#Spirit work resources

[cryptidsmagick]

Collecting Familiar Spirits

Sometimes, a witch can't afford a pet, or their pet just isn't a familiar. It happens—there's no guarantee that every cat you encounter will have the magic touch. Or they don't have the heart to face the possibility of their beloved companion passing away. That's perfectly okay! Familiar Spirits are always an option.

A Familiar Spirit is a spirit, normally taking the form of an animal, that assists you in spells and rituals. They are not your spirit guide and should not be mistaken as such.

Familiar spirits can be caught on the Astral Plane or purchased from a shop. When purchasing them, you might find that the spirit is bonded to a vessel, normally a crystal, wood carving, or other charm. That's because this serves as the spirit's anchor to keep it with you.

It's important to note that familiar spirits are incredibly intelligent, and some are even capable of speech. When catching one, you should always ask if it wants to be a familiar, as it's bonded to the vessel until it's either released or the vessel is permanently damaged, ending the contract.

Catching a familiar spirit requires the ability to enter the Astral Plane safely and effectively. Once you are on the astral plane, you are to search. Keeping your intention in mind will help guide you. You might not find one on your first voyage, and that is alright.

Once you find a familiar spirit and gain its consent, you might not have a vessel immediately at hand. There's two things you can do:

Use a temporary vessel. Like a stuffed animal (plushies and dolls can be permanent vessels if you wish!) or other items.

Place an astral anchor in the spot you found the familiar spirit. This is an item or energy you visualize to easily come back later.

Some witches are naturally adept at working with spirits and can imbue the spirit into an object. Others might need a little help from a ritual or spell. Regardless of your personal method, the goal is the same—guide the spirit into an object.

Now that you've guided the spirit into the object, you can have them assist you in your craft, or you can gift or sell the charm to another witch. However, if you intend on selling these charms, please make the familiar spirit aware of this. Some will be happy to help you earn funds to make your way in life, others will be infuriated, and some might view it as a violation of your contract (and potentially refuse to work with whoever purchased the charm). In the case of the latter, this can cause some issues for your shop as refunds may be demanded for the "dud."

Evidently, as some people sell them, you can catch more than one! You can have multiple spirits help you in spells, which is good for people with less mana or difficulty using magick.

Other Tips

Sometimes, the familiar spirit chooses you, you don't find it. This happens with corporal familiars too. When the familiar chooses you, it will be yours, and only yours. They aren't exchangable.

Familiar spirits, rarely, are not always animals. Fairies and demons and other creatures might offer to be your familiar. In the case of specific beings, you have to be careful and have knowledge working with them. Especially to avoid being disrespectful to them. If it's more than you can chew, decline.

You should always clearly write out your contract/agreement. If you're selling it, give the buyer a copy. Keep a copy for yourself in case they return it, or in the case they release it and the familiar comes back to you, you know how to handle it.

Releasing the familiar can include a spell or none at all. It depends on the witch. If you're selling a familiar spirit, I recommend writing the spell down clearly and including this alongside the contract for the buyer to have at hand. After releasing your familiar, cleansing the vessel may not be possible. Sometimes it becomes too tainted with energy. In this case, burn or bury it.

[thelaurenshippen]

HI HELLO DO YOU LIKE AUDIO DRAMAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN AUDIO DRAMA well do I have news for you

for quite some time, I have been working on putting every bit of practical information I have about making a podcast into some kind of readable resource and I'm very happy to say that, by george, I think I've done it.

that link will take you to our resource page which has links to a 35-page handbook that takes you through every step of podcast production (on our merch page, but you can download for zero dollars! do it!) and a direct download of a 15-page pdf about how I take an idea from development through scripting.

this is by no means the be-all-end-all definitive correct guide on how to make an audio drama. as I emphasize many times throughout, this is just how I do things, but it's a pretty thorough rundown of how I do things. if you've been too overwhelmed to start your own show, I sincerely hope this helps you!

[river-in-the-woods]

In my humble experience, when consorting with the world of gods and spirits, I see two main possible ways to reap the benefits. They are both easy to do, and anyone can do it regardless of skill level. (Doing it well, of course, comes with experience and practice - this applies to anything.)

