thevirginwitch

[thevirginwitch]

Simultaneous and non mutually exclusive ideas-

No gender or sexuality is inherently more magical than any other

While someone may incorporate their gender or sexuality into their own witchcraft, that is a personal choice

Pushing one’s own personal ideas of gender and sexuality in witchcraft onto others is a harmful, wether you’re pushing the idea that gender or sexuality is important to witchcraft or not

People’s experiences and beliefs in witchcraft are personal and developed by their own life, everyone’s practice will look different.

Enforcing personal values onto others is generally a shitty thing to do

Divine feminine is very often a terf dog whistle but some innocuous forms of alchemy and energy work do include masculine and feminine as properties

If you want you can mix whatever amounts of masculine and feminine energies in a pot, add vegetables, garlic, herbs, and a meat or meat substitute and make gender soup

Gender and expression or lack thereof are important parts of many peoples lives, and including them on one’s craft can be important as well

I think I’m restating some of the same points

Trans and genderqueer people rock

[thevirginwitch]

Nightmare Jar

This jar spell will bring the target severe nightmares.

You will need:

Item representing the target

Sand

Poppy Seeds

Valerian Root or Powder

Vinegar

Something to Seal the Jar

Focus on your target and the nightmares they’ll be having as you pour in the sand until it’s about a half inch deep and place your item representing the target on top of the sand. Place your poppy seeds and valerian in while maintaining your intention and pour the Vinegar in until it’s about halfway full. Close the jar and seal it with candle wax, glue, ribbon, string or whatever you have on hand.

Shake the jar every night you want the target to have nightmares, when you are finished with the jar you may dispose of it in with any method you wish.

[thevirginwitch]

if you could have a short, "101" guide for any topic in witchcraft/magic, what would it be?

[thevirginwitch]

no more "sigil for anxiety" this or "love spell" that. give me your worst, most terrifying curse

the type of shit that'll tarnish their ancestral line for generations to come or ruin their chance of ever seeing the gates of elysium

[thevirginwitch]

oh boy I can’t wait to buy an overpriced quartz-and-copper-coil resin pyramid from etsy so can accumulate enough orgone energy to achieve orgasm

[thevirginwitch]

While I always emphasise spending time with nature in order to build that connection with spirits, this does not automatically mean that you have to hike up a mountain or head out into the middle of a forest.

You can connect to nature from your bed, from the middle of a city, in your kitchen and on a slab of pavement next to a railway.

Nature is everywhere. Nature is everything. You are nature. Rock and stone is nature. Gulls and wasps are nature.

Can't get out of bed? Watch a cool documentary or short ecology video. Read a book on local flora. Draw some cool animals. Talk to your houseplants.

Live in a city? Pray to the dandelions and nettles alongside the pavement. Ask the Spirit of Rat to help you. Look up and see the sky. Feel below and sense the earth. (Making a more detailed urban nature spirit work post, will link here too).

If you are someone who wants to work with nature spirits in your practice, please do not anything (or anyone) make you feel like you can't.

[thevirginwitch]

May 2025 Witch Guide

New Moon: May 26th

First Quarter: May 4th

Full moon: May 12th

Last Quarter: May 20th

Sabbats: Beltane- May 1st

May Flower Moon

Also known as: Budding Moon(Ojibwe), Dancing Moon(Tunica), Hare Moon, Faery Moon, Flowering Moon(Ojibwe), Flower Moon, Milk Moon, Planting Moon(Dakota, Lakota), Planting Month(Cherokee), Egg Laying Moon(Cree), Sproutkale, Snake Moon(Catawba), Summer Moon(Inupiat), They Plant Moon(Oneida), Thrimilemonath & Winnemanoth

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Taurus & Gemini

Nature spirts: Elves & faeries

Deities: Aphrodite, Artemis, Bsst, Cernunnos, Diana, Flora, Horned God, Kali, Maia, Pan, Priapus & Venus

