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[liminalsoul]

Those divination methods that answer a specific question are wonderful but I really think we shouldn't underestimate those moments where pure intuition whispers something unexpected, while otherwise we would never be able to come up with the adequate question to ask.

This can occur when you simply can't erase an imperative thought because you somehow know it is true or in the form of a dream that you suddenly remember, for right after understanding its meaning and symbolism. I'm referring to those dreams that you know they are special and covered by a different atmosphere, like messages from other places.

Moments like these have really remind me that we are surrounded by a world full of spirits, energy and connections which is not like a cave that simply echoes whenever we think we need an answer.

[liminalsoul]

Dark Water in Folk Magic

Everyone is always talking about water in witchcraft and folk magic. I have never seen a post like this on Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Threads, Facebook -- anywhere. So I'm going to stand on my little milk crate and yap at y'all awhile about dark water and how I use it in my folk magic practice.

All important information provided below the cut.

***Trigger Warning and Content Warning(s): animal remains, roadkill, collection of animal remains/roadkill, harvesting animal by-products and parts, and the general weirdness and grossness of "vulture culture."***

***DARK WATER IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Please for the love of everything green and growing do not consume dark water under any circumstances. DO NOT use dark water to water edible plants/herbs or indoor plants/herbs. Do not feed dark water to pets or other people -- the latter being a crime and biological warfare.***

If you read this and try to Dead-Dove-Don't-Open me, I'm going to scream. I made the warnings bold and in red and yellow for heaven's sake. PLEASE do not read or interact with this post if it's not your vibe or if any of this content is triggering for you.

I'm not going to dress this up or try to romanticize this at all: folk magic is messy, it's weird, and it can get pretty gross. Folk magic -- and witchcraft in general -- are not for everyone. Because of that, I hope this post finds the people who will enjoy it, and use the information in their own practices. I'm not taking sole credit for this idea -- a majority of the human experience is all similar and hardly anyone has unique experiences anymore so someone before me has done this, I'm sure of it. Just because someone isn't talking about something doesn't mean it isn't happening.

What is "dark water"? & How do you make dark water?

It has kind of a deceptive name, I'll admit. And, no, I didn't just collect it during a dark moon. What I consider "dark water" is what happens when you leave roadkill or the remains of an animal (any kind) in a tub of water and let nature take its course. The animal will degrade and break down into the water. And part of what comes out of that tub to replace the water and keep the animal decomposing is what I call "dark water." It's essentially water infused and/or combined with the remains of an animal.

How to harvest dark water once the animal is decomposed

Depending on where the animal came from: whether it was roadkill on the side of the road and you brought it home, a stock animal of some kind, or a pet (hey, I'm not here to judge - just giving information), you're ALWAYS going to want to follow these steps if you want to harvest anything from animals. ***Don't touch dead shit with your bear hands! And definitely don't touch dead shit without washing your hands thoroughly for at least 2 minutes with hot soap and water.*** Fucking wear personal protective equipment: gloves (don't touch your face with them), eye protection of some kind, a sharp knife, a mask to cover your nose and mouth, and do this kinda shit outside where the fumes of a decomposing animal aren't going to suffocate you. (And sanitize the shit out of whatever you use afterwards with bleach and soap!!!) (1) Don't just jump into parting the animal out. Give the animal's spirit time to leave its body. Whether you help the spirit along with some Bible verses, a prayer, a ceremony, or you prefer to leave the animal alone to leave quietly is up to you and yours. (2) Ask the animal's permission. USE DIVINATION. Whatever you're most comfortable with and will be easiest for the animal to communicate through. Ask it if you can use some of its by-products after its spirit has left its body. If the animal says "no" and you do it anyway, there will be consequences to that choice. I'm not going to divulge what those are, because it depends entirely on the animal, the circumstance, your folklore of your area, and the history of the interactions those animals have had with people historically. You'll find out what I mean, if/when you choose to fuck around. (3) Be respectful of whatever you harvest. It's not a game and it's not a toy. Harvesting should be done in a respectful manner and there should be intent to honor the animal's spirit when it's done. (4) As long as chemicals like poison haven't been used in the death of the animal, be sure to take care of whatever you're going to use respectfully and safely. Bury it a few feet down at LEAST 10 FEET AWAY from ANY water source that PEOPLE interact with (drinking, showering, etc.). Or you can drive it out to somewhere remote and put it somewhere where the animal's remains will be used by another animal to continue the cycle. I've never done this, but there's always the choice to burn the rest of the remains you don't use. Just please don't leave the animal lying there. (5) Don't store your dark water ANYWHERE NEAR anything you grow, you eat, you bathe in. It should be out and away from your house in a sealed jar where it's safe from being tampered with.