1. The Path of Sorcery. This is about pacts and contracts. Very much like a business transaction. Two parties agree on an exchange, both provide the resources they have, and if all goes well, both benefit when the contract is fulfilled. This is very much an A + B = C situation, the process is clear and the outcome and parameters of success are well defined. Results can come very quickly. As long as the method is sound, the chances of success are high, and there is no compatibility needed. But there is no loyalty nor further investment. You’ll get what you paid for; your fate is in your own hands and there is no safety net except the one you made yourself. If these transactions are done skillfully, many avenues can open up for the sorcerer.

2. The Path of Devotion. This is a relationship, it is about giving without the expectation of receiving. It requires faith, courtesy and good will, as well as compatibility. Either side will initiate interactions at their own pace, and it takes much longer to see results. Further commitments are made over time; the stakes are higher, but so are the rewards. Once the relationship is built up, getting what you desire can be as easy as asking, although the spirits will expect you to receive their input on the choices you make. You may have to take oaths for the relationship to progress any further, and adopt certain moral obligations. If these are properly honoured, one’s problems can even seem to disappear of their own accord, as one’s spiritual allies become invested in them and take their own initiative to secure better opportunities for the devotee. This path can open up other paths through one’s spiritual network, but it can also close off potential relationships with certain spirits depending on your allegiances.

These are both very valid paths to power. The sorcerer is not necessarily better than the devotee, and vice versa – one can be an exceptional sorcerer and scarcely touch a devotee adored by their spirits. It all depends on how skillfully one handles the path they are on. Naturally, the best practice will combine a bit of both, so that one is receiving benefits from a variety of spirits and builds a well-rounded skill set. And as one progresses on their path, the lines between sorcery and devotion will become increasingly blurred.

[ytcomments-archive]

[222shivoham]

Clear quartz is one of my favorite crystals during my tarot work and personal life 🤍

I have found it to deepen ones intuition, allowing messages to flow freely and clearly. It's also one of the only crystals in my experience to bolster ones clairvoyance abilities almost immediately, making it a must have during mediation, as it brings stillness of mind and clarity. ☁️🧘‍♀️

Outside of its spiritual properties, this stone is good for academics, or when you're needing a boost of mental energy. It brings focus and deeper understanding. 🖋

Clear quartz can also be used to nullify negative and toxic energies, creating a blank slate for you to fill with the energy you want. 🌟

This is a crystal I would recommend if you're looking to expand your spiritual growth, as well as to bring healing energies to you, or if you're looking to improve your work. 🤍

[majoresca]

📝✍️Petition for Disney to make Sofia the First in classic style, 2D animation by hand right here!✍️📝

Let's see if the power and will of the people prevails on social media. 🤝

Sofia The First fandom, join here!

Signal your presence in this petition. Flaging your username in the reblog.

To show in quantity how much we are!

@majoresca here! 🫡

PR*SHIPPER DO NOT INTERACT!

[pfhwrittes]

actually the rspb website is a great resource for anyone that wants to mention british wildlife (in particular birds) in their fics and they're unsure of the variety of little funky birds we have over here.

have another link to the website.

the woodland trust is a wonderful resource for the various animals we have in the uk too. they cover various species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians you can find (as well as my beloved insects). they also have a handy tree identification guide.

have a link to the woodland trust website.

[violettavalkyrie]

Let's talk about Poltergeists and something rather similar.

So, poltergeists are manifestations of negative emotions, typically caused by intense trauma, fear, anger, etc. Most of the time these are formed by people with psychic or psychokinetic abilities that may or may not realize as much (usually the latter). These manifestations feed off of negative energy and can become their own entity with time. Which means that after the creator of the manifestation dies, leaves an area, breaks ties with it, etc it can latch onto other people or places. They're also not easy to get rid of but they're an Unconscious creation.

Now, what if we took this concept and flipped it? What if you took a positive, protective energy and Consciously shaped it into a manifestation or entity? Well, that's an interesting thought, hmm?

One of the principles taught in spiritual work, hedge witchcraft, and even mediumship is that what you visualize has a presence on the Astral plane. This is even a principle of quantum physics, in which every decision or thought creates an alternate universe in which that becomes true.

How is a manifestation actively created and to what end?

