February is often associated with love and Romance. Thanks to Valentine’s Day and its predecessor, Lupercalia, these themes pervade all aspects of our society for this short month. Many of us began our magical journeys with love at the forefront of our thoughts: we wanted to find, attract, or even test the strength of our love. If you’re a spiritual reader, you will know that love is one of the most common themes in reading for other people. 

The connection between love and magic is so strong in our culture, that it even makes its way into our literature and storytelling.

Witchcraft as an Act of Self-Love 

One important aspect that often gets glossed over in the conversation of love and magic is the love we need to have for ourselves. Self-love needs to precede any romantic love, otherwise it lacks a good foundation. Many of us come from cultures steeped in patriarchy and colonization, which encourages our own self-loathing. Choosing to practice witchcraft is in many ways a denial of that culture and a rejection of self-hatred. Walking the path of the witch is a decision we make to empower ourselves, and that very decision is an act of self-love. The rituals we practice show us that we matter to ourselves and that we believe we deserve better. Any magic we perform, whether for ourselves or as a service to others, is fueled and empowered by that self-love. 

What is a Cord-Cutting Ritual?

This month, we wanted to share a cord-cutting ritual for letting go and inner healing. Releasing past relationships and making way for new ones is an act of self-love. Cord-cutting has its roots in shamanism and Eastern philosophies, although cords and knots have been used in spell crafting all around the world. A cord often represents ties to a person or object, and in mythology, it also represents a person’s life. Today, a cord-cutting ritual is performed to release energetical ties to a person, an object, or a memory. These rituals can be beneficial in helping you to move forward from a past relationship or situation that is no longer serving you. In releasing these unhealthy ties, you free up your energy and make way for new connections. The ritual outlined below is designed to do just that.

Cord-Cutting Ritual

This ritual is for anyone who is ready to move on from an energy/person/place/habit that energetically seems to be taking a slow time to transform. Sometimes we get entangled with energy, willingly at one point and time in our lives, but are feeling the call to grow and expand. We are ready for that new beginning but are finding it hard to get that movement going forward or just feel plain stuck and unavailable for new energy. Our conscious minds and hearts are saying “YES PLEASE I'M READY!!”, but the energy still doesn’t seem to be moving. Well cord cutting the energetic ties of the old, outdated patterns may be exactly what you need. It can release you, to then start anew. It may be the last thing that needs to happen for you to move on properly, so the same patterns don’t repeat. It’s a clean start. A resurrection if you will. This time of the year is perfect for this. Releasing yourself with a cord-cutting ritual and resurrecting the pieces of your soul that have laid dormant. Once wholeness is obtained you may manifest more wholeness instead of fragments.

1st- Gather ritual items: 1 white chime candle and holder and fireproof dish, a pair of tweezers or small tongs, 1 small bowl and fill with water, Salt in a small bowl, lighter or matches, Incense or smoke bundle of choice, 4 small pieces of paper or bay leaf, and a pen or ink of choice. 1 flower or offering to be left at a crossroad.

2nd- Set the sacred space. Make sure you set the tone of the ritual by giving yourself private sacred space. Pick a nice quiet space with no distractions, no phones, or extra people.

3rd- Ground. Protect. Connect. Consecrate your space with smoke by lighting the incense and saying a beginning incantation that calls on the elements to awaken the forces within the elements assisting your ritual. Something like, “I call on the spirit of water to come forth and assist in this ritual” holding the bowl in your hands whilst doing so. Set your altar and light the candle. On the 4 pieces of small paper, write the name of the person, place, or things/aspects that you are energetically cutting or releasing on one side of the paper. On the other side draw an upside-down pentagram for releasing of the energy. While the candle is burning focus on all the ways that you see your life as whole and complete. It is entirely important that what is focused on is your wholeness. While the cords are being cut out of your life it is vitally important you fill your energetic space with more of you and where you see yourself going.

