#it’s similar to how I feel about Wiccan and my worry there

[sunflowerscottie]

I get why people want it, but I cannot express how much I, personally, do not want Wanda to come back at the end of Agatha All Along. I feel like it would overshadow everything else, and that just feels wrong.

[here-there-were-dragons]

have i ever mentioned in the past that she also thinks she's the direct reincarnation of some supposed chinese empress (literally her only reasoning for this is that said figure had a name that sounds vaguely similar to hers) and of some scottish warrior princess she insists she had a dream about being who sounds suspiciously like merida, and an actual fucking psychic that's being hunted by a secret government team of "remoters" and that the spirit of jolkien rolkien tolkien himself appeared in her dreams to give his blessing on her husband's fanfic, hit on her, and tell her all about his secret asian girlfriend (who allegedly looks suspiciously like her white ass, of course) that she is now absolutely convinced he definitely had in real life? none of these things are ever fleeting episodes either, there are 100% constant consistent core beliefs of hers.

idiot fucking mother still absolutely convinced she's the direct descendant of princess anastasia and the rightful ruler of all of fucking russia and that when shit inevitably hits the fan irrevocably here (because the supreme court just ruled the president is functionally a king without asking literally anybody and all and did it in a way that's from what i've heard effectively legally irreversible) we can go to switzerland to "claim the family money", god this stupid bitch is literally going to get us all killed chasing her stupid goddamned narcissistic delusions of the world LITERALLY revolving around her personally

[hyakinthou-naos]

Hello!

I want to apologise, if my ask would come as weird or inappropriate.

I saw you commenting on how always feeling presence and talking to your Gods is relatively recent Tumblr phenomena. So, my question goes, from your years of practice, what would you say appeared pretty recently and people should not worry that much?

Thank you for your answer, if you will.

Dear Anon,

Thank you for your question! I will admit that I am not 100% sure what you are asking - but I assume you are referencing this post where I talk about those who lie about deity communication on social media - and/or this post where I talk about Intuitive Insight

To answer your question and clarify my previous post - I do not think that individuals claiming to be in direct communication* to their Gods is a new phenomena.

I explore this more in the answers to my previous asks - but in this context "direct communication" refers to being able (or claiming to be able) to hear/see The Gods in the same way someone can hear/see another human.

Across cultures and religions, people have claimed for thousands of years to be in direct contact with deities. From the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, to the Prophet of the Mormon Religion. And even in Pagan circles - Wiccan Priests and Priestesses have claimed similar things since Wicca's creation in the 1940s/1950s.

I do think, however, that social media (especially TikTok) has made it easier for those who claim to be in direct communication with deities to be seen and heard by a wider audience. And it has also made it more rewarding - as the individuals who lie are able to receive the attention/fame/monetary incentive that they desire.

It's important to remember that those who are posting on TikTok/social media are not the majority of all religious/spiritual practitioners. They are just the practitioners you see the most due to their ability/desire to post on social media. There are many many many practitioners who have no interest in posting about their practice on social media - and I would venture to say that their beliefs and practices are very different than those we see on social media.

But, to address the latter part of your ask - below are a list of a few spiritual and religious concepts that I would warn new/newer practitioners against believing in:

1. Tulpas / Thoughtforms

I've seen a lot of TikToks and Instagram reels that talk about Tulpas. In these videos Tulpas are described as one of two things. The first is a thoughtform - a thoughtform is a "materialized being (...) typically in human form, that is created through spiritual practice and intense concentration" (wikipedia). The second description I see often, is that Tulpas are a type of trickster spirit or evil entity. Both of these are bastardizations of what the word Tulpa originally meant.

"The concept of Tulpas has origins in the Buddhist nirmāṇakāya, translated in Tibetan as sprul-pa (སྤྲུལ་པ་): the earthly bodies that a buddha manifests in order to teach those who have not attained nirvana." (wikipedia)

So if you see anyone trying to warn you against Tulpas - or attest to the reality of thoughtforms - be very wary as these concepts are relatively new and (in my opinion) completely made up as a scare tactic.

2. Twin Flames

Twin Flame is a term that can often be synonymous with the concept of a "soul mate". The two most common explanations that I have seen regarding Twin Flames are

1: Every person only has half of a soul/is only half of their true self - and there in one other person on the planet who has the other half of your soul/true self. You are meant to find this other person and marry them. 2: Every person has one perfect companion on Earth, and ONLY one perfect companion. Unless you meet and are married to your Twin Flame/Soul Mate you will never be happy or fulfilled.

This concept is not new, it's actually existed in one form or another since the first human religions were created. However - the idea of a Twin Flame / Soul Mate is incredibly toxic and unhealthy. Love, relationships, marriage - all of that is about consent, not destiny. Not to mention that these ideas completely erase/invalidate polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous relationships.

There is also the "Twin Flames Universe" which is an American cult that I would advise anyone and everyone to STAY AWAY FROM.

3. Feminine vs Masculine Energy

A lot of spiritual practices, both new and old, focus very heavily on the idea that gender/sex is a dichotomy. Even some seemingly "progressive" spiritual and religious groups claim that femininity and masculinity aren't tied to gender - but in reality most groups that focus heavily on this dichotomy are not as progressive and inclusive as they appear.

If you see anyone saying things along the lines of "feminine energy is nurturing, receiving energy" and/or "masculine energy is protecting, giving energy" - turn around and go the other way. These are just a repackaging of gender roles with some *woo woo* added in.

I hope that helped to answer your question and provide some additional context to my other asks - if Anon or anyone else has any other questions please don't hesitate to reach out!

Eirene, peace and farewell,

- Aön

[deanb1995echo]

Reading the Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Everyone is familiar with The Secret by Rhonda Bryne when it comes to the law of attraction. So far I have read pretty much all of them and am currently on her latest book "The secret to love, money and health".

Being on the spiritual path that I am on... I am familiar with our thoughts being strong enough to manifest what we need. Regardless, this was the book that I needed! It's a good reminder to be grateful for all the things in your life, things that you would normally bypass.

I have always seen the book in the local stores but never really thought to pick one up. It wasn't until my sister and I had a conversation about changing our lives to a more positive outcome. She suggested that I should give the book a go at reading. The funny thing is that she never read it herself but got told about how much it had changed other people's lives. ��

Around this time, we had recently lost our Mum and both of us were feeling very lost. Stricken with grief, I was up for doing anything that would uplift me. So I paid for a copy of the secret online and told my partner. My partner is on a somewhat similar path to me was very familiar with the secret and agreed that it would be something that would benefit me. I wasn't aware that the book was just based on a film that Rhonda made. While waiting for the book to arrive, I found the film available to stream.

Watching all those amazing people on the screen such as Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols and Bob Doyle (among many more) inspired me to look at what I am doing in my life and to make the changes that were needed to go forward. It allowed me to see in myself all the small things that I was actually very grateful for. I was once so involved with my grief and pain that I couldn't see anything else past it. By doing this, I was attracting more pain and more grief into my life. I decided to let go and process it in a more healthy way.

Being Wiccan and reading this book made me see my Mum's passing in a better light. I am grateful to have had the Mum that I did and to share all the amazing memories with her. Also from my Wiccan perspective, it meant that her passing was NOT the end but only another chapter for her and for me. Death is not the end but only another beginning, I am sure that one day I will see her again. For now, she lives in me and will always be a big part of me and that is something to be extremely proud of.

Reading books such as these create some type of awareness in us. Awareness of how strong our minds can be. Whatever feeling you are getting is being manifested by thoughts that you create, this sets out the foundation of how you make your day. If I am thinking about money and about how little of it I may have, it will set certain emotions of worry, doubt and anxiety. Being on this frequency, I have now set off other frequencies that will have to match. The next thing I know, I get an email telling me that my water bill is overdue. By bringing in this awareness, you can set your day with how you want it to be! Change the doom and gloom. Other than having the day that you would normally dread, bring in the more positive vibrations into your day. See the things that you are grateful for and FEEL IT! You will start to see the changes in your day-to-day life.  

I can appreciate Rhonda's second book "The Power" but it didn't give the same impact as her original. I do love how she brought out "The Magic" which is a one-month process of bringing the law of attraction into your life. This is something that I would fully recommend. Each day you will be doing something different and will give you a routine with it.

The next book that stood out for me was "The Greatest Secret". This was a whole new different level of what people should be bringing into their lives. Prior to reading this book, I had been watching other inspirational speakers online such as Dr Wayne Dyer and Sadhguru. These are two amazing people who speak a lot about being aware. Awareness that we are beyond our bodies but something more than this.

