notyourmothersspellbook

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Hi Chicken!

What's your opinion on someone *asking* a spirit to give them the Sight?

I've seen posts where people say that it has to be a gift, and can't be asked for. (And some saying it's disrespectful to even ask)

I've seen other people say that they asked their deities/spirits to provide them with it and they did.

Obviously everyone's going to have a different opinion, but I'm just curious what yours is!

💚🥰

We're in reference to this post and this post.

I am feral and crying.

It is so weirdly bizarre how difficult it is for witches to ask their helper spirits for help.

We can be talking tutelary spirits, friends, caring gods, literal familiars contracted to help, any of them -

It midkey messes me up how resistant witches are (and myself included sometimes) to just asking for help.

"I really want to learn this but I'm struggling-" "Did you ask your spirits for help?" "No I don't want to bother them." (*I would rather learn generic things online than continue the line of knowledge and lore carried by my spirits; I don't want to be a beacon that shines their light into the world through acting on their teachings, thereby being their conduit into this world, granting them reciprocal power and deep honor.)

'Second Sight' may be a generic term for a skill, but the technique you use to access it is unique to you. The spiritual mythology and lore behind why your spirits teach things this way, and the most important and moral uses for this skill, are unique to your spirit family.

The spirits choosing to help us is a big commitment on their part. When spirits choose to become our guides, protectors, familiars, and initiators, we often think of how this is our responsibility (to talk to them, to give offerings, whatever). But not many people talk about how much of a responsibility it is for them.

Why would spirits undertake this huge responsibility - of being someone's guiding god, of being their helper spirit, of teaching them magical skills? Is it because they all just want offerings? Is it out of a sense of duty?

No.

I hazard a guess, in fact I will offer a belief for the taking, that most spirits who choose to help us do so because they love us and care about us.

They sit down with us, break bread with us at our table, and invite us into their families. They do it because they want to be our family.

And when we join their families,

we honor and respect them by often asking for help.

Why is this?

Because when you ask them for help learning Second Sight, they get to teach you their familial methods and traditions. They get to teach you their lore and stories. They get to celebrate the passing of their clan's knowledge down to the next generation of practitioners.

They are the mythic elders dancing with joy that the practitioner they help, guide, and protect, loves them back enough to learn their ways.

Witchcraft is family!!

"Ohhhh trade skills are dying out in the world, everyone go learn how to fix watches, tradesmen will cry and sob with joy and relief knowing someone wants to learn their lifes work"

"Don't ask your spirits to learn their trade though it's rude and disrespectful, do everything on your own from scratch :)"

Witchcraft is family.

I would teach any of my family how to crochet. I'm quite fancy at it, and I'm a good teacher. Who will I teach: the person who asks to learn, or the person who does not ask to learn?

It is a gift either way.

Asking for it doesn't make it less of a gift.

Witchcraft is family you have to choose to participate in.

"I wish I could make lasagna~" "Grandma Benini is coming for Labor Day, she'd be so happy that someone wanted to learn the family recipe-" "I could never disrespect Grandma Benini by asking to learn her lasagna recipe. I'll just watch a youtube video." "But... it's the family recipe..." "Can you imagine how disrespected she would be. If she knew. I wanted to carry on the family traditions. Instead of just teaching myself generic. From online. ??"

When you participate in your spirit family's teachings and enact their wisdom, morals, skills, and goals in the world, you are a literal conduit of the spirit world - a lamp that shines their light into this world, and providing them with reciprocal influence and power into the world.

It does not honor the spirits to shut them out. It is not respectful to ignore their extended hand of grace. You are not a burden to them.

You are not a burden to them.

They are here because they want you to be a part of the family.

And if you like, if you want to, you can ask them to help you learn the family's ways. You can ask them to help you with Sight to see the family, with knowledge to understand the family, and with skills to help the family.

If you want to, you can live a path filled with the teachings and wisdom of your spirits. You can be a singular point in timespace where their teachings spill over into the world around you.

You can be the body of your spirits in this world. You can be their footprint.

But how can you, unless you ask them to shine through you?

What if the spirits didn't roll their eyes and tap their feet when you came calling? What if they didn't groan and look at their watches and say, 'well at least I'll get an offering...'

What if their eyes filled with love and they breathed a sigh of relief that you now, finally, are ready to ask to receive the gifts that have always been offered?

[notyourmothersspellbook]

My current vibe is that the book meaning of tarot cards are the most refined level of a reading, and therefore should be interpreted last, if you even want to use individual card meanings at all.

Reading tarot:

Identify major patterns in the spread (start by looking at groupings of card types, such as element, number, court, majors, general vibe or emotion of the cards; use these concepts as a jumping-off point to form your own pattern. What if a lot of cards have horses on them? etc.).

Use patterns to establish flow (low # cards to high # cards; groups of solitary elements; every court is paired with a major; where is the interplay?). If the patterns are boulders, how does the water of narrative flow through this river?

