#raven digitalis

[00waywardalma00]

So I finally finished reading this book! I think it is a great addition to anyone’s occult library. It was definitely ahead of its time when it was first released and I think any aspiring darkly-inclined person and/or pagan will enjoy it.

Así que por fin termine este libro! Creo que sería una buena adicción a cualquier librería sobre temas esotéricos. Era un libro muy avanzado para su tiempo cuando salió a la venta. Creo que cualquier persona que sea gótico o/y pagano disfrutaría leerlo.

[elhoimleafar]

A Witch Book Stack! #witchbooks #magicbook

[thebotanicalarcade]

n295_w1150 by Biodiversity Heritage Library Via Flickr: Description des plantes rares cultivees a Malmaison et a Navarre Paris :De l'Impr. de P. Didot l'aîné,1813 [i.e., 1812-1817] biodiversitylibrary.org/page/275979

[forthe-theoi]

★ Hekate's Deipnon ★

WHAT IS HEKATE'S DEIPNON?

Hekate's Deipnon (or Hekate's Supper), at its most basic, is described as a religious offering meal given to Hekate and the restless dead once every lunar month on the new moon.

However, there is more to the event than just that. The Deipnon itself contains about two events; the ritual purification (Oxuthumia) and the actual supper (Deipnon). As well as this, many modern polytheists will also do a physical cleaning of the house and ending things that were started the previous month (such as paying off bills, finishing projects, etc.).

OXUTHUMIA

Oxuthumia is the ritual purification of the home before the actual Deipnon.

This purification can include;

cleansing via smoke/incense

sweeping the home

physical cleaning and decluttering

cleaning of any altars/shrines

Many like to include house sweepings in the main offering for the Deipnon, so be sure to save them for that if you want!

THE DEIPNON

The Deipnon itself is the act of giving offerings to Hekate and the restless dead, usually at the crossroads, on the night of the new moon.

Traditionally this was done at some form of crossroads, but if you cannot do this outside for any reason, the offering can be left at the altar.

Usually, the offering consists of:

garlic or leek

a liquid libation, whether wine, honey, water, etc.

eggs

house sweepings (from the Oxuthumia)

You may be wondering, who are the restless dead?

The restless dead are essentially people who have died and not received a proper burial, died violently, or died prematurely. These are what you may see be called 'ghosts'.

One superstition about the Deipnon is, "once you give the offerings at the crossroads, walk back home and don't look back or you may see the restless dead, giving you bad luck". (unfortunately I cant find where I read this, so please take it with a grain of salt).

OTHER WAYS TO CELEBRATE

paying off all bills that need paying

paying off other debts, financial or otherwise

giving thanks or offerings to deities you forgot to during the past month

finishing projects

cleaning or other housework

writing out thank you cards, notes, etc.

getting rid of things no longer needed/wanted

emptying your Kathistkos, if you have one.

EXTRAS

Orphic Hymn to Hekate

translation by Apostolos N. Athanassakis, Benjamin M. Wolkow

Lovely Hekate of the roads and of the crossroads I invoke. In heaven, on earth, then is sea, saffron-cloaked, tomb spirit reveling in the souls of the dead, daughter of Perses, haunting deserted places delighting in deer, nocturnal, dog-loving, monstrous queen, devouring wild beasts, ungirt and repulsive. Herder of bulls, queen and mistress of the whole world, leader, nymph, mountain-roaming nurturer of youths, maiden, I beseech you to come to these holy rites, ever with joyous heart, ever favoring the oxherd.

SOURCES

Circle for Hekate - Volume I by Sorita D'Este

Hekate: Her Sacred Fires by Sorita d’Este, Raven Digitalis, Vikki Bramshaw

Hekate Liminal Rites by Sorita d’Este, David Rankine

[attichaos]

List of recommendations *ongoing* 

Please feel free to add to this list in the comments, I will be adding to this list in the future as well <3

