Enby Witch Bitch

El, 22yo (they/them). Queer Christian witch. English teacher. Sideblog. Main (inactive): ace-of-aros

[sosuperawesome]

Forest and Pumpkin Dragons

Alena Bobrova on Etsy

[chamelloart]

i take up space and that is okay, because so do the trees and the mushrooms and the moon. and that is okay.

[thewatercouldcover]

are people online really promoting the idea that each crystal has a “lifespan” metaphysically and should be replaced after that time? that’s not sustainable and holy shit what kind of idiot really believes that a rock can sit nicely for 300 million years and still keep its ~ magic ~ but also believe that you have to replace your stone after 4-5 months because it’s “not magical anymore”

[useful-creature]

Holy fuckin nutballs is this really a thing that people believe? 

[spellbookbitch]

Anyway, another square for capitalism infesting spirituality bingo

[chiaroscurolife]

Catch me buying expired crystals half off

[thewatercouldcover]

you win this post, i can no longer go through my day without thinking about ‘buying expired crystals half off’

[thehazeldruid]

Aang’s Revival

*A Ritual Bath/ Shower and Meditation based on Aang returning from being frozen in the iceberg to restore and refresh yourself*

Ritual Bath/ Shower

What You Need

A couple calming songs

Your favorite scent of soap (bar or gel, doesn’t matter)

If you can, get a shower disk or bath bomb or loose herbs. (Things like lavender, basil, chamomile, lemon balm or green tea are good for cleansing and refreshing.) *MAKE SURE YOU AREN’T ALLERGIC AND THAT THE HERBS YOU”RE USING ARE SAFE*

A blue candle (wisdom, calm, protection)

A white candle (healing, purification)

What To Do

Turn on the music, light the candles. Start with colder water (as cold as you can comfortably start with) and let the water wash over you. As this is happening, the chill that you feel, visualize it solidifying around you. Everything you are, mind, body and soul, visualize it encased in that cold, as if it were a giant sphere of ice.

Say “Rest now weary soul, in cold water deep. Dream of a better tomorrow, in your needed sleep.”

Now, turn the water temperature up. Hot, but not so hot as to burn yourself. Add the herbs, and wash yourself at this point. Relax. Be at ease. Let the warmth slowly take over your entire body. Imagine that sphere of ice melting away, as it does, and as you wash yourself, imagine the negativity, anger, sadness, anything that you no longer wish to feel, being washed away.

Say “I rise above the water’s tides, and I no longer wish to hide. As warmth returns to my bones, I am revived and I am reborn. The troubles of the past rinse away, and I will be refreshed today.”

Continue washing yourself and when you are done, simply relax and enjoy the warm water and cleanliness. Once you feel ready, get out and put on comfortable clothes to prepare for the meditation.

Meditation

What You Need

The same candles from the shower, serving the same purposes.

Natural light if you can, and fresh air, if it’s warm enough out to be outside or sit in a room with open windows

Sage incense for clarity

More of the calming music if it helps you meditate

What To Do

Get comfortable, breathe slow and even.

Close your eyes. The darkness around you is not scary or oppressive. It is safe and warm. At the center of the this darkness is an orb of light.

You realize, you are at the center of that light, encased in that orb, protectively.

This you within the light is the you with the potential for growth and change. The clean slate of yourself that is ready to become more than you were before.

Slowly, with every breath, the orb rises through the surrounding darkness, which is still neither scary nor oppressive, it simply is. You are safe within the orb of light. As it rises, you realize it is rising toward the surface of the darkness.

As the orb finally breaks through the surface of the vast ocean of darkness, the orb becomes solid, as if made of glass or ice. You are still safe and you are now warmer, as the light from above joins the light emanating from within the orb, from within you.

Open your eyes. Reach out, touch the orb/ bubble that surrounds you. As you touch it, it pops, bursting into a thousand tiny diamond droplets, each reflecting the light from you and the sun in a brilliant rainbow all around you.

Breathe in the fresh air. Feel the warmth of the light on your skin. You are free of the troubles of the past. You are refreshed and reborn. You can become anything you wish.

It is done.

