Cassandra and I have decided to move on from providing yearly ‘in person’ workshops as we have done them for the past nine years. Here are some memorable photographs of them….
2014
We had a fabulous time with our workshops and met some wonderful people. There were many thought provoking discussions and profound experiences.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
So many adventures in the last ten years! Thank you to all of you who attended our workshops.
Working magically on a beach is wonderful. The tides remind you of the changing, but constant nature of life. The old is always washed away, but new things are brought in, along with fresh beginnings and a stiff breeze of energy. Beach sand is the perfect representation of that, along with sea water. Use it for cleansing, and encouraging new growth and changes.
– The beach is a place where all elements meet. The sun, the wind, the earth, the ocean; you can use beach sand to represent the elements, or a specific one by magically charging it, or channeling energy into it.
Most people consider the beach a peaceful place. Use beach sand in relaxation and peace charms, and possibly to bring sleep, and within their sleep, magical work.
It’s been touched by the ocean over and over. This would imbue it with the element of water, and properties of salt. Use beach sand to help one achieve stability through change. It can combine strength and emotion, and help keep one level-headed through overwhelming and stressful events.
You could probably use it in relation to time. Longevity, resilience, and long-lasting ties all come to mind when you consider the ageless sand.
Consider the area when collecting things from nature. If you’re into asking nature, elements, or local spirits for permission, do it. If you’re into just going from intuition, and collecting things only when it feels right, then do it. Keep in mind that some places don’t like people taking natural things from the area.
Sand, shells, drift wood, and items found at the beach are good for offerings to certain deities and spirits, depending on what they prefer.
Read more here: Witchcraft and Spiritual
Before the crowds arrive, when the morning is still new, go for a walk on the sand at sunrise. Take a small bottle or bag with you, fill it with sand, and bring it back home for magical workings that incorporate all four elements. Do the same with a bottle of ocean water. You can also use your bag of sand to cast a circle once you get back home, or as a substitute for graveyard dirt in workings.
Read more here: Witchy Tips
Regular rock-poolers are likely to come across Mermaid’s purses containing the eggs or young of the Lesser Spotted Dogfish lying amongst the debris on the tide line. These egg capsules have been dislodged after being laid by the adult female dogfish are doomed to perish. Some, if not most, of these capsules are empty.
With over 600 species of skate and ray worldwide, at least 16 species have been regularly recorded in UK coastal waters; most of these species reproduce by laying tough leathery egg cases on the seabed. Of more than 30 species of British sharks only two species lay egg cases that are commonly found on our beaches; the Small Spotted Cat Shark and the Nurse Hound.
Read more here: British Marine Life Study – The Shark Trust
This method was introduced to me by a friend who has excellent potential for working with the sea. Purses make fabulous containers for storing sigils and intent. Here are some examples:
Find a hatched mermaid purse on a nearby beach. Clean it up and let it dry.
Find the opening of the pouch and gently push in the rolled up paper containing your sigil
Mermaids purse’s and various sigils can be used for protection. Using the egg pouch to call upon spirits is also connected to these powerful creatures.
Used for – health, happiness, exorcism of evil spirits, fertility, prosperity, protection.
Read more here: The Water Witch
The alternating pattern of rising and falling sea level with respect to land is what we know as the tides. What causes this “motion of the ocean”? In one word, gravity. Specifically, the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon.
The key to understanding how the tides work is understanding the relationship between the motion of our planet and the Moon and Sun. As the Earth spins on its own axis, ocean water is kept at equal levels around the planet by the Earth’s gravity pulling inward and centrifugal force pushing outward.
However, the Moon’s gravitational forces are strong enough to disrupt this balance by accelerating the water towards the Moon. This causes the water to ‘bulge.’ As the Moon orbits our planet and as the Earth rotates, the bulge also moves. The areas of the Earth where the bulging occurs experience high tide, and the other areas are subject to a low tide.
Read more here: Moon Connection
Working with the Moon at certain phases for example, waxing moon is good for working on situations or things that need growth, full moon is good for healing and other matters related to the feminine, waning moon is good for banishing and taking away, while the dark moon is the perfect time for working deeper with the inner self and the mind.
