Magical Mondays: Button, Button, Who Has a Button?
Monday July 28, 2008
Magical Mondays: Buttons!
© Getty Images
This week's item: a pile of colorful buttons! What are you going to do with yours?
Magical Mondays: Buttons!
© Getty Images
This week's item: a pile of colorful buttons! What are you going to do with yours?
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Comments
string sometogether of the same color on a natural cord to wear as a necklace..example:
use green to attract, luck, prosperity & abundance by using the color magic,but enchant and charge them first with your desire or intention.
When I first saw the buttons I thought of these adorable wooden dolls, which have thread spools for bodies and stacks of buttons strung onto string for their arms and legs.
The next time I make a poppet I may use the project as an excuse to use up that jar of buttons that accumulates from the spare sewing projects.
I would use a button for a spell that binds. Like a button holds together a coat or a shirt it could represent holding together a family in rough times.
I personally would struggle to know what to do with multi-colour buttons. Other than to use them to represent a colour which corresponds to what the spell is about. Like green for prosperity.
Other than that, you’ve got me stumped!
Good suggestions from the others though!
Multi-colored buttons could be used in the same way multi-colored cloths are used for aligning, activating, and balancing the chakras, or energy centers of the body.
As each chakra has an assosiated color, the same color button could be used to work with that chakra.
For example, the solar plexis chakra is assosiated with yellow, so a yellow button could be placed on that area and used as a tool to work with it, of course one would either have to lay on one’s back or construct some way to tie the button around one’s self.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
I’ve carried a large dark colored button in my pocket programmed to absorb negative energy. I’ve also used a uniquely shaped cranberry colored one as a “worry stone.” These were antique buttons from my grandmother’s sewing kit. I’m sure crystals would be the ideal choice, but I work with what I’ve got!
i use buttons to help with bringing a mood to the room (ex. i know im going to be working with someone that is sad most of the time, i will pin a pink button to my vest to remind me to have love for the person and i know when they see it it sends a message to them too.)
I’m thinking of a ‘Keep my mouth buttoned’ charm, to remind me to think before speaking. Or a buttoned charm to put around my BoS to discourage potential prying eyes.
My first thought was how the diversity of the colors reminds me of the diversity of all of us - so worn as a necklace or a key-chain, this can be a reminder to bless the diversity and uniqueness within family and society in general.
The tassles on a native american blanket represent prayers. As she makes each tassle, the woman prays for each and every thing/person. They also have jingle dresses, where each “jingle” is a prayer. It is a tremendous honor to be able to wear a jingle dress and dance in the sacred circle. If you want, you could attach buttons to the ends of the tassles, and when they click against each other, those prayers will be heard by the Spirits, just like the jingles do.
I’d make a wall hanging or “button-blanket”
I imagine buttons could be used to enhance thread-magic, commonly used to tie warts (not physically!).
My suggestion would be this:
To rid yourself of a bad habit, financial problem etc. take a button of the adhering colour (green for wealth issues), tie a wool thread through the eyes of the button while visualizing tying the problem into the thread. Bury it somewhere it will not be disturbed. As the thread rots and disappears - so should the problem - leaving only the “wealth” behind for you to unbury and keep as a charm.
How about using the different colors on a Witch’s Ladder instead of feathers. Or you could make a rainbow poppet and use it in a spell to heal Mother Earth and the Elementals.
You could string them on a very stong piece of heavy darning string for as a “drag-along” toy for your familiar, if it is your cat.
Fun stuff.
Thanks Patti
The wonderful colors. First thing that I feel is the many things I do with buttons. One of my favorite uses is when I hand quilt a quilt for every baby born to my friends and family. At the left edge of each quilt I sew in a button. This is from the old tradition of using a “Stoppin stick” to mark the begining point of the quilt, where a stick was sewn into the fabric and later removed. I have used this tradition to create a small blessed area of the quilt for each baby. As each quilt is hand made and the fabric and button is selected as inpsired by the baby, I see the gift as a way for me to give a little of myself to the infant. Buttons are sewn, each stitch of the thread is a link from me to the infant. Love, prosperity, safety and kindness is sewn into each stitch.
