#occultea

[aesethewitch]

#OcculTea Masterpost

Earlier this year, witches took to social media (mostly YouTube and Instagram, from what I can see) to talk about witchcraft in the social media landscape: community, influencers, grifting, impact, imposter syndrome, and more. They did this as part of the hashtag “#OcculTea” in a call to the community of internet creators to come forward and talk about their experiences. The tag was started by Ella Harrison, the Red Headed Witch, and the Polish Folk Witch to generate really important conversations across various social media sites.

The Polish Folk Witch actually created a playlist full of videos from witchcraft creators, which you can take a look at here if you’d like to watch a few.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time watching videos from various creators with their responses, and it got me thinking about how I’d answer those same questions. Our formats are different, and our internet niches are different, so our perspectives on the same topics are obviously different. So, here we are: I’m bringing #OcculTea to Tumblr! (I’m not the first; a handful of others have answered the same questions in the #OcculTea tag, and you should check them out!)

If you want to take part in this tag, please do! I’m not directly tagging anyone, so there’s no pressure. The list of questions can be found here. If you make a post, tag it as #OcculTea! I’m following the tag, and I want to see everyone’s responses. (:

Now, without further ado, here is the list of post links, organized by category:

Introduction & Topic 1: Impact on Community

Topic 2: Influencer Authenticity

Topic 3: Imposter Syndrome and FOMO

Topic 4: Capitalizing Off Community

Conclusions

This was fun to put together! I won’t directly tag anyone to respond with their own answers, because… well, this has been a beast of a project that’s taken several days to type out and more to edit. But if you’re a witchy content creator here on Tumblr, please feel free to check out the list of questions and post your own answers!

Replies, reblogs, and asks on any or all of the topics covered in this post series are very much welcome.

(And if you did enjoy this series or my other work, consider tipping me over on Ko-Fi! Thanks!)

[the-paganwitch]

My Addition to the OcculTea Hashtag.

I've seen many creators post into this discussion, and as someone who isn't really and "influencer" parsay, but I have been online with my craft for many years now, so I have definitely seen a thing or to! I got inspired to add my own thoughts into this topic. This will easily be my longest post I've created. The picture above is from @prettyqueerwitch. I love how it looked and I wanted to use it. I hope this is okay! If it isn't, please let me know and I'll change it!

Introduction: Introduce yourself. How long have you been participating in the witchcraft online space? What practices and topics do you discuss primarily?

Hi! My name is Jess, also known as the-paganwitch or Redmonarch on other platforms. I am a 23-year-old and first discovered witchcraft when I wanted to curse someone. I know, a great start. That was back in about 2013/2014. I didn't really start getting into actively practicing until around 2017. My first time participating in an online space was through the Spells of Magic forum. I still have an account on there I check from time to time, but I'm not on it very often anymore. After that, I branched onto watching youtube creators. I now run a witchy email-based newsletter I love! I am an eclectic pagan witch with a primary focus on green and kitchen witchcraft, and crystal magic.

Topic 1: Impact On Community.

What is my personal reading/inspiration behind sharing my practice online? What am I looking to achieve by participating? Do I seek to educate, learn, or connect?

I feel inspired to share mostly to help others who may be just starting out and don't really know where to start. Which is the main reason behind my newsletter. I also like the feeling of community online. With my chronic illnesses and nasty social anxiety, it is really hard for me to be a part of an in-person community. So I do tend to rely on the online aspect. Though, I don't really have any online witchy friends.

How do I believe that social media, as a whole, has impacted the community?

I feel that it has both helped and hindered the community. It's kind of a grey zone to me. While social media has made it easier for others to connect and for more information to be shared on a global scale, it has also created a platform for less favourable people to gain a voice. Those who seek to spread hate and unnecessary harm to others in the community.

How do I think social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have each impacted education/sharing information?

I would say that I could answer it similarly to the question above. It's kind of a grey zone. On one side, it has made gathering information easier and more accessible. On the other, it has lead to a lot of misinformation and has lead many to a ""my way or the highway" type of thinking. I have seen this type of thinking primarily on TikTok, which is why I had to deleted it personally. The community grew way too toxic.

Is consuming witchcraft content becoming a substitute for practice?

Yes and no. I know many hate on people who primarily consume content as a part of their practice, but something many always seem to forget about is us spoonie witches who many not always have the energy or spoons to practice all the time. Yes,I don't agree with the people who claim to be witches, but all the do is watch TikTok videos and never actually attempt to branch out to other areas or do more research into topics. These types of people, in my opinion, aren't actually witches. For some of us, we just can't always spare the extra energy to so spells or most types of magic. So consuming witchcraft media is the closest thing we have to practicing some days.

Topic 2 : Influencer Authority.

Out of what I share on social media, how much of it is staged vs. reality?

I am pretty open to sharing the reality of my practice. I don't really feel the need to stage anything. If I were to ever make videos, I guess then technically parts would be staged. But when I make posts or add personal notes in my newsletter, those are authentic and real.

Do I think there is an element of censorship in online spaces? How do I decipher what is "appropriate" to share online vs. what to keep privately? Is this based on "social media etiquette" or a personal preference.

As I stated above, I am pretty comfortable openly sharing my practice. I don't really censor much as of right now, unless it has nothing to really do with my practice. Even then, I don't mind sharing information if I am asked something. I would say it's all up to your comfort level on what you choose to share and what you don't. I also don't really know what social media etiquette is to be honest.

Have I ever encountered or heard of grifters in our community? Do I recognize them? What are significant signs of grifters in the community?

I have had people on mostly Instagram partake in grifting. Usually as fake tarot readers or offering to do break curses/hexes or "bring back a lost love". These people are pretty easy to tell. They almost always message you first, saying "I was drawn to your profile" or "I wanted to offer you a free reading". They do not want to give you any help, they are trying to scam you. Other forms I see are people who are not a part of the community trying to market or sell items overpriced. Or those who sell things at a way too low of a price. If it's too good to be true, it's probably a scam.

What tools are helpful to decipher misinformation, and how can we as a community prevent widespread misinformation?

Research research research! Always research, fact check, and be suspicious if something doesn't sound right or feel right. I don't really think we can do a whole lot about the spread of misinformation, but we can always fact check what we hear, see, or learn. We can also help lift the voices of those we do trust and those who share correct information.

How does a large following impact the perception of the creator? Does this immediately make them an "expert"? Or are there other assumptions as to why they may have a large following?

Being a popular creator doesn't make you an "expert". It can mean you may know more about somethings or that you share good information, but it doesn't make you an expert. Neither does practicing for a long time. No one can truly be an "expert" in witchcraft as a whole, in my opinion. You can be very well informed and know a lot, but you aren't an "expert".

How does one maintain the balance of authenticity and content creation?

It can be difficult maintaining authenticity when trying to make content if you are trying to keep relevancy or trying to become super popular. This is because you have to follow what topics are trending and you have to constantly be fighting with algorithms. This can make you lose authenticity and turn more into content farming. I think you can balance both as long as you are content creating without the sole desire of having relevancy or popularity.

Topic 3 : Imposter Syndrome and Fear of Missing Out

When I follow other creators in the community space, does it make me feel genuinely inspired and empowered or does it create feelings of fear of missing out and being less than?

I guess that would depend on the community space. In most places, I generally get a feeling of inspiration, especially when I get into a rut or burn out. The only community I felt negative more time than not in was on TikTok. There was always fighting, drama, and a push for you to buy certain things in order to be called a witch. If you didn't like this certain creator or you didn't agree with this exact way of thinking, you can't be a witch or you aren't a "real" witch.

If I experience fear of missing out, has it ever left me feeling vulnerable to be taken advantage of financially, or otherwise? An example would be - the "need" to purchase the latest popular product or book to "fit in"?

I can see where others, especially beginners, may fall into this way of thinking. You want to be liked in a certain community, but you feel you have to follow the trends or keep up with what everyone is buying. I myself don't really fall into this peer pressure anymore, but I definitely did when I first started. It's best to move away from communities and spaces that make you feel forced to buy products or follow one certain thing.