A manifestation can be created by visualization and meditation. Engaging in a trance-like state and visualizing the form, purpose, etc of your manifestation. Of course you still need to take great care to not be fooled by any other spirits or entities in your vicinity. So having personal protection is very important, and I do recommend cleansing yourself and your space before proceeding. The purpose of this manifestation is to act like a guard dog protecting hearth and home from negative or malicious forces. A great visualization in fact Is a dog for this reason.

So you want to treat it like any pet you'd have. Say hello to it when you come home, say goodbye when you leave and feed it the purposeful, positive intention. A lot of people that do this also create a totem or talisman to channel this manifestation into a space. If you want you can even carry the talisman with you. Bring it in your car on a long road trip. Carry the extra level of protection on the road.

[savage-rhi]

🫂

[knightofhylia]

Resources

Mystic Mysfits Resources

Together with my husband and our friends we have been compiling a list of our resources on magic and witchcraft, as well as a list of red flags and conspiracies to watch out for. We also have links to shops for supplies!

Not every source on this page is perfect but this is to at least serve at a jump off point. This is still very much a work in progress. We are trying to cover as many bases as we can, however, not everything is included (if you have something you'd like to add PLEASE let us know!)

The website is crunchy because we don't have a domain, but feel to browse around (the services and products are also available), and if something is GLARINGLY WRONG don't be afraid to message me on here or through the website with your source!

Mystic Mysfits Resources

[mythvoiced]

OPEN STARTER | Boo Yihwa

"New idea: you fuck off or I'll kill you. I hate the way you smell."

[samwisethewitch]

Homemaking, gardening, and self-sufficiency resources that won't radicalize you into a hate group

It seems like self-sufficiency and homemaking skills are blowing up right now. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic crisis, a lot of folks, especially young people, are looking to develop skills that will help them be a little bit less dependent on our consumerist economy. And I think that's generally a good thing. I think more of us should know how to cook a meal from scratch, grow our own vegetables, and mend our own clothes. Those are good skills to have.

Unfortunately, these "self-sufficiency" skills are often used as a recruiting tactic by white supremacists, TERFs, and other hate groups. They become a way to reconnect to or relive the "good old days," a romanticized (false) past before modern society and civil rights. And for a lot of people, these skills are inseparably connected to their politics and may even be used as a tool to indoctrinate new people.

In the spirit of building safe communities, here's a complete list of the safe resources I've found for learning homemaking, gardening, and related skills. Safe for me means queer- and trans-friendly, inclusive of different races and cultures, does not contain Christian preaching, and does not contain white supremacist or TERF dog whistles.

Homemaking/Housekeeping/Caring for your home:

Making It by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen [book] (The big crunchy household DIY book; includes every level of self-sufficiency from making your own toothpaste and laundry soap to setting up raised beds to butchering a chicken. Authors are explicitly left-leaning.)

Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair by Mercury Stardust [book] (A guide to simple home repair tasks, written with rentals in mind; very compassionate and accessible language.)

How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis [book] (The book about cleaning and housework for people who get overwhelmed by cleaning and housework, based on the premise that messiness is not a moral failing; disability and neurodivergence friendly; genuinely changed how I approach cleaning tasks.)

Gardening

Rebel Gardening by Alessandro Vitale [book] (Really great introduction to urban gardening; explicitly discusses renter-friendly garden designs in small spaces; lots of DIY solutions using recycled materials; note that the author lives in England, so check if plants are invasive in your area before putting them in the ground.)

Country/Rural Living:

Woodsqueer by Gretchen Legler [book] (Memoir of a lesbian who lives and works on a rural farm in Maine with her wife; does a good job of showing what it's like to be queer in a rural space; CW for mentions of domestic violence, infidelity/cheating, and internalized homophobia)

"Debunking the Off-Grid Fantasy" by Maggie Mae Fish [video essay] (Deconstructs the off-grid lifestyle and the myth of self-reliance)

Sewing/Mending:

Annika Victoria [YouTube channel] (No longer active, but their videos are still a great resource for anyone learning to sew; check out the beginner project playlist to start. This is where I learned a lot of what I know about sewing.)

Make, Sew, and Mend by Bernadette Banner [book] (A very thorough written introduction to hand-sewing, written by a clothing historian; lots of fun garment history facts; explicitly inclusive of BIPOC, queer, and trans sewists.)