Suggestions- Take out a journal and write about where you visualize yourself and your life at its highest and best. Contemplate your soul’s purpose and what you feel called to during this time of your life. As you release you are also calling in your soul’s purpose to take up more space in your life from here on out. You can also meditate or listen to soft music or meditations that are inspiring. This will set the tone for a new way. When the candle is almost burned out fold up all the pieces of small paper with the pentagram on the outside as it is folding in on the things being released. Burn all 4 pieces over a fireproof dish. You can hold them with a pair of tweezers or tiny tongs. Recite if you feel called, ‘I release myself from all negative attachments and I dedicate all thoughts to union.” Thank the spirit of fire and make sure the candle burns all the way out. Next release the water into the toilet then flush or pour down the sink, while reciting the words and thanking the spirit of the element. If there are any ashes left from the ceremony release them into the wind, and again reciting the words and thanking the spirit of Air. Bring the salt from the ceremony and any wax, if any is left, at a crossroads of choice. Preferably away from where you reside. Dig a tiny hole, pour in the salt and wax cover with dirt, and on top leave a flower or offering of choice. Recite the words and thank the spirit of the earth. When you turn to walk away, DO NOT LOOK BACK. Walk with gratitude and know it is done.

Blessed be.

Take some time this month to perform an act of self-love. This cord-cutting ritual can be part of a wider journey to healing and empowering yourself spiritually and physically. Another important tool in your spiritual journey will be a Grimoire or magical journal. Historically a grimoire was used by a witch to record spells and incantations. As Mercury transits through Pisces over the next few weeks, you will want to write down your spiritual thoughts and ideas and record any spellcrafting you perform. Use these magical tools to build yourself up and release anything that is not serving you right now. May we always remember the immutable connection between witchcraft and self-love. 

All materials for the cord-cutting ritual can be found in our online store or at Asheville Raven & Crone on Merrimon Avenue. 

Dreams have been a source of fascination and bewilderment to humans for millennia. Throughout our existence, we have tried to explain and interpret our dreams. We have used dreams as tools for self-discovery, artistic inspiration, and even channels for divine communication. Dreamwork is the mechanism for harnessing the power of our dreams. 

What is Dreamwork?

Dreamwork encompasses a multitude of spiritual and therapeutic practices that focus on your dreams. Sigmund Freud was known for having a particular interest in deciphering dreams to reveal what the subconscious mind is trying to manifest. This part of dreamwork is called dream interpretation, where the querent analyzes symbols and recurring motifs from their dreams to interpret a message from the subconscious. As a therapeutic practice, a qualified therapist will act as a guide for the querent, allowing them to explore the thoughts and patterns from their dreams and come to their own conclusions. 

Other than being a conduit to the unconscious mind, dreams have always been considered tools for contacting spiritual entities and a means for divination and receiving prophetic messages. The Oneirocritica is an ancient Greek text from the 2nd century that lays out a detailed framework for interpreting symbols in dreams, which includes divinatory delinations. The Bible even mentions certain prophets receiving symbolic dreams containing warnings about the future. 

What can you use Dreamwork for?

Dreamwork can be incorporated into your magical or spiritual practice in numerous ways. You can work more closely with deities or other entities that are harder to contact in the waking world by inviting them to visit you in your dreams. Dreams may come to you as a response to recent spellwork, confirming the effects of a spell. 

You can use your dreams as a tool to look into the future, or dreams can be a conduit to receiving prophecies from the divine. Lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is aware of being in a dream, can be a tool used for shadow work or revisiting past events to work through trauma. 

Preparations for Dreamwork

Dreams can feel uncontrollable at the start of your journey, and learning to harness them as a tool is a deeply personal experience. It will take considerable time and a lot of trial and error to find what works best for you. 

To begin, you should find a way to record your dreams, like a journal (paper or digital) or a recording device. Keep your dream journal next to where you sleep so you can record as soon as you wake. You will find that some dreams don’t have much meaning in them, but others will stand out as significant to you. 

