Intro and redundant questions from a slightly OCD baby witch

Introductions
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Hi, I’m new here and a baby witch. I’ll probably echo many previous posts but I’ve been exploring things and since I’m trying to go solo (not really much of options either in family or outside to guide and avise while also staying in the broom closet mostly, partner is neuttal supportive but others would probably be negative) I really need a community to help make sense of things. I’m mildly neuro divergent and while i know witchcraft is a very fluid and intuitive art some things i need to understand before i can tackle and feel them…so yeah i have a few questions which go beyond the traditional ‘how do i start’ or ‘how do i make moon water’ because of all the books and articles I’ve read they don’t give me answers to my obsessive need for specific clarity. I hope i can find some ideas from more experienced people here and I’d really appreciate it like A LOT​:folded_hands::folded_hands::folded_hands:

If anyone can clarify to me for example how do i count the days of the week. (and yes it sounds like an idiotic question, i know! But please hear me out) If i want for example to do the Saturday cleansing but i mostly have a chance to practice at night when nobody can see or hear, do i have to do it before midnight Sat->Sun or does after midnight of Sat-> Sun still count as Saturday energy? Same goes for all kinds of time or day practice. Does midnight count? Also for example the change of astrological sign (i.e. moon in Scorpio) does it have to be on the dot as per the astrological charts (Daff moon user here) or is it like cooking where a pinch or handful can be anywhere between 5 and 50 gr?

Or another question that’s been driving me nuts.

Moon water. i use Daff moon app and according to it for example the upcoming blue moon where i live is bow horizon during night time and thw exact time of full moon above horizon in during daytime. So how am i supposed to get moon water? Cause i really want some blue moon water to try out…

Another question that I’ve been banging my head against hard surfaces over are candle sizes. I use small or cut long ones into cake size because I’m trying to be discreet and i can’t burn coloured candles for too long. But I’ve seen lots of videos of rituals talking about letting a candle burn down and showing these huge candles that would take the entire night or more. Does it matter if my candle burns down in like fifteen/twenty minutes vs 9 or more hours ones? Or if some rituals talk about burning this huge candle for a week, do i get a big one and split it evenly to 7days or can i use multiple small ones?

Yeah sorry for a long intro and maybe silly questions but as much as I’ve been looking into it nobody talks about this, encouraging fluidity and freedom and intuition which doesn’t unfortunately help me. And i guess for people who don’t get hung up on the details it’s ok but yeah for me it’s very overwhelming.

Thank you for your time if you’ve read this far​:folded_hands::folded_hands::folded_hands::heart::heart::heart: Blessed be

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Welcome!

So as far as dividing the night for practice, I use the “watch” system. There’s some cultural differences but the general consensus is you have about 3-4 hours to stay within that “watch” of the night. I just stay within 10:30 pm - 2 am. Doesn’t matter if it’s before or after midnight, just as long as it’s within those hours.

Some clarification on that here: Watches of the night - Wikipedia

I don’t know how to apply the astrological hours, so on that I can’t comment… sorry!

For the moon water, as long as you’re putting the water out at the hour when the moon would be closest to the horizon at night I’d think you’re going to still get some energy from it. Not as much if it was over the horizon, but at least some…

You don’t have to use a larger candle if it’s not feasible. Your spell might just go into effect more quickly than with a larger one. Yes you could prepare multiple candles at once and charge them all for the same purpose - then when the first one comes near to burning out, you could transfer the flame to the next one. I could see that working.

Hope that helps! :lotus: Sādhu! :folded_hands:t2:

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Thank you so so much! That makes sense and helps so much with clarifying things, especially the moon situation, because it will come out here at the same time as the sun which means I wouldn’t be able to make like pure moon water and the ‘full moon’ would be in full sunlight. And with the watch hour is also such a relief because that’s exactly the time window i have when everyone is asleep and i can actually do the works :heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart:

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Welcome to the forum!

Running late today so can’t answer much.

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Wonderful! :folded_hands:t2:

And don’t worry about asking silly questions here - when you’re learning something new, it’s always good to ask! We love to help out here too, so this is the perfect place to do it. :wink:

Cheers! :lotus:

@Sedim_Haba

No worries! The fort’s holding strong so far. (And I’m so grateful because I’m juggling multiple communities now omg…)

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Using your example, if you want to do a Saturday cleansing, make sure you do it before midnight. Once it’s midnight or later, it counts as Sunday.

