#ritualcraft

[raven-foul]

honestly my headcanon is that jon didn’t even need to read that little poem at the end of mag160 to get things going (maybe “i open the door” would’ve sufficed) elias just saw an opportunity to be dramatic and took it

[calicedasverdades]

O athame: uma ferramenta de fogo e vontade

O ocultismo é uma arte que envolve o uso de símbolos, rituais e instrumentos para manipular as forças ocultas da natureza e do espírito. Entre os diversos instrumentos utilizados pelos praticantes, um se destaca pela sua relevância e simbolismo: o athame.

O athame é uma faca ritualística, geralmente de lâmina dupla, que representa o elemento fogo e a vontade do mago. É uma ferramenta de corte, mas não de ferimento, pois seu uso é exclusivamente simbólico e energético. Com o athame, o praticante pode traçar o círculo mágico, desenhar símbolos e sigilos, direcionar e liberar energia, invocar e banir entidades, e realizar diversos outros atos mágicos.

O athame também é um símbolo do aspecto masculino divino, que em algumas tradições da Wicca é chamado de Deus. O athame representa a força, a ação, a iniciativa, a criatividade e a fecundidade do princípio masculino. Em alguns rituais, o athame é usado em conjunto com o cálice, que representa o aspecto feminino divino, a Deusa. O cálice simboliza a água, a receptividade, a emoção, a intuição e a fertilidade do princípio feminino. A união do athame e do cálice representa a harmonia e o equilíbrio entre os opostos, a geração da vida e a manifestação da vontade.

O athame é um instrumento pessoal e sagrado, que deve ser consagrado pelo praticante antes de ser usado. A consagração é um ritual que visa limpar, purificar e energizar o athame, além de estabelecer uma conexão entre o praticante e o instrumento. Cada praticante pode escolher o material, o formato, o tamanho e a decoração do seu athame, de acordo com sua preferência e intuição. O importante é que o athame seja tratado com respeito, cuidado e reverência, pois ele é uma extensão da vontade do mago.

O athame é, portanto, uma ferramenta essencial para o ocultista, que o utiliza como um meio de expressar e realizar sua vontade. O athame é o fogo que ilumina, aquece, transforma e purifica. O athame é a chama que arde no coração do mago.

[evil-jennifer-hamilton-wb]

International Conference on Organic Alchemy 2024 speaker programme

Conference day 1, April 5th:

9 AM -

Opening ceremony

10 AM -

Dr. Char, room 112

Insight into Proto-Koreanic from distribution of biota in Oviya's line.

Dr. Sasaki, room 121

Developments in geometric separation equipment, and how your lab can benefit.

Dr. Mahikan, room 111

A discussion on the applicability of the soul in chloroalchemy, evidence of plant energy transfer across the firmament.

11 AM -

Dr. Hyeon, room 121

negated multiplication sigils in mercurial components for structural-organic medicine.

Dr. Yang, room 112

On medical ethics; what responsibilities do we have as alchemists?

Dr. Bu, room 113

A reanalysis of the 26 grams problem using modern compositional analysis tools.

1 PM -

Dr. Kim, room 111

On Altaic; evidence supporting the Koreanic-Japonic divergence hypothesis.

Dr. Arshama, room 112

Information dynamics in Chloroalchemy.

Dr. Demir, room 121

Bio-mimicry in ritual geometry; analysis of human vasculature derived ritualcraft as a case study.

2 PM -

Dr. Ari, room 131

Semiotic camoflage by simulacra within the Lost Earth ecosystem.

Dr. Matsuda, room 112

Utilizing the Matsuda-Mori matrix process to maximize projection output

Dr. Aoki, room 122

The use of information dynamics alchemy in Koreanic neurobiology

3 PM -

Poster presentations and conferencing

5 PM -

End of day 1

[poisonerspath]

These are too pretty not to repost 🍄 Posted @withregram • @the_scarlet_wytch Hand Embroidered Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) half way finished !. I'm particularly excited about this piece and it's certainly been a journey working with the energy of Fly Agaric ! More on that when it's complete 😉. . . . . . . . . . . #poisonpath #darkembroidery #veneficium #poisonwitch #traditionalwitchcraft #tradcraft #folkmagic #cunningcraft #folkwitchesofinstagram #folkmagick #folkloricwitchcraft #cunningfolk #folkwitch #folkwitchcraft #herbwitch #herbwitches #herbwitchery #solitarywitch #hedgewitch #spellwork #hedgewitchery #witchcraft #greenwitch #ritualaltar #hedgecraft #witchesapothecary #ritualcraft #traditionalwitches #thecrookedpath #animisim https://www.instagram.com/p/CnnPZh-rAQz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theoryofmagick]

