Venus & Diana's nightbringer🌙🌹

credit: IG:witchytips

But seriously, would like to hear more of your thoughts abt correspondence charts and stuff because I’m trying to figure out what’s important and what’s not.

-theverwitchproject

Why Correspondence Charts are Bad & What To Do Instead

Disclaimer100% just my opinion here based on my experience doing and writing spells, if your experiences don't match that is fine. Everyone's path is different and maybe many who read this will have a different experience in their research and experimentation. However, someone asked for my take so I'm going to give it.

Charts like the ones I often see online are very simplified and provide no explanation of symbolism or sources. They also normalize the idea that correspondences aren't complex and deeply cultural things. This is bad because it's not going to give you a deep enough of what you're doing, using, and why. The why is always important. You can't have a solid practice you're confident in without understanding the what AND the why. This is also why ideas like "Quartz can be substituted for anything" aren't going to make for good spell work in my experience. If that were true, ingredients wouldn't matter at all. We wouldn't have things that are special and passed down in some traditions. Substitutions can be made, but not for anything, for the most similar thing based on a long list of traits. Correspondences are based on many different things, personal association, tradition, culture. For example I was watching a video not too long ago by a Chinese woman that related to Chinese culture and history. We recognize four elements, air, water, earth and fire. In china they recognize five. That's going to turn any ideas about most witch's understanding of the elements and their correspondences upside down. That is all to say that correspondences are not simple and I hate the idea that they are. You could argue correspondence charts are convenient for a beginner or for substitutions. You'd be right in a way but once again correspondences are complicated and you're better off looking into them deeper. You need to understand the what and the why. That's how you're going to get a solid understanding of what you're doing and spells that actually work. They also are usually formatted by category or specific item online and not by very specific intent so they're not good for substitutions.

Instead of throwing a spell together based on quick and easy correspondences charts I have some suggestions. Trust me, I used to use them and I write my own spells now.

What To Do Instead:

Start Small Find a few spells you have the supplies to do. Experiment with magic and energy safely and get a feel for it. Then find a spell you don't have an ingredient for, and try a substitution. If it doesn't work that's okay. Experimentation is the point. This is a baby step towards deeply researching correspondences and having the ground work to write your own spells.

Focus on Correspondences for Items You Can Get It's easy to get overwhelmed. Focus on items you can actually get a hold of or even find outside. Focus on correspondences for types of magic you like doing. This will narrow it down greatly and make it easier to really dig deep into the what AND the why.

Ask Yourself Why Back around to that why. When you're researching, ask yourself why. This is a great tip for your mindset with any research but especially this. It's so easy to just take the information and not get caught up in the why.

More Than WitchcraftWitchcraft books are great but what about others things? What can you study about this plant for example? What's its color and texture? Where does it grow? Can you eat it? What does this plant or stone mean in history, stories and art? What does it mean in your culture? Or other cultures? What is its chemical composition? What do books on herbalism and foraging say about it? These answers will help you better understand what you're actively working with, and often give you a deeper understanding of the why in witchcraft books too.Experiment Maybe your research gets confusing or you're not sure or resources say conflicting things. Maybe your gut just says throw this in. If there's not a lot of risk, try it. This rant/guide is about understanding what you're doing and getting your results so by all means try it.

We all learned Chemistry and practice cooking. Every material in the world has a specific molecular structure and component, therefore you can’t replace/mix whatever you like. 

Two hydrogen and one oxygen atoms make water. Replace hydrogen with helium and you get heliox, not water. Pizza is spread with tomato sauce. Replace tomato sauce with ketchup/nutella/etc., or use taco slices instead of pizza dough. The end result is not a (real) pizza.

The same applies to witchcraft. If the recipe needs real chicken bones, you can’t use plastic ones or tree branches instead. If it specifically asks for your blood, you can’t use saliva, hair, or a completely off-topic ingredient like lavender. Many ancient recipes require invoking supernatural entities, deities, or using former tools of (deceased) family members.

We also know that timing is crucial in mundane culinary arts and what can the consequences be of a wrong cooking/baking session, such as food poisoning, allergies, bad taste, fire, etc.

Our ancestors used specific ingredients and timing for their craft, they didn’t come up with recipes randomly. They experimented a lot, of course, but they didn’t reach for the most convenient tools they could find or didn’t alter recipes out of laziness. Every stir and ingredient carried a purpose.

Salt is harmful to most soils. Your normal ass forest or meadow cannot handle it. It displaces other minerals in the soil Maki g it harder for animals to use the soils for natural mineral licks and for plants to not die.

