#witchcraft facts

[coven-of-genesis]

Ten lesser-known facts about witches & witchcraft

Witch Bottles: In the 16th and 17th centuries, people believed in the protective power of witch bottles, which were filled with items like nails, hair, and urine to ward off evil spirits and witches.

Flying Ointments: Historical accounts suggest that witches' "flying" was sometimes linked to hallucinogenic ointments, often made from toxic plants like belladonna or mandrake, which were applied to the skin.

Familiars: Witches were believed to have familiars, which were often animals like cats, toads, or birds that assisted them in their magical work. These were considered evil spirits in animal form.

Witch Hunts in the Americas: While the Salem witch trials are well-known, fewer people are aware that other parts of the Americas, such as Brazil and the Caribbean, also had their own witch hunts and trials.

Malleus Maleficarum: This 15th-century book, also known as "The Hammer of Witches," was a significant text that contributed to the witch hunts in Europe. It outlined ways to identify, prosecute, and punish witches.

Witch Marks: During witch trials, accused witches were often searched for "witch marks," unusual blemishes or growths on the body believed to be signs of a pact with the devil.

The Witch's Sabbath: A folklore belief held that witches gathered for secret nocturnal meetings, called sabbaths, where they worshipped the devil, performed rituals, and engaged in revelry.

Witchcraft in Ancient Times: Witchcraft isn't a solely medieval or early modern phenomenon. Evidence of magical practices and beliefs in witchcraft can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as ancient Greece and Rome.

Witchcraft as a Capital Crime: In many parts of Europe, witchcraft was considered a capital crime, punishable by death. This led to the execution of thousands of people, primarily women, during the witch hunts.

Modern Witchcraft: Contemporary witchcraft, often referred to as Wicca, is a recognized religion that emerged in the mid-20th century. It emphasizes the worship of nature, the practice of magic, and the celebration of seasonal festivals.

[breelandwalker]

You seem like you're more familiar with the broader occult community than my scholarly shut in ass. I'm curious. If there were a few lessons you wish you could drill into the head of every prominent social media occultist, what would they be?

Ohhh the number one thing I wish I could drill into the head of every aspiring occultist and magical practitioner is that CRITICAL THINKING IS YOUR FRIEND.

Study magic but keep fact-checking! If there's a claim in a book on witchcraft that should be able to be backed up by mundane sources, look for those sources. If they're not cited in the book, that's a red flag. If the sources you do find don't support the claim, that's another, bigger red flag. This is especially true with claims about history, science, medicine, psychology, anthropology, and religion.

Also, be wary of anything New Age. There's a pipeline to anti-science, eugenics, and racism there that runs directly through portions of the modern pagan and witchcraft communities and it's brightly painted with New Age buzzwords.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If something seems geared to appeal to your emotions, especially that which seems formulated to make you feel special or "chosen" or to fire up some kind of righteous anger or feelings of superiority, you should immediately be suspicious of it.

If a source tells you to disregard science, modern medicine, or recorded history, or tries to tell you that some people are inherently more special or magical or deserving of power than others, discard it immediately. That is a bad source.

Don't believe everything you see or hear online. Too many witches roll their eyes at their parents and grandparents believing everything they read on Facebook, then turn around and insist that everything they've seen on TikTok or Tumblr or YouTube is Absolute Truth.

Believing in and studying magic does not mean that common sense goes out the window. You should be supplementing your magical studies with parallel practical topics (i.e. botany, geology, chemistry, mythology, etc) and ALWAYS keep one foot squarely planted on the ground.

[butch-reidentified]

fact: there is so much of the natural world we don't understand yet

many forms of women's spirituality is just... celebrating how cool that is. not believing in any fictional narrative. just celebrating nature and how much we have yet to understand.

that's why I take issue with the "it's just as fictional as Christianity etc" narrative. some forms, sure, but not any I'd ever be interested in.

it's just ignorance. your idea of witchcraft vs what I'm actually talking about. but you aren't taking the time to ask or listen. there's literally nothing "unscientific" about what I personally practice. it's just about my relationship to the scientific unknown.

edit to add some of what I just included in a different reblog:

fwiw, I still don't consider myself spiritual as (like I've repeatedly said) my witchcraft is, to me, artistic self-expression and is fundamentally about my personal connection to the universe, womanhood, nature, and, despite what certain women on here are insisting, to science. I've never been able to convince myself to believe in specific unseen/supernatural things like deities (learned this at a very young age trying to make myself believe in the Christian God, then tried with other gods, never believed in Santa even).

women engaging in scientific pursuits have historically so often been the ones labeled witches. new scientific creations have so often historically been called magic, witchcraft, heresy, etc., and those involved persecuted for it.

historically, women called witches have so often BEEN scientists, and that & the erasure of women throughout scientific history is exactly WHY using the term is so important to me, WHY I don't respect the patriarchally-derived dictionary definition* of "witch" or "witchcraft." I have a peer-reviewed neuroscience publication with my name on it, and that, to me, is part of my witchcraft. idc how anyone else feels about that but calling it antifeminist is absurd.