Books

General

→ Spells For Change - Frankie Castanea

→ The Book of Candle Magic - Madame Pamita

-> The Witches Path - Thorn Mooney

→ Witchery - Juliet Diaz

→ The Book Of Spells - Ella Harrison

→ Weave the Liminal - Laura Tempest Zakroff

→ Mastering Magick - Matt Auryn

Green/Elemental

→ Plant Witchery - Juliet Diaz

→ Elixirs, Potions and Brews - Anaïs Alexandre

→ Elements of Witchcraft series (four parts) - Astrea Taylor

→ Wild Witchcraft - Rebecca Beyer

Baneful/Ancestral/Shadow

→ Of Blood and Bones - Kate Freuler

→ Honouring your Ancestors - Mallorie Vaudoise

→ Protection & Reversal Magick - Jason Miller

→ Hex Twisting - Diana Rajchel

→ The Crooked Path - Keldon

→ Walking the Twilight Path - Michelle Belanger

→ A Witch's Shadow Magick Compendium - Raven Digitalis

Astrological

→ Psychic Witch - Mat Auryn

Mythology/Folklore

→ Treasury of Folklore, Woodlands & Forests - Dee Dee Chainey & Willow Winsham

History

→ A History of Magic, Witchcraft and The Occult - DK publishing

Folk Practice

→ Italian Folk Magic - Mary-Grace Fahrun

→ Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft - Madame Pamita

→ Sister Karol's Book of Spells, Blessings, & Folk Magic - Karol Jackowski

Spirit

→ Consorting with Spirits - Jason Miller

→ Encyclopaedia of Spirits - Judika Illes

→ Encyclopaedia of Mystics, Saints, and Sages - Judika Illes

→ The Book of Séances - Claire Goodchild

Reference

→ The Crystal Bible - Judy Hall

→ The Tarot Bible - Sarah Bartlett

→ Sigil Witchery - Laura Tempest Zakroff

→ Year of the Witch - Temperance Alden

→ Encyclopaedia of Spells - Judika Illes

Education

→ Witchcraft Activism - David Salisbury

→ Queering Your Craft - Cassandra Snow

→ Revolutionary Witchcraft - Sarah Lyons

Creators

Multiple Platforms

→ @chaoticwitchaunt 

→ @thewitchofwonderlust 

→ @jaqswitchyways 

Instagram

→ @craftingwitch 

→ @_hearth_witch_ 

→ @the_celestial_witch 

Youtube

→ @thegreenwitch 

Tiktok

→ @terminallyhomosexual 

→ @thecrystalpatch 

→ @astralwitch 

→ @thathoneywitch 

→ @witchy_apothecary 

→ @king_clairvoyant 

→ @sourpatchtarot 

→ @ravensandcrow 

→ @witchycannamom 

→ @theglamourwitchla 

→ @highpriestsiah 

→ @lokiladdusaw 

→ @ofbatbones 

→ @curvyblackwitch 

→ @cautionmagik 

→ @astralarchangel 

→ @onyxsouls 

→ @fairytarotgoddess 

→ @lightwands 

→ @jewitches 

→ @youngblkwitch 

→ @sand.witchh 

→ @jasminesgarden23 

→ @innergymedgroup 

→ @dark.moon.witch

And as always, merry meet,

Atti <3

[icreatewhatibelieve]

You get to choose the lens with which you see the world. Your perception influences your happiness, your health, and your relations. You have the capability, if not responsibility to empathically uplift yourself and others at any given opportunity.

Raven Digitalis

[prettyqueerwitch]

My Spiritual Book TBR's

This is mainly for me to have a comprehensive list but also might help others in finding books to read!

Marked ♡ means I own the book

Read

• Witchery by Juliet Diaz

• The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

• Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

Currently Reading

To Be Read

♡ The Altar Within by Juliet Diaz

♡ Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

♡ Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages by Judika Illes

• Moon Magic by Diane Ahlquist

♡ The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener

♡ Magical Healing by Hexe Claire

• The Long Lost Friend by John George Hohman

• Hex and Spellwork by Karl Herr

♡ Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl

• How to Study Magic by Sarah Lyons

• Love is In The Earth by Melody

• Radical Remedies by Brittany Ducham

♡ Spiritual Ecology by Multiple People (Llewellyn)

♡ A Witch's Shadow Magic Compendium by Raven Digitalis

• The Witch at The Forests Edge by Christine Grace

• Six Ways by Aidan Wachter

♡ Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

• Year of The Witch by Temperance Alden

♡ Weave The Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

♡ The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita and Judika Illes

• The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton

♡ Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne

♡ Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

♡ The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

• Spells for Change by Frankie Castanea

• Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison

♡ Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

♡ The Little Work by Durgadas Allon Duriel

• Entering Hekates Garden by Cyndi Brannen

• Entering Hekates Cave by Cyndi Brannen

• Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort

• The Book of Spells by Ella Harrison

• Plants of the Devil by Corinne Boyer

♡ Besom, Stang, and Sword by Christopher Orapello, Tara-Love Maguire

♡ Inner Witch by Gabriela Herstik

♡ Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

♡ The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish

• Blackthorn's Botanical Magic by Amy Blackthorn

• Astrology for Real Life by Theresa Reed

♡ Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom

• The Trotula by Monica H. Green

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community by Crystal Blanton, Taylor Ellwood, and Brandy Williams