When practicing my craft, do I find myself comparing what I do to what I've been seeing people do online?

Absolutely. This has been a bit of a problem for me within the last 2-3 years. It really started when I developed my chronic illness and couldn't do everything I used to be able to do. I felt less than or that I wasn't really a witch anymore. I have been working really hard on allowing myself more leniency when it comes to my practice and my chronic illness. It's really easy to fall into the habit of comparing yourself and your practice to others you see on social media, but you have to remember that not everyone shows everything they do. They may only share 5-10% of their craft.

In what ways do I combat imposter syndrome?

I try to be gentle and kind with myself when I notice it coming up. I remind myself that everyone's craft is different and my won't look like someone elses, and that okay. The whole point of witchcraft is to make it suited to you and what you can do, and where you can grow and learn.

What would my practice look like without the social media influence of other creators?

Honestly, I don't think I would have really gotten into it as much as I have or I may not have actually discovered it. I was raised in an strong atheist household and was taught that that was the only right answer. But when I discovered witchcraft online, it was an eye opener. When I rediscovered it a few years later, it changed my entire life for the better. I am forever in love with witchcraft and I don't think I will ever give it up at this point.

Topic 4 : Capitalizing Off Community.

Do I consider online communities as equally valid to in-person communities?

I do. I may not alway partake in many online discussions or join community chats, but I do believe they can do some good to those that enjoy them or who what to make friends. There is a plethora of different groups and discussion forums out there for just about everyone.

How have online occult/witchcraft communities impacted me as a person and practitioner?

They have both helped and hindered me and my practice. Like I said above, some online practitioners are the reason I discovered witchcraft in the first place. Which lead me to falling in love with it and devoting my life to witchcraft. On the other hand, It has sometimes lead me to dislike the communities and witchcraft because of how toxic some of it had become, and how often I found myself hitting burn out after burn out because of it. I lost myself for a while with my craft. I had even questioned whether I wanted to be a witch anymore. I rediscovered my love for it all after I stepped back from a lot of communities I noticed were promotion toxicity and fueling separation.

What are some of the dangers of the current phenomenon of capitalizing off witchcraft community? Have I been personally affected by this, or have I witnessed someone else be affected?

I think a problem with capitalizing off of witchcraft communities is how easy it can be to scam or swindle new practitioners out of money. Another problem is fake products being marketed as the real deal. This is a HUGE problem with crystals honestly. There are many online shops claiming a crystal is real, but when you get it, it's a dyed glass or plastic. Moldavite, agates, opals, and quartzes are some of the worst for this happening. It drives me nuts!

Should there be paywalled communities and online courses?

I don't believe anything about basic witchcraft should be paywalled. I believe basics should be free to access for everyone and anyone. But I don't see an issue in asking for payment when you are teaching things beyond the basics. Especially for those who put lots of time and effort into learning and creating said courses. I can also understand why some communities are paywalled. I remember when witches were trying to make non-paywalled discord communities to anyone who wanted to join and what a dumpster fire they usually turned into. You can't always control who gets in and what they say or do. There isn't really an efficient method to keeping out hate and harmful people from communities without paywalling. Which is kind of sad.

How does one ensure the authenticity of courses/workshops/memberships/etc. as a financial investment?

You should always, always, ALWAYS look into the person offering said things before you partake. How long have they been practicing? What beliefs do they hold? Do they align with yours? Are what they saying seem fishy, suspicious, or too good to be true? These are things you should always think about before paying to be a part of something or paying someone for courses.

Conclusions:

What are some topics of conversations I'd like to see more of in our community?

I would love to see more discussion on witches with disabilities or chronic illnesses as I feel it's not talked about or discussed enough.

What are my community needs?

For me to want to be in a part of a community, I would need to feel supported and that there is open discussions without judgement because someone's craft is a different then others. I like being in communities with a similar beliefs, or with witches who are into the same things as me, but that is purely personal.

Where would I like to be held and supported? Where do I feel like I'm not truly being seen by my community?

I pushed these two together because they have the same answer. I am personally not too worried about being held or seen in any community. Mainly because I am not really making content to become something or a popular creator. If I gained a large following, that's cool, but I am not actively trying to do that. If people like what I post or share and want to follow, that's awesome! You are more than welcome here. But if others don't care for what I do, then that's okay too. Whatever one you vibe with, it's good with me.

How can we help each other in removing the external peer pressure and grow in the community?

By reminding each other that you're craft is your own and does not have to follow anyone else's. There are no set rules to witchcraft, and if someone tells you there is, they are not being truthful. Witchcraft is what you make of it. We can flourish when we support each other practitioners differences.

How can we, as a community, come together more with constructive criticism without it seeming shady or passive aggressive? How can we, as a community, do better when we do receive criticism/feedback?

I would say we should watch how things get worded, firstly. Secondly, instead of writing something when in a high state of emotion, think about what you want to said first. Really think about it. Is it coming from a place of genuine help, or a place of attack or offence? Same can go for when we receive criticism. Think about what someone said before responding, especially if you don't fully understand what is being said. If you're confused about it, ask the person to elaborate. There is nothing wrong with asking to gain more insight into what the person is thinking and where they're coming from.

Who are some community members that I look up to that are reliable resources and aspirations?

Ariel Gatoga, Chaotic Witch Aunt, Hearth Witch, Witchy Tips, The Green Witch, Harmony Nice (no longer uploads), Ginny Metheral, Alwyn Oak, The Lunar Witch, The Witch of the Forest, The Wholesome Witch, Anastasia Moon, and Molly Roberts are the creators I look to the most for information and learning. I've watched many of these creators for a while now. I would say Ariel Gatoga was my biggest reason I got really into witchcraft and I would see him as my mentor. I learned the most of what I know from him and his podclasses.

Further thoughts?

I can't really think of much else to add. I do implore you to step back from social media from time to time to find yourself and discover what you truly love and discover where your strengths are. If you're in a burn out, or don't have much energy recently, that is okay. Allow yourself to rest and recover. Step back from witchcraft for a little and discover something new outside of your practice. Stepping back from witchcraft doesn't make you any less of a witch. We all need to take a step back to look at the bigger picture. You might find out something about yourself you may have never known.

[prettyqueerwitch]

#OcculTea - A Tag

A tag created by @/ella.harrison @/the.redheadedwitch @/polish.folk.witch

(alt text: #OcculTea. Social Media Witchcraft: Grifters, Aesthetics, Imposter Syndrome, Consumerism, And Gatekeeping. A community conversation about the things that divide us. @/ella.harrison @/the.redheadedwitch @/polish.folk.witch)

Hello beautiful people! Today I am doing a tag called #OcculTea. I plan on creating a video on my YouTube so if you'd rather watch me discuss this in a podcast form. I hope you enjoy this "mini-essay". YouTube Linked Here

Introduction : Introduce yourself. How long have you been participating in the witchcraft online space? What practices and topics do you discuss primarily?

My name is Ares, my social media is PrettyQueerWitch, I've been practicing for about 7 years now, however my practice changed recently to folk magic (I am most interested in German folk magic and Braucherei but I'm also researching English and Scandinavian folk magic). I've been a part of the witchcraft online community for about 4 years as a consumer but in September 2023 I started my tumblr and started to do book reviews and occasional grimoire pages. Topic 1 : Impact on Community

~What is my personal reasoning/inspiration behind sharing my practice online? What am I looking to achieve by participating? Do I seek to educate, learn, or connect?

I want to do book reviews that I can make as honest as possible. Along with wanting to build a community that supports, respects one another, and understands the differences in people's practices/opinions. I seek to learn and connect with my audience rather than just educate my audience. I don't share the personal parts of my practice online but I am willing to share my thoughts as well as small parts of my practice and knowledge I have accumulated over the years.

~How do I believe that social media, as a whole, has impacted the community?