[suncast-moth]

Goldfish goblet for Loki ✨️✨️

[mononokevalley]

Salvadis

The Salvadis in Friulian Folklore: Guardians of Storms

In the rich tapestry of Friulian mythology, the Salvadis (Planetnik in Slavic folklore) stand out as enigmatic figures with a formidable connection to natural phenomena. Originating from Slavic countries along with Friuli region in northeastern Italy, these mythical beings are intimately associated with storms and hail, embodying both the awe and fear inspired by unpredictable weather.

Nature and Appearance

Salvadis are often depicted in various forms, such as horses, cows, goats, or pigs in the sky. This transformation into animal shapes is seen as a forewarning of severe weather. When these entities take on a human guise, they are believed to spread their arms and legs to release hailstones, causing damage to crops and property. This human form is a direct manifestation of their power to influence the weather, marking their role as harbingers of stormy conditions.

Role in Weather Phenomena

The primary role of the Salvadis is to generate storms and hail. In Friulian folklore, their appearance in the sky is a significant omen, signaling the approach of adverse weather. The connection between the Salvadis and weather patterns underscores a cultural effort to understand and manage the unpredictable forces of nature. This mythological explanation provided a framework for coping with the challenges posed by severe weather.

photo: bad weather in Faedis with unusual snow in late April

Protective Rituals

The 1948 testimony from Canal di Grivò in Faedis offers a glimpse into how these beliefs were practiced in the mid-20th century.

To safeguard their lands from the Salvadis, local inhabitants engaged in various protective rituals. One common practice involved marking or consecrating the boundaries of their property. This ritual was believed to prevent the Salvadis from crossing into their territory and unleashing their destructive power. Such practices highlight the community's proactive approach to mitigating the impact of natural disasters through cultural and ritualistic means.

🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️

[first 5 photos are from Pinterest, last two are mine]

[polymorphousperve]

I do not know which hardcore mystic needs to hear this today ,but enlightenment is not a substitute for therapy.

[kingstarkingslay]

“ The stars are beautiful, aren’t they?” , said Remus staring up at the sky.

Sirius looked at him, admiring his profile.

“ No, the moon is prettier ” , he confessed.

[nyxshadowhawk]

Hellenic Gods Fact Sheets and Hymns: Hecate

Other Names: Trivia, Brimo

Epithets: Anassa eneroi  (queen of those below), Aidonaia (lady of the Underworld), Amibousa (she who changes), Atalus (tender, delicate), Borborophorba (she who feeds on filth), Brimo (angry, terrifying), Despoina (mistress), Eileithyia (of childbirth), Enodia (of the roads), Epaine (dread), Euplokamos (bright-tressed), Khthonia (of the Underworld), Kleidouchos (keeper of the keys), Kourotrophos (protector of children), Krokopelos (saffron-robed), Liparokredemnos (bright-coiffed), Nycteria (nocturnal; of the night), Nyctipolos (night-wandering), Perseis (destroyer/ daughter of Perses), Phosphoros (light bearer), Propolos (guide), Propylaia (the one before the gate), Scylacagetis (leader of dogs), Soteira (savior), Trikephalos (three-headed/of the crossroads), Trimorphos (three-formed), Trioditis (of the three ways), Trivia (of the three ways).

Domains: Witchcraft, magic, necromancy, ghosts, nightmares, death, initiation, the crossroads, gateways, passage between worlds, and the night.

Appearance: [My UPG] A tall (over 6’) woman, neither young nor old, with waist-length black hair, pale skin, prominent cheekbones, a heavy jaw, and intense green eyes. She is usually dressed in black folds molded into a simple dress or robes. She has a severe expression and an intimidating presence. She speaks with a low voice.

Sacred Days and Festivals: Eleusinia (22 Metageitnion). Nemoralia (August 13th-15th). Deipnon, last day of each (lunar) month.

Symbols/Attributes: Torches, keys, daggers, strophalos (iynx wheel)

Sacred Animals: Dog, polecat, serpent, horse, frog.

Sacred Plants: Yew, cypress, garlic, willow, hazel, black poplar, aconite, belladonna, dittany, mandrake, hemlock, asphodel

Elemental Affinity: Darkness, light, fire

Planet: Moon

Colors: Black, saffron, silver.

