​Often, when we hear the words vibrational healing, we think of sound. Our minds go to tools like singing bowls, tuning forks, vocalizations, or frequencies played on machines, for the most part. However, that is not what is always meant. As you may already know, we all vibrate at our own frequencies, as does everything in this world. Everything from physical things like plants and animals, as well as nonphysical things like thoughts and emotions. Some of us can feel those vibrations on a conscious level (like empaths or sensitives), and others are more aware of them at a subconscious level, like when we get a “good” or “bad” feeling about someone just by being around them. We usually refer to this as our intuition or a “gut feeling”. Either way, we are picking up on the vibrations around us, and using that information to make decisions. We can also harness that information to help us heal.
When it comes to vibrational healing, there are two prominent theories I am aware of. The first is treating like with like. This happens a lot in homeopathy, where the practitioner would determine what the issue is, let’s use a poison as the cause of your problem. They would then take that same poison and dilute it to the point where the actual poison is no longer detectable in the solution, but the vibration of the poison remains (a principle akin to Bach’s Flower Essences). This dilution is then given to the patient. The idea being that the two same frequencies would cancel each other out.
The other theory is that of opposing vibrations of the same frequency would cancel each other out. The comparison here would be like playing the same chord on a piano, but different octaves. The example for this I found in “The Hidden Messages in Water” by Masaru Emoto, where he describes how opposing emotional vibrations can be used to heal us. Some of the examples he gave were:
Gratitude to heal issues cause by Hate
Kindness to heal issues caused by Anger
Presence of mind to heal issues caused by Pressure (stress)
 
I would like to point out here that it is widely accepted that negative emotions and emotional stress can (eventually) cause damage at a physical level. This shows that one’s emotional wellbeing is very important to overall health. By learning how to tune into our own bodies and personal frequencies we can learn to recognize when things feel wrong or “off”, and deal with them before they become a physical issue. That sounds pretty amazing to me.  
Either theory can be used on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level. The point of both is to use one frequency to cancel out the other. So, regardless if you fancy using physical tools like singing bowls, tuning forks, and/or vibrational medicine (like Bach’s Flower Essences), or you prefer less tangible tools that look more like self-care and shadow work, you can utilize vibrations to heal.
If you suffer from any health conditions/issues, have you considered if they have emotional roots? Would you be willing to explore that avenue? Do you tune into your body regularly, or do you wait until you have physical symptoms? Have you ever asked someone what you (energetically) feel like to them? Are you curious?

​Many witches, myself included, do not do a lot of highly ritualized work. That said, there are many that do, and I have heard these two terms thrown around, and even read them where they were used rather interchangeably. They are definitely not the same thing, and I thought it would be good to point out the difference between them, just in case you come across the same thing.
Invoking, as the name suggests, refers to “calling in” a god/goddess/spirit. Not just into your circle, but into yourself. There are many occasions (like Sabbats or the Great Rite) where ritualistic witches and covens would invoke the goddess into their priestess and the god into their priest. These members allow their deities to “possess” them for a time during the ritual and then release them when the rite is complete. The god, goddess, or spirit that inhabits them is generally given the go ahead to take over and perform whatever task is to be accomplished during that ritual, or answer whatever questions the members have (depending on the reason for invoking them in the first place). This is not something that is taken lightly, and only experienced priests/priestesses take on this responsibility. That said, it would be up to the coven who is chosen to do this, and if you are not part of a coven, things can be a bit trickier (though not impossible). Either way, invoking any entity requires a vessel (read person) to contain the entity while the work is being done.
Evoking, on the other hand, refers to “calling up” a god/goddess/spirit. Basically, this means that you are calling upon on them to appear before you. No living vessel is needed. You may call up on them to appear inside your circle, or inside a circle you have prepared for them. I would say this is more often the chosen path, since it can be done in a group or alone. As solitary practitioners, if we have a patron god/goddess, we might evoke them to gain their help in spell work, to ask for their guidance, to invite them to our celebrations, or just thank them for all they have done.
Both of these usually (but not always) require much preparation and ritual, as well as a good relationship with whichever deity/spirit you wish to contact. I would suggest that if you want to try invoking someone/something, that you talk to someone who has successfully done this before., and be sure you are well versed in ritual so it feels smooth, rather than awkward or “choppy” for you. It might also be a good idea to have someone with you who understands what you are going to do, just to be safe. You never know what things you might be unprepared for if you go it alone. The same could be applied to evocations. It never hurts to consult an expert.
As you can see, these terms are not interchangeable. Have you ever practiced either of these? Or been part of a ritual/ceremony that included one of them? Does it interest you? Do you have any tips/advice to anyone who might be?

