#magic practitioner

[little-witchys-garden]

All the popular upper class witches on TikTok tell you that you don’t need all the fancy stuff while showing you all their fancy stuff that you can buy, conveniently by going to their links... from their shops or higher up brand shops that are paying them.

In short, don’t let the TikTok witchcraft  community make you feel bad because they’ve already sold their souls, don’t let them sell yours 💕

[khth0nicstoner]

Road opener I did for a friend so they can explore grand new opportunities and find their tribe 🧡💛🤍

[psychopomp-recital]

Unpopular Opinion Time

The doodle you make or the picrew you use, the poorly executed poetry or basic bare bones prayer will ALWAYS be better than AI generated offerings.

I am sick of having my feed flooded with practitioners, pagans and other polytheists using AI. Specifically deities like Brigid should never be offered AI in my opinion, it’s essentially a slap in the face.

AI generated spells aren’t shit, it’s what a computer assumes will work based off of what it can gather from internet trends and research. MAKE IT YOURSELF, ask a human for help anything but AI.

There is no place for Artificial Intelligence in these spaces.

[sierrawitch]

Scottish Divination Practices

by autumn sierra

The Frith

The Frith—translating to “to find”—is a divination charm practice used to gain insight into the future, specifically about missing people or predicting events. Traditionally performed on the first Monday of a quarter, the frithir (seer) would stand in a doorway at sunrise, cross their hands or fingers to represent the equal armed cross, and observe the landscape for omens found in birds, animals, or weather patterns.

The Ritual of the Frith

Traditionally performed on a solstice or equinox at a liminal time such as dusk or dawn. Frithers would often fast to heighten spiritual sensitivity, as well as use Saining water to bless themselves

Frithers would step past a threshold of the home or other significant place (crossroads, old well, etc) to stand with either foot on opposite sides, symbolizing standing between two worlds

Observed images, animals, environmental phenomena, etc were used to divine answers to questions or prophesy

Saining

Although the practice of saining is used to cleanse and bless primarily through the use of smoke, water, fire, etc, it can also be used as a method of divination. During the saining, the diviner would pay close attention to the movement of smoke and flames of burnt herbs—specifically Juniper, which is a traditional saining herb.

An Dà Shealladh (Second Sight)

An Dà Shealladh is a prophetic ability occurring through visions, and was often associated with Highland seers. Those with the ability were said to see spirits, wraiths, or omens of death and misfortune which would give them insight into future events. It was said to be hereditary, and some speculate that the ability may have unfortunately become dormant in the descendants of previous seers.

Hearth Divination

Once logs had been added to the fire of the home’s hearth and burned, diviners could read the behavior of the wood in response to the flames. Sparks and cracks had varying indications, as well as ashes which could be read similarly to how one reads tea leaves.

Mirror/Water Scrying

Water and mirror scrying are popular forms of divination in modern practice. Scrying with darkened, spiritually significant bodies of water (wells, lochs, lakes, bulláns, etc) was very effective for identifying shapes and visions within the water’s reflection (or lack thereof). In a similar way, darkened mirrors—or black mirrors—are use to mimic this effect. The keek-stane, most commonly known by its mention in Raymond Buckland’s Scottish Witchcraft & Magick, is something of a cousin to the black mirrors that are most popular today in that it uses a glass lens rather than a flat pane.

Creating a Keek-Stane

Find and obtain a glass lens, preferably one from an old clock or thermometer face, or one made specifically to be just that—a lens (frequently found in the scientific community)

Black out the lens using black paint on the convex side, careful to make the color as solid as possible without streaking or trapping dust. Be sure that the convex side is completely opaque with no light passing through

Place the lens convex-side down in a protective container of choice (Buckland specifies a box) with the proper materials to keep it in place and keep it from breaking

Oomancy

Egg divination, or oomancy, was a common form of folk divination often performed at Samhainn, Latha Bealltainn, or Hogmanay. It was mostly used to predict marriage, future events, or fortune. An egg would be cracked into a bowl of water, and then the diviner would interpret the shapes made by the egg whites.

Salt and Wax Divination

This method of divination is achieved by pouring salt or hot wax into water. The patterns and shapes created through this method would then be interpreted by the diviner. This method of divination was commonly used during Samhainn and Hogmanay.

