Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

She|They Sapphic Aegosexual 21 Aries|Virgo|Leo

[ashetodust]

Dia duit! Welcome to my blog where I'll be speaking of how my craft, education, and lifestyle blend together. I am a witch, studied for 9 years, practiced for 7, and pagan for 1. My main craft is in multiple forms of divination and deity work. But the rest of my craft blends with my daily life too; From routines around the house to my education to my lifestyle that I’m trying to fix. Join me and we can learn together to make the mundane magical.

Rules and Boundaries

I have not, will not, and do not post NSFW content. (NSFW meaning content containing gore, explicitly sexual activity, and encouragement to harm oneself or others)

I will only answer questions about deity worship and deity work when I feel the need to. Not all deities are the same, and parts of my relationship with my deities are my business.

There are a lot of communities I am not a part of. Do not bring questions of appropriation to someone who cannot confidently give you the answers.

Do not enter this blog simply to be hateful or discriminatory. If I have done something wrong, let me know and teach me better in a respectful way. Otherwise, you will be blocked.

My Background

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Asian/White

Education: Currently in college for a B.A. in English

Religious/Spiritual beliefs: Raised Methodist Christian, Currently with a devotion to Aine

Psychological Specifics: Early diagnosis for ADHD, planning on reassessing

[hagoftheholler]

Another discussion I'd like to see happen (reblog with your thoughts): What was the reason you started practicing magic? Why do you keep practicing magic?

[ashetodust]

I started practicing because I wanted to do something that my family couldn't control or convince me to monetize.

I still sort of do it for that reason, but now it's because I believe I am magical and everything I say and do can be magical too.

[kordei]

rb with your star sign and ranking of the four seasons

e.g. gemini - fall winter spring summer

[crazycatsiren]

Aries - fall spring summer winter

[ashetodust]

Aries - Fall Summer Spring Winter

[ashetodust]

Subliminals

I felt the need to make this post. Don't ask why, because all I can answers is that I felt I should.

Do I Think Subliminals Work?

Short answer: Yes, and No.

Do I believe that subliminals can achieve the drastic physical changes they often claim? No, absolutely not. Simply listening to a few frequencies and recorded affirmations alone can not build muscle or clear skin, or anything else that they claim to do.

Do I believe that subliminals can affect your psychological behavior? Yes. Sound and music have been used for multiple purposes. It's used for recreation, ritual, and therapy. It can help reduce stress, influence mood, and inspire ideas.

I use subliminals.

Mostly to help me sleep, as it's a wonderfully consistent stimuli that I can leave running for hours into the night. But I also specifically used ones that claim to induce lucid dreams.

Whether they actually do as they claim or I've put a placebo effect on myself, I'll perhaps not even think of it later. I just noticed that when I do listen to those subliminals, and even a night or two after not playing them, I do create more lucid dreams.

I've also tried the ones that claim to build muscle. It's an hour long and mixes with my current playlist when I sleep. This has been pretty much every night for the past few months and I have not seen a single difference in muscle growth outside of what I gain through workouts.

Why do I think they work?

It's probably the same reason it was popular in the 90's for mothers to play music to their developing babies, under the impression that they'd later give birth to smarter children.

Now, there's obviously not enough scientific evidence in psychology that that specific purpose worked. But studies for that purpose have also revealed that by the third trimester, a baby can recognize their mother's heartbeat, voice, and language.

With subliminals being a similar trend as that, they do work; Just simply not as they claim.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

Since the SCOTUS doesn't think you have the right to hear this, please boost the hell out of the Miranda Warning.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.

If someone knows other languages and can translate this, that would be wonderful because cops are no longer obligated to tell people their rights. This puts everyone but cops at risk. Let's make sure everyone on Tumblr knows.

[windvexer]

what do you "feel" before, during, and after a working of magic? (discussion / ask game)

I think a helpful community discussion would be for people to talk about what they experience, perceive, and feel before/during/after workings of magic.

If we all share, maybe some people will be able to see they are not alone in their experiences :)

When I say "feel", this includes (but is not limited to) concepts such as visualization, psychic input (Hearing, Seeing, Tasting, Touching, etc), emotional shifts, sudden unexpected thoughts, fatigue (physically, mentally, emotionally), and many more.

Feel free to reblog and answer or leave it open as an ask game :D

Do you feel anything special, mystical, or magical while you work magic?

Do you go through any special steps to try and feel things during acts of magic?

Do you TRY to feel anything special while you work magic?

Do you notice any shifts in your state of mind or wellness after you work magic? This includes minutes, hours, days, or more time after the act of magic.

Do you notice any shifts in your state of mind or wellness before you work magic?

Do you enter into altered states of conscious when you work magic, on accident or on purpose?

If you sometimes feel things during spellwork, and other times you do not, do you notice a difference in manifestation?

Do you personally find it necessary to feel things while working magic? Why or why not?

If you actively try to feel things during works of magic, do you find that it is more draining, about the same, or less draining than not trying to feel anything at all?

If you do not feel anything while working magic, do you employ any special techniques to verify what you are doing is actually 'working'?

Is there anything special you sometimes feel during a working of magic that you consider to be an special omen?

How much do you think your mental and emotional state matters when working magic? Do you believe your magic will not work as well unless you are in a certain mental/emotional place?

Do you feel anything special while spells are on their way to manifestation?

Do you feel anything special if a spell is verifiably failing?

Do you feel anything special if a spell vessel is running out of energy and needs to be recharged?

Do you feel anything special if you are failing to raise enough energy during a spell?

If you rely on feelings to guide you during acts of magic, share what you can about these feelings and how they help you :)

Do you feel anything special when working with gods, thoughtforms, or spirits? How is this compare to feelings while working magic?