What is dark water used for?

I use dark water for lots of different things: offerings to the forest spirits, offerings to NON-edible plants that I DON'T EAT OR PLAN ON USING ON MY PERSON.* I use it in baneful works, in protection, in warding. For me and my practice, it's got the same versatility as moon water or river water. Don't water your edible plants or plants you plan on consuming with dark water. That's how you get poisoned or poison someone else. Don't die in a stupid way, please.

What correspondences do you associate with dark water?

If you've been following my blog or interact with me at all on Discord, you know that I'm very heavily anti-universal correspondences. Spells and workings are much more potent when a little bit of problem-solving and craftsmanship without inane hand-holding went into the creation process. I don't get my correspondences from a book. I build relationships with the plants and animals around me, and then go from there. If the relationship doesn't yield the results I want (i.e. wisdom into what the spirit of that thing can offer, I'll do research then). That being said, since I'm the one talking about it right now, here's what I personally think corresponds with dark water: Rot, decomposition, energy transfer from one form to another, gateways, and passages during longer bouts of travel. If you've got a working that is being done over a longer period of time to someone else, this type of water comes in handy to make the working more potent the longer the working is. You can also use it in ward-style protections to make sure if someone messes with your shit, they get theirs. Sometimes the water will have the essence of whatever animal decomposed in it as well. Whatever you decide corresponds with it is up to you.

I hope this little weird guide was helpful. I hope it gave you some inspiration. I hope you have the time, resources, and energy to get a little freaky with it.

(If I missed a trigger warning or content warning tag, please let me know and I'll update the post.)

[liminalsoul]

For me the Devil is not the being that corrupts everything and makes everyone to sin with the purpose of stealing their soul and condemning them to hell that has been depicted by Christianity.

He is mainly the destroyer of beliefs, the one that makes you doubt and disprove every idea that was induced by society. He will allow you to stop believing all of the things that hasn't come from personal and rational thinking and to start building your own belief system.

This doesn't necessarily mean that you will reject every moral that comes from society thanks to the Devil's influence, it just means that instead of blindly accepting them you will integrate mindfuly the ones that are needed and fair and reject the irrational ones.

[liminalsoul]

I would say that here prices haven't risen that much since witchcraft hasn't become that popular but yes, the main issue is the commercialized spirituality and the lack of quality in the products.

Where I live there aren't shops specialized in folk practices but grocery stores and artisans usually do the job pretty well. There are a lot of beekeepers that sell beautiful beeswax candles and soap makers that use different plants in their soaps and cosmetic products.

It is surprising how I usually can find more useful objects for my craft in a second hand store than in the esoteric shops that are close to me.

[liminalsoul]

It is surprising how I usually can find more useful objects for my craft in a second hand store than in the esoteric shops that are close to me.

[liminalsoul]

Please reblog this if you post witchcraft-related things so I can follow. I’m specifically interested in blogs that post:

-Spiritwork

-Traditional Witchcraft

-Herbalism (not as an alternative to modern medicine; I take antidepressants and don’t want crap for taking care of myself)

-Folklore (specifically Italian, Scottish, Irish, and Appalachian)

-Divination (especially bone reading!)

-General informational witchcraft

Please don’t reblog if you only post aesthetics–while I have nothing against them, I prefer informational posts. Also don’t reblog if you’re a N*zi, T//ER//F or S//WE//RF, etc. I don’t support cultural appropriation so I don’t want to see any of that on my dash either.

Other than that, even if you aren’t one of the specific things I’m looking for, feel free to reblog and I’ll check out your blog to see if I’m interested! Thanks :)

Edit: This is a side blog so I don’t follow from this url!

[liminalsoul]

Searching for (European) traditional witchcraft information

At first sight, trying to find traditional spells and rituals is overwhelming due to the amount of information that is usually mixed with a more globalized type of witchcraft. This isn't necessarily bad but it hinders the research work on the specific topic.

