witchyintention

[witchyintention]

Roots and Rituals: A Witchy Review of Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce & River Higginbotham

We may live in a world of smartphones, social media algorithms, and pumpkin spice everything, but the call of the Earth is older than all of it. And if you’re the sort of witch who lights candles for the moon, knows your wheel of the year better than your own calendar, or just likes your spirituality with a touch of dirt under the fingernails — this book might just be your next coven companion.

📖 So, What’s Inside This Grimoire of Earth-Centered Wisdom?

Joyce and River Higginbotham’s Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions is exactly what it claims to be: an approachable, structured introduction to modern Paganism. It’s part reference book, part workbook, and part “friendly guide who holds your hand as you try not to set your altar cloth on fire.”

Each chapter dives into themes like:

What Paganism actually is (and isn’t)

The sacred cycle of the year

Rituals, magic, and daily practice

Ethics and community in Pagan paths

The role of myth and symbol in shaping spiritual experience

And, because the authors are teachers at heart, each section comes with exercises, meditations, and questions designed to help you not just read about Paganism, but actually engage with it.

🕯 Why Witches and Pagans Might Fall in Love With It For anyone standing at the crossroads of curiosity and commitment, this book is a lantern in the dark. Here’s what makes it sparkle:

Practical Exploration – Those end-of-chapter activities aren’t filler; they help you figure out what resonates and what doesn’t. It’s spiritual homework, but in a fun way.

Comprehensive but Digestible – It covers the basics without drowning you in jargon. Perfect if you’re new, or if you’re explaining Paganism to a skeptical friend over coffee.

Balanced Tone – Neither fluffy fantasy nor overly academic. It sits comfortably in the middle, where beginners can breathe.

🧙‍♀️ A Witch’s Notes: The Path Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

Of course, Paganism is vast and diverse. The book focuses mostly on Earth-centered traditions, which means if you’re interested in reconstructionist paths, ceremonial magic, or anything outside that green-and-grounded spectrum, you may need to supplement with other texts.

It also sometimes leans into generalizations for readability. For seasoned practitioners, this can feel a little simplified — but for newcomers, it’s an asset. Think of it less as “the ultimate grimoire” and more as “your starter pack.”

💬 What It Doesn’t Do (And That’s Okay)

This is not a deep dive into any one tradition. You won’t walk away ready to dedicate yourself to a specific pantheon or practice.

It doesn’t replace lived experience, mentorship, or community — but it does give you the vocabulary and grounding to seek those out.

🛍 Final Verdict

If you’re curious about Paganism — whether you’re brand new, witch-adjacent, or just tired of explaining to your aunt that no, you don’t worship Satan — this book is a gentle, thorough, and beautifully accessible guide.

It won’t tell you everything, but it will tell you enough to light the path, hand you a compass, and remind you that the journey is yours to take.

Overall Rating: 🌙🌙🌙🌙✨ (3.9 out of 5 Moons) A nearly full lunar circle of approval. Approachable, practical, and thoughtful — especially for beginners or the witch-curious.

[witchyintention]

Colonialism and the Demonization of Indigenous Magic (And How People Are Resisting Today)

When we talk about colonialism, we often focus on land, resources, and people. What tends to get overlooked, however, is how colonization also waged war on spirit, memory, and magic. Suppressing indigenous spiritual practices wasn’t merely about religion — it was about control. By erasing magic, colonizers aimed to erase culture, autonomy, and connection.

A Systemic Pattern Across Continents

Africa Indigenous spiritual systems — including divination, ancestor veneration, and herbal healing — were common across precolonial Africa. Colonial powers, however, branded these systems as “witchcraft,” criminalizing them through legislation such as Kenya’s Witchcraft Ordinances (1909 onward) and South Africa’s Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957. These laws were not born from protection but from a desire to delegitimize local systems of justice and spiritual authority. In Zambia, colonial-era witchcraft laws still criminalize indigenous practices, with one cultural heritage lecturer noting how outdated legislation continues to fuel cultural misunderstanding and stigma.

The Americas Spanish and Portuguese colonists used the Inquisition to dismantle indigenous worlds — destroying temples, burning idols, and torturing shamans as “idolaters.” In North America too, practices like sweat lodges and Sun Dances were criminalized well into the 19th and 20th centuries, severing spiritual lifelines and enforcing forced assimilation.

The Philippines & Southeast Asia The roles of babaylans — gender-fluid shamans central to Filipino spiritual life — were violently suppressed under Spanish rule. Their sacred spaces were destroyed and their spiritual authority dismantled. Today, movements like the Center for Babaylan Studies are reigniting this legacy, blending traditional chants and rituals with environmental justice and cultural healing.

The Caribbean Enslaved Africans brought Vodou, Obeah, and Santería with them. Colonizers feared these traditions because they provided community and spiritual resistance — especially during uprisings like the Haitian Revolution. Afro-diasporic spiritualities endured by disguising orishas as Catholic saints, allowing their practices to survive through syncretism.

Oceania & Indigenous Australia Missionaries dismissed Dreamtime stories, songlines, and sacred rituals as primitive superstition; yet these are the foundations of Aboriginal culture. In Hawaiʻi, native religion was outlawed in the 19th century, only to resurge in modern cultural revival movements.

How It Affects Communities Today

Colonial suppression of spirituality didn’t simply disappear with independence. Today, consequences persist:

Colonial-era laws continue criminalizing spiritual practices, as seen in Zambia’s modern witchcraft trials.

In South Africa, the Witchcraft Suppression Act still exists, though indigenous healers and advocacy groups are calling for reform.

In many regions, belief in witchcraft is still weaponized against the vulnerable, and harmful vigilante or legal actions can result in violence.

How Communities Are Resisting and Reclaiming Today

Despite centuries of suppression, indigenous magic endures — in rituals, stories, and movements of resurgence.