Sustainability/Land Stewardship

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer [book] (Most of you have probably already read this one or had it recommended to you, but it really is that good; excellent example of how traditional animist beliefs -- in this case, indigenous American beliefs -- can exist in healthy symbiosis with science; more philosophy than how-to, but a great foundational resource.)

Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer [book] (This one is for my fellow witches; one of my favorite witchcraft books, and an excellent example of a place-based practice deeply rooted in the land.)

Avoiding the "Crunchy to Alt Right Pipeline"

Note: the "crunchy to alt-right pipeline" is a term used to describe how white supremacists and other far right groups use "crunchy" spaces (i.e., spaces dedicated to farming, homemaking, alternative medicine, simple living/slow living, etc.) to recruit and indoctrinate people into their movements. Knowing how this recruitment works can help you recognize it when you do encounter it and avoid being influenced by it.

"The Crunchy-to-Alt-Right Pipeline" by Kathleen Belew [magazine article] (Good, short introduction to this issue and its history.)

Sisters in Hate by Seyward Darby (I feel like I need to give a content warning: this book contains explicit descriptions of racism, white supremacy, and Neo Nazis, and it's a very difficult read, but it really is a great, in-depth breakdown of the role women play in the alt-right; also explicitly addresses the crunchy to alt-right pipeline.)

These are just the resources I've personally found helpful, so if anyone else has any they want to add, please, please do!

[wormthe]

[ image description: a screenshot of a section of an article from thenation.com. it reads as follows:

"I don't think in ideological terms. I never have," Obama said, continuing on the healthcare theme. "Everybody who supports single-payer healthcare says, 'Look at all this money we would be saving from insurance and paperwork.' That represents 1 million, 2 million, 3 million jobs of people who are working at Blue Cross Blue Shield or Kaiser or other places. What are we doing with them? Where are we employing them?"

/ end ID ]

Sure, the king could probably solve a lot of problems by sharing some of the massive pile of gold coins he sleeps on as a bed but what about all the royal money counters. What about his human chessboard. What are we doing with them? Where are we employing them?

[river-in-the-woods]

The Cosmic Serpent by Jeremy Narby

"How could nature not be conscious if our own consciousness is produced by nature?"

This book is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between science and spirituality, whereby Narby goes down a rabbit hole of connections between molecular biology and indigenous mythology, including the shamanistic use of hallucinogens and what they reveal about the nature of spirits.

As a biologist who tends to keep science and spirituality separate for practical reasons, I found it really interesting to see Narby delve into many examples of how indigenous shamans had, essentially, discovered key scientific concepts before their modern conception. This was something that I was already vaguely aware of, and I enjoyed Narby’s detailed expositions thereof.

Though, perhaps due to the brevity of his spiritual knowledge, I feel he may have been a tad overtaken by enthusiasm and developed some tunnel vision in his quest to realise the nature of spirits. Namely, I believe Narby may have lost sight of the notion that anything we know about spirits lies within the intersection of the spiritual and physical; there are things that lie outside of this intersection that we cannot perceive about the spirits, and likewise things that lie on the physical side of the intersection that spirits cannot perceive about us. His book deals solely with that small overlap and I would reiterate that this is not all that there is.

Regardless, I truly appreciate the sincerity of Narby's self-reflection of his experiences, the palpable admiration that comes through in his writing for indigenous people and their knowledge, and his concern for their future. He highlights some of the obstacles faced by those who would reconcile science and spirituality. Science, that was once the bastard child of Religion attempting to escape from Religion’s shadow, is now performed in ways that work against that initial desire to understand the mechanisms of the Divine.

"... biology has become an industry that is guided by a thirst for marketable knowledge, rather than by ethical and spiritual considerations."

Well, I think we've made some progress on the ethical fronts, if not the spiritual, since the publishing of this book.

To be honest, I started reading Cosmic Serpent as part of my search for more information on serpent power, and not because I was interested in the intersection of science and mysticism. I was happy to find that some key messages in this book aligned with knowledge received in my own communications with spirits. The Serpent is magic, knowledge and life itself, and one benefits greatly from delving into its mysteries.

[crushedrosewitchcraft]

And one more tag post!

[brewscoop]

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