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Red Flags in Witchcraft & Magic

There is bad information regarding witchcraft and magic everywhere. I don't expect beginners to know how to spot bad information when they are just starting out, but that does not make learning red flags less important. Knowing how to spot bad information when researching can save you from a lot of trouble- spiritually and mundane.

Now, bad information does not necessarily make the person a bad practitioner. Sometimes people make mistakes. How they react when told of their mistakes is what you should pay attention to. That being said, here are some red flags to look out for when researching for your craft. [TW: mentions of racism, homophobia, misandry, mental illness, disabilities and more]

🚩 The person tries to claim their path is the only path, and that all other paths and methods are wrong. This is a big one. There are a lot of people like this out there. While they are entitled to their opinions, this mindset is simply wrong. There are thousands of religions, spiritualities and belief systems out there. One path being different from another does not make them wrong by default.

🚩 The person claims using things from closed practices is okay. This is another big one. Closed practices do exist, are valid and should be respected as such. There are just some things that should stay reserved for certain people. This does not make certain people more special than you- it just means their path is significantly different from yours. If it is something sacred to or rooted from a closed practice (such as certain plants, deities and magic) it is best to leave it alone.

🚩 The person claims that open practices are closed. I don't see this one quite as often as the previous, but it is happening more often now that the occult has become more mainstream. Things like tarot, paganism and many other practices are open. If you see somebody claim these are closed practices, be wary. This type of claim tends to stem from a place of racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc...

🚩 The person is racist, antisemitic, homophobic, ableist, classist, etc... Unfortunately, we do have these types of people to look out for. Some people are convinced only women can practice witchcraft and magic. Some people are blatantly racist towards bipoc and try to exclude them from witchcraft and magic. Some people try to exclude people with disabilities and mental illness because their craft is different. Be careful when coming across these types of people.

🚩 The person claims that a rule in their practice is a universal rule you must follow. This is a claim I most commonly see with Wiccans and the three-fold law but is a claim anybody can make. Understand that different religions, spiritualities and cultures have different rules. They all have different standards. Things like the three-fold law, karma, reincarnation and many other things aren't universal concepts. You can believe in whatever you wish, but don't expect other people of different backgrounds to have that same belief.

🚩 The source is purely based on UPG (unverified personal gnosis). This one is mostly regarding things like deities, entities and spirits. Everybody will have different experiences with these beings; but you have to consider the origins of the deities, entities and spirits if you are trying to worship or work with any. If you are going into a branch of paganism, you have to study the religion and its stories. If you want to worship or work with a deity, you have to study that deity and their stories. The stories and beliefs are what provide us with knowledge of their existences, how they present themselves, their relationships with other beings and their conflicts with other beings. To completely disregard them and go purely off UPG is a dangerous thing.

🚩 The person believes that religion, spirituality and witchcraft can cure mental illness and disabilities. I see things like this often. Religion, spirituality and witchcraft will not cure a mental illness or disability. These things require more than faith and crystals. Some are not curable. Although religion, spirituality and witchcraft can be helpful to some degree... these things aren't the cure.

🚩 The person DMs you without consent trying to make profit off of you. Listen, people who have respect for themselves and others will not DM you at random claiming that they can solve your problems. They won't DM you at random offering paid readings, spells and mentorships. If you want to pay for such things, you should be the one going out of your way to find a reputable person. Don't get scammed.

🚩 The person claims you are required to work with deities, entities or other spirits. You don't have to be religious or work with any beings to practice witchcraft and magic. If you want to work with different beings, by all means please do your research and go ahead! Don't feel pressured to work with deities, entities and other spirits just because somebody on the internet says you have to.

🚩 The person claims that paganism and new age spiritualities are superior to other religions. Listen, I understand some people have religious trauma. I have religious trauma due to my mum's mother. However, you cannot allow your trauma to cause hatred for the entire religion by default. Understand that religious text is up for interpretation and that there are shitty individuals in all religions- including paganism. There are good individuals, too.

🚩 The person claims that spellwork doesn't come with consequences. Sometimes spells backfire. Sometimes spells come with unexpected results. Sometimes we get results at the cost of something else. You shouldn't be afraid of these things, though. Just be careful and take precautions. Be specific in what results you're seeking. This is why beginners are pushed to learn how to protect and ward so early on. It's in your best interest to do so.

🚩 The person claims that you must do shadow work to be spiritual or a witch. Listen to me closely. Shadow work is not inherently a witch thing. It is a psychology concept. Although shadow work can be beneficial for some people, it can be harmful to others. If you are a person with severe trauma and are easily triggered by those subjects, please don't go trying to unpack it all because somebody on the internet says that you have to. If you can afford it, consult a therapist who can help you. Shadow work is not required to be a spiritual person or a witch.