Legal Reform & Advocacy South Africa has proposed modernizing witchcraft laws to distinguish harmful practices from cultural ones, aiming to protect traditional healers and limit witch-hunts.

Cultural Revitalization Filipino communities and diaspora groups are reviving babaylan traditions through music, workshops, and land stewardship. In Australia and Canada, land-based educational programs help reconnect youth with ancestral ways of knowing and living.

Recorded Oral Tradition & Astronomy Indigenous astronomical knowledge — linked to navigation, seasonal cycles, and ceremony — is being digitized and preserved through collaborative community science and technology projects.

Digital Diasporic Connection Communities like the Igorot employ Facebook groups and social media to maintain cultural practices and knowledge across diasporic lines.

Final Thoughts

Colonialism didn’t just take land — it sought to steal magic. Yet, indigenous spiritual traditions have survived and adapted through resistance, adaptation, and resurgence. Every reclaimed chant, every public ceremony, every restored sacred site is an act of resistance and survival.

To witness indigenous magic thriving today is to see colonialism being unmade — one ritual at a time.

[witchyintention]

Witchcraft vs. Paganism vs. Occultism: What’s the Difference?

One of the most common questions new seekers run into is the difference between witchcraft, paganism, and occultism. These terms often overlap, get used interchangeably, or are misunderstood outside of spiritual circles. While they can intersect, they aren’t the same thing. Let’s break it down clearly.

🌙 Witchcraft

Witchcraft is the practice of magic. That’s it — the craft. Spells, charms, divination, rituals, energy work, herbs, candles, astrology, spirit work — anything that falls under the umbrella of magical practice can be witchcraft.

Witchcraft is not inherently religious.

Some witches follow specific pantheons or work with gods, while others work only with spirits, ancestors, or energy itself.

A witch can be pagan, Christian, atheist, agnostic, or anything else. Witchcraft is what you do, not necessarily what you believe.

At its core, witchcraft is a toolkit of magical practices. What you build with it depends on your path.

🌿 Paganism

Paganism is a belief system, not a craft. It generally refers to polytheistic, nature-centered, or pre-Christian spiritual traditions. Paganism is about worldview, cosmology, and devotion.

A pagan may honor many gods, spirits, or forces of nature.

Paganism is about relationship: with the divine, with the earth, with cycles of life and death.

Not all pagans practice magic — someone can be deeply pagan in their spirituality and never cast a spell.

Where witchcraft is the practice, paganism is the faith. Of course, many people blend them, but one doesn’t require the other.

🔮 Occultism

Occultism is the study of hidden knowledge. The word “occult” simply means “hidden” or “esoteric.” Occultism is about diving into secret or specialized teachings — systems of magic, philosophy, mysticism, and spiritual sciences.

Think of ceremonial magic, alchemy, Kabbalah, Hermeticism, astrology, theosophy.

Occultism is often highly structured, symbolic, and layered with complex systems.

Someone can be an occultist without identifying as a witch or a pagan — their focus may be on knowledge, study, and metaphysics.

Occultism is less about devotion and more about unlocking mysteries.

⚖️ How They Intertwine

A witch may also be pagan and use occult studies in their craft.

A pagan may never cast a spell but lives fully in devotion to their gods.

An occultist may be focused on ritual magic and metaphysics with no interest in pagan deities.

None of these paths are mutually exclusive, but understanding the distinctions helps clear the fog.

✨ The Takeaway

Witchcraft is what you do. Paganism is what you believe. Occultism is what you study.

You don’t need to claim all three — or any of them — to walk a valid path. The beauty of spiritual practice lies in exploration, finding what resonates, and weaving it into something that feels true for you.

[witchyintention]

The Sky in Flux: Uranus in Gemini, Pluto in Aquarius, and Neptune in Aries

Astrology often mirrors history, and when the outer planets shift into new signs, we feel the tremors collectively. Right now, three heavyweights — Uranus, Pluto, and Neptune — are aligning in fresh territory: Uranus in Gemini, Pluto in Aquarius, and Neptune in Aries. Each of these placements alone would be enough to mark a cultural turning point. Together, they suggest we are entering an age of upheaval, innovation, and radical reimagining.

And soon, all three will turn retrograde, a period of review and reworking that forces us to slow down and reckon with what’s being stirred up.

Uranus in Gemini: Disrupting Communication & Technology

Themes: communication revolutions, transportation, information wars, artificial intelligence, and social polarization.

Past cycles: Uranus last moved through Gemini from 1941–1949 — the era of WWII, the invention of nuclear weapons, the rise of broadcast media, and the early computer age.

Now: expect breakthroughs in AI, digital rights debates, and new ways of connecting across borders. The downside? Heightened misinformation and fractured narratives.

Pluto in Aquarius: Power to the People — Or the Machines?

Themes: radical transformation in communities, governance, and technology. Power struggles over who controls the future.

Past cycles: The last time Pluto was in Aquarius (1778–1798), we saw the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution’s first sparks. These weren’t just political; they permanently redefined societies.

Now: movements for decentralization, collective power, and digital democracy will rise. Expect clashes over surveillance, AI ethics, and access to resources.

Neptune in Aries: The Dream of the Warrior

Themes: spiritualized activism, idealism fueling conflict, the blending of faith and fire. Neptune dissolves boundaries; Aries charges forward. Together, they create movements that are as inspired as they are chaotic.

Past cycles: Neptune was last in Aries from 1861–1875, aligning with the American Civil War, Italy’s unification, and widespread revolutionary movements across Europe. This was a time of deep collective sacrifice and ideological struggle.

Now: we may see an upsurge in activist spirituality, where faith becomes fuel for direct action. But Neptune in Aries also warns of disillusionment when lofty ideals clash with harsh realities.

