CountessKaos

Hi, I go by the name Katarina. I'm just a little witch living in the countryside. This blog serves as my witchy musings. I like to teach and learn. 

[marimoes]

People will be understandably concerned about climate change but the minute someone complains about the impact climate change is having on their life they're mocked and told "you think that's hot?"

Multiple countries in Europe are experiencing wildfires right now and multiple firefighters have died, it's hotter in London than it is in the Sahara, rivers are drying up and crops are failing.

Why does this always turn into a massive dick-measuring contest about who can handle the heat better? Every country has an infrastructure based on its usual climate. People live in houses designed for their usual weather, People in usually temperate climates don't have air conditioning and if everyone suddenly installed it, it'd put unbelievable pressure on the power grid. And with the rising cost of energy and inflation, do you think most people can afford it anyway? That's even if it was suddenly widely available (which it isn't in many places)

The weather is killing crops and drying up water sources. If you think the rising cost of food due to energy costs is bad, just wait until the crop yields are substantially lower this year.

So be thoughtful. Climate change will impact us all.

[hagoftheholler]

Person: I was doing spellwork using a candle I had dressed with oils and herbs, and the candle's flame spiked up so much! The candle melted so quickly after that, I think that means it worked!

Another Person: I lit my 7-day deity candle that was dressed with dried herbs and the flame went wild! I think that's a sign the deity like it!

Me: Your candles are literally coated with oils and herbs that are flammable and therefore will catch fire. They are dressed to the point where you can hardly see the candle anymore. What you have is a fucking fire hazard.

[countesskaos]

Budget Witchcraft Part 1 - Herbalism

I wanted to share some of my money saving tips for witchcraft, especially for beginners. There’s so much choice out there now, especially expensive choice, witchcraft shouldn’t be an expensive practice, our ancestors used only what they had available, so should we. In this post I’ll go through some money saving tips for using herbs within your craft, you don’t need to buy expensive packets of herbs or even have an extensive herb collection.

1. Get to know the wildflowers and plants native to your area and region and reference them in books and use those in your craft. Many herbs have several uses and are often not the only herb with a particular use. These herbs are free and usually abundant Disclaimer - Do not forage wild plants unless you are 100% sure without a doubt that you know what it is, do not even touch a plant unless you know what it is. There is a high chance of coming across a toxic plant. Also, never take more than 20% of a plant within a particular area.

2. Research herbs with multiple uses. For example, rosemary is a great all-round substitute herb and can be used for most purposes when you lack a required ingredient. Stay away from single use herbs if you won’t use them that much, save your money and substitute it for something else.

3. Start an herb garden if you can. You don’t need to have a lot of space or even money. Grab some seed packets for a couple of $ and you can start. Most common herbs will happily grow on a windowsill or balcony with the right care. The beauty of this is, most plants are more than one use, they grow back and you can harvest them again and again. You don’t need expensive planters, you can start seeds from just the cardboard from toilet paper if you need to. If you have the space and capacity to compost, use that too! There are many inexpensive and space effective ways to grow your herbs.

4. For spices, you don't have to spend a lot of money on the herb jars from grocery stores, loose leaf tea often has what you need and is often more cost effective than buying the spice jars (this point entirely depends on your country!)

5. Lastly, utilise cuttings! Some (if not most?) plants can be grown from cuttings. If you have a friend who is also into herbalism, trade some cuttings! Just pop some rooting powder on the cut part (some plants will do fine without this step - just research first) and place it in a clear jar of water for a few weeks and watch the roots grow!

I hope you found this helpful - let me know what you think or if you have any more budget herbalism tips!

Katarina x

[marshland09]

Offerings

I don’t think a lot of witches and pagans in general realize that you can offer actions to your deities

Even though Offering a tomato is a one time thing,

Growing a tomato can be something for ages.

Every single time you water the plant, de-weed the area, etc, that can be an offering

These kinds of things are especially good when you are working in the city, or in a college dorm like I am.

Dedicate a walk to them. Or a meditation if that’s your thing.

Have a little cactus you care for in their name

Create poetry or read something

[countesskaos]

Where did I go?

So, I’ve been gone for about 6 years now. It was so long I couldn’t even remember my username.

I wanted to share a little bit of why I was gone and maybe some other witches can relate.

When I started this blog, I was in a relatively good place mentally, I had my craft under control and things were going well. Then adult life got in the way. I began to fall into the capitalist way of life - I lived to work. I found a job that I love and that took over. I quickly realised this job was killing me both mentally and physically. I had a cancer scare at 26, I lost interest in any hobbies I had, I no longer created art, I no longer played music. All of this lead to a breakdown two years ago. All of my trauma that I had pushed away had resurfaced because I mentally could not keep it under control any longer and I broke down. This all cumulated in a loss of touch with witchcraft. I didn’t practice or pick up a book in almost 4 years.

I’m so happy to say I’m doing a lot better now thanks to therapy, self-care and many other amazing tools. I’ve been actively practicing again for about a year and I’ve forged a new path for myself and I’m living probably the most authentically I ever have been.

