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There’s something I really feel that tumblr witches would benefit from hearing.  When you decide to post about your personal practice, your spells, your methodology, you open it up for discussion and critique.  Why do you believe the things that you do? Where did you learn the things you know? How did you come to these conclusions?  How does this spell function? How do you understand magic in general to function? What results do you intend or expect for this magic to bring?  Does this relate to a specific tradition or culture? How familiar are you with the history behind these concepts or practices?  These questions can be difficult ones to answer, but they are great ones to think about. I guarantee that they will help you better understand, and even improve, your practice.  It can feel like they seek to injure you by seeking holes in the ship, but that’s the exact reason that they’re helpful. Learn to answer these questions and the ship won’t sink.  I don’t think that critical thinking about practices is bad. I think that it can be rough and abrasive at times, but if you can make it through the questions, you’ll find some great answers. This dialogue shouldn’t stop, but it should be used in a way that’s conducive to communication. 

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so ! While I am learning a lot, I’m not really sure if broadcasting my practice publicly is for me - knowledge is sacred and important and I’m not an open person, I don’t enjoy sharing things about myself too easily, though performative tendencies can make it look that way. I will probably not continue this blog, tho I appreciate everything I have learned. I’ll stay active on my main, or as active as I ever am.

Thanks!

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Is it possible to just *make* a new form/school/method of magic? Or is magic like math in that it always existed and we just kept finding new examples/ways to use it

A LOT OF PEOPLE GET CAUGHT UP ON THIS IDEA OF MAGIC ATTEMPTING TO DESCRIBE SOME FUNDAMENTAL HIDDEN TRUTH ABOUT THE WORLD AND THAT ONCE YOU KNOW IT YOU CAN CAST FIREBALL IN REAL LIFE

THINK OF IT LESS LIKE MATH AND MORE LIKE COOKING HOWEVER MAGIC IS A PROPERTY THINGS HAVE AND IT IS AN ACTION YOU CAN PERFORM SO WHILE YOU CANT REALLY *MAKE* NEW FORMS OF MAGIC YOU CAN SORT OF CREATE A NEW CUISINE A NEW THEORY AND PRACTICE OF HOW THE ELEMENTS FIT TOGETHER

CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THE FRENCH AND THE INDIANS SPICE THEIR FOOD OR HOW THE ROMAN AND ARABIC WORLDS USED DIFFERENT MUSICAL SCALES THEY ARE THE SAME UNDERLYING CONCEPTS BUT WITH DIFFERENT THEORIES OF WHAT WORKS

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hereditary witchcraft has become a huge topic of discussion on this site - what’s so interesting about tumblr to me is to see hot-blooded arguments raging on questions i never considered needed fighting. While I understand that that term is used falsely by many who are trying to make themselves seem a little more important than the rest of us, it’s wrapped all the way back around now, where it’s assumed that ANYONE using that term is lying! Fascinating! 

I am not one myself, and I am not from the Appalachian area i’m a little too far north, but consider that they are most likely telling you the truth. Appalachian communities are incredibly close-knit and clannish, and most people there benefit from deep family ties and folk remedies and oral history being passed through those lines. They have a generations old distrust of outsiders, and for a long time were more likely to rely on folk cures over medical help. While their grandparents may have never called themselves witches (and may have been teaching magic to ward off witches, a common mindset carried over from the Irish and Scots), they certainly taught their children and grandchildren the way, however they might have called it to themselves. 

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you know I have to say I really appreciate this counter for a lot of reasons - you are absolutely correct in saying that witchcraft does NOT equal folk magic, and as I learn to separate folk craft from Wicca and and neo-paganism (which is extraordinarily difficult especially for us Scots or Irish since neo paganism really takes what they please from us and twist it to represent what they like. I am learning that the term witchcraft isn’t representative of what I do at all and it puts the wrong spin on my practices (in my case animist and folk magic) and painting me as a person I am not.

hereditary witchcraft has become a huge topic of discussion on this site - what’s so interesting about tumblr to me is to see hot-blooded arguments raging on questions i never considered needed fighting. While I understand that that term is used falsely by many who are trying to make themselves seem a little more important than the rest of us, it’s wrapped all the way back around now, where it’s assumed that ANYONE using that term is lying! Fascinating! 

