#just trying to expand my options regarding witchcraft

[orangepunkwitch-blog]

With encouragement from Loki, I’m going to (hopefully) learn how to speak, read, and write Serbian both in the Latin alphabet and the Cyrillic alphabet.  If I can become very fluent in it, I might be able to do a grimoire in Cyrillic.

For those of you who don’t know: 50% of my blood is Serbian from my dad’s side of the family, and ever since I was younger, I’ve always been interested in learning the language that my grandparents spoke.  Unfortunately, they passed away before I gained enough interest to want to learn it (my baba passed away when I was in 4th grade, my deda passed away when I was in 7th grade), and my tetta (aunt; dad’s sister) knew some of it, but was actually too busy to be able to really take the time to teach me, and has passed away this past December.

Now, I have other family members that know the language, but some that immediately spring to mind are rather condescending people.  My dad’s cousin might know some of the language, but I’ll mainly be going to her for some recipes (bakala involves salted cod and potatoes and takes two days to make BUT OMGS IT’S SO GOOOOOD!  I’ll share the recipe here if she can write it down for me so I can share it with you guys!).  

So I have a book from the Teach Yourself series of beginner’s level of Serbian that I bought a few years ago, but didn’t get a chance to get around to it.  I plan to busy myself this summer, and this can be one of the things I busy myself with.  On top of that, when I used to be almost obsessed with Rammstein back in high school, I used to look up the lyrics both in German and English, and that’s how I picked up a teensy bit of German.  So with some Serbian bands that I’ve audio-ripped from YouTube (because I cannot for the life of me find any CDs or downloads of some of these bands), I hope to do the same.

Another reason why I’d like to learn it is because there’s the teensy, tiny possibility that when I’m a paleontologist, because I know the language, there could be a possible future excavation in Serbia, and I’d like to take that opportunity to not only be helpful due to knowing the language, but I’d be able to travel and meet some family there, too.  (Mostly cousins... and cousins and cousins and cousins...  And met only one of them once when my deda passed.)

The unfortunate thing about Serbia is that fascism and nationalism is kind of running amok over there among the civilians, and human rights regarding LGBTQ people and many more are... not very good.  I don’t know all the details, but I know things aren’t entirely too well in the country when it comes to certain topics.  The fascist part is what pisses me off the most.  I also heard there are Slavic white supremacists popping up (there’s a name for the Pagan movement or reinvention or something called “Rodnovery” that apparently has drawn in some Slavic white supremacists), though not sure if in Serbia or not, and the fact that there could be just pisses me off even more.  We should be past that shit, but we’re not.  So if you’re a person of color, a Muslim, a member of the LGBTQ community, etc., please be careful!  

I did however learn something about how Pagan their xtian orthodox practices are!  There’s like, a million fucking saints.  Some are real dudes, but the others are old Slavic gods that became saints, and the practices of celebrating these saints (also known as slavas) derives from Pagan roots.  And I kinda find that funny.  There’s a saint idol or something my dad buried in the front yard years ago to help sell this house, but obviously it hasn’t worked, plus NOTHING WILL GROW WHERE THAT SAINT HAS BEEN BURIED.  I wonder if the saint is actually an old Slavic god that’s going, “Uh-uh, not so fast...”  Loki, however, told me that the four gods I follow (him, Bastet, Thoth, and Cernunnos) are all I’m going to follow, and to not worry about the Slavic gods, yet learn more about my heritage.

So, why learn more about my heritage?  Well, I’d like to be able to take some of that and put it into my witchcraft so I’m not borrowing from so many other practices, especially from people who are being actively oppressed.  Yeah, white sage helps cleanse and whatnot, but so much of magick and witchcraft and whatnot I’ve seen come from the Native Americans and the Romani.  I don’t want my work to consist largely of that knowing that these oppressed peoples are denied their right to practice their personal/spiritual beliefs.  So kudos to those who make stuff up as they go along and share it online without it being anchored to one culture, because that’s what I’ve largely been paying attention to.  I’d also like to do incantations in Serbian (unsure about invoking Loki, I’ll have a talk with him about that) because I feel, for some reason, silly doing it in English sometimes.  I guess I can blame films and stuff like that on why I feel that way.

If I can afford a kiln next year (three fucking grand for the one that I want, holy shit, how much is one of my goddamn organs or limbs), I’d like to make statues of Loki and such, largely to sell online so that Lokeans get some decent idols for him instead of the common Loki-with-horns look I keep seeing.  But I’m going to ask Loki if he’d like me to make a Slavic (i.e. Serbian) name for him and carve it into a future statue for his altar.  It’s just a thought, of course.  I’ll most likely still call him Loki aloud, though, lol.

Just thought I’d publicly share my thoughts about another language that I don’t even know how the sentence construction works for that I plan to learn soon, mostly for Pagan reasons.  I can just imagine people of the future finding my Cyrillic grimoire and making a big fuss about it, lmao.

[witchcraftingboop]

Seek The Elements: Earth Example

When it comes to earth, there are plenty of spirits to seek communion with. The easiest, in regards to accessibility, are houseplants, trees, and (based on my region) mountains. Crystals I consider less normative, because not everyone has or can afford to have them. Therefore, this is not included on the list. Everyone has grass; we can and should go out and touch the grass.

Rather than seek to hold a cup of dirt in one hand and try to perceive the energy of the earth through that, though it may be an option, I find it much more impactful to seek guidance and knowledge from the land spirits themselves. For my more necromantic practitioners, this has reminded me that, if you are able, bringing cemetery dirt back from the grave of a loved one or relative is both a terrific opportunity/resource and addition to their place on your ancestor altar.