Use flow to link cards. (This group seems disconnected from that group. This card is an outlier; a break must happen somewhere. Energy slowly builds in this series of cards. There is a sudden shift in pattern, a big change must occur).

Use links between cards to determine which book or picture meanings apply. (This outlier card only links up if it means there was a break in the good event. I will choose meanings that relate to surprise and disappointment, and discard contradictory meanings).

At any point in the process, you can stop and call it a day.

Identify major patterns only: "Well I drew a shit ton of Pentacles cards so I'm going to say that your problem right now is that work is taking up all your time, but also you feel like everything is going super slow. Hope this helps."

Also identify flow: "Well I drew a shit ton of Court cards so I'm going to say that your problem right now is a ton of people all competing to have a say in your life, but at the end you have the Tower and the Sun, so I guess this situation is probably fated towards disaster and then a decent outcome."

Also link cards: "These three court cards face the Tower, but they are also all either Sword or Wand cards. In my practice, Swords and Wand cards are most associated with conflict. These three people, whoever they are, will cause the most conflict."

Also read book and picture meanings: "Out of these three problematic people, this person will try to control how many responsibilities are on your plate. They probably make you feel bad for not being responsible enough."

If you are getting low on energy, or do not have the focus to complete the entire spread, start with broad overview (pattern) and slowly narrow it to flow, then linking. Last of all, if you still have the time/energy, use book and picture meanings to add fine detail to the reading.

No point in adding fine detail to a rough block of wood.

First, shape the reading with broad strokes by finding patterns, and slowly add shape.

Only when you have the smooth, polished shape of your reading should you add the fine detail.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Repeat after me:

AI art is NOT devotional art

AI is not witchcraft

[notyourmothersspellbook]

True and sincere answer to all of the people who ask, "I have just seen X animal, what does this mean?":

Rejoice, my friend, for this is a most auspicious sign! You have received one of the greatest blessings known to human kind: you live in a world full of creatures! Take comfort and enjoy this divine blessing.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

"Modern folk witches don't strictly adhere to the eight-spoked 'wheel of the year' used by other neopagans. We prefer to watch our local landscapes and identify days that correspond to the shifting of the seasons where we live. The wheel of the year is a modern invention, and no pagan societies can be said to have observed all of these dates. It's best to look to the lore for specific rituals for seasonal celebrations. Witches who live in Australia or Iceland may prefer different dates for their seasonal rites. What's important is that the days be governed by the tides of nature, not the shackles of convention."

- Roger J Horne's Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, & the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner

I appreciate this perspective as here in Australia, our seasons are just not the same. I'm up in Queensland, and I would say that our seasons are nowhere near as distinct as the classic spring, summer, autumn, and winter that you get in the Northern Hemisphere. I'm currently working on making a seasonal calendar by conferring with Gubbi Gubbi elders about traditional song lines that dictate the changing seasons. Here is a seasonal calendar that the The Wakka Wakka, Jarowair and Barrumgum tribes follow who are the traditional owners of the Bunya Mountains.

Many witches follow an inverted wheel of the year to 'match our seasons' but neither the traditions nor the actual seasons match and it just feels wrong... like sure the solstices (longest and shortest days of the year) can be celebrated but... our celebrations should match up with our regional seasons.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

probably relatively clear based on what i’ve been posting, but i’d like to reiterate that trump voters and trump supporters are NOT WELCOME here

if you fall into this category just go ahead and unfollow/block me — i don’t care what you have to say about it and i won’t be discussing it further

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Honestly this is the best thing I've ever heard

[notyourmothersspellbook]

If you don't know, here's the Wikipedia page. I strongly recommend you read it because it's very relevant to many of you! (Also, it exists for a good reason.)

Please reblog for larger sample size!

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Mabon Altar Ideas & Correspondences

Mabon, also known as the Autumn Equinox, marks the midpoint between the summer and winter solstices. It's a time to celebrate the abundance of the harvest season and express gratitude for the blessings of the year. One way to honor this occasion is by setting up a Mabon altar, adorned with items and symbols that resonate with the energy of the season. Here are a few ideas for when you’re putting your altar together.

The Altar Cloth: Choose an altar cloth in rich autumnal colors such as deep red, orange, or brown. These colors represent the changing leaves and the bountiful harvest.

Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables: Incorporate apples, pumpkins, squash, and corn, or any local harvests you have in your area. These are traditional symbols of the harvest and abundance during Mabon.

Candles: Use candles in colors associated with Mabon, such as gold, yellow, orange, or deep red. These represent the changing colors of the land. Alternatively, you could use black and white candles to represent the balance of dark and light on the equinox.

Crystals: Consider placing crystals like citrine, amethyst, or jasper on your altar. These stones resonate with the energies of balance, gratitude, and abundance.