Animals: Cats, leopard & lynx

Birds: Dove, swallow & swan

Trees:  Hawthorne & rowan

Herbs: Cinnamon, dittany of Crete, elder, mint, mugwort & thyme

Colors: Brown, green, orange, pink, red & yellow

Flowers: Foxglove, lily of the valley, rose & yarrow

Scents: Rose & sandalwood

Stones:  Agate, amber, carnelian, emerald, garnet, malachite, rose quartz, ruby, tourmaline & tsavorite

Issues, intentions & powers:  Divination, enchantment, fertility, love & well-being

Energy: Abundance, creativity, faeries & spirt contact, intuition, love, material gains, money, propagation, relationships & tenacity

May is commonly referred to as the Flower Moon  and the name should be no surprise, because flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month.

• “Flower Moon” has been attributed to Algonquin peoples, as confirmed by Christina Ruddy of The Algonquin Way Cultural Centre in Pikwakanagan, Ontario.

May’s Moon was also referred to as the “Month of Flowers” by Jonathan Carver in his 1798 publication, Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America: 1766, 1767, 1768 (pp. 250-252), as a likely Dakota name. Carver stayed with the Naudowessie (Dakota) over a period of time; his expedition covered the Great Lakes region, including the Wisconsin & Minnesota areas.

Beltane

Known as: Beltaine, May day, Roodmas & Cethsamhain

Season: Spring

Element: Fire

Symbols: Eggs, flowers, faeries, faery circle(mushrooms),  maypoles, may bush & priapic wands

Colors: Blue, brown, green, light pink, orange, rainbow spectrum, red, white & yellow

Oils/Incense: Frankincense, jasmine, lemon, lilac, mint, passion flower, pine, rose, tuberose, vanilla, woodruff & ylang ylang

Animals: Bee, cattle, frog goat & rabbit

Birds: Dove

Stones: Bloodstone, emerald, lapis lazuli, orange carnelian, rose quartz & sapphire

Mythical: Faeries

Food: Beltane cakes, cherries, dairy foods, green herbal salads, honey, lemonade, meade, May wine(made with white wine, lemon slices & woodruff milk), nuts, oatmeal cakes, oats, strawberries & sweets

Herbs/Plants: Almond, angelica, blackberry, burdock, cinquefoil, damiana, frankincense, gorse, ivy, meadowsweet, mint, mugwort, rosemary, saffron, satyrion root, St John's wort & woodruff

Flowers:  bluebell, daisy, hibiscus, honeysuckle, lilac, lily of the valley. marigold, primrose, rose, rosehip, violet & yellow cowslips

Trees: Apple, ash, birch, cedar, elder, fir, hawthorn, juniper, linden, mesquite, oak, pine, poplar, rowan & willow

Goddesses: Areil, Aphrodite, Artemis, Astarte, Bona Dea, Chin-Hua-Fu-Jen, Cybele, Danu, Diana, Dôn, Eiru, Elen, Eostre, Fand, Flora, Freya, Frigg, Horae, Maia, Niwalen, Rauni, Rhea, Rhiannon, Sarasvati, Var, Venus & Xochiquetzal

Gods: Apollo, Baal, Bacchnalia, Balder, Belenus, Bele, Beltene, Cernunnos, Chung K'uei, Cupid, Eros, Faunus, Freyr, Grannus, The Green Man, Lares, Manawyddan, Odin, Pan,Pluto, Puck, Ra & Taranis

Tarot cards: The Empress, The Emperor, The Hight Priestess & The Magician

Spellwork: Abundance, birth, cooperation, Earth magick, growth, healing, health, love, manifestation, passion, pregnancy, protection, purification & union

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, creativity, fertility, lust, marriage, the underworld/otherworld, pleasure, psychic ability, purification, sensuality, sex, visions, warmth & youth

Activities:

•Decorate & dance around a Maypole

• Set up an outdoor altar & leave offerings to faeries

• Prepare a ritual bath with fresh flowers

• Light a bonfire or candles & dance around them

• Set aside time for self care

• Gather flowers & use them to decorate your home or altar

• Prepare a feast to celebrate with friends/family

• Make flower crowns

• Bake bannocks, oat cakes or cookies

• Hang wreaths decorated with ribbons & flowers

• Start a wish book/box/journal

• Visit sacred wells

• Participate in handfasting or romantic partnerships

• Work on/ create a community garden

• Go on a walk & give thanks to nature

• Remove litter from outdoor areas like streams & banks

• Plant flowers in your home, garden or neighborhood(check for non-invasive flowers for your area)

• Cast fertility spells/ participate in sacred sex

• Fill small baskets of flowers & small goodies, then leave them on your friends/neighbors doorstep as a gesture of goodwill & friendship

Beltane is mentioned in the earliest Irish literature and is associated with important events in Irish mythology. Also known as Cétshamhain (‘first of summer’), it marked the beginning of summer & was when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. Rituals were performed to protect cattle, people & crops, and to encourage growth. (Today, Witches who observe the Wheel of the Year celebrate Beltane as the height of Spring.)

Special bonfires were kindled, whose flames, smoke & ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires & sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused & then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire.

These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food & drink would be offered to the aos sí. Doors, windows, byres & livestock would be decorated with yellow May flowers. They possibly did this because the yellow flowers evoked fire.

In parts of Ireland, people would make a May Bush: typically a thorn bush or branch decorated with flowers, ribbons, bright shells & rushlights. Holy wells were also visited, while Beltane dew was thought to bring beauty & maintain youthfulness.

• The aos sí (often referred to as spirits or faeries) were thought to be especially active at Beltane. Like Samhain, which lies directly opposite from Beltane on the Wheel of the Year, this was seen as a time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest. At Samhain the veil between the worlds of the living & the dead is thin enough that we can connect & convene with our beloved dead, here at Beltane it’s the veil between the human world, & the world of faeries & nature spirits that has grown thin. Offerings would be left at the ancient faerie forts, the wells & in other sacred places in an effort to appease these nature spirits to ensure a successful growing season.

Other celebrations:

•  Rosealia- May 23rd

Rosalia or Rosaria was a festival of roses celebrated on various dates, primarily in May, but scattered through mid-July. The observance is sometimes called a rosatio (“rose-adornment”) or the dies rosationis, “day of rose-adornment,” & could be celebrated also with violets. As a commemoration of the dead, the rosatio developed from the custom of placing flowers at burial sites. It was among the extensive private religious practices by means of which the Romans cared for their dead, reflecting the value placed on tradition (mos maiorum, “the way of the ancestors”), family lineage & memorials ranging from simple inscriptions to grand public works. Several dates on the Roman calendar were set aside as public holidays or memorial days devoted to the dead.

Roses had funerary significance in Greece, but were particularly associated with death & entombment among the Romans. In Greece, roses appear on funerary steles  & in epitaphs most often of girls. Flowers were traditional symbols of rejuvenation, rebirth &memory, with the red & purple of roses & violets felt to evoke the color of blood as a form of propitiation

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2025 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

aianta.org/native-american-moon-names

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials: Beltane

[thevirginwitch]

Notes from a witch who is a part-time caretaker of a rural graveyard:

Disclaimer: These are both mundane and magical personal observations and recommendations acquired from living directly beside, working part-time for, and working with the spirits of a rural graveyard.

If the grass is being cut regularly, the graveyard/cemetery is being looked after. Even if headstones are neglected and the decorations rarely change at the graves, someone is coming out regularly to check things out.

Even if you know for a fact a graveyard/cemetery is abandoned, it does not mean it's been entirely forgotten. You're probably not the first person to stumble upon it and probably won't be the last. Don't ruin it for others by desecrating graves or damaging the natural environment.

Be mindful of rules and be respectful of the cultural practices of the graveyard/cemetery. Some graveyards/cemeteries have regulations as to what can be left at a grave; either in general or during certain seasons, or they may have set visiting hours; often in an attempt to deter nocturnal mischief makers.