My dad used to make a toy with a large button and a piece of string.
Thread the string through the holes in the button (2-holed button). Tie it to make a loop. Hold in both hands and flip it around until it is twisted very tight. Then put an index finger in each end of the string and pull.
This is a very old fashioned toy that was invented before TV!!!!
I love the keep my mouth shut idea…def will be using that lol!! I was thinking of using them as a reminder to think positively. Each time I turn a negative thought to a positive, put a button in a jar and when it is full I can gift myself something more than the positive energy I get from the experiment. Each time I see the jar I will know that I CAN be poitive
What a fantastic idea; to remember to keep your mouth “buttoned” and think before you speak. I think that I would meake a subtle charm neclace, that would be worn out of sight but close to my heart to remind me to do that, and to also speak from my heart when I do choose to “unbotton” my mouth.
Blessings, and Happy Lammas!
I would use them in between the knots of cord used in knot spells, you know, by knot of one my spell is done, by knot of two…etc. Much like Wiccan rosary beads! Now there’s a conversation starter!
A button can be used to make a very simple pendulum to teach a child about divination, or to use yourself in a pinch.
When I first saw the buttons, I thought of taking them and dropping a button, here and there. Just like found pennies, which I believe many times are signs. As I was reading your responses, (love the keep my mouth button charm…I will consider creating one for myself) I thought of putting the buttons in a clear glass container on my desk for all to see and for me to use instead of my crystals.
I like the button idea. bright and colorful. On nights of the full moon I do a small ceremony to give thanks for all the blessings I have received through the past month, I think this month for each blessing I receive I will put a button in a clear jar so I can see them add up, watch the blessings grow, and be reminded not to worry each time I see that jar on the sideboard!
I love buttons for crafts, but I can see many uses in our magical lives. However so I don’t ramble I ‘ll keep it to the first one I thought of.
I think sewing buttons onto a piece of cloth and then cutting button holes opposite, and each day unbuttoning one as part of a releasing spell would we great. I mean think about how many things we can’t release in just one day. Getting over lost love, shucking off anger over something really bad so you can reconcile or talk it out, smoking, other addictions. So many things can take several days just to be ready to release. I think using buttons as a physical reminder of what you’re doing.
WOW! Such great ideas! Marcia, Raven and Tia - your ideas especially brought such great feelings and ideas. Thanks!!!
I would string them and use them similarly to mala beads in meditation and for chanting.
Amber, I was thinking something similar to you. But I was thinking start with the unbuttoned, us a black cloth and black buttons and use it in a binding spell. Button up the problem! You could even use it with a poppet.
I absolutely love reading some of the responses on here. You guys are awesome.
If nothing else, this teaches us that there is indeed a magical use for just about anything, if you put your mind to it!
patti
See, I would of thought of something of the purpose of the buttons..not the colors! This is great! I’m curious of the Witches’ Ladder.
The FIRST thing that I SAW when I looked at the buttons were THE HOLES in them…perhaps there is something missing in your life…or a past HURT that needs some help in it’s healing…..Why not SEW up the gaps…by sewing the button to a scrap of cloth….In my case, the “hurt” is predominate - - I think I will do this during the waxing moon, so it’s “bound” up by the time the full moon is upon us again!
BB!
Kat
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT A “WITCHES LADDER……” I’m fascinated by the idea…..Would someone be willing to share ?
Thanks so much!
Kat
My daughter is scared to sleep by herself. I would collect buttons and material from pieces of my old clothing and make a quilt. My energy and love would be infused into the buttons. She would then have the security of having a little of “Mommy” with her.
I am reminded of the jewelry the old folks made out of buttons. Around here, the motto was ‘use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without’…. the yuppies call it ‘recycling’ but we just knew it as being country po’ in Appalachians.
I have a couple of pieces, both bracelets, that my grandmother or great aunts made. All sorts of neat buttons that they cut from clothes that they ‘ragged out.’
