afr9desiac

[afr9desiac]

Full Moon Ritual Ideas and Journal Prompts

Working with the Full Moon

During the full moon we have the chance to step back and reflect on all that’s been created during this past lunar cycle. It’s important to also take time to pause, reflect, and let go of what you no longer need.

The full moon is a time to embrace gratitude for what you have been given and what you have accomplished. Even if you’re not where you’d like to be, and even if you’ve had setbacks, you likely still have something you can find gratitude for and something you’ve done that you can be proud of. Appreciate your own resilience and strength.

The full moon is a time to:

Express gratitude

Reflect on what you’ve accomplished this past lunar cycle

Reflect on what has been illuminated for you this lunar cycle

Release what no longer serves you

Do your own tarot reading or get a tarot reading for the month ahead

Here are some ideas to try when putting together your own full moon ritual. You can mix and match, add or subtract to any of these. Just think of them as jumping off points for your own intuition and creativity!

1. Make a Sacred Space

For me, this is a vital step to get me into the right headspace for ritual. Surround yourself with things that taste, sound, smell, look and feel good to you and help you relax. I have certain incense and music that I only use during my moon rituals, just hearing that music or smelling that incense can instantly get me ready for ritual.

2. Ground Yourself

Grounding yourself can be done in lots of different ways, but my favorite is doing a simple body scan meditation where you feel into each part of your body one after another. Another great grounding technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique where you name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

3. Journaling Prompts

After grounding myself I generally start my ritual with journaling. Journaling can be a great way to connect with your gratitude, challenges and make peace with what you need to release and let go of. Every full moon I create a sacred space (even if it’s just in my house!) and spend some time journaling, with some of the following prompts:

What am I grateful for right now?

What has happened in the past month that I feel most grateful for?

What do I appreciate about my own mind, body, and spirit?

What tiny miracles show up in my world?

What do I love most about my life right now?

What do I love most about myself right now?

What obstacles and challenges have taught me meaningful life lessons recently?

What’s one of my favorite memories from the past month? What’s one of the hardest?

How have your relationships changed and grown this past month?

Was there anything holding me back from reaching my goals this month?

What did I spend too little or too much time on this month?

What do you need to surrender to this month?

I choose to let go of the things I can’t control, including…

What secrets are you holding onto and what harm are they causing?

Which relationships in your life no longer serve you?

4. Tarot Card Reading

After journaling I like to give myself a tarot reading for the month ahead. You can see the spread I use to try on your own, or get a reading from me. Make sure to record your reading and your thoughts in your tarot journal to reference later!

5. Release

The last step of my full moon ritual is releasing what I no longer need. As we move towards the waning moon, this is a great time to let go of the old to make room for the new. The simplest version of this ritual is writing what you wish to release on a piece of paper and then burning or burying it. Adding sigils to your paper or burning it with banishing herbs is a great way to enhance this ritual.

6. Closing

After releasing I normally like to do something small to close my ritual. This will vary from month to month, but anoint myself with ritual oils, or take a ritual bath to cleanse and recharge myself until the New Moon.

I hope these full moon ritual ideas and journal prompts have given you some ideas for your own full moon ritual. Working with the full moon can be extremely powerful and rewarding! Let your intuition guide you!

[afr9desiac]

Black folks looking for some books on spirituality,root work ,herbal medicine ,ancestor working and candle work here are some good book suggestions:

[afr9desiac]

[afr9desiac]

“Welcome Home” Simmer Pot

Simmer pots are my favorite low-energy spell. They’re easy to set up and maintain, they’re short-term spells with a long-term effect, and they smell so darn good. Plus, sometimes you can drink from the pot if you use only edible ingredients - bonus points if it tastes really good!

What is a simmer pot spell, you ask? It’s a spell that you simmer on the stove! Grab your favorite pot and fill it with a liquid of your choice - this could be moon or sun water, apple cider, or just regular old tap water, for a few examples - and add ingredients that match your goals. Set it on the stove, bring it to a simmer, and let it fill your kitchen and home with fragrant steam. You could easily keep a simmer pot going all day long if you keep adding liquid to it.