When They Retrograde Together

Retrogrades are cosmic pauses. They don’t undo progress, but they turn the mirror inward, asking us to revisit what has already begun. With all three outer planets shifting into retrograde:

Uranus in Gemini Retrograde: we’ll be rethinking how we communicate, addressing digital burnout, and confronting how misinformation spreads.

Pluto in Aquarius Retrograde: collective movements may face internal fractures. Power struggles within communities could reveal deeper shadow work.

Neptune in Aries Retrograde: we’ll be asked to question whether our activism is sustainable, or if it’s built on illusion. A reminder that fire needs tending, not just sparking.

What This Means for Us

For pagans, witches, and spiritual seekers, this alignment is a wake-up call. It challenges us to:

Anchor our practices — grounding amid rapid technological and social change.

Examine our communities — how do we share power, knowledge, and responsibility?

Stay discerning — in an age of misinformation, divination and spiritual practice become tools for clarity.

Balance fire with compassion — activism is necessary, but it must be fueled by vision, not just rage.

This cosmic weather report is not doom, but preparation. Just as we honor the cycles of the moon, we can honor these larger cycles — remembering that history doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme.

[witchyintention]

Types of Witches: Finding (or Creating) Your Path

One of the first things new witches often run into when researching is a flood of labels: green witch, kitchen witch, sea witch, storm witch, hedge witch, eclectic witch — the list goes on and on. For some people, these terms feel like home. For others, they feel overwhelming, like you’re being asked to choose a “major” before you’ve even set foot on campus.

Here’s the truth: you don’t need a label at all. Witchcraft is practice first, not performance. Still, having a few terms in your pocket can be helpful. They can make it easier to describe what you do to others in the community, or even to organize your own thoughts about your practice. Think of them as tools, not cages.

I like to think of witch paths as falling into three broad categories: religious paths, aesthetic paths, and specialty paths. You don’t need to have one from each category, and you don’t need to stick to just one within them either. They’re simply ways to think about the shape of your craft.

🌙 Religious Paths (Your Core Foundation)

Even if it isn’t tied to a formal religion, your religious path is what I’d call your core. It’s the worldview and moral compass you bring to your craft — the “why” behind what you do.

For some, this might literally mean a religious framework: Wiccan, Hellenic polytheist, Heathen, or Kemetic reconstructionist. For others, it’s looser — eclectic, animist, or simply “pagan” in the sense of believing that many gods exist in some form.

Your religious path doesn’t need to be rigid, and it can evolve with you. Maybe you lean morally gray, maybe you follow a specific deity, or maybe your spirituality is tied to the cycles of nature rather than a pantheon. This path is less about labels for outsiders and more about the inner compass that guides how and why you practice.

🍃 Aesthetic Paths (Where You Work Your Magic)

This isn’t about “aesthetic” as in just vibes or pretty pictures — it’s about the style of your practice. Where do you feel most at home weaving magic? What’s the landscape of your craft?

For some, this might be the hearth and kitchen, where every loaf of bread or pot of soup becomes a spell. Others may find their practice thrives outdoors, working with herbs, storms, rivers, or stars. Someone else might feel most drawn to books and theory, blending a more scholarly or ceremonial path.

You can be eclectic here too, pulling from many sources — or you can find a strong sense of identity in calling yourself a kitchen witch, green witch, sea witch, or cosmic witch. These terms don’t have to be restrictive; they’re just a shorthand for the spaces where your magic thrives.

🔮 Specialty Paths (Your Strong Suits)

Finally, there are specialties — the things you’re most drawn to, or the skills that seem to click with you more naturally. This is less about your overall worldview and more about what you do.

Maybe you’re incredible at divination — tarot, runes, scrying, astrology. Maybe you’re a healer, drawn to energy work, herbal medicine, or spellwork for wellness. Maybe you’re at your best in spirit work, dream work, or crafting protective wards.

Specialties can change over time, and you don’t have to have just one. You might notice your strengths expand the more you practice, or that your “main thing” evolves as you learn.

✨ Making Your Own Path

The beauty of witchcraft is that these categories aren’t meant to box you in. They’re ways to help you understand and communicate your craft — not a checklist you need to complete. You can walk a path with many labels, no labels, or a completely self-made name that fits only you.

What matters isn’t whether you can neatly categorize yourself, but whether your practice feels authentic, sustainable, and aligned with who you are. Some witches find identity in a single word; others build an ever-shifting collage. Both approaches are valid.

At the end of the day, witchcraft is less about fitting yourself into a type and more about finding — or creating — the path that feels like home.

💜 Love the blog? Throw some coins on the Digital Altar or share with a friend. I also offer readings and spells in my Shop!

[witchyintention]

🌙 Is It OK to Be a Witch Without a Religion?

One of the most common questions I see in witchcraft and pagan spaces is, “Do I have to believe in the gods, or follow a religion, to be a witch?”

The simple answer is no. Witchcraft does not require you to sign up for a belief system, take an oath, or choose a pantheon. Witchcraft is, at its core, a practice. It’s about doing — casting spells, working with herbs, reading cards, lighting candles with intention, connecting to nature, and exploring energy. None of that inherently requires worshipping deities or following a religious path.

But here’s where the confusion often comes in: for many people, witchcraft and religion do overlap. A Wiccan might see spell work as part of their worship of the Goddess and God. A Norse pagan might use runes to connect with Odin. A Hellenic devotee might weave prayers into their candle magic to honor Hestia or Hecate. In these cases, the craft is blended with faith, and it becomes an act of devotion.

Yet that’s not the only way to do it. There are countless witches who approach their craft from a secular perspective. For some, magic is more about psychology, symbolism, or tapping into personal power. Lighting a candle isn’t about calling on a deity but about focusing the mind and setting an intention. Carrying a crystal isn’t about divine intervention, but about creating a tangible reminder of a goal or a feeling. Witchcraft in this sense becomes a tool for self-discovery, healing, and empowerment, not necessarily a religious act.