-This is an adaptation of one of my personal meditations for renewal and refreshing. A meditation to leave behind the old, accepting what was and is, and move forward into the future knowing we are capable of anything-

Good Luck and Happy Casting Witches!

M.G.

The Basil Druid

[my-witchy-journal]

🌼SOME FLOWERS IN WITCHCRAFT🌼

Abundance: Arnica

Balance: Heather

Banishing negative energy: Lilac, Snapdragon

Beauty: Amaryllis, Pentas, Wolf’s Bane

Clairvoyance: Poppy, Queen Anne’s Lace

Communication: Datura (with Deities), Foxglove (with Fae), Pansy

Courage: Geranium, King Protea

Creativity: King Protea

Divination: Chicory, Damiana, Datura, Hibiscus, Pansy, Poppy, Rose

Dreams: Calendula (psychic dreams), Dandelion, Datura, Poppy

Energy: Carnation, Sunflower (sun energy)

Exorcism: Angelica, Dandelion, Datura, Henbane, Lilac

Fertility: Daffodil, Damiana, Foxglove, Geranium, Heather, Myrtile, Poppy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Sunflower

Friendship: Hydrangea, Passion Flower

Happiness: Calendula, Hyacinth, Lily of the Valley, Pansy, Scarlet Pimpernel, Sunflower, Tulip

Harmony: Gardenia, Iris, Jasmine, Lavender, Poppy, Rose, Violet

Healing: Arnica, Angelica, Calendula, Carnation, Chicory, Gardenia, Geranium, Heather, Lavender, Rose, Scarlet Pimpernel, Vervain

Hope: Daisy, Violet

Innocence: Daisy, Freesia

Invisibility: Poppy, Wolf’s Bane

Joyfulness: Birds of Paradise

Love: Buttercup, Daffodil, Daisy, Damiana, Datura, Foxglove, Gardenia, Geranium, Heather, Hibiscus, Hyachint, Iris, Jasmine, Lavender, Lilac, Orchid, Pansy, Pentas, Poppy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Tulip, Vervain, Violet, Yarrow Flower

Luck: Carnation, Chicory, Daffodil, Dandalion, Honeysuckle, Poppy, Violet

Lust: Damiana, Heather, Hibiscus, Queen Anne’s Lace

Marriage: Buttercup, Yarrow Flower

Money: Bergamot, Chamomile, Honeysuckle

Passion: Chamomile, Passion Flower, Rose

Patience: Aster

Peace: Gardenia, Iris, Lavender, Passion Flower, Poppy, Violet

Pleasure: Sweet Pea

Prosperity: Jasmine, Poppy

Protection:  Angelica, Arnica, Carnation, Datura, Dogwood, Foxglove, Geranium, Heather, Holly, Hyacinth, Lilac, Lily, Marigold, Rose, Scarlet Pimpernel, Snapdragon, Tulip, Vervain, Violet, Wolf’s Bane

Psychic Ability: Arnica, Calendula, Damiana, Orchid, Rose, Moonflower

Purification: Chicory, Dandelion, Lavender

Relaxation: Chamomile, Jasmine, Lavender, Poppy, Vervain

Removal of Curses/Breaking Hexes: Chicory, Datura, Hydrangea, Lily

Second sight: Henbane, Queen Anne’s Lace, Scarlet Pimpernel

Sensuality: Heather

Sexuality: Damiana, Foxglove

Sleep: Chamomile, Elderflower, Linden, Poppy, Violet

Spirit: Arnica (keeps unwanted spirits at bay), Bergamot (lifts spirit), Dandelion (summoning spirits), Heather (conjuring spirits), Honeysuckle

Spirituality: Jasmine, Queen Anne’s Lace, Rose

Strength: Carnation, Chicory

Success: Bergamot, Chicory, Sunflower

Tranquility: Lavender, Poppy, Rose, Violet

Transformation: Datura, King Protea, Moonflower, Scarlet Pimpernel

Vision: Angelica, Damiana, Datura

Vitality: Carnation

Wealth: Elderflower, Honeysuckle, Jasmine

Wisdom: Henbane

🌈Flower Colours and Magical Correspondences🌈

BLACK AND DARK BURGUNDY: The Crone,  banishing, breaking hexes, and removing negativity

