#but it's smaller and more portable than the big binder is; since all the notes i want to retake are ones from Shows it's not like

[brittlebutch]

my fatal flaw is that i love notebooks and i love taking notes and i love reorganizing files and love to rewrite things and so i am constantly fielding the impulse to do nothing but rewrite the same notes in new configurations in different notebooks all day long

[mistersplitfoot-archive-blog]

Okay, I filled out that witchcraft survey thing. It’s long, so it’s under a read more. Again, sorry mobile users. 1. Are you solitary or in a coven?

I am solitary. There aren't many covens around here, and the ones that are nearby are all Wiccan. I also work better on my own, both in a magical and mundane sense, and I'm not very social. Solitary practice is better for me.

2. Do you consider yourself Wiccan, Pagan, witch, or other?

I am a secular witch. I do not currently consider myself a pagan, because I don't worship or honor anything, but that may change in the future. If it does, my magical practice will still be entirely secular. No need to involve religion. I am not, and I never will be, Wiccan.

 3. What is your zodiac sign?

Aquarius sun, Sagittarius moon.

4. Do you have a Patron God/dess?

 No.

5. Do you work with a Pantheon?

No.

6. Do you use tarot, palmistry, or any other kind of divination?

I read tarot and oracle cards, and sometimes runes. I plan to learn to read Lenormand soon. Sometimes I do bibliomancy, but it's rare. I'm interested in palmistry but I haven't started learning it yet.

7. What are some of your favorite herbs to use in your practice? (if any)

I don't have a job right now; my partner supports me financially. Because of this, I make the best of what I have available already or can access cheapy. I use a lot of cooking spices. Bay, basil, thyme, parsley, cinnamon, rosemary, etc. I also use the tea from herbal tea bags when I need something like chamomile, lavender, catnip, etc.

8. How would you define your craft?

I wouldn't. It's all over the place.

9. Do you curse? If not, do you accept others who do?

I do curse. I don't do it often, because it uses up a lot of my energy and as a spoonie witch I need to conserve as much as I can for mundane things.

10. How long have you been practicing?

Off and on for about twelve years.

11. Do you currently or have you ever had any familiars?

Sadly, I do not. None of my pets have ever seemed interested. One of my cats showed potential for a while, but she doesn't seem to care anymore. I am interested in connecting with a spirit familiar, though.

12. Do you believe in Karma or Reincarnation?

I believe in reincarnation. I do not believe in karma. Karma is part of specific religious systems that I am not a part of. I believe in reincarnation in a purely spiritual sense, with no connection to religion. On that note, because someone might ask, I do believe in the concept of otherkin and fictionkin. If there are infinite universes and reincarnation is a thing, there's no reason it would be impossible.

13. Do you have a magical name?

No. My last name has magical connotations on it's own, though it isn't the one I was born with. I chose it, after one of my favorite book characters.

14. Are you “out of the broom closet”?

First, I have to say that I have always hated this phrase, even before I understood anything about my non straight and non cis identity. I don't think it should be used by non-LGBT witches. But anyway. Yeah, most people who know me as more than an acquaintance know I'm a witch. Unfortunately, most of them assume that means I'm Wiccan, and I don't always have the energy to explain that I am not.

15. What was the last spell you performed?

A money drawing spell.

16. Would you consider yourself knowledgeable?

Yes and no. I know a lot of specific things, but I don't have a broad range of knowledge in most witchy subjects. I've been practicing for over a decade and I still feel like a beginner.

17. Do you write your own spells?

Yes. I rarely perform spells that I didn't write myself, or at least modify a bit.

18. Do you have a book of shadows? If so, how is it written and/or set up?

I have a grimoire. I prefer that term over BOS because BOS is so rooted in Wicca. Of course, I don't mind if others use it, it's just my preference. Anyway, I have two. One is faux leather bound binder originally intended for scrapbooking, so it's pretty big. That's the one I keep at home. I can rearrange pages as I like, since it's a three ring binder. I also have a smaller, portable grimoire in the form of one of those little journal books. It's also faux leather, and it's incomplete. I just started putting it together recently. It'll be a very watered down version of my main grimoire, with just basic information for easy reference purposes. The larger one is much more thorough.

