AI IN ADVERTISING INDUSTRY
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in the advertising industry, fundamentally changing how brands connect with consumers. Here's a look at its far-reaching impact:
Hyper-Personalization:
AI analyzes vast amounts of data on consumer demographics, online behavior, and past purchases. This allows for ultra-targeted advertising, delivering ads with an uncanny level of relevance to individual users. Imagine seeing ads for shoes you just looked at online, or receiving a discount on a travel package to your dream destination.
Dynamic Creative Optimization:
AI can create and test countless variations of ad formats, headlines, and visuals in real-time. This allows for the selection of the most effective ad elements for each individual user, maximizing engagement and conversion rates.
Programmatic Advertising:
AI automates the ad buying and selling process, eliminating the need for manual bidding and negotiation. This leads to more efficient allocation of advertising budgets and ensures ads are placed on the most relevant platforms and websites.
Chatbots and Virtual Assistants:
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are transforming customer interactions. They can answer product inquiries, handle basic transactions, and even provide personalized recommendations, all within the ad itself.
Predictive Targeting:
AI can analyze user data to predict future needs and purchase behavior. This allows advertisers to reach potential customers before they even know they're interested in a product, creating a more proactive and persuasive advertising strategy.
Advanced Measurement and Attribution:
AI can analyze complex data sets to track the effectiveness of advertising campaigns across various channels. This allows for a more granular understanding of ROI and helps optimize future campaigns for better results.
However, AI in advertising also presents challenges:
Privacy Concerns: The vast amount of data collection required for AI-powered advertising raises concerns about user privacy. Transparency and ethical data practices are crucial for building trust with consumers.
The "Black Box" Problem: Understanding how AI algorithms arrive at their decisions can be difficult. This lack of transparency can make it challenging to explain ad targeting or ensure fairness in decision-making.
Looking Ahead:
Despite these challenges, AI is here to stay in advertising. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated targeting, more immersive ad experiences, and a hyper-personalized advertising landscape. The key will be for brands to leverage AI responsibly, prioritizing user privacy and building trust while harnessing its power to deliver relevant and impactful advertising.
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Charlie: (folded up and hunched over with chin in hands) (brooding)
Vaggie: "Someone's got a lovely long face today."
Charlie: (sighs) "Sorry..."
Vaggie: "Don't be, sweetie." (sits and hunches over too, hands clasped) "What's got you down?"
Charlie: "You, kinda."
Vaggie: "Me?" (terrified) "What did-"
Charlie: "And all this." (waves at vaggie next to her) "Specifically."
Vaggie: (edges away) "Is it the 'sweetie' thing? 'Cause I'll stop-"
Charlie: "No. No, I like it." (sighs again) "Vaggie, in the wonderful, amazing, dream-like over a YEAR we've known each other now, have you ever, like..."
Vaggie: (edging closer again) "...have I ever...?"
Charlie: "Killed anyone?"
Vaggie: "Wh- No!"
Charlie: "Not even a little?"
Vaggie: "What would 'killed them a little' even look like..? I mean, sure I've thought about maiming people, and probably would've a few times if you hadn't been there, but-"
Charlie: "What about when I wasn't looking? No... sneaking out for some midnight murder sprees?"
Vaggie: "Charlie- I can't even get up to use the bathroom without you tearing up half the bed with your claws looking for me. We've had to get new sheets three times this month. And last time I took a midnight shower, I found you curled up on the floor just outside the door afterwards. I almost STEPPED on you!"
Charlie: (pouting) "You were gone when I woke up."
Vaggie: "I was gone maybe ten minutes."
Charlie: "And I was missing you."
Vaggie: "Yeah. I figured." (smiles) "So how the fuck am I supposed to be sneaking out to kill people, when I'm best friends with the biggest cuddle bug in all creation?"
Charlie: "I don't know!" (frustrated) "NONE of this makes any SENSE!"
Vaggie: ".... now I feel like I'm missing something."
Charlie: "You're not though! That's why-" (GROWLS) (yanks at hair)
Vaggie: "Okay, hey- Charlie?" (takes her hand) "Talk to me?"
Charlie: "....."
Charlie: "...why're you still here?"
Vaggie: "Do you... want me to move out?"
Charlie: "NO! Never! I, you- I don't even know how I'd-"
Vaggie: "So that's not the problem here. What is?"