From my experience, I can say that approaching a tree and projecting a ball of energy at it would not do much for me. Calling on the Watcher of a given direction and building up their vessel to house an elemental egregore, however, is something I have done, and it worked wonders. Similarly, I have befriended genii locorum and learned much through their tutelage about the natural resources to be found on and around my hometown's mountain.

In an effort not to take this too many steps ahead, I propose a simple, easy way to begin building your alignment and awareness towards the element of earth.

Proposed Method: Animism Based

Address the spirit, as in talk to the intelligence that dwells within its area of influence herein reflected/held in the presence of a potted plant, a tree, etc.

Use your discernment to determine: a) attention/presence, b) "vibe", and c) receptivity as the interaction proceeds.

You can give offerings and express interest, or just start sans offerings, in bettering or deepening your connections with and understanding of earth - careful to not accidentally talk to the mafia and wind up 6ft under. It is best, in my opinion, to be clear about your intentions prior to the next proposed step.

Meditate. We'll not get too involved here, so to start just focus your attention outwards, going from your body to awareness of the spirit before you. Try to center yourself in what is perceived from there rather than from within your self.

The above is one way of many of introducing yourself to a local spirit and can be expanded to seek a tutelary or guiding spirit.

A perhaps more universally applicable - given the diverse forms witchcraft can take - and equally simple adaptation of this would be simply to enter a quiet part of nature and meditate, consciously growing your awareness and opening your senses to the element you seek.

This post - like the previous elemental one - is intended as a rubric of sorts to be used for the remaining foundational elements of air, water, and fire.

[trials-of-a-spirit-worker]

Some More Probably Generic Advice

Think for yourself: This is for everything regarding witchcraft and especially outside of it. This isn’t the time to follow the fold because it seems to be what everyone else is doing. If something doesn’t feel right for you, figure out why and/or leave that situation. Especially with teachers/mentors. Some can proclaim to be know it all's or in some other cases lead you down a strange and wrong path. And in extreme cases, they can get a little cultish.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes being lead down a weird path is fun but don't get too caught up in the whimsy. There's no Harry Potter-eqse destiny for you I'm afraid.

Anything can be a tool for witchcraft: My speakers clean my tarot cards by blasting all music onto it and amping up its energy. That pencil you always use for a test? Charm that sucker to help with clarity when you’re stuck. Blankets on your bed? Enchant them  for protection at night.Those shoes you only wear for date night? Manifest that you’ll find a great partner for you (or at least a good time if that's the tune you’re dancing to) by walking in the right direction. 

I can go all day.

Make the magic yours: “But....but” you say showing me step by step to do this witch thing only have me toss it. Your own flair, personality and intent will make the spell. It is yours. Anyone can follow a recipe but a recipe can always be improved.

Study Study Study: Not just witchcraft but different books, different languages, open up that vocab. More word power, more meaning. More spells. At least in theory. Learn some witch history. Expand your mind. Learn and appreciate a culture (note: I said appreciate. Don't appropriate cultures. That's what assholes do.)

Try and integrate magic more and more with your daily routine:  Add sigils to your hair products, perfumes makeup cases for glamours, when combing your hair at night or day, visualize problems leaving your head. Wash away your insecurities in the shower and watch it flow down the drain. Stomp your worries away in your boss ass shoes. (I do it in heels.) 

Appreciate the Earth and Nature: Does this mean go camping every day and try to never use modern tech again etc. Fuck no it doesn’t. Hell it doesn’t even mean go hiking everyday. Sign some petitions, spread the world about environmental options. Open your arms out while there’s a breeze and enjoy the rawness of wind. Feed some birds (the correct things mind you). Be kind to the earths creatures and watch them be kind to you.

Ps: no you don't have to be a vegetarian/vegan to engage with animals cause of pheromones and all that garbage some people spew. You wanna be a vegetarian/vegan? Fine. Cool. Do you. But if my meat eating ass can still go out and engage with multiple animals in a friendly way you can too. Its your body language and calmness that helps animals come closer to you. (Plus a bag of nom noms for the animals don't hurt either.)

I promise you, this doesn't happen often. Just if you're a shit person~ also that eagle didn't trust him cause he didn't hold him right the first time. (Also also I just wanted to see Uncle Sam get pissed off at Trump again. XDD)

PSS: DON'T go around looking for things that can kill you because you wanna be besties...be smart I'm talking about chilling with a deer or a snake (non venomous be smart please) don't go around looking for a mountain lion or some shit that's how you catch death. THAT MOUNTAIN LION DOES NOT WANT SHIT TO DO WITH YOU. NEITHER DOES THAT BEAR, THAT TIGER ETC. LEAVE THOSE THE FUCK ALONE.

[barberwitch]

Witch Tip Wednesday 2.20.19

When is a door not a door?

When it’s ajar.

You aren’t the first person to ask this so I figured I’d expand the post a bit. I’ve spoken to several witches regarding the “What now?/What next?” issue of spellwork when it seems like something is missing, or the directions leave something to be desired.

If there’s no direction or specified next step for a spell or ritual (or you’re making an original one) it more or less depends on what type it is, or what your preference is.

Jar spells for instance have the longest commitment in my opinion aside from actually crafting something ritualistically like a tool or vessel. Jars can be left more or less, indefinitely. You can think of it as an enclosed terrarium, self sustaining and once completed doesn’t need to be messed with again. Of course, this leads to some sticky situations when you placed something especially unique, or precious or expensive in a spell and now won’t be able to use it for another unless you dismantle the jar.