The incoming tide is an auspicious time for bringing matters to a head, attraction and growth and the outgoing tide for taking away or repelling, illnesses, unwanted matters or associations.
Seaweed offers protection for those at sea. It summons sea spirits and sea winds. It is used in sachets and spells to increase psychic powers. If you use an infusion to scrub floors in a business premises it will attract customers and bring positive energy. Use it for financial gain too.
It can also help to regulate an underactive thyroid and relieve the pain of rheumatism and rheumatic joints.
Herbs and Magical Correspondences
“Many good fortune spells feature seaweeds like bladderwrack and agar-agar, both popularly known as Sea Spirit. Seaweeds, in general, are perceived as auspicious; other species such as kelp and dulce may be easier to obtain, along with other seaweeds associated with Japanese cuisine or nutritional supplements.
Simply place the seaweed in a jar and cover with sake or whiskey. Keep the covered jar in the kitchen to magically attract good fortune.
Note: For this spell, seaweed may be fresh or dried, but tablets may not be substituted.”
“Items Needed:
A small boiling saucepan of water, edible seaweed, beef or chicken stock cubes Do this on a waxing moon or full moon and a rising or high tide.
Do the spell at your stove, or if you have a cooking cauldron on a fire, even better! Boil some water and empower it with chanting. When it is at the peak of boiling add one of the cubes to the broth and as it dissolves repeat your chant. Hold your hands over the seaweed and visualise it turning into money. Take some and break it into small pieces and add to the broth saying:
“Seaweed abundant gift of the sea. bringing money in abundance to me, help to make me healthy and strong, bringing wellness and riches as I sing my song.
Take the soup off the stove and let it cool, add pepper or other seasonings to taste. Eat warm. If this soup is too much for you to eat or it does not taste pleasant, think of items that can be added to make it more appealing: carrots, peas, noodles, etc. Save a small amount to give as an offering to a plant or tree outside.”
For this spell, you will need a piece of seaweed and the ocean
Get in the ocean, letting your worries sink to the bottom. Close your eyes and tune into the rhythm of the sea. Take your piece of seaweed and state your wish. Tie the seaweed into 3 knots and say, “By my will and knot times three. My wish is done, so shall it be!”
Shells are gifts of the sea, they can be used to represent the oceanic deities,
Long, spiraled ones signify the Gods, while round shells symbolize the Goddesses. Cowries have been used for centuries for the latter purpose.
Sea Witches and magicians place shells upon their altars for this very reason when performing sea magic at home. When spells are done by the sea shore, a protective circle can be marked out with a ring of shells gathered for that specific purpose.
Shells can be strung together or individually and worn to promote fertility, or to attract money, since they were once used as money. Take a large univalve (one-piece) shell and hold it close to your ear. You will hear the voice of the sea. Let it speak to you. You may hear messages of the future or past; or the sound of the sea can still your mind for receiving psychic messages.
A special shell that you find on the beach and have a strong attraction to may be fashioned into a protective or lucky amulet.
A shell in the home can be an indicator of the sea. Hold it to your ear; if the sounds within it are loud, the sea is rough; if soft, the sea is smooth and calm.
A shell placed at the entrance of the house ensures that luck will enter it.
Conches or other very large univalves are blown at seaside rites to dispel negativity and to invite the Gods and good spirits to be present at rituals and spells.
Read more here: Hoodoo Witch
Scallop Shells – popular with collectors because of diversity with pattern and colour. A large group with several hundred species worldwide. Most found in tropical waters. Can be used in any form of magic and a substitute if you cannot find the right type of shell for your spell. For travel and movement.
Abalone Shells – there are 100 different types of these shells. They have a plain exterior with a nacreous iridescent interior known as mother of pearl. they are flat in shape and edged with small holes. useful for finding things hidden and good fortune.General use. Use to contain empowered herbs, stones, and other magical items, good for spells that seek something hidden. They offer protection from negative energy. Used as incense and smudge stick holders. Good for meditation and chakra balancing. Meditation for inner beauty and for general use and containment of stones and herbs.
Limpet Shells – large family of primitive snails which are ovate and include a hole in the middle. Use this shell when you need to find a way in or out of a situation. This shell is ideal to meditate upon for psychic & divination abilities, unlocking psychic or divination abilities, also confidence, courage and strength.
