Magic and Mayhem

Fantasy Is A Metaphor For The Human Condition, a comic about magic, and art, and speculative fiction, and being sick, and how they all intersect. Originally laid out/pencilled November-December 2017, when I was in a very difficult place emotionally as I was relearning how to draw post-brain injury.

Limit your negative language if you want people to learn. Even if you want to warn about something, figure out how to phrase it in positive language.

Take, for example... idk... "Don't read Crowley." Sure, okay, he's an ass (to undersell it), and we need a whole heap of salt before digging into his stuff, so until someone learns the tools for how to season his stuff properly... this isn't terrible advice?

But it's pretty unhelpful because there are still 500000 other witchy authors of varying degrees of trustworthiness (which is a subjective metric dependent on what baggage you're bringing to your witchcraft journey).

Tell her you just don't feel comfortable doing so and please see this for the red flag that it is. Ghost her if necessary.

For this, especially this early in a relationship, it is a warning sign of obsessive behavior and she will likely turn out to be possessive, manipulative, and generally toxic.

I am most informed on practices derived western european immigrants in america. As a white person in the Midwest, whose ancestors mostly come from Northwestern Europe (France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, and England), I can only speak on practices derived from those cultural experiences and beliefs.

One thing I know of can be creating a spell jar, or cleansing the space you use. In my practice, I make spell jars for home and for travel. I usually use a recycled glass jar that I add different herbs into. Before using the jar, i clean it and then i may light a candle and use that smoke to purify the jar, or add energy to it.

Then I add different herbs based on their meanings, both magical and personal. I have made them to look nice on a shelf with added coffee grounds for energy, and I can recharge that energy by putting it in the sun, or outside during a correlating moon phase. The jars Ive made for banishing ill will or negative energy are what I call 'shit shaker' jars. I put herbs, and crystals in them, then I walk through a space shaking it and making noise.

Meaning can be added in a variety of ways, as long as it is done intentionally. Walking clockwise can mean inviting something in, and counterclockwise can push something out. Waning moons can mean dispersal of something or releasing it, and waxing moons can mean adding something or growth. Rain can be cleansing or nourishing.

For my Norse practices, I use runes and symbolism of my gods. Some runes mean protection. Some witches also create their own sigils using a variety of methods. These sigils can be used as wards.

You can put iron by the door as a ward.

Tell her you just don't feel comfortable doing so and please see this for the red flag that it is. Ghost her if necessary.

For this, especially this early in a relationship, it is a warning sign of obsessive behavior and she will likely turn out to be possessive, manipulative, and generally toxic.

These will be a combo of low energy and bedridden activities! Please note that absolutely nothing is required in order to honor the seasons besides witnessing them and trying to admire the things they bring <3

Imbolc:

Purification, spring cleaning, home and hearth. Winter to Spring.

Light a candle or turn on an electric candle.

Open the curtains to let light in. 

Crack open all your windows to let in some fresh air.

Visualize a light cleaning each and every room in your home.

Spray a cleansing spray throughout your bedroom.

Clean an area in your home, big or small. (It could be as simple as making a pile of trash so it’s easier to move later.)

Wash your bedding or rotate your blankets and flip over your pillow.

Change your pajamas.

Bathe yourself (either in the tub or sponge bath style). Infuse some herbs/flowers into the water!

Low energy Imbolc + Imbolc masterpost

Bedridden witch: Cleansing + Bath Magic

Ostara: 

New life, growth, celebration of lusciousness. Spring. 

Water your plants and whisper blessings to them.

Plant something new! It can be as simple as a beansprout in a paper cup.

Open the curtains to let light in. 

Crack open all your windows to let in some fresh air.

Spray floral water in the air and on your bedsheets.

Have someone bring you some spring flowers.

Draw flower designs or in pastel colors.

Make some herbal/floral tea or infusions.

Burn incense or smoke cleanse.

Drink lots of water.

Ostara masterpost

Bedridden witch: Garden + Pastel

Beltane: 

Peak of life, renewal, fire. Spring to Summer.