Scapulomancy

Scapulomancy is a divination method in which seers would divine the future by interpreting the shoulder blades of animals (usually sheep). Cracks, dents, and other abnormalities in the bones would change the outcomes of the readings. Some would use fire to create the cracks necessary to read the bone, and others would read the natural bone as it was following its cleaning. Scapulomancy was used for predicting weather and harvests, guidance for battles, monitoring the well being of communities, and other fortune telling.

Stone and Fairy Mound Divination

Stones, Hagstones in particular, were believed to enhance An Dà Shealladh when peered through. Visiting fairy mounds at Samhainn and listening to the wind or the whispers of the fair folk and other spirits was another way to divine the future.

[mamaangiwine]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news for some of you, but magic as you know it would not exist without Christianity, Islam, or Judaism.

Practicioners from these three faiths have contributed more than you'll ever know to magic thought and theory- to the point where you've probably picked up a "Witchcraft" Book and haven't even realized that a majority of the information inside is sourced from, if not taken verbatim, from their work.

Like, I'm not kidding.

These mystics and their work were foundational.

[bacchuschucklefuck]

modes of flight

[windvexer]

This is in response to an anonymous ask. Anon has been able to sense what we might call Oversoul or Big animals for a while, but since a significant magical awakening Anon has lost the clarity of their Sight.

Anon has advised that after trying connection techniques that used to work, this problem has not resolved.

---

Anon, I disagree with your hypothesis that this may be an active choice by your spirits, either to test you or to encourage you to do something.

When I went through my 'awakening' I encountered an intense shift in the kind of work I had been able to do, and I had to re-learn old skills I was already confident in. It's happened to me more than once. It blows.

This isn't because I was being tested, but rather because my circuitry was being converted from DC to AC and the 12 volt systems weren't compatible with my hardware any more.

I believe it's normal for practitioners to lose and have to re-learn or adapt around old skills. It sucks, but it happens. It would rarely be my first assumption that these things are spirits wanting distance, or putting us through shit tests, or something.

Here are my suggestions:

Tell them you do not like the distance and it's scary. Invite them back and ask them to stay close.

Put old techniques up on the shelf and try something completely new. Like if before you were attempting grounded visualization, this time try water scrying. Or, shapeshifting during astral travel.

Ask them to send clear, direct messages about how to resume old levels of clarity and contact.

Redirect your focus away from spirit working and towards psychism: perform experiments to see if there are any other changes to your Sensing and try to troubleshoot

Engage the help of an ally known to assist with matters of Sensing and clarity, perhaps including gods, plants, or mineral spirits; or smaller spirits (especially the Dead) who can give you information to improve your Sensing and solve this problem.

Redirect focus towards matters of magical hygiene; regular cleansing, unblocking, and ward maintenance can have material effects on Sensing.

Review all ongoing sorcery and ensure no wards, spells, or any projects could be impacting the ability of spirits to easily arrive to you.

Review many recent actions and ensure you have not accidentally caused offense or accidentally did something to send the spirits away; resolve offenses, known or unknown, through general offering rituals asking to bury the hatchet and resume a positive relationship

[mushroomw1tch]

Blessed imbolc everyone!

I'm running a small community for Intermediate to Advanced witches, spiritual practitioners, druids, norse pagans who fight nazis, wiccans, pagans, occultists, whatever honestly. Its still small adult community and we really need some people who could increase our engagement on there ❤️ just to post pictures of what their doing, ask more specific Qs that couldn't be answered by Google, and spread useful information. Its 18 plus just because I do want it to be a safe space for sex magic, blood magic, and just generally more adult forms of magic I personally would only wanna discuss with other adults.

Request to join if you're interested 🥺💗

https://www.tumblr.com/communities/witchcraft-folkreligions

[for-the-folk]

⋆⭒˚.⋆For The Folk⋆.˚⭒⋆

For the Folk is a server (18+, sfw) focused on creating a space for folk practitioners.

