Swati Prakash

Top Tarot Healing and Wiccan Expert

Tag: Magic

  • The Vegan Witch’s Cauldron: Beautiful Plants, Not Animal Parts

    The Vegan Witch’s Cauldron: Beautiful Plants, Not Animal Parts

    Blessings of the Hallowed Season of Samhain!

    Every Halloween, witches have been misrepresented in media, brewing dark potions with eyes of newt, tongues of dog, and dragon’s blood. From Shakespeare’s “bubble, bubble, toil and trouble” to TV shows like Charmed, magic was often imagined as something wicked — full of animal parts and sinister ingredients. While Veganism is about not exploiting non human animals, Wicca is meant to be a path of positive witchcraft which includes not harming anyone, and being against all evil overall to the best possible extent.

    Evidently, the truth about these ingredients used by witches in potions, is far gentler — and far greener.
    Real witchcraft has always been rooted in plants, not cruelty. And Halloween as it is called now, was originally Hallows Eve or Samhain, a sacred festival of celebrating the final harvest of the year with pumpkins, apples, candied fruits, and lights, just like Diwali in Hinduism is too a celebration of the harvest and a new year for pagans or plant farmers at the summer’s end, with presents, fruits, nuts and decorations of light. This is a global time for celebrating the bounty of Earth mother or Lakshmi, whether in the West or the East. The use of animal milk or dairy, animal gelatin sweets, animal body products for food or any other evil ingredients in food, worship, or magic is simply repugnant and unnecessary.

    The old “body part” names were never literal. They were secret herbal codes — poetic metaphors used by healers and wise women to protect their craft when magic was forbidden. What sounded eerie was simply earthly.

    The Secret Language of the Wise

    When you read that a witch added Eye of Newt to her potion, she was actually using mustard seeds — tiny and golden like a newt’s eye.
    Bat’s Wings? Those were holly leaves, protective and spiky like wings in flight.
    And Tongue of Dog was houndstongue, a soft-leaved herb used for grounding and courage.

    Even the “pigs’ feet” shown in Hollywood cauldrons of witchcraft in Charmed, could simply mean Pigweed (Amaranth), a nourishing plant used for health and strength and also for protection against evil.

    Ancient herbalists used these coded names both to guard their knowledge and to speak in symbols. Magic was never about harm — it was about understanding nature’s hidden language.

    Plant-Based Magic for the Modern Witch

    As vegan witches, we continue this tradition with compassion.
    Instead of animal-based products like honey, we can use Honeysuckle in spells for sweetness, attraction, and love — no bees exploited, and the symbolism remains pure.

    Dragon’s Blood isn’t blood at all, but a deep red tree resin used for protection and empowerment. I used to sell these in my store called Magick in Mumbai.

    Devil’s Claw sounds frightening but is simply a healing root used for releasing negativity.

    Every animal body part sounding name has a positive truth inside it — a lesson in transformation, the very heart of witchcraft.

    Decoding Shakespeare’s Potion

    In Macbeth, the witches chant:

    “Eye of newt and toe of frog,
    Wool of bat and tongue of dog…”

    To the uninitiated, it sounds like a horror scene — but to herbalists, it’s simply a recipe written in code:

    • Eye of Newt – Mustard Seed
    • Toe of Frog – Buttercup
    • Wool of Bat – Moss or Holly
    • Tongue of Dog – Houndstongue herb

    So if you use the right plant based ingredients, it is not an evil brew at all, but a poetic herbal spell for transformation, written in the language of nature.

    To be fair you could change the rhyme a bit. Why not ‘Double Double, Success Double, Take Away all Toil and Trouble‘? (As I wrote in my book Yes, You Are a Witch/ You Are the Magick). Sounds and feels way better than ‘bubble bubble toil and trouble’ anyday! A good witch will use magic for banishing misfortunes and replacing them with positive energy in our lives instead of brewing even more toil and trouble than what we already endure. And in order to handle enemity or evil beings, we do not send toil or trouble to them, but rather repel evil beings away. That truly is the path of real ‘wit’ and deep ‘wisdom’ which is real witchcraft – the craft of the wise.

