Now Open!

Welcome, witches! I’m pleased to announce that the newly-remodeled Willow Wings Witch Shop is now open for business!

There’s lots to see, so make sure you have a look through the catalog:

Books - All three of my published titles: Grovedaughter Witchery, The Sisters Grimmoire, and Pestlework. (Books ship worldwide!)

Magical Powders - A selection of homemade homebrews from my own practice, from the tried-and-true Bree’s Banishing Powder to brand new recipes like Inspiration Salt.

Enchanted Items - Delightful bottle charms and spell jars, prepared with care and just a little touch of magic, ready to aid you in all your witchy workings.

Spell Kits - Small, simple kits containing those hard-to-find ingredients for certain spells and the instructions to go with them. The first round includes two entries from The Sisters Grimmoire, with more to come. Witch Web Kits are also back in vibrant new colors, including specialty options like glow-in-the-dark!

Podcast Merch - Vinyl stickers and pinback buttons for showing your witchy flair or your support of my show, Hex Positive.

There’s lots more waiting in the wings, so make sure you sign up for the email list to get the monthly newsletter with announcements, merch drops, and seasonal discount codes!

Thank you all for your support during the building and development process and your never-ending encouragement on the socials. I hope you all enjoy the shop and I look forward to bringing you lots of new and exciting items in the coming months.

Happy Witching!

breelandwalker:

Witch Tip For The Day - Small Magics

Originally posted by lawyerchronicles

Once you advance beyond the basics (pretty much when you start moving from What and When to How and Why and feel a decreased need for peer review alongside a greater trust in your own judgment), a goodly part of your witchcraft will be made up of things that you will never be able to explain to other people. Little personal rituals, intuitive understandings, flashes of insight, spur-of-the-moment spells, the use of unorthodox items and components that suit your needs and purposes.

You will find ways of working and feeling and connecting and casting that will be unique to you and your life experience. And you may not feel much like sharing the finer details. If you had to write it all out, it probably either wouldn’t make much sense to anyone but you or it would be difficult to put into words. Many things will boil down to, “I just do the thing because of reasons.”

You’ll also find that a great deal of your craft will be made up of small magics that you do reflexively or out of habit or when the opportunity arises, as opposed to large-scale highly intricate castings which require lots of planning and preparation. And in a broader sense, without getting into the whether-to’s and the why-for’s of various traditions, that is how it should be.

Everyday personal magic is just as important to know and understand and practice as any full moon ritual or choreographed group casting. Because those small magics will be the heart of what makes your craft yours.

It does not particularly matter if your spells are powerful. What matters is that they are EFFECTIVE.

Happy Witching!

breelandwalker:

where-lies-the-strangling-fruit:

Yesterday I learned my backyard is home to purple ground ivy and its place within herbal witchcraft and herbal medicine was fascinating so I want to continue this journey. Obviously I know a few herbs and plants that are good for certain things but I really want to educate myself deeply!

I was looking into the Green Witch but really all and any suggestions are welcome for a beginner such as myself.

-slams mug down on the table and stands- MY TIME HAS COME.

….Ahem. Yes, I think I can help.

I’m a huge proponent of pairing magical education with mundane learning, both for safety and for context. Thus, books on plants, for spells and medicine alike, make up a big part of my library.

For the sake of convenience, I’ll break down my recs into two categories:

GREEN WITCHCRAFT

• Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Cunningham) 
• Garden Witchery (Dugan)
• The Garden Witch’s Herbal (Dugan)
  
• The Sacred Herbs of Samhain (Hopman)
• The Real Witches’ Garden (West)
• The Hearth Witch’s Compendium (Franklin)
• The Hearth Witch’s Kitchen Herbal (Franklin)
• The Green Witch Herbal (Griggs)
  

PRACTICAL HERBOLOGY

• The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines (Fetrow & Avila)

• Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs (Carr)

• Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Peterson Field Guides)

• Edible Wild Plants (Peterson Field Guides)

• Herbal Remedies (Chevallier)

• The New American Herbal (Orr)

• The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook (Green)
  

I also have a few other books that deal with practical gardening techniques and plant-related folklore, which I’m happy to provide upon request.

Please keep in mind that everything should be read with common sense and a grain of salt in mind. I have a lot more books that I refer to, but these are the ones I find myself reaching for most often.

Hope this helps!

creature-wizard:

Conservatives thinking disability accommodations are “woke” and shouldn’t exist is an example of what I mean when I say conservatives think fascism is when they’re being mildly inconvenienced.