I say awareness a lot as it's the keyword that you need to understand reading this book. Being aware that everything that you see around you, including the people in and out of your life, is somewhat connected.   The life that we are currently living is just an experience that we take with us into the next. So when you think of it like this... it makes you wonder why are we all always taking on the worry and the stress when we shouldn't have to. Enjoy what you have! Let go of all the programming that has been on you while growing up.

After all, the TRUE SELF is not experiencing it... it's the body. The body is just a host to hold your true awareness. You might even call this your soul. This is just a small part of what the book teaches you, but it is something that I would recommend you read.

In conclusion, the law of attraction is a good starting point for people who are going through their awakening process. Please just bare in mind that the law of attraction is just a small part of what you will learn through your spiritual path. There is so much out there for you to learn, but bringing the law of attraction into your lives, it will make the process easier for you.  We all go through challenges in life because it is how we grow, it is also what we may attract into our lives. Rhonda's books and her film are a good starting point for you to become aware of the law of attraction and I would recommend them. The people who are involved also have their own books and videos out there for you to explore. I will be writing a small review of Rhonda's latest book, as soon as I have finished it.

[serpentstole]

Luciferian Challenge: Day 11

Do you believe in hell? What kind of place do you think it is?

I’d put down my belief in hell as a bit of a hand wobble and an dubiously confident “sure”. The ceremonial magic goes hand in hand with a belief in demons, given how often they pop up in those grimoires, and I suppose they have to live somewhere? And Dante’s Inferno has some fantastic imagery, to be sure. However, I don’t give a great deal of thought to hell and definitely don’t believe in the whole fire and brimstone punishing sinners for eternity sort of situation. 

As that’s another short n’ boring one, I’ve chosen this from the pile of bonus questions! There wasn’t really anything that was a similar topic so I just kind of grabbed one that didn’t look like it would go with anything else.

Do you call yourself a pagan? Do you call yourself “spiritual?”

I do sometimes call myself pagan, though it’s typically my way of being covert about my actual religious leanings. If you look like a bit of an esoteric weirdo, or you hang out with a bunch of wiccans and other neo-pagans, sometimes it’s just easier to say “yeah, I’m pagan” rather than explain that you’re a theistic luciferian with a side of Dionysus who has an animistic world view. Especially if I worry they’ll stop listening after that first one. 

I have sometimes joked to people that I feel too pagan for other Luciferians and Satanists, and two “satanic” for other pagans. I often worry about voicing my religious affinity within neo-pagan spaces… but especially Wiccan ones… due to how often they’ve had to repeat that they do not worship the devil, they have never worshiped the devil, and they do not even believe in Satan or Lucifer. Wiccans (and other modern witch types) have been striving to dodge the assumptions about Luciferians and theistic Satanists that the general public makes for so long that I genuinely worry I’d be seen as “giving them a bad name” or as some fringe edgy weirdo if I was open about it.

I will say though that this is my own fears and observations on how the topic of Satan or Lucifer is handled in those spaces, rather than something proven to me by a negative experience. For example, @tyetknot is completely lovely about my religious leanings, though he once accused me of dressing like I was trying to sell him a book on how to become a living god for 49.99. To this day I’m still recovering from that burn. 

Meanwhile, I think a lot of agnostics, Christian type folks, and even atheists are to the point where they have an easier time accepting the idea of someone being pagan than they do someone identifying as a Luciferian. This I do have some experience with, as my parents were fine (if not a little condescending) with my being a Wiccan, but showed some discomfort when the very idea of Satanism and Luciferianism was mentioned in passing during a conversation.

As far as identifying as “spiritual” goes, I kind of dislike that term. I don’t love the connotations it carries (as in the whole, “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual” thing). While I would absolutely believe that’s an accurate descriptor for some peoples’ beliefs, that phrase (or variations of it) always feels like it comes with this whiff of new agey shenanigans.

[littlesistersti]

This makes me happy. I am a Norse pagan of colour. I am Asian and grew up Buddhist, so I felt weirded out when I see internet content (mostly TikTok compilations on Youtube) on various pagan stuff based on what Americans and Europeans did back when they used horses instead of cars. As in, what's with all these plants? Why are they all Europe-native or North America-native? What about the plants Asian-native or more frequent in Asian kitchens like ginseng? My mom will give me ginseng candy and say it's good for my health or whatever and I just thought "is this a Chinese medicine thing or???"

Yes, I know I am not Chinese. Yes, I know the tiktok stuff is more Wiccan than Norse paganism so therefore, I should not be worrying about these things. Yes, I know a great deal of Norse pagan sites and blogs don't even follow whatever I saw in those videos.

The point is, I see this and I wonder that instead.

Also, I feel out of place when I don't even know what to search. "Asian pagan" would give me Asian Wiccans or (insert Asian religion here). Also the fact, you don't expect Norse paganism out of me. You look at me and think "based on your ethnicity, you gotta be either Buddhist or Catholic. Neither? Then agnostic or atheist." Yeah, erm.. I might be overthinking all this since nobody has told me that. yet??

Sorry for the giant text. Ignore the tags, don't know how to write if it's almost nonexistent.

It is a balancing act between Buddhism and paganism, despite the many similarities. I can offer food for both but it’s not common offer a neat rock you found or a plush fox for Buddhism?

Wow, look at all the rocks! Oh, what do they mean? I don’t know, tell me more. I only know jade and amethyst are lucky and recently got the name of agate and goldstone.

That’s not Buddhism, that’s just tradition. Wait, which is which?

Sorry for the infodump

Ps. by the time I post this, I'm super rusty on heathen practices and also- I still don't know how to pray in Buddhist temples but that's on me, I'm bye-lingual

Heathens of colour

It's comforting to see other Norse pagans of colour. Today I watched an Instagram live from a black woman who is asatru and studies norse mithology and folklore, and I unconsciously felt less dislocated.

It's easy to feel like you don't belong in certain practices when most of the practitioners are white.

[boys-from-santacarla]

If you’re still doing the matchups do you mind? -May Taurus born on Beltane

-Witchy af and I love to collect flowers and dead things

-I dress pretty grungy with ripped jeans, crop tops, and plaid shirts. Sometimes with converse, sometimes combat boots. I have a few punk jackets I’m putting together and my next one will be vampire themed.

-I’m a professional body piercer so I’ve got a decent amount of tattoos that I’m collecting all the time and some pretty obvious facial piercings. My ears are asymmetrical and I always have studs in 2/3 of my lobes and a dangly earring (coyote tooth today) in the last one.

-I never ever shut up. I even talk in my sleep, but temper wise I’m fairly chill until pushed too far. My ADHD makes a lot of things seem iMpOrTaNt so I’m kind of a spazz. Definitely more of a mom friend though and always watching out for my friends. Not big on drinking and I don’t smoke but I love hanging with my friends when I can. I’m also a very big on reading…I may or may not be encroaching on 500 books in my way-too-small-for-this-shit apartment.

-In terms of size/body type I’m plus size but I’m working on being ok with my body image.

-Music ranges from classical to heavy metal to swing music so I don’t have a set taste but I have a huge vinyl collection and a deep passion for 80’s music and late 70’s surprisingly (definitely a huge fan of Blue Öyster Cult, The Doors, Pink Floyd, etc).

SORRY THIS IS SO LONG F*CK MY BAD

Notes: It wasn't that long, don't worry, dude. Well, thank you so much for the request! I really hope this is ok. Give feedback to it if you want :)

Maybe not what one would expect, but I can see you going out with...

Michael

This is why

If you had met him before Santa Carla, he might have made fun of you for your "mumbo-jumbo crap", but his skepticism disappeared after meeting the boys, and grandpa has taught him and Sam about nature and a few old rituals from the place, so now he's more open-minded. He is not really what you would call a Wiccan expert, but he will share with you his interest in these things. Oh, and will definitely give you one or two stuffed animals or just weird paraphernalia from his grandpa, just for the love of being annoying.

He will give you some of his shirts if you happen to like them, too. He likes your style because it is similar to his' but better. See, this man just puts on whatever happens to be clean or at least decent to go out with. But he's still trying to look more punk and you are the perfect educator for this, so he will ask you to help him with that and with the leather jackets thing because he only has the one he used to impress the boys with.

After his first piercing, and after seeing you look all badass and cool with yours, he is desperate to get new ones. Will be around you almost begging to have you do his new piercings. If you oblige, you're gonna deal with a beaming, loving Michael for a whole week. He will like them so much he's gonna talk and brag about them with everyone, even random strangers because he can't stop the excitement. If he comes across some awesome rings or jewelry in general, he will buy a pair for you two to match together.