Your options are: suck it up, and do without that ingredient until the jar is finished.

Suck it up and try and find a replacement for that ingredient in the jar.

Suck it up, and find a new spell that doesn’t end in you being without access to specific items, or keeping a jar for the rest of your life.

For jar spells or container spells in general, this means you have two decisions to make before even doing the working. And plenty of people forget that this should be the habit when spellcrafting:

Is this a spell with a set timeline (start, middle and end)?

Or is this a spell that, if left on its own I’d want to continue as long as it’s able/is it something I can regularly attend to to continue if indefinitely?

If you chose the latter, here is a spellbottle found intact dating to 1650 England. Included were urine, hair, fingernails, pins, nails and something referred to as belly button fluff.

Jarspells need a battery, or a power source, or to be near something to draw energy to continue the purpose of the spell. That can be a taglock and siphoning energy off of the intended, or the witch. It could be powered by a holy relic or ingredient, the moon, the sun, the earth etc etc etc, but if you want it to continue indefinitely you have to plan for how it will stay functional.

To answer that other part of saying a spell...yes. Otherwise you have a bowl of potpourri. Without giving direction somehow, it’s just a bunch of ingredients. Chant, whisper, think clearly, write it down and include it, meditate on it, visualize how it works and progresses, just do SOMETHING.

This is a difference between rituals and spellwork, a ritual may be more organized and have a beginning, middle and end, where as a spell may be just a quick one off. So designating parts to it can help you connect to the working better.

Now, backtracking real quick about the question I mentioned? If it has a set beginning middle and end to a jar or container spell. You have to go with your gut. If you’ve got a rare ingredient or special something and you’re trying to bargain with yourself about how much to use? Don’t. Sometimes witchcraft takes sacrifice, and you have to go with your gut as to what’s the appropriate amount because sometimes, the sacrifice is what makes it magic.

Think of it this way, what’s more special, more magical, and potent, honey mass produced and bottled, or that jar of honey you got from a local beekeeper who gave it to you as a gift? How much do you want the spell, the offering, the ritual to mean/to work/to manifest? Would a drop of honey be enough, or would giving up the whole thing mean more?

I realize people have budgets and constraints and all of that, but witchcraft should mean something. While it doesn’t have to cost much, it should be felt and sincere. It’s a balance but something that should be considered “What am I willing to do or give up to see this to fruition?” That’s for you to figure out.

Same thing with offeringns, that’s between you and who you’re offering to. Would silently leaving a bowl of milk be more significant, or sitting and talking honestly to the deity with the half muffin you saved from breakfast as the offering mean more? I can’t tell you that, it’s something you should figure out.

So, say your spells, acknowledge them, write them, but if you’re just tossing stuff together from a correspondence table and assuming that the rosemary will know what to do, or that flattened penny knows what you’re intending, you may be disappointed (or you may not. Again, that’s for you to figure out!)

🦋Cheers, Barberwitch

[witchofleviathan-blog]

Witchcraft Servers Master List Pt.1

Full Moon Coven  Welcome to Full Moon Coven! Great for learning witchcraft! For Baby Witches and Elders! Anyone can come and learn! 

 -Birthday Bot 

-self roles 

 -many channels A just starting server! Join and watch this community grow! https://discordapp.com/invite/73TymR8 The Coven of Evergreen  Join our coven! We've got... ✧ Cute colors and 70+ self roles! ✧ 30+ magick based channels! ✧ Mentorships, Events, daily questions, and more! ✧ Friendly community! ✧ Safespace! https://discordapp.com/invite/fZ4FUFm Pestle & Mortar  We are the Pestle and Mortar, an inclusive server for ANYONE of any religion to learn more about Paganism/Wicca, as well as for Pagans, Wiccans, Witches and others to come and be part of a community and discuss their craft. Anyone is welcome here, so long as they are respectful. Disagreement is fine, but openly saying that you think witches should burn in hell, for example, won't be tolerated. We offer: -Active staff! -Reaction roles! -Respectful debate! -Teaching and student roles!

