#witchcraft rules

[lunasapphire]

What it looks like to be an actual witch✨

Research on top of research on top of research - welcome to my unorganized but organized research grimoire scrapbook

[fernthewhimsical]

Fine. Here you have it. The one true rule of witchcraft:

Stop bitching about other people's practices and focus on your own

[pratchettquotes]

You were there, you had the hat, you did the job. That was a basic rule of witchery: It's up to you.

Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

[tadpoles-and-daydreams]

A ramble on imposter syndrome and the accessibility of witchcraft

So, I’ve been thinking. I think a lot in case you haven’t noticed. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about the major imposter syndrome I’ve been feeling lately in regards to this blog. TL;DR is at the bottom of this post.

People have been, occasionally, sending me asks requesting my opinion on things/how I do things/what I know about XYZ topic. If you are one of these people, I promise I’m not vagueposting about you in particular- in fact, I love these questions! They’re so fun to get and they actually make me sit and think sometimes, or even encourage me to write out something that I’ve been meaning to for my book of shadows. Genuinely, they're wonderful asks to receive. These questions have made me confront something, however; my blog is still small, but some people actually like what I write and value my opinion even if just a little. 

I feel like a mimic hiding in the witchcraft community. I feel like, were people to truly understand my experiences, they would want to “expose” me for knowing so little.

So I sat down with those feelings and turned it over in my head and I’ve come to a conclusion. The fact is, I don’t do research. At least- not what I think of when people talk about research. My "research" consists of the occasional rabbit hole I go down, one and two halves of different books I never finished under my belt, what I see scrolling through various social medias, and conversations I've had with other witches. I check to make sure I'm not stepping on the toes of any closed practices- in fact, that's what most of my energy goes to when it comes to research. This isn't a complaint; I'd much rather know that my craft isn't appropriative.

But I don’t know much about mythology, even that of the deities I work with. I don't even remember the holidays and what they're for. I thought Nyx was an Egyptian deity until like four months ago because I'd just heard her name in passing as a child and had never looked into the mythology... Even though I mainly work with the pantheon she belongs to. Y’all, I’ve done like three spells that I remember. My book of shadows is a messy disaster and I love it but it's got so little information in it, because I rarely write things down. Most resources (especially mythology resources) are academically worded or difficult to read for me personally, and all of these things feel like secrets I have to guard with my life because if I were to ever say them aloud, people would know I'm a fraud.

Today I've come to the conclusion that that is, in fact, absolute bullshit.

Maybe it's not, maybe this post will make some people really upset, but in my practice it's bullshit. All of the above is a result of my ADHD and the fact that I am nothing if not a hands-on learner. My craft is mostly my own experiences because that's how my whole life is; I learn by doing. My ideal learning style is sitting with another autistic person whose special interest is whatever I'm learning about and just talking for five hours, but if that's not something I can do, puzzling it out myself is the next best thing. That's what I've been doing ever since I felt had a basic foundation for my craft. Hell, even before I had a foundation I was putting my own experiences into my craft because "Well that rule just doesn't fucking vibe with me."

This post is mostly for me, but partially for anyone who feels similar. We are not broken or doing witchcraft/paganism wrong. We are simply what happens when the kid who could never do homework ends up practicing the "religion/spirituality that comes with homework." Witchcraft and paganism, in my experience, is far from accessible when it comes to the typical image of it. UPG is what makes it accessible. So yes, my practice is heavily UPG, and I don't do as much research as I think people have assumed. But I'm going to let go of the idea that I'm a fraud, because frankly I know enough about witchcraft to have supported my practice this whole time and my deities haven't smited me yet so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

TL:DR:

Fuck the rules, I don't do much research. I've researched the "basics" and what I need to so I'm not stepping on any toes of closed practices, but people seem to think I know way more than I actually do. I've felt like I was lying this whole time but frankly witchcraft just isn't accessible to someone with my flavor of auDHD, so my craft relies heavily on UPG and I've decided that I'm not broken or wrong for that and neither is anyone else. I'm tired of seeing myself as an imposter just because I make my practice doable for me.