19. Do you worship nature?

I don't worship anything, but if I were to worship anything, it would be the cosmos.

20. What is your favorite gemstone?

Blue goldstone, green goldstone, opal, malachite, and I know it isn't technically a gem, but opalite.

21. Do you use feathers, claws, fur, pelt, skeletons/bones, or any other animal body part for magical work?

I don't, but that's because I just don't have any. And I don't have the funds to acquire any. The only bones I have is the partial skeleton of a baby deer, found by my mom's hunter friend when he was in the woods. They had been there a while and most of it was missing, but my mom got her friend to give me what he found. I haven't done anything with them yet. They're fairly large so I'm not sure what to use them for.

 22. Do you have an altar?

I have two, but they're for spellwork, not worship. I have one downstairs in my living room, it's on top of a waist-high bookshelf. And I have one in the bedroom, on top of an antique glass vanity that used to be my mom's. Both are very small, much smaller than I'd like, but again, I make the best of what I have.

23. What is your preferred element?

Air or fire.

24. Do you consider yourself an Alchemist?

Not really. I don't know much about alchemy, to be honest. It's on my list of things to study. Eventually. I have a long list.

25. Are you any other type of magical practitioner besides a witch?

Maybe? I'm not sure. I don't think so, though.

26. What got you interested in witchcraft?

I can't remember. I can hardly remember what I did last week. I just know that when I first found out about it, everyone had me believing that Wicca was the Only Option. Because of that, it took me a while to get into it.

27. Have you ever performed a spell or ritual with the company of anyone who was not a witch?

Yep. I live with my partner, who is not a witch, and I've done several spells in front of them and for them.

28. Have you ever used ouija?

No. My partner had a bad experience with one as a child and won't let me bring one into the house. I'll use one someday, though.

29. Do you consider yourself a psychic?

I think everyone is to some degree, but I don't think my talents are very strong.

30. Do you have a spirit guide? If so, what is it?

I do, in a sense. This is rather personal so I won't go into it too much, but it's someone I knew in a past life.

31. What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started?

That Wicca is not the only option! And that I don't have to devote my time and energy into woshiping a faceless God and Goddess that I feel absolutely no connection with. That I don't have to be religious at all to be a witch.

32. Do you celebrate the Sabbats? If so which one is your favorite?

I don't. I celebrate 'christian' holidays in a secular sense (christmas, easter, etc) and I associate the Sabbats with Wicca, so I just. Don't acknoweldge them. I don't mind when other people do, though.

33. Would you ever teach witchcraft to your children?

I'm never having children.

34. Do you meditate?

Yes, but I'm not very good at it.

35. What is your favorite season?

Late fall and winter.

36. What is your favorite type of magick to preform?

Anything, really. Aside from curses. Curses take up so much more energy than any other kind of spell I do and then I'm just exhausted for the rest of the day.

37. How do you incorporate your spirituality into your daily life?

I'm not really sure how to answer this. It's not really something I can explain.

38. What is your favorite witchy movie?

Hocus Pocus! It's been a favorite since I was a kid. It was one of those movies I'd watch repeatedly all day and make my parents hate me.

 39. What is your favorite witchy book, both fiction and non-fiction.

Fiction, probably Harry Potter because I'm a big ol' cliche and because I literally grew up with it. Non-fiction, probably The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes. I've owned it twice now. I first borrowed it from a friend in high school, and it was in pretty bad condition. Pages falling out and whatnot. That friend moved away before I could give it back, and I lent it to someone else. I never got it back either, and a couple years ago my partner bought me a replacement. I like the cover of the new edition much better, anyway.

40. What is the first spell you ever preformed? Successful or not.

Fuck if I know, my dude. Like I said, I can barely remember last week.