https://discordapp.com/invite/Wsn72HM Tranquil Springs  Here at Tranquil Springs, we try to provide a safe learning environment for those who delve into the more veiled side of life! We are a small group at the moment hoping to grow into an amazing community! Energy work, spirit work, witchcraft, and more are widely accepted and the main topics of discussion! https://discordapp.com/invite/kJeEJxk cottagecore kids  our age range is currently anywhere from 13 to 18, with the average member being about 15 to 17 years old. So far we have 14 members, and as we promo we hope to grow to a large community! Of these 14 members, we have two admins (including me) and are open to submissions to be a helper! we have a blacklist where you can have the server mod add your triggers to the list. We always try to have everyone tag for everything on the blacklist or put them in a specified channel that you don’t have to look at. We're trying our very best to make this a happy space for everyone. our server is LGBT friendly! we have channels for LGBT, for age regression (optional), witchy stuff (optional), nsfw (optional, and specific to age), and more~ please do not apply if -you are over 20 or under 13 -you are not willing to respect the rules that have been laid out -you are homophobic/transphobic/misogynist/racist/ a bigot of any kind https://discordapp.com/invite/hpj5Xfw 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽 𝒸𝑜𝓉𝓉𝒶𝑔𝑒 -  A server heavily focused on paganism, witchcraft, and Wicca. This is a safe place for practitioners of witchcraft, Pagans, and Wiccans alike, no matter how new to the craft they are. Non-witches are allowed too! However, they must equally abide by the rules and be respectful! | what we offer | fun roles and role-exclusive channels! plenty of witchcraft resources. a safe, LGBTQ+ community anti-gatekeeping server and rules to reinforce this mentality. Open to practitioners of both the left-hand and right-hand path. https://discordapp.com/invite/mcKPfZZ Witchcraft and Wicca  We are a small Discord server dedicated to the practice of Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft! This is NOT an RP server, this place is filled with real people with real practices and beliefs! Join and make friends, learn through our evergrowing library of Online PDF's, and have fun! :D https://discordapp.com/invite/xQQW6be The Snowlight Coven  Welcome to The Snowlight Coven! We are a new forming coven/server for people of all Religion/Blief systems. If you practice witchcraft, you found your place! Here we offer: - Self Assignable Roles - Leveling System with Role Rewards - A friendly Moderator team - No @everone/here pings! - Bots (few now but more to come) - Teachers to help you with the craft - A Coming Online BoS - And More Come down to join us! https://discordapp.com/invite/AJRR7nT The Raven's Perch  The Raven's Perch is a discord server specifically designed to help people on their journey to practising Witchcraft. If you also want to learn about it but not practice it then this is the place for you. In The Raven's Perch, we have many features such as:  ● Self Assignable Roles  ● Suggestion System ● Happy Thoughts channel where you can share happy thoughts to spread positive energies ● A Venting channel where you can vent about everyday issues ● Weekly discussions for all users to participate in ● Classes on different magickal topics every month ● No anti-curse policy https://discordapp.com/invite/7kqnuhW Witch's Hollow  We are a small but close knit community of witches from all paths. We strive to maintain and create relationships among our members so that we may grow together. https://discordapp.com/invite/QWczaxA The Witchy Academy  The Witchy Academy is a tiny, hope to be grown soon discord group for learners and practitioners of Wicca and Witchcraft! We aspire to teach new comers and to provide a safe and friendly environment for chatting, meeting new people, learning about the craft, and helping others on their journey! The chat is just a baby right now, so be prepared for things to need some work! :p we hope to see you soon! https://discordapp.com/invite/QmFgn9W Ouroboros  Ouroboros is a brand spankin' new witchcraft server for all races, peoples, genders, sexualities, and magickal practices and/or religions! We want to create a tight knit community of open minded people and a space for practice, interaction, and learning! -Suggestions are welcome! -Swear to your heart's content if you wish! -Discussion/debate, writing prompts, media sharing, and even memes! -Classes & Teachers to come soon! -Automatic role assignment! -Many more things to come with YOUR HELP! https://discordapp.com/invite/NxXSbam Witch Coven  Welcome to Witch Coven ! A server coven welcome to all who seek knowledge in the world of magic,wicca,witchcraft,paganism, spells, herbalism,crystals or how you name it! We have it all, and we are going to expand all your consciousness together! All ages, races, sexualities, genders, and level of knowledge are welcome here,nobody is excluded We're all learners so why not learn this together and improve all that we practice and walk in this direction all together? We are a coven,we will help each other when we need,we will be like a second family: we will be united as one thing. I hope that somebody that know more will join in our group too for giving us some advice sometimes :-) So,what do you waiting for? Come on,join in my group and enjoy Love you all <3 https://discordapp.com/invite/a3aqsvx Wonderful Witchcraft  Dear lovelies, Over a month has been spent working on Wonderful Witchcraft. It’s safe to say the members are silly and magical and our coven is witchy, making me find work magical. Come join, and get access to a commissions channel, book of shadows channel, witch books channel, resource channels, bot channels, movie and book channels,everything from green magick to meditation magick, 18+ chat, free readings and free sigils roles, and plenty of types of witches! - Mod Clara https://discordapp.com/invite/MEVSJvc Come and Be Welcome  This is a server for fellow witches to share experiences and ideas with each other! If you're new to the craft, no problem! There are many experienced practitioners in the community to help you along the way! https://discordapp.com/invite/mjVkRa8 Educational Witches

