Neurodivergent Witchcraft

Tools?

Shampoo- cleanses your hair of negative energy

Conditioner- restores/adds positive energy

Body wash- restores/adds positive energy

Scrubs- cleanses and removes negative energy

Face wash/cleanser- removes negative energy

Moisturizer- protection, restores positive energy

Sunscreen- protection

Lotion- depending on scent, it can help with plenty of things

Rose- love, confidence, self-love, beauty

Lavender- calmness, peace/self-peace, self-worth, comfort, soothing

Vanilla- self-love, confidence, attracting good energies

Coconut- protection, purification, chastity

Contacts/eye drops- insight, wisdom, to see what others can’t

Hairbrush- negativity remover

Mascara- to see what others don’t tell you

Lipgloss/lipstick/lip stain/chapstick- to speak smoothly and clearly, to have a way with words, to improve your voice

Toothpaste and toothbrush- cleansing, to help watch your words

Tongue scraper- to get rid of past regrets from past words, to stop gossiping

Concealer- to conceal what others should not know/what you do not want them to know

Foundation- protection

Setting spray- calmness, peace, good luck

Nail Polish- match them to your intentions!

Purple- intuitive needs, spiritual needs, imagination, creativity, third eye, wisdom, peace

Pink- love, harmony, kindness, self-love

Red- love, lust, seduction, confidence, courage, sex, motivation, ambition, passion, strength, action

Silver-moon energy, emotional needs, reflection

Green-healing, wealth, growth, money, luck, fertility

Brown- grounding, friendship, security, material needs,

Blue- clarity, creativity, faith, forgiveness, communication, calmness

Orange- joy, energy, success, optimism, excitement,

Yellow- happiness, clarity, creativity, manifestation, strength, positive thoughts, sun energy, good health

Black- protection, stability, banishing, releasing

White- purification, peace, purity, truth, hope, cleansing

What is Pokemancy?

Pokemon divination is the practice of using Pokemon in ANY form to produce messages, advice, and possible divine future events. It can be used with TCG cards like tarot and oracle decks, the random Pokemon generator like runes or bone throwing, or you can even boot up one of your Pokemon games and run into wild Pokemon and treat it like Augury or omen spotting.

The practice of Pokemon divination has become widely popular in some occult communities, with many accounts of using it available in articles and blogs. All one has to do is make a quick Google search using ‘Pokemon Divination’, ‘Pokemon Card Oracle’ or ‘Pokemancy’, and a slew of results will pop up! You can even purchase Pokemon divination readings from many Etsy shops.

Here are some examples:

Tarot reading the future through Pokemon Cards

Divination with Pokemon Cards

Pokemancy as a term has been thrown around before, though it appears that Ursah Bee on Medium is the first to utilize it as a solid, proper definition for the practice. I highly recommend that you read their guides, they have provided an amazing correspondence chart for using Unown in the style of a rune chart.

You can find Ursah Bee’s guide right here.

Where did Pokemancy come from?

On February 27th, 1996 the world of video games and pop culture changed forever with the release of Pokemon Red & Green in Japan. Spawning a popular Saturday morning anime that is still in production to this day, trading cards, plushies, collectibles and food and beverage novelties, Pokemon has been a mainstay in the household of millions ever since. 

The main series video games have sold 253.82 million copies, while the countless spin offs have racked in just as impressive numbers. As for the Pokemon TCG, 2.1 billion cards were sold in 2019 alone. 

In 2016, Pokemon GO became the most downloaded app in app stores worldwide, with 1 billion downloads of the app as of July 2019.

As of April 2020, even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, Pokemon has shown no signs of losing steam with its continued influence and shaping of the video game and trading card game market. Why do I bring up these facts, you may ask? It is because this franchise has been a constant in the lives of many people for over 24 years, with many individuals not knowing a life without Pokemon. With so much focus being put onto this franchise and its characters, it is the perfect breeding ground for egregores.

“–A what? What is an egregore?”

To quote the Theosophy Wiki page on egregores:

An egregore (pronounced egg’ gree gore) is a group thought-form. It can be created either intentionally or unintentionally, and becomes an autonomous entity with the power to influence. A group with a common purpose like a family, a club, a political party, a church, or a country can create an egregore, for better or worse depending upon the type of thought that created it.

Other words that have been used to describe an egregore are archetype, group consciousness, and zeitgeist.

For the sake of this essay, I will be focusing on the archetype and group consciousness descriptors. 

