#my practice

[wytchoftheways]

[winebrightruby]

I'm not Catholic and never have been. What I am, in practice, is New Orleanian, and New Orleans is deeply culturally Catholic (far beyond what the numbers would show. like I didn't realize how pervasive certain things were in Louisiana as a whole until I moved to Alabama and started getting blank stares back).

Tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, so I've just been thinking about her. The two patrons of the City - OLPS and St. Expedite - are both associated not only with providing aid but doing so immediately, without delay or hesitation. The beyond-generous, open-armed approach to helping, giving succor and sanctuary.

And New Orleans has always been that for me. I discovered through years of trial and error that if I talk too much about the minor nice things that happen, they'll stop happening, so I have to be a bit vague here. But New Orleans gifted me a thousand conveniences a day and asked nothing in return but my love, which I was giving freely anyway. It's beyond a joyous experience to live somewhere that you love, and that you can feel loving you back in equal or greater measure, in quantifiable ways, all the time.

She does so much. The incredible sweetness of that city and how much I adore her in return, how everything I ever needed or even wanted in a passing moment, I could just voice and it would essentially fall into my lap. I don't know what to say to people who ask "how did you do [x piece of magic]" because it's like, I asked nicely? Or equally often, I complained out loud because it inconvenienced me? I don't know how to replicate that without the years of devotion, piety, bribery, and adoration.

But anyway, Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Over 30 years I lived in Louisiana. For 12 years I lived in New Orleans or the swampy depths of further-south Louisiana. And she's been there for me with every request, prayer, tearful plea, every single thing. So tonight and tomorrow I'm feasting Our Lady; I'm thanking the mother of New Orleans for all the times she's been my mother too, shooing inconveniences out of my path and giving me that thing I wanted just because I said I wanted it. I love you, I love you, I love you.

[elminx]

I am doing some kitchen witchery today with sugar and now my entire kitchen is sticky. Ironically this is designed to be generally cleansing, but, not like this, I grumble to myself as I scrub every surface.

[fragmentedhekatean]

wonder how many of us on the Death Work/Witch Path struggled with abandonment and betrayal. there's a certain element of a death of trust that haunts us. I haven't ever literally died but I feel as if parts of me have died over and over again bec I was left alone, I was abandoned and made to feel small and like I had to make up for being me

death has surrounded me and chipped at me for years. It's no wonder I have found so much peace and comfort from deities who have walked hand in hand with death and chaos

there's a loneliness in death I understand and working with the dead and death gods feels less lonely and like I'm helping people make sure they're not forgotten too

[ddantalion]

Here's to all of the hearts that we've broken, and the ones that we made come alive

[thebraided]

Finished weaving and sewing my bandana! It’s been washed and is currently being blocked, so it’s not *completely* finished in this photo, but I’m super proud of it. Once it’s done blocking it will be a devotional veil to Kirke and Telegonos, to wear specifically for Them. All of my other veils are all purpose, so it’s nice to have something specific :)

My technique definitely needs a lot of work, but each piece was better than the previous and I learned a lot trial and erroring my way through it, especially with the finishings. I’ve already started weaving my next experiment and I can���t wait to learn more!

[ocean-not-found]

Hail to the Lady, Hail to the Lord, Hail to the Divine Androgyny.

To the Male, the Female, and the ALL.

To the God and Goddess.

Hail to Their many blessed names.

Of birth; Mary, Gaia, Pan, The Theketos.

Of death; Santa Muerte, Hades, Mary Magdalene.

Of rebirth; Zagreus, Jesus, Dionysus, Persephone.

Praise be to Them all, on this sacred night.

Where the veil is thin, and we invited our lost ones to come eat with us. Where we mourn the dead. Where we rejoice in rebirth and weep at the miracle of the earth coming anew.

Thank you for reading. Praise also, to the holiness inside you❤️

[hare-beneath-pine]

2023.09.09

Big working last night - consecration of my black book of (visual) art, plus the first painting in it. This is a general road opener with an area to place a small, separate sheet of paper with a sigil or petition for a specific situation.

Consecration was pretty simple, though I had to write what I was going to say... often I just speak off the cuff, but wanted to be a bit more precise in my language for this. Apart from that it was my usual feeding with incense and candle (a safe distance away from the book) plus three breaths. Here's what I said:

I consecrate you, my black book, With cover dark, with pages blank; White void before creation. By my word and by my will, May you live in the threshold Between this world and the Other. As your pages bleed and bloom, The lies I draw turn into truth, The dreams I paint persist in waking. May messages from other realms Adorn your pages by my hand: Wild whispers and weird visions. I consecrate you, my black book, With cover dark, with pages blank. Now feed upon creation.