I believe that social media has both positively and negatively impacted the witchcraft and occult community. I believe that while it has brought people into the community and connected people there are also rifts in the community between groups. I believe social media also censors the community and some practices.

~How do I think social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have each impacted education/sharing information?

I am not really on Instagram for witchcraft/occult content but I am on TikTok and YouTube, as well as Tumblr. For TikTok we see the issue of dopamine seeking in the form of short-form content, here's a video on short-form video content, attention spans, and dopamine seeking. There is quite a bit of misinformation on TikTok, as there is on any social media platform, and I believe it is the most rampant there. I don't believe you can thoroughly educate people on TikTok and with so much content going around sometimes you never know what to believe. On YouTube, I see less misinformation but that may be because I'm very selective about who I watch but I am sure there is still misinformation on there. I believe that TikTok and Instagram are great for posting pictures and short videos but not educational videos.

~Is consuming witchcraft content becoming a substitute for practice?

I believe there is a group of people who consume witchcraft content, read books, and put their all into researching but never apply it whether that's out of fear or imposter syndrome. There is another group, that I don't see as often, who consume witchcraft content and say they practice but their practice is just consuming the witchcraft content. I believe some people consider it a substitute but in my opinion, practicing witchcraft is something done with intent and energy. A video I love is this video by Ivy The Occultist which gives advice on how to go from just consuming content and understanding things theoretically to practicing witchcraft and magick.

Topic 2 : Influencer Authority

~Out of what I share on social media, how much of it is staged vs. reality?

For me, I don't share my practice online. If I do it will be very small bits. Maybe I'll share my regular altar space, but I wouldn't share my ancestor altar. Maybe I'll show the informational parts of my grimoire but I wouldn't share my birth chart or personal workings I do. When I do book reviews I try to be as honest as possible. I want to start posting videos on YouTube and those will be videos like "Research with me" or "Fill out my grimoire with me". I want to be as authentic as possible while not diving into the really personal parts of my practices.

~Do I think there is an element of censorship in online spaces? How do I decipher what is "appropriate" to share online vs. what to keep privately? Is this based on "social media etiquette" or a personal preference.

Once again I don't share much of my practice online but I have seen creators who have to censor what they post because they're working with animal parts, animal bones, nude figures, blood, etc. I have seen these creators express that they may want to show these parts of their practices but are unable to due to censorship and community guidelines. Some people do in fact keep it private due to personal preference, however.

~Have I ever encountered or heard of grifters in our community? Do I recognize them? What are significant signs of grifters in the community? I have definitely seen and heard of grifters in the community. (Grifter - someone who swindles people out of money through fraud). I have seen people who consistently switch what they sell or what content they make depending on what revenue it brings in, I've seen books that aren't totally well made but are popular because they were made popular through social media. I have seen people sell $60 candles and $100+ herb bundles (I don't totally understand buying small amounts of 50 different herbs, I don't think you can totally connect to the herb that way and I also think it's a waste of money). I think significant signs of grifters are those who don't seem to be well-educated on what they're selling, and those who constantly switch what they're selling depending on what is popular.

~What tools are helpful to decipher misinformation, and how can we as a community prevent widespread misinformation?

I believe that you typically have all the resources at your fingers to decipher misinformation. If you are new to a topic and you learn something new, it is best to research it and cross-reference it. Never rely on just one singular resource. I would say that some ways to prevent widespread misinformation are being honest, not being afraid to constructively criticize, and trying not to glamourize it.

~How does a large following impact the perception of the creator? Does this immediately make them an "expert"? Or are there other assumptions as to why they may have a large following?

A large following often leads people to believe that the creator know what they're talking about. It's believed that because they have a big following and make educational witchcraft content, the creator's always right and I don't believe a big following makes someone an expert. I think research, time, energy, practice, etc. makes someone knowledgeable about a topic. Something I see often is people asking creators to basically create their practice for them but no creator is an expert on how someone's practice should be. Ella Harrison mentions that if you have a good camera, good lighting, a nice background, and upload consistently you are more than likely going to gain a following.

~How does one maintain the balance of authenticity and content creation?

I believe that for all content creators, it is difficult to maintain authenticity and content creation in a balance. I'm personally not sure how one would be able to maintain that balance. I think in the witchcraft and occult community, not glamourizing your practice helps with maintaining authenticity while still creating content. I will talk more about the glamourizing towards the end.

Topic 3 : Imposter Syndrome and FOMO

~When I follow other creators in the community space, does it make me feel genuinely inspired and empowered or does it create feelings of FOMO and being less than?

I am very particular about who I follow but the ones that I do follow, interact with, and put my money into, I find myself feeling inspired in my practice by them. I don't often feel FOMO (fear of missing out) from the creators that I follow and interact with regularly.

~If I experience FOMO, has it ever left me feeling vulnerable to be taken advantage of financially, or otherwise? An example would be - the "need" to purchase the latest popular product or book to "fit in"?

I don't experience FOMO a lot but when I do it definitely has made me feel like I absolutely "need" something. However, as of late, I have been feeling more connected to just using what I have.

~When practicing my craft, do I find myself comparing what I do to what I've been seeing people do online?

When indulging in content relating to similar practices that I'm looking into and implementing into my practice, it's very easy to compare. In the next question, I'll talk about how I personally avoid this comparison and imposter syndrome.

~In what ways do I combat imposter syndrome?

I personally have begun to try to stop caring and to acknowledge that my practice, my circumstances, etc. are going to be different than others. However, I also deal with imposter syndrome in the thought that "I don't know enough". Sometimes I feel like because I don't have everything written down or I don't know every little thing I don't know enough to be on social media talking about witchcraft and the occult. Recently I've been trying to get out of that mindset and just let myself learn and write down my knowledge and acknowledge I haven't been doing this as long as others so of course I don't know as much.

~What would my practice look like without the social media influence of other creators?

As someone who has spent most of my time in the online witchcraft community being a consumer, I don't know if my practice would've evolved and progressed the way it did without the influence of other creators. I think I would definitely still be struggling to find my path and practice without the influence of social media.

Topic 4 : Capitalizing Off Community

~Do I consider online communities as equally valid to in-person communities?

I absolutely do. Not everyone has access to an in-person community and I believe that both are valid. It's great if you have one and not the other or if you have both! I find that both sides of it have their benefits and as someone who is a part of multiple communities, I find that online communities can be beautiful and uplifting.

~How have online occult/witchcraft communities impacted me as a person and practitioner?

I believe that online occult/witchcraft communities have given me so many resources for being a better practitioner and have inspired me and my practice. I have met so many wonderful people that I am incredibly grateful for.

~What are some of the dangers of the current phenomenon of capitalizing off the witchcraft community? Have I been personally affected by this, or have I witnessed someone else be affected?

I personally believe the biggest danger is scammers, people who aren't qualified to be doing divination readings, reading birth charts, etc. Scammers are a big thing in any community and what we see a lot of in the witchcraft/occult community is people pretending to be popular content creators and offering tarot readings for money. I also think influencers making their audience think they may need to buy certain things is also a problem in any community.

~Should there be paywalled communities and online courses?

I think if a creator puts time, effort, energy, and knowledge into creating a community and online courses they should get paid for that. That's why Patreon is such a big platform. Creators put time and effort into these communities and courses.

~How does one ensure the authenticity of courses/workshops/memberships/etc. as a financial investment?

Once again research and cross-referencing are big and important things. Look into who you want to financially invest before you do so and make sure that it's worth what you're getting out of it.

Conclusions :

~What are some topics of conversation I'd like to see more of in our community?

I believe more conversations in general about witchcraft and social media, the glamourization of witchcraft, critical thinking, constructive criticism, and more conversations like this tag would be great.

~What are my community needs?

I feel in terms of community needs, a community where everyone is heard, respected, and seen is the kind of community that we need. I also liked The Norse Witches' answer that giving more of a platform to those outside the US, Canada, and Britain is important especially as folk magic becomes more and more prevalent in the community.