The truth is, witchcraft is incredibly flexible. Some people find deep meaning in building altars for gods and spirits, while others prefer to connect with the cycles of the moon and the seasons without ever invoking a deity. Some move fluidly between both approaches, blending the sacred with the practical depending on where their heart leads them.

What matters is not whether you “belong” to a religion but whether your practice feels authentic to you. If working with deities resonates, then welcome them into your space. If it doesn’t, that doesn’t make you less of a witch. You are no less valid if your spells are secular, if your rituals are meditative rather than devotional, if your practice is built on intention instead of worship.

In fact, this freedom is part of the beauty of witchcraft today. There is no single authority handing down rules about what is or isn’t acceptable. There is no central text that everyone must follow. Witchcraft is about exploration, creativity, and connection — with yourself, with the earth, and with the unseen forces you feel drawn to, however you define them.

So yes, it is absolutely OK to be a witch without a religion. You can honor deities, or you can honor yourself. You can weave spirituality into your craft, or you can keep it entirely secular. Witchcraft does not ask for conformity — it asks for sincerity. The path you create is valid simply because it is yours.

However, what makes witchcraft beautiful is respecting one another, even if you do not follow the same path. Whether you’re a devoted polytheist, an eclectic practitioner, or a secular witch who finds meaning in intention alone, your practice holds value. When we hold space for different expressions of the craft, we strengthen our community and remind ourselves that diversity is a source of magic too.

[witchyintention]

Do I Have to Be Psychic to Be a Witch? (Spoiler: No)

If you’ve been hanging around witchy spaces for more than five minutes, you’ve probably seen a certain myth floating around: To be a witch, you have to be psychic. As if the craft is some exclusive club where only clairvoyants get a membership card.

Let’s clear this up — not only is that untrue, but it’s also a misunderstanding of what witchcraft actually is.

The Myth of the “Psychic Witch”

Pop culture hasn’t helped here. Media tends to portray witches as all-knowing, prophecy-spewing, aura-reading mystics. In reality? Many witches can’t predict a stranger’s birthday or tell you what color socks you’re wearing without looking. Psychic ability — in the sense of seeing the future, hearing spirits, or reading minds — is just one possible skill in a very wide toolkit.

Witchcraft, at its core, is a practice, not an inborn superpower. It’s about working with energy, symbols, tools, and intention. You can absolutely practice magic without ever having a psychic flash.

Skills vs. Gifts

Some people are naturally sensitive — they feel energy shifts, get strong intuitive hits, or dream vividly. That’s great. But even they didn’t pop out of the womb knowing how to cast a protection spell or cleanse a space. Those things are learned skills.

Similarly, intuition is a muscle that can be trained. You don’t need to start out “psychic” to develop it. The craft teaches you to pay attention to subtle cues — the way candle smoke moves, how your body reacts in certain spaces, the patterns that emerge in your dreams. Over time, those observations can feel psychic, but they’re really the product of awareness and experience.

What Actually Makes a Witch

A witch is defined by what they do, not what they are. That means:

Building relationships with spirits, deities, or nature

Learning magical correspondences and lore

Practicing spells and ritual working with nature

Honing their craft through study and experimentation

Notice how none of that requires predicting next week’s winning lottery numbers.

A Note on Pressure

Believing you “have” to be psychic can actually hurt your practice. It creates unrealistic expectations and sets you up for imposter syndrome. You might dismiss perfectly valid magical results just because they didn’t arrive with clairvoyant fireworks.

Instead, focus on building your skills, deepening your understanding, and exploring the paths that genuinely call to you. If psychic senses develop along the way, great. If not? You’re still a witch.

The Real Takeaway

Witchcraft is an art, a science, and a spiritual path — but it’s not a talent show for the mystically gifted. You don’t have to be born with “the sight” to walk this path. What you do need is curiosity, dedication, and a willingness to practice.

The magic isn’t in being psychic. The magic is in doing the work.

[witchyintention]

Episteme Dialectics: Philosophical Reflections on Witchcraft, Spirit, Self, and Reality QOTD #1

Core Question: How do you conceptualize “reality” within your magical framework? Is there a separation between the material and spiritual, or are they interwoven?

Context: In philosophy, ontology is the study of being and existence. Many magical traditions differ in whether they treat the spiritual world as a separate dimension, a symbolic construct, or an inseparable aspect of the physical realm. Pagan animism, for instance, often assumes an interwoven reality where spirit and matter are inseparable, while ceremonial traditions may compartmentalize them.

Guiding Sub-Questions:

Is the spiritual realm “elsewhere” or embedded within everyday life?

How do your rituals influence or shift your perception of reality?

Has your view of reality changed since beginning your practice?

Reflection Space:

[witchyintention]

How to Create a Cozy Morning Routine with Your Gods

Because Tumblr really had the audacity.

I’m writing this because Tumblr — in all its chaotic, algorithmic glory — served me a sponsored post titled: “How I Create a Cozy Morning Routine with God.”

And look, no shade to those who find peace there. But my deities sip tea, not preach sermons. So here we are: a pagan’s guide to starting your day with divine connection, gentle witchcraft, and the kind of sacred stillness that doesn’t require Gregorian chants or three hours of breathwork.

This isn’t about performance. It’s not about what looks spiritual — it’s about what feels sacred. It’s your cozy routine. Your divine dialogue. Your little altar to alignment in a world that rarely gives us time to breathe.

Creating a sacred morning doesn’t have to look like a full-blown ritual with incense smoke curling over a mountain of offerings (though that’s always welcome). Sometimes, it’s just about starting your day with awareness, intention, and a quiet nod to the divine — in a way that fits your lifestyle, practice, and energy level.

This post is for witches, pagans, polytheists, spiritual wanderers — anyone who wants to turn their morning from “chaotic scroll-fest” to “divine soft launch.”