I'm not gonna lie, he never really felt attracted to plus-size women, but there is something about you that makes him look at you in awe.

At first, he was only attracted to your personality, but the more you two spent time together the more he wanted to be 24/7 talking and joking with you. Then, your tough-looking style contrasting your personality is practically what did it for him.

Let me just tell you that when he decided to flirt with you, you had to hear some awfully heinous pick-up lines.

If you are working on changing your appearance, he is going to be there for you to give you sweet words and motivation. He decided a long ago it didn't matter how you looked; you were perfect for him, but he is supportive.

There's no day he won't tell you your tattoos make you look hot.

Honestly enjoys passing his time with you. The incessant babbling keeping his brain working and all the shared laughs are special for him.

Michael does some weird shit from time to time, and is a total disaster for decision-making and taking care of himself, so you will have a boyfriend to cuddle with, and a 5-year-old boy to look after.

Gurl, you are going to be besties with Sam. Damn, you two can have such a fun time just messing around and irritating Mike. It is really fun when you three go out to play at the boardwalk or just stay at home playing monopoly or whatever you feel like doing.

He will be like Michael with the piercings thing because he wants to look as awesome as you and all the other cool weirdos in Santa Carla. He is even accepting to trade some of his best comic books for an ear-piercing.

Also, Lucy is going to be extremely loving and supportive of you guys. Oh my god, I can't imagine this and not smile. Mrs. Emerson is the best mother-in-law you are gonna have. Chitchatting with you about everything, helping if you and Mike fight (not crossing any lines of course), giving you girly advice, and just basically caring for you like family.

As for the music, the long conversations about those legendary riffs and bands, and the extrasensorial experiences listening to those 40-hour-long Pink Floyd solos are gonna be extremely entertaining and enjoyable with the Emersons. And I'm saying it in plural because you can discuss and lay back to listen to "Secret Treaties" either with Sam, or Michael, or both at the same time.

[anjalis-ennui]

Heyyyyy idk if u do matchups but if you do can I get a marvel matchup?🥺👉👈

I am 5’7”, cancer, Slytherin, ENTP, type 8, skinny body type (i got nothing😭) hecking pale, brown hair red highlights, hazel eyes that change color, chaotic, sassy, sarcastic, straight female, raging feminist. I am pretty social but love being alone to have time to myself for reading, writing, drawing, playing video games, and listening to music . Any kind of music basically. My flaws are my selfishness, stubbornness, being manipulative, and envy. My strengths are my intelligence, logical thinking, creativity, and humor I guess. I am Pagan/Wiccan and have an unhealthy obsession with collecting rocks (and reading fanfics but let’s not worry about that🥴) I’m Moldovan and Romanian is my first language. I get like either no sleep of sleep until noon. I have anxiety (most likely adhd and some kind of personality disorder but I’m not self-diagnosing.) I’m a pretty chill person but if you anger or provoke me the only advice I have is to run 🙂

This was hard to I can’t talk about myself easily😭

Hope u can do this and luv u!!!✨🦋💖

aww love i'm so glad you requested!! i hope you're having a good day!!

credits to @ironedit and @pastelog for the amazing edits!!

marvel ;;

your matchup is...pietro maximoff!!

pietro is your number one fanboy! he adores you and your hobbies and will spend time with you to learn things about paganism/wicca. he loves to listen to you speak moldovan or romanian and will often ask you to read him a story or sing him to sleep in those languages! pietro has similar flaws as you, so he understands how you feel when it may come to those. all in all, your love is like a warm fluffy blanket on a rainy day, comforting and beautiful.

© jades-tea-shop 2021. please do not modify, edit, copy or reproduce any of the works published.

[magpieslocket]

#writeyourwitchcraft

Inspired by this post, I wrote down my answers to these prompts in September 2019. Revisiting the list, I have rewritten my answers for January 2021.

The long long prompt list and answers follow under the cut.

What draws me to witchcraft?

Witchcraft draws me in as a tool of self-reflection and self-improvement.

How do I see the divine?

I see the divine as a human creation out of necessity. We seek patterns in a chaotic universe, and divinity is the thing beyond us that laces together disparate parts into a seamless whole.

What in witchcraft makes me happy?

Tea, oils, incense, and community.

Do I want to follow a path that has to do with a little nature, or a lot of nature?

A lot of nature. I believe we need nature in our lives, and the closer we can get to it, the healthier we are.

What areas of witchcraft would I like to learn more about?

Regional biodiversity, ethnobotany, divination outside of tarot, more about tarot, more traditional Americana regional styles of craft.

Where do my witchy talents lie?

Visualization and empathy.

What kind of deities, if any, do I want to honor?

I don’t currently work with any deities.

How do I believe magic works?

If it works, it works by sympathetic principles of energy flow and positive psychology. I think we manifest what we believe. I think we have the most powerful computer on the planet riding around on our shoulders, and magic is a way to program ourselves.

Simple or elaborate spells/rituals? Why?

As elaborate as is needed. I believe that some pageantry acts as a trigger in our brain to start recording, so to speak. By performing a ritual, we are telling ourselves we have power to affect the outcome of events. Some elaborate steps can help us believe it better, as we are so trained to see simplicity as ineffective.

What are my views on cursing/hexing?

I believe it is pointless, as it only increases the pain and hate in your own heart, and will seldom affect the target unless the target knows they have been cursed. On the other hand, I don’t believe in some “karmic” return of the reflection of the power used. I think it is fine for others, but I don’t seek it out. 

Do I want to practice something similar to my ancestors?

I am wary of Norse reconstructionist religion because so much is based on so little in the way of sources, so I have no idea how similar the practice is to what my Danish ancestors would have really known. In spite of this, I have always been drawn to Norse mythology and have Huginn tattooed behind my ear. I try to balance my own Norse leanings with some Americana / Appalachian tradition.

What are the basic morals and ethics I feel I should live by?

This is such a difficult question to boil down to a few sentences. I believe we are all human together, and as such, we must treat each other with dignity and respect. Not because of some reward for doing good, but because we wish to be treated with dignity and respect ourselves. 

What in nature am I drawn to; the ocean, animals, the trees, etc?

All of it.

Which (witchy) holidays, if any, would I like to celebrate and how?

I celebrate the Wiccan Wheel of the Year with friends because while none of us are Wiccan, we are all flavors of Pagan, and find the regular breaking of bread together fun.

How do I believe divination works?

Divination is self knowledge passed through the veil that obfuscates authorship. We project our gut feelings onto a medium made to soak up and amplify those feelings into readable patterns, then read those patterns without acknowledging our hand in making them.

Would I like to work with a group some of the time, all of the time or not at all?

Some of the time would be grand, Covid willing. I would love to find more like minded people to practice with.

Which aspects of witchcraft appeal to me most, which the least?

I love the trappings of witchcraft, and despise the gatekeeping, racism, and antisemitism that plague the community. The sense of community and the ceremony of witchcraft appeals to me in so many ways, but I find a lot of fault in the community at large for cultural appropriation of people it then fetishizes. 

What do I believe happens to us when we die?

I think we go dark, cease to be, and are mourned. I think our body returns to dust and our mind was only ever a flicker of light in the darkness in the first place.

How do I see mythological creatures?

I think most mythological creatures are based on hearsay of living or extinct animals, that knowledge passed down from ear to ear and from generation to generation, changing and becoming unrecognizable to its original form, like a strange game of Telephone.

When do I feel most magical?

I feel magical when I am in a flow state. When the rest of the world melts away and I can focus entirely on the task at hand.

How much is witchcraft woven into my daily life; is this too much, too little or just enough?

I feel that right now, it is just enough. I use visualization to boost my mood, my confidence, and my energy, and I use meditation to relax, soothe anxiety and depression, and be more mindful of my body. I use crystals and teas to affect change in my emotional states.

What kind of witch do I feel I am?

If I had to choose, Green Witch. I feel most connected with the energy of plants.

Which texts/quotes best describe my current path?

There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments. – Janet Kilburn Phillips

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. – Greek proverb

Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get. — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Do I like research and gathering info, or do I like things handed to me?

That is a loaded question and I don’t like it.

Which things about witchcraft worry or scare me?

I worry about becoming overly dependent on magical thinking and not taking the reins to my own life.

What is my favourite element?

No way to say.

How do I see gender (roles) in witchcraft?

Gender is not a binary experience, and gender roles in magic often feel like outdated trapping of a different time. I feel that society is catching up with the expression of gender being something varied and personal and that the witchcraft community is catching up too. I simply ignore anything that takes it upon itself to assign gender roles to magical correspondences. 