41. What’s the craziest witchcraft-related thing that’s happened to you?

Nothing too weird has happened to me as far as magic stuff goes, but when I was still honoring Loki, something happened. I was talking to him about something, I can't remember what, but I think I mentioned something about doubting the existence of deities, and how I wasn't sure if anyone was even hearing me. Literally the next day, a fucking snake got into my house. No idea how. But it just showed up, and my cat chased it around and we managed to catch it before the cat could hurt it and we set it free. It had never happened before, and it hasn't happened since. So yeah, I get it, deities exist and they hear us. Message received.

42. What is your favourite type of candle to use?

I love black candles. I know, it's so cliche and 'edgy' of me, but they just feel so witchy and nice.

43. What is your favorite witchy tool?

I don't use many tools. Usually the only things I use are incense burners, candles, and occasionally my tiny cast iron cauldron.

44. Do you or have you ever made your own witchy tools?

I made an offering bowl years ago, when I was still making offerings to deities. That's about it.

45. Have you ever worked with any magical creatures such as the fae or spirits?

I have not, but I'm very interested in doing so. I need to research a lot more, though.

46. Do you practice color magic?

Yes, color plays a big part in my practice. I try to use candles in appropriate colors for specific spells, or I write in colored ink when drawing up sigils, the colors of gems matter, etc.

47. Do you or have you ever had a witchy teacher or mentor of any kind?

Nope.

48. What is your preferred way of shopping for witchcraft supplies?

There's a new age store about thirty minutes from my house. They're the only place I can find a large amount of crystals, herbs, and incense. And the staff there is very nice. I usually buy candles at the dollar store, though. And when Halloween rolls around, Walmart sells little packs of black tea lights for a decent price, so I stock up n those every October. Craft stores are good for some things, too.

49. Do you believe in predestination or fate?

Yes and no. I think every choice you make changes your fate. That's why things like tarot and rune readings aren't set in stone. You have the power to change things if you don't like the projected outcome.

 50. What do you do to reconnect when you are feeling out of touch with your practice?

Take a break from it. Sometimes I just get burned out and don't feel it. That's fine. I just take a couple months off and I don't do anything witchy. Then after a bit, the feeling comes back on it's own. Something I see or read or hear will spark it again.

51. Have you ever had any supernatural experiences?

There's a ghost in my house that fucks with me all the time. Nothing dangerous or violent, more like hiding my things and opening cupboards that I know the cats can't reach. And at my mom's, I have an uncle who haunts the house. I never met him, he died when he was a kid, but my mom has seen him in the backyard, and he's turned lights on after I've turned them off when I've been house sitting. My partner swears they've heard him say 'hello'. And the snake thing I mentioned earlier, if that counts.

52. What is your biggest witchy pet peeve?

People thinking witch = Wicca, and that any witch who isn't Wiccan is 'fake'. That, and people (Wiccans) who try to force their anti-cursing Threefold Law rhetoric on other, non-Wiccans. And the rampant cultural appropriation, of course.

53. Do you like incense? If so what’s your favorite scent?

I love incense. I go through it like it's water. My favorite scent is probably dragon's blood.

54. Do you keep a dream journal of any kind?

I've tried, but I never manage to keep up with it. I'll try again someday.

55. What has been your biggest witchcraft disaster?  I've never had anything terrible happen, thankfully.

56. What has been your biggest witchcraft success?

I helped my partner get a job! It happened about a week after I did an employment spell for them. They ended up hating the job and quitting two months later, but still!

57. What in your practice do you do that you may feel silly or embarrassed about?

Nothing really.

58. Do you believe that you can be an atheist, Christian, Muslim or some other faith and still be a witch too?

Absolutely.

59. Do you ever feel insecure, unsure or even scared of spell work?

Of course. I think everyone feels like this now and then, even experienced witches.

60. Do you ever hold yourself to a standard in your witchcraft that you feel you may never obtain?

Oh definitely. But I do that in all areas of my life, not just witchcraft.

61. What is something witch related that you want right now?

I have a spare room in my house that I currently use for storage. The dream is to clear it out, donate all the shit I don't want anymore, and turn that spare room into a magical room, where I can have a bigger work space and more room to make things look all pretty and nice. And maybe keep a little herb garden in there near the window.

