#witchcraf

Hiiii!!! Just finished my matcha (so so good btw), now I think I'm going to do my math homework and by 19:30 I want to work out, just a 15 min cardio workout, then I'll cook dinner (idk what I will cook tho, I think I will order something...(✧﹃ ✧) ). Then I have to set up my witchy things!!! I have to:

Smoke cleans my crystals and jewellery

Put them under the super moon

Do a little protection "ritual"

Meditate and pray to my deities

Bye now, have a lovely evening<3

"The Book of St Cyprian" "Jonas Sufurino", attribution.

 The history of fictional magicians is long and tawdry, often evolving out of folktales related to actual historic figures there are those who were created whole cloth for the purpose of selling books.

While we may have record of those occultists like Michael Scot, Johann Faust, and others who were in fact real people, there are some figures who defy historic documentation. St Cyprian himself is supposed to have existed in the 3rd century of the common era, but even the Catholic Church has been hard pressed to provide any hard evidence for a Cyprian of Antioch.

Jonas Sufurino seems to be a character who was created as part of the evolving Cyprian mythologies, possibly by a Spanish publisher, to give a more modern context to a supposedly ancient text.

As the story goes, Sufurino was a German monk at the Abbey of Walkenried near Mount Brocken, a location famous for its legends of witches and devils meeting there each year on Walpurgisnacht. He claims to have gotten Cyprian's book from the Devil himself after conjuring him forth.

The book we have at hand goes even deeper into the abyss of speculative authorship as we are presented with a version of the book that is said to be translated from the German of Sufurino's hand, apparently a copy/translation Sufurino made of the Hebrew original written by St Cyprian, to the Spanish that has been translated by Humberto Maggi.

That no German version of the work ever existed is more than likely, but the path of authorship is convoluted to say the least, although no credit is given for the translator who was supposed to have brought the work from German to Spanish.

Maggi's earlier translation of the "Book of St Cyprian" was drawn from a Mexican edition published in 1920. That earlier volume is a tome of a work that covers the ground of hodgepodge occult sources. Each Cyprianos seems to be tailored to the local reader's interests, culled from a list of sources nearest to hand to each publisher in question.

While Maggi's earlier Cyprian takes most of its content from the "Le Véritable Magie Noire" the Sufurino, an edition published in Spanish in Barcelona, casts an even wider net, taking from the "Grand Grimoire" and the "Black Pullet" as well. Maggi speculates, based on scholarship by Félix Castro Vincente, that the Sufurino was copied in part from earlier Portuguese editions. It does contain a series of charms that involve the torture of animals that is found in the Portuguese Cyprians, but lacks the treasure hunting aspects.

The work is a mixed bag of ceremonial magic whose roots ultimately come to us, via the hand of many editors over many years, from the Greek Magical Papyri. It contains versions of the "Key of Solomon", "The Red Dragon", "The Grand Grimoire", as well as sections on magic candles, "Chaldean and Egyptian" philters, enchantments and sorceries.

Maggi has done a splendid job bringing this work into an English translation. It is a handsome volume, beautifully bound in black (faux?) leather with metallic red stamping to the spine and a metallic red devil in the corner of the cover. The paper is a nice thicker quality of cream with a rougher tooth, giving it an old book feel. The endpapers are printed with a splendid artwork by Daniele Valeriani.

For any scholar of Cyprian literature this is a must have edition in one's collection. Nephilim Press have provided an important part of the puzzle of St Cyprian the Magician as an Iberian folk character and focal point of an evolving magical tradition that has spanned centuries.

Get yourself a copy from Nephilim Press here:

0-The Wanderer

The meaning of the wanderer is to set aside your worries and leap with faith into new adventures. This card symbolizes new beginnings and ends. Whenever you get this card during a reading it could symbolizes that you need to take a blind leap of faith, or that a spiritual awakening is coming. The Wanderer resembles The Fool card of other Tarot decks.

1-The Shaman

The Shaman to me symbolizes otherworldly knowledge and wisdom. On a stone altar in front of him he has the symbols of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water surrounding him. He is connected to nature and the spirits of animals. He embodies magic, protection, and insight. When you get The Shaman in your reading it means that you will gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your needs, and the universe.

2-The Seer

The Seer is at the center of the Wheel in the Wildwood, and she is related to Water. She gives you the strength to bring your thoughts into fruition. She works to mediate the feminine intuition and imagination. She works as a guide for your soul, and she can jumpstart your creative work. If you love a particular work of literature or art, it is most likely an emotional link she helped foster. She symbolizes balanced emotion and willpower. If you are a Cancer, you likely have a deep tie to The Seer.

3-The Green Woman

The Green Woman symbolizes the feminine energy within the solar system. She is closely related to fire. She is wild and free. She represents the goddess of land, and with her light she nourishes it. She appears in your cards when you are coming upon a nurturing time in your life. The Green Woman brings blessings into your life, and she is linked to fertility.

4-The Green Man

The Green Man symbolizes the connection between mankind and nature. No matter how far we are from a natural life, he is watching down upon us. He is stoic in his duty, but has a heart full of love and joy. When you receive his card during a reading it symbolizes that you will become more confident and assertive in your life. Like The Seer he guides you into new adventures.

5-The Ancestor

The Ancestor is like the coolest card. She is a card that carries wisdom. She represents that part of you that is ancient and deeply connected to the Earth. She guides you into the forest into new adventures, especially when you have chosen to take this new path, instead of it being thrust upon you. When you get The Ancestor card in your reading, it means that you need to trust your instincts, the part of your ancient self that guides you. 