Wake up earlier than usual to enjoy a full day of light.

Make flower crowns with real, fake or paper flowers.

Braid something (your hair, a bracelet, ribbons, etc.)

Make sure sunlight and fresh air can reach you.

Enjoy some fresh fruits, nuts and seeds.

Drink tea or water infused with fruit.

Decorate with/wear/create things with bright colors

Light a candle or turn on an electric candle.

Decorate a new pot for your plants (painting, sharpies, ribbons, etc.)

Write a list of things you would like to release and burn them (alternatively: tear it up and place in a glass of water).

Beltane masterpost

Bedridden witch: Nature + others linked above.

Litha: 

Sunshine, joy, celebration. Summer.

Make sure sunlight and fresh air can reach you.

Try to be awake and witness both the sunrise and sunset.

Pour an offering of water for the plants (indoors, outside or out the window).

Decorate with flowers and crystals.

Have a picnic (outside, on the kitchen floor or in bed).

Enjoy locally grown fruits and veggies.

Find a way to incorporate honey into your day (scrubs, food, tea, etc.)

Burn beeswax candles.

Listen to music that just sounds like summertime.

Make sun water or sun tea.

Bedridden witch: Elements + others linked above.

Lammas:

First harvest, gratitude, abundance. Summer to Autumn.

Eat grains and local veggies.

Eat bread or your closest alternative.

Start a new project like crocheting or knitting. This is also a great time to finish that project you’ve been avoiding.

Read an entire book, start to finish or finish a book you put down and forgot about.

Infuse berries into water.

Wear and decorate and create with browns, golds, dark greens, oranges and yellows.

Drink rich teas.

Decorate with sunflowers.

Low spoon ways to celebrate Lammas

Mabon:

Second harvest, balance, abundance. Autumn.

Drink apple cider or juice.

Decorate your home to make it look more like Autumn (fake or real leaves, acorns, paper cutouts, etc.)

Eat things like breads, nuts, grapes, pomegranates, pies, apples and root vegetables.

Wear/decorate/create with oranges, reds, golds and browns.

Write down all of the things you can think of that you’re thankful for.

Apple magic

Drink warm drinks like coffee or cocoa and add warming spices (cloves, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)

Create a picnic/feast wherever is reasonable, with a little bit of everything.

Pull up a video of leaves falling or a fire crackling.

Mabon masterpost

Samhain:

Final harvest, honoring ancestors, reflection. Autumn to Winter.

Spiced apple cider

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced-things, pumpkin seeds.

Decorate with small pumpkins, paint them or draw on them if carving is too high-energy.

Create an altar honoring loved ones who have passed on, either a material one or a photo album online.

Pull up a video of a burning fire or light candles.

Turn off all of the lights and sit/lay in darkness.

Visualize your wards and boost your home protection.

Do spirit work/leave offerings for the spirits.

Burn incense/make a spray that smells of spices (cloves, basil, etc.)

Watch spooky/witchy movies.

Yule:

Creating, sharing gifts and feasts, warmth. Winter.

Create an apple pomander with cloves or dried orange slices.

Watch videos of fires burning or snow falling.

Decorate with evergreen boughs, holly, pine cones, etc.

Make rosehip, peppermint, vanilla, rooibos or spiced tea.

Step outside/open a window to feel the cold air (if you live somewhere warm, do this in the early morning/night).

Handcraft gifts for loved ones or write heartfelt cards/letters to the people you care about.

Put birdseed outside/a bird feeder by your window.

Make a simmer pot, or use this idea to create a scented spray.

Wash your face with snow/cold water.

Drink hot or spiced drinks.

Yule masterpost.

Bedridden witch: Winter + others linked above. 

You may also like:

Bedridden Witch Series

Spoonie Witch Masterpost

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

My resource masterposts: Imbolc / Ostara / Beltane / Litha / Lammas / Mabon / Samhain / Yule

Something about this aesthetic gives me a warm feeling 🤎🧡