My “Welcome Home” Simmer Pot Spell is intended to do exactly what it sounds like. It clears out stagnant air and ushers in calm and inviting energy. It’s perfect for preparing for parties, cleansing a new home or apartment, and other homecomings. This pot also makes a satisfying apple-lemon beverage!

Ingredients (the amounts vary based on the size of your pot and your personal preferences; feel free to experiment!):

Water (you can use sun or moon water, if you like)

Apples

Lemon

Cinnamon (powder or sticks)

Cloves

Nutmeg

Ginger

Honey

Instructions:

In your pot of choice, add enough water to fill it about halfway. You can use any kind of water, but be sure you’re using safe, sanitary water if you plan on drinking this.

Slice your apples. I recommend slicing them into rounds - apples have a star-shaped hollow in the middle that holds their seeds, so it’s perfect for the aesthetic. Be sure to remove any seed pieces.

Slice your lemon into rounds.

Add your ingredients to the pot. You should have enough room at the top for the mixture to bubble slightly but not end up all over your stove.

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and enjoy the aroma! Stir occasionally to ensure nothing is sticking. If you notice your water getting low, you can either add more water to keep simmering or discard the ingredients and end the spell.

If you plan on drinking this, let it simmer for a while to infuse all the flavors. I usually let it go for at least 20 to 30 minutes before partaking for optimal flavor.

Optional magic you could include:

If you have difficulty getting “into the headspace” for casting spells (like me), consider this: The pot is your cauldron. The spoon is your wand. The stovetop is your hearth. Everything around you is magic; it’s just waiting for you to begin. Keep this in mind and everything else will come naturally.

Apples, to me, represent so many things. They represent the harvest, love, and harmony. They can be sweet or sour, soft or crisp. Every apple variety brings something special to the pot. My favorites to use are honeycrisp for their sweet-tart crunch and fabulous aroma, but you should use your favorite variety. The apples are the foundation of this spell, stating that all who are welcomed home are loved.

Lemons, that spell ingredient favorite. In this spell, lemons are cleansing and purifying. Anyone who steps into the fragrant mist filling your home will be free to shed any negativity or unpleasantness, and the lemon will wash it right out the door.

The combination of spices in this spell, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger, are a powerhouse of love, protection, and positivity. As you add each to the pot, give them a task - speak or think the ingredient’s goal as you hold it, and when you’re ready, add it to the pot. For example, I would give cinnamon the task of energizing the other ingredients, ginger the task of imparting good health and longevity, nutmeg the task of bringing warmth, etc.

If lemons are the purification and the spices are the protection, then the honey is the glue holding everything together, reminding the other ingredients of their real purpose. Honey sweetens the spell, bringing elements of love and happiness.

In spells like this, I often consider honey to be a sort of protective ingredient; not in the way of wards of steel and walls of stone, but in a gentler way. Like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a warm cup of something on a cold, snowy afternoon after spending the morning playing in the snow. It wraps you in the sweetness of home and gives the other ingredients a softer vibe.

If the goal is to create a welcoming atmosphere, I like to verbally say “welcome.” While stirring, I say welcome to myself, my cat, my house spirits, and each of my friends and family who I would like to feel welcome and at ease in my home. Allow yourself to feel the love you have for everyone you are welcoming from head to toe. Be humbled and grateful for them - it’s this gratitude that makes you want to give them the gift of homecoming.

If you decide to drink some of the mixture, I believe it’s best to share if you can. You can share with someone you love, offer it to a deity, give a cup to your house spirits, or even “pour one out” for nature. Interact with this potion with gratitude and humility. It takes more than just occupying a space to make it a home, and you receive only as much as you give.

As a bonus, here’s how versatile simmer pots are: Remove the honey, use badly bruised apples, and add a splash of vinegar to create a banishing spell that’s especially effective against abusive ex-partners.

If you use this spell, please let me know how you like it!

Welcome Home, Everyone! 💛

[afr9desiac]

HALT! Do you have sensory issues? Overwhelmed by sound in a messy environment? Desperately wanting to write that essay/fanfiction but your ADHD is getting on the way? In need of atmospheric sound for your tabletop game??