BLUE: Element of water,  healing, sleep, and peace

BROWN AND  BEIGE:  Home,  stability,  and pets

GREEN: The God, element of earth,   faeries, healing, money, luck and fertility

PINK:  Friendship, children, affection and love

PURPLE: Power, psychic abilities and passion

RED: The Mother, element of fire, lust, love, sex, healing and protection

WHITE: The Maiden,  all  purpose, purification, protection,  and moon magick

YELLOW: Element of air, wisdom, mental powers,and divination 

ORANGE: Energy, vitality, and success

🌻🍂Flowers of the Month🍃❄️

January: carnation (bestows energy, healing), snowdrop (symbolizes new beginnings)

February: violet (love, protection), primrose (protection, love)

March: daffodil (fertility, love)

April: sweet pea (friendship, strength), daisy (love), lily (keeps negative influences away  [White: symbol for the archangel Gabriel])

May: lily of the valley (perks you up, lifts your spirits [all part of the flower are mildly toxic, should not be ingested]), hawthorn (fertility, happiness, good luck in fishing)

June: rose (love), honeysuckle (prosperity)

July: larkspur (health, protection), water lily (healing, emotions, psychic powers [use it in water spells, rituals])

August: gladiola (ending relationships, ending situations,), poppy (luck, prosperity)

September: morning glory (can be used in binding spells, peace, happiness), aster (can be used in love spells)

October: calendula (strength, healing, justice)

November: chrysanthemum (protection, protects you from negativity)

December: holly (protection, male plant), ivy (fidelity, love, female plant)

🔱Goddesses and Associated Plants🔱

APHRODITE: Violet, Morning glory, Rose, Linden, Heather, Queen Anne’s Lace, Daisy and all true blue flowers      

APOLLO: Arnica, Henbane

ARADIA: Rue, Vervain, Verbena

ARIANRHOD: Linden

ARTEMIS: Artemesia, Daisy, Damiana    

ASTRAEA: Aster, Michaelmas daisy

BAST: Catnip

BIL: Henbane

BRIGHID OR BRIDE: Dandelion,  Crocus, Helebores          

CERNUNNOS: Chamomile

CERRIDWEN: Vervain/verbena

CHRONOS: Henbane

CYBELE: Chrysanthemum

DEMETER OR CERES: Red Poppy

DIANA: Rue, Henbane, Rose

DRYADS: Daisy

FAE: Daisy

FREYA:  Maidenhair fern, Daisy, Rose, Primrose and Arnica

GANESHA: Damiana

HADES: Datura

HATHOR: Rose

HECATE: Cyclamen, Lavender, Willow, Hensbane, Datura, Wolf’s Bane and Monkshood (aconite)

HEL: Chrysanthemum

HERA:   Iris, Willow

HESTIA: Passion Flower

HOLDA: Rose in full bloom

HYPNOS: Passion Flower

IRIS: Iris, Rose

ISIS: Rose, Heather and purple  Iris

JUNO: Iris

JUPITER: Carnation

KALO: Hibiscus

LADY OF GUADALUPE:  Red and pink roses, Poinsettias

LILITH:  Lily; Deep-Red, Thorny, Garden-Style Roses

LUNA: Queen Anne’s Lace

MAE LABRAID: Heather

MAIA: Scarlet Pimpernel

MARS: Daffodil

MEDEA: Lavender

MERCURY: Chamomile

MINERVA: Thistle, Olive, and Mulberries              

NATURAJA: Datura

NECHTAN: Heather

NEPHTHYS: Lily

OESTRE: Daisy

OSHUN: Chamomile, Yarrow Flower

PERSEPHONE:   Parsley, Pomegranate, Henbane

RA: Arnica, Chamomile

SATURN: Datura, Lavender

SELENE: Rose, Bluebell, Nicotiana, Queen Anne’s Lace   and all white and night-blooming flowers

SHANGO: Hibiscus

SHAVA: Linden

SHIVA: Datura

ST. ANNE: Chamomile

VENUS: Violet, Morning glory,  Rose, Hibiscus, Queen Anne’s Lace, Heather and all true blue flowers    

YEMAYA: Passion Flower, Yarrow Flower

ZEUS: Damiana

Source: Garden Witchery - Magic from the ground up by Ellen Dugan 

[obscurexodd]

Magick does not have to be a full ritual/spell every time you use it.