Crystals: Black onyx, hematite, obsidian, black tourmaline, moonstone, smoky quartz, agate, amethyst.

Incense: Myrrh, almond, cypress, camphor, saffron, mugwort, pomegranate.

Tarot Cards: The High Priestess, The Moon, Death

Retinue: Empousai, ghosts of the dead, dogs, Lampades (torch-bearing underworld nymphs)

Associated People: Witches (and other magic-users), the dead

Offerings: Bread, eggs, honey, garlic, menstrual blood, graveyard dirt.

Syncretized With: Artemis, Diana, Persephone, Eileithyia, Selene, Nephthys, Ereshkigal, Nicnevin, Heqet

Hymns to Hecate

Orphic Hymn to Hecate

Hekate Enodia, Trivia, lovely dame, Of earthly, watery, and celestial frame, Sepulchral, in a saffron veil arrayed, Pleased with dark ghosts that wander through the shade; Daughter of Perses, solitary goddess, hail! The world’s key-bearer, never doomed to fail; In stags rejoicing, huntress, nightly seen, And drawn by bulls, unconquerable, monstrous queen; Leader, Nymphe, nurse, on mountains wandering, Hear the suppliants who with holy rites thy power revere, And to the herdsman with a favoring mind draw near.

Hecate’s Hymn to Herself

I come, a virgin of varied forms, wandering through the heavens, bull-faced, three-headed, ruthless, with golden arrows; chaste Phoebe bringing light to mortals, Eileithyia; bearing the three synthemata [sacred signs] of a triple nature.  In the Aether I appear in fiery forms and in the air I sit in a silver chariot, Earth reins in my black brood of puppies.

(From Porphyry’s lost commentary on the Chaldean Oracles, preserved by Eusebius of Caesaria in Praeparatio Evangelica. According to Porphyry, this hymn was composed by Hecate herself.)

Magical Invocation to Hecate

Approach, you of the netherworld, of earth, of heaven, Bombo! You by the wayside, at the crossroads, light-bearer, night-wanderer, Enemy of light, friend and companion of night, Rejoicing in the howl of dogs and in crimson gore, Lurking among the corpses and the tombs of lifeless dust, Lusting for blood, bringing terror to mortals, Grim one, Ogress [Mormo], Moon – you of many forms, May you come gracious to our sacrificial rites!

(Preserved in Refutation to All Heresies by Hippolytus)

Invocation to Hecate from PGM IV 2708-84

Come, giant Hecate, Dione’s guard, O Persia [daughter of Perses], Baubo Phroune, dart-shooter, Unconquered Lydian, the one untamed, Sired nobly, torch-bearing, guide, who bends down Proud necks, Kore, hear, you who’ve parted / gates Of steel unbreakable. O Artemis, Who, too, were once protectress, mighty one, Mistress, who burst forth from the earth, dog-leader, All-tamer, crossroad goddess, triple-headed, Bringer of light, august / virgin, I call you Fawn-slayer, crafty, O infernal one, And many-formed. Come, Hekate, goddess Of three ways, who with your fire-breathing phantoms Have been allotted dreaded roads and harsh / Enchantments, Hekate I call you

[…]

O Hekate of many names, O Virgin, Kore, Goddess, come, I ask, O guard and shelter of the threshing floor Persephone, O triple-headed goddess, Who walk on fire, cow-eyed BOUORPHORBE PANPHORBA PHORBARA AKITOPHI ERESHKIGAL / NEBOUTOSOUALETH Beside the doors, PYPYLEDEDEZO And gate-breaker; Come Hekate, of firey Counsel, I call you to my sacred chants.

[starsthewitch]

Some Freyja facts for those who want to know more! (an addition to my Aphrodite facts)

✶ As the daughter of Njord, the sea god, and sister to Freyr, the god of prosperity, Freyja holds a prominent position among the Norse gods.

✶ She possesses the magical necklace Brísingamen, acquired through a deal with four dwarves, which enhances her power.

✶ Freyja's name translates to "Lady" or "Mistress" in Old Norse, reflecting her status as a powerful and respected goddess in Norse mythology.

✶ Freyja is often associated with falconry, as she is said to possess a cloak of falcon feathers that allows her to transform into a falcon, granting her the ability to travel between the realms of the gods and the mortal world.

✶ In some stories, Freyja is depicted as the mother of two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi, who are personifications of beauty and treasure, further emphasizing her association with wealth and prosperity.

✶ Despite her prominence, much of Freyja's mythology and worship have been obscured over time, with many details about her cult and rituals lost to history. However, she remains a beloved and enigmatic figure in Norse mythology.

[cissa-calls]

Countdown to Agatha: Day 753

Agatha: “I’m not going in the water, I can’t swim!”

