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Witch is a self-identified term. Calling people witches who do not identify as witches is what the witch trials were about! Don't be one of those people!

What is a witch you ask?

A witch is a self-identified term used by someone that studies and/or practices witchcraft. I say “self-Identified” and I think it is important to stress that. Calling someone a witch who is not a witch is what witch trials were about.

And before you ask what witchcraft is, I'll answer that too.

Witchcraft the self-identified term used by witches as an umbrella for the study of a collection of occult studies and practices with which a witch can choose work. A non exhaustive list of these area of interest are: astrology, divination, spellcasting, ritual, charm/talisman building, working with herbs or crystals, demonology, Astral work, spirit work, and many other occult areas of study.

You can also study these things and not identify as a witch.

I suppose you ask what it means to be a witch and i think that answer would depend a lot of the witch you ask as each witch has their own practice and their own reasoning.

The reason why much of tumblr (or at least my side of it) tends to be inclusive in terms of who may call themselves a witch- to the point that a person may take the title with no pre-requesites is:

For a Very Long Time, there was a an ever-increasing bar of what counts as 'witchcraft.'

And the list of things you had to do in order to call yourself a witch were an ever-shifting landscape of pseudo-wicca and other practices with a strict structure. You could ask three different practitioners on the matter and get four different answers. Biases were everywhere: you couldn't be a witch if you didnt do a year and a day. If you didnt have a coven. If you didnt have a book of shadows. If you didnt worship the god and goddess. If you were gender nonconforming. If you did curses. If you were black (yes. Even that.)

Eventually, it got to a point where a bunch of us just said... enough. Enough, okay? If we can't agree where the line is, then there is no line. The line is gone now. Anyone can be a witch if they want to be.

There is no Head of Witchcraft to direct you to for your official membership card. Just do some spells or dont. You do a spell and want to be called a witch, you're a witch now. Do a spell and dont want to be called a witch? Call yourself something else.

Dont do spells? Maybe you do divination? Maybe you're figuring it out but still want to be called a witch? Maybe you like the idea and the aesthetic but dont do anything with it?

Call yourself whatever you want.

So I’ll respond to this without giving my inbox the “hall pass” to rag on different books they agree with, alright. Last one, First one, That’s it!

Honestly, a lot of new age books are entirely written using persuasive voices. Now what I do know is that I think, if I recall correctly (I’m sure SOMEONE will correct me if I don’t), that this book was well received by academia. And another big thing that’s good about this book (even though the conclusions it drew from it were suspect) was that she did attempt to gather opinions about witchcraft and paganism from other people in the community ahead of time. 

(Again though, I definitely remember as I was reading that first section describe that, that she said she threw out some answers that she didn’t like or “couldn’t get to” and I’m like, data is data. And if someone’s coming from a scientific background, they should know the bigger the data pool the better the conclusions can be drawn from it because nuance is important, especially in an anthropological work like this.)

So it’s important to recognize that she crowd sourced a lot of the info she had. Unfortunately, when the overarching voice that comes from that data is one of religiousity and is one that is “being selected on” like with the questions that were being asked (because I’ve been part of plenty of psychological studies that didn’t EVEN give me an option to say that I was a secular humanist, but instead framed it on whether or not I was christian or another type of religion, including PAGANISM). Like we don’t know what she did, how she asked, or what questions she sent out, like how did she identify who to get responses from? Because that is another suspect thing that people can do (ie I’m saying if she went to the most whitest of pagans instead of all pagans, to get answers to her questions, then that’s a problem, especially if she selected that data because they all “agreed.” But I can’t say for sure that happened because I don’t know and I haven’t read a lot into her book because I was so disgusted by the first bit of it.) Like if you want an anthropological work on occultism, witchcraft, and paganism as a whole that’s not going to happen. Period. We have too many subsects which also have subsub sub sects and divisions. It’s an ever expanding tree diagram of who knows what, who inspired what, who is linked to where, what philosophy do they use. So I can empathize with her goals in probably making it a little bit more manageable, especially when she didn’t have the kind of processing big data :tm: natural language processing :tm: that you can have today. Your basic chat bot is probably more powerful than what she had when she was initially creating the book. 

So having to go through it by hand and MORE IMPORTANTLY understand what someone else’s paradigm is? That’s not an easy task. People barely want to spend time understanding what people are saying when they talk about stuff, let alone the REASON or the THOUGHT behind why someone’s saying something when it comes to paganism. They just want to jeer at it. [Ref: Emoji Spells. Jar Spells. Tea Spells.] It is a task to try to coalesce people’s practices, beliefs, and structure down to a bite sized consumable method. So I entirely get it. But I don’t have to like it. :)  

So I have less of a problem that she’s trying to convince you that she’s right by arguing in a persuasive voice rather than how you would articulate it in a journal article, and more with a problem with the lack of “source” on how she gathered some of her data and the methodology she used. Perhaps she describe it later in the book, and again I am ignorant of what happened or what she describes later on. But she should have lead with that in my opinion. Because as I recall she just generally referenced that she sent out some stuff and got responses and then threw out someone’s for “reasons.”

