Basics of Witchcraft

Practicing safe witchcraft ✨

Safely practicing your craft is something i don't see talked about in the community often enough, so i decided to compile a list of some basic safety precautions i think everyone needs to know!

∆ do not leave candles or incense burning unattended

this is something that i've made the mistake of doing on more than one occasion. leaving anything burning outside of your attention is incredibly dangerous, and you can risk setting items in the surrounding area on fire. if a spell requires you to let a candle burn itself out, i would recommend using a tealight or even a birthday candle– something small enough to melt down quickly in one sitting.

∆ research properties of crystals and herbs

something that has gained popularity in recent times on witchblr is 'crystal-infused water' or 'crystal elixirs'. while it isn't really my thing, i thought i would stress how dangerous this can be if you do not do proper research for those who are interested in this practice. many crystals and stones are actually water-soluble, meaning they will dissolve in water and release minerals or elements that are toxic if ingested. as a rule of thumb, crystals that end in -ite are typically water-soluble, but there are others such as turquoise, gypsum, lapis lazuli, tiger eye, cinnabar, and countless more crystals that can cause some serious harm. stay on the safe side and do your research. the same goes for plants and herbs. foxglove, nightshade belladonna, lily of the valley, poinsettia, and mistletoe can all be dangerous with skin contact or ingestion. some herbs are more dangerous in pregnancy, and some are more dangerous to animals. i said it before, and can't stress it anymore: do your research!

∆ don't use salt outdoors

this is something people are more aware of within the community, but i think it's still important to stress, as it is in regard to the safety of the environment. salt is generally pretty terrible for plants and soil. excess salt will kill off plants and cause soil erosion, which can permanently destroy that area of land. however, there are so many alternatives! if you do a bit of digging around, you can find plenty of different options. my personal go-to is eggshells. :)

∆ be careful with essential oils

i think essential oils are fantastic, however there are many ways you could accidentally harm yourself or others through misuse. never ingest essential oils. that's just a very, very bad idea. you can risk serious damage to your internal organs, which, in general, is not very pleasant. some oils are okay for occasional use on skin, however it is super important that you dilute them with a carrier oil. it is near impossible to dilute essential oils in water due to the very different densities. along with this, for the love of all things good, do NOT use essential oil on your pets. they are not built like humans. what may be okay for us can be potentially harmful to them. even diffusers can cause harm to your pets, so please research what oils are toxic for animals. your furry friends will thank you.

∆ do not abandon actual medical help in favor of herbal remedies

if you are ill in any way, whether it be physically or mentally, please, please, PLEASE get medical attention. it does not make you a bad witch, it does not reduce any kind of magical ability, it will only help you. if you do want to supplement medical treatment with magical remedies, that's fine, just be sure to research and make sure there will be not conflicts between the medical treatment and whatever remedy you plan to use. in the same vein, i have seen some cross-over between the witchcraft community and the anti-vax community. please, if you are physically able to, vaccinate yourself, your kids, and your loved ones. vaccinations are the safest way to protect against so many illnesses, and those who are immunocompromised/immunodeficient, elderly, and newborns all rely on herd immunity to stay healthy.