https://discordapp.com/invite/TYRpxEd RiverGreen

This is a pretty small server that is focused upon the community aspect of wicca and witchcraft. Come join and enjoy your stay! Blessed be! https://discordapp.com/invite/UYzXNux Of Death Witches and Dark Deities  This is a discord open to all, but with a focus on death witchcraft, sprit work, and the darker aspects of the craft. It also has a focus on dark deities and spirits, either but popular opinion or by society. This includes cthonic deities (underworld deities), deities associated with death in any way, psychopomps, war, strife and slaughter deities, that sort of thing. https://discordapp.com/invite/gG34QHD Artis Alchemia  Artis Alchemia is a witchcraft network dedicated to connecting and helping other witches in the community. You must be 15 years or older to join. https://discordapp.com/invite/Pe3xtDV The Nightshade Circle  If your looking for a chill, fun, and relaxing place to meet new witches and to learn more about your craft then do I have the place for you. Join The Nightshade Circle’s Discord. The Nightshade Circle is a fun Discord server of all paths. We accept anyone from any path, as long as you bring good intentions and good vibrations. We are here to make friends and share our knowledge. Come join our 400+ members! https://discordapp.com/invite/rwSAm8T Witches and Sandwiches  Hey, what's up! This is a server dedicated to talking about Witchcraft, Wicca, tea, earth based spirituality, and just about anything related, really. Yes, there are a bunch of rules, but they're pretty common sense and boil down to don't be a jerk. This might be the only Witch server on Discord that doesn't resemble 1984 with regards to political correctness and censorship. Recommended for people who are 15+, and especially for newcomers to Witchcraft. Come hang out if you want. https://discordapp.com/invite/xDdGw4B witch's cove  not an rp server this is a server for all paths of witchcraft! 15+ https://discordapp.com/invite/y3avt4e Tribe of Male Witches  This server is dedicated to celebrating males in witchcraft, paganism, and general occultism. We work on strengthening our divine masculinity and erasing toxic masculinity. This server is also just to mingle with others and make friends. We pride ourselves in maintaining a positive and respectful space. Here you will find many people, resources, bots and more to help you grow your craft! We hope to see you there! https://discordapp.com/invite/bMkYjMU witch squad  Are you a witch or interested in practicing? This is the place for you! This is a new server, so it's still small, but growing! PERKS ~classes taught by other members ~server book of shadows, located on google drive (email needed for full access) https://discordapp.com/invite/q5wqShd Coven of witches  Welcome to the Coven of Witches A group of servers welcome all those seeking knowledge in the world of magic, wicca, witchcraft, paganism, spells, herbal medicine, crystals or how they are named! We have everything, and we're about to expand your whole consciousness together! Here all ages, races, sexuality, genres and level of knowledge are welcome, no one is excluded! We are all students so why not learn it together and improve everything we practice and walk in this direction all together? We are a coven, we will help each other when we need it, we will be like a second family: we will be united as one. I hope someone who knows more will also join our group to give us some advice sometimes   So, what are you waiting for? Let's start this adventure together! Join our group <3 https://discordapp.com/invite/686A9Jc The Witches Guidebook  A Fun witchcraft discord! Keep in mind that this is a new server so things will be added! https://discordapp.com/invite/qtFMTke Urban Coven Cafe  Welcome to Urban Coven Cafe, a digital coven for spell casters, star readers, crystal collectors, and tree huggers! We are looking for more members to build up our magical community, whether you're new to all things spiritual and strange, or if you are well versed in magick, you are welcome here in our little occult cafe! We cover all sorts of topics from herbalism to tarot to ancient mythology, and magical memes, of course. We'd like to build a close knit group of witches and warlocks to have discussion with, learn from, provide support to, and grow together. We welcome all ages, sexualities, genders, races, and levels of experience here. There are a few fun bots including Helios, the cat familiar bot for the occult to make things more interesting. As of posting this we have just a handful of members and buds, and we are seeking real contributors for the server to become more lively and interactive. So come and join us today if you want to make some new witchy friends :3 https://discordapp.com/invite/AfK36t6 Cottage Witch Coven  I created this server with the sense of community and learning in mind. We focus more on cottage witches but we definitely welcome all kinds of magic! Please join us on our journey and help one another learn the craft and make new friends of like minded interests~! Once we get more members we'd love to do more game and movie nights and potentionally do contests around the holidays. https://discordapp.com/invite/mEdvmH9 The Eclectic Coven  }:{The Eclectic Coven}:{ Come join us for inclusive magic discussions, new friends and more! Our server is fairly new... so come help us forge it to a finale! https://discordapp.com/invite/96A2n4f Bondage and Broomsticks  Welcome to Bondage and Broomsticks!! We are a server dedicated to creating a safe space for all kinks and witchiness. This server can serve to function as a place to discuss your kinks, share kink resources, and even discuss your craft! In order to join B&B, you must be over the age of 18 and provide proof of this. We're constantly expanding our channels and the like as well! https://discordapp.com/invite/BFDfw68 Witch Sanctuary  This is a brand new server welcoming witches of every age and experience level! This is a server where witches and wiccans can share their knowledge with each other to help each other learn. https://discordapp.com/invite/sravUvB Children of Mother Earth  This is a friendly server where we like to have discussions whether it's about otherworldly entities or what your cat ate for dinner. https://discordapp.com/invite/XQgkw6k coven  this is a server for all witches! blessed be https://discordapp.com/invite/rHhyB42

[flyingthehedge]

5 Crystals for Hedge Riding

If you haven't noticed yet, I kind of have a thing for crystals, with that background in paleontology and all, so it should come as no surprise that there are some crystals I love to use during hedge riding. I mentioned during my Hedge Riding Series that I have a hedge riding sachet, a small bag that contains a series of items that helps me during my hedge riding journeys. I mentioned some of the crystals I keep in that sachet, and I would like to expand on that topic today. My hedge riding sachet is ever changing; I add and remove items frequently based on what I am trying to do, but it always contains crystals.

Usually, I preface articles like this with a statement that you don't need any items but yourself to hedge ride or perform magic. This is the one time where I am not going to say that because crystals are an important aspect of hedge riding. Not only can they help you reach an altered state of consciousness, but they also help ground your body and soul to our plane before, during, and after hedge riding. Now, you don't have to have every crystal on this list, nor do the crystals you choose have to be limited to this list. There are dozens of crystals that can help you on your flights, and you should always pick crystals that speak to you, even if a book doesn't mention they can be used for traveling between the realms. Correspondences should partly be based off your intuition, not just what some book or online article says. This list contains the five crystals I work with the most during hedge riding, in no particular order.

1. Labradorite: Until polished, labradorite is a fairly dull, unsuspecting crystal, but once polished it takes on a rainbow of colors. Labradorite was once believed to be frozen fire that fell from Aurora Borealis, thus associating it with the heavens and astral travel. It acts similarly to amethyst in that it can open you to psychic visions, but unlike amethyst, it can be used as a gateway to past lives as well. In Norse mythology, the rainbow bridge, Bifrost, was the gateway to Valhalla, which is sometimes symbolized by this crystal with rainbow hue, thus allowing you to travel between lives while hedge riding. I use this crystal when I am seeking answers from my past to gain insights into my future.