If you are a witch of any kind, it is quite likely (though not at all mandatory) that you have a pet of some kind. Whether that is a cat, a dog, a snake, a bird, or some other furry/feathered/scaley creature (or something different entirely), he or she is likely regarded as a member of your family. We devote our love, time, and resources to make sure they are well taken care of, and we mourn when they are sick or they pass on. We may even think of them as guardians or a physical representation our spirit or totem animal. Another word that gets tossed around regarding out pets can be “a familiar”, but what is that exactly?
If you google the definition of a familiar you likely find, at the top of the list, that it is a demon that is under the control of or obeys a witch. While that very Christianized definition is quite popular among nay sayers of the craft, it is not entirely accurate. A familiar is not a demon, and is not under the control of the witch either. The relationship between a witch and her/his familiar is a mutual partnership. One can manifest a familiar into their life (usually through meditation or ritual), or one can appear to you of its own free will. Either way, a familiar is generally a physical, living creature. A familiar is not a pet. It may come to live with you, or it may come when you need it (or it needs you), but it is free to help, or not, as it sees fit. You can call on them to help you with magical workings like manifesting, healing, protection, or any other magical workings you need. While calling on a familiar is not an every-day thing, and you don’t need them for every little spell you do, it is also not a “one night stand” either. You don’t call for one just to drop it after you are done. It is a magical partnership. You can call on them when you need, but they will also seek you out for help when they need you.
There are other ways to attain magical help as well, without the commitment of a familiar. You can call on your guides, angels or other beings from alternate realms/planes to help you. This can be more of a one-time deal, though it is often best to build a rapport with them before asking for their help. It is always good to know who you are asking for help, and if they are even likely to supply such help. Some  beings/entities prefer to help with certain kinds of requests more than others, or like to build a relationship before offering their services. Always be careful and take precautions so you don’t end up attracting the wrong kind of help on the astral planes. This can also be done through meditation, journeying, ritual, or astral projection (if you able to do this).
Another way to attain magical help without a familiar is to create a thought form or servitor. These entities are made by you for a specific purpose, and are to be used for no more than 7 days. These can be made though ritual or visualization. A statue to house it in is commonly used. A thought form or servitor is generally made with a specific purpose in mind, created and fed by your energy, and set it to dissipate when the task is done or 7 days are up. These are always temporary help, and are great when you need that extra help to carry out whatever you are trying to manifest, create, or otherwise get done. Just to note, a servitor or thought form can sometimes be made by accident. Especially when we hard core focus on something. If one fixates on a problem or the desired solution we wish we could create, one can accidentally create one that will try to carry this out for us. However, this is not a desired outcome, since there would be no control on the part of the creator (you might not even know it exists), and so there could be unforeseen consequences. It is always best to try and process our negative feelings like anger, grief, and sadness in positive ways so this does not happen.
Any of these ways is acceptable for acquiring magical help. It is up to you to decide which one would work best for you, or what would be the most help in your particular situation. Personally, I have never called for a familiar. I have had many pets that I was very close to, but none that I have ever asked for magical help from. How about you? Do you have a familiar? Would you want one? Do you ask for magical help elsewhere? What is your experience?

​At some point in time I think most of us have experienced déjà vu, meaning “already seen”; that feeling that we have experienced whatever we are currently doing once before. This is a fairly common occurrence. Whether you believe that this just a miscommunication in the brain between memory recollection and familiarity, or you feel it has a more paranormal/extrasensory explanation is up to you. Personally I lean more towards the latter, but that is my opinion. Either way, this is a concept that most people are familiar with. There is, however, another similar concept being studied called déjà reve, that you may not have heard of, though you may have experienced it.
Déjà reve means “already dreamed”. It describes a situation where you feel you previously dreamed about a situation before it actually happens. Yes, it does sound like precognition, but there are actually a few scenarios that fall under this term that make it a little different. (side note: despite how much the government has studies the Claires and other such skills, “science” is not ready to admit to their existence just yet, baby steps). Science explains this phenomenon by saying that they believe that our brain has a special section that stores our dreams and that real life situations can trigger these memories, causing that feeling of déjà reve. According to research done in 2010, they have found evidence that the people more likely to experience either déjà vu or déjà reve are those who have “thinner boundaries” between mental states. Which makes sense. If you are more open to that kind of experience you are more likely to have that experience. They also have shown that these stated occur mostly in the medial temporal lobes, which is the part of the brain that plays a major role in emotions and memories.
 Déjà reve actually breaks down into three different types.