Anatomy of a Circle-Casting: Circle Casting Structures

In many traditions, circles are used to delineate magical space, and provide a closed, but somewhat portable, working environment for the magical practitioner. Circles are "cast" through ritualistic action, by which a physical space is created, to suit the circle-casters' needs. These circles have multiple uses: To keep lesser curious spirits from coming in and mucking about the proceedings, to create a sense of practical ritual space where the circle is elevated from the mundane plane, to protect the magic-worker when they are at their most vulnerable, and, of course, to provide the appropriate ritual environment for certain workings or spells.

Circles can be as elaborate or as simple as you like, and are often adjusted to accomodate different levels of workings.

Most formal circles in most Western traditions, however, follow a similar rubric:

1. Setup and Cleansing.

The space is typically cleansed (but not yet consecrated), often with a besom or other sweeping tool, both literally and metaphysically. This is to prepare the space for the circle so you have a clean slate with which to start. Many practitioners find it of import to cleanse themselves before rituals, as well, either literally with a bath, or via smoke cleansing. For newcomers: Your altar goes inside the circle, often in the center unless instructed otherwise, and often facing a specific cardinal direction depending on your intentions or traditions.

2. Signal to Begin.

A bell is rung, or other statement proclaimed, to indicate the circle-casting is now begun.

3. Calling of the Spirits (including Calling the Quarters).

The beings, or spirits, with which you'll be working, are called upon to assist with the circle-casting. Some traditions require the beings to be invoked much later in the process.

"Calling the Quarters" here means calling (aka asking to arrive, or petitioning the help of by inviting them to the circle) the four elemental directions - North/Earth, East/Air, South/Fire, and West/Water. These elements are typically called clockwise.

Each tradition will, of course, have a set of different rules and regulations on how and who to call.

4. Drawing the Delineation.

Here, the actual circle-drawing begins. One uses a wand, or lights candles, or casts with their finger, or with their athame, etc, a literal circular boundary shape, frequently cast clockwise, to delineate the boundary of the circle. This is the physical boundary of the circle: One the circle is drawn, a wall is put up, and a door must be cut to invite other practitioners or spirits in. You can draw the circle quite literally, e.g. with a stick in sand, or visualize it using a wand; there's a ton of ways to go about it.

5. Consecration.

At this time, the circle is "blessed", or consecrated, to the practitioner's use. This essentially means dedicating or blessing the space to your deities, spirits, powers, purposes, or higher-ups (for the non-theist witches in the mix, this means blessing the space for work or giving it the old champagne-bottle-on-a-ship). This can be done, for instance, by sprinkling salt water to consecrate (NEVER outdoors; salt will kill your plants!), then follow-up with walking clockwise around the circle with incense to welcome the spirits. Again, each tradition and circle-per-purpose will vary on the actual consecration actions and what, exactly, you are consecrating to.

6. Signal to Begin the Work.

The bell is rung, or signal given, to begin the actual workings within the circle - whether it's a Full Moon Esbat or ritual, a spell, meditiation, or anything else. Offerings can be given at this juncture to spirits that have been called.

7. Thanks for the Work.

Once the work is complete, another signal can be rung; offerings and thanks can be given to the beings of the circle at this time. Meditation and writing in one's notebook or Book of Shadows is also appropriate.

8. Cakes and Wine.

Typically an entirely Wiccan tradition, this is where cakes and wine (literally - a food offering and a beverage offering) are shared with the deities/powers, and also eaten by practitioners. More practically, for non-Wiccans, this is the offering-and-feasting portion of the circle. ("Cakes and Wine" as a phrase originates within Wicca, so please replace with your verbiage of choice as applicable here).