Please let me introduce you to MyNoise.net - a lifesaver on all aspects.

Mynoise provides an incredible index of noise machine generators with personalizing sliders to suit your every taste.

Missing the sound of a lively coffee shop during the pandemic? They have that. That specific, calming noise of a public park in a peaceful afternoon? they have that. Rain sounds? City sounds? Want to fuck around and listen to some uninterrupted Gregorian chants? They have that also!

According to the website:

"myNoise generators cover the whole audible frequency range, from 20Hz to 20kHz, over 10 color-coded sliders. Through a simple but accurate calibration process, all myNoise generators can be shaped to your personal hearing thresholds and compensate for your audio equipment and listening environment deficiencies, including the presence and nature of background noise. Calibration is unique to this website, and makes calibrated noise machines stand out from regular white noise machines. During the calibration process, we are able to measure your personal hearing levels, and adapt our noises accordingly. If you are suffering from age-related hearing, you'll be surprised to hear frequencies you thought were lost."

And that's not all. When I say 'incredible' I really mean it; I've found myself using the website on multiple occasions, for work, creative and stress-related issues, and the variety of machines provided cannot be overstated. You've got animal noises, nature soundscapes, street sounds, meditation aids, melody-based lullabies, magical soundscapes, medieval ambiance, situation specific sounds, white noise generators-- and a lot more!!! They even have noise to block out IRL sounds you don't want to hear.

Just take a brief look at what the index page provides:

There's something for EVERYONE. And it's all for free! It's been for free for years, and it is the creator's wish that it remains accessible to everyone who might need this kind of aid in life. I am using it to write this post right now. Though if you read some of the above index, you may have noticed that the support for the website has been very low lately.

Which brings me to the reason I'm making this post. Mynoise is curated and maintained by a single person:

Please check out the Mynoise Index for yourself, donate if you can, and tell your friends who might be interested ♡

[afr9desiac]

White witches are not persecuted. Modern witchcraft among white people is not what women were persecuted for during witchcraft trials. You being judged by monotheistic religions has nothing to do with the mass executions of innocent people, largely women, well before even your grandparents were born. I hate to tell you but most of those women didn’t practice witchcraft. They were considered witches or under “the devil’s spell” because of sickly partners, the death of their infants, false accusations by people who didn’t like them, etc. You don’t have centuries of generational trauma when the “oppression” of white witches is extremely modern.

[afr9desiac]

when did you last thank yourself for getting you through the day??😡

[afr9desiac]

[afr9desiac]

[afr9desiac]

casual broom flier~

[afr9desiac]

[afr9desiac]

Healing with Herbs

How to make a tincture

Making a tincture involves steeping the herb or root in alcohol, extracting its oils, minerals, alkaloids, and glycosides so that it is in its purest form. You can use vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar instead, particularly in tinctures intended for children, but they aren’t quite as effective at pulling out the good stuff. You’ll need strong alcohol, at least 80 proof. Everclear works well, as does vodka or brandy. You’ll also need a pint jar to fill with the herb or plant you want—any of the herbs listed above will work here. 

Chop the herb up a bit or bash it around with a mortar and pestle to help it break down. You’ll want the jar to be full, but not pack your herbs in too tightly. Then fill the jar completely with the alcohol. (If you’re using dried herbs or roots, you need only put in enough to reach halfway, and then add the alcohol up to the top.)

Seal the jar tightly. Label and date it, and let it rest in a cool, dark place.

For the first week, shake it once a day, then let it rest for five more weeks. At the end of the resting period, use a layer of muslin or cheesecloth held tightly over the jar to strain out the liquid. Decant the tincture into one of those small, dark glass bottles, preferably one with a dropper, and keep it stored away from direct sunlight. It should last for five to ten years.

