#ozark pagan

[faithless-faithful]

I need more pagan blogs to follow that are chill with me (a queer eclectic Christopagan) following them! Any pagans generally, but especially if you're eclectic/syncrectic, Heathen, or Hellenic, and especially especially if you're Ozarker or Urglaawer (howdy kin! :D) If you're pagan and friendly, give this a like or reblog so I can check you out! Peace and blessings upon all of you 🥰

[the-trans-folk-witch]

A Warning to new witches

Reading makes you smarter. But reading does not mean you are smart. This applies to those who read occult texts as well. Just because it is about magic and witchcraft, does not mean you are smart to read it. Be discerning of authors, publishers, and wording. You should not judge a book by its cover but you SHOULD judge a book by its title. be cautious of books using words like ____ Magic(k). The overuse of adjectives to describe types of witchcraft are purely used to make books attract crowds who follow trends. An example would be "Lunar Magick" which is a title to over 200+ books on amazon. They use these names to get your money for very little information. Most of these self published books are plagiarized or just watered down versions of actual grimoires with a historical basis. Be perceptive. And if you struggle to discern if a book will be good or not, ask me! I try to read the shitty throw away books just so I can help educate my mentees on what to NOT do. Know your enemies including bad authors. (Matt auryn is one of these bad authors. No matter how popular "psychic witch" is.

[thevixenwitch]

Probably my most interesting find at the local library book sale, for only 25 cents no less!

[buggywiththefolkmagic]

Hello!! I was wondering if you have any book recommendations for Appalachian folk magic? Especially for a beginner, I’m familiar with our local “old wive’s tales” but I’d love to learn more!!

Hello there! I have answered this question before but I have some new resources so I'll list them here!

It really depends on which part of Appalachia you are looking at! And if you want to dig deeper the ancestral roots of the family you are looking at. For example my family has a lot of Welsh and British influence because that was our family source so a lot of those beliefs lingered and changed throughout the years!

Someone from Pennsylvania would likely have a lot more German roots for their practice. But despite the root differences for the folklore these practices stem from they do still share a lot of connecting points!

But having babbled all of that here are my favorite books on AFM specifically. (Mind you Christianity takes a super huge part in the practice so a lot of bible and doing things in threes for the Trinity is involved!)

Authors to check out:

H. Byron Ballard- A pagan who also practices AFM, from the NC side of Appalachia, a lot of people hate her writing style which is a bit ramble-y. I also dislike the term she uses for her own practice but that is a super simple and small complaint honestly. I own all of her books on the subject, which should say something.

A NOTE ON H. BYRON BALLARD: I no longer support her work after discovering she is a TERF. I will no longer be suggesting her as an author to follow.

Jake Richards - From Eastern TN like me! A lot of what he talks about are things I have seen before, and he breaks down complex concepts like burn blowing into something relatively easily understood. HOWEVER HAVING SAID THAT the author is partially Melungeon, so he does have some Hoodoo mixed in from his grandmother's side iirc? He does label these things in his works and explains that they are not for everyone which I do appreciate.

Rebecca Beyer - While vaguely Wiccan toned, which I attribute to her publishers/raising, she's a transplant to Appalachia and if you're looking for herbal information on Appalachia and to wax poetic about how even with a ton of people settling there SO MUCH of the natural herbs and plantlife still survive, read her work! Her work on foraging safely and environmentally is so SOOOOO good.

Brandon Weston - For Ozark Mountain range/German/Dutch Appalachian work! He has written quite a few books on the subject and all of them are a treat!

Roger J. Horne - For how to dig into folklore and apply it to your own practice! This author is pagan and does blend in some traditional work with the Appalachian but I do enjoy his work and how he applies folklore. This author is also FROM Appalachia which is nice to see.

INDIVIDUAL BOOKS TO READ:

Appalachian Folk Healing by Jake Richards - A republication of a very old book on remedies and 'spells', while kitschy and stupidly worded, after all it was a popular book created just for sales reasons, some of these remedies are things I remember having done to me! Good for both a giggle and actual information. TW for mentions of animal parts, hunting, illnesses, the G slur, period specific phobias and racism.

Albertus Magnus - These books all supposedly written by an ancient guy, were actually mildly common on traveling salesmen's trucks and wagons. So as a result a lot of people in Appalachia had access. Like the book above it is very stupidly worded and definitely of their time. Same TW as above.

Pow-Wows or Long Lost Friend - Another Pennsylvania Dutch book! Very good and very clear.

Southern Folk Medicine - A book that breaks down a lot of common medicinal beliefs in the South which does include Appalachia! Sadly not just Appalachia but a very good book regardless. THIS BOOK MADE ME UNDERSTAND THE THEORY BEHIND BLOOD ISSUES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE EVER HAS.

Moon Eyed People - A collection of Welsh folktales that brewed within Appalachia from Welsh immigrants. Very good book imo!

Granny Buck's Dibs and Dabs - This book is so worth the price tag! One of the more expensive books in my collection, but I'm fine with that. Granny Buck covers a lot of topics and I can feel the accent through the wording!

Signs, Cures, & Witchery - More German Appalachian stuff! This book and it's interviewees are from the Kentucky side of the mountains!

Witches, Ghost, and Signs - This book is based more in the Southern Appalachian area! Georgia, SC, NC, and TN specifically! Lots of folklore here, but does mention some not so great bits of the lore, but that is expected.

The Foxfire Books - What began as a school project exploded into a collection of true to life stories and idioms from Georgia elders within the mountains. SO SO GOOD OKAY? For everything. How to plant, hunt, make musical instruments, anything from the mountains? They cover.

[angelicstarsight]

Welcome

Hi, I'm Sam (she/her). I'm an Ozark folk practitioner and dual faith.

Spirits I work with:

I work with many Abrahamic spirits such as Mother Mary, archangels, and saints. I work with a few pagan deities along with plant and animal spirits.

IG: angelicstarsight

[missouri-witchcraft]

Hello, hi! Nonbinary Ozarks witch here and I'm so fucking thankful I stumbled upon your stuff via the Cernunnos hashtag. I've felt so alone being pagan in this here reddest of red states, and seeing that just one other person out there thinks like me...thank you. Also love your shit! Just got tapped by Cernunnos and your masterlist has been a huge boon 🤗🖤💚

Hey hey, nice to meet ya! I'm glad I'm not the only one around here! I've been trying to work more on stuff for this blog in the background, though it might be a while before I get any of them posted. Feel free to swing by and chat at any time!

