clearlie-me

[clearlie-me]

Happy Imbolc, witchblr!

[clearlie-me]

Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft

Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends.

There are a few reasons consumerism is bad news. For one thing, it’s terrible for the environment — consumerist cultures usually have linear economies, where resources are extracted, consumed, then discarded, with no effort to replenish them. This is highly unsustainable, because at some point those limited resources are going to run out. Consumerism also has a human cost, as it often leads to the use of sweatshops, which violate basic labor laws. In many sweatshops, workers are not paid a livable wage, children are employed as workers, and working conditions are unsafe. Companies in countries like the United States get around labor laws by outsourcing labor to other (poorer) places. Consumerism also contributes to classism, as the acquisition of expensive items is often treated as a status symbol.

Consumerism is present in nearly every aspect of Western culture, and this includes spirituality and witchcraft. There are multiple “Beginner Witch Kits” for sale from Amazon and other online retailers which include candles, crystals, and incense — which is great, as long as that’s all stuff you’ll actually use in your practice. (I mean, do you really need twelve different varieties of incense?) Witchy authors and bloggers often treat magic like a matching game, where every problem requires a very specific herb or crystal. YouTube is full of “witch hauls,” videos solely dedicated to showing off new purchases. All of this contributes to a commercialized witchy aesthetic, which can only be achieved by buying the tools of the trade.

I get it. Shopping is fun, especially when you’re still learning about magic and magical items. It’s exciting to search for the perfect crystal or incense blend, especially if you have a local metaphysical store where you can shop in person. But owning the right stuff doesn’t make you a witch. All you need to practice magic is your will — everything else is optional.

I’m not saying every witch should be a hardcore minimalist, or that you can never buy new things. What I am saying is that all of us, witches or not, need to be more mindful of how we spend our money and the impact of our purchases on the world around us.

How to Avoid Consumerism

If you’re considering buying something, ask yourself if you’ll really get use out of it. For example, I don’t use a lot of tools in my practice because I prefer to work with my hands, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to buy an expensive wand or ritual knife. Don’t feel like you have to buy something just because another witch uses it — if you don’t think you’ll use it, don’t buy it.

Don’t buy multiples of the same tool. Instead of buying multiple different colored altar cloths for different times of year, buy one white altar cloth you can use year-round. Instead of buying multiple tarot decks, find one or two you really enjoy working with. You get the idea. (Obviously, there will be some items you need more than one of, like spell candles. This rule applies more to tools that can be reused.)

Replace things as they run out instead of buying them before you need them. Buying things in bulk can lead to unnecessary waste and drawers full of unused magical supplies. Buy things you know you’ll really use, and only buy one or two at a time. Use up the items you have before you buy more.

Invest in items that have multiple uses. For example, most kitchen spices can also be used in spells — search your spice cabinet before ordering special ingredients online. There are some items that have multiple magical uses, like rosemary and salt. Buy a couple of these multitaskers instead of a large collection of herbs with very specific uses.

Use the “two week” rule. This is something I do to keep myself from making impulse purchases. If I think I want to buy something online, I wait two weeks before I order it. If I still want it after two weeks, I take that as a sign that I’ll actually get some use from it.

Go “shopping” in your backyard. Familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, and minerals that are native to your area and go foraging for spell supplies instead of buying them. Items you can probably find near your home that could be used in ritual include leaves and flowers, pine cones, seed pods, tree branches, rocks, and naturally shed feathers. Just make sure you never harvest enough of a plant to hurt it, and make sure you properly disinfect any animal products you pick up.

If you can, make it yourself. Not only does making your own magic items save money, it also creates a much stronger personal link between you and that item. You can grow your own magical herbs in a garden or in indoor pots. Many common magical tools, like brooms and wands, are easy to make at home with some basic craft skills. Making your own items also means you can customize them, tailoring them to your own craft.

If you can’t make it yourself, but it used. There are some items you can’t reasonably make yourself, like incense burners, cauldrons, and books on the craft. But you can find most of these items used, either in thrift stores or online on websites like Ebay and Depop. Buying used almost always ends up being cheaper than buying new, and because you’re buying items already in circulation you aren’t contributing to a linear economy. Thrifting is also a great way to find unique items that won’t be like what anyone else has on their altar.

If you can’t find it used, support a small business. Sometimes, you can’t make what you need or find it in a thrift store. In that case, buying from a small business is preferable to buying from a big retailer like Amazon. When you support a small business, you’re supporting an individual rather than contributing to some CEO’s massive yearly bonus. A lot of small business owners make their items themselves, which avoids sweatshop labor. Pretty much everything I buy new for my craft comes from Etsy sellers — there are a LOT of witches on Etsy, so with a little digging you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!