Before you go to sleep, you will want to set a ritual to induce dreaming and give those dreams a direction. Magical teas, tinctures, or ritual baths can be a good starting point. Incorporate herbs and ingredients that correspond to your intention: if you want to peer into the future, herbs like mugwort or wormwood will enhance divinatory powers. If you are looking to connect with a deity, you may make an offering to them just before bed, inviting them to contact you in the dream world. 

While you are sleeping, it may be helpful to have a charm or talisman with you to focus your dream on your purpose and to provide protection from baneful entities. You can hold it in your hand or keep it under your pillow (as a safety precaution, it is not advised to wear anything around your neck while sleeping). Charms to block nightmares are helpful, as those dreams tend to be less productive, unless you are doing shadow work. Visiting the dream world can be exhilarating and frightening all at the same time, but having the right tools and resources will help you get the most out of your experience. You can find all of the tools mentioned above at Asheville Raven & Crone.

This month, we venture into the dark forest of Eastern European folklore to meet the frightful yet fascinating Baba Yaga. Famous for her roaming house with legs, Baba Yaga has a reputation for being the ultimate ambiguous entity, helping and hurting as she sees fit. Children who grew up in Slavic households will have heard her name as a threat against misbehaving, yet some witches today view her story holistically and find that she has many lessons to teach.

Where is Baba Yaga from?

The Baba Yaga appears in many Slavic folk tales, but particularly in Eastern Slavic mythology (modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus). The first written account of Baba Yaga dates back to 1755 as part of a discourse on the book Russian Grammar by Mikhail V Lomonosov.

Depictions of the Baba Yaga can be found in artwork from throughout the 17th century. 

She is often described as a crone who lives in a birch wood, in a house atop a pair of chicken feet. She moves around using a black kettle in some stories, and in a mortar driven with a pestle in other stories. She conjures storms along her path when she travels. The Baba Yaga has inspired many characters in modern art and entertainment, such as the spa proprietor in Spirited Away. 

Who (or What) is Baba Yaga?

It is contested whether or not the Baba Yaga is a singular figure or a classification of spirits, such as sirens, harpies, or vampires. She is sometimes referred to as an ogress, and in other stories, Baba Yaga refers to three entities in one. For simplicity, we will continue to refer to Baba Yaga as a singular character in this post.

Baba Yaga does not fit neatly into one description: across her folk tales, she plays the role of both malefic and benefic spirit. Cannibalism is a core feature of Baba Yaga’s character, and she is probably most infamous for eating children. She often travels alongside Death, consuming newly released souls. 

Many scholars of Slavic folklore consider the Baba Yaga to be a proto-feminist figure, especially considering her depiction in the tale of Vasilisa the Wise (or Brave). In this story, Baba Yaga is associated with protection and ancestral knowledge. It is also suggested from this story that she is a primordial goddess, complicit in the creation of the world.

Working with Baba Yaga.

If you are interested in or currently working with Crone energy, Baba Yaga may be an entity worth exploring. The name “Baba” itself suggests a familial role, such as a Grandmother, who may offer the wisdom that comes with life experience. Being an entity that walks the line between malefic and benefic, Baba Yaga would be a great energy to call upon for any baneful magic as well as protection spells. 

Offerings to Baba Yaga would include vodka, tobacco, or items collected from the forest. Other correspondences would include a mortar and pestle, the hearth and fire, and a broom. Your journey with Baba Yaga will require resilience, resourcefulness, and courage. Whatever your needs, the staff at Asheville Raven & Crone will help guide you down your chosen path.

As the long nights of winter approach, the torch-bearing goddess Hekate appears to us. She is the keeper of the crossroads, the guardian of thresholds, and the guide through shadowed places. November 16th marks a night of venerating this ancient goddess of death, magic, and liminal spaces—a time to honor her as the green life of summer fades and the earth sinks into dormancy. In this darkening season, we call upon Hekate to light the path ahead and to shield us as we move through the frozen stillness of winter.