If you use rituals which call gods or spirits into your working, do you feel a difference before and after they are called?

Do you find there to be a difference in feeling between working small, quick acts of magic, and large/intense acts of magic?

If you often feel things during acts of magic, how might your practice change if this stopped?

Do you feel anything special during successful acts of divination, versus nonsuccessful?

Are there some kinds of magic you work where feeling and experiencing are necessary aspects?

Do you expect to feel things during some acts of magic, but not others?

What is your best advice to someone who is unsure about what they should be feeling during acts of magic, divination, or spirit communication?

[coinandcandle]

Fire Safety and Witchcraft - Quick Witch Tips

Another on my Witchy Quick Tips series! We talk a bit about fire safety and what it means when you practice witchcraft.

When you think of witchcraft, perhaps you think about a cauldron boiling over a fire…or maybe you don't. Either way, fire is a common element used in witchcraft. Whether we're burning things, cooking things, or setting fire to bigots, we use fire often! So let's talk a bit about fire safety.

Fire Safety Tips

In general, when using fire, make sure that you have a fire extinguisher or another way to put out the fire nearby and ready to be used at any moment.

When using candles, do not leave them without supervision.

If you're planning to burn things, first make sure they will not explode, making sure they're generally safe to be set of fire (like paper).

Also, when burning things, make sure you have a fire safe container such as a cast-iron pot, a metal burn barrel or cage. You can also buy a literal cauldron if you'd like! I personally use a fire-safe ceramic bowl that I got from a faire.

Be sure that if you're burning things in any type of vessel, that it is on a heat resistant surface such as a trivet, brick, or stone.

Do not leave any flame unsupervised.

Keep pets and small children away from any open flame.

Make sure your smoke alarms are working if burning things inside.

Also be sure to only burn small items inside and that it is in an open, well ventilated space.

If anyone has anything to add to this list, feel free! -Coin

[ashetodust]

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the desire to perform a bath ritual. But like, with my friends in a hot tub.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Thirty

What do you think of practicing magic in a group setting? What about practicing alone? Why?

I don't mind the idea of covens, but I certainly don't wish to be in one at the moment. I currently study and practice alone, but sometimes I do like to have moments with some of my friends and we'll all just practice our own paths together.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Nine

What role does the archetype of death play in magic to you, if any? Why or why not?

Death's role is difficult to explain, and it's definitely a topic that goes unsaid for the most part. But Death, and all of it's faces, is very important to note.

Death, much like it's tarot card in name, can simply be the end of something. The end of a life, of a relationship, and so on and so forth. But it's also The Dying and The Dead.

It's that phase before death, where you know it's coming and you don't want to say it out loud because that would make it real. It's the phases after death, learning to accept what's ended.

And Death, despite being the end, is unending. It's a lesson that never goes away.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Eight

Do you think that there is any potential in utilizing certain ritual places or “ley-lines” between ritual places? Why or why not?

I think there is potential in utilizing ritual places. I simply haven't made any near me, nor found one that would be open to my practice.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Seven

Do you have an affinity with an animal or type of animal? What does it mean to you? If you don’t, but had to have one, what do you think it would be?

It was kind of my childhood that my friends and I would go on these little fake quiz websites to find our "spirit animals". I know better now to not use that term in that way, but some of my answers would be a wolf, a swan; more or less whatever animal the developer could shove in for a four answer multiple choice quiz.

I don't currently know what animal archetype I am or if I really have an affinity for any animals. But if I did, I think it'd be a rabbit. Rabbits and hares are closely associated with Aine, hence my original interest in them. But they're also high maintenance animals that are affectionate and hyper aware of their treatment and surroundings.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Six

Blessings and protective Magick. Do they work? Would you use them? What do you think of those who do? Why?

Blessings and Protective magick absolutely works. Protective magick is one of the first things most witches learn, so there's more than enough time to perfect one's wards and protections. In fact, protective magic, if practiced well and often, is more powerful than any curse since it could prevent the need to curse in the first place.

I absolutely use protective magic, but I won't speak in depth about it here.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Twenty Five

Curses. Do they work? Would you use them? What do you think of those who do? Why?

I have used curses only twice before, and I didn't get to see if they truly worked. I generally don't like using them unless absolutely necessary.

I don't mind the people who use curse, no matter how often, but I have known witches irl who would use a curse for small drama that could have been handled mundanely. It really depends for me what the curse was for if I know the witch personally.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Four

Are you more aligned with chaos or order in terms of the Magick you have or will practice? What do you think Magick itself is more aligned with?

Personally, I am more aligned with order for what I practice. But I do believe that magick itself naturally fluctuates between order and chaos.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Three

What role do you think dreams play in magical life, if any? Why or why not?

Oh, good lord. Aine, spare my heart.

I have a strange relationship with dreams. My first memorable precognitive dream was way back and possibly one of the most traumatic things I had experienced as a child. I was dream stalked back in middle school with a whole slew of precognitive moments I didn't understand.

I don't have a lot of them anymore. Probably my own doing for my own sake. But in place of them are some rather strange events/plots in my dreams.

Dreams can be difficult to discern between the brain being weird and actual magical workings if you don't hone in on those skills. They can be very good in understanding subconscious needs, but not every dream is going to be helpful or even safe.

[ashetodust]

Roots of Craft: Day Twenty Two

Do you think that tradition is important in witchcraft? Why or why not?

Absolutely. Both tradition and superstition are very important to my view of witchcraft. Folk traditions have well paved the way into some of the practices witches perform now. Superstition is pretty much a leading hand into witchcraft for most girls, as far as my memory is concerned.

My paternal family is very traditional and superstitious. Most folk practices I know stemmed from my great grandmother.

I'm still unfamiliar with my maternal family, but I'm certain there's a lot to learn from them.