If you have a regular outdoor ritual space don't use salt.

Alternatives that are good for the soil:

🥚Crushed or powdered egg shells (purity, protection, drawing shapes)

🌋Ashes from your altar, fire place or pit (protection, purifying, drawing shapes)

🌰Seeds you've gathered from your more immediate area (protection, newness, drawing shapes)

🍬Granulated sugar (drawing shapes, good vibes)

🍯 Honey (drawing shapes, good vibes, healing/protection)

I want to see sex goddesses who are powerful and brawny, strong of arm and broad of shoulder. I want to see goddesses of beauty who are round like the moon, goddesses of beauty with short hair and a square jaw and scars. If she is a goddess of war, why do you depict her as frail and thin, unable to defend herself? She may have power beyond the physical, but why do you assume she would stoop so low as to allow herself to wither away to the skeletal thinness men find so attractive? (Hint: it's only attractive to them because it makes her helpless, easier to control.) Why do you dress her in lace and lingerie? If she is a goddess of beauty, of desire, she has no need to strip herself of her clothing to draw the eye. Put clothes on her, treat her with respect, don't degrade her to some sex object for the male gaze. Why put her in heels? Why cake her glorious countenance in filthy makeup? She has no need of such contraptions, and neither do you.

I want to see goddesses that do not appeal to the eyes of men, goddesses who do not bow to their whims and desires, goddesses who are strong like an oak and tall and powerful, goddesses who are dressed practically.

To clarify: the occult/divine forces recognize the ancient bloodlines better because of the former devotional acts generations ago, hence long-lines of hereditary witches get more magical help (more “power”), but they’re also obligated to share their knowledge to those who don’t have such gift. I never felt offended by this. The so-called witches never pretended to be “prophets” or “popes” like the frontmen in cults do, and they didn’t look down on others. Covens are hierarchical based on power and knowledge where I live. 

You assumed I was placing myself above others, but that’s a rude accusation. There’s a difference between putting yourself on a pedestal and being aware of your skills and deficiencies. 

Norse paganism has dísir and birth runes, we have the Greco-Roman gods as patrons. As far as I know, you guys have freedom in devotion, while we’re told which deity we should respect the most because of the circumstances of our birth. But you can have divine patrons even if you’re not a witch, and there’re witches without patrons. If you successfully use your higher self or the Universe instead, that’s fine; I just prefer the trad method because that’s statistically more accurate for us.

I’ve been studying astrology for only a couple months and I’m still learning so much.

I would like to see what the rest of the astrology community has to say, specifically @reaperofsassgard whom I’m a little obsessed with since Servant Of The Fates deleted her blog.

So here I am, exposing myself.

Looking at my natal chart it doesn’t seem to have any natural-born witch or healer placements, it’s not all that exciting in general, but it’s mine.

My Sun is Cancer, my Moon is Pisces, and my Ascendant is Leo.

Also yes, I am aware I am emotional and prideful.

I calculated your planet dominions. It’s a tie between Moon, Sun, and Neptune. I guess you already know that’s called lukewarm; three dominant planets mean the lack of divine parentship, but the potential of being a balanced person. Good luck on your journey!

Your chart’s energy is also ambiguous: mutable-fixed and fire-water (no signature sign). The latter is probably very obvious to you since having both fire and water as dominant elements results in a hectic, passionate personality. I’d not be surprised if others said you were intense.

kpop astro lovers listen up oh my fucking god

today baekhyun gave us his time of birth (6:40). we can calculate his natal chart i’m losing it, look at that:

- moon in gemini

- ascendant in gemini as well 😱😍 it all makes sense now

- sun in the 12th (!) house, taurus ruler (venus) as well

- houses 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 all packed with planets

- saturn conjunct MC

I’m not saying he would be powerful if he studied occultism, but that’s exactly what I’m saying.

fallenangelontheceiling

I’ve only been at this a week (literally) but aren’t emojis a hell of a lot like sigils? no?

@fallenangelontheceiling

Okay so basically let’s back it up a bit and discuss some stuff, because generally yes that is the right direction but let’s just talk about spellwork which includes iconography (icons / visual imagery / emojis if you will) and symbols.

So a lot of the people’s general problems with “emoji spells” is that they are “too simple” and not grimdark I mean, not ritualized. So what I mean by not ritualized is that it’s very easy to build them by stringing icons (emojis) together, and then pressing a button right? That’s all you need to do it’s an emoji spell. 