• God Against the Gods by Jonathan Kirsch

• Pure Magic by Judika Illes

• Folk Magic by Mari Silva

• Witches Herbal Primer by Amy Cesari

♡ New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcherson

•Magical Folk Healing by DJ Conway

• The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick

♡ Lady of The Night by Edain McCoy

♡ Spellcraft for a Magical Year by Sarah Bartlett

♡ The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook by Catlín Matthews

♡ Natural Magic by Pamela Ball

♡ Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox

♡ The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk

♡ Mastering Magick by Mat Auryn

♡ In-focus Crystals by Bernice Cockram

♡ The Complete Grimoire by Lidia Pradas

• The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes

And that took a while but we're done! Will probably update this as I go <3

[belladonna-moon]

There was a post I saw today talking about focusing less on researching witchcraft and more on actually experiencing things, I can’t find it anymore but I saw this quote on Raven Digitalis’ essay on “Hekate: Her Sacred Fires” and I found it very fitting so here it is:

“Magick, I believe, requires a balance of academia and experience; of the mental and the emotional”

[sourrcandy]

WTW GHOST GALA ↳ week 01 ; knights

psd template by @destimnesia

day 01. pumpkin carving ; you have to kill off a character, who do you choose?

marcus bryce. for obvious reasons.

day 02. raven ; create a tagline for your wip.

Only in death can one take the mantle.

day 03. crystal ball ; outline a scene, act, or your entire wip.

a sneak peek into chapter 15 (stolen from my outline): following cordelia's announcement, sera goes to maverick to look for aunt regina, who holds the most shares in clemonte corp. we find out that she is an infamous Knight and the hitwoman of the Round Table with high af body counts. she gives sera a warning: with arthur gone, the underworld will only fester and grow more rotten, only when there is a power above to keep them in check will the district run smoothly

day 04. fallen leaves ; create a playlist for your wip.

tide by niki , daddy issues by the neighbourhood , battle royale by apashe and panther , super rich kids by frank ocean , that bitch by bea miller , dictator by rei ami , glory by the score , ain’t it funny by danny brown , kingdom by jaxson gamble , eye for an eye by rina sawayama , don quixote by seventeen , smoke by dynamicduo and lee youngji (watch swf2)

day 05. jack o’ lantern ; share an interesting fact you found while researching your wip.

i am now a botanist /j. but i found out that foxglove flowers (aka digitalis) are poisonous and fatal when ingested. they look pretty but damn, they're deadly.

day 06. vampire ; tell us where you find your motivation and inspiration.

by consuming a ton of media. also when i brain dump on my friends and talk to someone about my wip!! right now, inspiration for knights comes from kdramas ballerina and my name, as well as narcos and mission impossible.

day 07. skeleton ; have a favourite plot structure? if not, share how you plot!

i used to be an pantser, but i have gotten better at outlining. you can say it has become a motivation for me lmaoo. 

day 08. trick or treat ; set some writing goals and milestones for your wip.

the knights wc goal is 150k and i've already only 39k on the doc :( you can tell i've been very slow in progress but hey, we're getting there!! my earliest chapters are like 4-5k average which is a little out of hand BUT i'm hoping to spread out the scenes more and slow down the main 4 protagonists' stupidity lol

gen tag!! (send an ask to be added/removed) @kazino @halcionic @cianawrites @janaisvu @ninazeniks @ambrosiadarling @perditism @serpentarii @seasteading @lasbrumas @sympathyhouse

[jasper-pagan-witch]

The Four Agreements, The Te of Piglet, Practical Black Magic by Sophia diGregorio, Year of the Witch by Temperance Alden, Book of Crystal Healing by Liz Simpson, Shadow Magick Compendium by Raven Digitalis, Light Magic for Dark Times, Circle Round, Circle Cove and Grove, Cassandra Easons Illustrated Crystal whatever book, Spellcasting by Michael Furie, Basic Witches, Spiritual Alchemy by Jenny Tyson, A Witches Bible, Wicca a Year and a Day, Wiccapedia.

Anything by Cunningham, Judika Illes, Skye Alexander, Nikki van de car, Tess Whitehurst, Cerridwn Greenleaf, Harmony Nice, Raymond Buckland...

Same for these, I wish I had a little more information.

~Jasper

[beyond-jung]

the holy child

The healing, compassionate and enlightened aspects of the Holy Child are mirrors of who we can be. We are children of the gods and our influence echoes through the planes.