Clam Shells – there are many families of clam shells, Tridacna, Mactra, Solenidae, Cultellidae and Veneridae. Giant clams are small but the shells can vary from large to very large. A small clam shell may be etched with a rune and made into a potent talisman. A symbol of the Goddess so very good for Goddess related spells. The Goddess Venus is often depicted standing in a clam shell. Excellent for Goddess related rituals and spells. love and purification.
Whelk Shells – a large and diverse family with hundreds of species. Lives in cold and warm seas. the shell fits perfectly in the hand. WHELK (Buccinidae): Use this shell when you need to take control, when you need to get a grip on yourself or a situation. Brings positive and dramatic change, handling a situation and gaining control, maintaining the status quo and stability.
LEFT HANDED WHELKS: Use for making dramatic, positive changes in your life.
Conche Shell – a well-known and diverse family. some can be quite smooth while others have spiny extensions on the outer edge. It has been used over 1000s of years as a means of coastal communication. It has a deep resonating sound when it is blown. Ideal for invoking spirits, announcing arrivals and communication, also love.
Cowrie Shell – a large family and prized by shell collectors. It is shiny and has an avocado shape. It resembles the uterus and also female genitalia. Cowries are great for money spells as many cultures once used them as money. This shell can be used for female magic, birth, difficult menopause and female sexuality. Can be used for fertility, menstrual cycle, womb ailments and pregnancy, also money and prosperity.
Cone Shells – well-known since they possess a powerful sting used to capture prey. The incredibly toxic venom of the geographic cone snail has to be strong enough to paralyze instantly. Otherwise, the fish it preys on would swim away to die, and the slow-moving gastropod would have nothing for its efforts. Indigenous to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific, geographic cones grow to about 6 inches (15 centimetres) in length and have intricately patterned brown-and-white shells highly prized by shell collectors. Used in protective spell crafts.
Spiral Shells . The chambered nautilus is a sea creature that belongs in the same class as the octopus. Unlike the octopus, it has a hard shell that’s divided into chambers. As the nautilus matures and grows, it periodically seals off the shell behind it and creates a new, larger living chamber. The shells of adults may have as many as 30 such chambers. This cutaway of a nautilus shell shows its chambers and reveals an elegant spiral structure.
This growth process yields an elegant spiral structure, visible when the shell is sliced to reveal the individual chambers. Many accounts describe this pattern as a logarithmic (or equiangular) spiral and link it to a number known as the golden ratio. Useful for stimulation of energy in ritual and the home.
Moon Shells – snail-like globular forms with a half moon shaped aperture. Some flattened, disk-like species also exist. Typically, a thick rib-like callus obscures the umbilicus, and the aperture lip is fringed by a thin sharp edge. In life, mantle flaps from each side cover the shell, protecting its lustrous finish. Although their shell characteristics are very similar, molecular data now are showing that several Naticid genera belong to other taxa. For example, N. alapapiliones, N. acinonyx, N. multipunctata, etc., all group together in a separate taxon, perhaps the genus Glyphepithema . These molluscs are largely found in sea floor sand of the tropics, but also in waters beyond the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. They make a living by plowing just below the surface. When they find another mollusc, it is enveloped by their massive foot –often too large to be withdrawn into the shell. The rasp-like radula is then applied to drill an extremely neat, beveled hole. Drilling is facilitated, as it is also in muricids, by an accessory boring organ on the anterior portion of the foot. It secretes a non-acid calcium chelating compound that softens shells. Used for psychic awareness peace and purification.
Olive Shells – members of the Olividae family are carnivorous sand burrowers. .Any of the marine snails that constitute the family Olividae (subclass Prosobranchia of the class Gastropoda). Fossils of the genus Oliva are common from the Eocene Epoch (57.8 to 36.6 million years ago) to the present. The shell, which is distinctive and easily recognizable, has a pointed apex and rapidly expands outward to the main body whorl. It is oval in shape, with a long and narrow aperture, and possesses an agate-like sheen and fine markings. Used for healing.
Oyster Shells – best known as a food source and production of pearls. Related to the Moon and some cultures view pearls as tears of the Moon. Used for lunar magic, spells for passion, virility, sexual love and good fortune. They are useful for any form of lunar magic.