And by “mildly inconvenienced,” we mean “not the center of attention” or “not allowed to oppress, harm, take advantage of, or be complete assholes to other people without consequences.”

exuberantocean:

Please call this recession the Trump Slump.

We need to put Trump’s name on this.

libraford:

Found this graphic and i really appreciate having options for activism that aren’t going to protests.

breelandwalker:

hexpositive:

Hex Positive, Ep. 054 - Witching With Your Local Biome

Spring has sprung at HexPos Central, but no matter what the weather looks like outside, there are dozens of species of plants to discover in your local biome. Grab your basket and field guide and take a walk through this month’s study exercise, where you’ll learn to observe, identify, and find magical uses for local flora.

(Listen to the end for commentary from Creative Director Havoc!)

Events:

• Critical Thinking Witch Collective - Spring Free Brew
• The Witches’ Table Discussion Group - Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia (USA)
• Historic Hilton Village / Styx & Stones - First Fridays Pink Moon Market
• River City Witches / Diversity Richmond - Oddities Witch Market

Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop on Shopify and check out this month’s featured items and Upcoming Events. Make sure you also visit the Redbubble page for even more cool merch!

Check my ⁠⁠Wordpress⁠⁠ for full show notes, as well as show notes for past episodes and information on upcoming events. You can find me as @BreeNicGarran on Instagram and WordPress, or as @breelandwalker on tumblr. For more information on how to support the show and get access to early releases and extra content, visit my ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠.

Proud member of the ⁠⁠Nerd and Tie Podcast Network⁠⁠

MUSIC CREDITS

Intro & Outro – “Spellbound” & “Miri’s Magic Dance” 
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For more information on connecting with your local biome and responsible land stewardship, I recommend “Land Healing” by Dana O'Driscoll.

tf2heritageposts:

tf2heritageposts:

good evening officer

don’t tell social media if you went to protests or not(especially if you didn’t), don’t give cops an easy way to track down protesters. punk life advice

liberalsarecool:

liberalsarecool:

liberalsarecool:

More Democrats need to be like Sen Brian Schatz [D-HI]. Stand up. Have courage.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT] steps up.

Block. Everything.

Call your reps, tell them to GET THEIR ASSES ON BOARD.

Midterms are coming up.

montymollusk:

when referring to yourself in your head, what pronoun do you use?

first person (“i need to wash the dishes”)

second person (“you need to wash the dishes”)

third person (“they need to wash the dishes”)

plural (“we need to wash the dishes”)

i don’t think in words

extra secret answer (explain in tags)

existennialmemes:

The crux of the anti trans movement is a war on bodily autonomy. They don’t want you to have any agency over what you look like, how you dress, who you date, whether to have kids, etc.

They want total control over you. Not just trans people. Not just queer people. You. Everyone.

Trans people are just a scapegoat. They want total control over everyone’s self expression. They want the right to mold you into their perfect little cog in their dehumanizing machine.

Happy Trans Day of Visibility. Our rights are your rights. Our destruction is your destruction.

breelandwalker:

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

Originally posted by studio-gihbli

There’s a marked tradition of cleaning and airing out the house in the springtime when the weather warms. As you’re dusting and tidying and getting rid of winter stagnation, take some time to do the same with your craft.

Clean and organize your workspace. If you have an altar space or a shelf where you keep bottles and jars and the like, remove everything from the surface and give it a good dusting. Take the opportunity to rearrange things or swap out pieces if it suits you. If you have ritual tools that don’t often get cleaned, check them for signs or rust or wear and give them a bit of love. Repair things that need fixing, if you can. If you have an iron cauldron that you use for fire magic, get a wire brush or some steel wool and gently remove any burnt residue left inside.

Sort through your supplies. If you have lots of candles and crystals and small items laying about, consider getting some small totes or craft organizers to keep things tidy. Divided storage boxes for beads or scrapbooking supplies are great for small items, and shoebox-sized caddies are perfect for taper, chime, and votive candles. Organizing things will make your space easier to navigate and also gives you a proper idea of what you have on hand. Which might help you resist impulse purchases the next time you’re out shopping for witchcraft supplies. While you’re tidying, be sure to discard any rubbish, candle stubs, wax blobs, herb scraps, bits of string, incense bases, and so forth that might be cluttering up the place. 

