#Christopher Penczak

[lotusfeather-and-bone]

Signal boost time:

Sunday December 8, 2024, beginning 9:45am EST

"Fundraiser Tickets go on sale Nov 1st!

A full day of Online Workshops and more.

Proceeds go to 'BeLoved Asheville' for Hurricane Helene Relief of Western NC"

https://facebook.com/events/s/fulacht-na-mor-rioghna-cooking/1479556669421347/

________

As we all know, Hurricane Helene caused an extreme amount of damage to Asheville, NC and the surrounding area, damage that the residents weren't expecting or prepared for.

The Fulacht Na Mór Ríoghna fundraiser event is being held on Sunday Dec 8 to help raise funds for this community, with a whole slew of notable speakers throughout the day, including both Live and Pre-recorded sessions.

If you are interested and able to donate, I highly encourage it! We are all one witch/pagan community here, no matter where we live. Support Asheville and help them get back on their feet.

Fundraiser Hosts:

NC local, Sam "Bo" Thompson, magical blacksmith at Ravens Keep Forge, and author of "Metal Never Lies: An Introduction to Metal Magic", is a priest of the Morrígan and puts a great deal of energy into both his magical and smith craft while also teaching in his community. The magical items he forges for use in people's spiritual paths are beautiful, and he's an all around great guy. (His wife's tea shop, The Grove Teas and Botanical Gifts is one of my favorites as well!) You can follow Sam on Instagram @ravenskeepforge.

The Tuatha Dé Morrigan is a group that honors the Morrigan, the Irish goddess of battle and sovereignty. They host a yearly retreat for witches, pagans and anyone who is interested in learning more about this Goddess regardless of background or path, known as the Morrigan's Call Retreat.

[nixieofthenorth]

Witchcraft … is a spiritual path. You walk it for nourishment of the soul, to commune with the life force of the universe, and to thereby better know your own life.

Christopher Penczak, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft

[aerikarkadian]

Ep. 9 - Christopher Penczak, Temple Building, and Personal Pantheons

Christopher Penczak is a witch, a High Priest, and the author of more than 20 books, including The Three Rays of Witchcraft and The Mighty Dead. He also co-founded the Temple of Witchcraft. Music, Myth & Magick Episode 9 premiered on Friday, April 5, 2024 Oh, and did I mention that he has a degree in music? Honestly, you probably already know his name, have read one of his books, or have been…

[talonabraxas]

“It was about finding the sacred within myself, my center, my peaceful core. We each have a sacred space within us, a part of us. This sacred space is a temple, a temple to our inner power, our intuition, and our connection with the divine. Discovery of psychic powers, spells, and meditation are all things that lead us to the temple. They help us find the road within and walk our path to the inner temple.” ― Christopher Penczak, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development

[traegorn]

Trae, could I get your insight on some books I’ve just acquired, as a long-time member of the Wiccan community?

I’m a non-denominational practitioner, not Wiccan. A Wiccan friend-of-a-friend recently moved house and gave me many of her old books. I’m excited to have so many new texts for my reference collection! However, one series gave me pause: it’s a three-volume “Temple of Witchcraft” series, by one Christopher Penczak. At first glance I thought it was a general introductory witchcraft text and was excited to dig in, but soon found that Penczak is a Wiccan author who conflates witchcraft and Wicca.

I don’t mind that per se; I’d still find it an interesting read. But I don’t know much about the Wiccan community, and brief research mostly just tells me that Penczak is an author (mostly for Llewellyn, which gives me pause). Do you know anything about this Penczak? How seriously should I take his assertions about Wicca? (I write to you as someone who started out, yes, on Silver Ravenwolf as a teenager and now I have Book Trust Issues.)

Thank you for your time! ❤️

I've never read Penczak. What I've heard about him is mixed, but since I haven't read the text for myself I don't want to make a judgment call based on vibes.

Publishing for Llewellyn isn't a red flag -- it's just not an endorsement either. They publish both good and bad books, because as a business they're just going to publish whatever they think they can sell.

So yeah, sorry -- I know that's probably not a helpful answer.