These buttons in the picture? The suggestion for spells that ‘button your lips’ is a good one. But, remember that a button will BREAK under too much strain, and that they are made to easily come undone, too!!! So, I would not use for anything I wanted to keep secret long. And, also might be useful in a spell to find someone who is laying low to avoid being ‘buttoned’ ie questioned?? or asked about committing to something???
Tomatoes are about to come in, dried the cow up (she’s due to calve in about six weeks), and am milking seven goats, making cheese like a madwoman!! Almost time to plant fall/winter garden. BUSY!!
Donna
Celtic farmstead kitchen witch )O(
I use buttons (that have naturally come off clothing and are not going to be resewn on) in a sort of Witches Jar for protection. As I place each button in a clear jar or bottle I empower them with the intent of protection and say “Harmful things from near or far, I button you up within this jar.” I place these jars in windows and they look like cute decorations…no one is the wiser. With multi-colored buttons they are pretty and protective!
I would place the the buttons in a nice jar and choose a “Button of the Day”. The color would indicate the mood or tone of the day and what support this color could give me as I go about my day. I am not the craftiest of witches so this sort of thing works for me. One could take the chosen button along in ones’s purse in a pretty pouch as a reminder of the energy that will work for the day.
I would like more information about a “Witch’s Ladder” also.
What an amazingly colorful bunch of little circles. I picture doing cyclical magic with some color work.
Not sure how I want to explain this, but when I saw the buttons and question , my first thoughts were a mending or bridging spell. Maybe a Unity spell or a reunion spell. Also a letting go spell. There are so many options it is not easy to think of them all. Thanks for sharing and reading!
Why not use the buttons as a home-made oracle? You could assign a different life aspect to each color. ie, red=love, pink=friends, green=money, blue=health, etc.
A witch’s ladder is usually 3 strings knotted together (yarn: white,red,& black)at the beginning and the end. I assume you could use your own colors and buttons, feathers, beads, etc…but you must have 9 of the object you are using.
Start by tying the three strings into a knot together.
Then start adding your objects one by one by tying them in with a knot until you get to the end knot.
Your all done!
I’m sure you could use any natural fiber like yarn,cord,silk,ribbons,and so on…Have fun with it. I don’t think their is any rules to this.
If anybody has anything to add or to correct please feel free.;0)
I loved the idea of a blessing jar so much that I have decided to create several to give as gifts, and even as a kid-friendly craft. I make sure to use a wide-mouthed jar or tall bowl, decorate the outside of the jar with etching cream, and include a big bag of colorful buttons. I include a tag on a pretty bow that has ‘directions’. Makes it a lot easier to get kids in on the whole ‘attitude of gratitude’ movement.
Blessed Be!
I would use the buttons on Lughnasad to offer as a crafting item to the Great Crafting God, Lugh!
Then I would bury corresponding colors such as pink for love, gren for wealth, etc. In a circle aroud my house. Then I would walk around the circle three times and say:
“Buttons mundane, bring me my wish
As you take root bring about bliss,
Harmony, purity, love, and delight,
Bring all this about by Magickal might.
I thank thee the Goddess three
As I Will So Mote it Be!
Here are a couple of ideas:
1) Make a Worry Doll out of buttons (lots of buttons) by stringing them together flat-wise doing the legs and arms seperately then doing the body/head. Tie/sew & knot them all together to make the doll. As you string each button and make each knot tell the doll your worries and ask that they be taken away. Sleep with the doll either under your pillow or bed or on you bedside table. Your worries will vanish.
2) My Grandmother use to sew assorted buttons on clothes as decorations. As Grandma was a Witch, I know she was performing “Sewing Magick” with each stitch, sewing spells and charms into the clothing. She’d outline pockets with buttons, make flowers and birds out of them. Even sew wavey lines around the bottoms of my skirts which helped to hold them down in strong Kansas winds but I always felt I was protected by my Grandmothers wonderful, protective circles!
I have found the most wonderful way of using buttons, and for any one out there who has an old button tin and a few scraps of materials, you could make the most wonderful Button Dolls.If you are interested there is an instruction book on cd available on ebay shop “Button Dolls in Abundance”, to make cats, punks, angels,a good way of recycling.