~Jasper

[wytchwyse]

Catholicism And Christianity In Modern traditional Witchcraft And Folk Magic

I'm noticing a trend that has been growing overtime of practitioners taking issue with the historic Catholic and Christian influence on modern traditional Witchcraft, and old folk magic systems ( Appalachian, Italian-American, Ozark, Hoodoo, Braucherei etc). I understand religious trauma and the deep distrust of the christian traditions, with that said folk christianity/catholicism is largely its own thing. In the Italian American diaspora Saint worship is an act of ancestral veneration, many saints are folk saints and many of them are not even real historical people suggesting that these spirits are something else absorbed into the pantheon. I can understand how you feel about Christianity and catholicism but know that when you belittle these old traditions you are actually belittling the vestiges of what is left of much older magic. Particularly that ‘ol pagan’ magic so many are trying to find from specifically european descended traditions. So much has been lost to time, but we know that there are still remnants of much older magic within folk traditions. Be kind to these old magics, it is more like Sorcery and animism then it is like Vatican sanctioned Christianity. It took me a long time to get folk magic to work for me, when I renounced my baptism I finally could connect with it. I began approaching working with this pantheon as I do with any other god or spirit. A contractual, polite relationship based in reciprocity.

(Also i want to note that i am not at all suggesting Hoodoo is a european descended tradition)

[witchyfashion]

Llewellyn's 2025 Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living

Enjoy More Magic Every Day with Tips from Today's Top Writers

Packed with spells, rituals, and new ideas for enhancing your magical practice, this almanac has been a favorite resource for over three decades. You'll find two dozen articles, grouped by element, on a wide variety of topics, including Welsh narrative charms, playing card divination, standing stones, and Mexican sweat houses.

This almanac features an energetic forecast, which analyzes major astrological movements, numerology, the zodiac, and tarot. You'll also find recommendations for what kinds of magic to do and a convenient calendar section with world festivals, holidays, and the 2025 sabbats.

• Practice green witchery in small spaces with Monica Crosson • Make crocheted crafts for Mabon and Samhain with Opal Luna • Create or lead a Pagan festival with Stephanie Woodfield • Explore Ozark faery magic with Brandon Weston • Connect with queer ancestors with Kir Beaux • Discover the magical power of sleep with Shana Nunnelly • Color your way to successful magic with three colorable illustration spells

https://amzn.to/4d5eUgW

[alchemy-arts-bookstore]

What was your first experience with the world of magick or the occult?

However you care to think of it, or phrase it, what was your first experience with the world of magick? Mine (aside from watching TV shows or movies) was when I was in the 8th grade.

We took a class trip to somewhere in the Ozarks (the details escape me now, it was long ago) and passed through one of those touristy areas where both sides of the road are lined with souvenir shops and snack stands. The souvenirs ranged from kid things, like patterned shoelaces and stickers, to more expensive (and sometimes less tasteful) items for their parents.

The thing that caught my eye in one shop was a deck of ‘Zolar’s Astrological Tarot Fortune Telling Cards.’ I don’t have the complete deck anymore (alas) but it’s an unusual deck. It has the Rider-Waite minor arcana and playing card symbols on one side, and the major arcana and ‘astrological fortune telling cards’ on the other. Young Me was fascinated. I took them home and spent a lot of time trying to figure them out. I didn’t exactly know what I was doing, but I had fun, and that fascination with the unusual, magical and mysterious stayed with me.

These days, I buy actual tarot decks that fascinate me, and I’m learning to read the cards. I follow an eclectic Pagan path, and I surround myself (as much as possible) with the unusual, magical, mysterious, weird and witchy. Although that goofy Zolar’s deck is long gone, I’m grateful to it for being my entry into this world.

So, how about you? What was it that persuaded you to take that first step into this realm? Did you feel right at home, or does it still confuse you? Whether you’ve been here for years or are still finding your way, welcome. There are many paths, you’re sure to find yours.

Blessings,

Aspidystra

[alexesguerra]