Y/N: “What do you mean? You’re several centuries old, and you never learned how to swim?”

Agatha: “When people in the 17th century were able to swim, guilt on crimes of witchcraft usually followed!”

Wanda: “…but you actually are a witch”

Agatha: “That’s beside the point! I was trying to avoid being hung or burned!”

[growing-yet-into-magic]

What cannot be removed by force may be removed by water; what cannot be removed by water may be removed by alcohol; what cannot be removed by alcohol may be removed by oil.

Source: I de-stickered my laptop last night

[pratchettquotes]

That was the problem with witchcraft: It was as if everybody needed the witches but hated the fact that they did, and somehow the hatred of the fact could become the hatred of the person. People then started thinking: Who are you to have these skills? Who are you to know these things? Who are you to think you're better than us? But Tiffany didn't think she was better than them. She was better than them at witchcraft, that was true; but she couldn't knit a sock, she didn't know how to shoe a horse, and while she was pretty good at making cheese, she had to have three tries to bake a loaf that you could actually bite into with your teeth. Everybody was good at something. The only wicked thing was not finding out what it was in time.

Terry Pratchett, I Shall Wear Midnight

[samd1o1]

I love when witches in games do actual witchcraft!

The new League Of Legends champion; Aurora has an evil eye on her wand! In witchcraft they are used to protect you from evil and jealousy!

-

I've also been playing a lot of DBD recently and have fallen in love with Sable Ward.

Both Sable and her (girl)friend Mikaela are stated to be practicing witches. It's not something that's judged either! It's a central part of their stories and identities.

-

I love that witchcraft is allowed to be more mainstream nowadays. It's such an interesting practice that I love exploring and dabbling in from time to time.

Edit: The League champions team actually said it themselves!

Edit 2: The previous splash art shown wasn't the final. The final one seemed to change the design of the evil eye. At first I was sad but after reading the champion insights I think what they did was want to make real life witchcraft infused with game lore. So I can totally see this evil eye design referencing Kindred!

[buriedpentacles]

how do people start to work with spirits? and even tho I don’t believe in a god is is alright to personify the nature as gaea/mother nature and worship that? can I still have an altar? can alterhumans have altars?

Starting working with spirits will vary between people! For me, I knew which spirit I wanted to work with (it was an animal spirit) and I began by leaving it small offerings in my garden - berries, parts of my dinner, etc and when I went out I would sit by the offering and speak to the spirit. I told it that I wished to communicate and work with it, I expressed my intentions and I gave it an opportunity to reply - I told it to leave [a specific sign] within the next few days if it agreed.

The spirit sent me the requedted sign multiple times over the next few says and I was ecstatic. To actually begin communication/work I laid out a specific object that was a "focus point" (for this spirit, I had a bone of the animal but you can use a candle, drawing, sigil or anything really). I welcomed the spirit into my space, set boundaries and invitef it to communicate with me via tarot. We spoke for a while, agreeing on terms of our relationship and boundaries.

After that, I simply communicated regularly and stuck to our agreed upon terms. The relationship changed, got a bit more informal and relaxed, but we talked often and it sent me signs when I needed them or when it had a message for me. When our working relationship did come to an end, we said our goodbyes, I left it a final offering and did a small ceremony to "disconnect" it from its "focus point" object.

That's a pretty simplified run down of how it went, but hopefully gives you an idea. I don't have too much experience with non-animal or plant spirits so definitely look to other resources too!!!

As for worshipping Mother Nature - as her devotee I encourage it! I don't care if you see her as a goddess or not; worship and revere nature as it is. Worship the world and earth and all the living things that you can see and feel. You don't need a lot of faith to believe in Nature, so go for it and worship it your way!

An altar does not have to be for a god, nor does it have to be religious. It can simply be a place of spiritual importance to you, a place for you to worship and revere the very tangible nature that lives outside your doorstep! Though you don't need one if you feel uncomfortable having one!

I'm not sure what an "alterhuman" refers to, let me know what you mean by that and I will try to answer your final question!

[witchescollection]

"why are israel in esc if they arent in europe" they're part of the ebu, the broadcasting company which makes eurovision. last time i checked australia wasn't in europe either babes

"i can't believe they banned the palestinian flag this week!" they've been banned since 2016, alongside any other flag of a 'disputed territory', anything containing a political message, and any local or regional flags.

listen, i'm not saying don't boycott, but what i am saying is if you're gonna call people horrendous insults and tell them to kill themselves because they aren't, you better at least have your fucking facts straight <3

[thebeadrescue]

☀️ Have a great Friday everyone! ☀️

💛 Find 'The Sun' tarot card charm bracelet here on Etsy! 💛