2. Amethyst: So I talk about amethyst a lot too...I know, but this stone is so versatile, plentiful, and cheap! I'm all for saving money when it comes to witchcraft. Amethyst is a great stone for hedge riding and has been regarded for hundreds of years as the crystal of psychics. I place amethyst on my forehead during hedge riding to help open my mind to psychic visions during my journeys. This crystal is commonly found in my hedge riding sachet, especially on days where I am finding it difficult to concentrate enough to hedge ride.

3. Selenite: I'm sure many of you have this crystal laying around, as it's commonly used to make crystal wands. Selenite is clear, striated gypsum named after Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Due to this connection to the moon, selenite can be used during hedge riding to "reach the stars," particularly when traveling to the Upper Realm of the Otherworld. Furthermore, selenite is known for its calming properties, allowing you to reach an altered state of consciousness by quieting the mind. Even better, selenite filters messages, due to its striated nature, thus allowing you to connect to your higher self and the spirit realm, especially angels. I use selenite when I am traveling to the Upper Realms or when I am having trouble hearing the messages the spirits are trying to send me. Sometimes I even use selenite after hedge riding to help me make sense of the messages I received. This isn't found in my hedge riding sachet too often, but it is almost always on my altar waiting for me to get back from a journey to aid in my understanding of the things I saw and heard while away.

4. Iolite: This deep violet crystal was commonly used by the Vikings as a navigational tool because it could be used to filter sunlight, allowing them to look at the sun without damaging their eyes. Because of this and its brilliant color, Iolite is a great stone for hedge riding. You can use it as a navigational tool on your spiritual journeys and facilitate spiritual visions. Depending on how it is cut, Iolite can appear yellow or clear as well, so don't worry if you find it in colors other than blue-violet. I use Iolite when I am seeking to travel to new places during a journey. I tend to stick close to "home," but there are times I wish to explore deeper into the Otherworld so I make sure to take this crystal with me to help me navigate uncharted territories.

5. Black Tourmaline: I talk about this crystal the most, probably because it is my favorite crystal of all time. I really should modify my 10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have post to include black tourmaline instead of obsidian. When I first got this crystal, the moment I touched it I felt an instant connection. The love and protection that radiated from it were overwhelming. I often find myself looking for it in times of stress because it's so calming. While I know it sounds strange to some, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this crystal loves me deeply. But I digress. My black tourmaline is the one thing in my hedge riding sachet that never changes; it is always in my bag. Before I ride I take it out and ask it to keep me safe while I hedge ride. I place it on my chest during my journeys and when I come back its the first thing I touch to ground myself. Black tourmaline is known for keeping you safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually, making it an amazing hedge riding companion crystal. There are other crystals that you can use for protection and grounding during hedge riding, so if black tourmaline doesn't speak to you like it speaks to me, find one that does. Other great options include jet, onyx, obsidian, and hematite.

As I mentioned before, this is by no means a complete list, just my five favorites for hedge riding. For those of you who hedge ride, what crystals do you like to bring with you? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below so we can grow this list to help other witches on their journeys!

[tenebroustm]

CONNOR KEMPER.

( info & verses. )

BASICS.

age: early twenties

height: 6’0”

gender: cis-male

orientation: homosexual / homo-romantic 

powers: spell casting , telekinesis , confinement , conjuring , astral projection , warding , divination , mediumship , summoning ( these all vary a lot of course with regards to his abilities in then ) i.e. connor is more adept at telekinesis , divination & spell casting. not so strong in conjuring , mediumship/mind-control , more complex spells. 

interests: books , reptiles , witchcraft , classic cinema

personality: Connor is a deeply introverted boy , he doesn’t like to initiate interactions , he is quite the shut-in , though he does love nature and being around nature. However when he connects well with someone he can be talkative and very goofy , until then he is very cautious , quiet and aloof. He is very curious and a huge bookworm. He is quite neat/rigid , sort of dreamy / out of touch.

*   SUBJECT TO CHANGE BC I AM AN INDECISIVE SON OF A GUN

BIO.

Jane and Michael Kemper adopted Connor before he had even turned two , prior to that he’d been with a foster family. The two had a long and difficult journey from their heartbreaking attempts to conceive to the trying adoption process , when they at last could bring Connor home .. It was a dream come true. They adored him , right away. The Kempers were always very open as Connor grew older , making it no secret that he was adopted but showing it made no difference , Connor was their son.

                Their idyllic little family was shaken for one of the Kempers not so long after Connor’s adoption. When Michael recognized something like a bruise on Connor’s right inner bicep , what Jane had called “Just a birthmark”. The same night he discovered the mark , while his wife slept , Michael took a pin to Connor’s room , lifted the sleeping boy’s duvet and gently took his arm. The pin’s sharp point was held just above the mark for a long , agonizing moment. Michael's heart racing , he remembers his own father performing tests like this.. It wasn’t his practice anymore but here he was. He remembered what happened to those who bore a bloodless mark. Glancing to the snoozing boy’s face , Michael gently lowers his arm , tucks his son back in and goes to bed. ‘Just a birthmark’ he tells himself.

They went back to being a warm and happy family after that and Michael put his anxieties to the back of his mind. 

As Connor grew , he did so in a quite a regular environment and he was a contented kid , he’d never been outgoing but he was happy reading or hanging out with his parents. He’d camp or fish or do some DIY work with his dad , play cards or tennis with his mother. & spent a whole lot of time with himself at home or in nature. No matter what he always had a certain awareness of feeling utterly different , other. Occasionally it upset him but mostly he got along with it. Connor got several clues about his unique abilities , they mystified him. From hushed whispers in his head in graveyards , to books that slotted into his hand as he reached for them , from the surge of power that swelled in him in turmoil & thinks that stopped just before they could hit him. He couldn’t define them or control them. For most of his education , Connor was home-schooled by his mother , before he was sent to Baxter High in his late teens. He was very isolated at school , never making friends. Partly due to that innate , persistent sense of alienation & partly because he simply didn’t enjoy socializing much.