Llewellyn's 2025 Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living Llewellyn's 2025 Calendars, Almanacs & Datebooks Llewellyn's 2025 Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living (Llewellyn's 2025 Calendars, Almanacs & Datebooks) Contributor(s): Llewellyn (Author) , Wix, Angela A (Contribution by) , Blair, Blake Octavian (Contribution by) , Crosson, Monica (Contribution by) , Kambos, James (Contribution by) , Walls, Charlynn (Contribution by) , Luna, Opal (Contribution by) , Gatson, Majorie (Contribution by) , Starling, Mhara (Contribution by) , Cicero, Sandra Tabatha (Contribution by) , Cicero, Chic (Contribution by) , Mellas, Sara (Contribution by) , Mo of Austral-Taur (Contribution by) , Rainbow Wolf, Charlie (Contribution by) , Woodfield, Stephanie (Contribution by) , Weston, Brandon (Contribution by) , González, Laura (Contribution by) , Barrette, Elizabeth (Contribution by) , Bird, Stephanie Rose (Contribution by) , Beaux, Kir (Contribution by) , Rajchel, Diana (Contribution by) , Nunnelly, Shana (Contribution by) , Walker, Jd (Contribution by) , Tipton, Melissa (Contribution by) , Zaman, Natalie (Contribution by) Publisher: Llewellyn Publication ISBN: 0738771945 Physical Info: 0.8" H x 8.0" L x 5.2" W (0.75 lbs) 288 pages As the world's oldest and largest independent publisher of books for body, mind, and spirit, Llewellyn is dedicated to bringing our readers the very best in metaphysical books and resources. Since 1901, we've been at the forefront of holistic and metaphysical publishing and thought. We've been a source of illumination, instruction, and new perspectives on a wealth of topics, including astrology, tarot, wellness, earth-based spirituality, magic, and the paranormal. From e-books to tarot-themed iPhone apps, Llewellyn has embraced the Digital Age to continue our mission. Llewellyn also partners with Italian publisher Lo Scarabeo, as the exclusive US and Canadian distributor of their beautiful tarot and oracle decks. They also partner with Blue Angel, an Australian publisher of oracles, books, CDs, and other sidelines. Table of Contents: Contents Earth Magic The Secrets of Trees by James Kambos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Green Witchery in Small Spaces by Monica Crosson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Fiber Magick Wheel of the Year: Crocheting into the Dark by Opal Luna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Standing Stones by Charlynn Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 All-Weather Spirituality by Blake Octavian Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Air Magic Playing Card Divination by Charlie Rainbow Wolf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 A Deep Dive into Divination with Decans Using Tarot by Mo of Austral-Taur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 The Air Dagger by Chic and S. Tabatha Cicero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Treasure Mapping by Sara Mellas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Magic of the Spoken Word by Mhara Starling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Evolving Our Soul through Sabian Symbols by Majorie Gatson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 2025 Almanac Date, Day, Lunar Phase, Moon's Sign, Color and Incense of the Day, Holidays and Festivals, and Time Zones . . . . . . . 108 2025 Sabbats, Full Moons, and Eclipses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 2025 Energetic Forecast by Charlie Rainbow Wolf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 2025 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Fire Magic Ozark Faery Curses by Brandon Weston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Temazcales by Laura González . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Creating and Running a Pagan Festival or Event by Stephanie Woodfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Hearth Magic by Elizabeth Barrette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 The Magical Nature of Natural Hair by Stephanie Rose Bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Water Magic When Meditation Becomes Shadow Work by Diana Rajchel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Queer Ancestral Connection by Kir Beaux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Will the Real Medusa Please Stand Up? by JD Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Tuning In to the Presence of Ancestors by Angela A. Wix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 Rest and Dreaming: A Portal to Power by Shana Nunnelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Coloring Magic Color Correspondences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 Activating the Magician's Manifestation Tools by Melissa Tipton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 The Self-Care Menagerie Meter by Natalie Zaman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 One Beautiful Thing Each Day by Angela A. Wix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 Publisher Marketing: Enjoy More Magic Every Day with Tips from Today's Top Writers Packed with spells, rituals, and new ideas for enhancing your magical practice, this almanac has been a favorite resource for over three decades. You'll find two dozen articles, grouped by element, on a wide variety of topics, including Welsh narrative charms, playing card divination, standing stones, and Mexican sweat houses. This almanac features an energetic forecast, which analyzes major astrological movements, numerology, the zodiac, and tarot. You'll also find recommendations for what kinds of magic to do and a convenient calendar section with world festivals, holidays, and the 2025 sabbats. - Practice green witchery in small spaces with Monica Crosson - Make crocheted crafts for Mabon and Samhain with Opal Luna - Create or lead a Pagan festival with Stephanie Woodfield - Explore Ozark faery magic with Brandon Weston - Connect with queer ancestors with Kir Beaux - Discover the magical power of sleep with Shana Nunnelly - Color your way to successful magic with three colorable illustration spells Published annually for thirty-five years Contributor Bio:Llewellyn As the world's oldest and largest independent publisher of books for body, mind, and spirit, Llewellyn is dedicated to bringing our readers the very best in metaphysical books and resources. Since 1901, we've been at the forefront of holistic and metaphysical publishing and thought. We've been a source of illumination, instruction, and new perspectives on a wealth of topics, including astrology, tarot, wellness, earth-based spirituality, magic, and the paranormal. From e-books to tarot-themed iPhone apps, Llewellyn has embraced the Digital Age to continue our mission. Llewellyn also partners with Italian publisher Lo Scarabeo, as the exclusive US and Canadian distributor of their beautiful tarot and oracle decks. They also partner with Blue Angel, an Australian publisher of oracles, books, CDs, and other sidelines. Contributor Bio:Wix, Angela A Angela A. Wix (Western Wisconsin) has acquired body-mind-spirit titles for Llewellyn Worldwide. She is a Certified Medical Reiki Master (CMRM), Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), and lifelong intuitive medium-in-training. She is the author of The Secret Psychic and Llewellyn's Little Book of Unicorns, and she has contributed her art and writing to additional Llewellyn titles, including Finding Your Calm, Llewellyn's 2025 Magical Almanac, and Llewellyn's Complete Book of Mindful Living. For more, visit her on Facebook and Instagram @AngelaAWix or online at www.AngelaAnn.Wix.com/arts. Contributor Bio:Crosson, Monica Monica Crosson (Concrete, Washington) is a Master Gardener who has taught gardening through her local Washington State University's extension office for more than twenty-five years. She has been a practicing Witch and educator for over thirty years and is a member of Evergreen Coven. Monica is the author of The Magickal Family and is a regular contributor to magazines such as Enchanted Living and Witchology. Visit her at AuthorMonicaCrosson.com. Contributor Bio:Luna, Opal Opal Luna, a seasoned Crone witch and Priestess of Minerva, is renowned for her crochet work and educational contributions. She is the author of Fiber Magick and occupies an officer role at Abelina's Grove, dedicated to the South Florida Pagan Community. Her leadership encompasses leading ceremonies, including the annual Hurricane Protection Ritual and the Devotional to Minerva. Follow Opal's endeavors at fibermagick.com and subscribe to the Fiber Magick Newsletter. Contributor Bio:Starling, Mhara Mhara Starling was born in North Wales, raised on the Isle of Anglesey, and is a native Welsh speaker. She is the author of Welsh Witchcraft, and her witchcraft videos on TikTok have more than a million views. Mhara is also a celebrant and a coven leader, and she runs moots, gatherings, and open rituals. She was featured in the BBC Wales documentary series Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious. Visit her on TikTok @mhara_starling. Contributor Bio:Cicero, Sandra Tabatha Both Chic and Tabatha are Chief Adepts of the Golden Dawn as re-established by Israel Regardie. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, of which Chic is the G.H. Imperator, and Tabatha is the G.H. Cancellaria, is an international Order with Temples in several countries. The Ciceros have written numerous books on the Golden Dawn, Tarot, and Magic, including Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition, The Essential Golden Dawn, Tarot Talismans, and updates, annotations and introductions to classic Israel Regardie texts such as The Philosopher's Stone, The Middle Pillar and A Garden of Pomegranates. Contributor Bio:Cicero, Chic Both Chic and Tabatha are Chief Adepts of the Golden Dawn as re-established by Israel Regardie. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, of which Chic is the G.H. Imperator, and Tabatha is the G.H. Cancellaria, is an international Order with Temples in several countries. The Ciceros have written numerous books on the Golden Dawn, Tarot, and Magic, including Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition, The Essential Golden Dawn, Tarot Talismans, and updates, annotations and introductions to classic Israel Regardie texts such as The Philosopher's Stone, The Middle Pillar and A Garden of Pomegranates. Contributor Bio:Woodfield, Stephanie Stephanie Woodfield (Orlando, FL) has been a practicing Pagan for the past twenty years. A devotional polytheist, teacher, and Priestess of the Morrigan, she is one of the founding members of Morrigu's Daughters and is an organizer for several Pagan gatherings. Stephanie teaches classes on devotional work and magical practice in the US and internationally. A long time New Englander, she now resides in the Orlando area with her husband, a very pampered cat, and various reptiles. In her spare time she enjoys creating art out of skulls and other dead things. She is called to helping others forge meaningful experiences with the Morrigan, as well as the Gods and land of Ireland. Visit her at StephanieWoodfield.com. Contributor Bio:Weston, Brandon Brandon Weston (Fayetteville, AR) is a healer, writer, and folklorist who owns and operates Ozark Healing Traditions, an online collective of articles, lectures, and workshops focusing on the Ozark Mountain region. As a practicing folk healer, his work with clients includes everything from spiritual cleanses to house blessings. He comes from a long line of Ozark hillfolk and is also a folk herbalist, yarb doctor, and power doctor. His books include Ozark Folk Magic, Ozark Mountain Spell Book, and Granny Thornapple's Book of Charms. Visit him at OzarkHealing.com. Contributor Bio:González, Laura Rev. Laura González is a bruja, minister (Circle Sanctuary), priestess (Fraternity of the Goddess), psychic, podcaster, activist, teacher, RMT, and published author. Laura has been reading Tarot professionally for over twelve years. Her practices in the world of Tarology, psychic abilities, and divination combine a unique blend of Mexican folk magic and Paganism. Contributor Bio:Bird, Stephanie Rose Priestess Stephanie Rose Bird is a painter and the author of several bestselling books on earth spirituality, Hoodoo, and anthropology, including Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones, 365 Days of Hoodoo, Light, Bright and Damned Near White, and African American Magick. Priestess Bird, who holds a BFA cum laude and an MFA, is a devotee of the Divinely Feminine. She is an Elder, Eclectic Pagan, Magick-maker, and keeper of the spiritual wisdom of her indigenous African ancestors. Her work centers around the nexus of earth wisdom and the legacy of black cultural heritage. Visit her at www.stephanierosebird.com. Contributor Bio:Rajchel, Diana Diana Rajchel began her career planning to serve as clergy and write about all subjects spiritual. It did not occur to her or anyone else to say with what agency she might assume priesthood. The result of this oversight in intention setting is that she is now an itinerant city priestess, well-practiced witch, and somewhat unintentional subversive. Her background includes Wicca, folk witchcraft, conjure, and a whole lot of experience organizing people that don't like knowing that they're organized. Diana splits her time between San Francisco, California, where she co-owns Golden Apple Metaphysical, and southwestern Michigan, where she runs Earth and Sun spiritual coaching with her partner. In between her wanderings she teaches as part of the Magick 101 series for Wicked Grounds Annex in San Francisco, and teaches and reads tarot at Elements Kalamazoo in Michigan. Diana has 25 years' experience as a professional tarot reader and western herbalist and has 29 years' experience as a professional writer. She is also the pet DragonCat to a very ladylike boxer named Nora. Contributor Bio:Walker, Jd JD Walker is the vice chancellor of the House of Akasha, a North Carolina pagan group. She is an award-winning author, journalist, and magazine editor as well as a frequent contributor to the Llewellyn annuals. Walker has written a regular garden column for over thirty years, and she is the author of A Witch's Guide to Wildcraft and Under the Sacred Canopy. She resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. Contributor Bio:Tipton, Melissa Melissa Tipton is a Jungian Witch, Structural Integrator, and founder of the Real Magic Mystery School, where they teach online courses in Jungian Magic, a potent blend of ancient magical techniques and modern psychological insights. They're the author of Living Reiki: Heal Yourself and Transform Your Life and Llewellyn's Complete Book of Reiki. Learn more and take a free class at RealMagic.School. Contributor Bio:Zaman, Natalie Natalie Zaman is the author of Color and Conjure and Magical Destinations of the Northeast (Llewellyn); the co-author of Sirenz (Flux), Sirenz Back In Fashion (Flux), and Blonde Ops (Thomas Dunne Books); and is a contributor to various Llewellyn annual publications.