Discard things that are too old or worn to be useful. Dried plants and seasonings can usually be kept for 1-3 years if they remain in sealed containers. If they have no scent anymore or smell musty or mildewy, discard them and sanitize the container. If you’re using supermarket spices, you can use the expiration date on the container as a guide. Powdered material will likely last longer than whole herbs or cut-and-sifted material. One helpful tip is to put a purchase date on packets or bags of herbs when you buy them, or to put a little date sticker on your jars of herbs when you refill them. (Anyone who’s worked in food service will probably be familiar with the concept of container dating or day-dotting.)

If you make oils or tinctures or suchlike in your practice, check on these as well. Make sure nothing has gone off or lost its’ potency. Day-dotting your potion containers will help with this as well. A simple sticker with the name of the brew and the date it was bottled will help you keep track of your supplies and know when something needs to be tossed and replaced. (You can also print labels with the ingredients and purpose of the brew if you’re feeling super organized.)

Reorganize your books and resources. Review what’s there and see if there are any materials that need to be weeded out, donated, or discarded. Remember that as you grow and progress, some things will become obsolete or may show themselves to be unhelpful or inaccurate. It’s okay to remove things from your resource library that no longer serve you if you want to make some space on the shelves.

You can also cleanse your workspace and/or components while you’re tidying if you wish. It doesn’t have to be a full clean-slate-everything-must-go cleansing, but it can be helpful to just clear out stagnation or bring in some freshness and vitality.

Happy Witching! 🧼

Want more witchcraft exercises? Check out the masterpost here and visit my shop for spell kits, books, magical powders, and more!

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my monthly show Hex Positive on your favorite podcast app, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

breelandwalker:

Willow Wings Witch Shop - April 2025 Newsletter

Spring is in full bloom and so are things in the Willow Wings Witch Shop! This month, we’ll be featuring products related to growing yourself and your craft. You can definitely expect another mid-month merch drop AND I’ll be including a little extra bonus item in all my U.S. orders. 

(If you order books from overseas, I can’t include the item but I’ll still send you a little something extra via email, because I appreciate you.)

Use discount code SPROUT for 20% off new and featured items all month long!

I’ve also updated the Upcoming Events page with the names and information of several organizations I’ve been partnering with - The Critical Thinking Witch Collective, The Nerd & Tie Podcast Network, and The Witches’ Table. Please take a moment to check out their sites and the communities we’re building together for witches everywhere.

Stay Safe and Happy Witching! 🌿

Upcoming Events:

The Witches Table Discussion Group: Williamsburg Chapter(First Wednesday of each month)
Next Gathering - Wednesday, April 2 2025, 6pm-8pm
Upcoming Dates - May 7 | June 4 | July 2
Alewerks Taproom (Williamsburg Outlets)
5715 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg VA (USA)
Hosted by The Witches Table (And check out the Richmond chapter too!)

First Fridays Moon Market
(First Friday of each month)
Next Event - Friday, April 4 2025, 6pm-9pm
Upcoming Dates - May 2 | June 6
Historic Hilton Village
10369 Warwick Blvd, Newport News VA (USA)
Hosted by Styx & Stones

Spring Free Brew - From Page to Publishing: Raising Your Crit Witch Voice!
Saturday, April 5th, 8 AM Pacific / 11 AM Eastern / 4 PM British
Free Online Event
Hosted by the Critical Thinking Witch Collective
Full details and registration on website

RCW Oddities Witch Market
Sunday April 20 2025, 12pm-6pm
Diversity Richmond
1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond VA (USA)
Hosted by River City Witches

This Month on Hex Positive:

Hex Positive, Ep. 054 - Witching With Your Local Biome(Proud Member of the Nerd & Tie Podcast Network)

Spring has sprung at HexPos Central, but no matter what the weather looks like outside, there are dozens of species of plants to discover in your local biome. Grab your basket and field guide and take a walk through this month’s study exercise, where you’ll learn to observe, identify, and find magical uses for local flora.

(Listen to the end for commentary from Creative Director Havoc!)

Willow Wings Witch Shop

Books, spell kits, and homemade charms and accoutrements for your witchcraft practice. Owned and operated by Bree NicGarran, author of Grove

Willow Wings Witch Shop

breelandwalker:

Pink Moon - April 12 2025

Prepare for the blooming season and make sure you take those allergy meds - it’s time for the Pink Moon!