Hekate the Lightbringer

Hekate is often depicted holding a pair of blazing torches, their flames illuminating what lies hidden in the darkness. In Greek mythology, she is the only deity who retained her power when Zeus divided the heavens, earth, and sea—a testament to her strength and autonomy. Her torches appear throughout myth: most famously, she uses them to guide Demeter through the night as the grieving mother searches for Persephone. In this way, Hekate becomes a literal and spiritual light-bringer—one who leads the lost and the sorrowful toward understanding and transformation.

Over time, Hekate also became linked to the moon, her triple form representing the lunar phases: maiden, mother, and crone. Each face of Hekate corresponds to a stage of the moon’s cycle and to a stage of life itself—birth, maturity, and death, perpetually turning. Her connection to the moon and torches alike reminds us that even in the darkest night, illumination can be found.

Mullein Torches

Just as Hekate’s torches pierce the night, so too can the humble Mullein plant be transformed into a source of flame and protection. Mullein is a soft, velvety herb long associated with healing, purification, and banishing negativity. Folk names include Candlewick Plant, Hag’s Taper, and Witch’s Taper—titles that speak to its magical nature and practical use. The tall, dried stalks of Mullein can be dipped in wax or oil to create natural torches, while the fluffy leaves were once used as lamp wicks.

Traditionally, Mullein has been burned to ward off evil spirits, cleanse sacred space, and promote health and vitality. The herb carries the energy of fire and light, making it a perfect offering or tool in workings that invoke Hekate. At Asheville Raven & Crone, Mullein Tapers are crafted and used for a variety of magical purposes—from protection spells to seasonal rituals of renewal and illumination.

Invoking Hekate’s Light

As we journey into the dark half of the year, we can welcome Hekate’s guiding flame into our homes. Lighting a Mullein torch in her honor is both a devotional act and a practical charm. Use it to purify your space, to banish unwelcome energies, and to petition the Goddess’s protection. 

Let your Mullein torch stand as a symbol of Hekate’s eternal flame—a reminder that the goddess lights the way even in the deepest night. With her torches burning brightly beside us, we move forward through winter not in fear, but in knowing that the light will always return.

Apotropaia, Propulaia, Triodia, Kleidouchos, and Enodia: these are all epithets designated to Hekate, the Hellenic goddess ruling over roads, thresholds, ghosts, the underworld, and much more. “Enodia” is the first epithet used in the Orphic hymn to Hekate, denoting its importance: “I call Hekate of the Crossroads, worshipped at the meeting of three paths, oh lovely one.”

Enodia or Ἐνοδία translates to “travel” or “in the road”; it is most commonly understood as “of the crossroads” when used in relation to Hekate. This epithet is used when referring to Hekate as a protective guide, and is deeply connected to crossroads, nocturnal travel over land, and protection for travelers. As Enodia, Hekate is Goddess of the night, guidance, protection of the home from outside dangers, the restless dead, and witchcraft. Due to her protective powers and her rulership of roads, images of Hekate were commonly erected at entrances of cities and along busy roads in ancient Greece. 

How did Hecate come to be known as Enodia?

As with many pagan deities, Hekate gained her Enodia characteristics through conflation and syncretism with other deities. Enodia is actually a distinct Thessalian goddess with cults across Thessaly, a region on the northeast coast of ancient Greece. She was also called Goddess of Pherai, the center of her most prominent cult.  The Thessalian Ennodia ruled over roads, ghosts, funeral rites, and the sovereignty of cities and groups of people. Due to similar rulership and attributes, Thessalian Ennodia became absorbed into the worship of Hekate across the wider ancient Greek religion.

Hekate Enodia is best represented in the Homeric myth of Persephone. Hekate observed from her cave the moment Persephone was kidnapped and alerted Demeter. Being the torch-bearing goddess, Hekate helped in the search for Persephone. Once she was found, it was Hekate who guided Persephone out of the underworld, being a liminal goddess who can travel freely between worlds. 