[ozarkdirtwitch]

The obligatory pinned post

Pronouns : She/Her Pan/Demisexual Ambiamorous

What is this?

My Tumblr aims to create a place where I can share my modern practice of Ozark magic and healing. My practice is rooted in tradition, but I accept that we live in the modern era, which may require modern solutions. This means taking ancestral wisdom and gleaning out the essential truths so that it can be applied to other situations.

I consider myself both a keeper and practitioner of Ozark magic and healing and as a keeper, I wish to share this beautiful culture to keep it from dying out.

Why the Ozarks?

Because they are in my blood and soul. A line from the state song of Arkansas says, "I may wander, but when I do, I will never be far from you." That sums up how I feel about these old mountains. The spirits that inhabit them are as ancient as they are, and many of these spirits are as worn as the plateaus that make up the region.

In addition, Ozark practices are a living practice that integrates magical practices that descend from pre-Christian times with indigenous plants and spirits. It also does not require fancy equipment or herbs and relies more on household objects and local plants.

My Personal Practice

While I grew up with some magical and healing practices, I did not begin serious study until 2020, when I found my mentor. I studied with her for 2 years and completed my apprenticeship in 2022. Since then, I have been teaching folks to discover their own folk magic at Pagan events across the US.

My primary focus is working with native plants and stones.

[faithless-faithful]

Welcome, sibling! 🙏🏻❤️

My name is E, I use they/it/he/she pronouns, and I am 25 years old! I'm a current art history major at university, and I have a special interest in religion!

I am always a spiritual seeker and have been pagan for ~9 years now. I am interested in eclectic and syncrectic faiths, especially Christopagan and Ozark folk practices.

I do have a set of non-negotiable beliefs: I am an omnist/pluralist (all paths are equally valid and ultimately lead to God/s), a panentheist, (God/s are in the world and transcend it) and universalist (all will be reconciled to God/s). I am very much going down a heterodox/heretical path, as I am interested in Christianity from a polytheistic perspective! I also have interests in process and liberation theology, as well as queer theology.

DNI: TERFs/radfems and debate-bros or proselytizers. I'm not here to debate my religion or my existence, I'm here to worship my God/s and learn. I'm pro-autonomy all the way - people can make their own decisions on what is best for them and I respect that, and I expect others to do the same.

[brookston]

Holidays 4.4

Holidays

Antitrust Day

Arrestmas

Art Deco Day

Atlanta Day

Auditory Processing Disorder Awareness Day

Ballroom Dance Day

Basque Day (Spain)

Bee Day (French Republic)

Bewitching Day

Bonza Bottler Day

Calypso Asteroid Day

Cat’s Day (Taiwan)

Chicago Flag Day (Illinois)

Children’s Day (China, Taiwan)

Clear and Bright Day (Farmer’s Calendar; China)

404 Day

Flag Day (Chicago, Illinois; Monaco)

HIE Awareness Day

Hug a Newsperson Day

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (UN)

International Day to Defend Amina

International Rock Beat Day

Jeep 4x4 Day

Liberation Day (Hungary)

Maya Angelou Day (Boston)

Microsoft Day

Mourning Day for Covid-19 Martyrs (China)

National Dillon Day

National Horse Rehabilitation Day

National Lunchbreak Day (UK)

National Pansy Day

National School Librarian Day

NATO Day

1984 Day (1984)

Ose Matsuri (Japan)

Peace Day (Angola)

Red Crown Imperial Day

Refugee Rights Day (Canada)

Sarhul (Jharkhand, India)

Square Root Day

Swedish-American Friendship Day

Tell-A-Lie Day

Victims of Violence Wholly Day

Vitamin "C" Day

Walk Around Things Day

Women in Tech Day

World Drummers Day

World Plagiocephaley Day

World Rat Day

World Stray Animals Day

Yukon Gold Discovery Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Milk Powder Day (a.k.a. Powdered Chocolate Day)

Homogenized Milk Day

International Carrot Day

National Cordon Bleu Day

National Pub Day (UK)

National Ramen Noodle Day

1st Thursday in April

Glarus Festival (Näfelser Fahrtfest; Switzerland) [1st Thursday] 

International Road Maintenance Day [1st Thursday]

Kid Lit Art Postcard Day [1st Thursday]

National Alcohol Screening Day [Thursday of 1st Full Week]

National Burrito Day [1st Thursday]

National GOOS Paper Day (Canada) [1st Thursday]

RAINN Day [1st Thursday]

Tell a Lie Day [1st Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning April 4 (1st Week)

Hate Week [thru 4.10]

National Dental Hygienist Week [thru 4.10]

Independence & Related Days

Chinese Republic in Tibet (Proclaimed; Tibet; 1912)

Jacktoopia (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Senegal (from France, 1960)

Sorrenia (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Festivals Beginning April 4, 2024

Artifact Small Format Film Festival (Calgary, Canada) [thru 4.6]

Art Paris Art Fair (Paris, France) [thru 4.7]