✧₊⁺ We are anti-capitalist, anti-fascist and anti-oppression

✧₊⁺ We stand against cultural appropriation and harmful spiritual beliefs/practices. This extends to practices like wicca, thelma and new age

✧₊⁺ We are a safe space for bipoc people, queer people, jewish people, disabled/neurodivergent, atlerhumans, and systems

✧₊⁺ We value community and healthy communication 

As a note, while we are a sfw server, we do have channels focused on talking about anything relating to bones or blood as long as it doesn't break our rules.

[maximthejewitch]

Witchcraft, the practice of marginalized people — usually women — using mysterious or taboo natural or spiritual powers to try to clarify or alter material reality, is very Jewish. If you feel the need to evaluate how Jewish you are and you’d like to call upon a more female-centric definition of the term, you might ask: How witchy am I?

Because of colonialism and antisemitic atrocities and because our own male ancestors devalued our female ancestors’ devotion, we’ve lost access to many of the particulars of Jewish witchcraft.

Jewish witches were believed to use incantations to conjure up food and drink. Jewish witches were believed to be sexual beings, sometimes interested in male company, and capable of making that decision freely for themselves. It tells us that Jewish witches may have sometimes lived in all-female enclaves.

[queer-folk-witch]

for my fellow witches who practice christian folk magic and use the rosary, I've written a special set of prayers for Palestine. Feel free to use and distribute this if you wish.

[psychopomp-recital]

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Let’s talk about working with the Water Element; divination, magical waters, workings and cultivating a relationship with it and its spirits.

🎶Sharing my experiences and thoughts, don’t rely on just this make your own experiences and thoughts.🎶

How do I grow my relationship with Water itself?

Begin opening yourself up to it more and incorporating it into your daily life. When I began building my relationship with it this is what I did:

To be done over a months period

Washed my hands & face with cold water when waking up and letting them air dry as much as possible.

Brushing out my hair and braiding it, picturing my hair flowing like a river with every movement of my fingers.

Beginning my day by intentionally drinking a glass of water, sitting down to really appreciate it and how it aides your body. I like cold water because you can easier feel it flow through you, I also like charging it beforehand.

Visit as many water sources as possible during this period. I am lucky enough to live by the pacific ocean and I would go and swim in it everyday to cultivate my relationship. However, if that is inaccessible for you there’s options such as sitting by a public pool, taking a bath, standing in the rain, eating your lunch by a river, etc.

While you’re spending time with water just talk to it. Tell it stories, sing it songs, ask it questions, water is living and it longs for a connection.

Record your progress throughout the month either in written journal entries, scrapbooking, or digital trackers. Just have a way for you to look back at how you’ve changed during this period.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Examples of Magic that can include water:

research topics

Magical or Blessed Waters

Baneful Folk Workings

Release / Banishing Spells

Water Plant Workings

Elemental Spirit Magic

Death Work

Charged Sprays

Travel Magic

Weather / Storm Magic

Meditation

Shell Magic (like crystal magic)

Hydromancy

Carromancy (wax in water)

Magical Baths / Showers

Glamour Magic

And Much More...

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

What can I benefit from working with water?

Regardless on where you are from, what path of life you are following or anything else we are connected by our need for water. It is not only our connection to other humans but our connection to the natural world as well. It makes up 3/4 of our planet and 60% of your body. You can get a better understanding of yourself just by going back to that fundamental need to sustain yourself with water as a life-force. The element itself is well known to be a very introspective force and most spirits representing or associated are similar (spg). When you are inviting it into your home you are inviting that connection and energy in too.

Water takes life without discrimination, just as it gives life. Working within that provides a confidence and at least in my experience a sense of balance within ones self. If you are feeling like you are being tossed by the path of life, as if you are a lone ship at a storming sea, this might be your sign to stop fighting the current and start moving with it. If you can make the waves move at your asking then what is there to stop you.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Hydromancy

hy·dro·man·cy /ˈhīdrəˌmansē/

noun

divination by means of signs derived from the appearance of water and its movement.

Some argue this is the first form of scrying Hydromancy is a very useful tool. It can be done with natural bodies of water, or things like tubs, cups and bowls. It can be frustrating to begin so this is how I would begin if I were you: (works better with an established connection to water)

Go somewhere quiet and still, I prefer outside at night but do what is safe and comfortable for you.

Prepare your space and yourself however you normally would set the tone for a divination reading. Some choose to say a blessing prayer, drink a divination tea blend, or anoint themselves with particular salve or oil. I will usually ritually prepare myself (let me know if you want me to go more into this).