Charlie: "The PROBLEM is- I want you here, but you shouldn't BE here! You're not a bad person! Whatever you did or used to do- you haven't been for a whole YEAR, and I'm just- just being stupid and selfish wanting you to stay, but you-"
Vaggie: "You're not-"
Charlie: "-aren’t doing anything bad! So WHY-"
Vaggie: "Charlie, hold on- no- you're not stupid or selfish. You've been alone, and that's not something you did anything to deserve, okay?"
Charlie: "...."
Vaggie: "You can be sad without apologizing for it too, you know."
Charlie: (slumping) "Why are you still in hell, Vaggie?"
Vaggie: (wryly) "Not like I've got wings to flutter off with."
Charlie: "You deserve them."
Vaggie: "..... thanks for saying so, sweetie."
Charlie: "It's true."
Vaggie: “Pretty sure it’s not, since I don’t have them.”
Charlie: “You should. You should have them.”
Vaggie: “I’d rather have this.”
Vaggie: (lifts their hands)
Vaggie: “Who needs wings, when you’ve got the best cuddle bug ever. Right?”
Charlie: (holds tight) “…heaven’s probably better. Full of people you wouldn’t want to even maim. That’s where you belong, not down here in hell…”
Vaggie: “…with you?”
Charlie: “Oh I’d be fine!”
Vaggie: (lifts brow)
Charlie: “Really!” (looks away) “It’d be good. Knowing you’re up there in heaven, and, happy.”
Vaggie: “I wouldn’t be happy.”
Charlie: “Sure you would.” (miserable) “It’s heaven.”
Vaggie: “Hell’s better. It’s where you are.”
Charlie: “Vaggie…”
Vaggie: “Charlie.”
Charlie: “Be serious? Please?”
Vaggie: “I am. But it's not gonna work if you don’t listen to it.”
Charlie: “Fine.”
Charlie: (deep breath) (looks vaggie in the eye)
Charlie: “Vaggie. Do you want me to try getting you into heaven?”
Vaggie: “No.”
Charlie: (voice crack) “Are you SURE?”
Vaggie: “I’m not going anywhere. I’d miss you too much.”
Charlie: “...okay.”
Charlie: (laughs wetly) “Okay. I’d. Same.”
Vaggie: “Yeah.”
Vaggie: (dabs away charlie’s tears)
Vaggie: “You’ve been feeling extra lonely haven' you, thinking about all that on your own.”
Charlie: “Maybe. A little.”
Vaggie: “…sorry I didn’t, you know. Make sure you knew sooner. ”
Charile: (laughs for real) “Don’t be. Not like I asked.”
Vaggie: (smiles) “Sorry for making you feel like you even had to ask.”
Charlie: “Um. Uh.” (clears throat) “You’re forgiven?”
Vaggie: (chuckles)
Charlie: “…and, you’ll tell me, if you change your mind? About the whole heaven thing?”
Vaggie: “I won’t change my mind, Charlie.”
Charlie: “But if you do, you’ll say so?”
Vaggie: “Mmm, kinda feels like you’re saying it like you think I will.”
Charlie: “No. I mean you can, I just… don’t wanna worry about it like this again.”
Vaggie: “Oh. Then I promise-”
Charlie: “Thank you.”
Vaggie: “-if you promise me you’ll let me know what’s going on in that brilliant head of yours.”
Charlie: “Pfft- More silly than brilliant. Didn’t wanna bother you.”
Vaggie: “Bother me? Now you're really sounding silly. You’re not the only one who’s been lonely.”
Charlie: “Huh? You? Why were you- Ohhh…”
Vaggie: “You’ve been a million miles away lately. Welcome back.”
Charlie: “Aww Vaggie! Were you missing me, even when I was right in front of you???”
Vaggie: “Don’t even.”
Charlie: “That’s so cuuuute~”
Vaggie: “Don't. You've been worse. You were impersonating a rug- You clung on so hard after I picked you up I couldn’t even get the blankets over us again.”
Charlie: “Lucky I make a good blanket!”
Vaggie: “The best. But you still gotta stop sleeping in front of the bathroom door.”
Charlie: “I can, try?”
Vaggie: “Is it really that hard to stay in a warm soft bed?”
Charlie: “It is when you’re not there!”
Vaggie: “Sweetie, please. I’ll be coming right back.”
Charlie: “…then I can wait.”
Vaggie: “Good.”