If you are ever questioned as to why you are there, be calm and courteous. You don't have to divulge your spiritual practice, but simply explaining that you're visiting out of an interest in history can more often than not put suspicious minds at ease. However, if you are explicitly asked to leave, by the living or the dead, do so. There is no sense in arguing and it may be for a good reason.

This may be personal preference or may depend on whether or not you have built up a connection with the graveyard/cemetery (spirit/guardian/etc), but when in doubt: come with protection.

Avoid leaning, standing or pushing on headstones. It is not uncommon for stones to topple, especially those with preexisting damage, those made out of softer material like limestone, or those simply not designed to take much force.

Sometimes stepping on a grave is inevitable. Politely apologize and carry on.

You can show respect and still laugh, joke, tell stories, etc. There's no rule saying you must keep the mood sombre.

If you will be doing any type of magical workings, ask permission and respect the answer. This goes especially for any workings done at a specific grave.

When finished, give your thanks and take all non-biodegradable tools/spell ingredients/offerings with you. You could even pick up trash as you leave, but be mindful of what may be a misplaced decoration or offering.

If you want to clean/repair headstones or cleanup the general area of the graveyard, do your research and go through the proper legal channels. Your intent may be good; but if you don't know what cleaners/tools to use or mistake a misplaced decoration as trash, you could unintentionally do more harm than good.

If you require grave dirt or other forageable matter, tread lightly. Only take what you need and opt to take from the perimeter over a specific grave*.

When you are finished with your workings and are ready to head home, say goodbye and leave the spirits at the gate. You can cleanse yourself and your tools once you've crossed the threshold or as soon as you've gotten home.

*Removing dirt from a grave is often viewed as immoral and depending on your location may even be illegal (desecration of a grave). <- I'm not mentioning this last bit as a scare tactic, just as a reminder that you never know how your actions will be interpreted by outside eyes.

As an alternative to grave dirt, consider this: The earth has been around for 4.5 billion years. In that time, many a thing has lived and died across its surface. Dirt is made of decaying and decomposed matter. So technically speaking, the entire planet is a series of unmarked lost graves, making all dirt grave dirt.

[thevirginwitch]

devotional jewelry

the poll that i put up the other day (which i know isn't even done yet) has dictated that this post shall be about devotional jewelry/prayer beads! which honestly, i'm really excited for this, i've been meaning to get an excuse to show these off

btw i did provide image descriptions but if they're missing something or you have suggestions please don't be afraid to comment them!

(SOME) EXAMPLES

japa mala: hindu. usually consists of 108 beads (separated by a larger one at the beginning/end), these are used to keep track of mantras/prayers/sacred phrases recited during meditation

mala: buddhist, most commonly tibetan. likely adapted from hinduism, these also have 108 beads (ending in a tassel or amulet), used to count mantras or direct breathing during meditation

prayer rope: eastern orthodox. usually made of 33, 100, or 300 knots ending in a cross (also made of knots) and/or a tassel. used to count repetitions of the Jesus Prayer

rosary: catholic. arranged in five decades (sets of 10 beads) each separated by a larger bead and ending in a strand with a crucifix on the end. traditionally, a person does three cycles, saying Hail Marys on the small beads and different prayers relating to the mysteries on the larger beads

misbaha/subha: islamic. three groups of beads totaling to 99, each section with a different prayer separated by imams and ending in the yad (used as a handle), used in dhikr after regular prayer

ANCIENT GREECE: as far as i can tell, prayer beads were not in use in ancient greek worship. however, jewelry was a somewhat common offering at temples, and a large part of archeological findings have depictions of deities on them. these are my favorite

(SOME OF) MY DEVOTIONAL PIECES

HADES (left) -red/gold glass beads: reminds me of pomegranate seeds

-gold: association with wealth (Plouton)

-silver: association with wealth

-snowflake obsidian: protection, associated with the underworld

-smokey quartz pendant: protection, association with the underworld

PERSEPHONE (right) -unakite: association with nature/the earth

-rhodonite: pink to remind me of spring

-flower beads: association with her Roman form Flora

-hematite: protection, association with underworld

APHRODITE (left) -pearls: association with the ocean (i venerate her strongly as an oceanic deity)