Let’s start with the group consciousness.

Group consciousness is formed when a group of people have a shared social norm and moral consciousness. This is witnessed in cultures, political groups, religious sects, and– what many people do not realize– pop culture fan groups. The shared celebration and interaction of a game forms a sense of normalcy and acceptance that the concept exists, therefore, it is given mental strength and validation by the group. (Ex: Ice typing beats Dragon typing.)

Archetypes are recurrent symbols or motifs in literature, art, or mythology. The Hermit, for example, is an archetype in the tarot, whereas the Prometheus archetype of the firebringer is seen in countless cultures across the earth. Archetypes are also found in pop culture. In fact, many characters and concepts are formed around particular archetypes already. (Ex: every Pokemon game has a pseudo-legendary like Dragonite or Metagross, every game has a Pikachu clone.)

So, what does all of this have to do with divination and magic? Well, it explains that the very basis of divination and magic is a willingness to believe in it. And what makes someone willing to believe and accept something as plausible? The group consciousness and education from archetypes. The more this idea is acknowledged and worked on, the more it grows. This is seen throughout history, and it is arguable in some schools of thought that all deities, religions and divination systems are egregores created by group consciousness. And with a global fandom supported by a yearly flow of content from The Pokemon Company, this egregore is being fed daily. As long as people are playing the games, buying cards, gathering for official and fan events, cosplaying, roleplaying and producing fan art, the existence of Pokemon’s egregore will remain. With that in mind, there are enough people participating in this Pokemancy practice for it to become a valid system of work and belief.

In fact, that is why we are able to use tarot as a universal system of divination!

Tarocchi: Tarot’s Forgotten Origin

“But mun, Pokemon is a game! It was made to be played as a game, not to do fortune telling and magic.”

Did you know that tarot began as a game as well?

Tarot cards likely originated in northern Italy during the late 14th or early 15th century. The oldest surviving set, known as the Visconti-Sforza deck, was created for the Duke of Milan’s family around 1440. The cards were used to play a bridge-like game known as tarocchi, popular at the time among nobles and other leisure lovers. According to tarot historian Gertrude Moakley, the cards’ fanciful images—from the Fool to Death—were inspired by the costumed figures who participated in carnival parades.

The game of tarocchi eventually spread to other European countries, including southern France, where it was renamed tarot. The cards were not regarded as mystical until the late 18th century, when the occult came into vogue. A man named Antoine Court de Gébelin wrote a popular book linking the cards to ancient Egyptian lore, arguing that tarot symbols contained the secret wisdom of a god called Thoth. Around the same time, Jean-Baptiste Alliette, writing under the pseudonym Etteilla, published a treatise on using tarot cards as divination tools. -Brendan I. Koerner, Slate

In fact, tarocchi isn’t the only game used with a tarot deck! To this day, tarocchi games are still popular, you can find instructions on how to play these games easily online. You can even purchase the original Visconti-Sforza deck to this day for use.

See: Card Games, Tarot Games

Now, let’s make some comparisons!

Both concepts were created to play a game of cards.

Both games were universally popular among different classes.

The images and characters in both games were based off of figures from real life. (For those who do not know, Pokemon was inspired by Satoshi Tajiri’s love for bug collecting.)

The comparisons continue into the modern day with the conception of Pop Culture Paganism and Magic, which is the incorporation of pop culture into your magical practice and the worship of/reverence of pop culture figures. Pop Culture Paganism and Magic are both very complex concepts to discuss, and if you wish to learn more about these subjects, I recommend further research by reading Taylor Ellwood’s ‘Pop Culture Magick: A How to Guide to Practical Pop Culture Magick.’ He is a reputable occult author whose work is very interesting. Many people do not realize that pop culture (popular culture for the current age) has always had a direct impact on magic and tradition (spells based on old poetry, the relationship between Greek gods and theatre performances, Song of the Witches from Macbeth, and so on), so why dismiss it’s continued influence?

In simpler words: both tarot and Pokemon (specifically the TCG for this example) have evolved past their original purpose in certain communities. While tarot has had centuries to develop into what it is today, pop culture pagans and magicians have come together and validated one another on their spiritual and divinatory use of Pokemon and the TCG.

“Okay, that all makes sense, but why isn’t Pokemancy embraced like tarot was?”