~Where would I like to be held and supported? ~Where do I feel like I'm not truly being seen by my community?

I personally don't really have any complaints as I am happy with my community right now!

~How can we help each other in removing the external peer pressure and grow in the community?

Not glamourizing witchcraft/the occult would probably be a good start. Not making it seem like it's so special and so aesthetic and more beautiful. Witchcraft is not all glitz and glam and it doesn't need to be, not everyone needs to have a super aesthetic and 'special' practice because in the end everyone's practice is valid, special to themselves, and beautiful and there shouldn't be this idea that you need certain things or need to do things certain ways to be valid.

~How can we, as a community, come together more with constructive criticism without it seeming shady/passive aggressive? ~How can we, as a community, do better when we do receive criticism/feedback?

As a community, I think listening to each other critically thinking over our responses and looking at their response as a whole is best to not make everything seem like it's shady, passive-aggressive, or an attack on someone. I feel like people often get talked over or talk over each other and go in circles because they don't listen to one another critically or genuinely.

~Who are some community members that I look up to that are reliable resources and aspirations?

Ella Harrison, Ivy The Occultist, The Norse Witch, De Spökenkyker, Chaotic Witch Aunt, The Witch of Wonderlust, Hex Marie, and Hearth Witch. That's just to name a few

~Further thoughts? I think I covered most of what I wanted to talk about!

Thank you so much, feel free to join this tag at any time on whatever platform, once again I will eventually also have a video version of this!

[sagemoor]

#occultea response

This is super long, I apologise! I've decided to use this platform to talk about this, even though I haven't really used it in 6 years, because I feel like tumblr is the first place I was introduced to witchcraft social media on. And also, my only other media besides discord is personal and not witchcraft-related. Introduction I'm Tea, and I am a green and folk witch who has lived in and practiced the folk magic of America, Scotland, and Ireland. I have been practicing witchcraft for about 10 years (I am 25, despite what my bio says). I also am a moderator of a large online witchcraft discord, and that is what most of my answers here will be based on. I will also include here that I am a PhD candidate in plant sciences, close to finishing - I think this is relevant because a lot of my expertise and access to research (even like, JSTOR articles on witchcraft) is enabled and encouraged by my entrenchment in academia.

Topic 1 I share my practice online for community. I thankfully now live in a place where the in-person witchcraft community is pretty great, but I lived in small cities and areas where most witchcraft discussions centered around Wicca (which I have never been interested in as a path for myself). I started sharing here first on an account that was accidentally deleted in 2017 but I moved to discord a couple of years ago and really found (and then started another) community there. I have never wanted to teach but rather just wanted a serious space where I could discuss what books I was reading mainly. I think community is great at introducing me/you to new things and furthering my/your craft, and that is what I hope to accomplish by sharing my own craft. I think social media has impacted the community in a lot of ways, both good and bad. I honestly think it depends on the space in which the community operates - I will not pretend the discord I mod is perfect, but I also think a lot of other witchcraft discords I have been in can run a little rampant in misinformation found on witchtok, tumblr, etc.. I'm sure we have some too, because it's super hard to weed out when crafts are so personal. I think one of the biggest things is the spread of misinformation seems to have exploded with the explosion of short form content. There is just no nuance in any short form content, witchcraft or no. And with UPG this gets even more complicated. The only way I find I am able to combat misinformation anywhere is to not accept anything I see as fact, until I have either tried it for myself, or if it is verifiable from other sources (which a lot of my practice is - if I find folklore repeated in many books which are well sourced, I take that as good info). But I definitely struggle with knowing when someone is speaking in UPG terms or in folkloric terms especially when it comes to deities. For content creators, I do really think it is important to distinguish what is UPG and what may not be.

I also think there is an issue with people exaggerating experiences that they've had to get views / attention / whatever, and that can lead a lot of people who are beginning and can't recognize exaggerations feeling inadequate. I think with experience people begin to realise that certain claims are ridiculous, and it no longer bothers them (it no longer bothers me), but that can be a hard lesson learned. Social media allows people to compare themselves to others and can lead to overconsumption, which I won't say a ton about because I feel like this is covered a lot. I think witchcraft requires a degree of skepticism, and it may take a while for newer witches (and even some who have been practicing a while) to develop the skills needed in sorting out good information from bad information. But! There are also a lot of communities which dispel misinformation, exaggerated claims, and the like. Thankfully, I feel like these communities which are 'serious' witchcraft communities are starting to be a little more well-regarded than the areas which aren't as discerning. With discussions like these, and big creators talking about it, I think more and more awareness will spread and will prevent people from taking advantage.

And social media introduces a lot more people to the space, to know that it's even a thing that they may be able to approach. I found witchcraft here, when someone posted an aesthetic graphic of the Green Witch by Murphy-Hiscock that made it's way onto my feed. I read it, and resonated with what I read. My craft has developed since then, and I may have found witchcraft some other way eventually, but there really is this amazing reach that has helped so many people find what path was for them. I think defining witch vs new ager vs pagan is a whole other issue (one for another time) but honestly, how am I affected by you calling yourself a witch if you don't fit into my definition? I'm not. I think that will be another challenge for the community in the coming years - accepting that your definitions and practice do not rule other people's. But I digress.

In terms of consumption of media replacing practice, I definitely think it can. It's not something I personally struggle with, as I cast spells when I need to and don't consume a huge amount of witchcraft content outside of discord, but I definitely did when I was younger and living with parents who weren't witches. I mean, we have the term 'armchair witchcraft' for a reason - it definitely exists. I said earlier I had been practicing for about ten years, and when I typed it I knew I would address here that I have been practicing seriously for about six or seven. Moving into my own space allowed me to start practicing the way I wanted to. I still consume a lot of content in the way of books, but as time has passed my reading preferences are less spellbooks and more historical accounts.

Topic 2 I am not an influencer but what I share on discord is minimal (I don't share spirit workings besides showing herbs, deity workings, and many of my spells) but it is authentic. I don't really have the resources to post anything that isn't authentic if I am including a picture. I am more liable to post recipes with plant correspondences connected, or a list of folklore associated with a particular plant I am working on. If I do share a picture, I may include a list of spell components, but I never share what I did with them if that makes sense (like only sharing the ingredients of a recipe but not cooking instructions). Everything else feels too private to me.

I'm only affected by censorship by having things of certain topics like domination magic, blood magic, etc., behind an 18+ wall on the server. This is done because adults who are posting that info don't want to be sharing it with minors, which is the correct take! People will find things online anyway, but that doesn't mean it has to be through us.

I've definitely seen grifters in the community. Mainly here or spamming DMs on discord or instagram. I don't think this is a spicy take, but anyone trying to sell you something that isn't tangible (like selling a spirit) seems too risky to me, and not to mention unethical. If you get something direct in response, like a tarot reading, fine. But I personally wouldn't risk sending someone money to do a spell for me (again, unless it's tangible like a witch ladder or a knot magic hat or an oil or something). I think we talk about scammers so much in the community now though, that it's not something I really need to discuss because everyone knows about it.

I discussed misinfo in the topic above, and the only way I can think of to combat it is to talk about how it is rampant, and tell people to double and triple check their sources. Educating yourself isn't easy. Watching a tiktok or even a youtube video is not going to give you all the information. People will have to get comfortable doing research and then actually doing the witchcraft themselves 🤷🏼‍♀️. Also like I said, clearly stating UPG is important.

This has been said on every one of the videos discussing this I've watched: definitely having a large following automatically makes people think you're an expert. I've noticed this even on my relatively-small discord: being a mod in a position of power makes people believe you are all knowing. We try to staff based on activity and level-headedness and chemistry, so a lot of our staff are beginners. The rest of us who aren't beginners make it very clear what we're experts in and what we're not. Again, I think this goes back to doing my/your own research rather than maybe expecting to be spoonfed information.