Charlie: "...."
Charlie: “Probably. I think I can probably wait.”
Vaggie: “Ugghh...”
Vaggie: (playfully bumps shoulders) (leans in as charlie hugs her instead)
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Free Witchcraft Resources for Beginners
A couple months ago I made a post shouting out the fact that witchcraft doesn’t require any money to get started (or to be practiced, for that matter), and I had a few people ask me about what they can do that’s free, especially as a beginner, so I wrote up this post. I was lost and broke when I was getting started with my craft, and it was really difficult to find tips for beginners that weren’t just “buy these things!” I’m hoping this will be useful for people who are looking for a place to begin.
So. You’re interested in witchcraft and would like to find out more. Maybe you keep seeing those “crystals/herbs/books/etc. beginner witches should have” posts, and you’re frustrated, because you want to begin your practice, but don’t have the money for those supplies. I was once in that spot, and even now that I’m five years into my practice, I have rarely purchased any of the supplies witchtok deems to be fundamental. Here are some places you can begin instead. Let’s get started!
Info continues below.
Foundations
By foundations, I’m referring to things that aren’t explicitly witchcraft, but that I have found very beneficial within my own practice.
1. Before anything, I recommend asking yourself a simple question: why do I want to practice witchcraft, and what do I hope to get out of it? You may not know for sure yet, and your answer will likely change over time, but having some intentions going in can be helpful when you’re in the early stages of research. When I was starting out, I felt very overwhelmed by the amount of info out there, so if you have a bit of an idea of what you’re specifically interested in, that can be helpful to get you going.
2. Meditation: not all witches meditate, but a lot of the skills you develop through meditation can be helpful within witchcraft. You can try out secular meditation (apps like Balance and Headspace, as well as Insight Timer—the former has a mix of secular and spiritual meditations), or you can find a witchcraft-specific guided meditation on YouTube. For neurodivergent folks out there, I recommend looking into active meditation, which I’ve found to be quite beneficial for myself.
For me, it’s always important to remain grounded when I’m doing any spiritual practice, and meditation is a good skill you can work on to help with that. I also find that having a background in meditation can be really helpful later down the line when/if you are attempting visualization and/or astral projection, witch’s flight, and so forth.
3. Journaling: another thing that isn’t specifically witchcraft-related, but is an important skill to harness, on my opinion. To me, it’s crucial to be in touch with what I’m feeling (especially when it comes to doing spellwork), and journaling is one great way to do that. If you’re stuck and don’t know where to begin, look up witchcraft (or general) journal prompts on here or somewhere else. A lot of the ones that come up will be shadow work, which can be intense, so only do what feels comfortable for you.
I’d also like to note that automatic writing/drawing is an entirely free option if you’re interested in communing with spirits or deities. Essentially it involves getting into a trance-like state (usually in a dark room only lit by candlelight or similar—this is to avoid distractions) with a piece of paper and pen, and you write or draw everything that comes to your head without thinking about it. And then you go back and see what sort of messages you may be receiving. It’s a bit hard to explain and I’m not very experienced in it myself, but it’s something worth looking into if it sounds interesting to you!
4. Look at what you have, instead of what you don’t: a lot of beginner witch resources will list specific items that you should have, without really explaining why. And without that knowledge of how/why having an item is important, you might find your Must Have crystal sitting unused on a shelf somewhere. So instead of focusing on the items you want or feel like you should have, look at what you do have. Are there plants or herbs in your house/yard that you feel drawn to? Do you have a collection of cool rocks and stones? How do these items make you feel?
For me, a large part of my craft is my belief in Animism (the belief that all living things have innate spiritual qualities, like a soul, spirit, or specific energy) and this can play into the way you interact with the natural world if it’s a belief you also subscribe to. Try and feel the presence of a plant to see if it gives you any specific feeling. It does? Great! Now you have a correspondance for that plant. And it’s even better than the correspondances you’ll get in a book because it’s based on your own personal connection and intuition. That’s what is most important.
5. When in doubt, use your intuition. You might find a source that says cinnamon should be used for protection. Another will say it should be used for abundance spells. What matters the most is what you think about an herb/plant/stone/colour, or whatever else you may utilize. I recommend to start keeping a list of what you associate these things with. It can take awhile to build up a personalized list, but once you have one, it’ll be a lot more useful than what a correspondances book says to do.