How to make herbal oil

It’s more trouble than it’s worth to make your own essential oils. A true essential oil is extracted by boiling the herb in question and skimming the oil off the top—that’s a task best left to the professionals. But you can make your own herbal oil. It may not be quite as distilled, but it can still be effective, and it’s a great way to preserve herbs for use long into the winter. The nice thing about creating your own oils is that you can use any combination of herbs that you desire. You might mix calendula, catnip, lemon balm, marshmallow, mullein, plantain leaf, and yarrow for an oil that is particularly effective for skin care, or lavender, vervain, lemon balm, and yarrow for a soothing oil to rub on the temples. Chop or bruise your chosen herbs and place them in a jar. Fill the jar with the carrier oil of your choice (olive or almond oil works well), covering the herbs by one inch, and leaving one inch of space at the top. Close the jar tightly, and allow it to sit in as much sunshine as possible for a month. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth on an as-needed basis, leaving the rest to continue steeping.

How to make a poultice

A poultice is a soft, moist mass of herbs, cloth, and other ingredients, and it’s an excellent tool for treating topical infirmities. A hot poultice is excellent for drawing out infection, as with bee stings or draining abscesses, while a cold poultice will help reduce inflammation. Gather the herbs you want to use, either fresh or dried. If they’re fresh, you may want to mash the herbs up in a mortar and pestle (the traditional way) or blitz them through a food processor (the modern way). Even if you’re planning on making a cold poultice, add a couple of tablespoons of hot water to your herbs to awaken them, before letting them cool. You can add medicinal clay powder, Epsom salts, or baking soda and combine with water until the mixture becomes a thick paste. For ailments like congestion or insect bites, you can place the poultice directly on the skin, making sure, of course, that it isn’t too hot. To treat a burn or something that could easily become infected, place a clean cotton cloth between the skin and the poultice.

Common herbs and their uses

Ashwagandha: The name translates to “smell of horse.” This herb is hard to find fresh, but powders, pills, teas, and extracts are available. Benefits: Increases energy, boosts the immune system, antiinflammatory, reduces anxiety. Suggested use: Stir ¼-½ tsp. powder into warm milk and honey before bed. Concerns: May increase thyroid hormone levels and lower blood sugar.

Black cohosh: This member of the buttercup family could be grown in a garden. Dried roots, capsules, teas, and extracts are also available. Benefits: Relieves menstrual cramps and arthritic pain. Eases symptoms of menopause. Suggested use: Drink as a tea or mix with honey as a syrup. Concerns: May cause upset stomach, so consider taking with food.

Calendula: Also known as marigold, this herb could be grown in a garden, but is also available as teas, oils, and creams. Useful for dyeing and food coloring as well. Benefits: Helps heal cuts. Good for diaper rash or other skin irritations. Calms an upset stomach. Suggested use: Steep petals in just below boiling water for ten minutes, then drink as a tea. Add dried flowers to coconut, almond, or olive oil as a salve. Concerns: None known.

Catnip: It’s not just for cats! Catnip is easily grown and also available as a capsule, tea, extract, and essential oil. It is also handy as an insect repellent. Benefits: Anti-inflammatory. Good for insomnia, upset stomach, menstrual cramps, headache, and treating the common cold. Suggested uses: Steep for tea, sprinkle essential oil into the bath or rub it on the temples, use in cooking (it’s a member of the mint family, so its flavor is better than some). Concerns: None known.

Cranberry: Easily obtained fresh or frozen and also available in pill form, this herb is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin E. Benefits: Most frequently used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections. Also shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, slow tumor progression in cancer, and help prevent gum disease. Suggested uses: Because they’re so tart, cranberries often come with a lot of sugar. Try to buy reduced-sugar dried cranberries and stay away from most cranberry juices. If you can manage it, drink the unsweetened juice to relieve a UTI, and certainly try making your own cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. Concerns: None known.

Dittany: This is one of those herbs with a long history. It is also known as “burning bush.” Easily grown, it is hard to find in dried or tea form. Benefits: Antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial. Good for the skin and the intestines, and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Suggested uses: Steep in hot water for tea, but use sparingly. Use as an antibacterial balm or poultice. Concerns: If you’ve put some on your skin, stay out of the sun, as it can increase the risk of sunburn.