So it’s looked on like it’s lazy. But there’s plenty of other forms of iconographic / visual arts that are like sigils, but even weirder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sator_Square

Like the Sator Square. Which is a stylized magical -thing-, a spell, a sigil, and it’s easy to make. You make it and that’s it, you’re good. (Unless you want something a bit more involved). 

Writing and Art in spellwork has a long history, in fact, the method (ie the way you’re writing it, as in the directionals just like the sator square here has up down and across), or in the shape of how you write it (think writing words hooked together into the shape of a circle with something in the middle). The color of the ink that you write it with, and even the paper and utensil you use can also play key aspects to this kind of spellwork. 

So for instance, if people have enchanted the shit out of their phone (which.. is a thing… I don’t have…. on my phone…. maybe), it’s entirely possible that they can use it as a utensil for carrying out magical arrangements and spellwork. And thus “the ease” would be kinda moot because they are already using something that’s been enchanted in some way for that purpose. 

Then you have some historical examples of carved spells where water is meant to roll over the carving and you’re supposed to drink the water or use the water in some way. That’s the method for enchanting it. Because the water takes the shape of the words / carving and gets enchanted. And you can just… keep using that same stone over and over or potato (if your potato doesn’t get bad) or something else.

So then you ask yourself, what about STAMPS? Could I make a stamp? And make it magical, yes you can. 

So then you have sigils. Now there are two kinds of sigils generally the ones that live OUT THERE *gestures* in the world, like a branding, a stamp, a visual, it’s attached, activated out there in the world. And then the kind that are INSIDE specifically living and activated permanently in your brain, because your brain absorbs it and it actively lives on the tissue in your brain. 

It’s like a tattooed magical work, except generally not seen by the public. Or not accessible by someone else because it’s hidden inside your mind - literally. 

Let’s not get into all the ways to make a sigil, but generally anything can BECOME a sigil as long as it’s been made and activated to be that way. 

So then we have what is an emoji spell, which lives OUTSIDE and is branded and is attached to a specific card / plate here on tumblr or in text or on an image or whatever. So what if someone attaches to the “physical” card and input text an enchantment as they type out the emojis.

People over here bitching about how we don’t talk about loaded fingers, but yet ignore the fingers typing them emojis out right? (Loaded fingers is a thing)

So it’s entirely possible that an emoji leans on not just some of the things that the sigils leans on, especially the outward ones, but historically almost all over the visual art spellwork. Like emojis just get more eyes on them. And interactions than what a normal visual art spellwork that sits on a painting in someone’s house may get. 

(because you can do that to… not.. that i have… done… such a thing… before). 

(:))

But literally, there’s so much visual spells that you could lean into and link directly as a correlation to emojis.

Yall all about the Eggplant?

How about the Pepper ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornicello

It’s a charm!

Can’t make this shit up!

People use to wear flying dick charms too!

So if you think about it, could emoji spells be the equivalent of charms especially warding charms or luck charms. In some sense because of their visual representational ability and the fact that they are strung together or arranged together in a specific way.

Like emoji spells have a long, long, long historical backing if we connect some dots and think about it more deeply than I did for the last 5 minutes.

Which aligns directly with people (Ceremonial Magicians) hating on Thaumaturgists and Folk Magicians / Folk Magic. IDK what’s up with Trad Witches bitching, knowing damn well that Ceremonial Magicians think their shit is fake too. 

/shrug

I honestly haven’t seen Chaotes say that, but I can say I’ve been around more DKMU Chaotes than I have the other Frater branded ones. So that’s probably why since DKMU Chaotes are the ones that will do some random shit. 

It’s like everyone out here is the spiderman finger pointing meme. 

The original concept and purpose of sigils got twisted by modern occultists, and most online “sigils” are not even used the same way as mentioned by the inventors of chaos magic.

Be brutally honest, and also I might need some brief explanations as I’m not that good at astrology quite yet.

Your dominant planet is Neptune (ruler of Pisces), dominant element is Air, and the chart has an Aquarius signature that may has an inner clash with your Taurus sun. 

SIGNS THAT YOU ARE A WITCH

1) it’s engraved in your bloodline. Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles... If many (or some) of them practised witchcraft or were interested in/open to it regardless of their religious beliefs, that’s a great omen. In other words, everyone can learn witchcraft, but not everyone is destined to wield it well. Hence the term natural-borns. (Self-taught witches without such ancestors, and who choose this path are exceptions whom I call heutas from the word heutagogy.)