Brussels Book Fair (Brussels, Belgium) [thru 4.7]

Clay County Agricultural Fair (Green Cove Springs, Florida) [thru 4.14]

Diagonale Film Festival (Graz, Austria) [thru 4.9]

Kansas Ag Expo (Hutchinson, Kansas) [thru 4.6]

Mule Day (Columbia, Tennessee) [thru 4.7]

North American Alpaca Show (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) [thru 4.7]

Oklahoma City Farm Show (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) [thru 4.6]

Ozark Mountain Soul Fest (Eureka Springs, Arkansas) [thru 4.8]

Ragnarok Festival (Lichtenfels, Germany) [thru 4.6]

Romics (Rome, Italy) [thru 4.7]

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Vernum VI (Pagan)

Agathopus and Theodulus (Christian; Martyrs)

Ambrose (Christian; Saints Commemoration)

Benedict the Moor (Christian; Saint)

Dabucuri pataub, (Initiation Rites of the Young Men; to Jurupari, South American Guarani/Tupi God)

Dan Simmons (Writerism)

Feast of No Saints Day (Pastafarian)

Gaetano Catanoso (Christian; Saint)

Isidore of Seville (Christian; Saint)

The Kangaroo Rat (Muppetism)

Katori Jingu Otaue-sai (Rice Planting Festival; Japan)

Magna Mater begins (aka Megalesia / Great Mother Festival; Ancient Rome)

Martin Luther King Jr. (Episcopal Church (USA))

Maurice de Vlaminck (Artology)

Maya Angelou (Writerism)

Megalesia (Mother of Gods Festival; Phrygian)

Mahavir Jayanti (a.k.a. Janma Kalyanak; Jainism)

Näfelser Fahrtfest (Glarus Canton, Switzerland)

Pierre-Paul Prud´hon (Artology)

Plato (Christian; Saint)

Portfirio Diaz Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Reginald Heber (Anglican Church of Canada)

Theodisius of Bithynia (Positivist; Saint)

Tigernach of Clones (Christian; Saint)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Tomb Sweeping Day (掃墳節) [Begins At the Qingming solar term, solar longitude of 15°, 15th days after Chunfen] (a.k.a. …

Ancestors' Day

Cheng Ming (macau)

Chinese Memorial Day

Ching Ming Festival (清明節; China; Hong Kong)

Chungmyung Day (North Korea)

Clear and Bright Festival

Qingming Jie (清明节; China)

Qingming Festival

Shīmī (Ryukyu Islands)

Tomb Sweeping Day (Taiwan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unluckiest Day of the Year (China)

Premieres

Alice’s Auto Race (Disney Cartoon; 1927)

Aloha From Hawaii, by Elvis Presley (TV Concert Special; 1973)

Anna Karenina (Film; 1997)

The Blow Out (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Brilliant Corners, by Thelonius Monk (Album; 1957)

Bye Bye Birdie (Film; 1963)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Film; 2014)

Cat Carson Rides Again (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1952)

Chasing Amy (Film; 1997)

Combatants Will Be Dispatched (Anime TV Series; 2021)

Cool for Cats, by Squeeze (Album; 1979)

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Anime Film; 2003)

The Double (Film; 2013)

Drum Roll, featuring Hector Heathcote (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1961)

Fiesta Time (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1945)

Finnegan’s Flea (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1958)

Flies Ain’t Human (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1941)

Follies, by Stephen Sondheim (Broadway Musical; 1971)

Fowl Weather (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

The Good Life, a.k.a. Good Neighbors (UK TV Series; 1975)

Heap Big Hepcat (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1960)

High Fidelity, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1979)

How Right You Are, Jeeves (a.k.a. Jeeves in the Offing), by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1960) [Jeeves #12]

Jonny’s Golden Quest (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1993)

Leatherheads (Film; 2008)

Man’s Best Friend (Disney Cartoon; 1952)

Microsoft (Computer Company; 1975)

The Mouse That Jack Built (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Mutts About Racing, featuring Droopy (MGM Cartoon; 1958)

Nim’s Island (Film; 2008)

Oliver’s Story, by Erich Segal (Novel; 1977)

The Party (Film; 1968)

Perils of Pauline (Film Series; 1914)

Pink Quackers (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

Rio Bravo (Film; 1959)

The Saint (Film; 1997)

Ship of the Line, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1938)

Toro Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

Two Little Pups (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1936)

Ups ’n Downs (WB LT Cartoon; 1931)

What a Girl Wants (Film; 2003)

Today’s Name Days

Isidor, Konrad (Austria)

Benedikt, Izidor, Platon (Croatia)

Ivana (Czech Republic)

Ambrosius (Denmark)

Ambrus, Arbo, Arp, Arpo (Estonia)

Ukko (Finland)

Isidore (France)

Isidor, Konrad, Kurt (Germany)

Izidor (Hungary)

Isabelle, Isadora, Isidoro (Italy)

Herta, Valda (Latvia)

Algaudas, Ambraziejus, Eglė, Izidorius (Lithuania)

Nancy, Nanna, Nina (Norway)

Ambroży, Bazyli, Benedykt, Izydor, Wacław, Wacława, Zdzimir (Poland)

Iosif (Romania)

Izidor (Slovakia)

Benito (Spain)

Ambrosius, Marianne, Marlene (Sweden)

Cedric, Cedrica, Plato, Tiernan, Tierney (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 95 of 2024; 271 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 14 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 19 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 26 (Wu-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 25 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 25 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 5 Cyan; Fryday [5 of 30]

Julian: 22 March 2024

Moon: 23%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 11 Archimedes (4th Month) [Hero]

Runic Half Month: Ehwaz (Horse) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 17 of 92)

Week: 1st Week of April

Zodiac: Aries (Day 15 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 4.4

Holidays

Antitrust Day

Arrestmas

Art Deco Day

Atlanta Day

Auditory Processing Disorder Awareness Day

Ballroom Dance Day

Basque Day (Spain)

Bee Day (French Republic)

Bewitching Day

Bonza Bottler Day

Calypso Asteroid Day

Cat’s Day (Taiwan)

Chicago Flag Day (Illinois)

Children’s Day (China, Taiwan)

Clear and Bright Day (Farmer’s Calendar; China)

404 Day

Flag Day (Chicago, Illinois; Monaco)

HIE Awareness Day

Hug a Newsperson Day

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (UN)

International Day to Defend Amina

International Rock Beat Day

Jeep 4x4 Day

Liberation Day (Hungary)

Maya Angelou Day (Boston)

Microsoft Day

Mourning Day for Covid-19 Martyrs (China)

National Dillon Day

National Horse Rehabilitation Day

National Lunchbreak Day (UK)

National Pansy Day

National School Librarian Day

NATO Day

1984 Day (1984)

Ose Matsuri (Japan)

Peace Day (Angola)

Red Crown Imperial Day

Refugee Rights Day (Canada)

Sarhul (Jharkhand, India)