Don’t buy crystals. I know, I know. Thanks to social media, large crystal collections have become synonymous with witchcraft. But the crystal trade is highly unethical, with unsustainable mining techniques, dangerous working conditions, and child labor. Because of a lack of regulations, it’s virtually impossible to find crystals that are truly ethically sourced. Most sellers don’t know where their crystals come from and can’t guarantee that no workers were harmed in their extraction. No stone is worth the health and safety of other human beings, no matter how pretty.

Avoiding consumerism in your witchcraft means being less reliant on tools and set dressing. This will allow you to rely on your own energy and will, which will lead to a deeper and more meaningful spiritual practice.

Resources:

Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“11 Facts About Sweatshops” on dosomething.org

“Child labour in the fashion supply chain” from The Guardian

“Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000” from BBC News

“Are crystals the new blood diamonds?” from The Guardian

“Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze” from The Guardian

[clearlie-me]

Though I mean, if you're talking about seeing it online it's not a global concern because like... my state in Australia has been 0 cases with closed borders for months so... we can do all those things no worries? And then there's New Zealand.

Though so saying the gov literally just opened our borders again, so it's back to face masks for me e.e

do you ever see people, in october 2020, talking about, like, hanging out with their friends and getting drinks with people and going on dates and hooking up with people and hanging out in coffee shops and going to the gym and realize that some people are living in a completely different reality than you are

[clearlie-me]

This is still heavily doing the rounds (well, relative to the rest of my stuff) and, wow?

I bring an update.

They seemed to work beautifully for me. And then, due to medical requirements, I moved...

New house and new housemates. My instincts told me to make new ladders but I ignored them, eep. I reused these two. One broke within a month (the loop snapped) and household peace REALLY broke. It's been a whole lot of drama for 8 months, really. Housemates breaking lease, crazy accusations, people being unwilling to pay their bills or clean...

So... do as I say, don't do as I do, and make new ones for each house!!

Meanwhile I'll be doing a massive deep cleanse this beltane...

Sharehouse Peace Witch's Ladder

This one's been in the works for me for a week or so but I finally had enough peace in my busy moving schedule to sit down and make a pair - one for the front door and one for the back.

Use 9 silver [coloured] bells in place of knots or feathers so that these double as a door protection Witch Bell/s. Their peal as the door is opened wards off dark energies and brings in positive energy.

Use 3 threads:

Blue - for peace, calm, healing and protection

Yellow - for clear communication (So important in a share house)

Black- to absorb negative energy

I used embroidery thread but strips of fabric or anything you have around will do fine, as long as your bells can thread on.

Tie a loop large enough to slip on to your door handle, and then thread on your first bell. I always thread my bells onto the black thread so that they will reinforce each others ability to repel and control dark energies.

Start plaiting! Each time you cross a thread over repeat to yourself its purpose: "peace and calm, clear communication absorb the negative, peace and calm, clear communication, absorb the negative-" I find this helps my intent stay focused for such long projects.

When you've plaited enough space that your bells won't touch, thread on another. Repeat this until the 9th bell. Tie this one on with a strong ending statement such as "In this Home!" Or "So mote it be!"

Trim your excess thread (unless you want straggly-chic). Plop it on your door and thank it in advance for its work. You're done!

[clearlie-me]

My partners dog Artemis regularly plays football so hard she clips her tongue with her teeth and then flicks blood on her face. It doesn't bother her at all, but it sure freaks me out every time until I realise where the blood is from.

She'd also been stung by a bee a little bit before this photo but got right back to playing after I took the stinger out (I watched her carefully for a reaction for a few hours after and she was fine xo).

But she sure does her best to live up to that huntress namesake

[clearlie-me]

More garden adventures!

I struggled to identify this one for a bit because it's growing like a shrub in my yard but it's classed as a climber.

Eventually I found it though! Pandorea pandorana or the wonga wonga vine.

Whilst only native to an island off my state (Flinders) it's commonly used in gardenscaping.

It's recorded online that the mainland indigenous peoples valued it for its timber use.

The "mythological women" belongings specifically to the Arrernte people.

I do wonder if the indigenous peoples of Flinders Island similarly found it valuable, though I don't know when the wonga wonga vine made its way there.

[clearlie-me]

I had my 3rd botox for migraine today.

"It feels like I'm wearing a crown of thorns." I commented to a friend.

[clearlie-me]

I've been gone for so long, suddenly so many of my witchy follows are

a. No longer active

b. No longer witchblogs

c. SUPER PREACHY christians??

And yet... I didn't think I was gone THAT long 😭

[clearlie-me]

So this covers the wall in my yard and I thought to ID it today after I was pointing out to my boyfriend the edible nasturtium and he asked about this one next to it.

A quick go through my preferred plant key...

A google...