[thatsmybook]

Some of my thoughts since the last episode of Agatha All Along:

The most earnest show of religion in an MCU property is being done through a queer kid. I like that the wider world is learning about the intersectionality of identity. I believe that Billy is as Jewish as William because a) the only family he knows has 'raised' him Jewish and b) his love of witchcraft and ritual and finding ways to explain his world intersect with the rituals and traditions of his faith. Even William was deeply fascinated with magic and witchcraft and journeys of discovery.

Marvel fans are aware that Wiccan is a strong character. The fact that this symbol of masculine strength can be found in a witch boy who is raised to be strong in his sense of self by women in his coven, is awesome. He is drawn to feminine strength as inspiring instead of looking for male heroes. He is attracting feminine forms of protection (Alice), feminine disruptors of the status quo and stereotypes (Lilia), strength in the feminine aesthetic and belief in your innate power (Jen), feminine quest for knowledge and ambition (Agatha). He is being shadowed by death (Rio), but even death gives life in its reincarnation (as we return to earth and feed the earth with our life-force to continue on in new forms).

I believe that Wiccan is/can be as important to the MCU as Spiderman is. Spiderman is a teenager who could be any and everyone. Spiderman looks up to Iron Man, especially but also seeks male role models and approval. (A big part of Iron Man's humanity and softness came from mentoring Peter Parker - I see parallels between Agatha Harkness and Iron Man in this way too).

I believe Wiccan is a version of masculinity to teens that can see that women hold the depth of knowledge and power that he is more interested in unlocking and that their experiences with adversity will be better guides for him as he grows to be the most powerful magic user in the MCU. He is also chosen as a witch and not a sorcerer/wizard/warlock.

Will we be getting little boys and girls and theys aspiring to be wiccans and spidermen equally?

[starryandthetarot]

I've seen an influx of people asking this over on tarot reddit

But in short there's nothing wrong with buying your first tarot deck yourself the whole 'you must be gifted it' superstition is a fairly modern invention and means nothing

Also please do not steal your first deck as I've seen people claim thats a thing and just don't

[roaenexists]

But anyway, before I got distracted by my last post.

Hekate.

I wanted to share some things I've learned about Her.

1) She is The Unseen Witness. This is an epithet I personally have given Her, but which derives from Her role as Persephone's savior and guide to and from the underworld.

2) She's pre-Greek. Anatolian, actually. That's how I personally like my deities—from a localized cult but so powerful they got picked up by a nearby pantheon (Diana is another example of this).

3) She's a goddess that was traditionally worshiped not in temples, but at homes. In my personal experience, She has a LOT of presence in apartments and shelters (especially shelters), as they are inherently liminal living situations.

4) She presides over Dogs and Polecats (like a weasel or ferret) and Horses, so I view Her as a goddess with dominion over all domesticated pets.

5) Hekate faces the three directions the roads lead at a Y- or T-junction, so in my personal practice I understand The Horned God to stand at Hekate's back and watch The Wild Way for Her. On my altar I have my representation of The Horned God facing away from me. Hekate did call me a sneak for that one, though, so YMMV.

6) I get the vibe she doesn't like to share altar space so she'll be getting a bookshelf of her own soon. You can use keys, the triple moon, and various momento mori (like bones, or the charm I made with a sprig of dead rosemary and a beetle carcass) to represent her in an altar space.

7) Herbs and Plants: Garlic, Yew, Mandrake, Dandelion, Belladonna, Cyclamen, Hemlock, Mint, Oak, Date Palms, Willow, Wolf's Bane. You'll notice many plants in her domain are poisonous or otherwise baneful. To this extent, she presides over all baneful plants.

8) She basically requires you to prioritize self-improvement and learning. Therapy and working out and reading and journaling can all be devoted to Her.

9) UPG but I also associate Her with mushrooms, moths, foxes, and rose thorns. She is carrion birds and the rust that eats at iron. She is the dark side of the moon and She likes it that way.

