Being a witch is hard. Our candle supply is in constant thirst, our incense stick stash is always burning up, and finding wands is a sylphing pain. Being caught without sage is as detrimental as being caught cursed, or even dead; ever-dwindling tea lights shine no light on the predicament at all. If there’s a beloved sorcerer (or sorceress) in your life who seems to be in frequent dry-season regarding their stash, here is the helpful Gifts for a Witch shopping guide for you.

Candles
Any and all colors are appreciated, as they all have different correspondences according to association. All shapes are also accepted; votives for motives, tapers for tampering, jars for the honey-bee witch who collects for scent. The realm is endless. Pumpkin spice vomit is popular this season, as are various Autumn-esque combos. Also, seasonal treats are always welcoming surprises. Bonus points if there are petals or preserves embedded within.

Jars
Newt eyes do not typically roll themselves into storage. Jars—jam or clamps—are essential. They keep ingredients fresh and potions contained, and best of all, they are easy to sort. Witches tend to live in their own organized hell of labels and hooks; scattered but in perfect harmony. This is your chance to be the best enabler you can be.

Incense
You can use incense in two ways to make a witch cry. Either light a bundle of it and wait for recognition, or get personal. Many witches have many different noses that are keen to many different smells, however, there is a basic guideline to shopping for scents. Search for Sage, Lavender, Cinnamon, Frankincense, and Dragon’s blood. This list is subjective, but these bets are the safest. Sage and Dragon’s Blood both have protective elements, Frankincense dispels negativity and cleans the Sacred space, Lavender is comforting and constitutes to sleep; and Cinnamon is an overall energy raise and healing component. Cinnamon, admittedly, also gives most the fuzzy-wuzzies on colder days. This is quite possibly less proven by magickal attribute, and more so witchier jurisdiction.

Books

From the Goetia to Paradise Lost, occult literature is a delightful gift to any witch. There are only so many incomplete grimiores are offered online in form of PDF nowadays, and browser-reading definitely has its own drawbacks. There are no margins to fill in with notes or personal sparrings, no bindings to feed energy to, and no pages to dog-ear. Not only that, but online accounts tend to lack magickally. Save your beloved witchling the hassle of recording their information via screenshots and apps, and indulge her, instead, with a book.

Cards

Some witches like to gamble. Some like to read. Whichever the case, playing cards or Tarot are sure to thrill, and as the gifter, you may even get some action yourself. Be cautious of those rigged snake-eyes and devil cards, though.

Life

And just as well, death. The essence of a being can be brought in many forms—furs, bones, pelts, hides, teeth, eyes, etc. No symbolism is out of bounds for a witch, and, unlike with some of your other friends, maybe you will find your knack for roadkill-taxidermy is not so unappreciated as it may seem.

Cloaks
It is cheesy, I will admit, but ceremonial robes and ritual clothing is a traditional practice that has been kept in the line of the order for many years. Many witches these days do not have readily available veils to slip into—but that does not mean they would not if they could. 

Offerings

This can be of the demonic or mortal variety. Food is food, and whether it be vials of blood or last night’s brownies, all beings alike enjoy tokens of thought. They say the quickest way to a man’s heart is his stomach, and little is different for your magickal friends.

Charms
Interchangable with the Charmed boxset, charms are a witches’ best friend. Trinkets and triquetras hold a valuable place in the heart of practitioners, namely because they are small ways of connecting to the craft without bulky show. Not everyone can carry around a Pocket Altar™, and a home-away-from-home piece gives us our comforts, without the blazing screams of “burn me for heresy now.”

Journals

One word: Michael’s. There is a reason our widely-understood colloquialism of “Witchy Arts and Crafts” exists, and it’s not because of the innovative techniques found in The Blair Witch Project. Witches love their stamps and doodles. Books of Shadows, also known as personal grimores, (or as you may more commonly associate it with, that one creepy book your friend is always scribbling into) are expressional pieces used to keep information, accounts, and inspirations close at hand for experimenting witches. They contain absurd amounts of annotations, spurred listings, and Latin incantations, and it goes without saying that the pages of these bound entities are rather precious. Your witch-friend will see you in a brand new light once you present her with more space to collectively compile her rituals and recipes into, and maybe you will even get a chapter dedicated to you—best of hopes that that is a positive thing, though.

Gems

Much like magpies and crows, shiny things are appealing to witches too. Local stores and Etsy shops are notorious for their large selection of presentable stones that often have been shaped, tumbled, or even set as adornment. In whichever form they may be, it is a guaranteed promise you will get the seal of approval from the receiver.

Flowers

Everyone loves flowers; witches are no exception. The only difference here is that you need not be weary in the presentation. Witches will keep the wilted remains whether they come half-close to death or not. Everything ends up in a similar fashion, anyways, either peeled back to preserve the specific petals, or placed into glasses to dangle as shell reminders of a vaguely resembled plant once given in appreciation. It is a peaceful kind of death.