         --Raven Digitalis, Shadow Magic Compendium

[elhoimleafar]

The Empath's Oracle | Raven Digitalis & Konstantin Bax 💙

Check how beautiful this oracle deck is 😙😄❤️ Hand-painted with acrylics, the figures and colors are hypnotizing. The deck created by Raven Digitalis (Hawaii) author of Planetary Spells & Rituals and Goth Craft, and illustrated by Konstantin Bax (Germany) who has exhibited his paintings in Austria and USA, invites you to meditate and lose yourself with his figures, lines and abstract drawings in order to shape your own visions and emotions in a different and more liberal way than usual.

Published by Llewellyn Worldwide and Available in your favorite physical/virtual bookstore 💙

[witchmums]

Unleashing the Beasts

I’ve been thinking a lot about witchcraft, magic, darkness and the shadow side of... well everything. I’m not talking about curses necessarily, though these would fit in this overall theme-- I’m talking more generally about working with not just ‘white magic’ or the peaceful feeling of working with ‘nature’ as imagined as a sun dappled meadow surrounded by trees and filled with wildflowers. I’m talking about the mud and the storms, the shadows, the aspects often feared like the Tower card in tarot or the planets in retrograde. These do not represent evil, but they do often evoke or symbolize that which is difficult, that which is hidden, that which we would rather put high on a shelf in a dark closet and forget it’s there. But lately, I’ve been receiving message after message in my practice that it’s time to be pulling it out, dusting it off, and embracing it. And since we’ve had some asks recently about whether certain practices will attract dark forces, I decided to bring y’all along for the ride. 

First of all, witchcraft is not inherently tied to anything evil. Witchcraft is simply a way of interacting with the world and trying to influence the outcome. Can a witch-- even a ‘good witch’--  curse someone? Certainly. Can a witch invoke something dark and evil? It’s possible. But it is predominantly due to a Christian morality that witchcraft is assumed to be inextricably linked to evil, and it’s a belief that I reject out of hand.

I do think many witches are more open to the idea of working with the shadow side of things, because we do not see them as inherently evil but instead as the necessary counterpoint to lightness. It is this acceptance and embrace of the shadows, though, that gives witches a reputation for evil -- because when you (cough-Christianity-cough) labels darkness ‘unclean’ or ‘base’ or ‘evil,’ that’s what happens to anyone associated with darkness regardless of their intent and true work. Further, I think it’s worth exploring what we think the dark forces from beyond the veil can or will do that is worse than the evil we already have here in our world? There is already hatred and violence and despair, so instead I see witchcraft as one possibility that has the strength to work against those forces, or to turn them in a different direction for a different outcome. 

“Those who practice shadow magick do not worship the darkness but seek to understand it and actualize it for positive ends. Embracing the darkness is part of divine balance. While some would like to disregard the darker aspects of Deity and pretend they don’t exist, that whole half of the spectrum is waiting to be understood. While it may be comfortable to believe that spirituality is pure blissful light, this is only half of the equation. Spirit is the paradox; it is both, it is neither. We would not have the light gods if it weren’t for the dark ones, and vice versa. Nearly all occult paths, including Witchcraft, emphasize balance rather than pure light or pure darkness.“

--Raven Digitalis, from “The Shadow Magick Compendium”

Just as we cannot live without the sun, neither can we live in constant light. Night, darkness, the underground, and shadows can represent rest and the opportunity to go inward rather than always looking outward. This introspection and self-reflection is absolutely essential to maintaining a strong and fulfilling practice. 

Finally, remember that witchcraft and magic is about intent. Remember that what you fixate on is what you manifest. If you do magic while fixating on fear and darkness, especially without recognizing and accounting for that fixation, that is what you can attract or create. But if you recognize the fear ahead of time, you can manage for it. If you recognize and embrace the fear, you can use it. And of course, before doing magic, ground and center yourself. Ward or shield if that feels good to you, and then proceed with your working. Focus on the good that you are trying to manifest, not on the bad that you fear. But again... darkness isn’t bad. It’s just that the good is harder to see. 

[maddiviner]

Studying today, hoping to stay focused. 

I’ve always thought that this book was one of the best on this topic. Above, you can see, also, the small jar of hand cream I made, with rosemary, mint, mica, and lemon. 

Enchanted, to help me absorb information better.

[korolevamargot-iz-moskvy-blog]

Another surprise birthday gift from a sibling contains more unsolicited witchitude! This sister is a therapist and she picked out this book for me because she thinks it "combines our interests." From a glance it kind of looks like DBT for witches? It has a definite pagan lean and I'm not pagan myself, but I'm still interested in giving it a read! This past year has made me really appreciate my sibs. It took me such a long time to realize that they love me.

[full-as-much-heart]

Digitalis purpurea ‘Sutton’s Apricot’. Photograph: Gap Photos

Planting biennials for next year