Elderberry: This herb has been used to battle a flu epidemic in Panama as recently as 1995. It can be grown, but is also available as a pill or an extract. For your personal garden, look specifically for Sambucus nigra, as other elderberry varieties can be toxic. Benefits: Boosts the immune system, treats sinus infections, lowers blood sugar, acts as a diuretic and a laxative, good for skin health and allergies. Suggested uses: They’re delicious! Can be made into a syrup, jams, or jellies—even wine. Concerns: Don’t pick and use wild elderberry unless you’re absolutely certain the plant is Sambucus nigra. Always cook the berries to remove any toxicity.

Feverfew: This is another herb with a long history. Easily grown and available dried, it is most frequently found in capsule form. Benefits: For centuries, it was used to relieve fever, to assist with childbirth, and for fertility. Now it is most frequently used to prevent migraines. It can also help with tinnitus, nausea, dizziness, asthma, and allergies. Suggested uses: It doesn’t taste good, so not recommended even as a tea. Instead, make a tincture or purchase capsules. Concerns: If you do drink it, feverfew can cause irritation in the mouth. If taken in large quantities on a regular basis, stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, so use only as needed. May cause the uterus to contract, so don’t take while pregnant.

Horse chestnut: This is not the kind of chestnut you’d want to roast on a fire, but it is still useful. It is not recommended for personal processing, as the seed contains esculin, a poisonous substance. Purchase an extract or pill instead. Benefits: Shown to be extremely effective against varicose veins. Also good for hemorrhoids and frostbite. Suggested uses: 300 milligrams of horse chestnut seed extract twice daily. Concerns: Don’t consume raw horse chestnut seeds, bark, or leaves.

Lemon Balm: This member of the mint family has a distinct lemony scent. It is also known as “melissa.” It is easily grown, but also available in tea, extract, and essential oil forms. Benefits: Calms anxiety, encourages restful sleep. Good for the skin, improves mood and mental clarity. Suggested uses: Steep fresh or dried to make tea, use in cooking, use to flavor honey or vinegar, use in a hot bath. Concerns: None known.

Marshmallow: Sadly, these are not the things we put in hot chocolate. The root is available dried, as well as in powder, extract, capsule, and tea form. Benefits: Aids with dry cough, represses inflammation in the lining of the stomach, good for chilblains and sunburn. Suggested uses: Drink as a tea, add to a base oil for a salve. Concerns: May cause low blood sugar.

Milk thistle: This herb is easily grown, as it’s pretty much a weed. It’s available as an extract, pill, or tea. Benefits: Milk thistle can protect your liver from toxins—say, for instance, alcohol. It can even be used to treat cirrhosis and jaundice and helps with environmental toxin damage. Suggested uses: Steep in hot water or make a tincture. Not recommended for use in cooking. Concerns: May cause diarrhea.

Mullein: This is the clear quartz of herbal healing. It is easily found and grown and available both dried and in capsule form. Benefits: Known particularly for respiratory relief, including cough, bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia, it’s also good for earache, fever, sore throat, migraine, and to heal the skin. Suggested uses: Apply a tincture to relieve ear infection, drink as a tea, use as a salve to heal wounds and bruises. Concerns: None known.

Plantain leaf: Pretty hip these days, as herbal remedies go, plantain leaf is easily grown and available dried or in capsule form. Benefits: Great for the skin, particularly in relieving insect bites, poison ivy, and sunburn. Lowers cholesterol, helps clear up bladder infections, relieves constipation or diarrhea. Suggested uses: Make poultice with clay and water or make a salve with a base oil. Infuse vinegar to spray on the skin to provide pain relief. Drink as a tea. Concerns: None known.

Rue: This herb is also known as “herb of grace.” Easily grown, it is also available dried, in capsule form, or as an essential oil. Benefits: Used to promote menstruation, it provides a sense of calm and well-being and is good for relieving gas, mucus, and arthritis. Suggested uses: As an oil or poultice it can relieve croup or chest congestion. Drink as a tea to ease anxiety. Concerns: This one is serious—it can cause a miscarriage. Use in small amounts, regardless of whether or not you’re pregnant.