🚩 The person claims that medication will cloud your psychic abilities or your ability to practice magic. This is another dangerous idea and I have no idea how it was thought of. Coming from a person with depression and adhd: do not listen to people who makes claims like this. If you are taking medication for something, don't stop taking it because somebody claims it is hindering your abilities. If you aren't taking medication for something but believe you should, don't avoid it because somebody claims it is hindering your abilities. Medication is important to many people in order to have a sense of stability and it is not going to harm your abilities.

🚩 The person claims your mental illness or disability is a karmic thing or spiritual gift. Don't. Fucking. Listen. To. These. People. I cannot even begin to explain how much this idea enrages me. My adhd isn't some new age "karmic" thing. My adhd is a chemical imbalance caused by a gene I inherited. I do not have adhd because of some spiritual debt or gift. Don't be fooled by people who make harmful claims like this.

🚩 The person encourages you to consume or burn poisonous plants. This is one of the reasons why I always encourage people to study the medicinal uses of plants to learn their magical correspondences. Always check to see if the plant is poisonous to you or your pets. Accidents happens but many can be prevented with a little time and research.

🚩 The person references authors or sources that aren't trustworthy. Always do research on authors before buying their books and check to see where people get their information from. There are many authors and bloggers who are racist, homophobic, transphobic and more. There are also many authors who write books with bad information targeting witches and spiritualists to make a quick profit.

These are all the red flags I could come up with, but I'm sure there are more. Always cross reference your information and check to see if the people you're sourcing from has a negative reputation.

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These are good charms to use for magical protection.

They originated from the discovery of witchcraft book.

#witchcraft #pagan #bookofshadows #charm #magiccircle #occult #witchesofinstagram #witchyvibes #witchaesthetic #witchlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CfXtgtrFeUj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Witch-bottle to protect from negative energies:

What you’ll need:

black sand (hallowed soil workd well too)

sharp stuff (like pins and broken glass)

the hair of who you wish to protect (you can also use nail trimmings, both would be best)

black candle

jar or bottle

any thing else you wish to throw in for protection make it your own! (ie-I put a bit of hematite in mine)

Place the sand, sharp stuff, hair, and whatever else you chose into the jar.

Either spit in it, or bleed into it (men can also use sperm and women can also use menstral blood if they’re comfortable)

Seal the jar with the lid and then with the wax from your candle

Hide the jar somewhere on your property so when negative energy comes looking for you it will find the jar instead.

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‘Vision’

—

“Discovering a Thief

When approached to discover for a client the identity of a thief, via whichever methods of divination and sight the ptactitioner has preference for, the operation may be enhanced and aided greatly by the wearing of a Marigold charm.

Discovering Ill-Wishers and the Black Witch

For a client who seeks to have revealed unto them the identity of one who has placed upon them the influence of the ill-wish, they may be instructed to mount their horse and depart. The reigns must be left loose so as not to influence the pach of the beast in its mocion, and let it proceed wherever it so plcascs. Should che horse lead the enquirer to the door of some person's home, and there halt, the discovery has thus been made of the ill-wisher's dwelling. The client whose cattle hath been bewitched may be instructed to perform the following rite to have revealed unto them the image of the 'black witch'. Irom the afflicted cattle, some blood is let to fall upon some scraw. This straw is then to be set to burn upon the ground and the cenquirer is to look for the image of the one who has overlooked their cattle appearing within the rising smoke issuing forth.

Oracle of Fire and Bay Leaves

For all endeavors, plans, situations and courses of action; the outcome being favrorable or negacive may bc quickly divined at the hearth. A handful of bay leaves is to be cast upon the hcarth fire and watched intently. The fite's enthusiastic consuming of the leaves, crackling in the blaze, is an omen of gond forrune and success. If however the leaves gently smolder and smoke in silence; it is an ill omen of tailure and a warning of ill fortune.

To Obtain Wisdom from the Dead

Under the cover of night, the witch will make their way to the churchyard to find the grave of the one whose spirit they wish to interrogate for wisdom. There, at the arrival of midnight, the witch will walk nine times around the grave, murtering all the while they make their circumambularions in conjuration for the spirit to arise and give unto them the wisdom they seek.

Vision and Discoveries by the Squares

The practitioner wise in thc artes of the squares may employ their aid within their oracular operations. The first square here given shall be worn beneath the practitioner's hat during their divinatory operations to know the past and present of matters.