Square Root Day

Swedish-American Friendship Day

Tell-A-Lie Day

Victims of Violence Wholly Day

Vitamin "C" Day

Walk Around Things Day

Women in Tech Day

World Drummers Day

World Plagiocephaley Day

World Rat Day

World Stray Animals Day

Yukon Gold Discovery Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Milk Powder Day (a.k.a. Powdered Chocolate Day)

Homogenized Milk Day

International Carrot Day

National Cordon Bleu Day

National Pub Day (UK)

National Ramen Noodle Day

1st Thursday in April

Glarus Festival (Näfelser Fahrtfest; Switzerland) [1st Thursday] 

International Road Maintenance Day [1st Thursday]

Kid Lit Art Postcard Day [1st Thursday]

National Alcohol Screening Day [Thursday of 1st Full Week]

National Burrito Day [1st Thursday]

National GOOS Paper Day (Canada) [1st Thursday]

RAINN Day [1st Thursday]

Tell a Lie Day [1st Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning April 4 (1st Week)

Hate Week [thru 4.10]

National Dental Hygienist Week [thru 4.10]

Independence & Related Days

Chinese Republic in Tibet (Proclaimed; Tibet; 1912)

Jacktoopia (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Senegal (from France, 1960)

Sorrenia (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Festivals Beginning April 4, 2024

Artifact Small Format Film Festival (Calgary, Canada) [thru 4.6]

Art Paris Art Fair (Paris, France) [thru 4.7]

Brussels Book Fair (Brussels, Belgium) [thru 4.7]

Clay County Agricultural Fair (Green Cove Springs, Florida) [thru 4.14]

Diagonale Film Festival (Graz, Austria) [thru 4.9]

Kansas Ag Expo (Hutchinson, Kansas) [thru 4.6]

Mule Day (Columbia, Tennessee) [thru 4.7]

North American Alpaca Show (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) [thru 4.7]

Oklahoma City Farm Show (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) [thru 4.6]

Ozark Mountain Soul Fest (Eureka Springs, Arkansas) [thru 4.8]

Ragnarok Festival (Lichtenfels, Germany) [thru 4.6]

Romics (Rome, Italy) [thru 4.7]

Feast Days

Aequinoctium Vernum VI (Pagan)

Agathopus and Theodulus (Christian; Martyrs)

Ambrose (Christian; Saints Commemoration)

Benedict the Moor (Christian; Saint)

Dabucuri pataub, (Initiation Rites of the Young Men; to Jurupari, South American Guarani/Tupi God)

Dan Simmons (Writerism)

Feast of No Saints Day (Pastafarian)

Gaetano Catanoso (Christian; Saint)

Isidore of Seville (Christian; Saint)

The Kangaroo Rat (Muppetism)

Katori Jingu Otaue-sai (Rice Planting Festival; Japan)

Magna Mater begins (aka Megalesia / Great Mother Festival; Ancient Rome)

Martin Luther King Jr. (Episcopal Church (USA))

Maurice de Vlaminck (Artology)

Maya Angelou (Writerism)

Megalesia (Mother of Gods Festival; Phrygian)

Mahavir Jayanti (a.k.a. Janma Kalyanak; Jainism)

Näfelser Fahrtfest (Glarus Canton, Switzerland)

Pierre-Paul Prud´hon (Artology)

Plato (Christian; Saint)

Portfirio Diaz Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Reginald Heber (Anglican Church of Canada)

Theodisius of Bithynia (Positivist; Saint)

Tigernach of Clones (Christian; Saint)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Tomb Sweeping Day (掃墳節) [Begins At the Qingming solar term, solar longitude of 15°, 15th days after Chunfen] (a.k.a. …

Ancestors' Day

Cheng Ming (macau)

Chinese Memorial Day

Ching Ming Festival (清明節; China; Hong Kong)

Chungmyung Day (North Korea)

Clear and Bright Festival

Qingming Jie (清明节; China)

Qingming Festival

Shīmī (Ryukyu Islands)

Tomb Sweeping Day (Taiwan)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unluckiest Day of the Year (China)

Premieres

Alice’s Auto Race (Disney Cartoon; 1927)

Aloha From Hawaii, by Elvis Presley (TV Concert Special; 1973)

Anna Karenina (Film; 1997)

The Blow Out (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Brilliant Corners, by Thelonius Monk (Album; 1957)

Bye Bye Birdie (Film; 1963)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Film; 2014)

Cat Carson Rides Again (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1952)

Chasing Amy (Film; 1997)

Combatants Will Be Dispatched (Anime TV Series; 2021)

Cool for Cats, by Squeeze (Album; 1979)

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Anime Film; 2003)

The Double (Film; 2013)

Drum Roll, featuring Hector Heathcote (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1961)

Fiesta Time (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1945)

Finnegan’s Flea (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1958)

Flies Ain’t Human (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1941)

Follies, by Stephen Sondheim (Broadway Musical; 1971)

Fowl Weather (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

The Good Life, a.k.a. Good Neighbors (UK TV Series; 1975)

Heap Big Hepcat (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1960)

High Fidelity, by Elvis Costello (Song; 1979)

How Right You Are, Jeeves (a.k.a. Jeeves in the Offing), by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1960) [Jeeves #12]

Jonny’s Golden Quest (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1993)

Leatherheads (Film; 2008)

Man’s Best Friend (Disney Cartoon; 1952)

Microsoft (Computer Company; 1975)

The Mouse That Jack Built (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Mutts About Racing, featuring Droopy (MGM Cartoon; 1958)

Nim’s Island (Film; 2008)

Oliver’s Story, by Erich Segal (Novel; 1977)

The Party (Film; 1968)

Perils of Pauline (Film Series; 1914)

Pink Quackers (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

Rio Bravo (Film; 1959)

The Saint (Film; 1997)

Ship of the Line, by C.S. Forester (Novel; 1938)

Toro Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

Two Little Pups (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1936)

Ups ’n Downs (WB LT Cartoon; 1931)

What a Girl Wants (Film; 2003)

Today’s Name Days

Isidor, Konrad (Austria)

Benedikt, Izidor, Platon (Croatia)

Ivana (Czech Republic)

Ambrosius (Denmark)

Ambrus, Arbo, Arp, Arpo (Estonia)

Ukko (Finland)

Isidore (France)

Isidor, Konrad, Kurt (Germany)

Izidor (Hungary)

Isabelle, Isadora, Isidoro (Italy)

Herta, Valda (Latvia)

Algaudas, Ambraziejus, Eglė, Izidorius (Lithuania)

Nancy, Nanna, Nina (Norway)

Ambroży, Bazyli, Benedykt, Izydor, Wacław, Wacława, Zdzimir (Poland)

Iosif (Romania)

Izidor (Slovakia)

Benito (Spain)

Ambrosius, Marianne, Marlene (Sweden)

Cedric, Cedrica, Plato, Tiernan, Tierney (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 95 of 2024; 271 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 14 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 19 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Ding-Mao), Day 26 (Wu-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 25 Adair II 5784

Islamic: 25 Ramadan 1445

J Cal: 5 Cyan; Fryday [5 of 30]

Julian: 22 March 2024

Moon: 23%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 11 Archimedes (4th Month) [Hero]

Runic Half Month: Ehwaz (Horse) [Day 10 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 17 of 92)

Week: 1st Week of April

Zodiac: Aries (Day 15 of 31)

[tipsycad147]

Is Witchcraft In Your Blood? 15 Signs You Come From A Family of Witches

posted by : kitty fields

Because of the Witch Trials and the forced conversion of our pagan ancestors to Christianity, many of the old magical families either hid their abilities and beliefs, denied them, or simply forgot them over time. You may come from a family of witches and not even know it! Is witchcraft in your blood? Here’s 15 signs you come from a family of witches.