Do you shower? Bathe? You can use that as a meditative time to cleanse yourself of negative energies.

Drinking coffee, tea, or even just water? Perfect time for visualization. As you drink, imagine filling yourself with what you want to take in. Afterwards, exhale what you want to release.

Doing your hair, makeup, getting dressed, or otherwise just getting ready? Reflect on what your goal is for the day/night, and use that getting ready process to manifest.

Listening to music? Use the energy of the song - whether that's the beat, the lyrics, the way it makes you feel, or whatever else - to connect with your own energy. Can be anything from hyping yourself up to helping you heal or process grief.

You can connect with your inner power in so, so many ways in your everyday life. These are only a few examples. Self care can be magickal if you let it be.

[breakfastburritosattiffanys]

I HEAR THOSE SLEIGH BELLS JINGLING

RING TING TINGLING TOOOOOOOOOOOOO

COME ON IT’S LOVELY WEATHER

FOR A SLEIGH RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[phils-mum-and-llama-placentas]

IT’S STARTED

[itsfantasticallyhomoerotic]

IT’S BEEN NOVEMBER JUST FOR FEW HOURS YOU ANIMALS

[peri-space-dorito]

IM SAVING THIS IN MY FUCKKING QUEUE AND EVERY FUCKING NOVEMBER AT 12:00 AM IM FUCKING POSTING THIS

[billtherock45-deactivated202501]

iTS CHRISTMAS

[distantscreaming]

GUYS IT HASN’T BEEN A FULL DAY PLEASE NO

[billtherock45-deactivated202501]

DO YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? ITS THE S L E I G H B E L L S R I N G I N G

[supershiny-raven]

WHAT ABOUT THANKSGIVING!?

[doctorstrangeaskblog]

This post never fails to make me chuckle XD

[vnillandcigrtts]

people who willingly use semicolons are so sexy

[syrisun]

anyways here’s how to not be shitty to autistic people since apparently y’all need someone to sit down and tell you

things not to mock us for:

-“picky eating”

-wearing the same clothes everyday

-carrying around a comfort object (might be something like a stuffed animal, a toy...)

-wanting to have the same conversation / tell the same joke multiple times

-stimming in public or private

-stuttering

-repeating words or phrases, taking a long time to form a sentence

-being hyperempathetic / hyper emotional, spontaneous tears/outbursts/etc.

-on the other hand lack of apparent emotion, appearing disinterested / apathetic

-meltdowns

-not wanting to be put into social situations, being excessively tired

-our interests

kind things you can do for your autistic friends:

-letting us infodump to you

-listening to us when we’re having trouble making much sense, asking helpful questions, being patient with us

-“can I hug you?” goes a long way

-providing more food options / having our samefood available, eating can be really difficult for a lot of us

-helping them if they need help with social situations, like calling in for food or talking to a salesperson. these things can get really hard for us some days.

-letting us stim and not being judgemental

-giving us space when we need it without getting offended

-if you think we’re having a meltdown or sensory overload (you may be able to tell by our mask dropping, appearing disinterested, twitching, using their body to stim (maybe aggressively), etc.) here are some things you can do:

-if they’re violently stimming, ask them gently to open their hands if you think they might hurt themself

-use clear language to communicate with them

-be calm, please don’t yell

-offer them a way out of whatever situation they’re in

autistic ppl can add on, allistics can rb but be quiet

[tokenbacktobrooklynmoved]

as another autistic person, if i may add on: please please please don't make fun of people 4 missing jokes/sarcasm!!!! i see it a lot especially on this site that the punchline of a post is someone not getting an "obvious" joke or falling 4 "obvious" misinfo. we can miss the social cues that might make a joke or sarcasm more obvious 4 others, even if we're good at using them in our own communication (i'm a very sarcastic person irl, but i can totally miss it if someone's sarcastic back). if someone asks you 2 clarify or seems 2 believe something you said was true when it wasn't, please just clarify. refusing 2 do so "4 the joke" isn't funny. (in the same vein, it's a good habit 2 get into 2 end statements in text with /j or /s 2 signify the end of a joke or sarcastic statement. it helps people who have trouble with that out a lot.)