9. Closing the Circle.

We close out the circle by politely dismissing the spirits, politely farewelling the Quarters, farewelling anything we've called, saying goodbye to the Powers, and, finally, physically closing our circle by un-drawing, counterclockwise (or, if you drew the circle counterclockwise, reverse to clockwise). If you used a wand to delineate, draw your circle back up into/through it. (Visualization can be very helpful here to new practitioners.)

10. Benediction.

The circle is cast, and closed - this is where you say Thank You and, if you like, thank and send well-wishes to the other actual, physical participants in the ritual. If you're going it solo, a neat little Thank-You, My Work Here Is Done wrap up speech is particularly nice here.

And there you have it - you'll find lots of traditions have circle castings that use some, or all, of these segments in order; hopefully you'll find this breakdown useful when piloting your own circles, as well!

Ash

[gayspacemonk]

does any other witch also feel renewed after ritual?

i know it's common to feel tired/drained after a ritual, but does anyone else get the feeling of juust getting out of the most extensive spa day ever?

like, rituals are my selfcare man

[pragmaticinsanity]

Working on a new piece. Has some The Ritual vibes me thinks

[ritualcraft]

[grantscovel]

Had a fun time over the weekend getting inspired on little trips around town. Also playing #PokemonGo for hours... #magic #RitualCraft #witchy #tarot https://www.instagram.com/p/BnkMyUnnyLI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1os20ndu89f4i

[marble-rose-oak]

Repperio 7/9/18

My Many Moons Books appeared in the mail today, looking forward to connecting with the Moon.

My [daytime] Artemisia Ointment from Sarah Anne Lawless should be arriving soon (I own her Four Nightshades - Solanaceae Ointment for pain in my foot, has been a life saver). 

My Anxiety tinctures will be ready on the New Moon. Using brand was a VERY good move, much thanks to r/herbalism.

Inspiration

Alan Moore’s Mindscape

(recommended by Sarah Anne Lawless’s twitter @ forest)  Mushi-Shi NETFLIX WIKI

Elementaal and Cosmic Witch Spotify Playlists by Tres Blase. of @fuckindiva

Readings

Earth, Sea and Sky [Transition] Mediation by @thehagandthestag

simple and beautiful meditation

Many Moons July-December Edition by Modern Woman

Shops

Ritual Craft -

really want to try their Botanical Incense and they have a nice stock of different and independent artisans and Witches. Ms. Lawless is stocked by them and that’s how to came to find them.

FeyHerbaOrganics 

Came highly recommended via the r/witchcraft. Her Empath Sage Soap and Oil look so good.

Deity: Hekate

Witchcraft with Goddness Hekate @cuimhnne

Wish List

WYRDWOOD: Essays Toward an Understanding of the Folkwitch by Eldred Wormwood

very big fan of the @skepticaloccultist blog and looking forward to trying to obtain a copy of this.

Seventh Sphere  Lenormand Deck

Cutting the Cord by Marcella Kroll

[what-a-strange-thing]

Beheading the Snake - Symbolic Actions of Liberation in “The Handmaiden”

Ritual is a tool we can use to change ourselves: to heal ourselves, cleanse ourselves, and birth ourselves into a new life. 

.. from "RitualCraft: Creating Rites for Transformation and Celebration" by Amber K & Azrael Arynn K

"The Handmaiden" is one masterpiece of a film and I feel I've only just begun to appreciate the excellent craft of the storytelling, the gorgeous design of the visuals, and, especially, the mysterious depth of the symbols. This is my attempt at understanding the story through its symbolic actions specifically. Enjoy :)

spoilers ahead!

One of the first symbolic objects were introduced to are Hideko's gloves. She wears them to protect the books as her uncle Kouzuki wants her to, the books of sadistic pornography he forced her to read since she was a child, and so, they are part of a web of symbols for her oppression. I think Hideko wearing the gloves might also hint at her trying to protect herself from the books, out of repulsion. She continues to wear them after she escapes the mansion with Sook-hee - Kouzuki's demands have been internalized, and the dark spell of abuse stays in Hideko’s life. But when Sook-hee and Hideko are on the boat to Shanghai, Sook-hee takes off Hideko’s gloves to throw them out to the sea, together with the fake moustache and the wedding ring, all different symbols of past pain (and what they did to escape it), signifying their new-found freedom. The two women look at each other and laugh with glee. 