Through time, I have found academic articles referring to declarations in witches trials the most useful ones, however the main problem with them is that, while they give us a valuable general view in the practices of different times, they hardly ever inform us of concrete practices.

Another source similar to the other one is those documents that were written by inquisitors and for inquisitors. In this particular ones there are detailed different practices and superstitions to describe what witches exactly did and how to identify them. These give us valuable but biased information because of the christian view of the writers.

I have also surprisingly found interesting articles on witchcraft in literature. They offer and overview of how witches were seen by society and what services were publicly offered by them.

Finally, reading isn't the only source where you can get information. I think it is really necessary to ask old people about what superstitions, legends about witches or beliefs do they remember from their childhood or what did their family tell them, as well as researching on what customs are still active in rural areas.

[liminalsoul]

Sign of the Man in Black:

The Witchfather’s Crown

This is a sigil I devised within my Craft, upon the request of another, to create a symbol for The Witchfather. Given that the role of “Witchfather” is one attributed to many different figures, I was asked to specifically forge a sigil for the Witching God as Lucifer—the Usurper, the Bringer of Light, and the Man in Black.

Various practitioners of traditional and folkloric magic, across cultures, believe in the concept of Spirit Initiation. While the subject of Spirit Initiation is diverse and nuanced, it generally pertains to the attainment of psycho-spiritual metamorphosis through an utter dismantling of the self. This ruination is necessary for personal transformation and initiation into power, and it’s usually instigated through the aid of a non-corporeal entity who is often known as a Witching God, or in the case of the Man in Black, the Witchfather. Many practitioners willingly subject themselves to this spiritual rebirth, which is frequently depicted as an ordeal or set of trials facing the Seeker, while others are seemingly “found” by the Witching God they are meant to work with. A variety of entities are known to supervise this pivotal initiation, ranging from faeries, to deities, to ancestral spirits and, of course, the Witchfather known by many as The Man in Black.

He is frequently described as a mysterious, slender man, dressed all in black, and crowned with the horns of a Goat or Buck, who approaches certain individuals with the offer of a new and better life. If one accepts this offer, they would be granted new heights of power and wisdom in exchange for their fealty. However, if a person were approached by the Man in Black and declined his offer, it was often said that they simply went on with their lives, ignorant of their otherworldly encounter and missed opportunity. He has been known by many names, such as Akerbeltz, The Horned One, Herne, Bucca, Black Donald, Pan, Azazel, and Old Scratch, among others. But, perhaps best known of all his names, is Lucifer. For, although the Dark Man cannot be succinctly and exclusively defined as the Abrahamic Devil, he also can’t be separated from the figure with any degree of ease.

The Man in Black is seen as being at the very heart of the Liminal Rend in the veil between the Mundane World and the Otherworld / Realm of the Dead, and as such, he is intimately connected to the Wild Mysteries and Chthonic forces of the universe. He is the Limitless Light and The Endless Darkness—the Miraculous Birth and the Ferocious Hunt— the Untamed Sensuality and the Glorious Restraint—for he is the Shining Paradox. He is a Trickster, a Seducer, a Warrior, and a Teacher, but most importantly of all, he is a Liberator—for he is revered as the very harbinger of the Cunning Flame on Earth; the spark of Divine Wisdom, once denied this World and its children.

The Cunning Flame, sometimes called Witch’s Fire, serves as a wellspring of power and connection for an initiated practitioner, and as such, it is frequently considered one of the Great Sources of a witch’s might and influence over the world. Some are born to the Flame (though they may not know it,) as it was first bequeathed to humanity in an age immemorial, but while some lay in waiting for the “ignition” of this power, others choose to set themselves ablaze with the Torch he bears (frequently depicted as a fire burning brilliantly between his horns/antlers.) Whatever the case, he is the Holy Vagabond who Conveys the Cunning Flame, and sees to it that others may have the chance to partake of this same freedom.