Am I interested more in magic, or spirituality?

I have had great talks with friends on the difference between the two. How do you define it? I think I prefer spirituality as a pattern grid that lays over life and gives meaning to senselessness.

Do I like to be told how to do things, or would I rather figure it out on my own?

That depends on the thing! I prefer to be told how to fix a car or not poison myself with homemade tea, but I like to figure out my own methods for programing my attitudes. 

What rules, if any, do I live by when it comes to witchcraft and magic?

I had a lot of trouble with this question. There are simple rules, like “don’t eat strange herbs without ample research” and there are complex rules, like “try not to appropriate closed cultures” - I think that like the ethics and morals question, it boils down to treating others how you’d like to be treated.

What do I gain from witchcraft and magic?

I gain a feeling of autonomy, to self-direct my own brain. 

Formal or informal rituals/spells? Why?

Informal, because who’s to say what is formalized. 

What subject do I love to study?

Oh everything. There isn’t a bad subject to study.

What is my favourite type of magic; candle, sympathetic, sigils, etc?

Sympathetic magic is one of my favorites, and sigils are a common topic of interest for me. 

What would my perfect witchy day be like?

What does this question mean? “April 25th — because it's not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket!”

Would I want to be dedicated/initiated?

Sure, if I trusted the people doing it.

Who do I honor (ex: deities, ancestors, myself, etc), and how do I, or would I like to, honor them?

I honor myself with mindful listening.

How do I create a sacred/witchy space?

I create the space by engaging with my five senses. Creating texture, scents, sights, and general ambiance to enrich my experience and captivate my senses. 

What do I believe is needed for a successful spell/ritual?

Intent and belief. 

Which cultures do I draw from in my witchcraft?

Norse, Hellenistic/Greek, American/Appalachian.

What is my learning style; books, websites, videos, more hands-on?

I’m still experimenting with content, but I think websites and hands-on.

What, if anything, in my mundane life influences my witchcraft?

Chronic depression and anxiety influence my witchcraft because they influence my energy levels and ability to engage with the experiences. 

What are my hobbies, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft?

My biggest hobbies are writing, drawing, and painting, and I use all three to explore my craft. I use writing to question and define, I use drawing to explore, and I use painting to honor.

Where do my non-witchy talents lie, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft?

Art is where most people would say my talent lies. I have used stormwater to add interesting energy to paintings, and would do so again in the future.

What would my dream witchy life look like? What steps can I take to work towards it?

My dream witchy life is running a combination gallery space and witchy store. Steps I can take would be to continue honing my craft (art and magic) and building the skills necessary to run a gallery space successfully.

What would my dream sacred space/witchy home look like? What steps can I take to work towards it?

Plants, plants, and more plants. Statues, paintings, and prints of powerful imagery. I am working on my gardening dreams, and my art dreams, so continue to do both of those things.

What symbols correspond with me; runes, animals, flowers, gemstones, etc?

Stags, deer, wolves, smokey quartz, rutilated quartz, snowflake obsidian, pothos.

Am I an open and proud witch, or do I (need to) hide my craft?

I am a very private person in real life. I don’t share my craft with anyone outside my direct family and close friends.

What are my favourite witchy items/tools; divination tool, ritual tool, décor, clothing, etc?

Tarot cards are my current obsession. Some of the magpied shiny bits that I have collected over the years, from sharks teeth to perfume bottles, make the list. 

What is holding me back in my craft?

Issues with mental health, physical health, and self-doubt.

What is my pre-spell/ritual routine?

Grounding myself to the Earth.

What are my ultimate witchy goals and how can I work towards them?

I’m not sure how to answer this. I guess, to be more mindful, to be more content, and to be more present. I am working with myself through therapy and ritual and setting small achievable goals to work towards those things. 

I implore @theodoravanyar and anyone else who takes the time to read this long slog of words to consider writing their own answers down for the new year. 

[petpluto]

I personally hate the season 6 magic arc, but I do think there are reasons to not go too fast too far with magic other than the addiction plot - spells can fizzle but they just as often… if not backfire then have unexpected consequences. I think the spell in Something Blue is a good indication of this. There is potential abuse in a Will Be Done spell, sure, but the *reason* to be cautious in casting it as the caster is the unexpected issues that arise. I don’t think Oz - or Giles - expected Willow to become addicted in the way the show eventually portrayed or that she would follow Giles’ steps and end up in a hedonistic magic circle. Just that her competence doesn’t mean a lack of consequence if something goes wrong, so progressing to the next level needs to be done carefully. And while Willow normally is careful and measured, she tends to forego those things in the pursuit of knowledge. She kept pieces of Ted, so this isn’t magic specific. Same thing with a lot of the Wiccan rules, which seem primarily focused on not messing with death (even aside from the ethical issues, those spells seem incredibly difficult and even more prone to unintended consequences) and not utilizing magic in selfish ways. And that one may be more of a Tara guideline, the difference between a good use of magic and a bad one.

I don’t see the gang not showing love and affection for Willow post overalls. There isn’t a pushback I can see from the gang for who she grows into, on anything but an occasional worry about her magical studies. And many of those fall to the wayside once Tara is introduced.

One of the issues is that we don’t know a lot of the rules of magic in the Buffyverse, so it’s harder to judge if Willow is battling against an ossified organization, or the very laws of natural magic itself. She accidentally rained out the gang’s beach day starting a fire, so my feeling is she is more constrained by magic itself than anything else. She can use magic for great things, but she needs to work within its flow, rather than try to bend it to hers. I think she learns that from the coven in England, and using the natural flow of magic is how she gets a rare flower to bloom in the English countryside.

As for Willow in high school, I think we have similar but slightly divergent readings. I don’t think she’s the most confident person. She had insecurities and flaws, and she is a wallflower. But she seems to operate well within her environment. She is confident in her abilities, and she knows who she is. She isn’t striving to be Cordelia’s friend. And she’ll cut herself down in front of someone who is, because that kind of attitude is usually the best defense when it comes to Cordelia types. She who she is in Willow’s Restless dream is the worst version of that Willow, and the worst interpretation of her Xander. It’s not unrealistic, but I think it says something about why she’s trying desperately to distance herself from that person. At some point, being a witch and being this person became a rejection of the nerdy high school girl, not a growth from that nerdy high school girl. There’s the universe where Willow worked on those insecurities she did have as a nerd, or forgave herself from having them as she went on to other things; instead, 19 year old Willow sees those things amplified. And it’s completely natural and it happens a lot, and I think it makes perfect sense for it to happen here.

Honestly I never thought that willow was overreacting about her breakup with Oz in Something Blue. What was the worst thing she did (aside from the spell)? Get a little tipsy? Lose a little focus? Everyone else seemed to just expect her to get over it with a snap of her fingers, is it so surprising then that that's what she tried to do? All her friends were sympathetic, but no one really took any time to just be there for Willow. And it was very clear that they were fed up with her "moping." I know her line "Everybody cares, but no one wants to be inconvenienced" was probably supposed to show her being petty and self-centered, but like, wasn't that exactly what it was?

[bnha-ra]

How would canon class 1A handle monsters? Or handle the monster version of themselves?

Woah! That was quick! It hasn’t even been 10 minutes! XD But I think I’d have a few ideas for this!

Okay, so, SN is for Supernatural and C is for Canon/Classic!

Here we go:

Aoyama

SN!Aoyama and C!Aoyama I feel wouldn’t really react to each other, SN!Aoyama would probably be a little cocky, I mean, “I can do magic, have the most fabulous wings and fly! And all you have is a pretty little naval beam? How cute~”

C!Aoyama Does really like his fairy self that much.

Ashido

SN!Ashido and C!Ashido probably find each other really cool! SN!Ashido is amazed by the acid that C!Ashida is able to create acid from her hands, C!Ashido is amazed about how SN!Ashido can perform magic and fly! SN!Ashido is also so small! So cute! C!Ashido introduces SN!Ashido to modern society while SN!Ashido talks about life in the forest.

Asui

SN!Asui and C!Asui find each other and their word’s amazing. While C!Asui is probably amazed by the fact that SN!Asui can perform magic and that she can shapeshift into different creatures! SN!Asui would be amazed by C!Asui’s reality Heroes? Villains? Humans are the only species? She finds it really interesting!