[talonabraxas]

Sirian Starseed: Traits, Origins & How to Embrace Your Starry Self

Types of Otherworldly Souls from Sirius

Similar to the Orion constellation, the binary system of Sirius actually has a few starry races of souls. Some Sirians descend from the Lyrans, some of the oldest souls in our universe. The Sirians had a hand in building some of the world’s higher-tech ancient civilizations including ancient Egypt and the Mayan civilizations. Some believe the earth’s whales and dolphins may come from Sirius, as they are strongly linked to Sirian Starseeds.

According to Christopher Penczak in his work on Ascension Magick: “The Great White Brotherhood is said to be an extension of the Sirian hierarchy, led by Lord and Lady Sirius, ascended beings much like our Solar Logos.” If you are indeed a Sirian starseed, you may be able to reach out and connect to the Great White Brotherhood easily.

[mergusthewitch]

Nature exists everywhere. It is a modern illusion that we, people, exist separately from nature. And nature is not merely forests and oceans, plains and grasslands, ponds and marshes, all of it is nature. And if you look around your town and city, you'll see the wild all over it too.

I've been reading a bool called "City Magick" by Christopher Penczak and it has me thinking of what an animistic approach to the modern world really looks like.

I don't have all of my thoughts together on this topic, but I just wanted to get something out.

[lazywitchling]

Jes' Collection of Witch Books

I said I would make this list, so here I am, making this list.

These are all the Witchy (and witchy-adjacent) books I own and/or have read. It's a long list, so it's going under a cut!

Key of Symbols:

📗 Read

📖 Reading

📚 Not Yet Read

Books that I own

📗 Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox (Review)

📗 A Dabbler's Guide to Witchcraft by Fire Lyte

📗 Spellcrafting by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

📗 The House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Review)

📗 Witchery by Juliet Diaz (Review)

📚 A Witch's Guide to Spellcraft by Althea Sebastiani

📚 All That is Sacred is Profaned by Rhyd Wildermuth (edit: nevermind, he's a transphobe now)

📚 Reclaiming Ourselves by Emma Kathryn

📚 In the Midnight Hour by Anthony Rella

📗 Weave the Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff (Review)

📚 Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary

📗 Grovedaughter Witchery by Bree NicGarran (@breelandwalker)

📗 The Sisters Grimmoire by Bree NicGarran (@breelandwalker)

📚 Witchcraft by Anastasia Greywolf or Tamsin Chamberlin (don't buy this one: here's why)

Books I read from the Library

📗 The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book by Skye Alexander (don't buy this one: here's why)

📗 Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

Zines and Pamphlets

📗 A Pagan Anti-Capitalist Primer

📗 Brainscan 33: DIY Witchery by Alex Wrekk (@upthewitchypunx)

📗 Brainscan 34: A Dabbler's Week of DIY Witchery by Alex Wrekk (@upthewitchypunx)

📗 Everyday Magic #1

📗 Everyday Magic #2

📗 Exploding the Tangerine by Clint Marsh & Oliver Bly

📗 Five Principles of Green Witchcraft by Asa West

📗 Hex Your Ex

📗 The Witchy Zinester's Pocket Book of Spells

📚 Twin Peaks Tarot Spreads

📚 Sow Sprout Grow Tarot Spreads

Charity Bundle E-Books

These all came as a bundle, so the quality will vary as it does with any bargain grab-bag. I'm not linking these unless I've read (or am reading) them because it takes a long time, and I have no idea if they're good or absolute shit. If you want to learn about these, you know how the internet works.