Valerian: This is an attractive addition to any garden, with a pleasing scent, but it is the root which holds the good stuff and that does not smell good. Easily grown, this herb is also available in tea, capsule, and extract forms. Benefits: Valerian is very effective against insomnia. It also calms anxiety and depression, and helps with ADHD and headache. Suggested uses: Drink a tea made from the leaves for a mild sedative, or steep the roots for something stronger. Add a tincture to a bath for a gentler, child-friendly alternative. Concerns: None known, but obviously don’t operate heavy machinery.

Vervain: Usually blue vervain is used, but other types seem to work just as well. Easily grown, vervain is also available dried or as an extract. Benefits: Helps with anxiety and sleeplessness. Also provides pain relief, eases tense muscles, and promotes an overall sense of wellbeing. Suggested uses: Steep in hot water as a tea. Not recommended in cooking, though it smells nice, so add a little to a bath. Concerns: May cause nausea.

Yarrow: This member of the sunflower family is easily grown—and quite lovely— and available dried or as an essential oil. Benefits: Relieves fever, as well as cold and flu symptoms. Relieves cramps, provides a sense of calm and relaxation, and aids in restful sleep. Suppresses the urge to urinate (say, during a UTI). Use topically for a rash or small cuts. Suggested uses: Drink as a tea in the evening to induce sleepiness or relieve cold and flu symptoms, or make into a salve for external use. Concerns: None known.

Keep reading

[afr9desiac]

AFRICAN & BLACK PHILOSOPHY: Getting Started

Hello everyone! As many of us who study philosophy in some form are likely aware, people of color, especially black philosophers, are radically underrepresented in the field (composing only 1.32% of all philosophers in the US). In order to combat such marginalization, and in attempt to help amplify black voices within the field of philosophy, I have complied a series of links & information here for learning more about African/black philosophy, especially within the US. Please feel free to add to this post if you feel that anything is missing, esp if ur a black person!

Overview:

According to Wikipedia.org: “African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous Africans and their descendants, including African Americans. African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. One particular subject that many African philosophers have written about is that on the subject of freedom and what it means to be free or to experience wholeness.”

Articles to start with: 

“What African Philosophy Can Teach You About the Good Life.”

“A truly African philosophy.”

“African Philosophy.”

“Descartes was wrong: ‘a person is a person through other persons.’” 

“Does Western Philosophy Have Egyptian Roots?” 

“What You Should Know About Contemporary African Philosophy.” 

“Philosophy in Africa - A Case of Epistemic Injustice in the Academy.” 

“The African Enlightenment.”

“The Radical Philosophy of Egypt.” 

“The first God.” 

“African Philosophy Is More Than You Think It Is.” 

And some introductory texts:

Barry Hallen, A Short History of African Philosophy. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press (2009).

Samuel Oluoch Himbo, An Introduction to African Philosophy. Lanham et al.: Rowman and Littlefield (1998). 

Dismas Masolo, African Philosophy in Search of Identity. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press (1994).

Kwasi Wiredu, A Companion to African Philosophy. Malden, Oxford, Victoria: Blackwell Publishing (2004). (PDF version linked here.)

Key essays:

“The Struggle for Reason in Africa” by Mogobe Ramose in The African Philosophy Reader eds. P.H. Coestzee & A.P.J. Roux

“Appeal,” David Walker 

“What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”, Frederick Douglass

“Ain’t I a Woman?”, Sojourner Truth 

“The Black Woman’s role in the Community of Slaves,” Angela Davis

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois (first chapter esp.)

“A Problem of Biography in African Thought” & “What Does It Mean to Be a Problem?” by Lewis Gordon in Existentia Africana 

“Racism and Feminism,” by bell hooks in the PDF linked here

“Recognizing Racism in the Era of Neoliberalism,” Angela Davis

“Nonviolence and Racial Justice,” Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“The Ballot or the Bullet,” Malcolm X

“The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism,” Audre Lorde

“Whiteness as Property,” Cheryl Harris

Important contemporary black philosophers:

Cornel West (political philosophy, philosophy of religion, ethics, race, democracy, liberation theology)

Angela Davis (also a writer and social activist & just a general badass, really worth knowing about regardless of whether or not you have an interest in philosophy)

bell hooks (race, capitalism, sexuality & gender through a postmodern perspective)