Edible AND potentially magical! Also apparently it can be used as a poultice to stop bleeding, and the flowers make a yellow dye. I guess I should start respecting this little weed and maybe ask its protection. 🌱

THIS ISN'T THE ONLY ARTICLE I READ. May be toxic in large quantities. Known to contain chlorine, and thought to potentially contain arsenic in red tissues.

[clearlie-me]

[clearlie-me]

When your friend group is multicultural, multispiritual, you live in Australia, AND it's your friends birthday that day so you're planning to host a Dìa de las Beltane Hallows!:

Spooky skeletons ✅

Flowers: red, orange, and yellow! ✅

Candles ✅

Gold and silver baubles ✅

Native leaves for incense ✅

A banquet of bread, goats cheese, pork, oat cakes, and various in-season salads ✅

A tiny maypole altar ✅

Costumes ✅

Spooky Decore ✅

Mutual respect ✅

[clearlie-me]

Our Ostara feast ❤

Devilled eggs, lemon roast, spring sprout salad, then for dessert Ostara honey cakes and ambrosia 🍋🍒🍓🥚🌱🍯🥛🥂 (+ cocktails and mocktails)

[clearlie-me]

ROYAL BUTTERFLY TEA COCKTAIL/MOCKTAIL

This is a cocktail I designed for Ostara based around some gorgeous local products:

Goanna Hut Tea, a company founded by australian indigenous woman and chef Jo-Anne Wolles, Eclipse blend (I bought this from t2tea) and,

McHenry Butterfly Gin, brewed in Tasmania's Port Arthur.

Both contain native Blue Pea Flower, which releases a deep blue colour that is a universal pH indicator so the addition of lemon juice turns it purple.

The predominant flavour is the teas lavendar creating an amazingly floral lemonade.

8 serves, ~16 standard drinks

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

3 cups water

1 cup lemon juice (approx. 5 lemons)

McHenry Butterfly Pea Gin

1/2 cup Goanna Hut Eclipse Tea

2 cups tonic water

Ice

For the tea you can substitute 2.5tbs of each green tea, blue pea flowers, and lavendar. Both options provide plenty of blue so you can also use any gin of choice.

Method:

In a pot combine sugar, water, and tea.

Bring to a boil and the remove from heat, allow to sit covered for 10 minutes.

Combine lemon juice and tonic water.

Strain tea mixture through a fine mesh sieve, reserving the blue sugar syrup and throwing out the solids. Chill in fridge.

Fill glasses with ice. For each glass pour a shot of gin over the ice, then pour in the sugar syrup until the glass is half full.

Get ready to watch the amazing colour change: slowly pour the lemon mix over a spoon into the glasses to fill. The idea is to reduce mixing with the sugar syrup so a nice ombre is created.

For a mocktail, don't add the gin.

For a lemonade, replace tonic water with water (and... ditch the gin).

Look after yourselves when drinking alcohol. Have plenty of water too! Xo

[clearlie-me]

Alcomohol worthy of Ēostre!

Riesling for Ostara Honey Cakes and Butterfly Gin for my own floral cocktail. The latter I will post a recipe for... soon. I'm making it tomorrow night so I'll grab photos then :) Sorry I dont have it available before spring equinox 🙇‍♀️

[clearlie-me]

Alcomohol worthy of Ēostre!

Riesling for Ostara Honey Cakes and Butterfly Gin for my own floral cocktail. The latter I will post a recipe for... soon. I'm making it tomorrow night so I'll grab photos then :) Sorry I dont have it available before spring equinox 🙇‍♀️

[clearlie-me]

Woah hey, I'm back from another sabbatical, sorry about that.

I've actually been without a laptop for upwards of 6 months, and I've also been in and out of emergency over the last couple months so I think it's understandable *squints*.

I just got a new laptop and I've been well long enough that I'm witching again so... I'm baaaack

[clearlie-me]

I had big plans for this Mabon.

My new kitchen has a huge oven and I was excited to host the sabbat banquets of my dreams. I'd invited my closest loves weeks in advance, I had multiple meals planned...

And then life struck... all of us.

1. Even if I COULD find all the ingredients I needed for my recipes right now, I don't think I could have morally justified a banquet at this time.

2. I am currently unemployed and my partner works in a non-ICU area of the hospital so his employment is up in the air. I couldn't justify the cash drop.

3. Social. Distancing.

4. To top it all off, Mabon morning I got hit with one of my signature migraines. It lasted 3 days, in all.

But I did acheive a thing!

I made Buckeyes.

I actually realised halfway through that I had no skewers or toothpicks for dipping so after desperately thinking I settled on... the wooden end of an incense stick!

My household adored them, and so did I.

Sometimes it's the little things.

I'm thinking of all of you xo