📚 City Magick by Christopher Penczak

📗 Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller

📚 Herbal Magick by Gerina Dunwich

📚 Hex Twisting by Diana Rajchel

📚 Italian Folk Magic by Mary-Grace Fahrun

📚 Love Magic by Lilith Dorsey

📚 Magic When You Need It by Judika Illes

📚 Magickal Astrology by Skye Alexander

📚 Personal Magic by Marion Weinstein

📚 Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

📚 Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein

📗 Queering Your Craft by Cassandra Snow (Review)

📚 Reading the Runes by Kim Farnell

📚 Spellcrafting by Gerina Dunwich

📚 The Big Book of Tarot by Joan Bunning

📚 The Study of Witchcraft by Deborah Lipp

📚 The Witch's Eight Paths of Power by Lady Sable Aradia

📚 The Witch's Guide to Wands by Gypsey Elaine Teague

📚 True Magic by Draja Mickaharic

📚 Water Witchcraft by Annwyn Avalon

📚 Wicca Made Easy by Phyllis Curott

📚 Wishcraft by Sakura Fox

📚 Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

📚 Witchcraft Activism by David Salisbury

📚 Year of the Witch by Temperance Alden

[heathen-starspawn]

My new hobby is finding books about queer occultism and pagan practice, and term searching "asexual" to see how many times and in which contexts asexuality is mentioned

(I don't bother doing this with "aromantic". If they can't even handle asexuality that's a canary in the coal mine.)

Anyway, Queering the Craft by Cassandra Snow mentions asexuality a whopping three times, and Gay Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak just doesn't, at all

I'd love to write a book about aro and ace affirming practice but I don't know where to start. The vision is "how to create a practice that affirms you as a person who doesn't feel normative attraction" the reality will probably be "wall to wall bitching"

[santoschristos]

Sirius Binary Star System Types of Otherworldly Souls from Sirius

Similar to the Orion constellation, the binary system of Sirius actually has a few starry races of souls. Some Sirians descend from the Lyrans, some of the oldest souls in our universe. The Sirians had a hand in building some of the world’s higher-tech ancient civilizations including ancient Egypt and the Mayan civilizations. Some believe the earth’s whales and dolphins may come from Sirius, as they are strongly linked to Sirian Starseeds.

According to Christopher Penczak in his work on Ascension Magick: “The Great White Brotherhood is said to be an extension of the Sirian hierarchy, led by Lord and Lady Sirius, ascended beings much like our Solar Logos.” If you are indeed a Sirian starseed, you may be able to reach out and connect to the Great White Brotherhood easily.

Most Sirians are inexplicably drawn to the Sirius Binary Star System Sirius Binary Star System by Mahaboka

[jasper-pagan-witch]

*strangling Amazon's search results* I don't want to see Christopher Penczak! I don't want to FUCKING see Christopher Penczak!

[wandering-free-and-queer]

Wander's Library

I have a lot of books. Be warned.

Physical Books:

The Complete Book of Dreams- Stephanie Gatling

Tarot for Self Care- Minerva Siegel

Queering the Tarot- Cassandra Snow

The Complete Dream Book- Gillian Holloway

The Alchemy of Your Dreams- Athena Laz

Moon Magic- Aurora Kane

Handbook Trio (Herbal, House, and Moon Magic)- Aurora Kane

Living by the Moon- Lunarly’s Kiki Ely

Your Lunar Code- Lori Reid

The Stars Within You- Juliana McCarthy

Dirtbag Astrology- Alberto Toribio

Astrology and Religion Among the Greeks and Romans- Franz Cumont

The Beginner’s Guide to Akashic Records- Whitney Jefferson Evans

Crystals- Jennie Harding

A Field Guide to Lucid Dreaming- Tuccillo, Zeizel, and Peisel

Lighting the Wick- Sandra Mariah Wright and Leanne Marrama

The Ancient Healing Companion- Misha Ruth Cohen, O.M.D.

The Practical Book of Witchcraft- Pamela Ball

The Everything Astrology Book- Trish MacGregor

The Complete Book of Palmistry- Joyce Wilson

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner- Scott Cunningham

Living Wicca- Scott Cunningham

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs- Scott Cunningham

The Pagan Family- Ceisiwr Serith

Wiccapedia- Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway

The Good Witch’s Guide- Shawn Robbins and Charity Bedell

The Crystal Witch- Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway

The Witch’s Way- Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway

Wiccan Kitchen- Lisa Chamberlain

Psychic Spellcraft- Shawn Robbins and Leanna Greenaway

A Little Bit of Intuition- Catharine Allen

A Little Bit of Wicca- Cassandra Eason

12,000 Dreams Interpreted- Gustavus Hindman Miller

I Don’t Want to be an Empath Anymore- Ora North

Spellwork for Self Care

Witchcraft Therapy- Mandi Em

Happy Witch- Mandi Em

The Witch’s Book of Self Care- Arin Murphy-Hiscock

The House Witch- Arin Murphy-Hiscock

The Green Witch- Arin Murphy-Hiscock

The Green Witch’s Grimoire- Arin Murphy-Hiscock

The Green Witch’s Garden- Arin Murphy Hiscock

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magical Herbs- Judy Ann Nock