    Some other eerie sounding names of plants which are not animal body parts at all (and if people knew these they would stop killing innocent animals for cures and magical remedies or luck):

    • Rabbit’s Foot – Davillaya plant
    • Dragon’s Blood – Cinnabar tree sap
    • Wish bone – Turenia pansy
    • White Man’s Foot – Common Plantain
    • Graveyard Dust – Mullein
    • Lizard’s Leg – Ivy
    • Lamb’s Ear – Betony
    • Hens and Chicks – Sempervivum
    • Horse’s Tongue – Heart’s tongue fern
    • Sparrows’ tongue – Armstrong
    • Lion’s Tooth – Dandelion
    • Swine Snout – Dandelion leaves
    • Wolf’s Foot – Bugleweed
    • Dog’s Mouth – Snapdragon
    • Pig’s Ears – Round leaved navelwort
    • Bone of Ibis – Buckthorn
    • Elephant Ear – Purpurea
    • Ass’s Ear – Comfrey
    • Dragon’s Scale – Taro
    • Tear’s of Himadryas Babboon – Dill juice
    • Adder’s Tongue – Trout Lilly
    • Bear’s Foot – Lady’s Mantle
    • Bird’s Foot – Fenugreek
    • Crow’s Feather – Foam Flower
    • Tiger’s Claw/ Devil’s Claw – Martynya Annua
    • Wood Spider/ Devil’s Claw – Grapple plant
    • Cat’s Claw/ Hawk’s Claw – Unkaria Tomatosa
    • Gall of Goat – Honeysuckle
    • Cat’s Tail – Reed Mace
    • Crab Eye – Coral Bead Plant
    • Lady’s Finger – Okra

    As an easy guide also remember that blood in herbal magick simply means the sap of the tree, milk simply means plant secretion, foot or ear usualy stands for the leaves of the plants, guts for roots, hair for fine roots, eyes for the whole flower circles, tongue for petals, eggs for fruits, tears for seeds, flesh for stem or fruit flesh, toes for small leaves and wool for moss.

    The Witch’s True Magic

    Real witches — ancient or modern — are healers, herbalists, and guardians of life.
    Our cauldrons are filled not with suffering, but with seeds, roots, leaves, and blossoms for love, prosperity, protection, and health. We stir teas for wellbeing, create tinctures for healing, and burn incenses for meditation

    Magic isn’t about commanding dark forces or using demons for fulfilling sinful wishes at all. It’s about repelling dark forces away and keeping safe from them, as well as working in harmony with the living Earth in order to make our life positive in a real way, not just in thoughts but also in practicality. Witchcraft is practical magic of everyday life, with potions steeped with wisdom, stones for building positive realities, smoke of purification, candles of light, and of course positive intentions in words to energise our mind, body and spirit and protect our life, home and hearth.

    So next time someone criticizes witchcraft or magic, please guide them towards the truth and dispel myths to make the world a better place for all beings.

    Closing Blessing

    May your spells be kind, your herbs be green,
    Your cauldron bubble, with courage unseen,
    May you flourish and grow, in kindness and peace
    May your success and prosperity never cease
    May all evil beings leave you unharmed
    And may your life be magically charmed
    By earth and fire, wind and sea
    By the Spirit, Blessed Be!

    Rev. Swati Prakash, High Priestess

  • Wiccan Healers, Witches, Vampires, Black Magic Sorcerers and Impostors

    Wiccan Healers, Witches, Vampires, Black Magic Sorcerers and Impostors

    These days with the beginning of the New Age of spiritual awakening, plenty of people are entering the field of healing everyday. However I see tremendous confusion around in understanding the term Witch or Wiccan and a confusion of who is really what kind of healer. Let me try to clear the doubts and help you in your search for healing.