6. Scour your pantry and get cooking: are you wanting to try out a spell but you haven’t bought the ingredients? Look in your pantry. You may be surprised by how many commonly used witchcraft herbs you find in there. And if you have been starting to associate certain herbs or spices with specific feelings or energies, that’s a great way to get started with creating your own spell.
You can do a spell in many ways, but when I was starting out, one of my favourite ways was to incorporate a certain herb or spice into food I made. Say you’re making a soup and maybe you want a bit of protection, so you add some ground pepper with the intention of that pepper protecting you as you stir it into the soup. Same goes for any other ingredient you’d like to use. A little intention goes a long way!
7. Dedicate your actions, time, or energy: if you’re interested at all in working with deities, ancestors, and other spirits but don’t have the time/space to build an altar—or maybe you aren’t sure how involved you want to be with this part of witchcraft—you can devote an action to the entity. This can be simple. For example, when I worked with Apollo, I would use taking my meds and vitamins as an act of devotion to him. This is an offering. And offerings can be anything you want them to be. They don’t have to be expensive or fancy!
It’s also important to note that you do not need to work with deities or spirits to be a witch. You don’t even have to believe in them. Many witches are atheists or don’t work with any deities at all. But for those who are interested, simple offerings can be a good place to start.
8. Practice energy work: in my view, energy work is the most important skill to learn for your craft, since so many things build off of it. And with energy work, you don’t need to spend any amount of money on it. All you need is yourself, your intuition, and anything else—I mean that quite literally, you can practice feeling the energy of other people, pets, trees, buildings, foods, socks, your favourite pen, and whatever else you think of!
Once you get to know the energy of the things around you, you can more effectively utilize them as tools within your practice (this builds off of the intuition point I made earlier).
For example, as a child I lived in a house that was surrounded by cedar trees. It was a place where I felt very safe. To this day, when I see or smell a cedar tree, I feel safe and protected. You can read this any way you’d like—to me it’s both a spiritual and psychological phenomenon—but this is one example of sensing energy.
As a witch, you can practice that skill and use it to get to know the tools you’d like to use within your own craft (the things that connect to you personally, not what you’re told you should connect with). This isn’t an easy skill by any means, so if it doesn’t come naturally to you, that’s perfectly okay!
For more on this subject, I recommend two books: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer (more on animism in particular) and Psychic Witch by May Auryn (lots of exercises to practice working with and sensing energy).
Where to Go for Learning
After you’ve thought a bit about some of the above, or skipped it altogether if it doesn’t suit you, you’re probably wanting some good resources that will actually tell you how to do the witchcraft thing. But before that, I want to reiterate again that this is your practice, and you should only do what you are interested in. So take what you want and leave what you don’t.
I’m going to point you in three primary directions for learning good information: books, podcasts, and YouTube.
But first, I want to issue a massive disclaimer for the YouTube information (and some books, for that matter). You should not have one sole source for your information. Books that have bibliographies are always the most trustworthy sources. And even though I trust the information coming from the YouTubers I’ll mention—especially because I’ve read similar information in several witchcraft books—don’t take their word at face-value. Be critical of what you’re told. Believe what you believe. This is a skill you’ll learn over time. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it will get easier to discern what’s good info vs. bad info, over time.
Before you get started, I highly recommend watching this helpful video by HearthWitch with info on how to vet your witchcraft sources: link.
Books
In my view, books are the Best source of information, period. Anyone can publish an article or video online, but not everyone can publish a book. So there tends to be a bit more reliable info in witchcraft books.
As far as knowing what book you should begin with, there are lots of lists out there for beginners, and I recommend just looking at one of those lists and picking what sounds interesting to you. Take what you like and leave what you don’t.
Most of the YouTubers I’ve listed below have videos recommending books for beginners.
If you’re interested in British folk witchcraft, I started out with Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne and it was a brilliant beginners guide that I recommend to anyone who is interested in that branch of witchcraft.
As always, while you read witchcraft books, be critical of the information you are presented with. Unfortunately, lots of witchcraft books (especially the classic ones) can be rooted in concepts like bioessentialism, colonialism, and racism. My recommendation is to not take any author’s word as gospel and to use your critical thinking skills when reading witchcraft books.
Where I live, books are EXPENSIVE. And when you’re just starting out in your practice, you might not have the money or ability to go out and buy a book just yet. Maybe you’re still unsure if witchcraft is right for you. Or maybe you’re in the “broom closet.” Whatever the reason, here are some free places to find books.