"Count Fujiwara" offers Hideko a phial of opium that she receives once they're married, so she could escape via suicide should Kouzuki catch her after running away (which would mean being tortured and killed in the basement like her aunt was). His offering really just represents escape - not the freedom Hideko will find with Sook-hee. And he doesn’t offer it freely either, first Hideko has to do what he wants, get him rich through their marriage. So it felt really fitting to have Hideko use the phial of opium against Fujiwara, by putting it in his wine and “feeding” it to him through kisses, effectively using sexual means as well as the opium against him - giving him a taste of his own poison. 

The snake sculpture “guarding” the library, marking the “bounds of knowledge”, obviously hints at phallus symbolism. Once Sook-hee finds out about the sexual abuse Hideko endured, she starts to destroy the books and paintings in the library. Sook-hee’s rage on Hideko’s behalf is palpable as she goes full righteous destructress, attacking pages of pornographic imagery with a knife until she accidentally cuts herself. Hideko watches, wide-eyed, as “[her] Sook-hee, the savior who came to tear [her] life apart” beheads the snake with a sword. It’s the most cathartically powerful scene of the movie, in my opinion. 

Kouzuki uses metal balls to abuse Hideko as a child, brutally beating her hands with them. I think the silver bells look quite similar to the metal balls. They are first brought up in an erotic text read by Hideko - she thinks of Sook-hee as the power goes out, sitting in the shadows with eyes closed, that authentic lust in her voice heard for the first and only time during the readings. In the final scene of the film, Sook-hee and Hideko play with the bells for sexual pleasure, the way described in the text. Their sighs of pleasure remain as the images change to the boat on the ocean, full moon above. The luminous moon in the sky becomes the painted moon on Hideko’s screen door, the handmaiden’s bed visible in front of it. The painted moon slowly fades as the credits roll until it disappears completely, as if the light is leaving Hideko's horrible house of upbringing, now glowing as the real moon in the sky above her and Sook-hee. 

All these objects of trauma are disempowered in their function as tools of oppression - through destruction, by being experienced in a new context, being used as means of, ultimately, freeing oneself. Through the framework of ritual, these actions can be understood as symbolic - and very powerful in that symbolism, and consequently their expression of the story as Hideko and Sook-hee progress towards freedom. They are acts of alchemy, making pain into joy, oppression into liberation, acts of saying about the traumatic past: my abusers hold no power over my present and future. I have transformed the pain. 

[huntingorbits]

☆ A Curious Catalogue ☆

Welcome to my cozy corner of the internet.

This blog welcomes all LGBTQ+ members, races, cultures, spiritual paths, disabled individuals, and neurodivergent individuals. DNI if you're a TERF, SWERF, or Pedo/MAP.

I welcome those who seek to learn and improve their knowledge regarding any of the above topics in addition to those below, and highly encourage questions and civil discussions. If I don't know something, we'll find out together.

I will not accept hateful or abusive behavior of any kind, including gatekeeping, proselytizing, and cultural appropriation.

This post documents the study and resources of my journey into the occult, witchcraft, chaos, and so much more. This catalogue will be updated regularly as I gather more information on each subject and resource. I'll include links to anything and everything as I go, including my own posts and tags, and cite sources where I can.

Common Tags:

#ArchersArchive

#ArcherSpeaks

#ArcherAnswers

#Research Tips

Who Is Archer Sims?

I chose this name for myself rather specifically, as it reminds me of my goals regarding my research and practices. I'm a bigender witch living in Midwest America (ope) with a background in anthropology and some educational exposure to non-Christian religious studies.

Meet the Witch.

Here's My Story if you want to learn more about what specifically brought me here.

The Archive:

My Library

Currently Reading + Queue

Works I've Read

Other Sources

Recurring Festivals in America

BIPOC Metaphysical Shops & Support

My Tarot & Oracle Collection

Research Topics

Classic Occultism

History & Types of Witchcraft

History & Types of Paganism

Covens Past & Present

Famous Practitioners

Witches of Color

History of Queer Practitioners

Cultural Studies

Open & Closed Practices

Pantheons Around the World

Myths, Legends, & Lore

Chaos Magic

Word & Art Magics

History & Types of Divination

Shadow Work & Psychology

Astronomy & Astrology

Botany & Herbalism

Geology, Crystals, & Ethical Harvesting

Environmentalism & Conservation

A Grimoire of Sorts

Magickal Tools

Sabbats, Esbats, & Other Sacred Events

Common Magickal Correspondences

Spellwork, Sigils, & Ritualcraft

Wordwork

Divination & Scrying

Do you have resources or recommendations? Visit my Ask Box and shoot your shot! I'm open to learning about pretty much everything. Does something seem wrong? Politely let me know, and I'll look into it some more.