Tooth Shells or Tusk shells, also called elephant’s tusk, elephant’s tooth, any of several marine mollusks of the class Scaphopoda. There are four genera of tusk shells (Dentalium is typical and most common) and more than 350 species. Most tusk shells live in fairly deep water, sometimes to depths of about 4,000 metres (13,000 feet); many deep-sea species are cosmopolitan in distribution. Tusk shells feed upon such small organisms as protozoans of the order Forminifera and young bivalves. TUSK SHELLS (Dentaliidae):Use this shell for when you need to do battle. It resembles strength & attack.
Sand Dollars – What you’ll usually find is something called a test, which is the skeleton of a dead sand dollar. This beautiful test is usually white or grayish-white, with a star-shaped marking in its center. The name for these animals (yes, they are animals!) came from their likeness to silver dollars. When they are alive, sand dollars look much different. They are covered with short, velvety spines that may be purple, reddish brown, yellowish, gray, green or black in color. Here you can learn more about what sand dollars look like, what they eat, where they live and how they reproduce. Sand dollars are echinoderms, which means they are related to sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins. In fact, they are basically flat sea urchins, and are in the same class as sea urchins – Class Echinoidea. This class is divided into two groups – the regular echinoids (sea urchins and pencil urchins) and irregular echinoids (includes heart urchins, sea biscuits and sand dollars). Used for wisdom, study and matters affecting or developing the brain.
Auger Shells – Large family of long and slender shells. phallic shaped shells can be used for matters associated with males, fertility, courage and power, also healing male ailments. Due to its obviously phallic shape this shell can be used to represent the God on an altar or in a spell and is used for spells to do with the male. Augers are related to cone shells and turrids a group that uses a harpoon-like radular tooth to inject venom to capture worms. Their slender shells are designed for ploughing through sand leaving a trail behind them. A few prefer drifting up-and-down sloping beaches with the surf while hunting, quickly burying between waves at the water’s edge. Most prefer clean sand adjacent to the reef. Most species occur at deeper scuba depths. Horn shells differ from augers in having a recurved siphonal canal and herbivorous diet.
SCREW SHELLS: For any male oriented magic, e.g. fertility, courage, power and in the aid to healing male ailments.
CERITH SHELLS [CERITHIIDAE] – Most species of this major family are small, long and thin. Due to it’s phallic shape it may be used for any male oriented magic, e.g. fertility, courage, power and in the aid to healing male ailments.
Cockle Shells – a very large and well-known family and live in shallow and deep water. “warming the cockles of the heart” used in relationship, friendship and love matters. Cockle shells are a very common species found throughout the world. The rounded shells can have a pronounced heart shape and are frequently ribbed. In both Europe and the Far East cockle shells are one of the most popular edible shell fish. This shell is suitable for spells of love, friendship, family and emotions.
Nautilus – one of the most beautiful shells you will find. It is a small family of four or five species. It is coiled and has a rippled surface resembling the human brain can be used in spells for the brain, mentality, studies, examinations and writing, wisdom knowledge, understanding difficult concepts. Psychological balance and harmony.
Spindle Shells – large and popular group living in shallow water. Art or craft projects. Family Fusinidae are as described, spindle shaped, elegant shells. All are elongated, with a many whorled spire (the coiled part of a gastropod apart from the body whorl that generally tapers to a point), a long straight siphonal canal and a smooth columella. Spindles have ornamental features which includes strong tubercles and vertical folds, spiral ribs and ridges inside the aperture. Some shells are long, thick and heavy, a few have left-handed spiral. Spindles are sea snails and live on sandy bottom sea floors among rocks and coral debris. They are carnivorous and prey on other small sea creatures. Fate destiny, change, karma and meditation.
CERITH SHELLS [CERITHIIDAE] – Most species of this major family are small, long and thin. Due to it’s phallic shape it may be used for any male oriented magic, e.g. fertility, courage, power and in the aid to healing male ailments.
SUNDIAL SHELLS (Architectonicidae): Use this shell for solar magic, warmth and light.
WENTLERTRAPS (Epitoniidae): Use this shell in magic related to any form of creativity, building, art, sculpture and inspiration.
Read more here: Grove and Grotto
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