1. The public library: a bit obvious, but a great resource to look at, because you never know what your library might have. Libraries are the best. And entirely free!
2. Library apps like Libby or Overdrive: especially helpful if you don’t want to bring home a physical witchcraft book, or if your branch doesn’t have any copies of what you’re looking for. You can also get some audiobooks on there.
3. Archive.org: aka the web archive. Entirely free and entirely legal, this works as an online library service where you can check out a book for a bit of time right from your computer. Sometimes you can download PDFs as well. I’ve found a lot of my favourite witchcraft books on there, so if you have a specific title in mind, search it there.
YouTube
First, as a bit of a caveat before recommending you to watch YouTube videos on witchcraft: in my view, books are the best source of information for any witch, as they are able to contain a large degree of nuanced and research-informed information. But books aren’t a simple solution for everyone, and I’ve learned a lot from informed YouTubers over the years (in fact, like many witches, I was first exposed to witchcraft via Harmony Nice on YouTube!).
I’m including a list here of witch YouTubers that I personally recommend because I have found that their content aligns with information I have read in books and other research-informed sources over the years, and because I find them to be generally reliable.
I want to note here that this list is rather biased, as I tend to watch witchcraft YouTubers whose practices mirror my own in some ways. So most of these practitioners have practices informed by European folk witchcraft, and are not very diverse as a result. If any practitioners have further recommendations to add on, especially for practitioners of colour and practices that are different from mine, please do so!
My recommendations:
ChaoticWitchAunt: folk witchcraft, specifically in the Italian tradition, some great beginner content, info on working with saints and spirits.
TheWitchOfWonderlust: death magic, spellwork, great beginner content, lots of excellent info on working with spirits.
HearthWitch: truly a well of information on British witchcraft, beginner videos on any topic you can think of, q&a livestreams, and there’s even a video on vetting witchcraft sources that I really recommend for beginners.
The Redheaded Witch: folk witchcraft and folklore, spirit and ancestor work, daily witchcraft ideas, some beginner videos.
TheGreenWitch: such an excellent resource for herbal/green witchcraft, videos on spellwork, ingredients, tools, and more.
Mintfaery: lots of beginner information, videos on working with the fae, nature witchcraft, and lots of fun witchy days in the life.
Ella Harrison: German folk witchcraft, great beginner resources, including some more niche traditional craft topics like witch’s ladders.
The Norse Witch: info on Norse witchcraft and Heathenry, Norse paganism, and some content about astrology.
simplywitched: lots of great everyday witchcraft content, pagan witchcraft, more vlog style.
Warrior Witch Nike: witchy book reviews, paganism, deity work, some astrology content.
Mhara Starling: the place to go for anyone interested in Welsh witchcraft and folk magic related to Wales.
Alwyn Oak: lots of witch’s guides, especially relating to sabbats (those popularized in Wicca), forest witchcraft, gorgeous videos.
Ivy The Occultist: chaos magick and lots of interviews with practitioners from a variety of paths/backgrounds.
Shadow Harvest: personal day in the life witchy content, some videos looking at working with dark goddesses and deity work in general.
Note: some of these YouTubers have written their own witchcraft books geared towards beginners, so if you enjoy their videos and want to learn more, check those out.
Podcasts
The Astrology Podcast: not specifically witchcraft, but if you want to learn about astrology in detail, this is an excellent place to begin. Link goes to YouTube.
Books and Broomsticks: all kinds of good info, especially pertaining to folk magic, witch guests invited on to share more about their own practice. Link goes to Spotify.
Southern Bramble: A Podcast of Crooked Ways: a variety of witchcraft related topics, interviews, and discussions, often revolving around folk magic and traditional craft—interviews show different traditions. Link goes to Spotify.
New World Witchery - The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft: what it says on the tin; various topics and conversations through an American traditional/folk magic lens by the author of the (amazing) book with the same name. Link goes to Spotify.
Salty Witches Podcast by Cat & Cauldron: traditional witchcraft through a modern lens, another podcast that has a wide variety of topics covered. Link goes to Spotify.
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As always, if anyone has any additional (free!) resources to add onto these ones, please do so.
Good luck to all of the beginner witches who are embarking on their spiritual journeys, and I hope some of these tips have been helpful! :)
-Em
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