Symbols of Balance: Include items that represent the balance of day and night, such as a yin-yang symbol or two candles, one for the sun and one for the moon.

Leaves and Acorns: Collect fallen leaves and acorns to symbolize the changing season and the promise of new growth in the future.

Chalice and Bread: A chalice filled with wine or cider and a loaf of bread represent the traditional elements of water and earth, symbolizing the harvest's bounty.

Deity Representations: If you work with specific deities in your practice, add representations of them to your altar. Some gods and goddesses associated with Mabon include Demeter, Persephone, and the Green Man.

Mabon Correspondences

Colors: Deep red, orange, yellow, brown, and gold.

Herbs: Sage, marigold, hops, and thistle.

Foods: Apples, grapes, nuts, grains, and root vegetables.

Symbols: Scales, cornucopias, and the autumn wreath.

Activities: Apple picking, making wreaths, offering prayers of gratitude, and sharing a feast with loved ones.

Intentions: Reflect on balance in your life, give thanks for your blessings, and set intentions for the darker months ahead.

May you be blessed with abundance and gratitude.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

I think people have become so far removed from the natural world that "witnessing nature do it's thing" is often misinterpreted as having mystical significance.

This is not meant to be a judgement of anyone, no one here is the reason we live in a society away from the wilds. But I think that the little to no exposure people have with non-human spaces turns perfectly ordinary occurrences into something of a spectacle.

"I keep seeing large groups of crows around, who is trying to reach out?" Probably no one, crows are diurnal flock animals that actively seek out people because they are smart and know we have lots of stuff they can scavenge.

"This tree in my yard put out SO many flowers but seems to be dying now, did someone curse me?" Nope! Trees, particularly fruit trees, can stress bloom, where they put out tons of flowers in response to any number of stressors. Might wanna see if you can fix the stressors to save the tree.

"I was walking around during a storm and lightning hit a tree I was near, what does that mean?" It means you should thank your lucky stars you didn't get hit yourself. Lightning wants to touch the ground so badly and will zap the tallest thing around because that is the fastest way there.

"A cat gave birth under my house, do I have a familiar now?" Maybe. But under the house is dry, warm and relatively safe. She picked that spot because its a good place to keep her babies.

All of these things and more happen ALL THE TIME, we just aren't as aware of them as we used to be. Seeing nature in action is incredible and special in it's own right, just maybe not in the way you want it to be.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Beginner witchcraft used to be causing milk to spoil. Striking the neighbors livestock with misshapen young. Ruining the marriage of an honest man. Making upstanding ladies of the church into fallen women. Yall just making suncatchers and shit. Sleepaway camp ass mfkrs. YOURE GROWN. RUIN SOMETHING.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Hot take but you can’t learn about paganism without also learning about white supremacy and how it uses pagan religions to push hate group agendas all over the world today. If you don’t learn about the connections between the two and how it operates, your ignorance enables white supremacists to keep on doing it and using it to recruit others. People in our community who do nothing and stay silent are literally a part of the problem, there is no opting out whatsoever. Divorcing the two makes the issue repeat itself over and over and over again.

It’s not hard to include this in your research and stay aware. It’s the bare minimum.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Odin in Hanover:

And Athena (unsurprisingly) in Athens, GA:

Pagan Cities?

It's known that Nashville, TN belongs to Athena, Birmingham, AL belongs to Hephaestus/Vulcan, & New Orleans, LA belongs to Dionysus/Bacchus - what other cities belong to gods that you know of? The Parthenon in Nashville

The Vulcan statue in Birmingham

The Bacchus parade in NOLA

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Fascinating! Mercury in Rotterdam:

Pagan Cities?

It's known that Nashville, TN belongs to Athena, Birmingham, AL belongs to Hephaestus/Vulcan, & New Orleans, LA belongs to Dionysus/Bacchus - what other cities belong to gods that you know of? The Parthenon in Nashville

The Vulcan statue in Birmingham

The Bacchus parade in NOLA

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Pagan Cities?

It's known that Nashville, TN belongs to Athena, Birmingham, AL belongs to Hephaestus/Vulcan, & New Orleans, LA belongs to Dionysus/Bacchus - what other cities belong to gods that you know of? The Parthenon in Nashville

The Vulcan statue in Birmingham

The Bacchus parade in NOLA

[notyourmothersspellbook]

This was well-received on Instagram and the clock app, so here's the easiest way to acquire red brick dust for Southern folk magic. You absolutely do not need to pay $20 for a tiny bag online, I promise.

[notyourmothersspellbook]

Look sometimes witchcraft is standing at the crossroads at midnight on the third Friday after a full moon at 3 in the morning with a black rooster tied up and screaming and a knife ready to draw its blood and sometimes witchcraft is banging pots and pans in your front yard yelling like an idiot at a storm and the real skill is learning when to use what.