    WITCHES AND WITCHCRAFT:

    You can be a witch if you are performing some or the other healing – whether energy healing (Reiki/ Pranic healing etc) or candle magic, religious rituals (Hindu, Christian or any other) or angel magic, feng shui spells or astrotherapy, tantra-mantra or past life healing. There are several forms of magic and several types of practitioners who help and heal the world through their particular spiritual art or craft (or science if you prefer to call it that). Yes if you are into magic or spiritual healing, including religious healing of any kind you are a witch.

    To be a Wiccan is not the same as a witch. Just because you are doing some kind of spells or magic it does not automatically make you a Wiccan witch. You may be one of the above kind of witches – eg a Hindu witch, a Christian witch, a Feng Shui witch, a Reiki witch, an atheist witch, a tarot witch, an astro witch or any other.

    So do not just link Wicca with witchraft. A Christian priest is performing as much witchcraft as a Wiccan priest, just the ceremonies are a bit different or philosophy may be unique in their owns ways – but both are magical in themselves.

    VAMPIRES VS WITCHES:

    To be a witch is to be wise and proficient in healing. If no energy is flowing through you but you are only sucking energy you are not a witch but a vampire. To be a healer is to give not just absorb energy. You need to channel and direct energy towards something other than the ‘’limited you’’ not just all to yourself. You need to connect with the higher self which is the source of all energy and is unlimited in energy, instead of draining out objects and people just to gain personal power, self-importance or personal enjoyment. There are plenty of vampire- people who masquerade around as witches and even as Wiccans and they basically attach to witches and Wiccan groups to absorb energy during rituals instead of performing any healing for others or the world.

    If you see that a person is basically cold and unconcerned about others, self-obsessed, thinks no end of himself or herself and feels no genuine love or concern for others or for the planet you know it is a vampire not a witch. They may have magical power but not healing power. They may have knowledge but it is airy and just lip service than real healing energy. Basically their idea is to impress others and attract them than to heal.

    You will see witches always giving care and affection to plants and animals, children and people in need. They will feel more warm and energising. They will add energy to crystals and magical objects than just draw energy from them. They will be generous with their energy.

    In the hands of a witch energy of the things or people they are connecting with multiplies instead of reduces. A stone they wear will gain power than lose power. You can if you are intuitive or psychic feel the energy of a witch and of their belongings and see that they are vibrating with healing power. Even a shake hand can tell you if a person has healing energy or is an energy sucker.

    Witches will form genuine relationships and friendships. They will not just be with people from whom they will gain something or the other materially or spiritually but also be with people to give some comfort and help to them, or just to enjoy existence together.

    A vampire will usually drain others out and drink the juice of wisdom or knowledge from master to master, have several teachers, several lovers whom they drain out and they will go to different stores and take energy from all the items there. If they buy something they will try to give as less as possible and take as much as possible. If they do a course they will take extra time and give least amount of respect. On the other hand a witch or healer will be more self-contained and not always needing energy from others. They will go to stores to buy things to heal not only to browse and absorb. They will have balanced relationships and mutually beneficial associations. They will respect the time and energy of others and not just take more and more of it without adequate balancing or compensation.

    WITCHES VS. BLACK MAGIC SORCERORS

    Now this is where the maximum confusion existed throughout the medieval and dark ages. Black magic sorcerers are those people who somehow have come to the totally wrong conclusion that they can harm others and still be protected. They are unaware and unenlightened souls who believe that they are insulated against negativity no matter how much negativity they create for others. They send harmful or malicious thoughts or even conduct harmful spells or rituals and it always comes back to them in some or the other lifetime. They can harm animals or plants or humans and sacrifice them to their wish fulfilment needs, thereby digging their own grave. These are individuals that come from the dark ages and are no longer required in the world of light.