I’m not sharing this to garner sympathy or any other reason other than to be transparent and open about struggles that many of us face. I hope to be more active on this blog and I’m going to completely re-do my page over the next few days but I wanted to reconnect with this place I once loved. I hope you’ll have me back.

Katarina xox

[countesskaos]

I’m Back

I’m back in the land of Tumblr after about a year off!  Thanks to all followers old and new, I look forward to interacting with you. <3

[countesskaos]

Touch the earth, let your spirit rest in her solitary places.

[chrissongzzz]

Reblog if you'll PUBLICLY answer anything in your ask right now.

[countesskaos]

Ask away :)

[thistletongue]

“Just don’t curse”

I’m honestly curious. On posts that claim cursing is alright and cursing is ok why do people feel like they need to add their opposing demands?

“Don’t curse!” they cry out.

Why?

Why can’t we curse?

“The Threefold Law!”

Incorrect!

The Three Fold Law was originally published in a fictional work titled High Magic’s Aid by Gerald Gardner.

The story is about two brother’s who set out to reclaim their land. In an interview in 1991 Valiente states, “I think old Gerald cooked it up in one of his rituals, and people took it terribly literally.” (Valiente was an early initiate and high priestess of Gardner, being initiated by him in 1953. She is sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Witchcraft” because of her extensive collaboration with Gardner in reworking his notes into a more formal book of shadows. One of her more most well-know contributions is the poetic form of the Charge of the Goddess.)

Belief in the simple law of cause and effect is a popular one among witches of all traditions; however, this particular way of expressing it [the three-fold law] seems to have originated with the Gardnerians and is peculiar to their English tradition. Gardnerians who did not work with Lady Owen or Raymond Buckland did not have this emphasis on a three-fold return. Unlike the Crowthers, however, Valiente, along with several other coven members split from Gardner around 1960 due to his habit of presenting his personal opinions as law.[x] Through my research on the topic, though it not completely thorough, many Wiccans and witches agree that the words of one person are not law. Many also agree that witches should not be held to a special set of law and rules simply because they practice witchcraft. 

“The Wiccan Rede!”

Incorrect!

The Wiccan Rede is not the same thing, though it too was created by a single person. Those who practice NeoWicca do NOT have to follow any rules or laws put forth by specific traditions.

 I would also like to emphasize that Gardnerian Wicca is based on initiation and is therefore a closed practice. It is not a title one should claim unless initiated. That being said plenty of Wiccans do not follow the Three Fold Law or The Rede. Those aspects of Wicca apply to very specific traditions in specific practices. If you are at all interested in Wicca I urge you to research “rules” and “laws” before simply accepting them as such.

“Bad Karma!”

Incorrect!

That isn’t how karma works. [x] [x]

“Cursing is only ok when….”

Incorrect!

You don’t get to judge what is “ok” for other people.  You weren’t elected, selected or asked. Your own moral values are not the same as other, stop forcing them onto other people.

Stop telling people cursing is “bad” or “isn’t ok”.

“What goes around comes around.” 

Incorrect!

This isn’t a good reason. That is a belief you are personally invested in. That doesn’t mean anyone else has to follow it.

I don’t believe in it. I’ve seen people lie, cheat, steal and physically abuse others and nothing ill has ever come of it. I’ve seen people help those in need, go above and beyond, and honestly want to just help others lose everything. Newborns dying of horrible, painful diseases. Animals being tortured. People dying in wars they want no part of. I don’t believe in “what goes around comes around”. If you personally don’t curse thats fine. Stop policing pro-cursing posts because you feel like people aren’t paying you enough attention. I have never once seen a good reason to not curse. At the core, at it’s origin, witchcraft was born of cursing, of hexes, of spoiling milk and killing livestock…. These are the roots of witchcraft. To say anything otherwise is pretty talk and a complete ignorance to the true history of the craft itself.

[countesskaos]

Hallelujah!

[witchy-thoughts]

Witch Tip

Draw sigils on your skin and charge them with the blood pumping through your vains. Draw sigils on your phone case and charge them when you charge your phone. Draw sigils on everything and charge them with the power in that object. Go wild.

[expiredmoon-blog]

New moon bay wish

On a night of New Moon, take a bay leaf and write your wish, then take it outside, look at the sky (where the moon is, but you cannot see it) and kiss the leaf three times, now sleep with this leaf under your pillow until your wish comes true…(a book says for this same spell, that if you see the bay leaf in your dreams then your wish will sure come to life)

[countesskaos]

Tonight is a new moon, try out this wish spell!