🌅 Why Mornings Matter

Mornings are liminal — thresholds between sleep and wake, dream and duty. They’re a time when the veil is still thin, your energy is untouched by other people’s chaos, and your spirit hasn’t yet been hijacked by email notifications or existential dread.

In many traditions, dawn is sacred. It’s when prayers are whispered, water is fetched, and offerings are made. Even the sun itself — Helios, Amaterasu, Ra — is a deity in many pantheons. Morning is divine by design.

So why not treat it that way?

☕ Ways to Invite the Sacred Into Your Morning

Whether you’re up with the sun or rolling out of bed at noon (no judgment — time is a construct), here are some gentle, flexible ways to weave magic into your mornings:

🧘‍♀️ Breathe Before Anything Else

Before your feet hit the ground, pause. One hand over your heart, the other on your belly. Breathe deep. Call your name back to yourself. Say good morning to your gods, spirits, or self. Yes, this counts as a ritual.

🌞 Greet the Sun (or the Sky, or the Rain)

If you can, step outside. Let the light (or clouds or wind) touch your face. Offer a short prayer to the spirits of the day. If you're inside, open a window or simply face the direction of the sun. It’s about connection, not perfection.

🕯️ Light Something With Intention

A candle. A stick of incense. A stove burner. Fire is sacred — use it to anchor your day. Say something like: “As I light this flame, I welcome clarity, protection, and peace.” Simple. Effective. Witchy.

🍵 Sip With the Spirits

Make your tea or coffee slowly, like a spell. Stir clockwise with intention. Offer the first sip to your ancestors. Let each cup become a communion. If you're out of time, even just holding the warm mug and whispering a thank you to your guides will do.

📿 Pull a Card or Rune

Draw a daily tarot card, rune, or omen. Let it guide your focus. Ask, “What do I need to know today?” Write it down. Reflect later. It’s not about divining the future — it’s about tuning into the present.

✨ Offer Something (Even Just Your Time)

Offerings aren’t always food or wine. You can offer your breath, your first moment of stillness, your morning walk, or even a song. The gods and spirits often care more about your presence than your possessions.

💡 Remember: Your Routine Is Yours

You don’t need every crystal laid out in order. You don’t need to know five chants in perfect Latin. You don’t even need to be fully awake.

What you do need is intentionality — that quiet, reverent moment where you decide: “Today, I move with purpose. I speak to my gods. I show up to my magic.”

Make it five minutes or fifty. Make it daily or just when you feel off-kilter. The magic is in the showing up.

🕯️ Final Thoughts

Mornings don’t have to be chaotic. They can be holy.

They can be when you check in with your spirit guides. When you talk to your ancestors over coffee. When you remind yourself that before the world gets its hands on you, you belong to yourself and your path.

And no matter what Tumblr says, your cozy spiritual life doesn’t need to look like a Pinterest board from Bible camp.

It can look like ash-smudged teacups. Like mismatched socks and sleepy chants. Like whispered prayers before brushing your teeth. Like giving thanks to the sun while feeding your cat.

It can look like you — exactly as you are.

[witchyintention]

🌿 Ancestral Veneration Without a Perfect Family Tree

Because not all of us come from lineages we know, like, or trust.

Let’s be honest: the idea of ancestor veneration can sound dreamy — candles flickering on a perfectly arranged altar, warm energy wrapping around you like a blanket of legacy, the wisdom of old voices whispering guidance into your rituals.

But for many of us? That’s not what ancestral work looks like at all.

Some of us don’t know where we come from. Some of us know all too well — and carry trauma instead of tradition. Some of us are adopted, estranged, or descended from oppressors as well as the oppressed. And yet, we still feel the pull to honor those who came before.

So what do you do when your family tree is more like a mystery vine… or a haunted forest?

Let’s talk about ancestral veneration that’s real, respectful, and actually possible for witches and spiritual folk in modern times — even when your roots are complicated.

🧬 First, Who Are the Ancestors?

Let’s expand the definition.

“Ancestors” are not just your blood relatives from your direct lineage. They can include:

Spiritual ancestors — those who walked the path before you, in magic, faith, or craft

Cultural ancestors — poets, rebels, artists, leaders, and witches who shaped your worldview

Queer, chosen, or ideological ancestors — even if they share no DNA

Earth ancestors — the land spirits who held your people or hold you now

Ancestors of affinity — people you feel a soul-deep connection to, even across time

You’re not limited to only the people who share your last name. Spirit doesn’t work that way. If an ancestor has love, guidance, or healing to offer you — trust that bond, no matter how it’s defined.

🕯 How to Start When You Don’t Know Your People

Don’t wait to have a 23andMe report to begin ancestral work. You’re allowed to begin with:

🔹 The Unknowns

Light a candle for “the ones whose names I don’t know but whose blood I carry.”

Say:

“To the kind ones, the wise ones, the brave ones — I invite only those who wish me well.”

Open your heart to guidance and connection from those safe, willing ancestors. Boundaries matter here, and you’re allowed to set them — even with spirits.

🔹 The Broken Branches

If your family tree includes abusers, colonizers, or those who did harm — you don’t need to invite them into your sacred space. You can choose to:

Work with older ancestors — those who came before the harm

Honor the survivors in your line, not the perpetrators

Focus on healing ancestral wounds instead of glorifying ancestry

Invite in benevolent guides to help repair and protect your spiritual lineage

Ancestral veneration does not mean ignoring intergenerational trauma. It means facing it, honoring survival, and choosing who gets a seat at your altar.

🌿 Simple Ways to Practice Ancestral Veneration

You don’t need ornate altars or fluent knowledge of your heritage to begin. Here’s what you can do:

🕯️ Set up a Small Ancestor Space

A candle

A bowl of water

Something meaningful (flowers, a stone, a family photo, a letter) Speak to it. Light the candle with intention. Keep it simple and clean.