62. What is your rune of choice?

I don't use runes enough to really have one.

63. What is your tarot card of choice?

The Star is my favorite card.

64. Do you use essential oils? If so what is your favorite?

I do sometimes. My favorites are lavender, jasmine, rose, patchouli, amber, and honeysuckle.

65. Have you ever taken any kind of witchcraft or pagan courses?

Nope.

66. Do you wear pagan jewelry in public?

I don't really wear much jewelry. As a transmasc person who doesn't pass very well, I try not to wear things that will make it even harder for me to pass. Sometimes I'll wear an amethyst point under my shirt, or the old skeleton key I've enchanted.

67. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your faith or being a witch?

No. Unless you count my mom being very against it when I was a teenager, but even then, it wasn't a big deal. She didn't threaten to kick me out or anything, she just didn't want me doing anything in her house. I was still allowed to read and study it.

68. Do you read or subscribe to any pagan magazines? No. I don't even know of any.

69. Do you think it’s important to know the history of paganism and witchcraft?

Well, the history of paganism is extremely broad. It's an umbrella term for a bunch of different religions. I think it's a little ridiculous to expect, say, a Hellenic Recon pagan to know the history of Celtic Recon or something. So it's good to know the history of YOUR practice. As for witchcraft, I think it helps to know where some things came from, to know you're not appropriating anything, and also so you know Wicca isn't fucking 5000 years old or whatever. And don't spread misinfo. If you're knowledge on 'The Burning Times" is from a $ilver Ravenw0lf book, I suggest you do some further research because it's fucking wrong.

70. What are your favorite things about being a witch?

I like the aesthetic and I like knowing I have some level of control over things in my life. When I can be bothered to use that control, anyway.

 71. What are your least favorite things about being a witch?

The fact that I have to constantly explain that witch does not equal Wiccan. The fact that there are still people (read: TERFs) who think you have to be a cis woman to be a witch. And witches that shit on other witches for not being militant vegans. Fuck off.

72. Do you listen to any pagan music? If so who is your favorite singer/band?

Not really. It's not really my thing. I personally think southern gothic music is far more witchy than most 'witchy' musicians. Not that that's the only genre I listen to, that's just an example.

73. Do you celebrate the Esbbats? If so, how?

Nope.

74. Do you ever work skyclad?

Nope. My altars are right in front of windows, and I also just don't think it's necessary.

75. Do you think witchcraft has improved your life? If so, how?

Sure. Like I said, it's given me a sense of control, and it's given me some hobbies and interests I might not have otherwise.

76. Where do you draw inspiration from for your practice?

Pop culture, other witches, art, music.

77. Do you believe in ‘fantasy’ creatures? (Unicorns, fairies, elves, gnomes, ghosts, etc)

Well I don't consider ghosts to be fantasy creatures. But anyway. I think things like that can exist on other planes, like the astral or something. I think in special circumstances, maybe they can be seen (I know people have claimed to have seen faeries, for example), but I think they're usually invisible.

78. What’s your favorite sigil/symbol?

I like planetary symbols, if that counts.

79. Do you use blood magick in your practice? Why or why not?

I have before, but I don't do it often because I have an intense preoccupation with disease and infection. I think, in most cases, spit or hair or fingernails work just fine instead, and you aren't risking getting sick from it.

80. Could you ever be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t support your practice?

Probably not. I don't have to date a witch (as I said before, my partner is not a witch), but I can't date someone who doesn't support me or thinks what I do is silly or fake.

81. In what area or subject would you most like your craft to grow?

I'm not sure?

82. What’s your favorite candle scent? Do you use it in your practice?

I don't have a favorite. I prefer unscented candles because lighting a bunch of different scents all at once tends to give me a headache.

83. Do you have a pre-ritual ritual? (I.e. Something you do before rituals to prepare yourself for them). If so what is it?

Gather up everything I need. Wash my hands. Do some deep breathing and/or meditation if it's necessary. Dab a specific oil on if it's necessary. Make sure I have water nearby if I'm using fire.

84. What real life witch most inspires your practice?

No one specific, I just like following witchy blogs and instagrams and seeing what others are doing.