Actually, tarot for divination wasn’t popularly embraced until the 20th century. Yes, small groups and sects of occultists in France dabbled with the mystical meanings behind the symbols, even debating whether or not the cards were an ancient Egyptian creation. However, 1909 was when a specific deck of tarot cards were painted by Pamela Colman Smith and published by A.E. Waite– this the Rider Waite Smith deck was born.

There is also the fact that Pokemon is, at the end of the day, still a media aimed directly at children, despite a large part of the community being 21+ and older. (Some of whom were teenagers when the games debuted 24 years ago!). Many people cringe at the idea of putting playing cards in place of their hallowed Thoth deck. This makes it difficult for practitioners outside of this medium to take it seriously. Unfortunately, elitism and a strong doubt and downright disrespect for pop culture magic is consistent in many pagan and occult circles today.

So… Why Pokemon?

For some, it is comfortable. They grew up with Pokemon and connect with the sense of familiarity in a way that they cannot do with the Rider Waite Smith, Thoth, or Marseilles. Comfort is very important with practicing any divination. I, personally, cannot connect with the Thoth deck for the life of me, so why would I use that to divine messages that people need to hear? It is similar to giving yourself a handicap, putting yourself at a disadvantage.

For others, the concepts in Pokemon can be comparable to other magical correspondences. Elements are present in Pokemon with the typing. Healing objects such as potions and berries can be comparable to the herbs and tinctures that herbal witches use. The concept of Pokemon evolution can be compared to the Fool’s journey in tarot, with transformation through battle and challenges being reflected in the Pokemon’s increase in strength and capability. The legendary Pokemon present in the franchise draw from historical and culture inspiration, and remind us of the gods and goddesses of other large pantheons. (Solgaleo is actually inspired by the alchemical lion that devours the sun. Arceus is compared to the creation God. Those are only few examples of the many that can be seen in the franchise.)

Another reason that I have seen is that it does not appropriate cultures. Pokemon is open to everybody. Utilizing Pokemancy does not step on the toes of cultures that have been violated and used in a disrespectful way. It is designed to be a game for all, therefor, Pokemancy is a practice for all.

Lastly, and most importantly, people find it enjoyable and fun. The notion that spirituality and divination has to be serious and strict at all times is not true, and often perpetuated by the fact that we grow up seeing Christian church services and traditions being treated as a chore and something that we are forced to deal with. The more personal the practice, the more fun you are having, the more likely that that practice will work, which means you will yield results. As mentioned earlier, you’re more likely to find results in something that you believe in– and if you are enjoying yourself and having a good time, then you are on the right path.

Conclusion

Pokemancy is a legitimate system for divination, and branches into an even larger practice of incorporating Pokemon into the occult and magic as a whole. It is still fresh territory and ever changing due to the constant additions to the Pokemon universe, but the nostalgia and love that connects people to this franchise has given many fans spiritual and soulful catharsis that classic mythology and divination has not. 

As a professional tarot reader, one piece of advice that I give to any beginner is: choose a deck that resonates with you and makes you feel connected and happy, not one that people say you HAVE to use. That advice extends to divination as a whole. If using Pokemon for divination is what calls to you, then don’t hold yourself back! Go for it, and live your practice authentically.

What are Baneful Protections?

Baneful protections can be considered both a form of baneful magic and a form of protection magic. When beginning baneful work, this is usually what I recommend starting with. Baneful protections are protection spells that produce some sort of consequence when energy hits it. This can be done without the use of physical taglocks (like names or dates of birth) because energy is able to act like a taglock. For example, some of the baneful protections I have set up will reflect any energy that hits it back to its source while others trap that energy instead (so it can used later on).

It is very important that even though you are protecting yourself, you aren't accidentally tethering the energy to you. In my first baneful protection, I used my saliva to tether the protection to me but instead I tethered all the negative energy the spell had trapped to me and had a horrible case of bad luck for weeks before I realized what I had done. As a rule of thumb i personally don’t include any personal taglocks in baneful protections and always make sure to include a petition that details my exact intent for the spell.

When to use Baneful Protections:

Baneful protections can be used instead of or in conjunction with other forms of protection (see my blog posts for more information on alternative forms of protection magic). I personally didn't have any baneful protections before I was hexed (for the first time) and now I have some just as a precautionary measure. Baneful protections are most beneficial (in my opinion) if you are surrounded by a lot of negative energy or work in an environment that is mentally draining. These protections can help combat the toll that it takes and prevent much of that energy from staying with you for an extended period of time.