Topic 3 I can get inspiration from content creators or other discord members, definitely. But I tend to take that and do my research and figure out how to do it in a way that works for me. I don't really get FOMO, but I feel like that is a product of knowing myself and knowing my craft and having lived in it for a while.

Rather than feeling FOMO, I feel like oftentimes I can feel quite burnt out. It's not a product of comparing myself to others necessarily, but especially with the moderating of the server. I don't know how content creators do it. I am a firm believer in going through seasons in your craft, and I think that can be so hard to do when you operate in a space where a lot of your community (or your job) revolves around one thing.

I don't know what my craft would look like without social media, to be honest.

Topic 4 I definitely think online communities are as valid as in-person communities. I am extremely grateful for the friends I have made on discord and online - they have pushed me and my craft to grow in a way it never would've without them by asking questions, recommending books, and sharing their own ideas.

I personally haven't been affected by people capitalising off of witchcraft, nor do I know anyone who has been. I definitely think some things should be paywalled so creators can get their due, but also almost all of the information you want to find you can find for free. It's whether you want to hunt to find that information, and whether you trust the sources that information may come from. I think the only way to ensure a course/etc is valid is to have info on who's running it. Who is teaching? What are they teaching? how long have they been practicing what they're teaching? Do they have a good bibliography / resource list for further reading? What are their accreditations? These are all questions we need to ask before we purchase something like that. Conclusions I feel like communities are always going to have issues, bad eggs, tension, all of that. There's no way to prevent it. I think the witchcraft community needs more honesty (not rudeness - honesty) about what they're doing and why, and I think it's important for people to know why they do things in their practice and why they work (the example I always use is, why do we stir tea clockwise to 'bring an intention'? It's an adaptation of movement in a circle thrice from British Traditional Witchcraft, but a lot of tiktoks don't share this when talking about the method). This will help prevent misinformation from spreading and can give context to posts. I also think people need to understand that some people's crafts will look strange to you. You may not call what they do witchcraft, but they do, and like I mentioned before, we all need to just accept that that's the way it is. This will be easier when people stop inflating their experiences (if they ever do), but for right now I think making your own experiences known to whatever extent you want is important. Even I can step up and say I did not have a deity choose me from birth, nor have my deities or spirits ever acted in a romantic, sexual, parental, or even best friend-type of way toward me. My relationships with my spirits has always been friendly and professional, but if they were not working with me, they would find another witch. I am not the Chosen One. Other people may have had these experiences, but that's not my experience, and that doesn't make me less of a witch.

Having this conversation about social media and its impact on the community is important, and I think just having this conversation by itself will make a big change.

Thank you for listening to my thoughts, especially if you made it this far. I'm not on tumblr much nowadays, but maybe I'll return to it someday.

Tea xx

[i-am-theseeker]

#Occultea | Social Media Witchcraft: Grifters, Aesthetics, Consumerism, Gatekeeping

I’m looking forward to many and different voices adding to the discussion “Social Media Witchcraft: A Community Conversation About the Things That Divide Us” via the hashtag #OcculTea. The hosts are kickstarting the conversation off with these videos from Ella Harrison, Polish Folk Witch, and The Redheaded Witch. “All members of the occult & witchcraft […]#Occultea | Social Media Witchcraft:…

[neonmoon227]

We've got new some new vods up! Please go to check them out if you want!

[thatawkwardwitch]

#OcculTea

I've been seeing stuff about this conversation and I want in so here's my contribution! (questions from @ ella.harrison's Instagram)

Hi! I'm thatawkwardwitch or kit whatever you wanna call me is fine! I've been participating in the online community for about as long as I've been practicing. I sought out an online community pretty early on because I started practicing during lockdown and I desperately wanted to find people I could connect with about witchcraft. I usually reblog informational posts for beginners. When I make my own content, it's usually just little snippets of my practice. I'm still trying to find my groove here and figure out exactly what kind of space I want my blog to be.

I like sharing my practice online because I don't have a strong in-person witchcraft community. A few of my irl friends practice, but it's not something we talk about for whatever reason

I hope to learn more about other people's practices and experiences as well as to connect with other people

I really only know the online community and don't have an in-person community to compare it to, so I feel like I can't fully answer this question

I'm not primarily on Instagram, I'm mostly there just for art stuff so I'm going to skip that one. Uh oh god tik tok. I feel like TikTok is good if you want aesthetics and that's about it. As far as sharing information, the format of the app doesn't really allow for any in-depth discussion. I've seen and heard a lot of misinformation being spread and people just running with it. I like YouTube a lot though! There are good educational videos, and because the format allows for longer videos, it's great for discussing and sharing information on more complex topics. However, I feel like most people don't go to YouTube? I feel like everyone's first go-to is TikTok even though WitchTok doesn't really exist anymore. I feel as though TikTok has sort of accustomed people to being spoonfed information, so beginners are less likely to go to other sources where they actually have to work for information.

yes and no. I think it's really easy to get into a rut in your practice and just stick to consuming content instead of working through the rut. But it's not just social media. "Armchair occultists" have been around forever, as long as there have been books about it. So yes, I guess it can be a substitute, but no, in the sense that, it's not everyone. Most people I know online still practice outside of social media so I'm not sure how much of a problem it actually is

I don't share a lot about my own personal practice on social media, or irl for that matter. I've posted a few spells and those weren't fully staged but they also weren't fully reality either. Like, I actually did the spell, but I kept some parts of it offline so it couldn't be undone since it was a protection spell. As far as all the experiences I've shared, I share them as I've experienced them. I do experience psychosis so I can't say that all of them were 100% reality looking back on some earlier experiences (but I'm not sure if I've even shared those ones), but I report things as I perceived them happening to me.

I don't know shit about social media etiquette so that's definitely not a part of whether or not I share stuff. Most of the time it's personal preference not to share. I try to be very careful about asking my spiritual team what I can and cannot share. Lately, I've been trying to practice more of what chaoticwitchaunt called "moving in silence" mostly as a way to protect myself from the evil eye, but also because I've definitely gotten in trouble with my spiritual team because I've shared stuff I wasn't supposed to. In general, there definitely is censorship. Most platforms won't show or let creators talk about blood, bones, fire, etc. and then there's cancel culture. which I'm not going to go too far in depth about but people love to censor each other.

Yes. I've thankfully never encountered any, but there's gonna be grifters in any community that can be capitalized on. Because I don't have any experience with grifters, I'm not sure what all the warning signs are but definitely double-check and cross-reference people before doing business with them.

I think the best way to stop the spread of misinformation is to develop and hone your media literacy skills. Critical thinking is so important, especially in this space. Do your own research on a topic; don't just take one person's word as fact

I feel like a lot of people will look at someone with a large following and immediately assume that they're an expert, but in reality it just means that they know how to work an algorithm, a completely different skill than witchcraft.

While I don't quite consider myself a witchy content creator, I am still a content creator for fandoms/bandoms. The main thing I do to keep authenticity is to take breaks from content creation. I can't work well when I'm struggling with schoolwork or mental health. When I take a break from social media, I usually state why so my followers know what's going on, but I never try to promise content I'm not sure I can or will make

I like seeing content from other creators. I find it particularly inspiring, especially if I've gotten stuck in my own practice or if I've fallen out of a daily routine. It's motivation to keep practicing.

I don't think I've ever let FOMO get me to the point where I've been taken advantage of. I guess I got lucky where all my beginning resources stressed the importance of not needing tools, so it really stuck in my head. I don't think I've ever purchased anything because of FOMO.