Iida

After getting over the fact that SN!Iida is a fucking horse, C!Iida will probably start to ask questions about SN!Iida’s world. What are the rules in their society, what their legal system is like, etc. (some questions that would confuse SN!Iida because what the fuck is a legal system) though, once C!Iida is calmed down, they both talk about each other’s world, SN!Iida probably explains the history between humans and monsters as well. (People in class probably try to persuade them to race each other)

Uraraka

C!Uraraka finds SN!Uraraka adorable! She’s so small and cute! She can do magic! She can fly! That’s so cool! All the while SNUraraka! is the same! C!Uraraka is big and cute! She has magic (They see Quirks as magic at first) too! She can fly just like SN!Uraraka can! But is a little confused about how C!Uraraka gets sick from her flying? Hasn’t she gotten used to it by now? 

Ojiro

Ummm, what? C!Ojiro is probably a little intimidated by SN!Ojiro, his tail makes him so much taller and it’s so long, really powerful, I mean, C!Ojiro’s tail is pretty strong too but SN!Ojiro’s tail is crazy strong! Though the intimidation eventually fades away and they’re friendly towards one another

Kaminari

“YOU HAVE MAGIC?!” “YOU CONTROL LIGHTNING!?” “What!? No! My Quirk is electrification! You know, like electricity?” “What’s electricity?” “Bro-”

Their two brain cells can’t handle this! They’ll self-destruct!

Nah, just kidding. They find each other pretty cool! SN!Kaminari thinks that C!Kaminari literally shooting lightning out of his body is amazing! C!Kaminari thinks that the fact that SN!Kaminari uses his magic through music is the coolest thing ever! Instant buddies!

Kirishima

C!Kirishima is also a little intimidated by SN!Kirishima at first. I mean, SN!Kirishima can turn into rock, breathe fire, fly, not to mention he’s a fucking dragon. I mean come on, how cool is that! However, he quickly gets over it when SN!Kirishima mentions that they want to become a forest guardian (sorry, left this part out!), C!Kirishima talks about his want to become a hero, they both bond over manliness.

Koda

C!Koda and SN!Koda bond over animals! C!Koda introduces SN!Koda to his bunny and SN!Koda talks about all the different animals that are in his universe to C!Koda. SN!Koda goes on to show what more he can do with his magic while C!Koda watches in awh!

Sato

I feel C!Sato gets a little nervous when SN!Sato mentions that he’s a werewolf because in modern society werewolf are depicted as humans that shift into huge, dangerous beats during full moons. Tough C!Sato calms down after SN!Sato explains that he’s fully aware in his wolf form and wouldn’t hurt anyone! C!Sato explains his sugar Quirk to SN!Sato then the change to the topic of cooking/baking and C!Sato shows him modern food and how to cook it.

Shouji

I think that C!Shouji would be in a mix of awe and nerves because while they’re similar in many ways SN!Shouji is literally a descendant of god-like beings that used to roam their (SN) world, C!Shouji just has a cool Quirk. SN!Shouji would probably ask a few questions about the modern world though and they have a discussion about their two realities

Jiro

C!Jiro would probably be a bit disappointed a first because she’d probably want to be something more edgy like a vampire or werewolf but when she sees SN!Jiro’s abilities first hand she’d quickly get over it. SN!Jiro would probably be interested about C!Jiro’s Quirk, ask questions about it, then C!Jiro would most likely introduce SN!Jiro to modern music and instruments.

Sero

I feel C!Sero would find it cool enough that there’s another version of him from another universe, I think he would be ecstatic that his counterpart is part spider! (I headcanon that C!Sero really likes arachnids!) SN!Sero would probably be interested in his tape, thinking it was webbing and would probably ask why it comes out of his elbows instead of his wrists (Yes I imagine when SN!Sero is in his human form his webbing comes out of his wrists like Spider-Man, leave me alone!) and why it looks like that. They’d probably go off into a conversation about their abilities as well.

Tokoyami

They chat about their mutual fondness about darkness and the arcane. SN!Tokoyami takes about his duties as a demi-deity while C!Tokoyami discusses heroism and his want to become on. SN!Tokoyami is intrigued by C!Dark Shadow while C!Tokoyami looks up at SN!Dark Shadow in awe. (Because that’s a big fucking dog)

Todoroki

They’re hesitant about one another a first, C!Todoroki thinks SN!Todoroki is merely a quirk user trying to trick him somehow while SN!Todoroki thinks it’s some spell-caster trying to trick him, or worse, one of his father’s henchmen trying to drag him back to the Lower Realm. The appearance of the others and their counterparts calm them both down though. They’ll be neutral about each other, but eventually, they’ll start to ask each other questions.

Hagakure

They’re both so excited! C!Hagakure finds SN!Hagakure’s powers are so cool! SN!Hagakure thinks the same about C!Hagakure’s Quirk! They both bond really quickly, C!Hagakure wants to show SN!Hagakure around their modern society and SN!Hagakure wants to show C!Hagakure the forest that she had grown up in! Oh, they both become so hyped!

Bakugo

Just a lot of shouting. Come on, it’s Bakugo we’re talking about. They’ll probably start a fight with each other too to see who’s stronger. That’s all, we all know how that’s gonna end.

It’s just fucking chaos.

Midoriya

They are both so excited! C!Midoirya shows his counterpart all of his hero journals and SN!Midoirya shows C!Midoirya all of his monster journals. They both gush about All Might and the differences between them, they probably compare Quirk and magic together, it’s an awesome experience for those two!

Mineta

Two outcomes: C!Mineta would probably mention how grotesque SN!Mineta is and then get chased by SN!Mineta with a club or they both bond over their disgusting perverse thoughts and tricks. Either way, ew.

Yaoyorozu

Probably instantly dive into a conversation about the differences and the similarities about their worlds, compare their lives and whatnot. They act neutral to each other but they’re both actually really excited, I mean, what an opportunity, meeting yourself from a different reality, it’s amazing! They also bond over their shared hate of Mineta. SN!Yaoyorozu shows her magic and C!Yaoyorozu shows her Quirk. SN!Yaoyorozu probably tries to teach C!Yaoyorozu how to use magic.

(Name)

As soon as they see each other’s its game over. C!(Name) is gonna explain memes to SN!(Name) and get her to learn a bunch of stupid shit while SN!(Name) is gonna teach C!(Name) all the pranks that they can perform using the nature around them. They introduce their own versions of Squishy, talk about their experiences with losing their parents, but it’s mostly gonna be the most chaotic meetup in existence. Seriously,

run while you still can.

Also, Class 1A handling just normal monsters? They should be okay as long as they are friendly! Most monsters are friendly! They’re just nervous around humans because humans aren’t really fond of their kind! Showing you trust a monster means that they have nothing to worry about! Although, not everyone monster is easy to get along with, some hold a grudge against humans because of huntsman, but their Quirks should keep them safe, as they are seen as magic, so they’ll just be mistaken for Wiccan or maybe a deity of some kind.

[angiethewitch]

hi angie! i've been really interested in witchcraft for a while now, esp in the context of connection to the earth + to other people's beliefs and emotions. i've tried to find a way to start getting into witchcraft so many times, but there's so much information out there, and so much to consider - secular or not? what kind of magic do i want to practice? what tools do i want to use? - that i get overwhelmed and end up backing out. any tips for a confused aspiring baby witch?

I feel that! even though I'm fairly experienced at this point I still get overwhelmed, especially when I'm in a slump and haven't practiced for a while.

my advice is go with your gut. so you've already said you like earth magic. you don't need to worry about deities or anything right now, if none of them call out to you, leave that be until you get the "call". think about what witchcraft means to you, and what you want out of it. writing it down or creating a vision board can be useful to manifest it. do you want power? peace? to help the earth? my reason for turning to witchcraft was that I was in a dark time and I discovered protection and peace spells. my first spell was a protection spell jar I think. I wanted to get some comfort from it.

you don't need to put a label on it. i didn't start calling myself a green witch until much later, i was simply a witch. and tools are certainly useful, but try not to worry about that. i started off as a wiccan and bought lots of tools I don't even use now. try not to get caught up in the rules and what you "should" have. your basic tools are you! tools are just conduits. however, I find crystals very helpful. your basic is quartz. I bought more as I developed my craft, mainly pertaining to the earth.

something that I found useful was sitting in front of a bunch of crystals I had and closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, and instinctively going for whatever crystal I felt was drawing me to it. you could try something similar? sit down, close your eyes, ask "do i need this?" and whatever answer you think, go with that. Trust your gut.

Once you've visualised what you want out of witchcraft, you can take the plunge. id usually say research more first but you've already done that. you could start with a protection jar, theyre nice and easy. honestly at this point all it is is just do it. dip your toe in the water and see how it feels. make like Nike and just do it!

basically:

visualise what you want from witchcraft, maybe meditate on it, write it down, draw it, whatever.

don't worry about labels right now, you don't need one, i didn't label myself until I found my footing

don't worry about tools, you don't necessarily need them, but basics in a witches toolkit is sage, thyme, rosemary, chamomile, lavender, and quartz.

just take the plunge. start with something simple and just do it.