Connor began to find the lead of who he truly is when he was thought about the greendale witch trials by Ms. Wardwell. After finding her privately ( while she tried to enjoy a movie ) and quizzing Wardwell endlessly , she offers to let Connor borrow some of his books. Here is where he begins to understand what he is , taking to experimenting in his room or in the woods , Connor confirms what he is but his control and abilities are weak or volatile. It’s not until after a brush with Baxter Raven bullies that Connor’s familiar comes to him. A familiar who becomes known to him mostly by the nickname Zilla. Zilla quickly becomes Connor’s biggest magical influence and guide and his best friend , the two bound as witch and familiar.

(( From here things get p thread dependant , bc we move on to Connor’s murder. Post death connor WON’T remember his killer , it leaves things more open for if the show ACTUALLY EXPANDS ON THAT SHIT. however for threads there’s a whole bunch of options to play out should anyone interacting with connor want to. I got my conspiracy theories okay and Luke , Father Blackwood , obviously hunters are all in there. & his killer and the events leading up to his murder can change somewhat depending on threads. Sometimes he’ll know Luke , sometimes he won’t have ever met him , stuff like that. ))

VERSES.

Disclaimer: absolutely none of these make literally any sense and have lots of plot holes but consider this ---- YEET.

v.01. living dead boy ! ( resurrected )

connor is resurrected ( through the cain pit would be my default but it’s adaptable ) by one or more of the spellmans ( if it is non specific in the thread it’s likely ambrose is the one to have resurrected him bc lbr , ambrose is the only witch who actually seemed curious + an intrest in necromancy ) to find out information on his death and who it was who killed him. Obviously the Cain pit comes with a price this can either mean connor’s revival is only temporary to get info OR well there’s a few ideas i have , i.e connor’s parents’ deaths “balance the scales” ( p.s i kNOW they are adopted but who tf knows the ins and outs of the cain pit’s rules and let’s pretend it’s magic can work like that ) or there is the fact his birth parents could still be in play and unknown to him , two witches ( his birth parents ) die and balance the scales.

v.02. slain son ! ( ghost )

connor is a ghost ( my default is him haunting the spellman home but highly adaptable ). like quinton , he is bound to where he is ( YEH i know he didn’t die @ the spellman house but yolo ) , can choose when to make himself visible , he is more or less a physical being and can touch and move and speak  like quinton & the harrowing victims.

v. 03. uncoolest witch in town ! ( living )

pre-show or divergent , connor lives in the small town of greendale with his parents and familiar , practicing his magic in secret

V. 04. greendale’s worst witch hunter ! ( witch hunter au ! )

connor’s adoptive father ( though aware connor is a witch himself ) raises his son as a hunter to suppress his true nature , in this verse connor is obviously much less in touch with his magic and it remains a mystery to him

* tbh he's p adaptable to lots of verses/aus so i may add some or just toss him in to other verses

TAGS.

visage. / headcanons. / aesthetics. / study. / isms. 

[the-lady-corvidae]

hey! im totally new to the whole witch and tarot thing but i'm so interested in it!! got any tips for an aspiring witch who legit decided she wanted to start this journey today? My mind is open to anything 😊

WARNING!: Long post is long…

Hi there! Firstly, I want to welcome you and congratulate you on taking your first steps on this journey! I’m absolutely flattered that you chose to come to me for advice, though truthfully, I’m still an aspiring baby witch myself. I’m no expert in any field, metaphysical or otherwise,—though even many witches with years of experience are still on a journey of learning and self-discovery themselves and would claim the same: that they aren’t by any means an expert at what they do, just that they have more experience in some things—and though I can’t give you any real witchy advice on how to cast circles or write spells or charge your tools, I CAN tell you what I’ve learned thus far into my own journey into my own craft. Please keep in mind that much of this information is what I’ve learned on my time on Tumblr and most of this can be found (and much more easily summarized for convenience) in the posts in the witchcraft 101 tag.

You’ve already accomplished one of the first things I would have suggested, and that’s to have an open mind. That you’ve taken such an interest into this path of life says a lot. Always keep your mind open to this path; and not just this path, but the many diverging and branching paths of witchcraft. You can do so much by seeing what intrigues you and researching it. And don’t just research one area, but see what else speaks to you. You’re interested in tarot; maybe that will lead to interest in some other forms of divination, too; scrying, pendulum work, rune stones. Maybe that will lead to an interest in the history behind the tools, or to corresponding crystals, herbs, planets, constellations, gods, goddesses, candle colors, sigils, EMOJI spells! Your options are limitless! Don’t be afraid to dabble. Dip your toe into the waters of witchcraft; you never know which pool you’ll be ready to jump into!

However, on that note, it is important to be aware that there are certain areas that you may find yourself cut off from. Certain religions and spiritual paths are deemed “closed”, meaning that unless you are already born into them or initiated into them, it’s considered appropriative and highly offensive to use elements of those religions. There are also certain terms that are considered as appropriation, racial slurs or just looked down upon in bad taste; “spirit or totem animals”, “sage smudging”, the misconception of the term “karma”, as well as the word “gypsy” are all examples of these. In summary, just be respectful of closed religions/cultures and be mindful of what you say.