I am a Reconstructionist polytheist in a Christian-majority country. Here are some of the things Christmas means to me:

Being open about my religion at work means I’m expected to cover for  Christian coworkers who “need” extra time off around their holiday. No one stops to think I might want time off to observe a religious holiday.

The general enthusiasm for Christmas specials on TV reminds me that I’ve never seen even one TV episode or movie portraying my religion in a unreservedly positive manner.

Christmas holiday displays make me wonder how long a similar pagan display would last before neighbors complained or vandalized it.

I face the annual dilemma of whether to participate in loosely-veiled elements of Christmas - cookie exchange, gift exchange, card exchange, charity collection, office Christmas party, etc.

I get to decide not just whether I should answer when someone demands to know why I don’t celebrate Christmas, but how much I need to reveal about myself, while wondering how to handle a possible  negative response.

I can look forward to seeing characters representing my religion as it was practiced at the time of the Nativity being scorned as “godless” and as having worshiped the gods with “drunken orgies.”

I understand Christian parents might not want their children to even be aware that my religion exists.

Christmas music is played everywhere, reminding me that the music of my religion didn’t survive the centuries of government-sponsored violence focused on eradicating “pagan” beliefs.

I’m often excluded from even non-religious get-togethers during the Christmas season because of my religion. 

I’m expected to know all about Christianity, yet coworkers and acquaintances who have known me for years still excuse with a laugh their inablilty to remember even a single detail about my religious celebrations at this time of year.

I have been asked more than once, “Do you dance around the Christmas tree naked?”

I try to imagine a world where cards and gifts relating to my religion would be available at Hallmark and stationery stores.

I worry that general societal encouragement of the acqusition of material possessions in conjunction with the celebration of religious holidays may bleed over into my religion.

As coworkers share photos of their Christmas celebrations, I’m aware that sharing photos of my religious observances might excite ridicule.

A 31 Day Tarot Challenge for The Month of October, Inspired by The Major Arcana.

I’m bringing this challenge back because it did a lot of good for a lot of people.

If you participated in the past, I invite you to participate again, with the intent of helping you see how much you’ve grown.

If you’ve never taken this challenge, I believe it will provide you with a great amount of personal insight and growth.

Each question has been written with the hopes of helping you gain greater insight into yourself, and the world around you.

Remember, each question may be answered with as many or as few cards as you feel are required. Some answers will easily come from one card, some may require several cards.

I encourage you to photograph your cards and journal your answers with the tag,

#autumntarot.


1. As I begin this journey into self, where would it be best serving for me to initially focus my energy?

2. What can I expect to creatively manifest within the upcoming days ahead?

3. In order to have prosperity, and a nurturing love for self and others, where should I focus my energy?

4. As I gain greater stability and balance, what should I remember to guard myself from?

5. Is there anything I am considering that I could perhaps make a better decision on later?

6. What is it that my soul craves the most right now?

7. As I draw my focus outward, what do I need to keep in mind in order to maintain a positive outlook?

8. I wish to conquer my fears and live within a state of harmony. In order to make this my reality, what should I focus upon?

9. I will allow myself a day of rest, retreat, and sanctuary. As I remain within quiet refuge, what shall I let be my mantra?

10. What do I need to do I order to be released from that which no longer serves me?

11. At times it can be difficult to find a balance between our desires and our needs. What is it that I desire, and what is it that I need?

12. I release control, and in doing so I am rewarded with new perspective. What is the first thing I notice?


13. How can I be more prepared to deal with loss?

14. In which ways do I connect to my higher self already? Which areas have I yet to venture upon?

15. The journey of healing requires dedication and an open heart, what is the first step I need to take in order to allow myself to heal from the past.

16. Fears flourish within the darkness, what is it that my fears have to reveal to me?

17. That which I do, is that which will come back to me. How can I remember to always keep this in mind?

18. Through the moonlight my intuition radiates, what is it I am not seeing?

19. What are my daily allowances to refresh my body, rest my mind and nurture my spirit?

20. A mirror reveals more than just my reflection. How might I be a negative influence to myself?

21. Have I achieved things in the past year that are in accordance to my life plans? Am I on the right track for success?

22. Change is upon the horizon, what does the future hold for me?

23. How can I use that which the future holds to strengthen myself through the unknown?

24. As a being of peace, and serenity, I make the choice to know only love and light. How can I best maintain this outlook?

25. How do I feel about my image and how other people respond to it? In which ways am I setting examples for people to follow?

26. My shadow self is an extension of my inner layers; how can I begin to peel through to reveal the source of my pain?

27. What ignites my desire to look beyond that which my eyes allow me to see?

28. The veil is thinning this time of the year, what message do my spirit guides have for me?

29. What should I look for in order to connect better with other people?

30. In what ways can I best inspire others around me?

31. I wish to look upon my world with a new perspective, and feel a greater sense of connectivity. In order to make this my reality, where must I focus my energy?

