of why don't we just let the person choose intuitively and discerningly what candle he/she would like to use since this is a discernment spell. The same with incense. What do you think?

Additional correspondence are:

• Tools: Sword or Athame, feather
• Animals: Starfish
• Deity: Ganesha

[Silversong]

Thank you XD I decided to get out the books and start researching.
Haha, sorry! Stones are my thing. (I mean, to the point where my aunt in California mailed me some for my birthday XD)

Athena/Minerva could be a helpful deity as well, for those more inclined toward the Greek pantheon, or Odin for the Norse. Thoth for Egyptian, perhaps.

[Seraphin]

Don't be sorry and keep it up! You are being very helpful. A big thank you Silversong.

[Silversong]

Thanks. :3 I like to think I'm helpful XD

[Becks]

Hey all! I hope I'm not too late. I'd love to join. These correspondences are wonderful. I agree with rosemary wholeheartedly! Great stone suggestions. Ganesha is an excellent choice also-the best I can think of. Cardea is the Roman goddess of the hinge. She is known to "open what is shut and shut what is open". Associated with the door and threshold she might be willing to assist with this kind of work.

In terms of animal associations. I think of birds of prey, and in particular-raptors. Raptors are known for their visual acuity. Eagle and especially hawk medicine relate to this kind of energy.

To discern is to sift, to separate or to distinguish....in terms of other associations I see lenses....the idea of looking through an object to see better....scales and other methods of measurement. I'm kind of a weirdo and so my brain is thinking in terms of sympathetic symbols you can use in magic to illicit that act and feeling of clarity. In my mind I think if the way a mason jar filled with water and earth shaken up is muddy and opaque. Left to settle, allowed time and stillness, the jar becomes transparent; we can clearly see through to the other side.

[Seraphin]

In terms of animal associations. I think of birds of prey, and in particular-raptors. Raptors are known for their visual acuity. Eagle and especially hawk medicine relate to this kind of energy.

Probably using eagle (or any birds of prey) feather to comb our aura? I don't know about the raptors though, any suggestions guys?

...scales and other methods of measurement.

Scales are perfect symbol for this month's spell as we're going to cast it while we're under Libra zodiac sign.

I think we could do the Ancient Egyptian ritual of 'weighing of heart'. The procedure would be placing a heart shape paper on one surface of the balance scale and then placing the feather on the other balance scale surface... Which reminds me of... the God Ma'at (God of Justice and Truth) could be a helpful Deity here as well. The only problem I see here is not everyone of us have scales.

To discern is to sift, to separate or to distinguish....in terms off other associations I see lenses....the idea of looking through an object to see better...

I'm kind of a weirdo and so my brain is thinking in terms of sympathetic symbols you can use in magic to illicit that act and feeling of clarity. In my mind I think if the way a mason jar filled with water and earth shaken up is muddy and opaque. Left to settle, allowed time and stillness, the jar becomes transparent; we can clearly see through to the other side.

Dissolving alum crystals and/or bleaching powder can turn the muddy water into clear transparent liquid.

[Becks]

Granted, while we all don't have scales...I guess we could improvise a crude balance...something like a ruler (or some such object) creating a fulcrum.

I love where this is going.....I didn't think of Ma'at but that makes perfect sense....the weighing of souls balanced against the feather....yeah awesome!

Interesting-I didn't know that about alum. I have alum in powder form in my apothecary chest-commonly used to stop gossip in hoodoo. Yet another use!

Raptor/bird of prey same thing...terminology often used interchangably where I am.