Unfortunately, yes. The main way that FOMO gets me is when I see people who have been brought up practicing or people who have easy access to their ancestral practices. As someone who's trying to reconnect, when I see other people who have reconnected or are further along in the process, I do feel a bit bad and frustrated with where I'm at, but it is something I am working on. I don't want it to prevent me from practicing

I haven't really experienced imposter syndrome in this area of my life yet. And I think that's just because I don't have a huge online witchy presence. But because I've experienced imposter syndrome in other areas of my life, one of the things I use to fight it, is to remind myself of all the work I've done to get to where I am

Oh god. I think I'd be Wiccan and I'm not saying it like it's a bad thing but most of my early books on witchcraft were written by Wiccan authors. If I didn't have online media, those Wiccan sources would be all I had because that's what my dad reads. I'm sure eventually, I would have found my way to Christian Witchcraft, but I think I would have never worked with the Norse gods and I would have missed all their lessons. Because my dad is into Gnosticism and Wicca, without online resources, I don't think I would have ever explored other routes

I think having an in person community is far more fruitful than an online one. Not that online spaces can't be important, but there's only so much connection you can get from behind a screen

Like I said above, I don't think I would have gone down the path I did if I didn't have an online community. It's how I learned about ancestor veneration, and folk magic, and it gave me a reading list outside of the stuff my dad reads.

I think the biggest danger to the capitalization of witchcraft is the appropriation of closed cultures and practices

I have not, and I don't know anyone who's been personally affected (to my knowledge)

Yes. If people are providing you services that they worked hard on, they should be compensated for their work. While I think knowledge should be readily accessible in general, it is still important to protect that knowledge as well as people's time and efforts. Especially in the world we live in where everything costs money. If people are providing a service, it's almost a necessity that they be duly compensated

Again, cross-reference and double-check everything

I wish people would talk more about how to do research. We're always telling people to do the research, but as I'm finding out just from group projects in college, most people don't know how to do research. And I think I'll make a quick and dirty guide to research at some point because this is something that's been bugging me for a while

I feel like I just need to interact more. I do a lot of lurking so I feel like my needs will be met once I start interacting

Honestly, I don't know. I think assuming the best out of people, not to the point of naivety but assuming good intentions.

Again assuming good intentions.

chaoticwitchaunt on YouTube is the main person I go to. Seeking Witchcraft (podcast) was a vital source for me as a beginner. I also like The Red Text (podcast) as well

I'd just encourage my mutuals and followers to comment and share their own experiences. I really want to be more engaged in this community so this is an attempt at doing so <3

[dowsingfordivinity]

Occultea 5: Conclusions

Joanna Wiedźma (polish.folk.witch on Instagram) has shared some prompts to get people thinking about online witchcraft community. To participate, use the hashtag #occultea and tag her on Instagram or Threads. 5. Conclusions • What are some topics of conversation I’d like to see more of in our community? • What are my community needs? • Where would I like to be held and supported? • Where do…

[ivy-kissobryos]

#OcculTea - A Reflection on Social Media and the Occult

A few days back, I came across a post by @ella.harrison, @the.redheaedwitch and @polish.folk.witch on Instagram which invites individuals within the occult community to participate in a dialogue around the topic of social media in relation to one’s occult practice. Several questions were raised as prompts, and I would like to — as a form of self-reflection, and to participate in the discussion — write a short post in response to some of these prompts.

Before I begin, a quick introduction for those who may be new to my blog and unfamiliar with me: I go by the name of Ivy Senna online. My practice is varied, and I share bits and pieces of my practice occasionally online, mostly to do with rituals I have done (witchcraft rites, adaptations of the Greek Magical Papyri, folk charms etc) or sharing photos of my astrolatry practice. I am a published author in the occult sphere, with my writings having been published by Hadean Press and Revelore Press and other places throughout the last two years. Still, my online presence is relatively small and I would not consider myself to be an ‘influencer’ or anything of that sort. 

I am choosing to share it on my Tumblr rather than on my Wordpress blog (uponthealtar.com) due to the more informal nature of the discussion, and I will be focusing on my experiences with Instagram as that is my main social media platform nowadays.

What is my personal reasoning behind sharing my practice online?

I first began posting on Instagram in 2020. It started as a fun way to record my work, to make visual notes of my thoughts and discoveries. Then, it became a form of self-expression: ritual photography, in the right context, is something I find to be genuinely fun and beautiful. In time, Instagram became a way to promote my Wordpress blog. After I became officially published at various different places, social media became a way to promote those pieces of writing as well. Now, it is an amalgamation of a promotional tool, a place for me to post ‘cool’ photos in an artistic manner, to share bits and pieces of myself and my practice, and to keep in touch with friends and interact with my readers alike.

What am I looking to achieve by participating? Do I seek to educate, learn or connect?

I believe there are two reasons why I, as a writer, began writing. First, is because writing keeps me sane: it is my source of escapism, of the nutrition of the heart and soul, writing being the thing that replenishes me and shelters me both. Second, is because I have something to say. Sometimes I may have some thoughts on a particular god or star or piece of folklore, thoughts that I want to share, to know that I am not alone in my experiences. Sometimes it is the love for my gods and spirits that makes me want to share something about them to the wider world who may not know certain sides of them. Sometimes it is the irritation at seeing misinformation that makes me want to spread accurate information as a form of pushback. Sometimes it is the rage at realizing that — within this English-speaking social space — the discussions regarding my local folklore and practices has been dominated by voices from outside the local culture, voices of those who are arguably misrepresenting or fetishizing the things I hold dear.

So yes, I create content as a way to both connect and educate.

Consuming social media content, on the other hand, is partially how I learn. I say partially because although there have been great tips and tricks that I have gathered via Instagram posts and reels, I find that most of my knowledge and skill comes instead from experimentation, from hard-earned experiences, from autodidactic learning via courses and grimoires, much of these being guided by my spirits. In this case, it can be said that I do use social media to connect myself with those whom I can learn from. Yet, time and time again genuine friendship has arised from these social media encounters. Many of these bonds of companionship and care have come to mean a lot to me.

How do I think social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube have each impacted education/sharing information?

I do not use TikTok nor do I engage with occult YouTube (much of my YouTube followings are simply food channels or video game channels), I will refrain from commenting on those platforms. But, one thing I notice about Instagram, is how things such as ‘reels’ tend to be prioritized by the algorithm over photos and mundane posts. And, as reels can only be a few minutes long at most, I believe that there is a danger that it may lead to an oversimplification of complex magical concepts. There may be a risk of people preferring things that are fast, easily digestible, and visually engaging to look at— when many times witchcraft is anything but palatable. This perhaps is why I very much prefer blogs, or podcasts, or anything long-form where nuances can be explored.

However, this is not a criticism though of those who post reels in order to advertise their occult businesses. People have to make ends meet, to put food on the table. What I am criticizing instead is the very structure of capitalism and consumerism that is promoted by platforms such as Instagram.

Out of what I share on social media, how much of it is staged vs reality?

All the photos I post of the devotional rites I perform are real. I am not one to simply just stage something without actually going through with the offerings or the prayers. However, there is a degree of things being ‘staged’ in the sense that sometimes I do move things around to make sure the lighting looks good, or I edit things in post-production to make the colors more aesthetically pleasing. More than that, when it comes to ritual, certain things are intentionally hidden out of frame. For example, I may show the front of an object but hide its back because it is there that I have inscribed specific names or petitions behind it. It must be known too that not all of the rites I do look as pretty as the things I post. Hence, it is less of a question of how much of what I share is real, but more of a question of how much of what I do goes unshared.

Do I think there is an element of censorship in online spaces? How do I decipher what is ‘appropriate’ to share online versus what to keep privately?

Of course there is censorship among online occult spaces— the very word ‘occult’ or ‘occulted’ means to be hidden. To think otherwise is foolishness, and if someone claims they are sharing everything they practice online then I wonder how much of their practice is actually genuine.

If I choose to not share something, there are usually two reasons: practicality and privacy.

In terms of practicality, it’s just the basic truth of how I am not in the habit of snapping photos if I am outside doing rituals at 3am alone in an abandoned area of my city. It’s dangerous enough being alone in such a situation; there is no way I’m going to wave my iPhone around to lure in muggers and thieves. Likewise, much of my ritual requires me to be in a trance-state. Even if something amazing happens during the ritual, I am not about to break the state of flow I am in just to take an aesthetic photo for social media. 