-shells: association with the ocean

-art deco style beads: opulence and beauty

-mint quartz: it's kinda a sea green, reminds me of the ocean where i live

ATHENA (right) -sodalite: intuition, complex thought (wisdom, some might even say)

-lapis lazuli: intuition (also associated with zeus)

-blue aventurine: just fit the theme lol

-obsidian: protection (like against enemies)

-sword pendant: representative of her war aspect

DIONYSUS (left) -aventurine: prosperity, fortune (similar to fertility, kinda?)

-fluorite: just fit the theme

-amethyst and pendant: bc of the story of rhea curing his madness with an amethyst

this was one of the first pieces i made, so i didn't have as big a variety of beads to work with

HEKATE (right) -garnet: associated with Persephone, a companion of Hekate

-labradorite: magic

-bloodstone: the underworld/the dead

-skull beads: underworld/the dead

-tarot cards: representative of her domain of the sky, earth, and seas, also divination/magic

-black tourmaline pendant: the underworld

i chose specifically three skulls on the short section to represent her tripartate depiction

APOLLO (left) -tree agate: nature and hunting

-wood beads: nature

-bells: music (yes they actually make noise!)

-the sun tarot card pendant: he's the god of the sun AND oracles/seers, which this kinda represents

this is one of my faves but i never wear it just bc the bells can be obnoxious in public lmfao. i know most people wear yellow or orange for him but tbh i don't really enjoy those colors and it's important to me to explore his other aspects

ARTEMIS (right) -lepidolite: aids in transitions

-moss agate: nature

-obsidian: protection (i see her as a personal protector)

-labradorite: looks like the moon

i actually went shopping for this one specifically (i had another set for her i wasn't happy with) so that's why there's so many plastic and glass beads (i got them from a craft store). the old set had howlite cause howl=wolf=lykeia and blue aventurine for the sky

HOW TO USE THEM

personally, devotional jewelry is my first go-to when i have low spoons and need to spend the day in bed. i can wear it taking a nap, making my lunch, taking a walk, whatever! i don't always wear it though, since i try to keep it meaningful. this may differ from person to person, but that's just the way i do it

you can also use them as prayer beads and count each bead as a set prayer or phrase to your deity OR use them to help you focus on relaxing during meditation

for those who are devoted to one deity/oathbound/etc., this could also be your way of showing your faith, like you would in a romantic relationship (although you don't need to be godspoused)

they also work as a great altar decoration, you can wear it while doing prayer and put it back after

but also, at the end of the day, i got a lot more value out of the making of these than wearing them (i forget oftentimes), and it was a great devotional activity for me

HOW I MAKE THEM

for my specific pieces i used a style that's commonly seen in modern rosaries--the bead(s) on separate but connected pieces--but you can use whatever style you like

here's an example of what my friend's looks like:

and my brother's:

if you want them all on one strand like these, i say go ahead! if you want them all separate bead by bead then do that! if you want plastic, stone, wood, shell, seed, whatever, go ahead!

ultimately i make my devotional jewelry personal to me and my relationship with the deity, and i encourage you all to do the same. don't worry about what other people are doing (although im always down to provide suggestions!)

MATERIALS I USE -pre looped pins OR bead stringing wire

-a kit like this if using wire string (crimp the small beads or the vertical rectangle with the loop on top instead of tying the wire)

-just jumprings if using pre looped pins

-a round and flat pair of jewelry pliers

-a one step looper (optional)

-whatever beads and pendants i can five finger discount from stores or find at home

if you want recommendations for what crystals or colors to go with you can see my common crystals post and my altars for series. i choose crystals related to the domain of the deity, or ones that show up in their myth

techniques or materials may vary depending on what piece of jewelry you're doing. if you're doing earrings ofc you won't need the wire string and you'll need a different kit with earring backs