[its-elvis-innit]

!!!

[romcommunist]

nah. fuck you *throws awful ingredients into your stock and ruins your soup beyond repair*

[will-o-the-witch]

Spell Loopholes

Wording a spell correctly is extremely important! We’ve all heard the stories of someone who cast a spell and technically had it come true, but in a way that wasn’t what they actually wanted at all! Here’s a list of common “loopholes” spells will take to get the job done, and how to make sure you get what you want!

🕯Taking its time- “I want money,” you tell the Universe, hoping to get some help with rent. Well, rent comes and there’s no extra cash in sight! Then, two weeks later, a surprise wad of cash all but lands in your lap. The spell came true, but not in time for when it mattered. This is easily fixed by adding “…by the end of the month,” or specifying what the money is for, which in this case was this month’s rent.

🕯No help needed- “I want money,” you say again. Magic will often take the path of least resistance, so if you’ve already got a paycheck on the way, the spell might not do much besides make sure it doesn’t get lost. There. Money. It can be good to specify that you want your spell to work in addition to everything you’re already doing!

🕯 Bare minimum- This time from your money spell, it arrives on time from an unexpected source! But it’s a quarter you found on the ground. Maybe three quarters. Not much help! If your intent would require the money to be close to a certain amount or any other specific like that, let it be known! The universe isn’t there to make assumptions.

🕯 For the worst- Let’s say you have two friends that have been flirting, so you cast a nice little spell to let any mutual interest between them blossom into a relationship and save them some trouble. It happens, but it turns out they do NOT work well with each other. They are interested in each other, but argue constantly and bring out the worst in each other. The relationship is hurting them both. You had the absolute best of intentions, but there was no way of knowing that would happen! This is why a lot of witches include the phrase, “for the highest good” in their spells, as a failsafe for any unexpected pitfalls like this that may be lurking. The universe will see them but doesn’t know to care unless you specify.

🕯Another layer- Once I made a dream bear to bring me more dreams. Well, I had lots more dreams, but couldn’t remember any of them! I didn’t think that was something I needed to specify. Make sure you hit every point you need to be satisfied with a result.

As a general rule, if my spell includes a prayer or petition of any sort, I take a few minutes and comb through it for stuff like this beforehand. What am I specifying? What am I leaving up to interpretation? Could any of that manifest in a way I would be unhappy with? Take a little time before you start casting to smooth out all those wrinkles! Best of wishes!

[orriculum]

Disposing of Spell Materials

sometimes after performing a spell, you find yourself wondering, hmm, what do i do with these ingredients? the way you clean up or put away your materials can be its own step in the ritual, and affect the spell. here are some suggestions for the different ways to end rituals or properly dispose of the materials 

consider first:

📦keep it - consider if the spell seems like something you could ever possible need to reverse later. that love-attraction jar may invite people you don’t like, and need to be ended, but it’s more difficult without the original materials. keep the ingredients in a jar, box, or something, (maybe label it too) so you can easily nullify the spell if you need to.

✉wrap it up - in a jar or a pouch, if it is a spell you want to last a long time, gather the ingredients you won’t be reusing and keep them in a place you

🏺jar spells - just keep the materials in the sealed jar. this is the sort of spell that can be reused simply by shaking the jar, lighting a new candle for it or recharging its energy. 

🔔cleanse and reuse - obviously you don’t want to throw your crystals or jars out after a single spell. separate the materials used and cleanse them individually, cutting the ties to the spell. 

now what do i do with it?

🔥it’s been burned to ash - for banishing place it on the back doorstep and sweep it out into the wind. for releasing its energies and inviting influence, release the ashes into running water, given it is safe to return to nature (non glass, nonplastic nontoxic, biodegradable etc)

🕸bound objects - bury or keep in a box somewhere, burial for spells you will never remove, hiding for things you may undo one day. 

