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Shirley Jackson

(December 14, 1916 – August 8, 1965) was an American author. She was a popular writer in her time, and her work has received increased attention from literary critics in recent years. She influenced Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Nigel Kneale, and Richard Matheson. She is best known for the short story “The Lottery” (1948), which suggests a secret, sinister underside to bucolic small-town America, and for The Haunting of Hill House (1959), which is widely considered to be one of the best ghost stories ever written. In her critical biography of Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when “The Lottery” was published in the June 26, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that “no New Yorker story had ever received”. Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, “bewilderment, speculation, and old-fashioned abuse”. In the July 22, 1948, issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, Jackson offered the following in response to persistent queries from her readers about her intentions:

Explaining just what I had hoped the story to say is very difficult. I suppose, I hoped, by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village to shock the story’s readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives.

Jackson’s husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work, “she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years.” Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson’s works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of “personal, even neurotic, fantasies”, but that Jackson intended, as “a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb”, to mirror humanity’s Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman’s statement that she “was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned ‘The Lottery’, and she felt that they at least understood the story”. Read More || Edit

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@okay-and-always-me

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It’s not unreasonable to stand against a force that threatens our ecosystem, disrespects an already abused nation and ignores all present and long-term consequences of oil contamination in the name of profit.

 #NoDAPL #SolidaritywithStandingRock

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New blog

For witchy things and food and fashion (sometimes) luna5139pentacle

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You turn on your PC to keep working on your novel, but to your surprise, when you open the file, it is writing itself. You read some of what has already been written and it seems your characters have created free will, and the plot is progressing without you.

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The power to the entire country has gone out. The streets are filled with crime and violence. A small ragtag group of D&D players decide to assume their characters to put an end to the madness.

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I am your weird relative now.

If you have a rough holiday, I’m your weird relative now. Pass whatever is being served, take this handful of candy and don’t tell anyone. You are all my favorite. Don’t tell anyone that either, but I’m not sure it is a secret.

Keep reading

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*hand raise*

Everyone who want a room in their house to look like this raise your hand.

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Finally Working On . . .

My Grimoire. On a Powerpoint Presentation for extra organization freedom :p And it looks glorious :D But. It’s nearly 3 a.m. for me, and I need to go to bed. :(

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All I want to do is disappear into the deepest of forests and raise my family and practice my craft. But, like, internet.

I know I talk about this all the time but…

Are there any other polytheists/pagans out there who just want to give up frivolous things and focus solely on your path? Like a nun or a monk, living together in/near a church/shrine and supporting each other while living simpler lives and giving spiritual aid/guidance to others and doing community work/activism?

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New Blog

luna5139pentacle

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Pecan Pie

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Skull Violin

Stratton Violin

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Grimoire Organization Ideas

What is a grimoire?

A grimoire can be defined as a book of magickal spells and invocations. (click here to read more)

What should I write my grimoire in/on?

A grimoire can be handwritten or typed, there is no wrong way to construct your grimoire. (i.e. my grimoire is typed in a OneNote document)

What can I put in my grimoire?

About the Author

favorites: 

color, magickal tools, herbs, crystals

tarot birth card, astrology birth chart, personal beliefs, relationship with deities or other spiritual beings

Basics 

intent

visualization

meditation

terminology

protection

shields & wards

circle casting and removing 

cleansing & banishing 

using various energies 

enchanting items 

clockwise vs. counterclockwise 

other how-to’s 

anointing items

dressing a candle

General Correspondences

days of the week, lunar phases, colors, incense, essential oils, elements

Correspondences Based On Intent 

protection, healing, cleansing, banishing, luck, wealth, love, emotions, mental clarity, psychic awareness, cursing, etc.

Altar Ideas

Crystals

crystal grid designs, crystal correspondences & folklore, gem water/crystal elixir recipes, crystal care 

Herbs, Spices, Plants, Flowers, & Trees

correspondences, edible vs. non-edible, botanicals with medicinal value, folklore, gardening 

Divination

tarot, runes, pendulum, scrying, etc.

spreads

interpretations 

Astrology

birth chart + traits, planetary correspondences, planetary hours, zodiac correspondences, moon/star/sun water

Sigils & Symbols

how to create, personal sigils, other symbols & talismans 

Psychic Abilities 

identification of personal abilities (clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairaudience, clairsentience, clairambience, etc.)

meditation techniques to strengthen abilities 

personal experiences

Important Dates

sabbats, magickal anniversaries, astronomical & astrological phenomena (meteor showers, planetary alignments, etc.)