The Modern Witchcraft Spellbook- Skye Alexander

The Modern Guide to Witchcraft- Skye Alexander

Spellcrafting- Arin Murphy Hiscock

Divination- Alida Somars

1001 Spells- Cassandra Eason

Witchcraft Magic and Alchemy- Grillot de Givry

Other Physical Media:

Moon Magic Lunar Oracle- Marie Bruce

Moon Energy Guided Journal- Nikki Strange

Manifesting Dreams Guided Workbook

Spellcraft: A Guided Journal for Casting, Cleansing, and Blessing

Magazines:

Prevention Guide All-Natural Herbal Remedies

Centennial Entertainment: Witches

360 Media Special: The Story of Witches

National Geographic: Natures Best Remedies

Ebooks:

The Study of Witchcraft- Deborah Lipp

Braiding Sweetgrass- Robin Kimmerer

Queering Your Draft- Cassandra Snow

Herbal Magick- Gerina Dunwich

An Anarchist Free Herbal Zine

City Magick- Christopher Penczak

A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558-1718- Wallace Notestein

Italian Folk Magic- Mary-Grace Fahrun

Love Magic- Lilith Dorsey

Magic When You Need It- Judika Illes

Magical Astrology- Skye Alexander

Personal Magic- Marion Weinstein

Plant Witchery- Juliet Diaz

Positive Magic- Marion Weinstein

Reading the Runes- Kim Farnell

Viridarium Umbris- David A Schulke

Spellcrafting- Gerina Dunwich

The Big Book of Tarot- Joan Bunning

The discoverie of witchcraft- Reginald Scot

The Witch’s Eight Paths of Power- Lady Sable Aradia

The Witch’s Guide to Wands- Gypsey Elaine Teague

True Magic- Draja Mickaharic

Water Witchcraft- Annwyn Avalon

Wicca Made Easy- Phyllis Curott

Wishcraft- Sakura Fox

Witch, Please- Victoria Maxwell

Witchcraft Activism- David Salisbury

Witchery: Embrace the Wisdom Within- Juliet Diaz

Year of the Witch- Temperance Alden

Books that aren’t directly about witchcraft but I incorporate them into my witchcraft studies because they’re useful AF:

The Seven Sisters of Sleep- Mordecai Cooke

The Watkins Dictionary of Symbols-Jack Tresidder

Mythology- Edith Hamilton

The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers

The Greek View of Life- G. Lowes Dickinson

The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep- Beth Wyatt

RD Home Handbooks: Herbs- Lesley Bremness

PDR for Herbal Medicines First Edition

The Book of Signs- Rudolf Koch

Other Occult Related Books:

The Satanic Bible- Anton Szandor LaVey

The Satanic Rituals- Anton Szandor LaVey

Quantum Freedom: Divine Embodiment- “The Spirit Collective” Channeled by Katherine D. Caulfield (I’m deadass, that’s what’s on the book cover)

Mythology Books:

The Odyssey-Homer

The Iliad- Homer

New LaRousse Encyclopedia of Mythology

Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods and Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes- Rick Riordan (Not even remotely sorry lmao)

Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes- Cory O’Brien

The Argonautica- Apollonius Rhodius

The Theogony- Hesiod

[hadit93]

Hi, thanks for answering my ask.

I have been practicing for 3-4 years and mostly worked with planetary forces and the angels associated with them. This was my first Evocation. I don't have any previous experiences with any kind of spirits. In fact, there have been instances when people around me felt some kind of presence (while exploring haunted houses or graveyards) but I have always been completely oblivious.