    Witches on the other hands are wise ones and healers. They know the law of nature or Karma is always operating and there is no escaping the truth. They only conduct spells for the betterment of themselves and others. The words Witch or Wizard itself come from the words Wit and Wisdom so it is necessary that there be no confusion between unwise black magic sorcery and witchcraft which is the craft of the wise.

    WICCAN BELIEVERS VS. WICCAN WITCHES or WICCAN HEALERS

    When someone says they are Wiccan it implies that they follow the specific religion of Wicca – basically Harm None, believe in the power to change your life through inner work (Magick) and regard the highest being of divinity as The God/dess which is nature worshipped as the five elements of nature – Spirit (hidden or subtle energy of nature), Air, Fire, Water and Earth (physical realm). You need not have studied or gained initiation to be a Wiccan, just like you need not be a trained Hindu priest to be a Hindu, or a Christian monk to be a Christian. Basically not every Wiccan is a Wiccan Priest or Priestess or a Witch. You can be a simple follower of Wicca, a believer.

    To be a Wiccan Priest or Priestess is to be a Healer or Witch who is qualified and initiated to perform Wiccan rituals. The initiation and qualification is usually given by a Wiccan Tradition or system of Wicca through the High Priest/ess of that Tradition after the person dedicatedly studies for a minimum period of time. The Tradition should be well known and recognised and should have proper courses and ritual format so that they can give the right knowledge and healings to people.

    Here are some do’s and don’t for your protection and safety when you are looking for the right healer:

    DO

    DO NOT

    Do – Check the person’s credentials by reading up and getting   references. See if the person is reputed and knowledgeable. Check   certifications.

    Don’t – Just follow one person or a few references as the people   before you may have been misled too. Use your own judgement after proper   research.

    Do – Follow intuition and check the energy if you can. You must feel   good about the person and the healing. It should feel right and be positive.

    Don’t – Submit yourself and bow down to the healer and be under their   spell if it is not for the ultimate good or negative in any way.

    Do – Go to healers for self- improvement and for improving your life –   as this is in your hands and is possible with healing

    Don’t – Go for attracting someone specific or for getting something   very specific – no one can guarantee that, plus it is unethical and you will   be scammed

    Do – Go to a healer with a reputed office, business address or   healing centre so that you know you can come back for any concerns

    Don’t – Go for random healers in fairs or on the streets who do not   have a proper working address as they may be fly by night operators

    Do – Go for healing for long term. Be patient. Spells and magic works   best over several sessions of inner work to make you feel totally healed

    Don’t – Expect quick results or quick fix cures for instant   gratification – magick always takes as much time as is required from case to   case

    Do – Give a reasonable energy exchange so that you can continue the   healing throughout the long term course

    Don’t – Fall for those impostors who charge a lump sum in lacs or   crores for a one time spell or magical healing and then leave you high and   dry

    Do – Go for spiritual healing and not for physical healing.  Physical body will get effects of healings   in the long run but healing cannot be a substitute for medical help.

    Don’t – Expect healing to give you a miracle cure for long term or   life threatening illnesses. Take healing for inner self and medical help for the   outer body cure – complimentary medicine.

    Do – Understand that the healer is not god and is not a connection to   god. We are all connected to nature and god is within us all. A healer only   helps as a catalyst. Your inner self heals.

    Don’t –Make a god-man or woman out of a spiritual healer – they are   as human as the rest of us. They cannot heal you, they can just send good   energy or intentions your way and it is up-to you to accept the healing.

    Do – Take as much healing regularly as you need. Just like you need   to care for your beauty, physical health or pay your insurance premiums, you   also need to invest in spiritual healing regularly. Meditate daily and take   help of healers or learn healing.

    Don’t – Give last priority to spiritual self. You might be spending a   lot more time, money and energy on clothes, makeup, night outs, food, entertainment   and hairdressers than on spiritual healing and very-very less on spirituality   so please bring some balance.