🛡protective spells - best hung up or hidden in a corner of the house, or place over the front door of the residence. 

☣non-biodegradable materials - if its something you can’t safely return to nature, and it can’t be reused because it was burned or broken, use the acting of burning or breaking to move the spell’s energies into the world. properly throw out or recycle the objects.

[heatherwitch]

So, you want to be a witch?

It can be easy to feel super overwhelmed when you’re first starting off. This post is for very new witches who have limited knowledge and would like a broad overview! These are my opinions, feel free to disagree but be polite about it. 

Spells:

It’s okay to start by using other people’s spells and build the confidence to write your own! Spells can be spoken, or thought (in my opinion). Sometimes speaking spells into existence isn’t always possible.

Casting circles. Many witches cast circles to do spellwork. It involves calling energy from the four directions and building the “omph” to preform the spell. Most of these involve calling upon a deity/deities but you could easily alter them to avoid this, it is not necessary. 

Ingredients. The most important ingredient for a spell is… you! Most spell ingredients can be substituted with more common ingredients, following correspondences. What did that ingredient bring to the spell?

I’ve written a whole “so, you want to be a witch?” post on spells!

Names:

Many witches feel names hold power. 

I personally choose to not share my birth name/everyday name for both this reason, and to protect my privacy. A lot of witches choose a witch name (mine is Mouse!)

Wards: 

Wards are something that I feel are very important for any witch to have. They can be on your being and on your home, and protect from undesired energy and spirits. Picture them as a shield. 

Warding yourself. For me, my wards are my armor. I envision armor forming around me with specific forms of protection and use my energy to make it so. You could also view your ward as a bubble of energy! If you have a hard time with envisioning things, carry something physical (a necklace, crystal, etc.) as your ward.

Warding your home. Again, you could envision it (however you like). I picture light washing over the floors, walls, and ceilings and use my energy to guide it. I also have physical wards. An example would be to make a paper pocket, fill it with herbs, crystals, and sigils, and place in the four corners of your home.

Sigils:

I simply adore sigils, they are like little spells in a physical form (symbols). It’s okay to use sigils created by others.

Sigils are created with a certain phrase in mind, such as “I am happy”. You can then draw them on yourself or on something to carry with you.

Once drawn, you’ll need to do something to activate it. This can be done by forgetting about it, using your energy, or fun things like using the elements or your favorite song. To keep the sigil working, you’ll need to charge it every once and a while. This is the same idea as activating it!

Cleansing:

The ability to cleanse your space and yourself can be extremely valuable, whether it’s in preparation for a spell, or to get rid of the funk of a bad day.

Smoke cleansing. Can be done with sage, bay leaves, or any type of incense. Waft the smoke over yourself or your space.

Water cleansing. I enjoy making a spray with some lovely herbs (like lavender and mint) and spritzing my room or myself. 

The elements/natural world. The wind, the moon, the sun and many other things can act to cleanse as well. 

Divination:

Divination can be overwhelming at first - there’s so many different types! You don’t need to practice divination to be a witch, and you certainly don’t need to learn all of the ways!

Tarot. Tarot cards are cards that have drawings on them and an assigned meaning (usually more than one). They are often used as a way to get advice. The average deck has 78 cards, and a lot of us still use cheat sheets!

Pendulum. Pendulums are often depicted as a crystal hanging from a string, but they can be anything hanging from a string. Different movements mean yes, no, and maybe. Some people use them to communicate with spirits, but this only happens when you invite them.

Runes, scrying, and tasseomancy are also common forms of divination, but ones I am less familiar in! 

Tools:

Crystals, candles, tarot, incense, herbs. All tools. 

They all can boost your abilities and aid your craft, but are not needed. You have all the tools you need in yourself, and in your life. Don’t feel pressured to spend a lot of money on fancy tools right away! It can be beneficial to build your abilities without them, in my opinion!

Using your intuition can lead you to finding/creating some really awesome tools and methods! Let your instincts guide you. 

(Click here for the other parts in this series!)