📖 Write to Them

Journaling is a portal. Write to your unknown or known ancestors — ask for support, give gratitude, share your story. See what comes through.

🥣 Offer Food or Drink

Leave a bit of your meal on a plate for them. Pour a cup of coffee or tea. Say:

“You are remembered. You are honored.” Then return it to the earth.

🍃 Visit Nature or Cemeteries

Even if you don’t know their graves, you can visit a cemetery and leave offerings of flowers or water to the forgotten. It builds spiritual currency and connection.

🪶 Create a “Chosen Ancestors” Altar

Honor those you feel kinship with. Frida Kahlo. Audre Lorde. Hypatia. A drag queen who changed your life. The witch burned in a village you’ve never been to. If they guide you, honor them.

🔮 A Word on Safety & Discernment

Ancestral work can stir up deep emotional and energetic currents. Some guidance:

Always ward your space before opening it to ancestral contact

Call in only those of goodwill

Don’t be afraid to say no to spirits that don’t feel right

Cleanse and ground afterward

You are not obligated to carry pain that isn’t yours to bear. You are here to heal forward.

💬 Final Thoughts: You Belong to the Living and the Dead

Ancestral veneration is a reclaiming — not just of lineage, but of connection, of identity, of power. Whether your family history is full of gaps, ghosts, or generational wounds, you are still a branch of something ancient. And you get to choose what kind of ancestor you will be.

You don’t need a perfect tree. You just need roots — and the courage to grow.

[witchyintention]

🔮 The Limits of Divination: What It Can and Can’t Tell You

Let’s be real: divination is one of the most beautiful parts of spiritual practice. It’s empowering, mysterious, insightful — and it feels like a direct line to Spirit, the Universe, the Divine, or your Higher Self.

But here’s the truth most seasoned practitioners know (and more of us need to say out loud): divination has limits.

Yes, even if you’re a gifted reader. Yes, even if you’ve been doing it for 30 years. Yes, even if your deck is cleansed, your pendulum swings perfectly, and your runes hum with energy.

Divination is a tool, not a god. It’s not a cheat code for life. It can reveal patterns, point toward possibilities, and reflect back what’s happening beneath the surface. But it cannot tell you everything — and expecting it to can lead to confusion, obsession, or even spiritual burnout.

Let’s talk about what divination can do… and what it can’t.

✅ What Divination Can Tell You

🪞 The Present Moment Most divination tools — tarot, oracle, pendulums, runes, scrying — are most accurate when asked about the now. They help uncover:

Hidden emotions

Subconscious blocks

Influences you’re not consciously aware of

Energy patterns playing out in real-time

Think of it like a spiritual MRI — it shows you what’s happening under the surface so you can make empowered choices.

💭 Likely Outcomes Based on Current Energy Divination is great for forecasting — not fortune-telling. When done skillfully, it can show the likely trajectory of a situation if nothing changes.

But here’s the catch: the future isn’t fixed. Your choices (or someone else’s) can shift that path dramatically.

🧭 Guidance, Not Guarantees Divination is an intuitive compass, not a GPS. It can suggest:

What you need to focus on

Where growth or healing is needed

When to pause, act, reflect, or release

But it won’t (and shouldn’t) replace your own judgment, intuition, or lived experience.

❌ What Divination Can’t Tell You

Let’s get one thing straight: while divination can sometimes give you specific answers — like a date, a season, or even a name — those answers are based on current energies, not fixed fates.

Yes, I’ve personally gotten exact dates through pendulum work. And yes, they’ve been right — as long as the energy stayed on course.

But that’s the catch: energy shifts. People change. Free will kicks in. One decision — yours or someone else’s — can reroute the entire timeline. So while divination can show you a specific point in time, it’s more like predicting traffic with a weather app. It’s accurate… until it isn’t.

And no, you’re probably not going to get next week’s winning lottery numbers. That’s not how the Universe works (or, if it does, it’s not sharing that cheat code just yet).

The takeaway? Divination can offer precise insight — but never permanent certainty. Treat specific answers as possibilities, not promises.

🧠 What Someone Else Is Thinking With Certainty It’s one thing to ask, “What energy is influencing our connection?” It’s another to try to mind-read your ex through a deck of cards.

Divination can hint at someone’s motives or emotional state from your perspective, but it can’t ethically or accurately give you full access to someone’s private mind and heart. That's not divination — that’s projection.

⚖️ Absolute Truth Cards lie if the reader isn’t clear. Pendulums wobble under stress. Astrology can be misread. Your spiritual tools are filters — and you are the lens. If you’re tired, scared, biased, or too attached to the outcome, your reading may reflect that.

This doesn’t mean the tools don’t work. It means divination requires discernment, clarity, and honesty.

⛔ Answers to Everything Sometimes, Spirit just says, “Not right now.” Or gives you a confusing reading. Or no clear answer at all.

That isn’t failure — that’s sacred mystery.

Not all things are meant to be known in advance. Some things unfold through living, not divining.

🔄 When Divination Becomes a Crutch

If you’re pulling cards three times a day to make minor decisions… If you keep asking different tools the same question until you like the answer… If you feel worse after a reading instead of clearer…

Pause. Breathe. Step away from the tools.

Divination should empower, not paralyze. It’s a conversation, not a command.

Your intuition still matters. Your choices still matter. The cards are guides — you are the spell.

🕊️ Ethical and Empowered Divination

Here’s how to use divination responsibly:

🌑 Cleanse your tools and self before reading

✨ Ask open-ended questions, not ones that box in your fate

🧘 Reflect on what resonates — and what doesn’t

🤲 Accept when Spirit doesn’t answer

💬 Seek a second opinion if the message is unclear

🛑 Know when to stop asking and start acting

Divination is sacred, but it’s not a shortcut. It is a mirror for the soul and a map for the journey — but you still have to walk the path.