1. Episodic-Like  Déjà Reve, which refers to scenarios where the person can recall having that specific dream at a specific date/time that is now happening in real life.
2. Familiarity-Like Déjà Reve, which refers to scenarios when the person associates certain elements of a dream (people, places, events) to what is happening, but cannot relate these elements to a specific dream at a specific date/time.
3. Dreamy State Déjà Reve, which refers to a scenario where the person actually feels like they are in a dream-like state of consciousness at the time.

There are some who believe there is a fourth category as well that describes dreaming about something you have already dreamed about. This one happens to me quite a bit. If you are of the belief, like so many others, that your dreams contain messages (whether from guides/spirits, the universe, your higher consciousness, or your subconscious), then paying close attention to dreams that reoccur would be an important step on your spiritual journey. This is, perhaps, where dream journaling would be an asset.
Regardless of how/why you believe these happen, it is definitely an interesting phenomenon. The brain still holds many mysteries, and I believe the key to unraveling many of them lies somewhere between science and they mystical realm. What do you think? Have you experienced wither of these phenomena? Which one? How do you explain it?

​The other day I read “The Hidden Messages in Water” by Masaru Emoto. I was already aware of his work, but had not read his book until now. His experiments have shown that water, which makes up approximately 60% of the human body, can be positively or negatively affected by our thoughts and words. Beautiful crystal formations are made by water when exposed to positive words, whether spoke or written; regardless of the language used. Even beautiful pictures and music have this same effect. The opposite is true of the same kinds of negative stimuli. Instead of pretty crystal structures there were only partially formed or deformed structures found. To me, this says a lot about how our thoughts, how we talk to ourselves, and how we let others talk to us affects our bodies and out health.
There is a lot of talk these days about positive and manifesting, and this experiment scientifically shows how true this is. According to this study, while love grows elegant crystals, when combined with gratitude, it is even more spectacular. In fact, gratitude alone had better results. In his book, he compared it to a water molecule (H2O), saying that if it were, then love would represent oxygen (1) part and gratitude would represent hydrogen (2 parts). This combination had powerful healing properties.
 We all know water is good for us, but imagine the extra benefits of positivity infused water! Regardless of the message you want to convey, the water can be infused by talking to it, sitting it on a picture, or writing the words on paper and wrapping them around the container so the water can “read” it. Yes, it appears the water gets the message that is written, and it does not matter what language it is written in either.
We tend to take water for granted, but if you think about it, it is so amazing. Healing, life sustaining, and refreshing. We truly cannot live without it.
My take from this is simple: Positive energy, in any form, breeds more positive energy, in many forms. It is a powerful, natural, universal element necessary for life and good health (on every level). For all the benefits it provides, it takes so little effort to spread it everywhere. So the question is, how do you talk to yourself and others? Will you be listening more closely to the words you use, or do you do this already?