I hope this helps, and of course if you wanna chat about anything else, feel free 🥰

Good luck!!

[kiki-wiccan]

Her eyes narrowed as she smirked at the younger woman upon hearing her mention the woods, “I mean, we really do not need to tell you, twice I have prevented your sure death. I can only imagine those telling you to stay out of the woods have had to save you from a similar fate as well. If you do not see the threat in the woods yourself now then there truly is no saving you..” The Alpha watched as she drank and pleased grin rested upon her drunken features as the wiccan spoke onward, tilting her head as Kiki mentioned not exactly being told the reason as to why she needed to avoid the woods. “You haven’t been told much because even we do not know what exactly it is we are dealing with dear. Plus there virtually is nothing you can do as of now beyond staying safe that would prove useful so you really do not need to know exactly what is going on. All you need to worry about right now is drinking and keeping me company while I am in the mood to tolerate it. As for me and Elidi, we’re great so far. She is, different that is for certain...” She seemed to drift into thought before she suddenly got this devious look in her eyes as she suddenly refocused on the wiccan. She had not forgotten how particular her and the vampire king’s behaviors were during the Pride party at the Veil and even though she was drunk, there was no escaping the she wolf’s memory, thus no escaping her questioning when she felt the need to do so, “How about you darling, surly there is someone who has caught your interest. Even if not in a romantic sense surly you are experiencing the town and all it has to offer”

“Don’t worry I don’t have a death wish so as much as I love the woods I’ll be staying out of them...until whatever is happening is sorted.” She raised a brow, at that moment she didn’t have any issue with just getting drunk and chatting with Tamryn. “No objections there....and that’s really good! I’m happy for you both it’s nice that Elidi was able to find love. She seems a lot more cheerful as of late as well.” As the question was turned to her she felt her body heat up, unknown if it was from the alcohol or from the fact Stan was the first person who came to mind. She silently took another gulp of alcohol before answering the alpha. “Yes sometime very special has caught my interest....” she takes another drink, already feeling the alcohol buzzing at her brain. “I love this town and everyone in it I’ve met so far!” A attempt at moving the subject along.

[reprobateubeg4]

“Some days I can't get out of my head

That's just the dark side of me”

https://open.spotify.com/track/14EgW52HVqnLHd30bgbPxg?si=QrBXedGOTbOFAc2Y67xAhA

[The room was dimly lit, candlelight flickered in its dark glow. Groans sounded out from Detective Dick as I tightened the wrist straps restraining him. “Kenzi…” his voice was a low plead as I raised the blindfold and reached to tie it over his eyes.]

You sure this is what you want? Cause if I get arrested for this shit Imma be pissed as fuck at you.

[“I told you, I’d sign a contract saying this is what I want.” I nodded. Seemed odd I didn’t have one handy but I brushed it off, impatience maybe? I rolled my shoulders and moved to the side of my bed and kneeled down to pull the antique box from beneath it. I opened it carefully with a key from my neck, revealing a silk and soft padded lining sections with carefully placed knives. Intricate in their various styles of my collection. All my favorites. Sharpened, shined, and hidden from sight for safety and kept secrets. I picked up the heirloom blade from my ancestors, red and black stones, the sharpest of all the blades in the box. I climbed over Detective Dick and straddled his hips. I brush the blade smoothly over his cheek, jaw, tracing his neck as he swallows. A dark smirk stretches over my features at the sense of fear he presents. I turned the knife so the edge glides over his flesh, cutting a thin slow slice down his chest. “Fuck… Kenzi..” my name escapes his lips in a painful hiss. I swipe the next cut in a quick slash in diagonal streak over his right pectoral. His hip bucks sending me forward which only gives me leverage to lock my legs beneath him to lock me in a tighter hold over him. I give another cut, deeper than the first and slower than the last swipe. “Kenzi, stop! Please! I can’t.. take it..” His voice was muffled. When did my hand get over his mouth? My hand clamped tighter has he squirmed beneath me. My knife wielding hand kept slicing and slashing away, carving my name and truths of his lies into his chest until the squirming stopped and I was covered in his blood. I leaned forward to peel off the blindfold. I was met with restraint, snap and roll and was pinned. The sound of the knife clinking to the floor with a loud thud and snapping of teeth. When the dim light flashed bright enough, Cricket's features showed with a wide mouth ready and open.~~~~I jumped out and off the bed and slammed into the light switch across the room. I swung the baseball bat from behind the door and moved around the door as if I wasn’t the only one around the room. I clearly was.]

Fuck, I really am losing my shit. This quarantine bullshit is really getting to me.

[I set the baseball bat aside. I moved to the bed and felt around for the antique box.]

Definitely a dream. He’s not here, she’s not here and My knives aren’t even here. Wait… my knives aren’t here… THE FUCK ARE MY KNIVES?!!

[I flipped the covers up and searched under the bed. Nothing. Flipped boxes and clothes from the closet. Nothing. Bathroom. Nothing. Living room and kitchen were empty too. I slipped on clothes quickly and grabbed my knife spring boots to slip them on and lace up and checked them with a stomp check. I grabbed my keys and headed to the car. It didn’t matter that it was 3 am. If Detective Dick took my shit he was in for the worst wake up call. And if he didn’t then It'd be a trip to Roma to find out what she’d done. I reached the door and as soon as I opened it there he was, fucking Detective Dick.]

Are you fucking serious? What are you doing? Are you stalking me?

[“No, Kenzi, I came to tell you…” I pushed past him and didn’t stop as I ran to the car and peeled out of the garage. It didn’t matter what he had to tell me. A sudden sense of going to see Roma hit and I headed out. When I pulled up to the gates, they were busted open. Cop cars surrounded her driveway way and I parked the car before I jumped out and took off into a run.]

AUNT ROMA!!

[I pushed and climbed through a crowd of officers and ducked under the yellow tape and was blocked by a detective I didn’t recognize. “Can I help you?” I tried to get past him but he wasn’t budging and it didn’t help that Dick walked up behind to help him.]

My aunt lives here, is she okay? What happened? What’s going on?

[“That's what I was coming to tell you, this is Detective Ramirez. He’s the homicide detective on this case.” I could hear the shakiness in Dick’s voice as he tried to figure out the best way to break the news to me. Professional? Personal? How do you break that kind of news? My stomach pitted. I gripped my chest and took a deep breath as I fell back against him and fell to my knees.]

Homicide? That means? Oh my god… I can’t… breathe

[When the coroner walked through my eyes filled with water and watched his every move as best I could as he disappeared into her office room. “Your aunt, there’s a lot of occult items in the home, is she into all that magic stuff.” I rolled my eyes.]

Family of Romani gypsies. She’s—was a medium. She—was a Wiccan practitioner and a heavy believer in as you call “magic stuff” so please be respectful with her stuff, you might release a demon or some negative spirit if you bump into the wrong thing or break something.

[“Right. So is she a fortune teller? Like a customer paid psychic type.” I nodded.]

Not like old carny style but yeah she started at the local fair, built a client base and when the big money players wanted in she became a “personal consultant” and left out the psychic part. She keeps a schedule book in that room.. I can’t explain where it’s a feel around kind of thing.. I would need to be in there to get it.

[The detective shook his head. Dick to his opening though. “Might be the only way. If she has the best way to get a lead..” when the coroner came out with the gurney and black bag he pointed “what’s the hesitation?” The detective “Just.. be careful” I slowly moved and caught a glimpse of the cuts and slashes over her chest. Similar to my dream.. I started to freak out until I heard the whisper. I looked over to see her ghost shake her head. I moved to the office and felt around for the prick to my finger and the drawer popped free. I pulled my finger to my mouth. “What’d you do?”]

It’s a blood code. It’s a setup that only opens to family. It’s open. I didn’t touch anything else. Just popped the drawers for you. I need some air.. I’m gonna set outside for a bit..

[I climbed over the desk and moved to where I saw Roma’s ghost and stepped to the back door. “I’m sorry if I worried you, dear” the chilly whisper sent goosebumps over my skin. “I just needed to reach out for your attention, I picked one of your guilty nightmares.” I shook my head, embarrassed that Cricket could be considered that when I’ve worked so hard to convince myself I wasn’t scared of her.]

Who did this? And why? And where are my knives?

