As cozy bonfires begin to flare and the first pumpkins appear at the farmer’s market, all the rich, colorful warmth of the autumn season approaches, electrifying even the seasoned witch with anticipation for the coming months.
Use this powerful energy to create with these sophisticated magical crafting ideas.
Make your own scrying mirror.
I love projects that make use of odds and ends. Who doesn’t have an old picture frame? Use it to make your own scrying mirror. It’s easy. fun and opens up a new “window” to explore divination and fortune-telling.
As the days grow shorter, the “veil between worlds” thins, making this the perfect time to peer into otherworldly affairs.
Stuff you will need for a DIY scrying mirror.
-frame/glass
-black acrylic paint
-paintbrush
-window cleaner or isopropyl alcohol
-microfiber cloth or lens cloth
Step 1
Turn over the picture frame. Use your fingers or a butter knife to pry back the metal thingies that keep the backing in place and remove the back.
Step 2
Remove the glass. Give it a good clean with your glass cleaner or isopropyl alcohol and the lens cloth. Really get in there. You don’t want to trap any specks of dirt in between the glass and the paint.
Step 3
Paint the back of the mirror with black acrylic paint.
You will need to paint several layers. Be sure to allow the paint to dry completely before adding a new layer. (I usually wait about 2-3 hours between coats to make certain).
Do not skip the drying step! If it isn’t totally dry, it will do this weird clumping/smearing thing that’s hard to fix.
Step 4
Once the paint is completely dry, reassemble the frame with the newly painted glass in it.
Make sure the painted side is facing towards the back, and the unpainted side is facing out front.
Use your glass cleaner or isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth to clean the front of the scrying mirror, not the painted side.
How to use a magic mirror.
Gather your mirror, a candle, and a lighter or matches.
On the night of the dark moon, find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted and light the candle, placing it between you and the scrying mirror.
Turn the lights off.
Stare into the mirror and allow your eyes to lose focus.
It can take 5 minutes or 2 hours, but generally, the more you practice, the quicker visions appear.
Don’t get discouraged if nothing happens during your first few sessions!
Remember, some people spend a lifetime learning divination techniques, so be patient with yourself.
As you become more advanced in your practice, consider any of the following modifications to your scrying sessions:
-Try using it in conjunction with your tarot cards. Draw a tarot card and concentrate on its meaning as you stare into the mirror to give yourself a mental focal point.
-Consider taking a ritual bath before scrying sessions to remove psychic gunk, especially if you’re struggling with your clairvoyance.
-Use the thinning of the Veil Between Worlds during Litha and Samhain for special sessions or to see deep insight.
-If you are familiar with how to properly use vision herbs, you can incorporate these into your divination sessions for enhanced sessions.
Make black salt.
As the days begin to wane, autumn makes the ideal time to make ingredients for protection and binding spells.
What is black salt?
Bad vibrations occasionally find their way into everyone’s life from time to time.
This includes ill-fated relationships, poor workplace circumstances, and incompatible roommates or living situations.
These things often lead to depression, low-functioning behaviors, and unhealthy habits. Nip it in the bud before it gets unbearable.
Metaphysically, black salt absorbs negative energy, spiritually poisonous vibes, and general yuck.
Use it for everything from soaking up a bad mood to driving away toxic people from your life.
Ingredients
-coarse sea or kosher salt
-any one of the following:
- fire pit ashes
- black food coloring
- black pepper
- activated charcoal powder
How to Make It
Combine salt and black additive of your choice.
Then, consider using the energy of the dark moon to prepare this concoction, which heightens its protective properties.
Charge it by leaving it outdoors under the dark moon or with any other charging method you prefer.
Ways to Use Your Black Salts
There are an infinite number of ways to use black salts. Here are a few brainstorms for you.
-Sprinkle it around the perimeter of your house to guard the hearth and home.
-Add some to a car protection charm to give it a boost.
-Place protection gemstones in a bag of black salt to cleanse and recharge them. (Be sure to rinse them thoroughly before use).
-Are you dating? Carry a small glass jar of black salts with cinnamon oil to protect your heart from lovers with bad intentions.
-If you’re in a toxic friendship, get a picture of the two of you together. When you’re ready to end the friendship, place the photo in a biodegradable container (a dye-free brown bag works) and bury it somewhere away from your home. Walk away and don’t look back.
-Mark the perimeter of your outdoor sacred space when you cast a circle to protect you during a ritual. (Don’t use it on an indoor circle, as it may stain carpet or flooring).
Use your scraps and spices from your kitchen to craft the perfect fall incense blend.
Make creative use of orange peels, fall spices like cinnamon & star anise, or pine needles collected on an autumn walk. Blend your own fall incense for use during Mabon & Samhain rituals, or to celebrate the harvest moons.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. apple peel or dried apple
- 1/2 tsp. lavender flowers
- 1/2 tsp. rose petals
- 1 tsp. powdered cinnamon
- 2 tsp. powdered myrrh resin
Directions
- Grind up herbs with mortar and pestle or in a clean coffee grinder until finely powdered.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and stir to combine.
- Transfer blend to an airtight container to store.
- To use, place a pinch of incense blend on a lit charcoal disk set atop a heat-safe surface to release cleansing smoke.
Create a scrapbook for your ancestors.
Samhain reminds us to remember those who came before us. Honor them in the coming months by researching their lives, gathering pictures from relatives, and putting together a family history album. Bonus:
When you’re done, it makes a great Yule gift.
Glam out a pumpkin.
Forget the same, tired pumpkin carving party. Go glam. Spray paint your pumpkin gold or black, stencil it, glue rhinestones on it, cover it in glitter, adorn it with old costume jewelry, or do what I did one year, and slip half a pair of lacy stockings over it.
Blend your own Samhain oil.
If you have a drawer or box full of essential oils you never get around to using, try making your own Samhain oil from earthy, autumn-inspiring oils like cinnamon, nutmeg, orange oil, or patchouli.
Or, if essential oils aren’t your thing, try steeping orange peels and cinnamon sticks at a low temperature in olive oil until you get something you like.
Be sure to pick out a lovely glass bottle from the thrift store and adorn it with ribbon or charms if you like.