Where the practitioner brings into employment such devices as magical mirrors, seeing glasses, 'shew stones' and crystals, the second square here shown may be placed so that the device is set upon it for the operation;

For operations in which the practitioner seeks to conjure forth visions within fire; the third square, here given, shall be placed so that the flaming vessel may be set upon it, or else the square shall be placed before the fire.

For the conjuration of oracular visions in water, the fourth square, here given, shall be placed so that the vessel of water may be placed upon it, or else the square will be placed before the body of water employed.”

—

The Black Toad:

West Country Witchcraft and Magic

Pt. 2: ‘Old Mother Redcap’

by Gemma Gary

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House Guardian

House Guardians help keep wayward negative energies from accumulating too quickly or from “sticking” from day to day activities. They do not, however, stop massive amounts of it from being brought in.

Materials:

River stone that catches your eye and “feels right” (can be a land stone, any color but preferably you have a stock of these things you have picked up and can pick the one that your guard symbol can stand out on)

pen or brush (I prefer a short quill as you can see from the photo)

Black ink (Normally I have some ink I’ve made from fire ash but I haven’t had the chance to restock yet, so India Ink it is!)

Process:

Your House Guardian is going to essentially be your security guard, so treat it accordingly. 

As you pick out your stone, feel its energy. If it seems to resonate with a particular frequency that you associate with masculine or feminine, or if the stone outright says it refuses to be referred to in such a manner, give it that dignity. Most stones are neutral in that regard but “identifying” a stone in such a way only helps in naming and building a relationship. Every stone is different.

This process can take a long time, so don’t expect to get it done in a half hour. With this particular stone pictured above, I have been working at building a connection for a few months (and asked permission for it to be a part of this post). Over this time it has let me know what to call it, how to treat it, and what “face” it was comfortable with displaying. Sometimes a stone won’t tolerate a face but a symbol, sigil, glyph, sometimes a word in a certain language, sometimes even random squiggles or nothing at all. The stone will let you know.

The important thing to remember is that stones are OLD. They’re made up of millions of tiny dust particles that have traveled on the wind and water, been buried and compressed under immeasurable amounts of pressure, melted and “frozen” throughout the life-age of the Earth. They are parts of a larger whole broken off and slowly eroding away again to start that cycle anew. Essentialy they are the Earth’s “blood.” They’ve been through so much more than any of us can imagine and carry with them a steadfast stubbornness that has allowed their spirits to persist for so long. 

Being labeled and used as a House Guardian is hardly a lasting moment for them, but aside from that… and like a security guard they might divulge a few old war stories or open up about the state of things in the Hidden World. Just keep in mind as well that what they may share is not often comprehensible by humans….and is said VERY slowly.

When you’ve given it a face (literally or metaphorically) you’ve also more than likely been given suggestions on where your House Guardian would prefer to be stationed, now that it knows what you want out of the relationship as well.

Be it on a windowsill, in a forgotten corner of your home, buried in a flowerpot or in the yard somewhere, even in a purse or messenger bag (should they be a rolling stone ^w^). 

At this point the “process” is little more than suggestions as each stone reacts differently to different people and different situations it is asked to guard within and against. Listen to your chosen stone and come to a compromise that works for you both and don’t be afraid to chose another stone if the one you are currently working with just isn’t working out (generally if it’s been a year you know for sure the stone does not want to be a House Guardian).

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Tarot Grammar: from noun to verb

Having trouble figuring out what a card is doing? Try nouning the verb! Here’s some suggestions to start with. Like grammar, your usage can be flexible, and you should always feel free to make up new language rules to suit your style.

0. The Fool - Fooling I. The Magician - Ensorcelling II. The High Priestess - Scrying III. The Empress - Impressing IV. The Emperor - Impelling V. The Hierophant - Sanctifying VI. The Lovers - Loving VII. The Chariot - Charging VIII. Strength - Empowering IX. The Hermit - Hermiting X. The Wheel of Fortune - Wheeling and Dealing XI. Justice - Adjusting XII. The Hanged Man - Enduring XIII. Death - Dying XIV. Temperance - Tempering XV. The Devil - Bedeviling XVI. The Tower - Falling XVII. The Star - Fusing XVIII. The Moon - Phasing XIX. The Sun - Announcing XX. Judgement - Committing XXI. The World - Revolutionizing

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Lydia Kassinos aka Lydia Avery Kassinos (American, based San Jose, CA, USA) - Binding of Fenrir, Digital Arts

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today’s new ink and my package from @upthewitchypunx are exactly what the doctor ordered! 💀🖤

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Road Opener Oil

🧭 to open oneself to a better path, attract opportunities, and cleanse the road ahead from negativity

• ingredients:

-salt (to cleanse yourself and be open to new opprtunities in your path)

-saffron (to bring strength and power to the oil; also to open opprtunities regarding all aspects of wealth)

-basil (attract abundance and banish negativity)

-star anise (attract positivity and luck)

-thyme (purification)

-cinnamon (attraction and purification)

-sage (cleansing)

-jasmine (attraction)

-bay leaf (attraction and success)

-citrine (attract success and abundance)

-tiger's eye (for confidence to aid you in the path ahead)

-any oil you like

-optional: a key (to open locked doors), glitter (magical effect)

• you can write your intentions on the bay leaf before adding it to the oil

• feel free to substitute or omit any ingredient. Make it yours!