Pink Moon 🌸

Named for the appearance of spring flowers, in particular the early springtide ground phlox (also known as moss pinks), the Pink Moon often coincides with the first bloom of the season, with trees and fields in flower and a profusion of color returning to the world after the long bleak greyness of winter. Despite the name, the moon itself does not turn pink to match.

This year, the Pink Moon is a micromoon, occurring when the moon is approaching it’s apogee, the farthest point in its’ orbit from the Earth. The moon may appear slightly smaller or dimmer because of this when it reaches peak illumination at 8:22pm EST this Saturday.

North American indigenous names for this moon include Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin), Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit), Moon When The Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Planting Moon (Tunica), and Frog Moon (Cree). Alternate European names for the Pink Moon include Egg Moon and Budding Moon, and some modern pagan traditions call it the Awakening Moon.

The April full moon is also sometimes known as the Paschal Full Moon, being the first full moon after the spring equinox. The Christian Easter holiday, which has a floating date, occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Moon.

Farmer’s Proverb: A full Moon in April brings frost. If the full Moon rises pale, expect rain.

What Does It Mean For Witches? 🌸

The Pink Moon is a time for reconnecting with yourself and the world around you. The world is giving a good yawn and stretch after a long winter’s sleep and so can we! Get outside if you can and get some fresh air. Explore your area, especially if there’s something or someplace new you’ve been meaning to try. Revisit old haunts and discover what’s changed since the last time you were out and about.

Take a moment to assess your current goals and mark your progress. Celebrate your growth and learn from your setbacks. Assess your boundaries as well. Are you making enough time for yourself? Are you letting things or tasks or people intrude where they shouldn’t? Is there anywhere that you should be standing firm but aren’t?

Balance dedication to your work with playtime and relaxation. Remember that you are not required to set yourself on fire to keep others warm. Take time to care for your own needs and address those “I’m Sure It’s Nothing” health concerns you’ve been putting off.

What Witchy Things Can We Do? 🌸

By the time the Pink Moon comes around, there’s either one more cold spell working its’ way through or the first true warmth of spring beginning to appear. If the temperatures are rising to sunny pleasantry in your area, it’s the perfect time to start planting your garden.

Whether you have a few pots on a patio or a fully-planned plot or just some well-beloved houseplants, get your fingers into the dirt and transfer those seeds and sprouts to a nice fertile home. You can work various kinds of magic as you do, for growth, fertility, prosperity, tenacity, resilience, protection, whatever seems needful. (This can also be done separate from planting if you’re not growing a garden.) If you grow your own plants for your magical practice, you can also bless them for their intended purposes.

If you don’t garden (and not all of us do) but still want to work some plant magic, you can grab your field guide and pruning scissors and go foraging. You can pair last month’s Dig Through The Ditches exercise with some foraging and harvesting of the wild weeds growing in your area.

(This month’s episode of Hex Positive addresses this exact topic!)

For a fun and easy full-moon spell, set out some gallon jugs of potable water to make Pink Moon Water. This will be excellent for watering your garden…and yourself! (Rainwater isn’t safe to drink these days, and water collected from wild sources is dicey even if you boil it, but drinking water works just fine.) You can also cast spells for creativity, change, fertility, happiness, adaptability, and growth. Use whatever methods resonate with you and remember that the most important component of any spell is the witch who casts it.

The earth is blooming, so let’s bloom with it!

Happy Pink Moon, witches! 🌕🌸

2025 Witches Calendar

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Pink Moon Magic: The Thrilling Full Moon of April 2025, The Peculiar Brunette.

Pink Moon: Full Micromoon of April 2025, The Old Farmers Almanac.

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches, Bree NicGarran.

Wild Weed Harvests, Bree NicGarran.

Easter and the Paschal Full Moon: Determining the Date of Easter, The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Source: NY Post, April 2024.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

werewolf-transgenderism:

ALT

a world without trans people has never existed and never will

prints

inkstars1138:

beaft:

beaft:

googling shit like “why do i feel bad after hanging out with my friends” and all of the answers are either “you need better friends” (i don’t; my friends are wonderful) or “your social battery is drained, you need to rest and regain your energy levels” (i don’t; i’ve got tons of energy, it’s just manifesting as over-the-top neurotic mania). why is this even happening. it’s like some stupid toll i have to pay as a punishment for enjoying myself too much

I actually, genuinely think social event aftercare would fix me. I need someone to put me to bed and say “you were fun today and no one hated you”