In a shallow dark colored bowl (or scrying bowl), pour your preferred water of choice. I usually go with waning moon water.

Relax and begin to gaze into the water. Let yourself open up to messages. Sometimes it comes as scenes of images, or a shape or even words that can come through.

Write down anything you receive to interpret later on.

If you are struggling try this ritual but use the light of a candle or the moon to interpret those shapes. Or meditate with the bowl and pour it out onto the ground and scry the shape it leaves behind.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Magical Associations

✦ Death & Life ✦ Duality ✦ Change ✦ Rage ✦ Grief ✦ Peace ✦ Creation ✦ The Moon ✦ Ice ✦ Emotions ✦ Mental Health ✦ Cleansing / Purification ✦ Storms ✦ Distaster ✦ Dreams ✦ Cancer / Scorpio / Pisces ✦ Psychic Abilities ✦ Shape-shifters ✦ Travel ✦ Corrosion

Irish Divine Beings Associated

✦ Brigid (keening mother & keeper of the sacred well) ✦ Boann (river personification) ✦ Aengus (The Young Son) ✦ Lir (sea personification) ✦ Manannán mac Lir (son of the sea)

[sierrawitch]

Celtic Customs: Death

by autumn sierra

In honor of my friend who just recently lost a loved one, and my sister who witnessed a tragic death that she was helpless to prevent, I thought it the proper moment to reflect and write on some Celtic death customs and traditions of remembering passed loved ones.

Scotland

Before burial, the body of recently passed relatives were kept in the home, dressed and in their own beds. Family and friends would throw a celebration in honor of their lives. The Scots view death as an opportunity to both mourn the loss of a soul, but to laugh and be merry in their memory to find balance in contrary. All the furniture in the departed’s home—especially mirrors—would be covered with white linens and everyone would play music, dance, sing, and share stories around the hearth to keep memories alive.

A traditional custom practiced by the older members of the family and community include a plate of salt and a plate of soil laid on the chest of the deceased person. The soil represents the body as a physical vessel, and the salt represent the purity of the soul. It was thought that without this ritual, the ghost would not be able to rest, and would haunt their family.

Another custom was to stay up at night and watch the body, also known as a lykewake. This is now seen as a sign of respect for the deceased, but in olden times people believed that the devil would steal the body of their loved one unless they kept safe watch over it. The youth of the family were given whiskey at the beginning of the night and some tea or beer with bread at some point in the middle of the night, and would take on this responsibility for the family. The watchers would tell stories, reminisce, and sometimes recite verses from the Bible.

It was also considered bad luck to see the body of the recently deceased without touching it. A week of bad dreams would follow unless this superstition was taken seriously.

Our perception of death in the modern world is one of detachment and taboo. Many people are squeamish about even seeing a dead body, much less watching or touching one in the night. But to the Celtic people, death was not a taboo thing which had to be hidden, as it is a natural, inevitable part of being alive.

The pivotal connecting moments of birth and death link the physical and metaphysical worlds to each other. Similar to the thinning of the veil during Samhain, we each witness a thinning of the veil when we are born, and when we die. In death, the spirit of the deceased moves across the veil and into the Otherworld, the lands of gods, sìth (spirits), and the deceased.

Ireland

The Irish are no strangers to pain and loss, having experienced famine, colonization, and poverty over its long history. There are many customs that have been cultivated over generations to venerate and remember the dead which are unique to their culture, but the Irish Wake is one of the most well known funeral traditions around the world.

Most likely giving root to Scottish customs, the tone of an Irish Wake is a time of mourning and celebration. It’s an opportunity to grieve and and honor life as a treasured miracle. Those attending an Irish Wake will participate and music making, singing, and drinking, especially if the deceased was an elderly member of the community, or ill long term. However, in the instance of a young person’s or child’s death, the wakes are much more solemn and respectful of the tragedy. Family and friends meet in the home of the deceased to recount memories together, grieve, and celebrate the life lost.

The exact origins of the Irish Wake are unknown, but it’s believed that it was heavily influenced by elements of Paganism and may have originated with the Ancient Celts. The Celts believed in life after death and thought that when a person died, they then moved onto a better life in the Otherworld. The Ancient Celts saw death only as a means for a new beginning, which is where the festivities come into play.