On the subject of research, it’s also a good idea to expand your horizons on that front. Be aware that not everything you’ll find on Tumblr—or the internet in general—will be 100% true. Some people can claim they know the secrets of the universe and that their way is the right way (9 times out of 10, these people are the scam-artists you’ll hear about when skeptics talk about psychics, diviners, and witches) but the truth is that, just like art, there’s really no right or wrong way to practice magick. With magick, there’s no end all, be all. It’s diverse and what works for one person doesn’t have to work for you; some witches are more traditionalist in their witchery, some prefer modern technology for their craft, some use expensive and fancy tools, some use whatever they can find laying around, some don’t use any tools at all and simply use their belief and intent to harness their magick. Some witches incorporate religion into their craft, and some don’t; some are Pagan, some are Wiccan, some are Christian, some worship the Greek pantheon, others the Norse pantheon, and some choose to worship a variety of gods/goddesses from MANY religions. Some witches are okay with casting curses, others not so much. And all of this is okay because their path is theirs and yours will become yours. It’s important to respect everyone’s own individual path, even if it clashes with your own beliefs; That’s just being a good noodle. :)

Also, don’t feel as though you have to lump yourself into a category. I know some people identify as sea witches, storm witches, cosmic witches, hedge witches, pop culture witches; it seems that the possibilities are endless and it can honestly feel kind of overwhelming if you’re just starting out with no real direction. You may feel compelled to label yourself and your craft, but it’s really not necessary. A lot of times in life, we feel the need to label ourselves as others outside our personal bubble may label us. Just like in high school, the jocks, the cheerleaders, the goths, the nerds, etc. etc. But it’s not really THAT import. So don’t ever stress over the whole “but what kind of witch am I?” debacle. Keep your options open to find what speaks to you, whether it’s one path or many.

One more thing on the subject of general witchery; you’ll probably see it blasted on most every witchcraft 101 post you’ll find but: Witchcraft and magick is not a substitute for professional medical advice or practices. It’s always best to consult a doctor or psychological expert on such matters (admittedly to me this is really just common sense but still it must be said; I do not condone replacing medication with spellcraft). If anything, think of it like this; when you fall and scrape your knee as a child, witchcraft is NOT your bandaid nor your antiseptic. Instead, witchcraft is the kiss your mother or father places upon your treated and bandaged wound to make you smile again. Make sense? I sure hope so…

Now, you DID also ask for tarot advice. I’m still learning the general meanings of the cards (albeit very slowly, because, unfortunately, I keep distracting myself with failed attempts to multitask) but I’d say that would be your first step there. Learn the meanings of the cards, and not only memorize them, but learn for yourself what they mean to YOU. The tarot is a powerful tool, using imagery that pokes around at our own intuition in order to give us the answers we’re looking for. Make your own personal connections and associations with the cards, the imagery and the symbolism. Many of the cards have generally the same traditional meanings, though some artists and authors throw in their own spin on things from time to time.

A good starter deck is the Universal Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, which you probably either already have or can easily purchase from your local Barnes and Noble (also, a myth that most amongst the tarot community will say is untrue is that you need to be gifted your first deck. I would say don’t wait for someone to randomly hand you a deck; if you really want it, nothing is stopping you from obtaining one yourself; besides, it’s a really specific and rather unorthodox gift of choice that I wouldn’t expect anyone who isn’t already interested in the subject would ever buy for someone else) BUT feel free to browse around and see which deck calls to you. Truthfully, my first deck was the Zerner-Faber Tarot Deck (which I’ve since lost and still can’t find…), and since becoming interested in the subject of tarot reading, I’ve gotten four more decks, each vastly different in style and theme that the last.

You’ll find a lot of other witches who perform tarot readings will give you various tips and sometimes contradictory advice from what each other is saying. Sometimes they’ll say you HAVE to cleanse your deck after every reading, and others will say the only cleansing they performed was when they first bought it; you HAVE to shuffle it yourself, or you can let the person you’re reading for shuffle, or you can ONLY read for yourself and not for others. With this, I say, learn for yourself what your style is and how you and your deck connect. Spend time with it. A good way to learn about your deck is through a tarot deck interview spread (though some witches will tell you that it’s almost kind of awkward to put your deck on the spot for answers about itself like this; again, do whatever you feel comfortable with, whatever works for you is more than enough). You can find a lot of good spreads in the tarot spread tag on Tumblr, as well as other neat tips and cheat sheets for learning the cards.

Another good tool is the Labyrinthos Academy app for your phone; it’s a totally free app that helps you memorize the general meanings of the cards through little lessons and “homework assignments”, kind of like a free tarot workshop. The art style is really cute, to boot. ^^

Another really good resource for information regarding the tarot is BiddyTarot. I believe they have a Tumblr account, as well as an Instagram and website where you can learn the cards, meanings, spreads and assorted fun tips for readings. (I’m on mobile as I write this whole spiel, so I can’t exactly post any links; also I’m not 100% Tumblr savvy so I don’t really know how to put links in general…)

So, I think that will do it for now for what I can tell you. If you have any more questions or want more in depth research, you can check the witchcraft 101 tags on Tumblr for more information. I’m sorry if my explanation was really long and overly boring (it’s 3am and my brain is trying desperately to sleep at the moment, but I won’t let it) and if I missed anything important, be sure to let me know. It’s always nice to meet others who have chosen this path, and so it’s been my pleasure to welcome you to this community! Thank you so much for coming to me with this question and I hope that your path leads you to the answers that you seek.

Wishing you all the best in your craft!

🗝🔮✨