They say you should dress for the job you want, which leads me to the question…do you dress your witchy style 24/7, or do you reserve it for ritual or special occasions? Do you have a whole witchy aesthetic, or do you subtly accessorize? Personally, I am still trying to work out my dark witchy style, but I do wear a lot of black (my favourite colour/shade), and I like to accessorize with witchy jewelry that not only makes me feel witchy, but can also double as a working talisman or amulet. I will admit there are certain fashion elements I really love, but avoid wearing, due to my own self-consciousness. We all have our own hurdles in life, unfortunately, one of mine is body issues. I am working on it. Do you do the same? Do you avoid certain things that might make your heart sing because you worry how others may see you, or that society (or friends/family) may deem them “inappropriate”?
 It is interesting what images come up for people when they think of witches. There are the old stereotypes of hags with wrinkled faces and warts hidden in hooded cloaks. However, there are also images of long robes, puffy or bell sleeves, pointed hats, renaissance style dresses, wreaths of flowers in the hair, and all manner of “other worldly” and fairy like images that come to mind as well. Which is, in itself, interesting, since we seem to be cast in some fairy tale-ish light, when in reality, many of us are home doing spells in our yoga or sweat pants and a tank top, or nothing at all. While the clothes themselves do not make the witch, they can put that witch in the right frame of mind to keep on with her bad self. Clothes are often confidence boosters, especially when they make us feel fabulous, and those little accessories that we wear (especially if there is a restricting dress code at work), can not only help give us a confidence boost, but also surround us with those good witchy vibes to keep us going, or even protect us from negative energies throughout the day. Whether you wear crystals*, keep a spell on you, or choose something symbolic for jewelry to wear openly, or keep it hidden in your pocket (or bra, if you wear one) is up to you; sometimes it is the little things that can help the most. Just knowing it is there, or even touching it can help.
When it comes right down to it, whether you dress to the nines in your most witchy outfits every day, accessorize to keep it low key, or keep your witchy self all to yourself, it is all personal preference. Public or private, you are no more, or less, a witch for it. That said, stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new can be scary but liberating.

*Please make sure any crystals you choose to wear on your person (especially close to your skin) are non-toxic and non-soluble.

​Not every witch likes to grow things, or is very good at it (we can’t all have a green thumb), but for those of us that do, what do you grow? Do you grow all your own herbs for cooking and craft? Do you have a tea garden to keep fully stocked for your morning/evening self-care rituals? Maybe you like to grow as much of your own food as you can. Or perhaps you just like to keep your space filled with pretty plants and flowers that make your heart sing and your spirit soar. Whatever you grow, and for whatever reason, gardening is one way to keep us grounded and close to nature; even in the city. Not only do plants look pretty, they clean the air of pollutants (through photosynthesis), and studies have shown they can reduce stress levels, aid in a quicker recovery from illness, and there is even something called Horticulture Therapy or Potted Plant Therapy where patients who suffer from like depression, anxiety, and addictions are prescribed plants*! These are only some of the benefits of having house plants. They truly are miraculous.
Personally, I don’t have yard space to grow anything, so all my plants are in pots. My little deck is a small jungle all summer, and during the colder months they take up my little dining room and parts of my living room. I can’t imagine not having plants in my house. Some of mine are for witchy use, many of them I saw and felt they just had to come home with me. I enjoy researching all their health benefits when I get them home. What benefits they provide physically, mentally, or spiritually usually gives me a clue as to why I was so drawn to them in the first place. Does anyone else do that too, or is that just a weird me thing? I love the individual personalities and energies of plants. I have one particular diva bonsai that I grew from seed, he is not what I thought he was supposed to be when I bought the seeds, but he is one of the most interesting personalities in my little garden. Shedding whole branches at the bottom to grow new ones at the top, and eventually seeming to throw a tantrum and dropping everything, but suddenly growing a whole new set of branches and just thriving now. Sometimes I am not sure what he is doing, but I just let him be himself, and support him. Do your have plants with big personalities? Do you talk to your plants? Meditate with/amongst them? Do you have your favourite(s)? I would love to hear all about your garden, your diva plants, your favourites, anything you would like to share.
 
*You can find lots of good info on this here: https://www.talkspace.com/blog/plant-therapy/

​Part of being a witch, or even just being spiritual, is making the connection with the Earth/Nature and the universe/all that is. If you live in a city you may find you have to make a concerted effort to find ways to do this. It can be difficult to find safe quiet spaces to tune in to nature inside a busy city. Not to mention that city life can be hectic and fast paced, very loud, and full of many (sometimes conflicting) energies. This can sometimes feel draining, and while spending time in nature is an excellent way to ground, center, and recharge your energy, it is not always possible to get away. One way to bring nature into your life, of course, is to have house plants. While not everyone has a green thumb, there are some houseplants that are quite easy to care for if you would like to try, and even some that are nearly impossible to kill. One such plant goes by many names. Dinosaur Plant, Rose of Jericho, and Resurrection Plant just to name a few. You can not water this plant for years, and then give it a little sip, and it will unfurl and grow for you. Some other interesting plants that need little attention are the Snake Plant, Zz Plant, Yucca, Haworthia, and the Jade Plant. Having even one plant to care for, talk to (yes, you really should talk to your plants), and connect with can help keep that connection to nature going even when you schedule is full and you just can’t get away. Plants also help keep your living environment feeling alive and clean by scrubbing the air of pollutants and converting CO2 to oxygen. If you have more than one plant, you can experiment with trying to connect with them and feeling the different energies they emit.
If plants are not your thing, or you just can’t have them, there are other ways to make those connections too:

1. Making time, with mindfulness, to enjoy the sun or moon; whichever your preference may be.
2. Working with the elements. Candles and incense are easily used indoors (use safely and never leave unattended), opening a window to feel the breeze on your skin, taking a cleansing bath or shower, collecting crystals that make you happy (meditating with them is a good way to connect with their energies), get a small table top water fountain, or anything else you can think of that connects you with the elements.
3. Cooking/eating mindfully, using good healthy ingredients, acknowledging where they came from, and nourishing your body with good/good tasting food that makes you happy.
4. Grounding and centering your own energies and mingling them with Earth’s/the Universe’s energies.
5. Connecting with the Genius Loci. If you are not familiar with this term, it refers to the natural energies/spirit of a place. In Roman times it was thought every place had a protective spirit, which was called the genius loci. In more modern times we may consider this less of an actual guardian spirit, and more of the atmosphere or energy of a place. Regardless of how you think of it, connecting with the genius loci of your personal space/particular location could be a good way of connecting with your home as well as the Earth/Nature.
6. Finding a safe green space to walk barefoot in the grass ( called Earthing). This is said to decrease stress, help you sleep better, improve blood flow, and many other healthy benefits. If you can find a place to lay down and relax, or sit with your back against a tree and ground yourself, even better!
7. Try tuning in to the “hum” of the city. It has its own natural rhythms that, if you tune into them, you may find you connect better with the city itself (which is, in a sense, its own living, breathing organism).

There are lots of ways to help one feel grounded and connected to the Earth, even in the city. Find whatever works for you. Experiment. Choose a few activities to do over a few weeks, and see how you feel after doing them. Keep a journal to keep track, if that speaks to you. So, what activities make you feel connected? Do you prefer to do the little things when you can, or do you like to plan bigger trips into nature so you can enjoy it for days at a time? Do you enjoy big city energies, or do you prefer the energies of the country more? Or maybe you fall somewhere in between?

There are many books available to teach anyone about the many different types of witchcraft and how to practice them. I have read more than my fair share of them, for sure. The question is, does reading/learning about and creating your own experiences through it make you a witch? In my opinion, yes. While there are some practices that have initiation rites and a structured hierarchy (and if that is your chosen path, I do suggest seeking out a coven to discuss it), this path is not for everyone. If you are a solitary practitioner, like myself and many of my friends, your initiation would be more of a dedication; not necessarily to a particular god or goddess either. Your dedication can simply be to practice your craft to the best of your ability and in a way that is for your highest good. You can choose to follow a particular path or pantheon, or choose the more eclectic path; as long as it feels right for you.
Now, that is not to say that there are not those who would tell you that unless you have been initiated by a High Priest/Priestess you are not a real witch. That if you don’t have the right tools, or know the proper rituals you can’t be a witch. There are even those who will tell you that if it is not in your blood/lineage you are not a witch. That is fine for them to believe, but you should never let anyone tell you who you are or what you believe. You cannot gatekeep faith. The fact that (as I believe) we have all lived many lives among different cultures with different beliefs and practices means our souls, whether we consciously remember or not, have had many experiences that still shape us/our personalities and contribute to what we believe in and are drawn to in this life time.
So what does make a witch then? As it says above the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi; “Know Thyself”; your beliefs, your desires, your gifts and limitations, everything you can learn about yourself is important because it is you. All you really need is you, your dedication to your path/purpose, and your openness to the universe and your connection to it all. Everything else is knowledge (hopefully) turned wisdom. Never stop learning.
So what do you really believe in? Is there a pantheon that speaks to you do you feel drawn to aspects of many? Are you more comfortable practicing solitary, or would you prefer the comradery of a coven? Will you choose to dedicate yourself to a particular god/goddess, wait for one to be drawn to you, or would you prefer not to dedicate yourself to any one god/goddess in particular? It is all up to you!