Probably this is quite influenced by Aidan Wachter (as is this whole thing), though I haven't read him in a few months.

The painting was a little more complicated and I'm not 100% pleased with the results. Trying to be nice with myself since I'm a novice painter and have never painted ritualistically before.

Process-wise, I entered a light-medium trance through song (Station to Station on repeat baby) and swaying/dancing - thanks to those who suggested that. I didn't prime the paper as much as I normally do, which had a negative affect on the brushstrokes - didn't pre-prime because I didn't want any marks on the book before consecration. Future paintings will be primed and taped before the working. I also think I'll prep a palette with liquid retarder pre-trance or in a light trance next time. Grabbing and mixing colours on the fly feels very intuitive but I haven't internalized enough colour theory to be happy with the result on an aesthetic level.

Results-wise, I have mixed feelings. I like the general composition and the central sigils magically and aesthetically, and I'm also happy with the inclusion of a thumb print to tie it to me. My annoyances are aesthetic - not happy with the quality of the brush strokes or the lack of unified palette.

Shortly after finishing this painting last, I had a strong visualization of the palette and brush strokes I "should have" used. I've primed and taped the next page and am planning to do a second road opener painting with these improvements. I feel like I should leave this painting in the book though, as it leads to the next one.

[thehazeldruid]

Got a ways to go and stuff to dig out of boxes still but it feels good to have my altar back up again.

[crossroads-moth]

A gentle reminder to myself that my practice is what I make of it. Tweaking preexisting spells does not make me a bad practitioner, it makes me a skilled enough witch that I can take a basic outline and make it into what I need.

There is so much to be learned from other practicioners and from what has worked historically, but I'm not going to go to Magic Jail™️ because I chose to use a different herb in a spell because I think it will work better for me.

[wytchoftheways]

[winebrightruby]

hello hello! question for you, hopefully not a bummer: how do you observe Mardi Gras now that you are not living right in New Orleans anymore? (I think of you every year when it rolls around!)

I cry a lot, lmao.

Tbh this year was a bit of a mess because of the single-parenting struggle until husband is back in the country, but I'll answer in terms of general intentions. I start on the night the Krewe of Muses parades, which is the Thursday before Mardi Gras (day). I offer specific hymns and offerings for the relevant deities/spirits as determined by parading krewe:

Muses on Thursday

Hermes and Morpheus on Friday

Iris and Endymion on Saturday

Bacchus (and Okeanos and Athena) on Sunday, Dimanche Gras, the start of my version of Anthesteria

Orpheus and Proteus on Monday, Lundi Gras

Rex and Zulu on Tuesday, Mardi Gras

At this point, I treat it like a semi-festival. I buy king cake and then suffer because it's Not Good. I buy hyacinths; I mix fancy drinks for offerings. In the years to come I'll have our Mardi Gras/New Orleans shrine set up, but right now toddlers render that too risky.

I promised Jo I'll take her to New Orleans next year. She's not old enough to get why it matters, but it's a point of pride for her that "mommy and me are from Louisiana, and I was borned in New Orleans". We'll go for Muses and she can catch shoes to her heart's content.

[elminx]

The first step of my eggspiriment was a success. We managed to get the goose eggs open and all of the insides out through one hole at the top of each egg. Now we let them sit so the membrane dries out for 24 hours before attempting to candle-ify them. (I'm having so much fun Tumbles! I love trying new things!)

Also, I've never eaten goose eggs before so dinner tonight will be very interesting.

[fragmentedhekatean]

actually I just had a Thought thinking about Lady Hekate. we all know that (especially black) Dogs are sacred to her but I like to think she holds a Tender Place for the dogs that are marginalized and actively harmed and demonized, like Pitbulls and Rottweilers

Pitbulls have been abused so so often and labeled a threat to so many people that they're SO often put down

I like to think the Goddess, who holds dogs as sacred to her, would hold a place next to her for them 🥺🖤

[eldritchboop]

My Harvest results. Pear custard pie and two kinds of roasted squash.

The squash was served with some honey mustard chicken, and whichever we like better will probably get added to the Thanksgiving menu.

I’m not a huge wild hunt follower, but I made sure to spend some time outside and work on my garden, too. The shoulder season is good for spinach and radishes.

Today, we decorate for Halloween!

[starsambrosia]

Something i do enjoy about the gods being so present in day to day life is when im going to do some judgemental stupid shit and i feel one of them near me just watching...almost daring me to do said stupid judgemental shit while they watch me politely shut the fuck up and slowly realize i have absolutely zero right to judge given my wild shit going on 😭

Its usually Athena she welcomed herself in to beat the internaluzed misogynist out of me

But Hermes and Apollo have been helping me be more open minded as of late

Its just nice