[witchesversuspatriarchy]

Common goals: love, acceptance, practicing magic / craft and smashing the patriarchy. Am I missing anything else? ✨

[aceabe]

no. i don’t want whatever you’re selling

[popgoth]

let her in wtf!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[john190-the-homicidal-maniac]

Hey would you like hear about our lord and saviour Odin?

[will-o-the-witch]

Accidental Appropriation

It happens, we’re all human. Even if we try our best to be socially conscious, we can’t expect perfection. There are a lot of posts talking about what is and isn’t appropriation but not a lot about what to do AFTER you know. If you discover your practice has been less socially conscious and respectful than you thought, here’s what happens next:

Don’t beat yourself up. 

Most people have one of two reactions to being told something they’re doing is bad: they get guilty or they get defensive (because getting defensive helps protect you from feeling guilty.) That’s a normal feeling- we’re told that only bad people do bad things, and we don’t want to be bad people. Getting reactionary and defensive only pushes the harm further, though, especially if you’re talking over members of a marginalized group about their own stuff. Instead, remember the truth: you’re not a bad person for genuinely not knowing better… you were just trying your best with the info you had at the time. What you do AFTER you know says a lot more about your character. 

Learn up. 

Exposing ourselves to a diverse range of voices helps us in so many ways, and discovering insensitivity in our own practice usually helps us reveal a gap. Take some time and fill in that gap and hear from actual members, so you can move forward with a better understanding. Knowing why specifically The Thing You Were Doing is culturally insensitive or appropriative is also super handy.

Apologize

Simple enough. If your actions messed with someone’s day, let them know you’re working to do better. If the harm was public, a public apology is often appreciated too. Just making right on anything wronged, basically. I’m also a fan of kinda “rebalancing” the universe and donating to a relevant nonprofit that supports the culture/otherwise supporting them in some way. Turn it into something good, yk? Lift people up. 

Reflect on the appeal. 

This is more for when it feels important to you in some way. It doesn’t need to be a huge internal journey, but it’s handy to touch on. What drew you to The Thing initially? Was it a useful witch tip you stumbled upon and nothing more? Does something about the structure of it really resonate with you? Or was the original culture just romanticized to have that mysterious and mystical feel? (Again, we’re imperfect humans.) Or was it something else? Getting an idea can help on deciding the next move.

Decide the next step. 

There’s three directions to go here (I love a good list.)

Refine- Sometimes something is only appropriative because of key details, like the terminology we use or a specific sacred plant/tool. So adjusting that properly means everyone goes home happy. 

Reach Out- Sometimes a path or practice is initiative, and cannot be properly accessed without going through the right channels. If this is the case and you really want to do The Thing properly, find your local people and get the ball rolling! Depending on the specific institution this can get very involved, so it’s up to you to decide how much work you’re willing to put in. If approaching it on their terms turns out not to be worth it for you, that’s fine, just proceed to the next step.

Replace- Sometimes a practice really is just closed to us, and that’s the end of it. Time to completely swap it out.This is why reflecting on the appeal can be helpful- it helps you find a suitable replacement by pinpointing exactly what you liked about it. Many open pracitces have the same appeal or similar, it may just take experimenting. Odds are you can find something that you vibe with and feel right at home in while still being socially conscious! 

So yeah, we’re all human, we make mistakes, but how we grow from those mistakes is what defines our character. Be nice to each other, everybody :)

[inthisuproar]

Let’s talk about Odinism.

Despite claiming to be an “indigenous European religion,” Odinism is neither ancient nor remotely harmless. It grew out of the original Nazi movement and fully retains the white nationalist ideals it was built upon.

Research psychologist Arie Kruglanski says white nationalist radicalization is comprised of three things: A need for significance, a narrative that permits violence, and a community that validates that narrative.

Odinism messaging exploit the first part by projecting sentiments of self-empowerment and anti-authoritarianism out into the public, attracting “lone wolves” who resonate with this messaging. This is something I’ve noticed with Odinist memes.

There is a website called Life After Hate. It was founded by former extremists members who escaped the white power movement to help people leave hate groups. They can also provide information for those witnessing the radicalization of a family member or friend. Please keep them as a resource and contact them if you need.