[“All those questions have related answers.” I looked over at her. “Find the answer to one you’ll find the answer to the other two.” An eyebrow raised. Aunt Roma’s hand raised and pressed against my cheek as tears rolled down my cheek. “Love you. Embrace who you are and it’ll lead you to the answers you seek.” ]

Wait.. Aunt Roma..

[Before I could say anything she vanished into the moonlight. I wiped my cheek and searched my pockets for cigarettes. I managed to find one and patted everything for a lighter and was met with a flicked flame by Detective Dick. I sucked in the toxic breath and blew out a slow bellow of smoke.]

How long til I can do her funeral? And claim her stuff?

[“Depends. They’re going to take everything from the desk, dust everything down. Probably send another crew in for another dust over. Couple days a week or two?” I nodded and took another few silent hits of the cigarette before dropping and stomping out the cigarette.]

What about her dog?

[“Her what?” Detective Dick looked at me confused as I started out into the woods towards the dark barn house.]

Monster! Vino!

[A Black Great Dane came bounding out through the trees, barely seen, only outlines in the light. I snapped my fingers beside me and shouted.]

Sta! Băiat bun!

[I bent down to kiss his nose and scratch his ears. “What are you saying?” I stood up but kept my hand moving over the top of his head.]

Romanian. She taught him commands in Romanian so if he was close when someone was near she could speak and they wouldn’t know what was being said. Which tells me this attack wasn’t planned. They must’ve had an amulet to black intentions or it was too late to change it? I-I don’t know..

[“Hey, don’t do that to yourself..” when Detective Dick took a step towards me Monster growled and adjusted to an attack stance. “Woah, okay..” when Dick backed Monster relaxed again. “Seems you’ll be protected tonight”]

Yeah, but my place is not big enough for this big boy. Not for long. I’ll have to bring him back here whenever they're done grabbing everything they need.

[I snapped my fingers and walked to the front of the house to get in my car and let Monster climb in ahead of me. I backed out of the driveway with a deep breath and felt a wet tongue over my face.]

Thanks dude… that’s not what I was thinking I needed but I’ll take it.

[blackcat-in-the-rain]

Writing your Craft

going through the list created by @baduhennasraven

1.   What draws me to witchcraft?

I’ve honestly always been drawn to it, even before I knew the word for it.  It just always made sense to me from a very young age.

2.   How do I see the divine?

I believe that there are many spirits, energies, Gods, and Goddesses in the world.  People have connections to them, and often it’s to one particular or more that are their patron Deities. 

3.   What in witchcraft makes me happy?

When I’m able to help others by giving them a spell or by knowing. 

4.   Do I want to follow a path that has to do with a little nature, or a lot of nature?

I follow a path that has a good deal to do with nature.

5.    What areas of witchcraft would I like to learn more about?

I’m not very good at knowing plants and their properties

6.    Where do my witchy talents lie?

My talents lie more in things I don’t have any control over like reading minds and just knowing things.  But i’m also good with spirit sensing and divination

7.    What kind of deities, if any, do I want to honor?

My patron Goddess is the Morrighan

8.    How do I believe magic works?

Through will and energies, everything is connected by threads and with the right energies you can manipulate them or read them.

9.    Simple or elaborate spells/rituals? Why?

Depends on the reason.  Though sometimes the more simple spells can cost the most energy (says the Witch who fell asleep during her last ritual because she asked for a vision).  Really, whatever it takes to get your energies up and flowing and working for you.

10.  What are my views on cursing/hexing?

Do it.

11.   Do I want to practice something similar to my ancestors?

I don’t know what they practiced... but I do want to talk to my Grandma before her memory goes anymore.  She often used to talk about how she and I were sensitive, but I was never given the opportunity to look into what she means by that. 

12.   What are the basic morals and ethics I feel I should live by?

The world is harsh enough, I can be a gentle force within.  However I also believe in “don’t fuck with the Witch” mentality.

13.   What in nature am I drawn to; the ocean, animals, the trees, etc?

Rain, the moon, stones, animals, rivers, shadows, and fire. 

14.   Which (witchy) holidays, if any, would I like to celebrate and how?

I want to celebrate more of them

15.   How do I believe divination works?

It’s like a spider web, I am currently reading your current path (tarot cards).  If we want to discuss changes I need to pull out my oracle cards though as those are the only ones that I can get to talk about different possibilities. 

16.   Would I like to work with a group some of the time, all of the time or not at all?

I suppose this leads me to my insecurities.  I enjoy working with groups even though they make me second guess myself on some things. So most of the time I like working by myself in the dead of the night like I used to growing up. 

17.   Which aspects of witchcraft appeal to me most, which the least?

The most: controlling myself and the weird things I have done.  The least?  Memorizing certain plants and their properties and which ones combined together is a no go.

18.   What do I believe happens to us when we die?

I think that depends on which Deities you’re attached to.  If you’re attached to someone like the Abrahamic God then you have the heaven hell debate.  However I believe I’ll be going through reincarnation.

19.   How do I see mythological creatures?

Some of them are cryptids that we just haven’t found yet.  Some of them are energies and spirits.  

20.   When do I feel most magical?

When I’m walking barefoot in the rain feeling everything around me as the rain soaks into my clothes and weighs it down.

There’s one memory that I have where I was dancing in the rain in the trailer park when I was 11.  I had skipped into my prettiest dress and went twirling in it, and just singing into the wind and feeling the electric pressure of the storm.  Only to suddenly stop.  Make eye contact with a black cat and was watching me.  Upon seeing me looking at it, the cat got up and slowly crossed the road with me watching and then disappeared into the shadows going into the backyard of our trailer home.  That is a moment in my mind filled with magick. 

21.   How much is witchcraft woven into my daily life; is this too much, too little or just enough?

I think it’s too little.  I don’t really have a daily devotion as I’d like.  I have an emergency witch kit in my car, but it is in need of updating and replenishing.  

22.   What kind of witch do I feel I am?

I don’t know... probably closer to a HedgeWitch.  A little urban, a little thrift, a little nature based.  I’m trying to go through traditional training and they want me to focus on Divination.

23.   Which texts/quotes best describe my current path?

I honestly can’t think of any.

24.   Do I like research and gathering info, or do I like things handed to me?

I mean... who doesn’t like things being handed to them?  But I think I like something in the middle, I like researching and drawing my own conclusions, but often I have trouble finding resources to go through.  I have a strange problem where I’ll try and try to search for something and then someone else searches it with me right there.  Same words.  And NOW the item in question pulls up for them.  I think it has to do with my initials being EMP by birth and I have had many instances where I lived up to it. 

25.   Which things about witchcraft worry or scare me?

Not being ready in the case of emergency.  I’ve been a Witch for 25 years and I feel woefully unprepared should there be demon activity. 

26.   What is my favourite element?

Water is probably my favorite element, despite my fear of big bodies of water and the times I’ve almost drowned.

27.   How do I see gender (roles) in witchcraft?

Meh.  What gender roles.  I see them more in the lines of defense and offense.  Archetypes!  The Healer, the Fighter, the Seer, the Thief, etc.

28.   Am I interested more in magic, or spirituality?

To me they’re more or less the same thing.  I need to know more about the Morrighan for my spirituality, but I have many gaps in my knowledge of magick as well. 

29.   Do I like to be told how to do things, or would I rather figure it out on my own?

For science!  Magickal science.  Figure things out and let things blow up in my face so I get a feel for what should be handled how. 

30.   What rules, if any, do I live by when it comes to witchcraft and magic?

Don’t ask if you’re not ready for the consequences.

31.   What do I gain from witchcraft and magic?

Feeling more in touch with myself.

32.   Formal or informal rituals/spells? Why?

Depends on the occasion.  I go very formal for Coven rituals/spells because then it’s uniform between all of us.  I go informal for stuff by myself because it’s how I feel my relationship with the spirits are. 

33.   What subject do I love to study?

Silly as it is, I love creatures.  Cryptids, spirits, mythological creatures.  All the legends and the stories. 

34.   What is my favourite type of magic; candle, sympathetic, sigils, etc?

Color magic is my favorite fall back.  That way I can see how I’m feeling and work some magic into the cloth of what I’m wearing that day.  Not feeling good?  Pulling out the grey for some invisibility magick. 

35.   What would my perfect witchy day be like?

Waking up to it raining, eating breakfast and drinking a warm drink while watching it fall with my kitties curled up next to me.  Going to run some errands and help a few strangers along the way.  Go for a walk late at night and feel the lingering thrum of the storm and smell the richness that is left behind, kind of exposing the wounds of my environment so I can experience it’s health for myself.  Then curl up with the kitties eating something tasty while watching some Witchy media.  