Recipes

food

potions (potions are edible liquids!!!)

beauty products

salt scrubs, sugar scrubs, lotions, lip balm

natural remedies

salves, ointments, balms, poultices 

cleaning products

floor washes, window cleaner, wood cleaner, etc.

powders

Witchy Arts & Crafts

glitter jars, witch ladders, wand-making, crystal jewelry, etc. 

Spells & Enchantments

sachets, spell jars/bottles, knot magick, candle spells, powder spells, curses (if you’re into that sorta thing)

Magickal Goals

Other ideas

Decorate your grimoire with pressed flowers, illustrations, cut-out photos, or collages

If you like the idea of handwriting in a book but cannot, check out this website: it allows you to download and print a template so you can write the alphabet in your own handwriting and upload it as a font

Stain your pages for a vintage look 

Make flower ink to write with 

Enchant your pen or keyboard before you begin constructing your grimoire for extra inspiration 

Spray your grimoire with perfume 

Add a sigil or symbol of protection to the inside cover of your grimoire 

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Safe Travel Charm

This charm is to ensure protection and safety while you travel, wonder, or venture off to explore. Perfect for those filled with wanderlust, or those who just need a magical reassurance with travelling. It’s simple, discreet, and crafty.

What you’ll need:

yarn, ribbon, string - for the bracelet.

a compass charm.

anchor charm.

You are going to be making a bracelet using enchanted anchor and compass charms. Spelled with protection and guidance.

take the compass charm and hold it in your hands. Focus on it’s job, it’s purpose in the spell; to guide you back home, keep you safe, guide you away from danger. Visualize your energy, your intent pouring into it. Do the same for the anchor, it’s job is to; protect you, to ensure you can find your way back, to ensure you return unharmed.

begin to make your bracelet. Add the compass charm and chant;

“This compass points to home,  wherever it may be. Save travel it ensures, By land, sky, or sea.”

add the anchor charm and chant;

“This charm brings me/you/us protection, When I/we travel, wherever I/we will be. Safety is ensured, On whatever path I/we lead.”

tie off the bracelet, complete it. Hold it again, once more, put your intent into it and tell it to protect you on your journey.

Wear the bracelet while travelling, exploring new places, or simply walking round a place you don’t know that well.

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Spell: You Mean Nothing to Me

You Mean Nothing to Me

Use: This spell is used to rid yourself of unwanted feelings towards a person. These could be any feelings; anger, hurt, lust, or sadness etc. This is especially useful if you still have to see/maintain a front with this person. It is not a curse or a binding spell, it only effects your feelings.

Timing: I’m a firm believer that you should spell work whenever it’s best for you, but a Waning Moon at Sunset would boost this. 

Supplies:

A black candle for banishing the unwanted feelings

A white candle for protection against further feelings

A black marker/sharpie

A picture of the person or a piece of paper to write their name on

Cauldron or a fire safe dish

Steps:

Set up, delicate space/cast a circle, and light the candles.

Write the person’s name on the paper (full name or whatever you call them. You can skip this if you’re using a picture.)

Cover their name or face with a sigil or words like ‘I feel nothing towards you,’ ‘you mean nothing to me,’ ‘I don’t hate/love/care for you’ etc or whatever feels right to you.

Now take the marker and start to cross out their name or picture. Scribble, ruin the marker if you gotta, put all those feelings into it. As you do this, say; “I feel nothing for you, you mean nothing to me, I don’t (add your own feelings and make it your own)..” Imagine yourself blacking out all those feelings as you cover their picture or name completely. 

Roll up the picture or paper. Light one end with the black candle and say, “I rid myself of feelings from the past and reduce them to ash.” Light the other end with the white candle and say, “Never again will these feelings return, You’ll mean nothing to me once this paper has burned. So mote it be!” ((If you can’t burn you can rip it up with your hands and dispose of it in the trash instead. Feel free to change up the words to whatever feels best to you.))

Place the burning paper in a safe pace or ball up the ripped pieces. Do some reflecting, meditation, and let all those feelings go once and for all.

Once you’re done and the fire is safely out, blow/pinch out the candles, close the circle, and give thanks to any spirits or deities you might have included. Throw away whatever is left of the picture or paper because that person is no different than trash to you now.

To reinforce: If you have to see this person, or if memories start to come back to you, just remember this spell and use it like a little shield you can mentally/emotionally place between you and the person that has brought you these unwanted feelings. 

Best of luck to the Anon that requested this!

)o(Keta)o(