[tales-from-a-little-witch]

Haunted house rules:

Always have a extra chair at the table, in case you have an uninvited guest, may they be human or not.

It’s always wise to be polite.

[sapphoswhispers]

♡ Imagine Being Loved By Me ♡

⋆｡‧˚ʚ ❀ ɞ˚‧｡⋆

⋆｡‧˚ʚ ❀ ɞ˚‧｡⋆

imagine being loved by me, your delicate body against mine, rocking back and forth in a soft lullaby,

a lullaby filled with promises that intertwine us, a gentle song of praise whispering against our skin, alighting desire deep within our shared wounds,

wounds that were caused by oppression, with bloodshed used to invoke fear, violence akin to his ever so holy guise, here within our castle, built upon love and trust, we hear no melancholy cries, here within the lustful embrace, we are not terrified of the world, we are unified. ⋆｡‧˚ʚ ❀ ɞ˚‧｡⋆ Written Timestamp: 2/4/25 - 4:45am

This poem was inspired by Hozier's song 'Talk', but also my experiences growing up in this world and getting wounds I know all my queer siblings share. This poem is about being able to find love within a world thats constantly a threat.

[yankiimiko]

You may call me Junpei, although that is not my real name. Junpei is my kitsune OC, who is a Japanese "yankii" ex-shrine maiden. I am not Japanese, nor a shrine maiden, and do not claim to be able to perform the sacred duties of one. This is just my way of remaining anonymous to protect myself.

I am, however, a historian on different pagan folk practices, and have an extensive knowledge on practices ranging from Creole Cunning, to Heathenry and Norse Paganism, Kemeticism, Thelemism, Bhuddism, the many cults of Christ, to Wicca and modern paganism, and the many things between. I am a teacher and a learner, and will never say I know everything, because I don't and I never will.

My personal beliefs and practices include, but are not limited to:

🏴Anarcho-Communism (the belief that governmenal hierarchies, money, and social classes should Not exist and that the means of production should be help in common by society)

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ LGBTQ+ Rights

♀️ Female (AFAB) Reproductive Rights

Really just rights for any/every type of person tbh.

🔮 The Thelemic freedoms to live and die when, where, and how one will; to eat, drink, sleep, work, play, and rest as one wishes; and to love when, where, and with whom one will.

If you do not agree with, do not wish to see content on, or wish to be hateful about these things, you may leave.

If you would like to learn about any of these things, feel free to follow for more!

Anyone may ask me to preform any ritual within my rights to practice, and if you are unsure, just ask anyways and I will let you know. I do have boundaries.

[bootleg-nessie]

Girls just don’t brew potions these days like they used to

[fandomnerd9602]

Just thought of this a Male Reader X female Harry Potter and reader is Bellatrix's son and his has the vibe of a playful dog that can still kill you

Y/N holds Harri Potter close…

Y/N: I won’t let anyone hurt you ever, my beloved

Harri: what about your mother?

Y/N: I’d fight thru a thousand copies of her just to keep you safe.

Harri: Mione would say that’s impossible

Y/N: I’d still do it for you.

Harri kisses his nose…

Harri: thank you

[fernthewhimsical]

Rant on fire safety

While absolutely gorgeous, I HATE this trend of "aesthetic candles". This is from a local witch shop, that sells these candles. Look at it! It's an absolute fire hazard. A plastic flower molten into the wax. You should not have plastic anywhere near a candle flame. Look at the glitter. Guess what? ALSO PLASTIC.

At best it's gonna smell horrendous, because molten plastic stinks. But burn enough of these candles and you're likely to give yourself cancer. Yes, you read that right. Do no inhale fumes of molten plastic!

Stop making candles with materials that shouldn't be burnt! ffs

[mylifeinfiction]

My Most Anticipated Books of 2025!