[thecuriousviolet-deactivated201]

Stormcraft//

(taken from various sources and some personal stuff toooo. Someone requested all my knowledge on storm witchery so here ya goo)

Tools of the Trade// • Broken branches can be used as wands • Stones • Ashes • Storm Water • Storm Mud • Drums • Rain Water • Hail/Snow • Whistling

Storm Water// • Chaos • Struggle • Emotions • Weathering a storm • Power • Good for protection • Good for curses

Whistling the Wind// • A traditional practice in many aboriginal and indigenous cultures (in some native American myths about hunting bears, it was considering very bad luck to whistle on the way, as it would summon the winds and give away your position-Yikes!) • Low pitch whistle: a light breeze • High pitch whistle: large gust of wind

Storm Casting// • Burning pansy, heather and saffron ( rain-bring and wind-calling herbs) • Stirring water clockwise in either a hole in the ground or a bowl and whistling • Sending a large burst of energy into a cumulus cloud (my personal favorite but you have to be VERY careful to properly visualize what kind of storm you want or you could end up with a doozy)

Storm Catching// • Catching and binding a storm in a bottle or jar and putting it away for later use • Can also use ropes and knot magick for this • I personally like to suck in air (an anti-whistle?) as if I am attracting the storm to me

Preventing a Storm// • “blow it away” using whistling and weather maps

Good herbs for Storm witches// • Saffron (to call the wind) • Heather (rain-bringing) • Pansy (rain-making)

Good stones for Storm Witches// • Pietersite (also known as the Tempest stone) • Hemimorphite • Azurite • Malachite • Nebula Stone • Lapis Lazuli

To make a Storm’ Witches Bath// • Sea salt • Heather • Saffron • Pansy • Rosemary • I totally take this chance to stir the water in the bath and whistle to summon storms

Nephelomancy: Cloud Colors// • White: good fortune • Golden: prosperity and abundance • Silver: blessings and riches • Red: warning • Orange: vibrancy, lively • Brown: cloudy future, caution • Green: fruitful, beginnings • Blue: travel, movement • Black: self-realization, difficult times ahead

More Nephelomancy// http://thecuriousviolet.tumblr.com/post/123989828757/cloud-magick

Creatures related to Storms// • Aer (Fae that control the weather) • Thunderbird (Native American creature that brings lightning) • Sylph (Wind Fae) • Shang Yang (Chinese rain bird) • Lightning Bird (African bird that brings lightning) • Cursor (messenger/cloud fae)

(I should note here that not all of these creatures are open to work with. They are only listed for educational and informative purposes. I have listed Thunderbirds as ‘Native American’ because there are a many many different tribes who recognize this being. Obviously as a fellow ndn, I want people to be educated on our culture, so that appropriation can be avoided. Hence this disclaimer Thunderbirds, Shang Yang, and Lightning Birds are part of closed cultures, which means that even if you attempt to work with them, nothing will happen, and you will have appropriated someone’s culture in the process. That is bad luck, and its best to respect that culture from afar, but dont meddle where you are not welcome.)

Super awesome storm witch blogs you should totally follow:

@stormbornwitch

@stormsorceress

@norse-storm-witch

because most of what I learned I totally learned from them and they are super kickass and their posts are really helpful. The storm casting, whistling winds, and such is info I learned from Stormborn, and I think  I learned the properties of storm water from Sorceress? I seriously absorb so much info its hard to keep my cards straight but you should totally check them all out.

[countesskaos]

Sorry for my absence

Hi everyone, As you may have noticed, I've been fairly inactive for the past few months, I wish things were more exciting but work took over my life. Now things are a lot calmer. I have big plans for myself, my blog, my journey and my future. I'm going to be starting an Etsy shop in the next month or so where I'll be selling some awesome things that I'll unveil in the coming weeks, I'll be updating my blog far more frequently. I love to hear from you guys so feel free to message me if you have questions about anything witchy/spiritual related and I'll try my best to help. It's great to be back and I can't wait to share my exciting happenings with you.

[countesskaos]

I recently got back from vacation in New Orleans. I had the pleasure of learning so much about their voodoo culture. I can't wait to learn more and share my journey.

[countesskaos]

I was wondering if you could help me out with a spell..

I can try... your question is not very specific. :)

[countesskaos]

Common courtesy among witches

Here are some key points we should all note when dealing with other witches. 

Their path is not your path, don’t act like it is. 

Don’t demand or feel entitled to others’ knowledge. Do your own research first before asking.

Don’t bash other witches paths. You don’t agree with what they follow? Don’t follow that path yourself. 

We’ve all dealt with spells backfiring or not working, don’t sit there and make someone feel like crap because their spell didn’t work.

Don’t bash other witches because you disagree with their morals behind certain spellwork. They want to hex someone? Unless they’re hexing you, leave them to it. 

Don’t bash witches who practice “dark” magic, there’s light and dark in everything. It’s all about balance. 

Most of all, be helpful, courteous and friendly. We’re all going through this path together and we’re all siblings of the craft who need friends alike. 

[breelandwalker]

Addendum:

NEVER compare witch trials or witch hunts, from any period in history, to the Holocaust.

[warlock-blackrose]

…And don’t confuse Wicca with witchcraft. (One is a religion and one is a craft.)

[countesskaos]

I literally just posted about this :D

[nature-is-punk]

Witches Reblog If...

• New, young, or considering witches can ask you questions

• Your blog is free of hate and is a safe learning community (this includes bashing christians/non-pagans)

• No questions (as long as they aren’t creepy) will be laughed at or shamed

• It’s okay to ask you for advice or opinions, even if you are an experienced witch.

• Your blog is inviting and welcoming and is a space for education on the craft.

I will follow you, because tumblr needs more of these witches.

[awitchfromthesouth-deactivated2]

Cannot agree more!

[countesskaos]

Exactly ❤