Enodia in our Modern World

In many ways, Hekate Enodia is the center of our modern renaissance of Hekatean worship, possessing characteristics that are attractive to modern pagans. As magic practices become more popular, naturally, we would propitiate the Hellenic goddess of witchcraft. Furthermore, being “of the road” can imply being an outsider, intentionally cloistered, or even having nefarious intent, as it contrasts with those who choose to stay within the safety of the home. As a female deity who freely roams liminal spaces, Enodia can represent liberation from patriarchal norms. These aspects speak to the witchy and pagan community as we choose a life path that exists outside of patriarchal standards. 

As we journey into the dark half of the year, you may call upon Hekate Enodia for spiritual guidance and protection. Samhain, the witch’s new year, is a great time to perform a home cleansing and protection ritual. As you waft incense or herbal smoke through your home, petition Hekate for her protection through the darkness of winter. Another powerful tool for your altar is the mineral Vivianite, known as the “crystal of death”. Vivianite is a mineral found in places of decay, such as graves and bogs. It is formed from decomposed bones, teeth, and iron-rich peat. Vivianite is a transformational mineral, and great for banishing negative energy. Its association with death and decomposition (transformation) makes it a powerful tool for working with Hekate. You can find vivianite, along with all your other spellwork supplies, in our Asheville shop or in our online store.  

This month, we dive into the ancient Sumerian pantheon with one of the oldest archetypes of the divine feminine. A precursor to deities such as Ishtar, Aphrodite, Venus, and the Virgin Mary, the figure of Inanna dates back to 3,000 BCE. Her image appears carved into ancient stone, and Sumerians laid out her mythology in numerous epic poems. Considered by some to be the first literary hero, the goddess Inanna has started claiming her well-deserved spot in the modern pagan pantheon.

Who is Inanna?

Inanna goes by several titles according to ancient texts, “Queen of Heaven” and “Inanna of the Evening” being the most used. She is a goddess of war and justice, but also love and sensuality. In Mesopotamian religion, Inanna came to be identified with the goddess Ishtar, although it is unclear as to whether Inanna is also of Semitic origins or if the two became conflated due to their similarities.

A Sumerian hym tells the story of Inanna’s visit to a magical palace called kur, and her desire to eat a sacred fruit of knowledge. When her brother relents, she eats the fruit, giving her the awareness of her own sexuality. 

She is featured in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the world's oldest epic poem written around 2100 BCE. In this story, Inanna proposes marriage to Gilgamesh, the king of Uruk, counter to the courtship norms. When Gilgamesh refuses, she lashes out and sends the Bull of Heaven to kill him. Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu kill the bull, but Enkidu dies as punishment, and this leads Gilgamesh on his quest for immortality. 

Even more ancient is the tale of the “Descent of Inanna,” where Inanna visits her sister in “the great below”, who is grieving the death of her husband at the hands of Inanna herself. To get to the Underworld, Inanna must pass through seven gates, each of them stripping her of her symbols of power and protection. When she arrives, Ereshkigal kills Inanna and hangs her on a hook for 3 days. Inanna is revived by the god Enki, but in order to get out of the underworld, she must trade places with her husband. 

What can we learn from Inanna?

Within the mythology of Inanna, we find the archetypes of other divine female deities: Eve, who eats the forbidden fruit and comes to know “sin”, Persephone who journeys to the underworld and returns with the cycles of nature, and Venus, the evening star who embodies sensuality and female pleasure. 

The mythology of Inanna is one of the oldest records of a female figure seeking divine knowledge for herself and embracing sex and sensuality outside of the patriarchal norm. As a goddess of love, she helps us to embrace and fulfill our own desires, and to connect and build intimacy with others and ourselves.

Inanna’s sense of personal power and sovereignty recommends her to those seeking to build self-confidence, or those who feel trapped or controlled. Her support is also ideal for self-discovery and celebration. It is well documented that many priests of the cult of Inanna were androgynous men or two-spirited. As a result, modern, queer pagans may be called to work with Inanna.

Inanna is a fascinating study in the divine feminine archetype. As one of the oldest recorded literary heroes, she reaches out to us across millenia, and her gift of personal sovereignty certainly speaks to us today.