💬 Final Thoughts

Divination is powerful. Transformative. Magical. But it’s not perfect — and it’s not meant to be.

It won’t solve all your problems. It won’t give you absolute certainty. But it will teach you how to trust yourself, how to ask better questions, and how to walk your path with awareness and intention.

And that, my witchy friend, is magic enough.

[witchyintention]

🃏 What It Means When Your Cards Start Lying

Let’s start with the hard truth, witches: Tarot cards don’t lie. But people? People distort.

If you've ever sat down for a reading and felt like your deck was giving you the spiritual equivalent of a middle finger, you're not alone. Maybe the cards feel off. They contradict what you know is true. Or worse — they keep saying the same thing over and over like a broken magical record. At first, it’s easy to think: “My deck is off.” “Something’s wrong with my guides.” Or even, “My cards are lying to me.”

But let’s pull the curtain back, shall we? The cards haven’t suddenly developed a vendetta. What’s happening is far more human — and just as mystical.

🔮 Let’s Define “Lying” in a Reading

When folks say their cards are “lying,” what they often mean is:

The reading doesn’t match their current reality.

It contradicts their feelings or expectations.

The same outcome keeps showing up despite their efforts.

It’s overly vague, confusing, or emotionally cold.

That dissonance? That’s the signal. That’s where the real work begins.

🧠 Reason #1: You’re Subconsciously Influencing the Cards

You’re a powerful energy conductor. If you're approaching your deck with fear, denial, or obsession, that energy can muddy the waters. Your intent matters, and so does your state of mind.

🧪 The Science-y Explanation: Your subconscious can override your conscious questions, especially when you already want a particular answer. That desire imprints on the reading. It’s not manipulation — it’s interference. Emotional static. The result? A reading that bends toward what you want to see, not what is.

📌 Tip: Try grounding or clearing exercises before reading. Ask someone else to shuffle and pull for you if you're too emotionally close to the issue.

👁️ Reason #2: You’re Asking the Wrong Questions

Tarot is a dialogue, not a vending machine. If you’re asking closed, hyper-specific questions like “Will they text me Tuesday?” or “Am I pregnant right now?” your cards may respond… poorly. Not because they’re lying — but because the framework is too limited or controlling.

💬 Bad question: “Is my spell working?” 🌀 Better question: “What is influencing the outcome of my spell?” 💡 Great question: “What can I do to align more closely with my intention?”

Tarot thrives on clarity, not control.

🪞 Reason #3: You’re Not Ready to Hear the Truth

This is a hard one. But it’s real.

Sometimes, the cards tell us what we refuse to hear — especially if it threatens a belief we’re attached to. You ask if someone loves you, but you’re secretly afraid they don’t. The cards reflect your fear. You read that as a lie. But really, it’s a mirror.

We call it lying because the truth is inconvenient.

If every card pulled challenges your narrative, it might be time to stop asking for confirmation and start asking for clarity.

🌐 Reason #4: You're Reading in a Spiritually Noisy Environment

Yes, even metaphysical Wi-Fi gets interference.

Your energy isn’t the only one in the room. If you’ve been spiritually drained, not cleansing your space or your tools, or engaging in high-emotion or low-vibration spaces (hello, doomscrolling), your cards might reflect the static.

⚠️ Especially true if:

You’re getting conflicting or jumbled answers every pull

Cards keep flying out or dropping weirdly

You feel foggy or irritable during readings

Clear your deck. Clear yourself. Try again.

🌀 Reason #5: You’re Reading for Reassurance, Not Revelation

Be honest: how many times have you reshuffled because you didn’t like the first answer? Re-pulling over and over is like arguing with a GPS because you don’t like the route. It doesn’t make the destination closer.

If your readings become comfort food instead of clarity tools, the cards will start to show you less truth and more reflection of your anxiety.

⚖️ So, Are the Cards Lying? Or Are You Not Listening?

Tarot isn’t a lie detector. It’s a lens. It sees you, the energy around you, and the threads of possibility. But if your lens is smudged with fear, distraction, ego, or denial — then your reading will be, too.

Think of your cards like a friend who tells it like it is. If they say something uncomfortable, do you accuse them of betrayal — or do you ask why it feels so hard to hear?

🧙‍♀️ A Witch’s Tools Are Only As Clear As the Witch Using Them

If your cards feel “off,” don’t throw them in a drawer and sulk. Ask yourself:

Am I too emotionally close to the question?

Have I been spiritually neglectful lately?

Is my intent clean or clouded?

Am I actually ready to hear the truth?

Don’t mistake resistance for dishonesty. And don’t forget: you are the reader. The channel. The translator.

Trust your craft. But more importantly — tend to your clarity. That’s where the magic happens.

[witchyintention]

🔮 Pendulums Aren’t Just Yes/No Tools: Advanced Uses for the Swinging Witch

Let’s get one thing out of the way: pendulums are not just your spiritual version of a Magic 8-Ball.

Yes, they’re often used for simple yes/no questions — and they do that well. But pendulums are so much more than binary divination tools. In the hands of a skilled practitioner (or an eager beginner willing to explore), they become instruments of energetic alignment, spiritual diagnostics, and deep intuitive communication.

So, if your pendulum has been gathering dust in your witchy drawer between moon cleanses — it’s time to call it back into service. Let’s get into some of the more advanced and creative ways to use these magical swingy friends.

🧭 What Is a Pendulum, Really?

At its simplest, a pendulum is a weight on a string — a tool that amplifies micro-movements from your body, spirit, or energy field. It’s a literal extension of your nervous system, your subconscious, your guides, your higher self — or all of the above.

When it swings, it responds to energy. And energy, dear witch, has layers.

🧪 Beyond Yes/No: What Else Can Pendulums Do?