In terms of privacy, some things are just too personal to share. For example, I do not share photos of the weekly offering rituals I do for my spirit court. No one, aside from my closest friends, have even seen my ancestral altar or the full extent of my current working altar either. Even then, there are times when I would blur out things or crop out things before sending photos to those whom I trust— not because I don’t trust them, but because I respect the privacy of my spirit. Witchcraft is inseparable from spirit work, and my spirits deserve their privacy because some things are meant for their eyes and mine only. There are things I don’t write about nor post about. Secrecy is a part of witchcraft, and there are cases where power shared is power lost. A witch, in my opinion, should know how to keep their sharpest blade hidden and their trump card close to their chest. 

Additionally, many rituals are just too much to be shared, for a lack of a better word. There are times when I am naked, crawling on all fours, smearing my menstrual blood onto ritual objects. There are times when I work myself up into a frenzy, where I am crying and shouting, ritualistically making use of the tears running down my face and the emotional turmoil within my heart. In other words, there are moments which are just too intimate and vulnerable to be shared. 

Other reasons are more selfish: there are things I fear being misconstrued if I do share them. I do not want the things I hold dear to be misappropriated by people who don’t understand what they are doing.

How does one maintain the balance of authenticity and content creation?

By touching grass.

I jest, but sometimes you really do have to log off and be with yourself.

It’s easy to lose yourself in the online world, especially if a lot of your friends are online too. But, spending time with your spirits — in the dirt, under the stars, among the waters — is a good way to remind yourself of what your practice actually consists of and why you are doing all of this. Content creation is an extra thing, not the core of what you do. Another rule I have is that I don’t post something unless there is truth in it. I will never claim to do a ritual I did not actually do. If something is UPG or inspired by the works of others, then I cite and declare that. I will never claim that something is mine when it is not mine.

It is true though that there is a degree of performativity on social media: we only show our best selves here, rarely our vulnerabilities. For me, it is important for me to remind myself that all the people I look up to — on social media and in real life — eat and shit and have sick days and days when they just feel like doing nothing too. They edit themselves online and so do I. We all do, to a degree. After all, no one needs to know the nights when we stay up late questioning our sanity or having a mental breakdown over feelings of shame or inadequacy.

Everyone lies, yet to remain authentic is to be true to our heart, to acknowledge that we are both the mask and the performer wearing the mask.

How can we help each other in removing the external peer pressure and grow in community?

Everyone does something stupid every once in a while. We all fuck up from time to time— so why not share that?

I understand though that it is harder said than done, for consequences of occult mishaps can be emotionally painful and sometimes severe enough to derail one’s life. Yet, all of this reminds me of recent discussions in academia, of how the pressure to produce results of experimental success has contributed to how people may feel like they have no choice but to exaggerate results or, in the worst case scenario, falsify their findings. It is similar in the occult scene: we praise those who have seemingly amazing successes in their magic, not seeing the time and effort that went into perfecting their crafts, the countless occasions where they have failed before they succeed.

I think we should be open to discussing when spirit pacts don’t work out, when a relationship with a god isn’t what you thought it would be, when a magic ritual ended up having unintended consequences et cetera. I think we should be more open about the pain and heartache that comes with witchcraft, how terrifying and lonely and maddening it can feel sometimes, how sometimes you may feel lost in a fallow period where you feel out of touch with your gods and spirits.

All of this to say, I think we should normalize failure and being less than perfect.

[thornthewitch]

#OcculTea: A Video and More Thoughts

Earlier this week, Ella Harrison, Polish Folk Witch, and the Redheaded Witch asked participants in online witchcraft communities to use #occultea and share their thoughts on a series of prompts about participating in these spaces. I’ve spent the last couple of days watching folks on YouTube, Instagram, and elsewhere begin responding, and it’s been really gratifying for me. I both love and hate…

[blue-hamble]

Squat Frog Coffee House was a cozy and inviting thing of wood and mud brick. It stood by the side of a seldom-tread path of Singer's Brook, beside a stream of the mountain pass. Its lanterns cut through the persistent caress of the mist, casting a nostalgic air to all who see it. Many a customer found themselves reminiscing over a cuppa. The moon, faint, was still visible in the dawn. Lute sat at the counter with a mug of hot coffee. The spiral savored every sip, eyes still reluctant to open. It was sweet and had a bit of fruitiness typical of Plateau-grown coffee cherries. How he managed to run a coffee shop so early in the morning was a miracle. He took his time with his little rituals, willing himself to wake by going thru the tasks for the day. This morning's cliff lions were already washed and set aside for brewing tea. Still stocked up on fairy ears and cindermint. Still a good supply of tea leaves, and fermented tea cakes. If he had some extra time he could contemplate what kind of coffee beans to trade for. Lute opened his eyes a crack at his partner-in-crime beside him, Squat Frog.

His grandfather's favorite teapot had accompanied him everywhere. How colorful their adventures were before landing here! It was only fair the shop bore its name. The little green frog's eyes seemed to be as equally sleepy as he was.

"Another day, another cup, my squat friend. Let's see who needs us today."

Thanks for reading! This is the first entry of a lore journal thread inspired by solo RPG journal games Occulteas and Last Tea Shop! I will be posting every shop day encounter on Tumblr and the forums. My stories will be interacting with my own lore dragons but I would love to try interacting with other RP dragons in this format!

Find the thread here! https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/rp/3238950/1#post_3238950

[aesethewitch]

So, I like to watch witchy youtube sometimes. It's a fun place to get ideas, inspiration, and learn about practices in a format where I can walk away and just listen to them talk about whatever they're doing. And awhile ago, they had a wave of people doing this OcculTea hashtag to talk about witchcraft content creation, community, and issues from a creator perspective and it's really interesting!

I did a quick search of that specific tag here on tumblr, and a couple people have made posts about it, but not a lot. Maybe I'll take a swing at the questions they ask as part of the tag. It's all got me thinking, and they're good things to consider.

[jarredlharris]

My Contribution to the OcculTea Conversation - Topc 4: Capitalising Off Community

The fourth and final topic for the #OcculTea conversation is “Capitalising Off Community.” In this blog post, I will offer my thoughts on the prompt questions provided. Do I consider online communities as equally valid to in-person communities? I want to start my answer to this question with the obvious disclaimer that this is my personal opinion. For me, online community and in-person…

[glitterinmotion]

Fire spellcraft

Recently i tried to work more with the fire element, so this post answers some basics questions for beginners or curious practicers like myself about how to deal with the element of fire.

Before to go:

beginner @rosemarymilkwitch​

fire witch starter pack @auricwitch

fire stuff @kendallscraft

fire in magick @la-petitefille

fire witchcraft : tools and associations  @themanicnami

Fire festivals: 

According to Druidry, Celtic magic and Gardnerian wicca there are 4 fire festivals: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lammas/Lughnasadh. Here some links to find more informations about each one and more specifics spells or activities to practice.

Samhain @trippingpixies

Imbolc @witchtips

Beltane @recreationalwitchcraft

Lammas @herecomesthewitch 

january fire ritual @witchoncampus

bonefire magick ritual for samhain @thepaintedwitch

tips @witchoncampus

About candles:

sabbat candle colors @wiccanbeings 

simple candle spell @grimoire101

candle reading @beginnerwitchybitch

color magick @yourlocal-faewitch / another candle color for spells and rituals @strangeoccult666 @theplantwitch

reading candles for yes or no questions @raindrops-and-magick

Connecting to the element:

fire grounding @orriculum

calling the elements @naturestrexsures

beginner fire connection @sons-of-the-craft

elemental correspondence @stormwaterwitch

fire elements correspondences @thewitchesvoice

Connecting to...Dragons:

This is not a masterpost about draconic magick (hum...maybe later). Want to know more ? Take a little time to read this post about draconic magick by @magickalwitchling.