ALTERNATIVES

don't have the dexterity, materials, tools, or money to make your own jewelry? here are some ideas: -thrifting/buying them pre made

-thrifting beads

-using old jewelry you already own and just consecrating it for a specific deity (ill make another post about that)

-making something other than a necklace, like friendship bracelets, kandi, earrings, or even a knotted rope

but ultimately, you don't have to have or wear devotional jewelry. it isn't necessarily a vital part of my craft, i just really enjoyed making them. if you don't enjoy making them or can't, don't! you don't need to stress about forcing it into your practice

SOURCES

britannica

wikipedia on misbaha (briefly)

[thevirginwitch]

Chaos Magic 101 Presentation: Wednesday, April 9th at 6:30pm CT!

My Choas Magic 101 Presentation/course is finally complete, and I will be presenting it over on The Edge of the Forest Discord server (18+ ONLY) on Wednesday, April 9th at 6:30pm CT!

If you are interested in chaos magic, or are looking to expand your knowledge on the subject, I highly encourage you to pop in!! I will be going over:

core principles of chaos magic

history, development, and key figures of chaos magic

and applications of chaos magic (even if you don't consider yourself a "chaos magician")!

I've put a lot of work into this one, so I hope to see y'all there! I'm also actively working on getting this presentation written up in a more digestible format for my Substack, and also exploring the option of turning this into a course over on Udemy. I will keep y'all posted!

[thevirginwitch]

🌑 New Moon in Taurus – Grounding, Growing, and Building What Lasts 🌑

New Moon Blessings!

This New Moon in Taurus brings a welcome shift into steadiness. Taurus is the sign of the builder, the gardener, the one who knows that good things take time. This moon invites us to slow down, reconnect with our values, and start planting the seeds—literally and metaphorically—for what we want to grow over time.

This moon falls at 7° Taurus, and it’s sitting close to the North Node, pointing us toward long-term growth and a deeper sense of purpose. There’s also a supportive connection to Saturn in Pisces, helping us give structure to dreams and spiritual goals. If you’ve been hoping to ground your ideas into reality or bring more stability to your life, this is the moon to begin.

🪵 Taurus New Moon Themes:

Long-term intentions and goals

Financial stability and slow, sustainable growth

Body care, home care, and self-worth

Connecting with nature and the land

Building routines that actually feel good

---------

🌿 Folk Magic & Appalachian Wisdom

In traditional folk practices—especially those passed down in the Appalachian region—the dark moon in an Earth sign like Taurus is considered a strong time for planting, blessing, and working toward prosperity. This isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about setting intentions that you’re willing to tend and care for, like a garden.

Ways you can work with this moon:

Plant something in the earth with a spoken intention.

Make or refresh charms for steady income and resource flow.

Work with oils or candle spells focused on abundance or security.

Whisper your goals into a jar of dirt from your home and bury it beneath a favorite tree or near your front steps.

Here’s a simple folk charm you can try:

Steady Hand, Full Pocket Charm Gather:

A small square of green fabric

A coin rubbed with money drawing oil (optional)

A pinch of dried basil or bay leaf

A string or thread

A taglock from you

A petition (optional)

Wrap the herbs and coin in the cloth and tie it shut with the string. As you tie it, say:

“Steady hand and steady heart, Let blessings grow and never part. By leaf and coin, by root and thread, Bring me fortune, daily bread.”

Keep it in your pocket, purse, or on your altar until the Full Moon in Taurus later this year.

---------

🌱 Reflection Questions for the Taurus New Moon:

What am I ready to build or invest in long-term?

Where do I need more grounding in my life?

How do I define security—and what steps can I take to create it?

What routines or rituals help me feel stable and supported?

This moon is about choosing what’s real, what’s worthy, and what’s worth the effort. It’s a beautiful time to begin a new chapter in your relationship with money, your body, your home, or your purpose.

May this moon bless the roots you plant and bring you the steadiness you seek.