The Irish Wake incorporates the tradition of watching over the bodies of the deceased, and some say that the term ‘wake’ originates from the Irish tradition. Lit candles were placed closely around the body and tobacco was smoked by male attendees as they stood guard against the potential of the devil seizing the deceased. It was believed that the smoke would help keep malicious spirits at bay and stop the devil from stealing the soul. Clocks were also often stopped at the time of death and mirrors covered to further protect the body, as mirrors can act as portals to other—maybe not so friendly—worlds.

The Afterlife

In ancient Celtic religion, there was a belief in an afterlife in the Otherworld (as mentioned earlier), which is considered almost like a mirror of life on Earth but without disease, pain, and sorrow. This eliminated the aspect of fear when it came to passing on since the soul continues to live following its leaving the head (where it was believed to reside). Prayers were made to the Celtic gods, and sacrifices—both animal and human—food, weapons, and precious items were ritually offered to them to bless and allow safe passage of the deceased to the Otherworld.

The gods played a fairly significant role in the lives of the Ancient Celts as evidenced by their religious practices and the existence of protective amulets and talismans within their tombs. Alongside these, Celtic tombs and burial sites contained a wide range of objects, from tools to jewellery, which prepared the soul for the journey to the Otherworld (similarly to how the Egyptians prepared their deceased for the journey in the Duat).

Cremations & Burials

The Ancient Celts buried the deceased in tombs, and alternatively cremated their bodies, a practice beginning in the early second century. Excarnation was also not uncommon, during which the body was left exposed to the elements for a period and the bones were then either buried or kept for religious ceremony.

Burials of warriors and rulers were often rife with personal belongings and other treasures including weapons, armour, gold jewellery, and even large objects like chariots and waggons. Other common items included tools, extra clothing, grooming equipment, oil lamps, food, drink, eating utensils, and gaming counters, again, in preparation for their journey through the veil.

How do these customs compare to the ones of your culture, and your family?

What is your perception of death in relation to life, and how does it mentally or emotionally affect you?

Are you afraid of death? Why?

If you could personify who or what death is, what would that look like?

I urge everyone to challenge their instilled views of what death is and what it means not only for the people witnessing it, but also for those who go through its process. Many people fear that unknown reality, but it’s something we all share and experience eventually in life. You’re never truly alone. And isn’t that thought a bit comforting?

[mamaangiwine]

"How do you know that you're gods/saints are listening?"

I just do.

"Yeah, but do they send you a sign?"

Sometimes. Not always.

"Okay, but like you definitely feel it when-"

Hey, look, if I'm being honest, I've always just assumed they're listening. Always. That's the thing about my magic. It's also my faith, and in order to practice I kinda gotta, ya know, have some.

[the-weaving-cryptid]

Notes on Reading Playing Cards [1]

Keep in mind that there are many ways to read playing cards but playing cards are not the equivalent to Tarot. The rules may be different depending on your family, culture, the type of playing cards, and other factors. This is entirely based on my own style of reading playing cards.

• If you want a quick yes/no reading, shuffle your deck and pull three cards. The meanings of the cards don't matter for this- the colors do. Reds are yes, blacks are no. If all three cards are the same color, it is a definite yes or no. If there are two reds and one black, it is a strong yes but there may be some small caveats. If it is two blacks and one red, it is a strong no but there may be some small truths involved.

• If the seven of hearts comes out followed by the ten of clubs reversed, it is a warning that something bad is coming, and it is coming quick. There is nothing you can do to stop it.

• Ten of spades and ten of clubs (both reversed) together means that somebody is working against you with intentions to destroy something you've worked hard for. The cards following can tell you who it is, why they're doing it and if you can prevent the damage.

• The five of clubs followed by the six of clubs is reassurance. There will be success in things that have been in the works for a long time, especially if it's related to the person's career.

• The seven of diamonds followed by the nine of diamonds (both reversed) indicates that the truth will be disappointing. The rest of the cards can further explain what the truth is.

• Six of spades followed by ace of hearts reversed can suggest a major ending leading to movement; such as moving houses, graduating university, being hired for a job and similar events.