Lewis Gordon (Africana philosophy, black existentialism, phenomenology)

Kwame Anthony Appiah (probabilistic semantics, political theory, moral theory, intellectual history, race and identity theory)

Patricia Hill Collins (sociology of knowledge, race, class, gender studies)

John H. McWhorter (linguistics) 

George Yancy (Critical philosophy of race, critical whiteness studies, African philosophy, philosophy of the body)

Kwassi Wiredu (African philosophy)

Franz Fanon (20th century Marxism, psychoanalysis, colonialism)

Online podcasts, blogs, & videos:

Podcast on Africana philosophy (the website linked here also contains several useful links and resources for further reading)

Youtube series on African Philosophy

Award-winning blog run by a Nigerian-Finnish woman which “connects feminism with critical reflections on contemporary culture from an Africa-centred perspective.”

Other links & resources:

Journal on African Philosophy

Wikipedia page, which includes a list of African philosophers

History of African Philosophy

Online bibliography on African Philosophy

25 Black Scholars You Should Know

The Collegium of Black Women Philosophers

[afr9desiac]

Things I wish someone had told me when I was just starting out as a rootworker:

You don’t need a huge cabinet of 98235485 different herbs and roots. Start slow, and take your time to really know the herbs you’re working with. Better to understand fully the spirit and medicine of 1 plant and use it properly than have too many and having them gathering dust.

On the same note, making good workings and medicine depends on you having a respectful and meaningful relationship to the Spirit of the ally (plant or else) you’ll be calling upon. To have them gathering dust is to disrespect them. Think of it as friends. Better one true friend you know you can go to for anything than 10 who you don’t really know, don’t even talk to or can’t really trust just yet.

Similarly, there are plants and spirits that will go well with your ashé and yourself, and others less so, it’s perfectly normal. We all carry different energies and medicine too. Maybe most people use mint but you’d rather have ginger, if you make it work, all the better for you. Just following a recipe is meaningless. The more of your ashé you can pour into the work, the stronger the medicine, and that depends on the relationship you have built personally with that spirit overtime. If your ma used to make you mint tea for an upset stomach, that warm memory, that family bond, that history with the plant’s spirit is what will fuel your work. It’s better to start always with spirits you know from your youth, deepen what you already know (”oh, it’s also good for headaches not just stomach aches!”) and build from that, and only then expand onto other spirits.

Also, the same plant works differently for two different people with different energies and experiences. And the same medicine, given to two different people, will also have different effects. You gotta know your ashé and how it influences your work, you gotta know the plant/Spirit and how it works, and you also gotta know the person that will be receiving that medicine (you or else) and how it will affect them personally. Some people get sleepy with chamomile, others don’t, but get sleepy taking lavender instead. Some will feel warmth and happiness from it, some will cry seemingly out of nowhere. Some people have underlying conditions (physical or spiritual or both) that mean they won’t be able to take certain plants and will need a different option. The same tea blend may be a very good all-purpose pain-killer to someone but be useless to another. Be prepared to make changes and adapt if you’ll be working for others not just yourself. And you always, always, begin by healing yourself  and knowing yourself, and having that first-hand experience with Them is part of the relationship you need to build.

Finally, if you’re a beginner, you don’t need complex recipes nor tinctures. Really. You don’t. Don’t do any fancy recipes with 5+ plants/spirits just yet if you 1) don’t know each of them deep enough yet and 2) don’t know how they get along. Plant medicines interact with each other, a lot, both in matter of chemical compounds and Spirit. Don’t make too concentrated tinctures and medicines if you aren’t sure of the dosage or how that high concentration will affect you either. Test one by one first, know it’s effects alone and mild. Then start slowly adding another, mix two or three at most. When you know all the variables, then plan bigger but fully understanding each part and the whole they make. Start slow, the best is to simply start with infusions, specifically teas.