85. What is your favorite method of communicating with deity?

I don't do this anymore, but if I wanted to talk, I'd just light a candle I had set aside for them and just. Talk to them. If I wanted some kind of response or guidance, I'd use tarot cards, too.

86. How do you like to organize all your witchy items and ingredients?

What is 'organization'? My stuff is just anywhere it will fit. One of the reasons I want to clear out that room, so I can actually have some organization.

87. Do you have any witches in your family that you know of?

Nope.

88. How have you created your path? What is unique about it?

I couldn't really tell you, because I don't even know if it is unique. It probably isn't. I'm sure there are tons of other witches out there who do the same, or similar, things that I do. My goal isn't to be unique, it's to do whatever works.

89. Do you feel you have any natural gifts or affinities (premonitions, hearing spirits, etc.) that led you toward the craft? If so what are they?

I like to think I'm pretty good with tarot. I'm never going to be perfect, and I'll never be done learning, but I think I've gotten fairly good at it.

90. Do you believe you can initiate yourself or do you have to be initiated by another witch or coven?

I think this varies from tradition to tradition. Since I'm not part of any tradition at all, this does not apply to me.

91. When you first started out in your path what was the first thing or things you bought?

Nothing. I borrowed books from friends.

92. What is the most spiritual or magickal place you’ve been?

Wooded areas and lakes feel spiritual to me, as do some liminal spaces. There's also this place near my house called Five Points that is infamous around here for ghost activity.

93. What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who is searching for their matron and patron deities?

My advice is don't ask me for this kind of advice.

94. What techniques do you use to ‘get in the zone’ for meditation?

The deep breathing exercises they teach you to control anxiety is helpful, because it slows your heart rate and puts you at ease, even if you aren't having a panic attack. I also like to listen to certain instrumental music, or sometimes even certain ASMR videos. Depending on my mood, I might light candles or incense, too.

95. Did visualization come easily to you or did you have to practice at it?

It comes very easy to me. It has since I was a kid, because part of playing with friends was visualization. I'm also an artist, and I know not all artists do this but I usually see a drawing before I do it. So visualization is just second nature for me.

96. Do you prefer day or night? Why?

Night. Because my sleep schedule is fucked and I don't start feeling active until around 4 or 5 pm.

97. What do you think is the best time and place to do spell work?

Place is wherever you have everything you need and you're comfortable and safe. Time depends. I like to time my spells with certain days of the week and moon phases if possible. If you mean time of day, I prefer night, but again, that's because I'm not very active during the day.

98. How did you feel when you cast your first circle? Did you stumble or did it go smoothly?

I don't remember any of my 'firsts'.

99. Do you believe witchcraft gets easier with time and practice?

Ehh kinda. Not everything gets easier, but some things do. Like, you learn what works for you and what doesn't after trial and error. You start to remember correspondences without needing to look them up. Things like that get easier.

100. Do you believe in many gods or one God with many faces?

Many gods. All gods, actually. Even 'fictional' gods. Because I believe in all deities, and I believe in the multiverse theory.

101. Do you eat meat, eggs and dairy?

I don't eat red meat because of medical reasons. I have a hard time digesting it and it almost always makes me sick. I do eat other meats, like poultry and seafood, and I eat eggs and dairy. I am not a vegan. I don't think you have to be a vegan to be a witch. And I think militant vegans need to tone it the fuck down.

102. What is your favorite color and why?

Blues and purples. They're calming, pretty, and remind me of things from a past life.

103. What is the one question you get asked most by non-practitioners or non-pagans? How do you usually respond?

To be honest, most of my non-practicing friends don't ask me much. My partner asks me to do spells or them, that's about it. Or I get asked to do readings. Other than that, I don't get many questions.

104. Which of your five senses would you say is your strongest?

Either hearing or scent.

105. What is a pagan or witchcraft rule that you preach but don’t practice?

Protection, probably. I don't cast a circle or wards for every spell or ritual I do. I probably should use them more, but I just. Hardly do. I usually only do that if I'm going to be performing a curse.