While the idea of a witch selling their soul has been largely popularized as a method by which a practitioner attains their power, it is far from being the only way a person might establish a pact for access to the Cunning Flame. Rather, innumerable methods and prices might be sought when seeking the Man in Black and his aid, though the most common across traditions is the idea that a witch binds themselves to the path offered them, as well as the forces associated with that path. While this might not sound as dramatic as the selling of one’s soul, it is still a major responsibility and one that can get a person into trouble, all the same, if they enter into the pact flippantly. Additionally, the idea of bartering with a soul is likely connected, in part, with the fact that the Dark Man is widely believed to “eat away” at a part of who you are. But rather than a loss of your true self, this initiatory process signifies the carving away of those parts and pieces you’ve learned to identify with yourself, but aren’t really you. They are the psycho-spiritual detritus you’ve accumulated in your life as a result of society, trauma, and any other number of factors that have muddied the waters of your identity. It is an excavation of the Psyche, helping you to excise the bits of “yourself” that get in your own way and prevent you from fully embarking upon the path of your Awakening. That isn’t to say, however, that it’s meant to be an easy task. In fact, it is one so solemnly undertaken that it is generally likened to the Seeker experiencing a symbolic Death. The shapes this ‘Death’ can take, though, are personal and countless.

Use the Witchfather’s Crown to aid you in calling upon the Man in Black. Inscribe your body and/or materials with it to focus your intention and expand your willingness/endurance in dealing with him, as many recount experiencing waves of extreme emotion when encountering him—especially for the first time. Inscribe it upon the ground in the place of your working to help consecrate the space for your purpose, and to aid you in drawing the attention of the Witchfather. Common locations associated with his presence include Crossroads, Cemeteries, and the Deep Wilderness, and offerings associated with entreating his aid include (but are not limited to) Alcohol, Blood, Snakeskin, Black Feathers, Bones, and Poison Plants. Possibly of the greatest importance though, is a willingness to experience and embrace whatever he may inspire within you.

[liminalsoul]

How did I integrate witchcraft in my belief system

Before starting to read about witchcraft I had been an atheist for years so, at first, I wasn't really convinced about what I was doing, I just had the urgent need to learn as much as I could.

The only moment where I totally believed in what I was doing was when I was casting a spell, in that specific case I could clear my mind of doubts in order to materialize what I was expecting.

The thing is that it started to work, I was changing my life. A big part of me, however, couldn't believe that this change was due to witchcraft. In my overly rational mind it was because of the actions that I was taking in the physical world.

What I didn't understand at that time was that witchcraft doesn't change things magically (this is a bit paradoxical) but it reduces your odds to those scenarios that are favorable to your purpose. While it "forces" luck to give you better cards to play, you are the one that have to play them and take also action in the physical world.

In my twenty-first century mind I didn't consider that things that aren't perceived by the physical senses can be as real as those that are. When I started to trust my guts I discovered my intuition was much more trustworthy than I could ever believe and that it doesn't really mind if you call it subconscious mind or extrasensory perception because it doesn't change the fact that it is real and it transcends from the mundane world and our typical senses.

Of course it is not likely that you are going to see and hear spirits like if they were in this world, but it doesn't mean that thats not real.

There is a point where there have happened so many coincidences in my live that the explanation might be that they are witchy stuff, rather than trying to argue that they are isolated extraordinary events that have happened all together in a short span of time, so when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

[liminalsoul]

About the essence of the Sabbath in my practice

For me, traveling to the Otherworld and going to the Sabbath are two connected but well differentiated practices.

While going to the Otherworld allows us to cast spells there, look for answers or communicate with different spirits, sometimes really different from us, that can teach us valuable knowledge, it is in the Sabbath where we are able to know other spirits and witches that, like ourselves, are in some way in a liminal space, either being from this realm, the other one, both or from none of them.

It is in these meetings where we find people like us, those that doesn't belong anywhere but there. It is also a place to rebel against the absurd normality of mundane life and it's conventionalities dancing, festing and, what is more important, learning how to change our reallity in order to start being us the ones who control their reality and not the other way.

Ultimately, it is about following that light of wisdom that will reveal the path we are walking, the real world and, in the end, our inner self.

[liminalsoul]

The importance of knowing why you do what you do in witchcraft

At first we tend to see a spell like a recipe you have to follow to achieve something, however when we have seen multiple spells for one purpose we can make our own version of them taking into account the common elements that those spells have.

We can even achieve a higher efficacy and creativity knowing what means each aspect of our spells or rituals, creating specific ones that will fit ourselves and our needs better. It is important not to forget that witchcraft isn't a science but an art in which there are multiple ways to get the same result.