[grolun]

Season of the hunt.

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Sea Glass Colourings and their Meanings

• Clear:

fairly common, used in just about anything. age can be determined by thinness, bubbles, and markings. 4 in 10 pieces will be clear.

represents: purity, truth, cleansing, and organisation.

�� Brown:

common, both an old and new colour. used in modern alcohol product bottles and in old sanitary wipe containers (Clorox/Lysol). 3-4 pieces in 10 will be brown.

represents: earth, education, home, and stability.

• White:

fairly common, used in just about anything. age can be determined by thinness, bubbles, and markings. 4 in 10 pieces will be white.

represents: healing, divination, and protection.

• Kelly Green:

common and used in alcoholic beverage bottles. older green glass, depending on patterns, bubbles, and texture could be considered more rare. 2 in 10 pieces will be Kelly green.

represents: prosperity, luck, wards off greed and jealousy.

• Seafoam Green

unique and used in old soda and alcohol bottles as well as window glass. most newer ones are likely from a Coke or wine bottle. 5 in 100 pieces will be seafoam green.

represents: plants, nature, communication, travels.

• Lime Green

rare, may have been used in lemon lime sodas in the 1900s. 1 in 500 pieces will be lime green.

represents: success, wealth, and independence.

• Orange:

extremely rare, used in decorative glass and taillights of vehicles. 1 in 15,000 pieces is orange.

represents: action, self-worth, and self-expression.

• Red:

rare, most commonly used in decorative glass and a certain beer bottle from the 1950s made by Anchor Hocking Glass Company. can also be from indicators on boats and cars. true red glass uses gold and so is obviously very expensive! 1 in 10,000 pieces will be Anchor Hocking’s Ruby Red. 1 in 20,000 pieces will be True Red, containing gold.

represents: true love, strength, health, and wealth.

• Cobalt Blue:

unique, used in things ranging from Vicks Vaporub to poison bottles to medicine to perfume. considered a symbol of good luck. 1 in 300 pieces will be cobalt blue.

represents: sincerity, peace, healing, and wisdom to make choices.

• Teal

extremely rare, used in decorative glass wares, electric pole insulator from the early 1900s, and seltzer bottles. 1 in 3,000 pieces will be real or turquoise.

represents: clarity, cleansing, and hope.

• Purple/Lavender:

unique, used in any glass product made with manganese. usually used to be white or clear but changed colour over time. real lavender glass was only used by Royalty and Bishops in the Church. 1 in 500 pieces will be purple/lavender.

represents: wisdoms, spirituality, knowledge, and independence.

• Pink:

extremely rare, this colour is usually from depression-era glassware and is a soft pink/peach not to be confused with lavender. 1 in 3,000-4,000 pieces will be pink or peach.

represents: pure love, friendship, affection, and partnership.

• Black:

extremely rare as there is no “true” black sea glass, this usually has a different hint of colour but is so thickly pigmented that light cannot come through. in modern times, it can be found in champagne bottles.

represents: protection, banishing, and hope.

• Opaque Milk Glass

extremely rare, milk glass scatters light due to a different dispersion of particles and can vary in opacity. opacifiers can be bone ash, arsenic, tin dioxide, or antimony compounds. 1 in 50,000 pieces will be opal.

represents: the moon and lunar energy.

• UV Glass

moderately rare, this glass appears seafoam, white, lavender, or red and originates from the depression-era. under a blacklight, they will be revealed to glow!

represents: wealth, balance, and revelation.

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Tarot of the Pagan Cats

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Gotta love this book for things like cursing the weeds in your garden.

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Thanatos, acrylic, 16′’ x 20′’

Watch me paint this here:

https://youtu.be/Y3KfHJK_9Zs

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Mandrake Root in a lead coffin, carved bone ring and carved bone wand with Belemnite tip by artist and traditional witch Gemma Gary.

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                                              ĒOSTURMONAÞ

ALL HAIL ĒOSTRE, LADY OF THE HARE AND THE COMING OF THE GREEN, MAY THE LAND BLOOM FOREVER IN HER NAME

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Rabbit Rabbit