It is really up to you whether or not you choose to incorporate baneful protections into your practice. It is worth it to note that this spell work is considered baneful magic, so those who believe in "doing no harm" may choose to forgo this and stick to regular protections instead. Whatever you choose, be sure to do your own research before attempting any new forms of spell work.

Return-to-Sender Spells:

Mirrors- mirrors have the ability to reflect an image so they are also able to reflect energy. Putting up a mirror on your altar or incorporating a piece of a mirror into a spell is very effective at returning energy to its source.

Burning the bottom of a candle- this is a common one and it is also my preferred method at returning energy. The way I do it is by burning the top of the candle like normal and visualizing the energy that you wish to return. Once the candle is flat, I will flip it upside down and light the other end of the wick, symbolizing the return of that energy to its source. This can be done many different ways so check out what other practitioners do to come up with your own method.

Petitions- petitioning is a really great tool that I utilize in most of my spell work because it is an effective way at manifesting a specific intent. It helps if you know the name of the person who sent you the energy for this method but it is not necessary. As long as you have a clear intention and some return-to-sender oil you can make an effective spell.

Running water or rivers- running water has been viewed as being able to carry energy from place to place so it is possible to use it to return energy to its source. In the shower, you can imagine the energy running off of you, down the drain and back to the person who sent it. Another method is throwing your petition into a river and having the river carry it back to its source. (This method also works with a toilet if you are feeling especially feisty!)

Moon Water

It could energize crystals

Perfect for a magical bath

For bless yourself, your home or magical tools

Spring Water

Good for Fae work

Excellent for abundance

Used in love or fertility spell

Used in subtle magick

Snow Water

Recommended for spells that focus on purity endings and change

For slow working spells

Rain Water

Multi-purpose

Excellent for growth and rebirth spells

Good for spells that you want to keep gaining power over time

River Water

Recommended for rituals and spells that has to do with moving on.

Focusing energy

Breaking through rough times

Warding

Good for activating tools

Ocean Water

Good for cleansing

Healing

Banishing

Used for protection rituals and spells

Cleansing crystals

Thunderstorm Water

Add a magical boost to any work

Good for spells and rituals that has to do with emotional strengthening, confidence and motivation

pray to them

straight up just talk to them, tell them about your day

offer some of your meal to them (or alternatively, the steam from your meal)

cook with them and/or for them

pick a movie to watch with them, especially if it connects to things they rule over (i.e. a romcom with hera or aphrodite, a documentary about the sea for poseidon, etc)

give them the first sip of your morning drink, or even make a cup for them

assign them a stuffed animal and take care of it as a devotion to them (bonus points if that animal is sacred to them or if you associate it with them)

say good morning/good night

thank them for the things you see (i.e. thanking apollo when you see a pretty sunrise/sunset, thank hypnos for a good night’s sleep, etc)

Folk names for herbs

Ass' Ear- Comfrey

Bat's Wing- Holly Leaves

Beard Of Monk- Chicory

Bear's Foot- Lady's Mantle

Bird's Eye- Germander or Speedwell

Blind Eyes- Poppy

Blood From a Head- Lupine

Blood Of Ares- Purslane

Blood Of Hestia- Chamomile

Bloody Fingers- Foxglove

Calf's Snout- Snapdragon

Cat's Foot- Ground Ivy

Crow's Foot- Wood Anemone

Devil's Ear- Jack In The Pulpit

Devil's Plaything- Yarrow

Dew Of the Sea- Rosemary

Dog's Mouth- Snapdragon

Dragon's Teeth- Vervain

Elf Leaf- Lavender

Englishman's Foot- Common Plantain

Fairy Eggs- Nutmeg

Flower Of Death- Vinca

Goose Tongue- Lemon Balm

Graveyard Dust- Mullein

Hawk's Heart- Wormwood

Juno's Tears- Vervain

Jupiter's Beard- Sempervivums

Lion's Foot- Lady's Mantle

Little Faces- Viola

Man's Bile- Turnip Sap

Mortification Root- Rose of Sharyn

Nose Of Turtle- Turtlehead, Chelone

Nosebleed- Yarrow

Our Lady's Tears- Lily Of The Valley

Old Man's Flannel- Mullein

Ram's Head- Valerian

Scale Of Dragon- Tarragon

Semen Of Ares- White Clover

Semen Of Hermes- Dill

Serpent's Tongue- Dog's Tooth Violet

Sparrow's Tongue- Knotweed

Tree Of Doom- Elder

Unicorn Root- Boneset

Weasel Snout- Yellow Archangel

Wool Of Bat- Moss

Body Parts as Plants:

Eye- Blossom or Seed

Heart- Bud or Seed

Beak, Bill or Nose- Seed, Bud or Bloom

Tongue or Teeth- Petal or Leaf

Head- Blossom

Tail- Stem

Hair- Dried Herbs or Stringy Parts Of Herbs

Privates, Genitals Or Semen- Seeds Or Sap

Blood- Sap

Guts- Roots or Stalk

Paw, Foot, Leg, Wing or Toe- Leaves

Animals as Plants:

Toad- Sage

Cat- Catmint

Dog- Grasses, Specifically Couchgrass

Frog- Cinquefoil

Eagle- Wild Garlic

Blue Jay- Laurel

Hawk- Hawkweed

Lamb-Wild Lettuce

Nightengale- Hops

Rat- Valerian

Weasel- Rue

Woodpecker- Peony

I borrowed this from:

So, the cleansing most people seem familiar with is using White sage, sometimes it comes in a kit with and Abalone shell and a feather. However these shouldn't be bought as this IS A CLOSED AND SACRED PRACTICE FOR NATIVE AMERICANS KNOWN AS SMUDGING. And if you're a non-native you should not be using White sage as it's one of their sacred Medicines.

And because I know some of y'all are too lazy to look up alternatives I'm here to help.

So Smudging is a type of Smoke cleansing—burning botanicals, resins, wood, etc. for health and/or spiritual purposes. This type of cleansing is used by many different people and faiths throughout the world so you can find a type of Smoke Cleansing that doesn't make you appropriate sacred medicine from indigenous people.

There are no excuses.

Common Ways to Smoke Cleanse

Incense Sticks

Incense Cones

Resin Incense (straight up bits of sap from trees)

Powdered Incense

Herb Bundles / Burning Bouquets.

Herbs you can use other than White Sage

Green Sage/Kitchen Sage: Cleansing and Good Luck

Russian sage: cleanses and can be used for protection

Cedar: For Cleansing negative energy and protection. (Note: Cedar is still one of the four sacred medicines of Native Americans. So while it's not closed in the same way white sage is if your in America try and either buy from Native Shops or find a store near you that works with Native People and pay them fairly)

Rosemary: rosemary is perfect for burning as a purification herb. it's burned to create a "fresh start" in life

lavender: uplift the mood, dispel negative emotion and bring in a sense of calm and relaxation

White Pine: cleanses emotions and can be used for protection

“I Appear Androgynous”

Nobody made a specific request for this last time requests were open but this is something I get asked for a lot, which is 100% needed and valid so here it is finally!

you need:

- lipstick

- sugar (or honey)

- a mirror

- Pick a lipstick of a colour that calls to you (if its charmed thats even better)

- Go to your mirror

- Put the honey/sugar inside your mouth (around one teaspoon)

- Put on your lipstick (semi slowly)

- Repeat affirmations in your head

"I am (trait)"

"Others perceive me as (how you want to be perceived)"

"My energy is mine to change"

"My energy changes with my will"

"My aura changed with my will"

"My energy and aura are what i want"

And any other affirmations you want to use!!

You can also repeat key words in your head (pretty, charming, bubbly, seductive, petals, airy, etc)

- Visualise your intent coming out from your hand, into your lipstick, and onto your lips/your energy, visualise your energy/aura changing how you wish.

- Do this and keep repeating until the sugar/honey is completely dissolved in your mouth. then you may simply close your lipstick, do whatever you regularly do at the end of a spell, or you may simply say "It is done".

I've been using these since forever and they work incredibly! Feel free to accommodate them to what resonates with you :)

I mostly say these phrases in my mind over and over again as I'm applying a certain product, you can say them out loud as well. Playing affirmations in the background can also work really well when you're putting that intention into your makeup! （˶′◡‵˶）

As you apply highlighter: "My essence shines through"

As you apply lipstick/gloss/balm: "My words are sweet. Everyone pays attention when I'm speaking"

As you apply lipstick/gloss/balm: "My words flow perfectly. Speaking my mind perfectly comes easy for me"

As you apply mascara: "These eyes see everyone's true essence. These eyes see through facades"

As you apply blush: "I am confident and assertive"