DISCLAIMER: there is debate around what defines a Hereditary Witch and/or a Natural Witch. I believe hereditary witches are quite rare and I don’t claim to know everything on the subject. These things don’t automatically make a person a Hereditary Witch, so ultimately, read and make assumptions at your own discretion.

Before saying whether the hereditary witch exists or not, we have to define the term “hereditary witch”. According to Wikipedia, a hereditary witch is someone who is “born into a tradition of esoteric origin.” Basically, a hereditary witch inherits practice from generations before (mother, grandmother, aunt, etc.) Debate continues as to whether the tradition is passed down over a few or MANY generations or whether the tradition has to be defined (by the family) or not.

Actual Hereditary Witchcraft: Stregheria, Romanian, and Other Familial Traditions

Today we hop online in a FaceBook Group and see people referring to themselves as “hereditary witches”. And that they come from a “long line of witches”. I’m not saying this can’t happen, because it does. What I’m saying is this labelis often a means of fluffing up egos rather than being truth in many cases. I was introduced to witchcraft by a family member, but I don’t go around claiming I’m a hereditary witch. There are indeed familial witchcraft traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation in certain cultures and families. So what are some of the hereditary witchcraft traditions we know of?

Italian Hereditary Witchcraft Traditions

An Italian form of witchcraft called Stregoneria is passed down from generation to generation in Italian and Southern European families. You may have heard the term “stregheria” which is a close (but more modern) form of Stregoneria. The difference between the two is Stregoneria is more geared towards Catholic folk magic than modern day Witchcraft religion. However, much of the magical practices are the same and so these terms are often confused and can even overlap. Another form of Italian hereditary witchcraft is called Benedicaria, of whose practitioners claim devout Catholicism with folk magic mixed in. If you go to Italy and ask them what they call their practice, most say it’s just what they’ve always done.

Romanian Nomadic Hereditary Witchcraft

In a land mostly spared from the Inquisition and Witch Trials, Romanian hereditary traditions have almost all remained intact. Watch the eye-opening and intriguing video below of REAL modern Romanian hereditary witches.

American Hereditary Witchcraft Traditions

There are magical traditions handed down from family member to family member in the United States to this day. Some include Appalachian folk magic (Granny magic), Ozark folk magic, Hoodoo, Irish American folk magic, and more. Every American has been taught at least a little folk magic, but this alone doesn’t mean you’re a hereditary witch. It takes more than just owning a rabbit’s foot or hanging a horseshoe to make one a hereditary witch. Which leads us to the next section…

What truly constitutes a Hereditary Witchcraft Tradition?

In terms of genetics, hereditary means passed on from the parents to their offspring. We can look at hereditary witchcraft in the same light – a tradition that’s passed down through generations. Technically, it only requires two generations to be called hereditary witchcraft. SO if your mom, grandmother, aunt, uncle, etc. taught you witchcraft or folk magic, then you could claim hereditary witchcraft as a tradition.

The Confusion

HOWEVER, I believe this is where many people get mixed up. Hereditary witchcraft is a robust (and unique to the family) set of traditions, practices, and beliefs. This doesn’t mean (as said previously) that ONE folk magic practice or even two makes you a hereditary witch. There should be MANY. Otherwise, we could say everyone is a witch as nearly everyone has practiced some form of folk magic (think lucky charms, holidays, etc.) Now, if your grandmother taught you how to use herbs to heal and make magic, taught you how to cleanse the air in the house, and told you folk stories of her ancestors’, among other magical customs, you could DEFINITELY claim hereditary witchcraft.

If you read your history…

Some want to deny hereditary witchcraft traditions that include Christianity in any of its aspects. BUT you’ll also notice how even the magical traditions that have survived the longest in the United States weave Christian practices and beliefs into their customs. For example, Hoodoo often uses Biblical verses in uncrossings, healings, and even curses. Hoodoo practitioners will also call upon the aid of Saints from the Catholic tradition to aid in magical workings. Any surviving Native American traditions might also have Christian beliefs woven in because of the pressure the Colonials put on the Natives to convert. So no matter if the hereditary witch believes in Jesus or Hecate, if a folk magic practice with MULTIPLE magical customs and beliefs is passed down from one generation to the next – it could be considered hereditary witchcraft.

We All Have Witch Ancestors!

If we really want to get down into the nitty-gritty of family trees, we’d realize that everyone has a witch, midwife, occultist, or water witch somewhere in our family trees. Think about how many people have lived over the years whose blood is in your veins. Chances are – you descend from witches somewhere in your family tree! So, if we want to get really technical, we could all say we descend from witch ancestors! To learn more about how to find witch ancestors in your family tree, click here.

Without Further Adieu, Here’s the Signs Your Family May Come From a Line of Witches:

1. Grandma “knows things”

Did you have a grandmother or mother who somehow knew things were going to happen before they did? This is a psychic ability known as claircognizance. Many of the old magical families stem from a line of men and women who were once revered and some were even paid to give their predictions to royalty in the old days.

2. You come from a family of healers

Healing seems to be an ability that’s passed down from generation to generation. It’s sometimes strictly energetic, and sometimes it’s mixed with herbal wisdom. If your mother or grandmother (or other family member) taught you how to heal with herbs or how to use your hands to provide healing energy to others, you might come from a line of witches with healing abilities. Is your family seemingly drawn to the healthcare field? Do they believe in holistic healing over western medicine? These are all signs.

3. Strange, superstitious traditions

You might come from a line of witches if your grandmother passed down her strange, superstitious traditions to your mother. And then your mother passed them down to you. Just because they never said they were “witches” doesn’t mean they weren’t. Did your grandma throw spilled salt over her left shoulder? Reprimand you for shaking the rug out the front door instead of the back? Hang horseshoes above every door? Was there a kitchen witch doll in your kitchen that your mom talked to when no one else was around? ONE of these traditions doesn’t make one a witch. Multiple traditions just might!

4. Religious statues and altars

If your mother or grandmother always kept religious statues around BUT maintained and treated them as if they were alive or had magical powers, she might have been a witch. Example – angels in the four corners of the property for protection, tables or shelves dedicated to the memory of ancestors or saints, etc. Shrines and altars can sometimes be mistaken for something else when in reality they are sacred, magical space to grandma or mom (whether they say so or not).

5. You have a family of dreamers

Many witches who come from a line of witches have the natural ability to lucid dream or astral project (or both interchangeably). Did you grow up having intense dreams of flying, floating, falling, or entering other worlds through doors? Did you grow up having dreams in which you knew you were dreaming and were able to control your dreams? Many witch families are dreamers by default. This ability often overlaps with claircognizance in which dreams foretell the future.