I am not one myself, and I am not from the Appalachian area i’m a little too far north, but consider that they are most likely telling you the truth. Appalachian communities are incredibly close-knit and clannish, and most people there benefit from deep family ties and folk remedies and oral history being passed through those lines. They have a generations old distrust of outsiders, and for a long time were more likely to rely on folk cures over medical help. While their grandparents may have never called themselves witches (and may have been teaching magic to ward off witches, a common mindset carried over from the Irish and Scots), they certainly taught their children and grandchildren the way, however they might have called it to themselves. 

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Julia Brown was a magic practitioner in Louisiana in the early 20th century. She was frequently visited by the townsfolk, who eventually took advantage of her power. After getting fed up, she placed a curse on the town, claiming that when she died she was going to take the town with her. Brown died in 1915, and at her funeral, a hurricane swept though and flooded the town. Many people died in the flood, and attempts to rebuild were unsuccessful.

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Bean nighe

The Bean Nighe a female spirit in Scottish folklore. She is regarded as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld. She is a type of bean sìth that haunts desolate streams and washes the clothing of those about to die.

She is seen in lonely places beside a stream or pool, washing the blood from the linen and grave-clothes of those who are about to die. Her characteristics vary depending on the locality, and differing traditions ascribe to her the powers of imparting knowledge or the granting of wishes if she is approached with caution. 

Source. 

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Tips for morning mindfulness

When you wake up, be mindful of how beautiful the weather is outside of your window. Try and admire it regardless of the season - there’s a different beauty in them all.

When you step of out of bed, be aware of how good it actually feels to stretch your body again. Take in a deep breath and feel the air fill your lungs - notice how energising it really is. Repeat as many times as you like.

When you’re washing your face or taking a shower, focus on how calming the water feels against your skin. Notice how clean your skin now feels after cleansing it. Rub your favourite moisturiser or oil into your skin notice how silky smooth your skin is becoming.

Allow yourself to enjoy making your breakfast. Notice how enjoyable it is to put your ingredients together, no matter how many or few you use - creating any meal is an art. Appreciate how it looks and appreciate how it smells. As you take each bite, pay attention to the flavours and textures.

Before you leave the house, have a personal conversation with yourself. Think of at least three things you are grateful for this morning. Allow yourself to feel a warmth inside of you as you focus on each thing you are grateful for.

— Growth Getters (IG)

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"In order to be able to do their job effectively; to work magic, provide wisdom and divine people’s fortunes, the witch needs first to develop this relationship and become attuned to both the physical and spiritual reality of the land in which they live."

Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary

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so do you want to educate yourself and others or do you derive pleasure from the idea of being ideologically superior to others?

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Beltane Bannocks

Oatcakes, prepared in a special way were used from time immemorial, in the rites of Beltane (May 1st, O.S.). Pennant (1769) writes: “Everyone takes a cake of oatmeal, upon which are raised nine square knobs, each dedicated to some particular being, the supposed preserver of their flocks and herds, or to some particular animal, the real destroyer of them. Each person turns his face to the fire, breaks off a knob, and flinging it over his shoulder, says: “This I give to thee, preserve thou my horses; this to thee, preserve thou my sheep,” and so on. After that, they use the same ceremony to the noxious animals: “This I give to thee, O Fox, spare thou my lambs; this to thee, O Hooded Crow, this to thee O Eagle!”

The Beltane bannock appears to be the last survivor of the old Highland Quarter Cakes; the bonnach Bride, St. Bride’s bannock, baked for the first day of spring; the bonnach Bealltain, Beltane bannock, baked for the first day of summer; the bonnach Lunastain, Lammas bannock, baked for the first day of Autumn; and the bonnach Samhthain, Hallowmas bannock, baked for the first day of winter.

- F. Marian McNeill, The Scots Kitchen.

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Magickal Times ⌚

Monday

Ruled by the moon.

Good day for divination, intuition or healing magick.