2) you’re an empath. Yes, every witch is an empath (despite what you can read online), but not every empath is a witch.

3) you possess or show signs of psychic gifts (aka ESPs), the Clairs: clairsentience, claircognizance, clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairgustance, clairalience. They’re individualistic, but you must have at least one of these gifts, and they’re usually hereditary.

4) you’ve been drawn to the occult since childhood. And not after watching/reading edgy or cool cartoons, books; it’s just an interest you always had.

5) you have regular premonitory feelings and dreams. Again, everyone experience them one way or another in their lifetime, but for natural-borns, they’re more common and intense.

6) your aura stands out. Doesn’t matter how you look or what you do, you can’t and will never be able to blend in the crowd. Like a walking magnet, you either pull people towards you or repell them because your charisma daunts them.

7) divination techniques work for you. It doesn’t mean acquiring knowledge without studying, but you can grab the concepts behind divination forms faster than a mundane. Cards, runes, charms, etc. are honest with you, even if you misinterpret them at first (that’s why keeping a divination journal is a must have).  Like, the day before yesterday, I’ve found a long lost wind chime with my Lenormand cards. It spook everyone out, including the skeptics in my vicinity.

8) you can naturally curse and hex others without rituals. That’s the indication of equally strong healing capabilities because traditional witchcraft is a gray area, not “black” or “white”. Sometimes complex rituals are required, but in my family, we never made taglocks or collected herbs for curses. If people did us dirty or took advantage of us, the power of our words and emotions were enough, resulting in countless accidents, illnesses, and deaths. 

9) your natal chart says so. Trans-Saturnian planets lie in your 8th/12th/1st houses, they trine or sextile each other, your dominant planet is in favorable positions, etc. Certain positions grant you abilities, and tarot can confirm this like it did in my case.

10) you excel in working with one element. Aside of the 5th element (aether/spirit), witches usually deal with one tangible element (water, fire, earth, air) on a daily basis, usually, the one that dominates their chart. Ideally, we work with all of them, but we just can’t help prefering one over the others. It doesn’t mean you should like the dominant, but it’s easier for you to work with it. 

11) witchcraft is a way of life for you, not a phase. We all know people who turned to the occult during their emo years, like one of my uncles who rebelled against his strict Christian parents, but for natural-borns, it doesn’t end after reaching adulthood. For both religious and secular witches, witchcraft is an enriching (and many times sacred) practice they would never trade off because it’s part of them and always will be. 

12) you’re skeptic of modern craft (only applies if you’re trad). Many can’t trace back their families enough to know the practices of their ancestors, therefore younglings today have no other choice beside New Age. Reasonable and unfortunate, but sadly, New Age is full of rubbish and is hard to find legitimate information. Trad witches just feel that something is off when they look at modern recipes and rituals because those usually contradict the practices their ancestors used to do. For this reason, I don’t believe in spell jars, randomly invented spells that you can cast anytime, sigils created out of boredom, the Pullen way to determine planet dominions, or godphoning “witches” who felt energy turbulence by the Moon-hexing hysteria... 

13) trad spells work for you (modern ones never). My former bff was also a natural-born, we performed our first spell when we were in grade 4. She learned it from a trad book and used it when we needed it the most, so the emotional input was given. Not even a second after I finished my part, closing the ritual, the power went out in the entire building we were staying in. However, New Age spells never resulted in anything, or backfired. Many people experience the same but don’t dare to admit it. Moreover, modern spells I see on Tumblr are usually not better than optimistic and childish roleplaying. 

14) people associate paganism, magick or anything supernatural with you (even if you’re in the broom closet and/or you’re secular). People bring up out of ordinary topics near you, expecting you to join... If they see something paranormal or fantastical in movies, series, etc., your name pops up in their mind... If they experience weird things, they must share it with you... They tell you secrets that they don’t tell to their closer friends... If they have intriguing views about mysticism or religion, they open up to you quite fast and are not afraid that you will judge them...

15) astronomy and astrology are not separate for you and they have a special place in your heart. You might even like anything that correlates with them. Cosmological theories (multiverse, parallel realities), experiments (even alchemy), you name it.

16) you have a “weird” connection to death. Its symbolism, imagery, stories, séances, holidays, cemeteries, natural disasters, or entities attract you or you attract them.

These are the main hints that I experienced or were taught to me first-hand, but there might be others I forgot. So, to your “does that make me a witch?” and “am I doing enough?” questions, my answer is: only you may feel. How many things apply to you? What is your impression about the whole topic?