[thevirginwitch]

Evil Eye Pouches

I've got some handmade evil eye pouches for sale over on my Etsy! They're currently available in purple and blue, but hope to add more colors soon. These are about 6"x7" in size and are perfect for tarot decks, crystals, and anything else that might need a bit of extra protection. Made with 100% acrylic yarn!

[thevirginwitch]

The Ars Notoria (or Notory Art) is a mediaeval grimoire containing a series of orations, prayers, and invocations intended to improve memory, eloquence, and general academic capability. Used by monks to master diverse subjects quickly, the text was often read or chanted whilst the aspirant looked at a “nota,” a complex design which encapsulates the essence of the desired subject. These nota are unlike the seals or sigils of any other grimoire, and were drawn with exquisite attention to detail. The oldest manuscript of the Ars Notoria dates from 1225.

[thevirginwitch]

Source details and larger version.

Some strange and unusual vintage diagrams.

[thevirginwitch]

okay. listen. if you ever find yourself falling into a new ideological circle, pay attention. if you notice that you’re among people who define themselves as part of an “in-group” with a pre-prepared human “enemy” to constantly rail against—if everyone fantasizes about the mental state of these loathsome monsters, if they participate in witch hunts or (perhaps worse) poke bears and court harassment on purpose to comfort each other over—get the fuck out. you haven’t been enlightened to some grand conspiracy, there are no evil “enemies” or “degenerates” trying to rip apart the fabric of society, and you do not have the moral duty to “enlighten” anyone to whatever you think the “truth” is. it’s neither safe nor normal to spend hours of your day fighting with strangers on the internet

a lot of people wear this shit like a badge of honor, but it’s also not normal to hide your “in-group” status as a form of martyrdom, relishing when the “enemy” slips up around you. it’s comforting in the moment, but in the long run, you’re alienating yourself from the world outside of your bubble. the more you alienate yourself, the more vulnerable and lonely you become, and the harder it is to reject the comfort of belonging to the “in-group”

i’m writing this from the perspective of someone who grew up in a cesspool of awful, cult-like rural churches—which is its own situation—but i see similar shit happening in online communities all the time, both within and 800 miles outside of my own ideological principles. yes, every toxicass radfem i block seems to be trapped in a version of this vicious cycle, but i also see it happening in random queer circles and niche fandom communities. no one is immune, not even me. i’ve watched people fall into this shit and never make it out. be careful

[thevirginwitch]

@ missionaries and christian charities everywhere: charity that forces religious conversion or religious obligation to access (potentially life-saving) services is not charity. if there are strings attached, especially religious ones, all you've done is create a high-control trap for the most vulnerable

[thevirginwitch]

Just a reminder for any bloggers that are unaware—

The following blogs are spam blogs, all pretending to be Palestinians needing help in Gaza. They are mass flooding tumblr inboxes with identical text + emojis in order to ask for $90k USD.

Even when you block these blogs, they will use a side blog to send you seemingly infinite anonymous asks, and THEN change the sending blog when you block that anon.

At least 2 of these blogs have been confirmed by @gazavetters to be spamming blogs.

Here is the list:

mosabsdr

abedmajeed, which is now both aboodfmly and derawi1994, and which is also known in tags and/or blogs as:

Abdelmajed (tag)

abedmajder (tag)

familygaza5 (blog)

derawigaza (blog)

derawifami (blog)

(All of the above under aboodfmly link to the exact same chuffed fundraiser.)

nasergz

sajagz

abd20001

nasr-daher

Note: mosabsdr has a note in gazavetters' official vetting Google Doc to warn others of the spam behavior, since they are violating rule 2 (do not spam supporters or non-supporters).

Most or all of these blogs have replies turned off, so it's virtually impossible to message them directly and ask them to stop sending asks.

Please block, delete asks, and do not engage with these blogs.

To block anonymous asks: you have to wait until you get one, unfortunately, but you can then hit the 3 dots on the top right and then block the specific anon that sent you that ask. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

Stay safe out there, and please donate to help Palestinians at this World Food Programme link.