36.   Would I want to be dedicated/initiated?

Have been.  Honestly it’s not all that, but I do like my Coven members. 

37.   Who do I honor (ex: deities, ancestors, myself, etc), and how do I, or would I like to, honor them?

I really want to get some kind of daily devotion going for the Morrighan.  But I also should get a self care ritual going so I can start the healing process and mending my spirit and physical self. 

38.   How do I create a sacred/witchy space?

I sing.  I harmonize with the energies and I bless the space. 

39.   What do I believe is needed for a succesful spell/ritual?

Intent.  Enough tools that you feel confident with.  Doubt is the best way to hinder yourself and curse your work.

40.   Which cultures do I draw from in my witchcraft?

I don’t know.  I just work the neopagan wiccan stuff I’ve read with what I was doing before I could read.  

41.   What is my learning style; books, websites, videos, more hands-on?

Hands on, video, books, but honestly if you could give me it in story form it will never be forgotten.  Maybe that’s one of the reasons I wish there was more Witchy memoirs out there.

42.   What, if anything, in my mundane life influences my witchcraft?

Everything probably.  The pain and wear and tear on my body makes it hard to do everything I want to do.

43.   What are my hobbys, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft?

I like to write, I like to craft things, learn new crafts.  I’ve already incorporated them a bit, though I would like to do more Witch writing. 

44.   Where do my non-witchy talents lie, how do I (or can I) incorporate them in my witchcraft?

I am good at writing, so I can use that to create more Witch media that I want?  I cannot incorporate my perler beading due to the plastic and how easily they melt.  I’ve already incorporated my singing, even though I don’t particularly think of it as a talent.

45.   What would my dream witchy life look like? What steps can I take to work towards it?

I first need to konmari my place to help the flow of energies.  Learn more about different aspects that I’m lacking.  Get my anxiety under control and handle my emotional healing that needs to take place so I can better help others.  Address my caffeine and sugar addiction so that tea is enough and I don’t need all these creams and sugars in my coffee.  

I would love to one day be the lady that people came to more when they need help. 

46.   What would my dream sacred space/witchy home look like? What steps can I take to work towards it?

I guess that’s not too far from the one above.  I just want the energy to flow better, more comfy pillows and plants. 

47.   What symbols correspond with me; runes, animals, flowers, gemstones, etc?

Not sure if i feel comfortable sharing all that lol

48.   Am I an open and proud witch, or do I (need to) hide my craft?

I’m usually a very proud and open Witch, though I have to hide it at work since I’m now at a very religious school that probably wouldn’t take too kindly to this.  I spent most of my life having to hide it so I’m not terribly keen on having to do it all again.

49.   What are my favourite witchy items/tools; divination tool, ritual tool, décor, clothing, etc?

I actually need to replace my very witchy hoody lol.  It had sigils on the inside and was huge and comfy and would help make me feel comfortable enough to focus on my craft.

50.   What is holding me back in my craft?

Insecurities really.  Worried about people judging me, when I know that shouldn’t matter to me.  I was in an online coven once and it turned into a cult and really did a number on my self esteem.

51.   What is my pre-spell/ritual routine?

A walk or a drive to get my energies flowing and amped up.

52.   What are my ultimate witchy goals and how can I work towards them?

I want to be someone others can come to.  So I need to make a list of things that I’m not knowledgeable on and start working towards them.  Of which I already have an extensive list created for what I consider would be my ultimate grimoire so I could just work on filling that out as it would also help fill in my gaps of knowledge.  

Also to be more helpful to others I first need to heal and work on myself.  So a ritual set up to address my self esteem and physical ailments would be ideal.  

I also need to get used to offering what I know instead of waiting for those rare moments someone is drawn to me and asks for help not knowing if I can help them or not.

[crystaloccult]

How To Formulate A Ritual

Disclaimer: This is UPG just from experience and upbringing. Though my background is eclectic with Wiccan foundings, I would still advise to give this a read to see if it benefits you! This layout can be done for coven working, a big group ritual or solitary should you see fit.

Formulating a ritual is much like writing an outline for a public speech. In order to have an effective ritual, you must have the following planned out (or at least thought about) beforehand to ensure a smooth delivery. What you need to determine are the following:

- Purpose - Supplies - Congregants - Time & Place

Purpose: The most important part of formulating a ritual is the whole purpose of it. Are you here celebrating a sabbatt or doing a type of large energy work? See if you can accomplish your goal as a spell before resulting in a ritual (there’s nothing wrong with doing a ritual instead of a spell, should you feel the need to. I just know spells are a lot less work from my own UPG). Examples: Ostara, Samhain, Fertility, Prosperity, Banishment, etc. Knowing the purpose of the ritual will help you with every other part of planning it.

Supplies: Think of all the supplies you need to bring with you in order to conduct the ritual. You typically need the following: - Athame / Wand - Representation of the Quarters / Elements - Representation of the Deity / Deities - Cakes & Ale - Candles & Lighter / Matches - Table to Hold Altar - Altar Decor Keep in mind if you’re doing something unique for the ritual that you will need to add (and possibly remove) from the mentioned list above. It’s important to know what you’re bringing and make a list, that way you’re assured you will not forget anything.

Congregants: Are you doing a solitary ritual? Then you don’t have to worry about this as much. If this is for a group of people, a coven, or a large event such as a pagan pride, then the number of congregants will be play a role. - Are you catering to a small group of people (such as 2-10), an average size group (such as 11-29) or a large group (such as 30+)? - How well do you know these people? Is it your own coven, your close friends, a random group of people or a mixture of the mentioned? - Are there people who are willing to take on roles for you (such as: Priest/ess, Altar Attendant, Gate Keeper, space prep, quarter calls, etc.)? - Are congregants experienced in ritual or are they newcomers?

Knowing things such as those mentioned above will help you in planning the ritual. In my UPG, the more you know your audience, the more authentic you can plan for it. Please keep in mind that not everyone who says they will be there or who says they will help you in ritual will end up doing it. It’s important to remember to go with the flow and not to panic.

Time & Place: Are you performing the ritual at your hose or someone else’s? Will it be at a public park? Know the area you’re working with. If it’s at your house, make sure to keep up with house care rules and aid those whose house your doing a ritual in. If the work is inside, make sure the area is clear of clutter and if it’s outside, make sure it’s clear of clutter and animal poop! If conducting a ritual at a park, keep in mind that you might need permission to do so beforehand. Each park laws are dependent upon the state your in, so make sure to check with those before the ritual. Also, keep in mind what kind of area you’re in. Some areas are more tolerable then others in terms of paganism. Keep yourselves safe!

Picking a date and time can seem not like a huge thing but you’ll find that some days just work better with your group then others. Is your group more available during the week or during the weekend? Are nights easier then days? Look at the astrology for the day to see what type of energy you’re working with.

Basic Outline: When writing up the ritual, I usually stick with an outline similar to the one listed below. Feel free to edit it and change it to what works best with you and your group. - Supply Checklist - Instructions Before Ritual - Cut Circle & Altar Activation - Quarter Calls - Deity Calls - Ritual - Cakes & Ale - Deity Dismissal - Quarter Dismissal - Circle Opening - Grounding

You may change the order if it fits your needs better. Remember, it is YOUR ritual!

Things To Remember: - Ritual does not always go as you planned it. Do not dwell on that fact. Go with the flow, you’ll feel much better. (and this one is the hardest one for me, because I like to be in control) - If you forget something, make sure you have back ups. ( i.e., extra candles, lighters, people helping out, etc.) - Use what you have. (it does not need to be expensive) - Memorize if you’re able to (there’s nothing wrong with having the ritual in front of you, but my UPG always shows that memorization makes a more powerful ritual since you’re able to focus more on the magic then the lines) - Let go and enjoy the *magic*

Key Words Mentioned: Priest / Priestess: person(s) who are leading the ritual Altar Attendant: person who helps with altar specifics such as lighting candles, setting up and putting away the altar and decor Gate Keeper: person who is able to cut the magical space due to emergencies or late comers Space Prep: person who is able to cleanse space and prepare it for ritual (or other activities) Quarter Calls: person(s) who are calling in the elements / watchtowers. Cakes & Ale: food and drink that are offered to deities and congregants of circle. Circle Cutting: cutting the circle separates the magical space from the mundane. Usually performed by the Priest with an athame. Altar Activation: person (usually Priestess) activates the altar for magical workings. This is done with using specific pentagrams above the altar depending upon the ritual. Grounding: sending the energy back to Earth or where it came from

And that is that witches! Let me know of any questions :)