I saw a version of this spell, that was very lacking. It literally said to just add crushed peppers and broken glass shards to a container, and then bury them on your property. The problem, the intent isn’t super clear, and the ingredients are a bit of a mixed signal. The concept is good though. It got me thinking. So here’s what I would do for a protective spell pouch.

~~~

You’ll need a small pouch to keep your spell in. A box or jar would also work. 

A hot chili pepper, preferably whole

An iron nail

Soil from your own home

A lock of your hair 

If you’re making the spell for someone else, then you need soil from their home, and something of theirs to use for the focus. A photograph would work if you don’t have access to something like a few strands of hair.

You need to have a clear, quiet area to focus from start to finish. Try to set everything out in a way that makes sense to you, for how you’re going to use it. Charge every item as you added it to your spell pouch. 

Hot peppers. Peppers are for warding things away, averting them from you. You can use peppers in cursing and attack spells, but they are also extremely useful in warding and cleansing. Focus on the warmth of the pepper being soothing for you, and painful for those who would do you harm. If you’re visual, then picture this. If you’re tactile, then maybe handle the pepper, feel how it warms your hands after a while, internalize that the pepper is not meant to burn you, but will scar your enemies.

An iron nail. This should not be rusted if possible. Iron is strong, unyielding. It is used for both building and destroying. The iron nail is your sword. It is your shield. The cold metal keeps you safe and damages those foolish enough to try your defenses. It also has the added benefit of warding off some spirits and fae. 

Soil from your home. Your home is your safe place, your castle, your base of operations. It’s where you gather your energy. The soil ties the spell to your home, so it can continue to feed from the energy of your house.

A lock of hair. This ties the spell directly to you. It focuses the spell so that it will serve to protect you. Without this, it’s a very general spell that can serve to protect an area. With a lock or few strands of your hair though, it focuses the spell in on protecting you from harm.

Focus on what each item brings to the spell as you add it to the bag. When you’re finished, close up the bag. Seal the spell now. One of the easiest ways to do this is to sew up the bag. If you’re using a jar or box, you can seal it with wax or clay. You can also seal it by tying a knot in the bag strings, or something similar. This indicates the spell is finished working, and severed from your active energy. This “finishes” the spell, and allows it to start working without drawing on you for power. Now store the spell somewhere safe.

Lost something?

Stick a pin in your sofa and it’ll return to you.

Another similar version to this found in the same book which is to place a cross under a table leg until the lost object is found. 

St Anthony is associated with finding lost items. A simple prayer is to turn his image upside down, and say: 

“St Anthony, St Anthony,  Please come down! Something is lost And must be found.” 

When the object is found, his image is returned upright and in thanks the magician goes to feed the poor. 

The cropped paragraph:

So you’ve sat down to play the Ouija board, studied everything about them, and are totally excited. Only to find that nothing happens. What do you do? Here’s a checklist.

-are you playing by yourself?

Most people cannot play the Ouija board by themselves, including myself. In my case, I’ve been told that my spirit guide blocks anyone from playing with me if I try by myself, because my energy is too much that only a spirit with really bad intentions will try to talk to me to use all that powerful energy. But for a lot of people, it’s the opposite. Some people just don’t have that powerful energy to be able to give the spirit enough energy. The more energy, the better. Even if you have two low energy people, you might be able to get the planchette to move. Energy moves like a circuit, and it works a lot better if it can flow from one person, to the spirit controlling the planchette, and into another person.

-were you patient?

It can take spirits a long time to get the planchette going. It could very well take five to ten minutes for the planchette to start moving. If nothing happens at first, keep waiting, and keep encouraging the spirit to try to make it work.

-is it your first time?

The more you play, the easier it is to get your energy flowing to the spirit. If it’s your first time, it could feel really awkward and uncomfortable. Spirits may also be doubtful about playing with you if it’s your first time, because they may not trust you. I always recommend playing with someone who has had it work before if it’s your first time.

-were you pushing on the planchette too hard?

Imagine you are resting your hands on a keyboard, or piano keys, when touching the planchette. You should be present but not putting any pressure. If you’re pushing down on the planchette, then the spirit can’t move it.

-are you skeptical?

Spirits don’t want to talk to someone who doesn’t believe in them, plain and simple. Go into it with an open mind.

It could also not be you that’s the problem, but the spirits. It’s possible that nobody is around who wants to play. I’ve had lots of people tell me that they wait for it for work, and after asking if anyone is there, it just goes to NO or GOODBYE. There could also be a bossy spirit around not letting other spirits play, for whatever reason.

There are a lot of reasons Ouija boards don’t work. But none of them have to do with the board itself. A lot of people blame it not working on the fact that it’s a Hasbro board, or it isn’t blessed, or something like that. The board itself doesn’t have any power, you’re the one that does. My best advice to you if the board doesn’t work is to not give up and keep trying.