I did not follow the proper Goetic method. I fasted for 6-7 hours, bathed, and did the purifying breathing exercise in Jason Miller's Consorting with spirits. I gave offerings to Jove and Hermes on my altar and prayed for the Evocation to be successful. I drew 3 circles and set up offerings (incense, candle, water, and caramel icecream) for Bune. I started with an orison from The Book of Oberon, consecrated the dagger and wand, drew the circle using the script from Consorting with Spirits and called the four kings. Then I read a prayer of receptivity, drew the sigils of Bune while chanting Bune's enn. I read the conjuration script from The Sorcerer's Secrets thrice while walking around the circle and then read the two conjurations from Modern Magick. I then welcomed the spirit, tried to communicate with a scrying mirror (I am really bad at any kind of divination) and after a while told them what i wanted. I bid them farewell, closed the circle, thanked the 4 kings, and ended with the QC. I didn't feel anything the entire time, the only proof that something happened is that my chronic backpain got better immediately which I've been struggling with since January.

Fyi: I never said I command thee. I said I ask thee instead. And I smoked a blunt before the ritual to alter my mind.

It is not the worst method, there are things I wouldn’t do or do differently, but our practices are all going to look different. My advice is always to follow the original method as closely as possible and you are comfortable with first prior to making changes. I also don’t command spirits unless I need to- and that has been a rarity.

I would say that results matter more than psychic theatre- you have gotten what you wanted so it counts as a result. You didn’t experience bells and whistles, but that doesn’t matter. You may just need to develop your psychic senses which is work you can dedicate a small amount of time to each day. I’ve heard Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn is good in this regard. I myself utilised Christopher Penczak’s Inner Temple of Witchcraft back in the day and things really opened up for me when I began astral work as part of the AA system. Hermes should be able to help in this regard too.

The one thing I would avoid is the use of Enns. Perhaps I am a little too avoidant of the demonaltry crowd because their work is normally ridiculous and they half of them are neonazis. But I just feel they simplify things too much and aren’t really adding anything useful. A blunt statement, but it is what I believe to be true.

If you are working with the Graeco-Roman deities already you may want to look into working with Hekate as an intermediary force for the spirits. I believe Jason has a section on this in consorting with spirits and the late Jake Stratton-Kent also wrote about this.

But as I say it sounds like the spirit turned up and has helped already. So it has been successful. Perhaps try working on getting those senses a little more open and an ability to tune in to the planes beyond the mundane.

[lazywitchling]

Alright, I’m almost done with Rebel Witch. What should I read next?

Poll:

Some of these are from reputable sources. Some are from a witchy ebook bundle with varying qualities. Some are sure to be terrible. I learn different things from all types of books. Sometimes what I learn is “this is a flavor of bullshit that I previously didn’t know was available”.

[poisonerspath]

I’m starting to see the gossamer and vespertine side of datura more and more. For years it always manifested as a rather rough shamanic looking trickster who seemed more pernicious and sadistic than anything. It’s interesting the different ways that plant spirits manifest for us and how that can change over the years, reminding us that they are not static being but constantly fluctuating energies with numerous manifestations. Thorn Apple Card from Magickal Botanical Oracle 🔮 by Maxine Miller and Christopher Penczak from @llewellynbooks - #datura #thornapple #daturastramonium #poisonplants #poisonousplants #poisonpath #thepoisonpath #veneficium #witchingherbs #witchsgarden #plantoracle https://www.instagram.com/p/CoQ7_atr5QS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lucifersmockingbird]

I bought this Oracle a few months ago, before starting to work with Prince Stolas. I didn't feel like giving it to a deity but I didn't want it for myself alone neither. So I didn't consecrate it. But I gave it to him just today. I think he likes it. It's really pretty.

There's some correspondences that I don't really like, buuut it does the work and the art is sooo pretty.

The name is The Magickal Botanical, by Maxine Miller and Christopher Penczak.

It's a liiiitle bit too wiccan for me, because I bought the deck on a discount so I didn't know anything about it, but its good if you like herbs.