Tuesday

Ruled by Mars.

Best for active, goal setting magick.

Wednesday

Ruled by Mercury.

Communication, intellectual magick.

Thursday

Ruled by Jupiter.

Justice, protection, travel magick.

Friday

Ruled by Venus.

Love, family/friends, healing emotions.

Saturday

Ruled by Saturn.

Planning, preparation, contracts or career magick.

Sunday

Ruled by the Sun.

Health, prosperity, well being, success magick.

Spells of the Hour

AM - new day, banish shadows.

AM - rid negativity.

AM - determination.

AM - improve luck, victory.

AM - encourage growth.

AM - tenacity, perseverance.

AM - hope, insight, prospective.

AM - conscious change.

AM - assist others.

AM - improve convictions.

AM - transformation.

PM - health, success (suns full energy).

PM - self image, security.

PM - relationships, love, equality.

PM - balancing mind, body and spirit.

PM - harmony of elements.

PM - insight of self.

PM - safety, protection.

PM - diversity, heal differences.

PM - leadership, guidance.

PM - comprehension.

PM - improve clear thoughts.

PM - coping with change.

PM - healing, self development (moons full energy).

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No method of divination is necessarily better/clearer/more accurate/etc than any other (looking at you geomancers who say that it's a superior system to tarot.)

Whether a method of divination is clear, detailed, and accurate depends on the skill of the reader. Some people mesh better with certain methods of divination than others, which is why you may think one method is "better."

Divination is also situational. Sure, you can get to the bottom of things by asking yes/no questions with a pendulum, but that'll be rather tedious if you have a complicated situation to unfold. Geomancy, tarot, or even scrying would be a better pick here.

It is wise to study multiple forms a divination to find which methods are best suited to you, your needs, and each unique situation.

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The ENTIRETY of the text of “Jewish Magic & Superstition” by Joshua Trachtenberg is available to read online for free. Here it is! I would recommend reading this entire book if you are anybody, but especially if you are a white pagan

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hereditary witchcraft has become a huge topic of discussion on this site - what’s so interesting about tumblr to me is to see hot-blooded arguments raging on questions i never considered needed fighting. While I understand that that term is used falsely by many who are trying to make themselves seem a little more important than the rest of us, it’s wrapped all the way back around now, where it’s assumed that ANYONE using that term is lying! Fascinating! 

I am not one myself, and I am not from the Appalachian area i’m a little too far north, but consider that they are most likely telling you the truth. Appalachian communities are incredibly close-knit and clannish, and most people there benefit from deep family ties and folk remedies and oral history being passed through those lines. They have a generations old distrust of outsiders, and for a long time were more likely to rely on folk cures over medical help. While their grandparents may have never called themselves witches (and may have been teaching magic to ward off witches, a common mindset carried over from the Irish and Scots), they certainly taught their children and grandchildren the way, however they might have called it to themselves. 

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What is the source of the witch riding eggshell superstition? :o

This is one of those neat things where you can see the evolution and change of witchcraft. Traditionally, in Scottish workings, you would see the carline or spaewife blow out an egg and use the empty shell to store disease or a curse that had been cast on a person.

When crossing over to the Americas early Scots had some people who actually brought hollowed out eggshells with them, so that if any evil spirits or diseases attacked the boat, they could be ‘sucked into’ the eggshell and then thrown overboard to ensure that they made it to land safely, something which was not guaranteed in those days. Most of the early settlers of Appalachia were from Anglo-Scots territory, and the tradition shifted, to where eggshells were an active part of hedgework or trancing, where the shell would be filled with tallow, lard, or wax, mixed with herbs, and a used wick from a consecrated candle was used to ensure safe travel and return from spirit work. 

It also shifted in egg shells became used in actively cursing people as well, especially if the eggshell was from one the mark had eaten, or from their henhouse.

My Pappy’s family was from up around the PA part of Appalachia, and wandered down and up the area that is the Appalachian Trail quite often. I don’t know as much about it as I do straight up Scots-Irish stuff (from my Granny’s side) but that was one of the things I picked up from his side.