Every year I try to read more of my favorite authors’ backlogs and dive into classics I missed throughout school. But then I very quickly get caught up in the incredible slate of new releases I find myself needing to read. 2025 is no different. These are the ones I’m most excited about, so far…

1. My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Backman wins, this year. He's become one of my very favorite authors over the past few years, and this one sounds like it's bound to be another beautiful, hilarious, heartfelt piece of literature.

2. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

SGJ + Vampires = Hell. Yes.

3. The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

Fracassi's Boys in the Valley was my favorite book of 2023. So, yeah, him doing time travel has me so damn excited.

4. Never Flinch by Stephen King

This likely would've come in at #1 if it wasn't another Holly Gibney book. And that's coming from someone who actually really likes Holly Gibney.

5. The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

I loved both Black River Orchard & The Book of Incidents, so even though I've kept completely in the dark about what exactly this book's going to be, I know it's going to be something special.

6. The End of the World as We Know It, Edited by Christopher Golden & Brian Keene

Normally an anthology would never make it on this list. However, this collection of stories inspired by and set within the world of Stephen King's The Stand is chock-full of such amazing authors that I'm just drooling over its promise.

7. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

I'm not the biggest fan of Hendrix, but I do generally have a good time his books. I also really dig witchcraft, so here it is.

8. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

I haven't read enough Schwab, and I know nothing about this one. But Gallant and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue were stunning pieces of fantasy storytelling, so I know this will—at the very least—be beautifully written.

9. When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

This one's on here because of Rest Stop alone. I'm otherwise completely unfamiliar with Cassidy's work, but based on Rest Stop, I'm sure we'll be in for one hell of a ride.

10. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I've been pretty cold on Silvia Moreno-Garcia's last few books, but the brilliant Mexican Gothic and witches have me more than a little bit curious about this one.

Obviously these aren't the only books I’m excited for, this year. But I either haven't yet heard of the others, or they don't have announced release dates yet.

What books are y’all most looking forward to in 2025?

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

[sukipearl]

internally screaming crying throwing up

[jupiter-witchcraft]

Death On Two Legs - Incorporating Music Into Spellwork

Recently, I lost my job unfairly. A job I had for many years, was very good at, and I'd been there long before any management. To say I was angry is an understatement. But I was also terribly depressed, I felt like my confidence had been stripped away from me. So after wallowing in it for two months, I decided to make something of it.

Nothing gets me focused quite like music. I always incorporate music into my work, usually with noise cancelling headphones. This time around I was doing a 2-tier spell, first to send off a prayer for good luck, and second to turn the pain I've felt these last 2 months back on those who caused it. I'm not one to curse, but this was unfair and has put me through a lot of pain. For the first half of my ritual, set out with a small cast iron cauldron, a red candle, green candle, and white candle, 2 feathers, a statue of Bast, and the Chariot tarot card, I used the "Inside Forest Haven" track from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. It kept me level, calm, and set the mood as I burned a scroll with several sigils and a prayer inside. The scroll burned completely and left pure white ash.

For the second half, I swapped my music out for something more angry. I wanted to channel my hurt into it. One song that always gets me going, really makes me FEEL like my anger is being channeled, is "Death On Two Legs" by Queen. It's a very angry song, it feels so good to listen to when I'm mad. So I hit play, waited for the guitar to kick in, and burned the second prayer, packaged with a little blood and part of my old uniform. Lucky me, yesterday I had a nosebleed. Free samples for blood rituals in the future. I watched it as it refused to burn with a heavy flame, but slowly charred and melted from the heat. It burned slow like my anger did and left a black mass of ash and nylon. Once it stopped burning, I sprinkled salt over it and pushed 2 red pins into the mass to complete the ritual. The use of such an emotionally charged song really helped me focus through that really slow burn.

And before anyone gets mad about cursing and all that, I'm not wishing death on anyone or harm, for that matter. I want them to know they hurt someone who was loyal to them. And I want them to struggle with business because, honestly, it's probably better for public health if people don't go there (black mold infestation!). I felt this was justified. They've wronged me, they've wronged other former employees, and they lie to city inspectors to stay in business.