~Archer

[tarotforsale]

I was traveling over the weekend and wandered over to Goddess Isis and Ritualcraft while i was in Denver. This was my haul from over the weekend, including the packages i received when i got back home!

[normal-horoscopes]

Why was Crowley a bad sorcerer?

WELL FOR ONE HE WAS A HORRIBLE ANTI-SEMITE WHO TRIED TO USE JEWISH SYMBOLOGY IN HIS WORK

MAGIC AND ESPECIALLY HEAVY DUTY RITUAL MAGIC LIKE THE SORT CROWLEY WAS DOING REQUIRES UNDERSTANDING OF AND RESPECT FOR THE SYMBOLS YOU ARE USING TO SHAPE THE WORLD BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE POWER COMES FROM

HIS RITUALCRAFT WAS ALSO JUST PLAIN SLOPPY

IMAGINE TRYING TO BUILD A LEGO SET BUT HALF THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE MISSING AND A LOT OF THE PAGES ARE OUT OF ORDER OR PRINTED TOO MANY TIMES YOU COULD PROBABLY END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT SORTA LOOKED LIKE THE BOX BUT IT WOULDNT BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND

ALL THAT SAID HIS GRASP OF MAGICAL THEORY WAS GENUINELY IMPRESSIVE THE MAN WAS A SAVANT WHEN IT CAME TO BIG PICTURE STUFF BUT FAILED AT THE MOST BASIC ELEMENTS OF ACTUAL PRACTICE

[ivythewitch]

I'm posting today, trying to find ways to get back in the habit.

My practice is sitting still at the moment as I work on my senior year of college, planning my wedding, and studying for my third degree for high priesthood in my tradition as well as navigating a new triad relationship and Covid adaptations for work.

But I am still teaching witchcraft! I'm teaching one off lessons over at centered hearth on Facebook(the next one is about when you should teach your kids about various things in a religious context based on child development research) and studying for mastery of Ritualcraft and sabbat studies for my high ordainments.

Inbox is open, I'm gonna try and be here more. I miss all of you and realized my friend @basildruid was deactivated and that made me sad.

[theoryofmagick]

hi! my culture doesn`t really use wands, but we do use daggers. i was wondering whats the practical difference between an athame and a wand? i tried doing my research but it just says wands AND athames are used to manipulate energy, so whats the difference? do they direct energy in the same way, but athames are used to also cut them?

I have a few answers to this, some of which may or may not apply!

The first thing that comes to mind from a Western ritualist perspective is that athames and wands are attributed to different elements. Wands are traditionally attributed with/to the element of Fire, and athames Air (you can see this reflected in Tarot suites) for a lot of modern witches. If you dig into the practical side of things with existing traditions, there's actually different specific tasks the athame vs wand can do. Within each framework, you're correct in that they're both used to direct energy. Athames can also be used to cut and split, and wands used to describe and draw, but (in practicality, to me at least) it feels like using two different tools that have similar purposes - like, chopsticks vs a fork; you can use both of them to pick up food, but each has their own advantages and disadvantages depending on the dish (and some dishes mandate you use chopsticks - like old-school coven Wiccans with athame circles).

Basically, athames and wands share some of the same uses (directing energy, drawing a circle, etc) but come at it from different directions/methods/reasons; aside from energy manipulation, they have other usages based on their place as a ritual tool - for wands, you'd have to draw a doorway into a circle, for athames, you'd cut one, and so on. A lot of ritual tool usage and altar arrangement in more structured traditions rely on an idea of balance, in that there should be a balance of tides with your tools on display/items used, so you could also make a convincing case that the wand and athame are two points of the same spectrum - the wand point being fire/creation and the athame being air/cutting.

Let me know if you'd like me to elaborate or go more practical - there's a lot to be said on the subject (and I'm sure my readers have things to add!)

[Ask Ash]