6-The Forest Lovers

The Forest Lovers shows the binding and mutually beneficial relationship of a polar-opposites couple. When they come together they form a different force together. They symbolize a balanced and symbiotic relationship. If you get this card, in my eyes it could mean multiple things. Depending on the placement of the card in your readings it could mean you are about to find your harmonious partner, or that the relationship you are in now is not balanced nor a blessed union.

7-The Archer

The Archer represents a new adventure, or season, and with the arrow soon to be released, you have unlimited potential. When you get this card, it means that you might need to commit to a new path. It could also symbolize that you need to remain calm during trying times, like a hunter or archer in the woods. 

8-The Stag

The Stag is an interesting card. On one hand, it could symbolize that you have guilt eating you up inside. The Stag is someone who is meant to protect the natural world, and the natural law does not comprehend forgiveness. You only reap what you sow, and if you destroy something in nature, The Stag will be the entity you answer to. If you receive The Stag in a reading it means you need to take responsibility for your actions. The Stag is a sign of divine intervention.

9-The Hooded Man

The Hooded Man symbolizes walking alone, full of knowledge. Sometimes at the end of a season you need to keep to yourself to put your thoughts together. He is the keeper of secret wisdom. The Hooded Man can come to you in different ways and can mean different things in your readings.

10-The Wheel

The Wheel symbolizes the changing of seasons and the never-ending cycle that the world and universe must follow. The weaver of the cloak (symbolizing our world) determines the ever changing fate of the universe. If The Wheel appears to you in a reading it likely means that there is change about to occur in your life, and to be ready. 

11-The Woodward

The Woodward brings solutions to people during a time of chaos. He symbolizes emotional bravery in the face of adversity. If you receive this card during a reading, it means that you need to face your problems with bravery regardless of if you can change it. 

12-The Mirror

The Mirror shows us the truth of things as they are. In this sense, she shows frank wisdom. She also symbolizes the feminine sexual energy and healing. Whenever you get this card it could mean that you need to look within yourself to heal traumas that hold you back, see them as they are, and release them into the world.

13-The Journey

The Journey card is about accepting the inevitable, which is death, which none of us can escape. This card means that you need to accept the journey that comes to an end and to do it with grace. The Journey card does not always mean that death is near, but that there might be a death to a certain part of your story and you are moving on from that part of your life.

14-Balance

Balance is all about finding a good relationship with nature. Taking only what you need and not spoiling the Earth. There needs to be a healthy symbiosis between natural and mankind. When you get this card, it means that you need to find inner peace with yourself and the world.

15-The Guardian

The Guardian stands in for The Devil in the Wildwood Tarot. This card symbolizes protection and initiation into the wilderness. The Guardian accepts your dark sides and desires. He allows you to take control of your life, and fix the darkness that does not benefit your wellbeing.

16-The Blasted Oak

The Blasted Oak symbolizes the shattering of old ideas and beliefs. If you get this card, it means that certain beliefs, interests, etc. may dissolve without reason, and it is natural. Whenever your beliefs are challenged or disposed of, it opens you up to new ideas.

17-The Pole Star

The Pole Star represents universal truth and law. When this card comes to you it could mean that you need to rely on universal law, truth, and lore to get through problems and situations. It also represents the cosmic energy in all of us that also created us.

18-The Moon on Water

The Moon on Water is meant to guide you through the dark. This card means that you are about to become more spiritually aware and you are likely to experience a spiritual transformation. If you get this card you are likely close to a spiritual awakening, and the moon will guide you through it, and even help you understand yourself better.

19-The Sun of Life

The Sun of Life means that you need to let your inner shine out. This card means that you are coming into a season of light, freshness, and happiness. You need to allow the light to cleanse your heart of any darkness. If you get this card, it means that you need to open your heart to allow your light to shine.

20-The Great Bear

This card symbolizes change and is meant to be the stand in for Judgement. This card is linked to forgiving people and yourself, and being born anew. However, even as things change the universe will not forget. If you get this card, it likely means that you need to evaluate your life and start judging what you have done. Work towards a more honest life.

21-The World Tree

This card means that if you seek for the knowledge with an honest heart, it is open to you. The world tree invites you into it’s safety, it recognizes your struggles, and it still wants you. If you get this card, it means that you are going to be okay, and that the universe is on your sides through all the seasons, so rejoice and enjoy the beauty that is life.

When you’re on the lookout for a new piece of quartz or some sage, there’re some things to look out for. This is by no means comprehensive, but these are all things to keep in mind:

1. Price check. Often times, metaphysical shops will take grocery-grade herbs and jack the price way up after repackaging. It’s reasonable for products grown by the seller to be at an increased price but know your source. A sketchy metaphysical shop is probably overcharging for its basil leaves.

2. Cleanse. Whether you bought your bay leaves at Walmart or from a metaphysical shop with weird vibes, unless it came from a place that gave you particularly good energies and you feel confident of that, cleanse before using. Don’t let others’ negative energies dampen your craft.

3. Ethics! Palo Santo wood is being over-harvested and so is white sage. Be conscious of what you buy. Similarly, if something is labeled in a way that is offensive (ex. non-Natives selling “smudge sticks,” people who are not from the Voodoo tradition selling “Voodoo dolls”), think twice about where you put your money. The energy is a part of the item.

4. Safety! Don’t burn grocery store-bought flowers, they’re likely covered in pesticides. Don’t ingest anything before doing your research. Don’t burn things if you’re not sure it’s safe. Never just trust the label of something-- plenty of companies will say their product is okay for more than it really is in order to increase sales (ex. essential oil companies that tell you to ingest undiluted oils...)