From the perspective of my own practice every plant or stone we use is more than a tool, it is in some way a being, a spirit that can assist our craft with its essence. That's in what correspondences are based, in the nature of the spirit that embodies that element.

Correspondences also have the power, even in some way a part of the spirit, of all the ancestors that have been using those elements with the same meaning. We can believe from our modern perspective that those associations were just a coincidence, nevertheless, everything suggests that they really understood the powers behind the items in our craft, for example in the case of the plants where their spiritual meaning correlates in some way with their fisical properties.

To conclude, we shouldn't try to turn into a mere recipe something that works with different powers and spirits, because, if these forces have taught me something over time, it is that witchcraft is, more than anything, learning another way to see.

Disclaimer: this point of view is highly influenced by an animistic perspective, remember that this is far from being the only valid approach to witchcraft. Besides, correspondences aren't universal and this doesn't invalidate the different ones that may exist.

[liminalsoul]

How to start working with the spirits of the land

Everywhere you look there are probably spirits that embody the essence of natural places. Some of them will be willing to connect with us and now we are going to briefly see how this can be achieved.

Some places where spirits of the land are typically found are forests, water streams, mountains, caves, crossroads or even cemeteries. Take into account that sacred places nowadays probably have been sacred for a longer time than you think. For example, the places where are churches and sanctuaries might be pre-christian sacred places, too.

It is important to do your research on the entities that are typical of your culture and are usually found in the place you live.

I would also recommend to start learning what plants grow there, if you want to work and establish a relationship with them, or what animals are in different times of the year in order to know the cycles of the land.

Before starting to properly work with these spirits it is a good idea to make some offerings (just remember to not contaminate or make any harm to the living beings there) and spend time in the place trying to communicate with them and feel their energy.

This probably isn't a fast magical path, since a lasting bound is something that takes a lot of time and effort. However, these relationships are worth of your time because they allow you to experience from your own perspective your traditions and folklore, besides it is a way to attain the knowledge they can teach us.

This spirits will surely appreciate you cleaning natural spaces or magically warding them.

In case you live in a city you can also start with this magical practice in natural places like parks.

While a lot can be written about how to communicate with them, it is something that has to be experienced by ourselves, so I encourage you to try it.

[liminalsoul]

How to start with hedge riding

While there are plenty of videos and articles about what is a hedge witch or what is hedge riding there aren´t so many on how to take your first steps, so here we are going to elaborate on how to start crossing the hedge.

Trance

The first step, after finding a comfortable place and position, should be reaching a trance state. This can be achieved by various methods, from the use of meditation, dancing or drumming to the use of entheogens (natural substances that ease trance, they should be used carefully).

This trance is basically known for being an altered state of consciousness where the witch experiments reallity in a different way.

Protection

This topic will vary from witch to witch because while some would prefer to have their energy flowing in a more free way others would perceive it as a must.

One way to do this is visualizing a golden sphere of your energy around you, protecting you. Instead of this, it is also possible to just carry some kind of amulet.

Actually crossing the hedge

This also can be done in multiple ways, some of them are:

Visualizing a hedge that will be the metaphorical barrier between this world and the otherworld, between civility and the wild, and then jumping over it.

Visualizing a cave that you are going to enter in order to reach the otherworld.

Entering by the roots of a tree wich typically represents the untherworld (roots), middleworld (trunk) and upperworld (branches).

Imagining falling into a hole that opens under you feet.

I would outline that in this step it is important to leave fear behind to achieve traveling to the other side.

“Waking” inside the other side

This is the point where visualization stops and you lose control over your surroundings and the things that might happen.

It is highly likely that you encounter your familiar (a spirit that will help you and guide you in that realm).

I would recommend you to trust your guts if something feels wrong and just leave and also treat with respect the spirits that you encounter there.

Returning from the other side

Before leaving it is a good advice to try to "expand" your energy in order to recover the energy wich may have remained trapped in the other side.

The only thing you have to do to come back is doing it exactly the same way you entered, for example jumping over the hedge from wildness to civilization.

Clarification

Here there are a lot of topics that have been briefly touched because it is difficult to sum them up in just one post, especially when this is a really extensive topic.