“i’m open to dragonic magick” @sugarandspells

an introducing to dragon’s blood @blindwyrm​

dragon’s banishing breath @chaoticirce

fire dragon associations @nightkunoichi a very interesting blog about draconic witchcraft

dragon’s hoard @nightkunoichi

dragon’s heart glamour @theearthygrimoire

dragon tarot spread @otherworldly-witch

dragons and their gems @lavenderwateressence

Sun workship:

solar connection @healing-sun-witch

solar candles @arcandemy

sun positivity @chaosandstars at the end of winter to welcome the new season

sun spell to light your way @theladymorganlefay

sun salts @healing-sun-witch this blog is just amazing, with a ton of spells related to the sun, i just renoted some of them here but there are more to discover !

fire & sun witch bottle @healing-sun-witch

sun positivity, happiness and protection spell jar @healing-sun-witch

sun candle spell @la-petitefille

“cloak of the sun” @sunshinewix  

sun kissed jar spell @sea-sor-ceress

Fire inside: 

invoque fire within you  @olliethepants​

the best defense is a godd offence @olliethepants​

“i’m damn hot” fire charm @themanicnami

phoenix rebirth spell @phoenix-brevitas-yt

energize yourself @lightofmars

fire spell for strength @theladymorganlefay

breath fire @themagpiesmusings

endure spell @themanicnami

‘fire rose” healing and protection spell @lightofmars

fire protection spell inspired by anime @orriculum

“fire dust” healing and easing emotional pain @lightofmars

fire oil @lepuslunamgrimoire

fire-spirit spell for creativity @faeryqueenwitch 

banishing negativity @themetastation

spark spell potion @aphroditiful​ focus and motivation

first steps to pyrokinesis @theglamourwitch

fire witch self care tips @la-petitefille

“feel the burn” curse jar @lotuseatingwitch

fire salt skyrim inspired @lunaesteria

With crystals and stones:

essential crystals post @my-witchinghour

sun crystals and how to use them @healing-sun-witch

divination spell @themanicnami

bloodstone @occulteaism

carnelian sachet @healing-sun-witch 

amber @occulteaism

morning ray of sunshine crystal grid @prana-mudra

citrine @witchtinguette

Tarot:

tarot tips: the 4 elements @backtoethereality

spread for beltane @tarot-dreams

fuel your fire tarot spread @chimeracraftstudios

my life is a hot garbage fire @ravenmagill 

“what’s up Apollo ?” @sunwtch

With sigils:

Brighid @dreamy-kat 

sun and moon sigils @borboranoir 

phoenix sigil @borboranoir

fire sigil @borboranoir

fire sigil @onesigiladay

i’m connected to the element of fire @onesigiladay

elemental servitor @sigilseer

sigil of the firebird @sigilseer

Others:

white fire @whitesnakeprophecies

magical properties of incense @phynxrizng

Thanks to contributors! And if you don’t agree to this use, tell me and i will removed you of the post.

[motherofmoonthread]

hi im a baby witch and my friend’s sister (an experienced with) cursed him with being a misfit, never finding love, be in an abusive relationship, and to never have purpose. do you think there’s any way to break it?

Hey, anon!

First of all, I am so sorry that your friend’s sister would curse him and that the responsibility for breaking this curse is falling on your shoulders. I shudder to think of how awful that must be for both of you, but especially for you. Your spiritual practice being dragged into a family conflict is awful (but so is a family conflict being aggravated with spiritual practices in the first place! Shame on the sister here, honestly.)

Second of all, I would recommend seeking ways to mediate before attempting any curse breaking. I don’t know the situation between your friend and his sister, but if there is any way to have the caster remove the curse, it will be much easier on you. Of course, you can’t always talk out every issue, and if that fails, then I do have some resources for you.

I haven’t been unfortunate enough to be cursed much in the past, but when I was cursed, I did a few things. With enough work, it is my belief that any curse is able to be undone.

Before you try to remove this curse, I would recommend you spend a few days building up some wards around yourself and your space. Protecting yourself against possible retribution is super important when first dipping your toes into curse breaking, particularly when you’re breaking the curse cast by someone with more experience than yourself. I would also recommend that after all is said and done, you offer your friend some similar protections that he can carry on his person.

@occulteaism has a really great guide here about breaking curses and hexes (though I, personally, see curses as intense, intentionally very harmful magic, and hexing as smaller, less intense magic that can be accidental. Either way, their advice is great.) Reflection spells are great for removing curses and returning them to their senders, but the potential for retribution over this method is why I advise putting up protections for yourself. Of course, replace “me” in the incantation with your friend’s (full!) name, and if you’d like some extra oomph, between the first two lines, say the caster’s full name.

@recreationalwitchcraft has a wonderful banishing scrub that I also recommend your friend use after you cast the reflection spell. I also highly recommend the creation of a witch’s bottle (post by @moonlightacademy) for any and every practitioner. They essentially act as a return to sender spell, but they’re preventative rather than performed post-curse. Evil eye amulets are also great for personal protection you can carry on you. Of course, any and every one of these methods can be adapted to be cast on or used for others. Typically, replacing taglocks (things that bind a spell to the target, ex. hair, nail clippings, spit, urine, etc) and/or replacing names/pronouns is enough to direct that energy onto another rather than casting for yourself.

I recommend you get the consent of your friend before casting, and I wish you the best of luck in breaking this curse. If you have to do the spell a few times, or if you don’t get the results you’re looking for right away, don’t lose hope, and you’re welcome to come back for more advice if you’d like it. I can’t guarantee your desired results, but I can say that I have given you the best advice my knowledge allows me to, and that I am here to offer more ideas if you need them.

Best of luck, anon!

[wtfzodiacsigns]

The Signs as Types of Witches

I saw a post on Pinterest about the Zodiac signs as types of witches, and decided to expand on it and post it here! Note that you don’t in any way need to change your practices to match anything listed here. This is just for fun!

Aries ~ Fire Witch. Focuses on the element of fire, using candles, braziers, and hot coals. Activates spells by burning objects and often meditates while staring into an open flame.

Taurus ~ Green Witch. Very in-tune with nature, especially when it comes to plants. Have an intimate knowledge for the uses of herbs both magickal and medicinal and does their best work outdoors in a verdant place.

Gemini ~ Crystal Witch. Well-versed in the uses of crystals and likely to spend a considerable amount of time clearing and charging them. Adept at using crystals for healing, such as balancing chakras.

Cancer ~ Kitchen Witch. Most at home working their magick in the kitchen, they imbue their energies into cooking and baking in order to heal and empower themselves and their loved ones.

Leo ~ Lunar Witch. Always keeping a close eye on the phases of the moon and how to best apply them, they show active and devoted reverence to the lunar cycle. Most often practice the Art outside and at night.

Virgo ~ Forest Witch. Rather than commuting from civilization to nature in order to work their magick, would prefer to live in the forest itself, intimating themselves with all of nature’s mystical bounty to be found therein.

Libra ~ Music Witch. Spins their incantations into songs and using instruments as their magickal foci. Often has a good ear and uses music to heal and raise energy levels for rituals.

Scorpio ~ Nocturnal Witch. Embraces darker energies and the ways of the night, with all the mysteries involved in these shadowy experiences. Does most of their spellcraft after midnight.

Sagittarius ~ Storm Witch. Combine their energies with that of the weather, conjuring rain where there is drought or parting the storm clouds in risk of flood. Often collects items like rain water and hail for ingredients.

Capricorn ~ Astronomy Witch.Rigorously study the celestial bodies and align their spellcraft to the positions of the stars and planets. May purposefully wake up at midnight to chart the night sky.

Aquarius ~ Divination Witch. Studies and works with various different kinds of divination, including Tarot, tea leaves, I Ching, etc., etc. Tends to see themselves as a guiding hand for others.

Pisces ~ Sea Witch. Uses the ocean in their practice, performing rituals on the coast and using items like sea shells, kelp, pearls, fish scales, and driftwood. May worship water deities, such as Poseidon or Danu.

Source: occulteaism