6. Hauntings were normal

If you grew up with a family who acted as though spirits, hauntings, and ghosts were commonplace, you might be from a line of hereditary witches. Witches often have the ability to sense, see, and/or hear ghosts and other spirits. If your family knew how to communicate with resident ghosts and/or get rid of troublesome spirits, added bonus!

7. You were taught how to use herbs

Hereditary witches are usually taught how to grow, harvest, and use herbs in their cooking and also for medicinal purposes. My grandmother used to send me out back to pick wild mint that she would add to her sweet tea batch in the summer. And somehow, when I fell off my bike and skinned my knee, I instinctively knew to break off an aloe vera leaf and apply the sticky substance to my wound. If you were taught how to garden and use herbs, you might be from a line of witches. There’s stories of my great great grandmother being an herbalist who made her children wear necklaces of herbs to ward off the flu and cold.

Hereditary witches notice grandma or mom holding “unusual” traditions and celebrating holidays the rest of society doesn’t.

8. Telepathic connections

If your family is a line of hereditary witches, telepathic connections between family members are prominent. Once, just once, my mother, brother, and I all had the same dream the same night. Dreaming the same thing is common. If your mother calls you at the exact moment you were thinking of her, this is also a sign of a telepathic connection. If you and your brother text each other out of the blue, this is a telepathic connection.

9. Family wasn’t “normal”

You might have grown up wondering why your family wasn’t “normal” like the other families on the block. Maybe your mom kept rocks in the windows and welcomed in the neighborhood raccoons and wildlife. Maybe grandpa had an affinity for bonsai trees and the whole yard was covered in them. If your family was markedly abnormal (and proud of it), you might be a hereditary witch.

10. Witch Birthmarks

Sometimes a strange anomaly occurs in a family – everyone has the same birthmark. Do you and your mom, brother, and grandfather all have a heart-shaped birthmark over your navel? A red crescent moon birthmark on the back of your neck? Etc. Families of hereditary witches sometimes carry something called a “witch’s mark” in the form of birthmarks that tend to pass from generation to generation.

11. Outdoorsy and Animal Lovers

I grew up in a family of outdoorsy people. My grandfather loved to camp and travel. Grandmother enjoyed being in the garden. My mother owned horse farms and was always outside with the animals. Which brings me to the next point – if you grew up in a family of nature lovers and/or animal lovers, you might be from a line of witches. When the family members who are animal lovers also take in strays and seem to attract wounded or lost wildlife (more so than anyone else you’ve met) – this is a sure-sign they have a special ability and could be a witch.

12. Feeling energies

Was your mom able to walk into a room and feel the energy there? Maybe you’ve heard her say something like, “this place feels icky.” Or maybe she has a hard time breathing in certain places. If your family members were able to “feel things” from certain places or people, they might be clairsentient which is another ability in hereditary witch lines.

13. High anxiety and social disorders

Something I’ve seen time and time again with hereditary witch bloodlines – they carry a “gene” for anxiety and social disorders. Grandma couldn’t be in public places for too long. Maybe your mom had high anxiety about leaving the house. Perhaps even your brother had a social disorder of some kind. Can these seemingly mental health problems be attributed to something deeper – maybe your family members are empathic! When empaths absorb energies from others, they are prone to anxiety and social disorders.

14. Your family claims their magical heritage

This is an obvious one. If your family claims their magical heritage, you are DEFINITELY from a line of witches! Some magical traditions might include: hoodoo, water witching, Orisha worship, Appalachian folk magic, Pennsylvania Pow Wow, Hungarian witchcraft, Stregoneria, Romani witchcraft, Scottish Cunning ways, etc.

15. Stories of ancestors being “herbalists”, “midwives”, “healers” or “granny women”

Did you grow up hearing stories of your ancestors being strange things like granny women, witch masters, or water witches? Was great grandma an herbalist or used folk remedies to cure her children and family? If these stories circulate through your family for generations, you might be from a line of witches.

So, are you a hereditary witch?

If you can say yes to more than one of these, you might be from a line of witches. At the very least, you come from a special family with some pretty cool abilities and traditions! We see a lot of people claiming magical heritage online, but to be honest, I don’t think hereditary witches are as commonplace as they seem. When witchcraft is passed down from generation to generation, it is a rare and special thing. BUT I would venture to say that fifty years from now, the world will see a HUGE resurgence of hereditary witches. This is because of the popularity of witchcraft in this day and age. The young women and men who are witches today will become parents, pass down their beliefs and customs to their children, and possibly their grandchildren. Henceforth there will be more hereditary witches in the future than there are nowadays.

[riveroracle]

Lie Down in the Evening

By Christina, River.Oracle

Some days I wake up like an ox

I earned these stout stone shoulders

I learned to carry her

In the vast empty cold, alone

I marvel at my strength like the rock wall reaching heaven

This cliff is where the angels jump.

Some days I only carry my feet.

If it's a cloud or only the snow in the wind, I can't tell the difference.

I haven't seen a green thing for so long I tried to grow leaves inside of me

There's too much stone in my soil,

Like the land where I was born

Some days I am the bison

Unyielding under the weight of a million carcasses who came before me

I try to paint their bones but there are so so many

Instead they carve into my skin and bones and remind me of the grassland my mother once knew

The earth combs her hair

And stillness falls away, a petal in the wind

Some days I am only dust.

Peace looks like surrender to the wind.

Her tears sting my face as they crash down from heaven,

I think clouds are another world.

If I could just reach my hands into her nothingness and draw them out like something new and unborn

If I could be the seed, reaching, still blind under the soil

The sun has yet to hit my face

I am cold and some days I'm comfortable that way

It's the moon who has seen me, shedding, writhing

A dance that no man would recognize

Her gentle kiss is the key to my stuck ribs

Some days I am the black walnut tree

I mark black every finger print that ever touched me

Sometimes it's love, but you'd never know if it wasn't.

When the night falls in like leaping into the abyss,

The stars are easy for my tired eyes.

They paint me in colors I could only hope to learn.

The dark settling under the trees like so many ravens, beckons me away from the fire.

Lifeless, still, I collapse

My bones tumble in a hollow clatter

In the dirt, I lie, jumbled, unafraid of the dead things

Sometimes I think I'm one of them

Or I wish to be, I feel my skin

Piece by piece, opening to let the earth in

The earth opens and lets me in too.

When the dawn strikes me I will remember the lightning

It struck me like I've never been struck

But I have.

I've only forgotten the embrace of the thunder.

I rise again on feeble legs

And there lies the ox, the bison

I wonder if I am one of them.

Their pelt stripped away, their hearts and kidneys and so much blood exposed.

I think I remember the seed I was

I try to imagine it, before the wind kissed me

Before the moon became my lover

Before I needed the ox's shoulders.

I wonder if bison ever kneel before the sunset

If they bow their horns to kiss the beloved earth

I wonder if the ox ever lies down in the evening.

I wonder if they miss the sun.

If the rain on their face looks like so many tears.