If you want to harvest Full Moon energy, wait until the moon is actually out, after nightfall. And again, anything from midnight onward counts as the next day. That said, it is still during the Full Moon window, so as long as the sun hasn’t risen yet, it still counts for Full Moon work.

Also, candle magick has very specific timing built into each session. If the candle burns longer or shorter than the required time, the session fails. That’s also why you don’t burn the candle all the way down. Because doing so skips the proper ritual closing.

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Fabulous Friday Nika,

As Wren said, do not worry about questions, ask away!!!

I took notes while reading your post and then read the other replies. I must respectfully disagree with some points that Keldan has made. From his post, he sounds ritualistic like a Gardnerian witch. Which is just great!! I, on the other hand, do not subscribe to all sorts of rituals and “rules”. I believe that magick is a very intent oriented practice.

That being said, here are my answers to some of your questions.

As for Days of the Week. It is my opinion that the “day” starts at nightfall the “day” before. Example: Saturday will start at nightfall Friday night.
Many will ask why. This is my reasoning. Look at the Wiccan Yule…basically about death/emptiness. Then there is Imbolc…“in the belly”…the beginning of life, in the belly, where it is dark. Then we have Spring awakening, and life until next Yule.

So, to me, sunset is Yule for lack of a proper word, with the dark representing the growth of the baby “in the belly”. That would put sunrise as similar to Spring, birth and awakening. However, being someone from the Western civilization, we see day starting after midnight, while it is still dark. So, choose how you wish to observe it. I am still a little torn on where I want to start the ‘day’. I currently do morning oblations outside and then evening oblations usually in my room (because I live in Vegas and our nights will be into the 100’s in a few weeks).

As for Moon Water. I make moon and sun water on a daily basis and I drink it. I do not make the waters during eclipses. Some people have different views on when/how to make the waters.

Direct moonlight, I believe, is not necessary; because as I said, I believe it is more the intent.

As long as it is dark and night, I see no reason why you cannot make moon water. The moon and the energies coming from there, will still arrive in your water.

As to candles; I have been playing around with which ones to use. I have used the “glass” tall jar candles (like in Catholic churches); so that I can blow them out and reuse them. However, when they became very low, it was harder to light them. I went back to my tea-light candles. They burn for about 4 hours. Since you need to stay “in the closet”, might I suggest birthday candles? They are small, come in different colors, and burn fairly quickly, maybe that is what will work best for you.

I bought a little tea-light “lotus” holder at Wal-Mart clearance aisle for only $1. For birthday candles, you only need something to hold it upright. Top of my head, no ideas what to use, but I am sure you will be able to find something to suit you.

I hope this helps you out a little bit :smiley:.

Lady Gene :phoenix: :butterfly:

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Greetings Lady-Gene! :upside_down_face:

Exactly. They went by the daylight, not an arbitrary number. Although following a more modern system is fine, I also ascribe to the school of older practices being more authentic. Hence why I go off the watch system, (as I still need some kind of a schedule to go by) It’s still one of the oldest measures of time. (At least 2,600 years old.)

It’s actually quite easy to make a custom candle-holder, with a bit of air-dry clay. A trick I discovered from following someone on Youtube (I don’t remember who.) https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/diy-home-hack-how-to-make-vase-candle-holder-air-dry-clay/398832

Cheers! :lotus:

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One may make the pagan path as complicated as one wants to. It is as old as time itself and there is no limit to where it can take you. Some people need specific rules and regulations; most do not and have merely been convinced that they do. The universal energy is not confined by space or time. It is not regulated by what some book says or does not say. In truth it is beyond human comprehension. The energy is always everywhere and what you must discover is what best facilitates your connection with it, what helps you feel it, focus it and direct it. Your intention and openness to it and your absolute unwavering trust in it will overcome any challenges you may face.

I chuckle when people get too focused on time. I live very close to a meridian dividing time zones (USA). I can go a short distance and be in a different time zone. Being in a “gray area” as far as celestial positions, I could drive myself nuts (short drive) trying to be precise with my timing of things. (Okay, full disclosure, I actually do use the longitude and latitude of my house, but I’m making a point :slightly_smiling_face:)

So here is my “I” statement: I follow this path because it is self-defined, it is my path. I have been on this path long enough to know what works and what doesn’t for me. This is a beautiful path that carries me through my darkest times. I follow many correspondences and stay as closely aligned as I can, I am aware of many different guidelines and directives, I have read more books than I can remember, but I can’t imagine why I would want to become so wrapped up in them that I am not fully appreciative of this wonderfully freeing approach to being.

The most important thing you may learn is what works for you.

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