Most of these stuff can easily be translated to other ATRs/ADRs, as hoodoo/conjure, so basically: know your spirits, build strong meaningful bonds with them, and also very importantly, keep them, be consistent. Rootworking is every day stuff for me, it’s really not hard to be mindful and keep ties to the land, to the herbal allies+Spirits and have some medicine or work done everyday, even if just a tea or a prayer. Do it. Be conscious of it. Also remember to not force yourself into relationships with any Spirits, herbal and not, you are not made for everyone and not everyone is made for you. Let your own Elders, Ancestors and your own Spirit/s guide you in your personal path to heal yourself, and others, if that’s your calling.

⚠️Non-black people, Do Not Reblog. This is for my BLACK rootworkers.

[afr9desiac]

Ultimate Protection Magic Masterpost, Part 2

PROTECTION FOR OTHERS

Family/Loved Ones Protection Jar

Quick Protection Spell

Full Moon Protection Spell

“I Send You Safety” Spell

Knitting Spell (For Protection)

Ayano’s Theory of Happiness Spell

Ritual To Protect Loved Ones

“This Person Is Under My Protection” Sigil

“This Person Is Safe & Happy” Sigil

“My Significant Other Is Happy & Safe From Harm” Sigil

“My Child Is Safe From All Harm” Sigil

PROTECTION FOR PETS

Pet Protection Spell Jar

Pet Protection Spell Bottle

Pet Protection Spell

Pet Protection Spell

Protective Chant For Dogs

Protective Chant For Cats

Cat Protection Bag

Cat Blessing/Protection Spell

Animal Blessing Spells

Animal Protection Spell

Animal Candle Protection Spell

“Watch Over Me” Pet Protection Guardian

“Always Come Back To Me” Spell

“My Dogs Will Be Safe and Happy” Sigil

Pet Protection Powder

MISCELLANEOUS PROTECTION SPELLS

Protection Against Nightmares

Protection During Sleep

Nightmare Warding Stuffed Animal Spell

Ghost Nebula Protection In Sleep Spell

Protection While Travelling

Jar Spell for Safe Travels

Protection For Travellers Spell

Roadtrip Protection Charm

Empath/Emotional Protection

Calcified Heart Spell

Empath Protection Jar

Other

New Job Protection Pouch

Corvid Safety Spell

Emoji Spell for Protection Against Extreme Weather

Cleansing & Protection from Mind-Altering Spells

POWDERS, SALTS, OILS & WATERS

Dragon’s Bite Powder

Sweeping Powder for Protection & Energy

Dark As Night Protection Powder

Anti-Curse Powder

Archer’s Protection Powder

Protection Powder Recipes

Fire Salts

Black Salt

Empath Protection Oil

Demonwitch’s Hellcat Oil

Flying Devil Oil

Moon-Infused Protection Water

Storm Witch’s Ward Water

War Water

INFORMATION

Circles, Shields & Wards

Casting a Circle for Beginners

Methods of Casting Circles

Personal Shielding

Basic Protection

Keeping Yourself Protected

The Basics of Wards & Warding

A Crash Course In Warding

Top Ward Mistakes I

Top Ward Mistakes II

Threshold Magic 101

Charms

Charms, Amulets & Talismans

The Rowan Cross

Grass Charm

Hag Stones

Moon Snails

Protection Wreaths

Protection Chimes

Elemental Protection Charms

Folklore Charms for Home Protection

Tech Magic

Turning Your Wifi Into Wards

How to Anti-Taglock Pictures of Yourself

Simple Email Protection Spell

Technomagic Ward

Cyber/Tech Protection Ideas

Servitors

A Basic Guide to Servitors

An Introduction to Servitors

How to Create a Protective Servitor

Meditations

Spell and Meditation for Calming, Serenity and Peace Within Self

“Warrior of Light” Guided Meditation (YouTube)

Correspondences

Protection Correspondences

Protection Correspondences

Quick Protection Magic Reference Guide

[part 1]

[afr9desiac]

Liana Farmer on Instagram

[afr9desiac]

Hey btw advocating for the eradication of all religion is advocating for cultural genocide. Plain and simple no “unless” blah blah blah. It ALWAYS is. And it hurts people of color and minority religions much, much more than it hurts white Christians. Because they want to eradicate our religion too. You’re doing their work.