🌀 1. Chakra Diagnostics

You can hover your pendulum over the body's energy centers to detect imbalance or blockage. A steady circular motion? Flowing nicely. Erratic or still? Something’s off. This can be used in healing rituals, self-check-ins, or client energy work.

🧘 Tip: Hold the pendulum a few inches above each chakra (starting at the root) and observe the direction and intensity of the swing.

🌿 2. Aura Reading

Similar to chakra work, you can move the pendulum through someone’s aura (or your own) to locate energetic tears, disruptions, or leaks. It’s subtle work, but over time you’ll start to notice patterns.

This is particularly useful before and after major rituals or during times of spiritual illness or fatigue.

📍 3. Location Dowsing

Pendulums have been used in dowsing (locating water, minerals, lost items) for centuries. You can use a pendulum over a map, floor plan, or even a room to find something you’ve misplaced, or where a spirit may be lingering. Yes, seriously.

🗺 Bonus: Try using your pendulum with a hand-drawn map to help you locate the best place to bury a spell, plant an offering, or even where to sit in ritual.

📚 4. Spell & Ritual Calibration

Did you pick the right herbs? Are the planetary hours aligned for your working? Is that deity cool with this particular offering?

Use your pendulum as a check-in. It’s especially helpful for eclectic witches or spirit workers building their own systems. It’s like having a magical QA department on standby.

🕯 5. Building Spirit Communication Boards

Take your pendulum practice to the next level by making your own spirit board. Include words, phrases, alphabet letters, numbers — whatever feels useful. This allows for more nuanced communication than just yes/no.

📌 Tip: Use it to speak to your guides, ancestors, or even the spirit of a place.

🌙 6. Moon Cycle & Timing Work

Pendulums can help determine the best time for a spell, ritual, or major decision. Use it to check in with lunar phases, energetic tides, or even your own body’s cycles.

🔮 7. Divination Spread Selector

Can’t decide what tarot spread to use for your question? Or which deck to pick? Let your pendulum choose. Hover it over a few options and ask it to swing toward the one that’s most aligned with your current energy.

✨ Pendulum Ethics & Best Practices

Always cleanse it. Especially if using for spirit communication or energy healing. Smoke, moonlight, or salt work well.

Set boundaries. Especially when communicating with spirits. You don’t want any random entity swinging your answers.

Check your energy first. Your mood, stress, and hydration levels can affect pendulum responses. Ground and center before big questions.

Confirm your “yes” and “no” each session. Directions can shift depending on energy. Always ask first: “Show me yes.” “Show me no.”

🧿 Pendulums & You: A Relationship, Not a Gadget

Your pendulum is not an oracle in a box. It’s a living extension of your intuition and energetic field. The more you work with it, the clearer your language becomes — like learning to dance with a partner who already knows your rhythm.

And remember, not all pendulums are crystals. Some are wood. Some are metal. Some are homemade from keys, rings, or bones. What matters most is resonance, not price tag.

You are the pendulum. You are the guide. The tool just helps you hear yourself better.

Blessed be & happy swinging ✨

[witchyintention]

Philosophy, myth, call-outs, and spiritual commentary.

Can You Be a Witch and Still Struggle With Faith? (Yes.)

How to Tell If a Spiritual Worker or Witch Is the Real Deal

Intent vs. Impact: Ethics in Spellwork and Magical Practice

Not Yours, Witch: Why Some Practices Are Closed for a Reason

So You Found a Deity—Now What?

The Danger of Over-Spiritualizing Mental Health

The Witch’s Tree: Selecting Your Sacred Ally & Working with Tree Spirits

Why “Love and Light” Isn’t Always Kind

Why Most Spiritual Influencers Don’t “Heal” Anyone

Witchcraft Is Not a Safe Space for Fascists

Women in Paganism: Revered, Sacred, Sovereign

You Can’t Call It Witchcraft If You’re a Bigot

You Can’t Manifest Away Injustice

You Don’t Have to Brand Your Practice to Make It Real

[witchyintention]

Reading signs, tools of insight, and developing the second sight.

Did You Know Astrology Can Predict When You'll Meet Your Love?

How to Actually Read Your Dreams (Magically Speaking)

Pendulums Aren’t Just Yes/No Tools: Advanced Uses

Scrying in a Cup: The Magic of Tea Leaf Readings

The Limits of Divination: What It Can and Can’t Tell You

Using Divination to Shape (Not Just Predict) Your Path

What It Means When Your Cards Start Lying

What It’s Like to Be a Real Oracle (From a Real Oracle—Hi, That’s Me)

[witchyintention]

Working with the unseen: ancestors, house spirits, and graveyard lore.

Ancestral Veneration Without a Perfect Family Tree

Deity Studies: Master List

Graveyard Magic: Honoring the Dead with Earth and Intention

House Spirits: Guardians, Tricksters, or Both?

How to Build a Relationship with a Land Spirit

How to Create a Cozy Morning Routine with Your Gods

Not All Spirits Are Meant to Be Worked With

Signs a Spirit Is Trying to Connect (And What to Do About It)

Spirit Guides 101

Spirits Everywhere: A Witch's Guide to the Many Beings We Work With

The Secret Keepers: A Guide to House Spirits

[witchyintention]

Unseen structures: thoughtforms, egregores, magical logic.

Are Thoughtforms Just Fancy Imaginary Friends?

Chaos Magic Isn’t Just Vibes: Let’s Break It Down

Egregores: The Power of Collective Thoughtforms

Magic as Language: The Grammar of Spellcasting

Mirror Mirror: Can a Servitor Change Your Appearance?

Servitors: Your Personal Magical Minions

The Four Models of Magic: Finding Your Magical Operating System

What Is Energy in Witchcraft, Really

What Is Will in Witchcraft, Really?

Why Belief Shapes Outcome (and When It Doesn’t)